Our verdict

A memorable part of Adidas' history, the SL 72 is a very faithful remake of the original 1972 track spike turned casual sneaker. Introduced as a Super Light (SL) runner, we found that this Adidas shoe fulfils that intent by weighing a few ounces lighter than the average. Fashionably retro, it flaunts bold colour options, suede strips, and a very slim profile to compete with the ever-present Gazelles and Sambas. Even though we can't recommend this Adidas kick for all-day comfort and support, we believe that it will elevate your style and elicit plenty of compliments on a casual night out.

Pros

  • Notably lighter than average
  • Retro track spike vibes
  • Good quality suede
  • Sturdy construction
  • Durable jagged outsole
  • Flexible forefoot
  • Affordable price point
  • Plenty of vivid colour options

Cons

  • Not for hot weather
  • Lacks arch support and stability
  • Not for wide feet
  • Upper creases when walking

Audience verdict

94
Superb!

Who should buy

We think that the Adidas SL 72 should be on your sneaker radar if you are looking for the following:

  • a proud retro silhouette from the Adidas Originals
  • a very lightweight and flexible kick that feels barely there
  • an alternative to Adidas Gazelle and Samba that would help you blend in but stand out
  • a slim-fitting upper for narrow feet 

Adidas SL 72 review

Who should NOT buy

Putting the SL 72 through our lab and wear tests, we found it to be a rather niche Adidas sneaker that doesn't fit a wide range of scenarios and foot types.

We recommend that you check out the following alternatives to the Adidas SL 72 if you have a problem with one or more of its drawbacks:

Adidas SL 72 lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Despite looking minimalist, our stack height measurements showed that the Adidas SL 72 is just on par with the average of popular lifestyle trainers.

Adidas SL 72 Heel stack

Our calliper showed 28.9 mm of platform thickness in the heel which is only about a millimetre away from the average. We also found it to be enough of a buffer for city walking.

Adidas SL 72 sole

However, the SL 72 RS edition seems to have a slightly thicker and bulkier midsole. So we would expect a few millimetres more in that shoe.

Test results
SL 72 28.9 mm
Average 29.6 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

Measuring the forefoot stack of this Adidas sneaker, we got 17.0 mm which is also within 1-2 mm of the average.

Adidas SL 72 Forefoot stack

This amount of underfoot material delivered sufficient impact protection but was also thin enough to let the sneaker bend effortlessly on the go.

Test results
SL 72 17.0 mm
Average 18.7 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

As you can see from the sliced view below, the heel of the SL 72 is notably higher than the toe area.

To be precise, our stack measurements show that its heel-to-toe drop is 11.9 mm which is similar to the industry average.

Adidas SL 72 Drop

This is a common midsole layout for a casual sneaker because having more platform under the heel contributes to impact protection and takes the pressure away from the Achilles.

Test results
SL 72 11.9 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
22.6 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Wear testing the Adidas SL 72 certainly didn't feel like walking on marshmallows. Employing a very basic EVA foam, the sneaker's midsole surely feels firm. But luckily, it's not brick-like either.

Pressing our Shore A durometer against the shoe's primary (white) cushioning foam that extends from the heel to the midfoot, the tool returned as much as 40.0 HA. That's almost 40% firmer than the average!

Adidas SL 72 Midsole softness

Test results
SL 72 40.0 HA
Average 29.3 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 63 trainers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
60.0 HA

Insole thickness

The shoe's slim insole doesn't add any substantial cushioning either. Even measuring its thickest part returned only 3.5 mm.

Adidas SL 72 Insole thickness
Test results
SL 72 3.5 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
14.2 mm

Size and fit

Size

Adidas SL 72 is true to size (101 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 96 trainers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

If you have experience wearing Adidas' renowned Gazelle or Samba, the one-to-one toebox fit of the SL 72 is going to feel familiar.

Adidas SL 72 Toebox width at the widest part

Measuring its toebox in the widest area, our calliper returned 96.2 mm which is slightly but not critically narrower than average.

The fact that this Adidas sneaker has virtually no padding also helps to make the fit slightly roomier. But if the SL 72 feels tight straight from the box, we wouldn't rely on a break-in period because its nylon and suede materials won't stretch that much.

