Our verdict
- Top pick in best trainers
- Top pick in best classic Adidas trainers
Pros
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- Unbelievably affordable
- Real leather and suede
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- Long-lasting construction
- Lighter than average
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- Good grip for casual use
Cons
- Poor breathability
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mateo con gorra adidas shoes sale clearance | Audience verdict
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Comparison
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Audience score | 90 Good! | 94 Superb! | 94 Superb! | 92 Great! | |
Price | £90 | £90 | £95 | £75 | |
Style | ClassicRetroSportyMinimalist | ClassicRetroSportyMinimalist | ClassicSportyMinimalist | ClassicSportyMinimalist | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Warm | Moderate | |
Weight lab | 12.1 adidas china pure blue jeans for sale on ebay | 12.1 adidas eqt torsion support center locations | 11.8 adidas cd9592 pants girls women sizes chart | 13.1 sepatu adidas + q33687 boots for women shoes | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | - | - | - | Firm | |
Material | LeatherSuede | Gum SoleSuede | Cup SoleGum SoleLeatherSuede | Gum SoleLeatherSuede | |
Season | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | |
Inspired from | Football | Football | Football | Football | |
adidas bold age track dress shoes for boys size 7 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
adidas sports coat size guide for women europe map | Medium | Narrow | Narrow | Medium | |
Leather/suede quality | Real suede | Real suede | Real leather | Real leather | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Good | Good | |
Heel padding durability | Decent | Decent | Good | Decent | |
Outsole durability | Bad | Good | Good | Decent | |
jersi adidas murah backpack shoes india | 19.3 mm | 25.1 mm | 20.3 mm | 22.6 mm | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | |
Tongue padding | Thin | Thin | Thin | Very thin | |
Drop lab | 7.4 mm | 14.4 mm | 8.6 mm | 7.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 11.9 mm | 10.7 mm | 11.7 mm | 15.6 mm | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Heel tab | None | None | None | None | |
Torsional rigidity | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | |
Heel counter stiffness | Stiff | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Sustainable | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Closure | Laces | Laces | Laces | Laces | |
Top | Low top | Low top | Low top | Low top | |
Ranking | #66 Bottom 41% | #7 Top 7% | #15 Top 14% | #36 Top 33% | |
Popularity | #3 Top 3% | #35 Top 32% | #37 Top 34% | #51 Top 46% |
Who should buy
We believe that this classic silhouette is a must-have for people who want the following:
- an Adidas Originals sneaker that stems way back from the '50s
- an exceptionally durable yet affordable pair of genuine leather kicks
- a minimal and versatile kick that's easy to match
...not to mention that this Adidas kick is regularly donned by supermodels and Hollywood stars these days!
Who should NOT buy
Technically, the shoe has no foam midsole to provide a well-cushioned ride for long hours on the feet. If you prefer that plush supportive underfoot experience, we recommend the Adidas Alphabounce+ or the Supernova+.
The colour choices for the Samba are quite limited. If you need more hues and you need them bright and bold, have a look at the Adidas Gazelle.
Cushioning
Heel stack
The Samba doesn't have a midsole per se, which makes it feel very low-profile and close to the ground. Using a calliper, we got as little as 19.3 mm of heel stack. This is nearly half an inch thinner than average!
In the era of chunky dad shoes and platform kicks, the Adidas Samba really feels like something else.

Samba | 19.3 mm |
Average | 30.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
As you could probably guess by now, this Adidas shoe is also not very tall in the forefoot either. Measuring as little as 11.9 mm, it is about 0.3 inch (7 mm) thinner than average.
Be careful not to step on any rocks out there!
Samba | 11.9 mm |
Average | 19.1 mm |
Drop
Considering the difference in stack heights, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop is not very steep. At 7.4 mm, it is about 3 mm lower than average.
Combined with the shoe's lack of cushioning, stepping on the heels too hard is not going to feel pleasant in the Adidas Samba.

Samba | 7.4 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
Insole thickness
The insole doesn't give a lot of hope for comfort either. Measuring it with our calliper, we got as little as 3.3 mm. That is certainly not enough to compensate for the lack of a foam midsole.
Although we found the Adidas Samba comfortable enough for a few hours of wear, we cannot recommend it for long hours of standing or walking.

