Even though the adidas Samba is over seven decades old, it’s still one of the most popular sneakers that you can buy today. First produced in 1949 to allow football players to train on icy, hard ground, its overall design hasn’t changed much since. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Over the years, the adidas Samba has not only been a staple for the Beautiful Game, but it has also transcended across multiple subcultures and style tribes too. From hip-hop’s finest to normcore girlies, everyone and their dog wants to jump on the Samba train. If that sounds a bit like you, then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll be covering everything from the design, the fit, and so much more. So, stop what you’re doing and keep it locked here to find out everything that there is to know!
Over the years, the Samba has been outfitted in countless fabrics and materials from leather and suede, to nubuck and mesh, but generally speaking, it fits true to size (TTS). Just like a lot of classic shoes from the German sportswear company like the Gazelle and the Superstar, they’re based off of the same mould, so if you’re not entirely sure which size to get but you do have the Herzogenaurach-based brand’s older models, just go for that size.
That said, the overall silhouette is a little on the narrower size. So, if you have particularly wide feet, feel free to go half a size up. The upper tends to become more pliable over time though, so we’d still recommend a TTS fit if possible.
As mentioned before, the Samba was designed to help football players train on icy terrain, so comfort is definitely a priority when it comes to these shoes. Traditionally, the Samba features a full gum rubber midsole that offers unrivalled grip and traction with every step. However, over the years adidas has introduced rubber soles as well as vegan friendly options.
In 2023, the sneaker community was blessed with the very first Ronnie Fieg x Clarks x adidas Samba collaboration which equipped the ’40s model with a genuine crep midsole. These sold out almost immediately, with many of those who were lucky enough to secure their size calling them some of the bounciest and most responsive pairs that they’ve ever worn.
While the Samba was originally made for footballers, it has now become the go-to sneaker for, well, absolutely everyone. Premium, lightweight, and very comfortable, this is the ultimate shoe for everyday wear.
Over the years we’ve seen some truly awesome partnerships. In 2022, fashion icons like Emily Oberg and Grace Wales Bonner took on the vintage trainer, and we’ll be seeing even more hyped collabs in 2023 as well from the likes of Justin Saunders’ JJJJound and Louis Vuitton’s brand new creative director, Pharrell Williams.
The Samba is literally becoming more and more popular by the minute. Luckily though, it’s generally very widely available, and you don’t need to join raffles or camp outside stores to cop a pair:
Thinking of getting on the adidas Samba hype? Now’s the time. One of the most iconic Three Stripes sneakers of all-time, the ’40s model has evolved from a football pitch essential to straight up hype. More colourways and collaborations are set to be announced pretty soon, so make sure you keep it locked at Captain Creps for your best chance to secure your size!
