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Sambas, Sambas, Sambas! The retro adidas shoe style is all anyone could talk about this year, but have you heard about the new adidas Sambae shoes?
The 1950s classic earned the coveted “Shoe of the Year” award during the 37th annual FN Achievement Awards due to its massive spike in sales and popularity in 2023 with over 977 million views on TikTok for #adidassamba. Kendall Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Kaia Gerber showcased the sneaker’s versatility with several stunning adidas Samba outfits for cool-girl style (especially for followers of the TikTok-viral “wrong shoe theory“). But the OG soccer shoe isn’t just a fan with fashion gals; modern style savants including Harry Styles, Jacob Elordi, and Timothée Chalamet all have donned Samba sneakers with swagger this year in a variety of colorways and special-edition variations from brand collaborations like Wales Bonner and Kith.
Reimagining adidas’ most iconic styles, including the adidas Samba, is key to the brand’s continued popularity, as Footwear News reported earlier this year, and the adidas Sambae might just be the new release that elevates popular soccer shoes to new heights in 2024.
What makes the Sambae special? It’s all in the details. The Sambae is a more premium version of the Samba that taps into the ‘Quiet Luxury‘ trend with a buttery-smooth leather upper and thick, platform gum rubber outsole. Upon closer inspection of the new adidas release, the brand’s classic three-stripe detail is actually made with embroidered thread that provides a nice textural contrast to the soft leather upper. Another design change can be seen in the T-shaped toe cap that seamlessly blends into the translucent gum outsole, thanks to a stitch-and-turn construction technique. The effect of these modern design upgrades is rich and luxurious — so you know we had to try them out.
adidas Sambae Shoes Editor Testing Review
- Testing time period: 2 weeks
- Size range: 4 to 10 men’s; 5 to 11 women’s
- Materials: Leather upper, gum rubber platform sole
- Colorways available: Red and white; mauve and brown
- Pros:
- Refined design details
- Quality materials for a great price
- Versatility in style
- Cons:
- Too narrow of a toe box for wide feet
- Lack of arch support
adidas Sambae Sneakers
The first thing you’ll notice about the adidas Sambae shoe after those fine details — that make the $110 shoe look more expensive than most designer sneakers on the market — is the platform gum rubber outsole. The height-boosting bottom is sturdy, durable, and will provide great traction on any surface. If you think about it, these premium Sambas are steal with the extended lifespan the outsole provides.
This more refined Samba style is truly ideal for those days when your day transitions from office hours to cocktail hour with no time for a shoe change. Wide leg pants and pleated straight-leg trousers will benefit from the elevated without a wider shoe width.
The downside? For those with wide feet, keep moving and check out some of our favorite Gazelles. If your feet require more arch support, these flat-soled shoes might not be as comfortable as your ultra-cushioned running shoes. These are meant for fresh style, not performance.
If you’ve been waiting to invest in a pair of Sambas, the Sambae is the luxurious sneaker that can easily be paired with suiting as easily as it can be paired with your go-to jeans. The versatility, durability, and overall finesse of the modernized version of the Samba that reigned supreme in 2023 will confidently carry you into 2024 as you make great strides with elevated style.
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Meet the Author
Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for Footwear News and WWD, overseeing strategy for shopping content on both brands, along with writing and editing shopping guides, product reviews, and shopping trend stories for all types of footwear, from designer shoes to athletic sneakers for both men and women. Prior to his current role, Mansuroglu was a fashion editor and stylist at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Style Editor at BestProducts.com, and Senior Style & Gear Editor for Men’s Health Magazine, where he edited the annual Men’s Health Sneaker Awards. Mansuroglu has been tapped as a shopping expert for editorial websites such as Wirecutter, and his writing has also appeared in Out Magazine, Esquire and other publications. Mansuroglu received adidas Sambae sneakers from the brand to evaluate for this testing review.
