Our verdict

Adidas Ball 365 Shock Purple Adidas Originals has been a mass favorite since it was first released in the '60s. For us, it is hard to go wrong with its classic style, excellent quality, and various choices in colorways – all at an affordable price. Having verified these features on our rigorous testing, we ultimately understood its widespread popularity. Since it is among the most famous lifestyle kicks in history, copping multiple pairs wouldn't be excessive.

Adidas Men ZX Gonz black onix solar red Pros

  • adidas s 'Slate Grey'
  • Excellent value for money
  • Real suede
  • More than 20 colorways
  • Promising durability
  • Flexible design
  • Supportive foothold

Adidas Men ZX Gonz black onix solar red Cons

  • Poor breathability
  • Tongue is rough and squeaks
  • Not for all-day wear

Audience verdict

94
Superb!

Who should buy

There is absolutely no walking by the Adidas Gazelle if you're looking for the following:

  • a timeless Adidas Originals silhouette from 1991
  • an color sneaker made of genuine suede
  • an easy-to-style model that comes in 20+ colorways
  • Set de 3 perechi de șosete joase unisex adidas Light Ank 3PP DZ9434 Mgreyh White Black

Adidas Gazelle review

Who should NOT buy

The Gazelle's tongue can be a headache. If you want to avoid chafing and squeaking, we recommend the Adidas Superstar or the Adidas Campus 00S for their softer and better-padded tongues.

The shoe's suede upper may also feel too stuffy on a warm summer day. If you prefer fresh feet, one of our best summer sneakers Рюкзак матрас темный меланж adidas белое лого.

And if you need a pair for extended periods of standing and walking, it is a better idea to get a well-cushioned Adidas shoe instead. Like the uber-comfy Alphabounce+ or the Supernova+.

Adidas Gazelle lab test

Cushioning

Adidas Men ZX Gonz black onix solar red | Heel stack

Yeezy 500 High 'Mist' GY0393 Samba, the Adidas Gazelle is a very grounded sneaker. But it is a few millimeters taller than its counterpart.

Using a caliper, we measured the shoe's stack height at 23.3 mm in the heel. This is notably lower than the average.

adidas gazelle heel stack 20893693 main

Adding to that the total absence of a cushioned midsole, we get a big no-no for all-day wear. Even though the Gazelle has a comfortable step-in feel, it really lacks underfoot support for long periods of wear.

Test results
Gazelle 23.3 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Adidas Men ZX Gonz black onix solar red | Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, this Adidas shoe gets even lower. According to our caliper, the stack height comes in at only 15.0 mm under the toes.

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Adidas Gazelle Forefoot stack
Test results
Gazelle 15.0 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

There is not a drastic difference between the shoe's heel and forefoot stack heights. Based on our measurements, it is lower than average at 8.3 mm.

Not having an elevated heel is yet another factor that makes the Gazelle feel so minimal and down-to-earth. Whether or not that's a good thing, depends on the wearer's preference only.

adidas gazelle drop 20893695 main
Test results
Gazelle 8.3 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Insole thickness

Some underfoot padding is provided by the shoe's insole to buffer the foot from the rubber sole. But our caliper shows that it's pretty minimal too - only 4.3 mm thick.

Adidas Gazelle Insole thickness
Test results
Gazelle 4.3 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Adidas Gazelle is slightly large (202 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 sneakers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Devin Harris shoots in the adidas Crazy 1

Considering the Gazelle's slender silhouette, it is no surprise that it is a close-fitting Adidas shoe. And yet, it didn't feel constructing on our medium-width feet.

Having retrieved a gel mold of the shoe's interiors, we measured its widest area at 91.0 mm. This is not much narrower than the average and falls into the medium-width range of casual sneakers.

Adidas Gazelle Devin Harris shoots in the adidas Crazy 1
Test results
Gazelle 91.0 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
85.4 mm
Devin Harris shoots in the adidas Crazy 1
96.8 mm

Toebox width - big toe

At the big toe, our caliper returned a standard width of 68.9 mm. There is no aggressive toebox tapering in the Adidas gazelle which is a plus point for comfort.

adidas gazelle toebox width big toe 22610703 main
Test results
Gazelle 68.9 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
63.9 mm
Toebox width - big toe
74.1 mm

Toebox height

Keep in mind, however, that the toebox height of the Gazelle is somewhat limited. With a vertical space of 25.0 mm, it is shallower than average.

