The Best adidas Samba Shoes You Can Buy Now

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Updated September 11, 2023: This guide for adidas Samba shoes was updated with new Samba styles, tips for fit, and insight on recent street style trends.

Sneaker trends are constantly cycling through the seasons, but we haven’t seen an “It-shoe” dominate street style quite like the best adidas Sambas shoes. In 2023, adidas Samba sneakers have skyrocketed in search across TikTok and retailer destinations, with trendsetters from celebrities to fashion influencers embracing the heritage soccer sneaker as a walking shoe in sporty-chic styling. 

adidas white sneakers are constantly making waves in street style for their minimal silhouettes and versatile designs, like the trendy Stan Smith tennis shoes or cult-favorite Superstars sneakers over the years. The Samba OG, however, is not as quiet — with colorful suede overlays, contrasting Three Stripes detailing, and a rubber gum sole. Sambas evoke a particularly low-profile, yet high-style appeal, and have evidently taken the streets by storm as fashion lovers gravitate towards ’90sminimalism. Just name any celebrity style star and they’ve likely copped a pair in 2023, or join 629 million people searching the best adidas Samba shoes on TikTok. Many users on the app are searching for Samba outfit inspiration, but it’s really no feat to style this chameleon adidas sneaker in everyday ensembles. 

Sambas function as a unisex walking shoe for men and everyday shoe for women, and have been seen on the feet of every A-list dresser, from A$AP Rocky and Rihanna to Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi. The list goes on and on — including Hailey Bieber, Timothée Chalamet, Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Rodrigo, Jeremy Allen White, Austin Butler, Joe Jonas, and more. Kendall Jenner is one of Sambas’ biggest fans, sporting them with everything from her favorite straight-leg jeans and a sweater vest to summery maxi dresses. Emily Ratajkowski practically spent her entire summer in Sambas, whether while walking her dog in a slip dress or running errands in comfy biker shorts. Bella Hadid, per usual, was early to the trend, and was seen back in 2022 at Milan Fashion Week juxtaposing the soccer sneakers with formal pieces and athletic socks. That same year, Sambas rose to prominence on fashion’s Lyst Index and has since secured its spot as one of the most coveted sneakers of the decade so far. 

The easy-wear sneaker first emerged in neutral colorways, but have been iterated with green, red, and blue overlays as new color trends come to the forefront. For a sneaker this hot, it’s impressive that its price caps at just $100, even across vegan and heritage designs. The best adidas Samba shoes are constantly selling out and climbing to over-the-top price points on reseller sites, so it’s important to keep close tabs on adidas’ new releases page to jump on Samba drops.

Whether you’re shopping for back-to-school or looking for a go-to, everyday shoe for fall, snag your pair below from adidas ASAP while your size is still in stock.

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The History of adidas Sambas Sneakers

adidas Samba shoe is said to be the oldest adidas model in history, dating back to its first appearance in 1950. It was named after the “samba” music of Brazil, which was the host country of the World Cup that year. Sambas were originally designed as a soccer shoe for icy terrain, then evolved for indoor soccer, and later made their way off the field and onto the streets. Sambas’ innovative rubber gum sole was the first of its kind to introduce extra traction for slippery soccer fields, and its grip was beloved in the ’90s as a standout adidas skate shoe.

During the latter decades of the century and early aughts, Sambas became a style staple, often paired with trendy tracksuits and too-cool-for-school athleisure. They’ve maintained their fashionable reign through the years due to block-busting collaborations and exciting iterations, such as their two-prong design drop with Sporty & Rich, and more recent team-ups with Wales Bonner, Pharrell Williams, Hello Kitty.

How Do Adidas Sambas Fit?

Wondering if adidas Sambas are comfortable? The short answer is yes, absolutely. adidas Samba sneakers are designed for everyday wear and as shoes for standing all day, with comfy gum rubber cupsoles in Samba OG and Vegan iterations, and well as plush EVA insoles embedded in the Samba Classics. The sneakers are constructed with either leather or faux leather uppers, which is a stiffer material than other uppers found in popular adidas walking shoes, and requires a short yet easy break-in period, as noted by customer reviews. Across the three Samba styles, adidas reviewers agree that it’s best to select half a size up if you have wide feet. Other reviewers with average-width feet still found Sambas to fit narrow. If you have common foot conditions such as wide feet, bunions, plantar fasciitis, or flat feet, that require a roomy feel along the sides and toe box, make sure to select a larger fit.

The Different Types of adidas Samba Shoes

• adidas Samba OG Shoes: The Samba OG is the classic and most common Samba silhouette on the market — you can see it on celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Shay Mitchell, Morgan Stewart, and many more. These pairs are draped in a leather and suede combination with a contrasting gum sole and the classic Three-Stripe branding.
• adidas Samba Classic Shoes: While the Samba Classic resembles the OG, it features a slew of extra details that make it unique. The Classic was created for indoor soccer use, and it boasts an extended tongue and a lightweight synthetic build with non-marking, EVA-injected soles. Some A-list fans include Olivia Wilde, Whitney Port, and Jennie Kim.
• adidas Samba Vegan Shoes: Put some sustainability in your step with adidas’ vegan Samba shoes. These shoes don’t look any different from the original Samba, but they’re produced with faux leather as part of adidas’ mission to end plastic waste.
• adidas Samba Decon Shoes: The Samba Decon Shoe may be one of the more underrated Samba styles. This silhouette includes all the design elements shoppers love about the OG sambas; however, they have the lining and stiffeners around the heel removed. What results is a version with a collapsible heel, allowing them to be worn as a slip-on sneaker.
• adidas Samba Shoes: In May 2023, adidas introduced the luxe iteration of the adidas Sambas with four monochromatic silhouettes made of high-quality full-grain leather. Tonal stitching is found throughout the design, while the heel features white leather, making it a stand-out element. A semi-translucent clear midsole and outsole complete the look. For those who want to take their adidas sneaker game to the next level, this style is for you.
• adidas Velosamba Cycling Shoes: The Velosamba shoe is a cycling-specific version of adidas’ iconic Samba shoes. They’re one of the most stylish options for bike riding or indoor cycling, with the distinctive triple stripe down the side and lace-up closure. The best part? By looking at them, you would never know they’re two-bolt cleat compatible. Plus, they come in six different colorways.
• adidas Samba ADV Shoes: The Samba ADV shoes are part of adidas’ skateboarding line called adidas ADV, where shoes are designed alongside professional skateboarders. The Samba ADV shoes are decked out with key elements skateboarders love, like a flexible rubber outsole that grips to the board like glue and a double-layer Adituff toe to protect the feet.
• adidas Samba Golf Shoes: The Samba golf shoe lets wearers bring style and comfort to the greens. Compared to the OG Samba, the golf iteration has extra support and comfort needed for golfers walking 18 holes. The Adiwear spikeless outsole and low profile perform well on and off the course and mimic the original Samba design by featuring suction cups in the forefoot.

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Meet the Authors

Christine Flammia is a contributing writer and editor based in NYC, focusing on fashion and lifestyle. She is currently working on her PhD at Columbia University while staying at the forefront of all consumer trends with a keen eye for the latest, greatest, and classics of what people wear, buy and love. As a huge fan of adidas and a big city walker, Flammia is always searching for the best new adidas walking shoes.

Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She updated this guide for the adidas Samba shoes in 2023 with up-to-date trend insight, customer fit tips, and new models available from the top footwear brand.