Test results
SL 72 96.2 mm
Average 98.8 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
91.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
107.7 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Measuring the tip of the shoe's toebox at the big toe mark, we got a typical reading of 74.4 mm.

Adidas SL 72 Toebox width at the big toe

But even though it is on par with the average, the shoe's tapered toebox will lose some wide-footed customers for sure. These folks are more likely to feel comfortable in the Adidas Superstar.

Adidas SL 72 fit

Test results
SL 72 74.4 mm
Average 74.9 mm
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
63.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

A major drawback of the Adidas SL 72 is its almost complete lack of support.

As we shifted our ankle side-to-side in the test above, we felt little to no resistance from the shoe's upper or platform. And the shoe's narrow sole shape didn't help either.

We believe that this is a problem for people with overpronation who rely on wider, more stable, and supportive trainers.

Torsional rigidity

Our lab tests only seemed to prove the shoe's lack of support and stability that we experienced on foot.

First of all, this Adidas sneaker was fairly easy to twist with our bare hands. There is not much torsional rigidity in the SL 72 to guarantee no foot spills or ankle rolls.

On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we gave the shoe a moderate rating of 3.

Test results
SL 72 3
Average 3.5
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The back of the shoe has no padding or structure whatsoever so it didn't do much to hold our heels firmly in place. 

Manually testing its heel counter, we could easily bend and squeeze it in all directions. Thus, it also received a low stiffness score of 2.

Test results
SL 72 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Looking at the bottom of the Adidas SL 72, we immediately knew that its narrow sole is not many people's cup of tea. Especially if they want to feel very stable and supported in their casual trainers.

Adidas SL 72 Midsole width in the forefoot

Even though we measured the widest area of the shoe's forefoot, our calliper showed nothing more than 95.1 mm. This is by far the narrowest forefoot width measurement among trainers in our lab.

You should be specifically looking for that kind of slim profile to enjoy the SL 72.

Test results
SL 72 95.1 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

Consequently, the shoe's heel also returned a notably narrower-than-average reading of 70.4 mm.

Adidas SL 72 Midsole width in the heel

It's more than 10 mm narrower than our lab average! And if you look at the shoe's midfoot, it looks alarmingly slim as well.

Test results
SL 72 70.4 mm
Average 83.1 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

The Adidas SL 72 feels like the complete opposite of the currently popular chunky kicks. Very light and agreeable, it lets the foot decide the movement and not the other way around.

To compare the flexibility of this Adidas shoe to other trainers, we measured how much force it takes to bend the SL 72 to a 90-degree angle.

Just as we expected, the gauge showed only 16.0N which is 45% less than it takes a casual sneaker on average. As long as you don't mind the nylon creases, this bendy Adidas shoe will keep you good company.

Adidas SL 72 flexibility

Test results
SL 72 16.0N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Stiffness
60.5N

Weight

Did you know that SL stands for "super light" in the name of the Adidas SL 72? That's because the original shoe was designed for track athletes just in time for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Putting this Adidas kick on our scale indeed confirmed its lightness at only 10.9 oz (308g).

Adidas SL 72 Weight

Not only is the SL 72 lighter than the average by 2 ounces, but it is also lighter than the wildly famous Adidas Samba (12.1 oz) and Gazelle (13.0 oz)!

Adidas SL 72 medial side

And would you believe that the Adidas SL 72 is the great-grandpa of the contemporary Adizero SL - Adidas' lightweight speed trainer?

Test results
SL 72 10.86 oz (308g)
Average 13.86 oz (393g)
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
22.61 oz (641g)

Breathability

Even though a nylon upper is not your best bet for hot summer days, the Adidas SL 72 is doing all it can to stay as breathable as possible.

Performing our smoke-pumping test on the shoe, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of smoke passing through its upper. But then a transparency check revealed that the nylon material is actually quite porous (not super tightly woven) and the tongue is generously perforated to keep the airflow going.

Taking a closer look through our microscope also unveiled numerous tiny pores in the nylon fabric.

Adidas SL 72 Breathability microscope test

But despite Adidas' best attempts to keep the sneaker well-ventilated, it still lags behind most mesh-covered kicks. Thus, we graded it with a moderate breathability score of 3 out of 5.

Adidas SL 72 Breathability upper under microscope
Test results
SL 72 3
Average 3
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

As one of the shoe's highlights, velvety suede overlays proved to be the real deal in this Adidas sneaker.

