Beginner's Guide to adidas Samba
Looking back at the classic low-profile design as the silhouette approaches its 75th anniversary.
History of the adidas Samba
The adidas Samba was developed in the late 1940s by adidas founder Adolf “Adi” Dassler, and would go on to become a cornerstone of the Three Stripes’ footwear program. The design, constructed with leather uppers, improved upon conventional cleats with an unprecedented gum outsole featuring a suction pattern for improved traction on icy and frozen ground. Ahead of its debut on the international stage at the 1950 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, adidas sought to position the shoe for professional use in warmer climates by adopting the name “Samba,” after the music and dance style that famously originated in Brazil.
As five-a-side soccer became prominent in the mid-1970s, players found that the Samba’s grippy properties worked well on indoor courts, leading to an uptick in popularity. It soon gained relevance beyond its original purpose as a performance shoe, becoming a lifestyle and subculture icon. Along the way, the design was joined by the Bamba and Mamba sister models, as well as the Samba Super derivative. Additional evolutions included the Samba Millennium (crafted without the extended tongue of the original design) and the Samba ’85.
The shoe was a de rigueur part of “terrace wear,” a look popularized by UK soccer fans throughout the 1980s. During the ’90s, disseminators of “Cool Britannia” style, such as the movie Trainspotting, the bands Oasis and Blur, and supermodel Kate Moss, furthered the Samba’s cultural credentials. It also became a fixture among skaters, who favored the shoe for its robust boardfeel and durability. Eventually, adidas released a skate-specific offshoot named the Busenitz.
The Samba returned to widespread significance in the late 2010s, having been worn by cultural pioneers including A$AP Rocky, Rihanna and Bella Hadid.
Different Types of adidas Sambas
The Samba is generally produced in full family size runs, including men’s, women’s, kids’, GS (Grade School) and PS (Pre-School) sizes. Befitting its status as an enduring sneaker icon, it has been replicated with various modifications.
Samba Original
The original Samba is the quintessential and most widely recognized Samba iteration. It is distinguished by its fusing of premium leather and suede materials, highlighted by a signature gum sole. The classic Three-Stripe logo adorns the shoe’s lateral and medial panels.
Samba Original
Samba Classic
The Samba Classic adheres to the same design language as the original but is crafted for indoor soccer use. The tongue is elongated, with an EVA midsole that provides a superior response on hard surfaces. In a minor aesthetic twist, the “Samba” font above the Three Stripes is enlarged.
Samba Classic
Samba Vegan
The Samba Vegan looks identical to the original but eliminates the use of animal-based materials. Instead, the upper is crafted with faux leather.
Samba Vegan
Samba ADV
The Samba ADV, released in 2017, is specifically engineered to provide skaters with extra support. It incorporates a new T-toe design with two layers of Adituff toe reinforcement, powering feel, flick and durability. A molded sockliner and tongue wings offer a locked-in fit, while the grippy outsole improves feel and board control.
Samba ADV
Samba Primeknit
Swapping leather for foot-hugging Primeknit material, the adidas Samba Primeknit is a lighter, more breathable update of the classic. The shoe retains the signature gum sole.
Samba Primeknit
Velosamba
The Velosamba is built for city riding, commuting and indoor cycling. The incognito bike shoe incorporates a midsole plate with two-bolt cleat compatibility for efficient pedaling.
Velosamba
Best adidas Samba colorways
Approaching its 75th anniversary, adidas has produced the Samba in nearly every color combination imaginable. Below, a list of some of the most iconic Samba colorways.
Black
The original and most iconic, the two-tone black and white Samba remains one of adidas’ most recognized models around the world.
White
The white adidas Samba is a timeless summer style, buttressed with a grey suede T-toe overlay for a subtle variation.
Green
For a versatile style, the Samba is dressed in an autumnal forest green tone that complements the gum outsole.
Pink
The pink Samba is one of the more irreverent tones, experiencing a surge in popularity in 2023 thanks to the barbiecore trend.
Blue
While blue is most commonly associated with the adidas Gazelle, it has also been utilized on the Samba for a bold aesthetic.
Red
Red has been featured on various Samba silhouettes, both on the main upper and the Three Stripes detailing.
Features of adidas Samba Shoes
Aside from material and technology upgrades, the Samba’s simple and straightforward design of leather and rubber has remained mostly unaltered since its inception. Below, some of the sneaker’s most celebrated design elements.
T-toe Design
Known for its curved proportions, the Samba’s toe box features a suede T-toe design that contrasts the leather upper.
Leather Upper
The Samba is composed of sturdy leather that softens with time, responding to the shape of the wearer’s foot.
Gum Rubber Cupsole
The classic gum midsole offers a timeless aesthetic, with a suction outsole that is non-marking and well-suited to training in icy conditions.
Elongated Tongue
The classic Samba is notable for its stretch tongue, which some wearers opt to fold down, depending on personal taste.
Popular Collaborations for adidas Sambas
adidas has invited various collaborators to remaster the Samba over the years through each creative partner’s unique design lens. Below are some of the most notable.
Wales Bonner x adidas Samba
British-Jamaican designer Grace Wales Bonner chose the Samba as the cornerstone of her expansive adidas collaboration. She reimagined the shoe in various colorways, from muted creams to ostentatious silver, while elevating material compositions.
Sporty & Rich x adidas Samba
Emily Oberg’s Sporty & Rich brought neutral palettes and subtle detailing to the Samba. The LA-based label also swapped out the original text for its own signature branding.
Kith x Clarks x adidas Samba
Known as the 8th Street Samba, the three-way tie-up between Kith, Clarks and adidas combined the classic Samba upper with a crepe-style midsole lifted from the British shoe brand’s iconic Wallabee.
Popular Collaborations for adidas Sambas
adidas Samba FAQ
Who designed the adidas Samba?
The adidas Samba was designed by adidas founder, Adolf "Adi" Dassler.
When did adidas Sambas first come out?
The adidas Samba was first released in 1949.
When is the next adidas Samba release or restock?
adidas constantly refreshes the Samba range with new colorways and models. Recent Samba releases and restocks include:
How do adidas Sambas fit?
adidas Sambas generally fits true to size. You should take your normal size in adidas Sambas. The sneaker may take several wears to break in due to the leather and suede build.
What sizes do adidas Sambas come in?
adidas Sambas comes in full size runs for men, women and kids.
Are adidas Sambas comfortable?
The adidas Samba is a comfortable shoe that is well suited to all-day wear and light activities.
What are adidas Sambas good for?
The adidas Samba is an ideal shoe for daily wear. It is well suited to walking and less strenuous sports activities such as indoor soccer. For running, a specialist model from our running shoe guide should be considered instead.
What to wear adidas Sambas with?
The Samba is a versatile shoe that can be worn with jeans, hoodies, sweatpants and tees. It can also be paired with more elevated styles to bring a touch of casual to formalwear.
How to clean adidas Sambas?
adidas Sambas respond well to most specialist shoe-cleaning products. For more sneaker cleaning tips, consult our cleaning guide.
Where to buy adidas Sambas?
You can buy adidas Sambas on GOAT. Explore a selection of Samba sneakers here.
What are similar shoes to adidas Sambas?
Similar silhouettes include the Handball Spezial, Gazelle, and Campus.
How to tell if adidas Sambas are fake?
GOAT uses machine-learning technology, digital authentication, in-hand verification or a combination of these methods to determine if sneakers are fake or real. By doing so, we seek to ensure the adidas Samba sneakers you purchase are both authentic and as-described.