Our verdict

There is no doubt that Adidas Superstar is an iconic classic loved by many sneaker fans and casual consumers of all ages. We believe this because even we love it for its timeless design that goes well with many of our outfits. We found that its comfort and affordable price are what make it an even better deal.

adidas wangfujing city Pros

  • Iconic style
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  • Sufficient arch support
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  • Accommodating toebox
  • Lots of colorway options
  • Affordable

adidas wangfujing city Cons

  • Needs breaking in
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  • Not for rainy days

Audience verdict

93
Great!
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Who should buy

The shell-toed adidas design collaborations free shipping coupon definitely for sneaker fans who are:

  • Into classic designs that never go out of style.
  • Looking for an on-the-go sneaker that can be paired with a wide assortment of styles.
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  • Searching for fashionable yet affordable sneakers that don't break the bank.

Who should NOT buy

The shoe feels quite stiff when it’s fresh out of the box and needs a few wears before it breaks in.

For a shoe that’s comfy right away, we recommend considering the other classic from Adidas; the Gazelle

Adidas Superstar

Cushioning

Heel stack

Using our caliper, we measured the Superstar’s stack to be 26.8 mm at the heel. While shorter than our current lab average it still provides a solid level of cushioning and protection from the ground below. 

Adidas Superstar heel\

This is thanks in great part to the gaps found in the heel of the outsole which allows it to compress under our weight similar to how a foam midsole would.

Test results
Superstar 26.8 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The Superstar’s forefoot stack is much shorter than our current lab average at only 13.6 mm thick.

adidas superstar ekhwvbljkef 20950816 main

This provides us with a good sense of the ground below, thus lending the shoe its natural and well-planted underfoot sensation, while still effectively dampening the impacts of our stride. 

Test results
Superstar 13.6 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

The difference in our stack measurements leaves the Superstar with a rather steep heel drop of 13.6 mm. This is ideal for those who prefer the feeling of an elevated heel when walking. Those who prefer a less drastic offset should consider the also iconic Adidas Samba

Adidas Superstar Drop
Test results
Superstar 13.2 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Insole thickness

Despite falling a sales shy of our current lab average at 4.4 mm thick, the Superstar’s insole provides us with a nicely padded platform within the shoe. 

Adidas Superstar Insole thickness
Test results
Superstar 4.4 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

adidas wangfujing city | Size and fit

Size

adidas design collaborations free shipping coupon half size large (963 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 110 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

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adidas wangfujing city Samba bit it has a similarly snug fit. We created a gel mold of the shoe's interiors to see how it stacks up against other kicks.

Once the mold froze solid, we measured its dimensions with a digital caliper.

In the widest area (between the big toe and the pinkie), the tool showed a below-average reading of 91.3 mm. Even though it is not critically narrower, it limits the Superstar's appeal to people with medium and narrow feet.

adidas superstar toebox width widest part 22610758 main
Test results
Superstar 91.3 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
85.4 mm
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96.8 mm

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Even though the Superstar's toebox looks round from the outside, it turns out to be slightly tapered on the inside.

The molds gets as narrow as 66.5 mm near the big toe offering sales wiggle room for toe splaying and swelling during prolonged wear.

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Test results
Superstar 66.5 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
63.9 mm
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74.1 mm

Toebox height

The shoe's toebox height is not as tall as it may seem either. With a caliper reaidng of only 23.5 mm, it sits pretty low to the toes which might aggravate toenail pain or other toe-related issues.

Adidas Superstar Toebox height
Test results
Superstar 23.5 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The Superstar feels incredibly well-planted as we shift our weight from side to side. This grounded sensation isn’t surprising for such a low-profile shoe and contributes to how natural the shoe feels on the foot. 

Torsional rigidity

We were met with an average level of resistance when bending and twisting the Superstar in our hands, leading us to give it a score of 3 out of 5 on our subjective scale. This presents a healthy mix of support and comfort as the shoe is able to conform with the movements of our foot while still maintaining a relatively level landing platform. 

Test results
Superstar 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The heel counter has a lot of structure to it which makes it extremely resistant to our manual manipulation. It barely budged as we bent and squeezed at it, earning it a score of 5 out of 5. This factors greatly into the shoe’s stability as it mitigates any excessive lateral rolling during our stride. 

Test results
Superstar 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

We measured the Superstar’s midsole to be 101.2 mm wide at the forefoot which is narrower than our current lab average. This doesn’t present any stability issues thanks to the shoe’s low stack, but rather serves to make the shoe feel light and nimble underfoot. 

Adidas Superstar Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Superstar 101.2 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

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The midsole is similarly narrow-than-average at the heel, measuring only 71.8 mm wide. This is quite scant, especially for those used to wearing shoes with more robust platforms like the New Balance 574

adidas superstar midsole width in the heel 20950824 main
Test results
Superstar 71.8 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
67.7 mm
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103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Our stiffness test showed that the Superstar requires a force of only 9.9N to bend by 30 degrees. This is a pretty flexible result even for a lifestyle sneaker and it is notably lower than the category average.

This Adidas kick conformed with the natural flexion of our foot with ease but we must say that the shoe actually felt a sales stiff fresh out of the box. So a few wears were needed before we could fully savor its forgiving pliability.

Adidas Superstar Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
Superstar 9.9N
Average 14.0N
Compared to 33 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

Tipping the scale at 14.2 oz, the Superstar falls right within the average range for sneakers we’ve tested in the lab so far. 

adidas superstar weight 20950813 main
Test results
Superstar 14.14 oz (401g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

To test the breathability of the Superstar, we pumped the shoe full of smoke. Typically leather shoes don’t perform very well but the Superstar somewhat surpasses expectations with a steady stream of smoke coming out of the tongue. This isn’t incredible and earns the shoe a run-of-the-mill score of 3 out of 5 for breathability. 

Compare that to the extremely airy Puma RS-X which earned a perfect breathability score. 

As we can see from inspecting a backlit cross-section of the Superstar’s upper, the only areas light can shine through are the small holes along the side of the shoe and a sales bit through the tongue. Without these, the shoe would be a real toaster.

Test results
Superstar 3
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

We gave the Superstar the creme brulee treatment, burning and scratching the different parts of the upper to test whether the materials were genuine.

The main leather portion of the shoe proved to be real leather which only got scorched. The Colored overlay at the heel, however, is clearly synthetic and just melted under the heat. 

Adidas Superstar Leather/Suede quality
Test results
Superstar Real leather

Toebox durability

To test the durability of the Superstar’s fortified toebox, we fired up our Dremel to 5K RPM and applied it to the shoe with 3.2N of force. Beyond casting aside strangely dark flecks of dust (considering it’s a white shoe), our tool seems to have sales effect on the toebox. 

Inspecting the aftermath of the four-second test, it seems our Dremel was only able to smooth out the lattice pattern that lines the rubber toebox. This tank-like performance earns the Superstar a perfect 5 out of 5 for toebox durability.

Adidas Superstar Toebox durability
Test results
Superstar 5
Average 3.7
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
1
Toebox durability
5

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Turning our attention to the heel collar, we unleashed our Dremel on the Superstar again where it proved to be much more effective. The tool’s grinding element immediately rips into the lining material and starts sending bits of padding flying hither and yon. 

While the Dremel did inflict substantial damage on the heel counter, some padding did manage to survive which leads us to give the Superstar a heel padding durability score of 2 out of 5.

Test results
Superstar 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
1
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5

Outsole hardness

We pressed our durometer against the Superstar’s outsole and got an average reading of 85 HC. This level of hardness usually denotes a good mix of durability and grip. 

adidas superstar outsole hardness 20950811 main
Test results
Superstar 85.0 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

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This time spinning at 10K RPM, we set our Dremel against the Superstar’s outsole for a total of twenty seconds. 

Afterward, we assessed the damage with our tire tread gauge and found that we had lopped off 1.19 mm of rubber, essentially smoothing out the existing tread pattern. This falls in line with our current lab average which leads us to predict that it will take 400 to 500 miles of use before the shoe’s traction is compromised.

Test results
Superstar 1.2 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We measured the outsole to be right around average at 5 mm thick. While some might argue that we should measure the whole rubber piece as the outsole, we contend that once we wear through to the cutout portions at the heel, the shoe is surely cooked. 

Adidas Superstar Outsole thickness
Test results
Superstar 5.5 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The zig-zag tread pattern on the Superstar’s outsole gave us no problems with traction during our test walks. Even wet surfaces were no cause for concern, though we don’t recommend wearing this shoe in the rain as it will damage the genuine leather. 

adidas superstar uhkvwkhvhk 20950829 main

Reflective elements

With no reflective elements whatsoever, this Superstar doesn’t twinkle at night. 

Adidas Superstar Reflective elements
Test results
Superstar No

Tongue padding

At 8.8 mm thick according to our caliper measurements, the Superstar’s tongue is slightly more padded than our current lab average. This not only provides good comfort across our instep but helps in achieving a snug lockdown without any hint of lace bite. 

adidas superstar tongue padding 20950833 main
Test results
Superstar 8.8 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
ladies stan smith adidas sneakers
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

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The Superstar’s tongue is non-gusseted, though we didn’t experience any slippage thanks to how wide and generously padded it is. 

Adidas Superstar adidas cleveland cavaliers jersey
Test results
Superstar None

Removable insole

The Superstar’s insole is fully removable, so those in need of custom orthotics for added arch support can use them with this shoe. 

Adidas Superstar Removable insole
Test results
Superstar Yes