Buyers Guide: Breaking Down the adidas Samba Variations
Over the past few years, the adidas Samba has expanded its presence in the zeitgeist, infiltrating pop culture through collaborations and celebrity endorsements. Initially released in 1949, the soccer-geared silhouette has never been dropped from the Team Trefoil roster. And almost 75 years later, the Samba is still kicking harder than ever!
After almost a century in production, the adidas Samba has morphed, finding itself in 2023 with a swathe of different iterations. From the Velosamba to the Vegan, here’s a breakdown of the current Samba rotation.
Samba OG
The Samba OG is the classic and most common Samba silhouette on the market. Usually, you can find this pair draped in a leather and suede combination with a contrasting gum sole and the classic Three-Stripe branding.
Samba Classic
While the Samba Classic resembles the OG, it features a slew of extra details that make it unique. The Classic was created for indoor soccer use, and it boasts an extended tongue and a lightweight synthetic build with non-marking, EVA-injected soles. They also feature a larger font for the ‘Samba’ script branding along the lateral and the tongue.
Samba Vegan
The name says it all, really. The Samba Vegan is made with synthetic faux leather and does away with animal products. Usually, these iterations also draw on more sustainable fabrics, offering a slightly more mindful release.
Velosamba
The adidas Velosamba is one of the zaniest iterations on this list. Up top, it looks like a regular Samba. But underneath the midsole is a recess that fits two-bolt pedal cleats, like the Shimano SPD or the Time ATAC. They’re perfect for hardcore cycling fanatics who want an all-rounder that can take them from their bike to the bar!
Samba Recon LT
The Recon LT is one of the rarest Samba silhouettes to date, released back in 2018 around the time of the FIFA Russian World cup. Two colourways were released – one in black/gum and another in white/gum. Both iterations boast premium materials and a fold-over tongue.
Samba Super
The Samba Super was adidas’ answer to the original silhouette morphing from a reliable soccer sneaker to a lifestyle behemoth. This pair is made for the streets instead of the pitch, opting for a chunkier build, a slimmer foam sole at the rear, and an extended outsole at the forefoot.
Samba Rose
The Samba Rose is another lifestyle-geared take introduced around 2018 as a women’s-sized iteration. Team Trefoil attached a textured platform midsole beneath a classic upper for this release.
Samba RM
adidas say that the Samba RM aimed to ‘modernise the heritage look’ through the incorporation of BOOST soles, extra lateral branding that reads ‘S4M3A’, and ever-so-slightly raised midsoles.
Samba ADV
This ADV edition is a Samba made for skate! The ADV’s uppers are upgraded to be extra durable, with the toebox suede revamped to withstand hardcore wear and tear. Usually, the Samba ADV can be found exclusively in skate stores.
Keep up with all the adidas Samba news here, and find a sizing guide here.