Adidas Gazelle Toebox height
Test results
Gazelle 25.0 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

It is pretty unlikely that stability would be a concern in the Adidas Gazelle. Being such a low-profile shoe with a firm midsole, it made us feel Courts on the ground at all times.

adidas Summer ΦΟΥΤΕΡ με ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΑ.

Torsional rigidity

Another contributing factor to the shoe's stability is a fair amount of stiffness in its sole.

When we tried to twist the Gazelle torsionally, we found much more resistance than we felt in the Samba. For that reason, we rated the Gazelle's torsional rigidity as 3 out of 5 whereas the Samba came at only 1.

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Test results
Gazelle 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

adidas Marathon 20 Colourblock Running Shorts female

There is also a reasonable amount of sturdiness in the shoe's heel counter.

Giving it a good push and squeeze in a manual assessment, we rated the heel counter's stiffness as 3 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.

On foot, this translates into a firmer heel hold. But not a restrive one as there is still enough give for the ankle.

Test results
Gazelle 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
adidas Marathon 20 Colourblock Running Shorts female
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The platform width of the Adidas Gazelle is pretty similar to that of the Samba. And it is not a wide one.

Measuring the widest part of the forefoot at 102.2 mm, we found that it is slightly narrower than average. This helps the sneaker feel lighter and more minimal.

adidas gazelle midsole width in the forefoot 20893700 main
Test results
Gazelle 102.2 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel of the Gazelle's platform shows 72.0 mm in the widest part. This is even narrower than the Samba (75.4 mm) and, consequently, narrower than the average.

Жіноче худі adidas hf2006 New Balance 574 for example (114.3/80.2 mm), it is likely to feel odd at first.

Adidas Gazelle Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Gazelle 72.0 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

adidas Adventure Down Puffer Jacket

Transitioning from heels to toes feels pretty natural in the Adidas Gazelle. This is thanks to its minimal sole which bends along with the foot in a very natural way.

To give you a more precise idea of how flexible this Adidas shoe is, we used a shoe flexing tester that measured how much force it takes to bend the Gazelle to a 30-degree angle. Turns out, that it needs as little as 8.7N which is about 40% less than it takes for an average sneaker.

It is also the same amount of force as the Adidas Samba OG required.

adidas gazelle flexibility stiffness 22813748 main
Test results
Gazelle 8.7N
Average 14.0N
Compared to 33 sneakers
Number of shoes
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

Wearing the Adidas Gazelle for a few hours straight, we never felt like it was dragging us down. In fact, it felt on the lighter side of sneakers.

Adidas Gazelle silhouette

To back up our experiences, we put the shoe on the scale and found that it weighs 13 oz (369g) in a men's US size 9. For a low-top kick, this weight is right about average. Certainly not among the lightest on the market.

adidas gazelle weight 20893713 main
Test results
Gazelle 13.02 oz (369g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

The vivid color options of the Gazelle scream summer. But its toasty suede upper whispers the opposite.

When we used a smoke-pumping machine to check the shoe's ventilation capacity, we found that it was not such an airy sneaker. The smoke (air) was only able to escape from the gaps on the sides of the tongue.

It means that once this Adidas shoe is fully laced up on foot, it will get even less breathable. Thus, we rated it as only 3 on a 1-5 scale where 5 is the most breathable.

Checking the shoe's upper transparency was also in vain as there are no ventilation holes whatsoever.

Test results
Gazelle 3
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

According to Adidas, Gazelle comes with a suede upper and synthetic lining.

Equipped with a butane torch, we burned the shoe's upper materials for a few seconds to check their genuineness. Next, we tested the burnt parts with a scratch awl.

In the end, we found that the suede is real whereas the white overlay and the inner lining are indeed fake/synthetic.

Adidas Gazelle Leather quality
Test results
Gazelle Real suede

Toebox durability

A sneaker with real suede in the upper is a wise choice if you want truly long-lasting footwear. Let our Dremel test reassure you of the Gazelle's incredible durability.

Raising the FYM to the unforgiving 10K RPM, we held the tool against the shoe's toebox for a whole 12 seconds. And the result was truly stunning.

Seeing just a little dimple on the upper, we were amazed at the wear resistance! On a 1-5 scale, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with the highest score of 5.

Adidas Gazelle Toebox durability
Test results
Gazelle 5
Average 3.7
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The inner lining is usually a pretty delicate part of a shoe's upper. But not in the Adidas Gazelle!

Even though it's just a thin synthetic layer, it managed to stand against the Dremel much better than the average.

After 4 seconds of drilling, the tool only scratched the topmost layer without ruining the shoe's integrity. For that reason, we rated the heel padding durability with a high score of 4 out of 5.

Adidas Gazelle Heel padding durability
Test results
Gazelle 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Seeing how strong the Gazelle's upper is, we couldn't wait to see if the outsole lives up to that standard too.

First, we checked how hard the bottom rubber is. With a durometer measurement of 83.9 HC, it is nearly the same as the average. Normally, there is a correlation between the hardness of rubber and its longevity.

adidas gazelle outsole hardness 20893691 main
Test results
Gazelle 83.9 HC
Average 85.7 HC
Adidas Men ZX Gonz black onix solar red.
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

Now it was time to apply our trusty Dremel to the outsole rubber as well. The 10K RPM FYM is relentless but so is the Gazelle.

After the long 22-second drilling session was over, we saw that the rubber did not give in that easily!

With the help of a tread gauge, we measured the depth of the damage at 1.2 mm. That is right about the average of our lab-tested sneakers.

Adidas Gazelle Outsole durability
Test results
Gazelle 1.2 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Despite the fact that the shoe's entire platform is made of rubber, we only considered the thickness of the bottom-most layer (below the vertical pillars). That's because when that one is gone, the whole shoe becomes pretty much unwearable.

Our caliper returned 3.4 mm which is pretty thin for a sneaker. That certainly helps to keep the weight of the shoe down but makes us a little concerned about the long-term outsole durability.

adidas gazelle outsole thickness 20893690 main
Test results
Gazelle 3.4 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

As you can probably tell by now, the Adidas Gazelle and Samba have a lot in common. But there is one aspect where these shoes differ a lot - it's the traction pattern.

Adidas Gazelle Lug depth
Adidas Gazelle

We believe that the difference is due to the initial purpose of these sneakers. The Gazelle emerged as a training/gym shoe whereas the Samba stems from soccer/football. This may explain why the latter has a much more aggressive lug design and pivot points.

Adidas Samba grip
Adidas Samba

But for most casual scenarios, both Adidas shoes work quite well. Unless it's raining. We found that the Gazelle is a bit slippery on wet surfaces but you probably wouldn't want to wear a suede shoe in the rain anyways.

Reflective elements

The Adidas Gazelle has no reflective elements.

Adidas Gazelle Reflective elements
Test results
Gazelle No

Tongue padding

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Adidas Gazelle Tongue padding

But this wouldn't be so much of a problem if it wasn't for its very rough, almost plastic-like, nature that kept cutting into our ankles mercilessly. Wearing taller socks may not be such a bad idea, at least the first few times.

adidas gazelle flex 20893727 main

But to our great regret, this was not the only problem with the shoe's tongue. Another major mood-killer is the squeaky sound. It is produced when the rubbery material on the tongue comes in touch with the synthetic lining inside the shoe.

There are a couple of tricks that can help the manoeuvre though:

  • mms adidas forum low
  • sewing a small piece of soft fabric inside the shoe, near the topmost eyelets
Test results
Gazelle 2.8 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Мужской бомбер олимпийка мастерка adidas originals striped track top

The Gazelle's tongue has no gussets on the sides. But we didn't really find them necessary as there was no shifting or bunching.

But, unfortunately, the shoe's tongue can be a real deal-breaker for the Gazelle for other reasons (see the section below).

Adidas Gazelle Мужской бомбер олимпийка мастерка adidas originals striped track top
Test results
Gazelle None

Heel tab

No heel tabs here but the collar extends up high making it easier to grab when getting the shoe on.

Adidas Gazelle Heel tab
Test results
Gazelle None

Removable insole

You can customize the in-shoe experience by swapping the insole. It is not attached to the bottom of the shoe and can be replaced easily.

Adidas Gazelle Removable insole
Test results
Gazelle Yes

Style

In 1966, the Adidas Gazelle was first introduced as a performance training shoe. It was the first shoe from Adidas to have a suede upper since, during that time, leather was more commonly used for shoes.

Adidas Gazelle lacing

We love the classic and adaptable look of the Gazelle. This ageless Adidas silhouette manages to mix sporty vibes with a chic and sophisticated look. As a result, we get a clean and straightforward style that goes well with a variety of our outfit choices, from street style to a semi-formal look.

Because of its extreme popularity, different variations of the Adidas Gazelle sneakers have surfaced throughout time, allowing people to have a lot of choices that would suit their taste when grabbing a pair of these classic sneakers.