Samba | 3.3 mm |
Average | 5.1 mm |
Size and fit
Size
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Its slim profile is often THE reason why people choose the Adidas Samba. So its narrower toebox space shouldn't come as a surprise.
On foot, the kick felt adequately snug but let's see how it stacks up against other lifestyle trainers.
Having poured a gel mould of the Samba, we were able to measure its internal dimensions with a digital calliper.
In the widest part of the mould (corresponds to the widest area of the foot near the metatarsals), our calliper showed a moderate reading of 90.2 mm. It is indeed narrower than average which makes it better suited for medium-to-narrow feet.
Samba | 90.2 mm |
Average | 92.3 mm |
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The shoe's mould also showed a bit of a taper angle at the tip of the toebox. Even though it's not very aggressive, it showed a below-average reading of 67.2 mm.

Samba | 67.2 mm |
Average | 68.8 mm |
Toebox height
A tonne of vertical toebox space helps the Adidas Samba feel spacious despite its snug toebox shape. With a high reading of 30.8 mm, you can see a bit of a dome on top of the shoe's toebox.

Samba | 30.8 mm |
Average | 27.8 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Because the adidas glitch cleats black and grey blue hair so low to the ground, it almost feels like you're standing barefoot! And the change of feeling unstable or twisting your ankle is pretty minuscule in that case.
Torsional rigidity
This Adidas shoe is incredibly pliable. This was confirmed in our manual check of its torsional stiffness. Technically, there is none, so we rated it with the lowest score of 1 out of 5.
While this could be a problem for high-stacked shoes, it is not a problem with the Samba at all. Lack of torsional rigidity doesn't affect stability in its case.
Samba | 1 |
Average | 3.6 |
Heel counter stiffness
Our heels and ankles sat very securely inside the Samba all throughout the wear test. There is a good amount of stiffness in the shoe's heel counter to hold the rearfoot firmly in place. On a 1-5 scale, we gave it a pretty high score of 4.
But be careful: the shoe's collar has a synthetic leather lining inside and very little padding. This is likely to cause rubbing at first. We recommend wearing taller socks at least the first time you take the Adidas Samba out.
Samba | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
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The platform of the adidas glitch cleats black and grey blue hair not particularly wide. Based on our calliper measurements, it is actually narrower than the average among trainers.
In the widest part of the forefoot, our tool showed 102.4 mm. That's about 4 mm narrower than average, but don't worry, it is not narrow enough to make the Samba feel unstable. In fact, it is even a tiny bit wider than the Adidas Gazelle and the Adidas Superstar.

Samba | 102.4 mm |
Average | 108.5 mm |
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In the widest area of the heel, we got 75.4 mm. This is only a couple of millimetres narrower than the average and never compromised the steadiness of our landings.

Samba | 75.4 mm |
Average | 83.6 mm |
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Flexibility is where the Samba beats many other trainers these days. Amidst giant rockered platforms that don't seem to bend at all, this Adidas sneaker feels very old-school (as it should).
Measuring how much force it takes to bend the Samba to a 90-degree angle, we found that it requires only 13.7N. Based on the force gauge measurements of other trainers, the adidas glitch cleats black and grey blue hair 40% more flexible than average!
Samba | 13.7N |
Average | 23.4N |
Weight
On foot, the Adidas Samba doesn't feel heavy at all. And it also turns out to be that way on the scale.
Weighing 12.1 oz (342g) in a men's US size 9, this Adidas silhouette is 2 ounces lighter than the average sneaker.
This contributes to the shoe's minimalist appeal for sure.