Putting it to the test with our butane torch, the material behaved just as expected. It did not melt or catch fire but crushed into dust when we scratched it with an awl. Genuine suede confirmed. 

On the other hand, the leather strip on the heel collar turned out to be made of fake leather. Not a big surprise considering the SL 72's moderate price point.

You can see how gooey the synthetics got after being exposed to fire.

Test results
SL 72 Real suede

Toebox durability

Aside from boosting the shoe's visual appeal, suede overlays also keep it more resistant to abrasion.

The material didn't seem to care one bit as we drilled it with sandpaper for 12 seconds! The barely noticeable scuff looked convincing enough for us to rate the shoe's toebox durability with the highest score of 5/5!

Adidas SL 72 Toebox durability test

Test results
SL 72 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

We already discovered that the collar lining of the Adidas SL 72 is made of fake leather so we didn't have very high expectations for its durability.

After a drilling session as short as 4 seconds, the synthetic material gave in and tore under our Dremel. Because we have seen notably more wear-resistant fabric linings on equally affordable trainers, we couldn't rate this kick's heel padding durability higher than 2 out of 5.

Adidas SL 72 Heel padding durability test

Test results
SL 72 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

The jagged outsole of this Adidas silhouette made a pretty strong impression on us so we couldn't help but test if it was just as sturdy in substance.

Adidas SL 72 outsole tread

Outsole hardness - pass! According to our Shore C durometer, the rubber on this Adidas kick is harder than average at 88.1 HC. That's a promising start.

Adidas SL 72 Outsole hardness

Test results
SL 72 88.1 HC
Average 85.4 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
72.9 HC
Outsole hardness
91.3 HC

Outsole durability

For the next test, we ramped up the speed of our Dremel to 10K RPM and extended the drilling time to 22 seconds.

Examining the drilled area, it's hard to even call it a damage - looks more like slight balding. Our tread gauge measurement showed that it is not even deeper than 1.0 mm. That's a robust outsole indeed!

Adidas SL 72 Outsole durability test

Test results
SL 72 1.0 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 79 trainers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Aggressive treads also play a part in making the SL 72 thicker and tougher.

Adidas SL 72 Outsole thickness

Measuring the outsole thickness of this Adidas sneaker, we got a solid reading of 4.6 mm - that's a lot of rubber to get through before you need to consider a replacement pair.

Test results
SL 72 4.6 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
12.5 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

No reflective elements were spotted on the Adidas SL 72.

Adidas SL 72 Reflective elements
Test results
SL 72 No

Tongue padding

Stemming from running spikes, the Adidas SL 72 has a very minimal upper with no padding even in the tongue!

Adidas SL 72 Tongue padding

We measured it to be as thin as 1.7 mm. Think Converse Chuck's thin.

Test results
SL 72 1.7 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
38.4 mm

Heel tab

Even though there is no loop or tab at the back of the shoe, we didn't have any issues getting the shoe on and off without a hassle.

Adidas SL 72 Heel tab
Test results
SL 72 None

Removable insole

The insole of this Adidas shoe is removable but keep in mind that the in-shoe space is quite limited and it may not fit a highly cushioned insert.

Adidas SL 72 Removable insole
Test results
SL 72 Yes

The Super Light (SL) style comes back!

The Adidas SL 72 was unveiled in 1972, in celebration of the 1972 Munich Olympics. It was the first in the Super Light (SL) footwear line and was instantly voted as one of the 25 best-designed products by Fortune magazine that year!

Adidas SL 72 lacing

Almost five decades later, Adidas re-introduced the low-profile Adidas SL 72 to the modern market, not as running footwear but as a stylish lifestyle sneaker.

Adidas SL 72 three stripes

The Adidas Originals SL 72 which we are looking at in this review was launched in an almost OG form, to the delight of numerous Adidas fans.

Adidas SL 72 heels

The retro look of the Adidas SL 72 trainers flaunts a style that depicts the world-class legacy of Adidas. The brand kept the authentic shape and materials, just like the 70s version, which was the first to flaunt the Adidas Trefoil logo in the market.

Adidas SL 72 outsole

Heel tab

Even though there is no loop or tab at the back of the shoe, we didn't have any issues getting the shoe on and off without a hassle.