Adidas Samba Shoes Review

Adidas’ iconic Samba Sneakers have been everywhere in the last few years. Even after winning Shoe of the Year in 2023, they still reign supreme as one of the most fashionable sneaker options out there. It has been called the “It Girl” shoe and has been spotted on celebrities like Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Jennifer Lawrence.

At Reviewed, we test a lot of products — sneakers included — and though many of us wouldn’t quite call ourselves sneakerheads, we know that shoes can really make or break an outfit. Nike, Vans, New Balance, Allbirds, and Reebok were among our favorites until we got our hands on the infamous Samba Sneakers for ourselves to find out if they were as hot as their fans say.

What are the Adidas Samba Shoes?

Samba Shoes are one of Adidas’ flagship sneakers alongside the Stan Smiths. Originally created in 1950 to help German football players play on an icy fields, the Samba has undergone various redesigns over the years, though they’d take on their current design (more-or-less) in the 80s.

Samba Shoes have been iconic for years, but enjoyed a recent surge in popularity starting in 2023. The shoes’ popularity boost is fueled by their appearance on notable stars including Emily Ratajkowski and A$AP Rocky. Many designers have made their own take on the iconic shoe including Louis Vuitton, Pharrell, Grace Wales Bonner, and KSENIASCHNAIDER. There are often limited edition Samba Shoes collaborations like the Sporty & Rich Samba Shoes made to commemorate the 2024 Olympics.

What we like about Adidas Samba Shoes

They’re versatile

We found that Sambas paired well with several different types of outfits. While wearing a neutral color helps, the shoes’ quiet presence comes mostly from their narrow and low profile. Similarly, while the Samba shoes’ diagonal tri-stripe is distinct, it’s low-key enough to not draw attention to itself. In some colorways, the stripes are practically invisible thanks to a monochromatic color palette. And yet, even the most understated colorways still rock some sort of multicolor action thanks to the gum soles.

The result is a pair of shoes that can simultaneously pop out in an athletic or casual fit while being able to fade to the background in dressier attire.

They provide all-day comfort

We spent a lot of time wearing the Adidas Sambas and are happy to report that they feel as good as they look. One of us wore a pair of Sambas helping a friend move, another spent the day walking across two museums. While there is a brief break-in period, afterwards, it's smooth sailing and the Sambas are an absolute dream on the feet.

What we don’t like about Adidas Samba Shoes

The break-in period is short but can be painful

The Sambas turned out to be a comfortable pair of shoes, but things were looking a bit dicey for some during the break-in period. Said break-in period is mercifully short, yet particularly painful. Some complained that their arches were cinched with a vice-like grip, particularly after any bit of pressure.

Luckily, after a day, the fit became roomier and there were no blisters to show for the painful break-in period. However, those with more sensitive feet should exercise caution or order a half size up.

They run narrow

Throughout our time wearing the Sambas, we were acutely aware of how narrow they were. The feeling wasn’t uncomfortable (barring the break in period), but more so odd. Some of us have feet that aren’t particularly wide, so those with sensitive feet may need to order half a size up while those with wide feet might have to pass up on the Samba Shoes entirely. Besides that, we found they fit true to size.

They scuff easily

While the Adidas Samba Shoes are beautiful, that beauty might not last particularly long. After wearing them for less than a month, the suede on our shoes had already been scuffed. We know shoes are meant to be worn and in the process of wearing them, they’ll stop looking pristine, but it would be nice to savor the out-of-box look a bit longer.

Should you buy the Adidas Samba Shoes?

Yes!

While the Samba shoes run a bit narrow, can scuff easily, and have a potentially painful break-in period, none of these drawbacks were dealbreakers for us. We were able to get a substantial amount of mileage out of the Samba shoes in the weeks we’ve been wearing them. They’ve quickly become the most versatile & comfortable pair in our closets. No matter what you’re wearing, you’ll be comfortable all day in these stylish yet understated athletic shoes. If you do go for the Samba shoes, try them on in person so you know what size works best for you.