Samba | 12.06 oz (342g) |
Average | 13.79 oz (391g) |
Breathability
If you see a Pinterest photo where the Adidas Samba completes a light summer outfit, don't believe it! Made of genuine leather and suede, this shoe is NOT your best bet for dog days.
To prove our point, we ran a smoke-pumping machine test in our lab. As you can see in the video below, only a thin streak of smoke is getting out of the Samba, and it escapes only through the gaps on the sides of the tongue. For that reason, we rated this Adidas shoe's breathability as 3 out of 5.
If keeping your feet feeling fresh is a priority, you may want to enjoy one of these best summer trainers instead.
Our transparency test doesn't help this Adidas sneaker look any better. There is not a single perforation or a breathable mesh panel on this upper!
Even looking at the Samba through our microscope, all you see is a solid layer of leather or suede.
Samba | 3 |
Average | 3 |
Durability
Leather/Suede quality
Up until 2012, the Samba's upper was made of kangaroo leather. That's because compared to calfskin, it is more durable, softer, and offers a much more responsive ball touch. But the brand wisely chose a more ethical route and refused from kangaroo leather.
But is the new full-grain leather genuine? Let's find out.
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Holding a butane torch against the leather section on the heel for a few seconds, we found that it did not catch fire. We then scratched it with a leather scratch awl to check how easily the material gets damaged. Finally, we repeated the same procedure for the suede overlay on the toebox.
Our verdict: both leather and suede are genuine on the Adidas Samba! However, the white piece at the top of the collar is fake leather.

Samba | Real suede |
Toebox durability
Even though we already had an insight into the shoe's upper durability, we still put it through our dazzle Dremel test.
After 12 seconds of drilling at a relentless speed of 10K RPM, the tool didn't even eat through the suede layer! This definitely puts the Samba onto the more durable side of our spectrum. On a scale from 1 to 5, it earned a 4 from us!
Samba | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
Heel padding durability
Despite the fact that the shoe's interiors are not made of real leather, its heel collar lining showed solid wear resistance.
Giving it a good drill of 4 seconds at 5K RPM, the damage was really minor. We saw a scratch that did not interfere with the shoe's comfort and integrity. This led us to give the shoe's heel collar lining a solid 4 out of 5.
Samba | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Outsole hardness
The Adidas Samba features a gum rubber outsole, so we did not expect it to be very hard. Pressing our durometer against it, we got a reading of 76.9 HC. This is indeed on the softer side of the spectrum and is 9% softer than the average sneaker sole.
For that reason, we do not expect it to last as long as the harder rubbers would (think Adidas Continental).

Samba | 76.9 HC |
Average | 85.7 HC |
Outsole durability
Our concerns were backed up by the Dremel test. Holding the tool against the rubber for a good 22 seconds at an abrasive speed of 10K RPM, the damage was visible to the untrained eye.
We measured the dent with a tread gauge and found it to be 1.9 mm deep. That is among the deepest we've seen on sneaker outsoles.
Samba | 1.9 mm |
Average | 1.1 mm |
Outsole thickness
But don't worry, the outsole on the Adidas Samba won't melt that fast. Based on our calliper measurement, the shoe's lower rubber layer is 4.7 mm thick and is mids with pretty toothy lugs.
So, even though it is a gum sole, it will take months before the outsole shows significant signs of wear.

Samba | 4.7 mm |
Average | 5.3 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
With its roots in indoor football (American football), the Adidas Samba certainly carries over the best outsole practises to prevent the wearer from slipping. We see pretty aggressive two-directional lugs in the shoe's midfoot and heel.
Meanwhile, the forefoot features a large pivot point under the ball of the foot and three suction cups around it that help to balance grip with swift direction changes.
We found that this setup worked well in all urban and casual scenarios that we've put the Adidas Samba through. Even on wet floors, we weren't worries about losing our step.
Tongue padding
The Samba uses a fairly thin tongue which returns only 3.1 mm on our calliper. That's about 50% thinner than average and it just goes along with the minimal nature of this Adidas shoe.
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Samba | 3.1 mm |
Average | 9.3 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
There are no gussets on the sides of the tongue which is a shame because we did experience some occasional sliding.

Samba | None |
Heel tab
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Samba | None |
Removable insole
If walking around with nothing but rubber underfoot does not appeal to you, you may want to insert a custom onsert. The stock insole is removable in the Samba.

Samba | Yes |
Background
Before the summer of 2022, the Adidas Samba was only popular among sneakerheads and indoor football players.
But after a few celebrity photos showing off this Adidas silhouette, the shoe's popularity began to rise at light speed. The demand reached stratospheric levels by September 2023 increasing by a whopping 900%! That's when the Samba ended up completely sold out for the first time in its history!
This Adidas sneaker first appeared as a football (American football) shoe in the 1950s. It was named after a Brazilian dance in an attempt to appeal to the South American audience during the World Cup in Brazil.
The Adidas Samba has since evolved into a sporty minimalist sneaker and even into a classy chic shoe on the feet of Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber!