I think if I were to audit Substack chats the item with the most hits would be Adidas Sambas so when
from said she was interested in providing us a deep dive, I knew we had struck gold. And while we are here, I just need to say, that if you aren’t following Ofelia, she is an immediate “subscribe".” All The Above gives wardrobe clarity and inspiration each and every time.
The shoes that are seemingly everywhere – are they just a trend? Are they actually comfortable? Why do they have us in a chokehold? Will their reign come to an end? Let’s deep dive into why I like Adidas’ Sambas and why I think they’re sought out by so many.
First Impressions
I initially saw them in the classic white and grey combo. My husband once referred to them as “bowling shoes” and I, at a loss for words, was howling at his remark. I would take his commentary with a grain of salt as he didn’t really understand the craze – he grew up wearing them as indoor soccer shoes. All I heard from his comments is that the grip of the soles is impeccable.
I waited 20 minutes in a crowded Adidas store in Amsterdam to try them on. Slipping them on for the first time, I fell in love with how low to the ground they were. I had never considered how some shoes can be more sleek vs others being chunkier before and it’s because I had never owned any that were so low profile like these.
Fit Notes
Warning, this comes from someone who has a narrow foot, but I find they run big. I’m typically a 9 and took a 7.5 in these. I conducted an unofficial poll on my Instagram stories and 50% of respondents said they ran true to size, with the other respondents saying they ran big, narrow or wide. Based on what I read online, I saw most say they ran true to size but to beware of the narrow toe box.
Buyer Beware
The only qualm I had after wearing them for the first time was that the “tongue” of the shoe rubbed on the front of my foot. I had to wear socks that were longer than the tongue flap to avoid the rubbing and discomfort. After posting a seemingly innocent video on TikTok about it, I realized I wasn’t the only one who had encountered this issue.
The discomfort eventually went away. I wore a thicker sock that covered the tongue portion and didn’t have any issues. I was eventually able to wear an ankle sock and have no discomfort. I don’t recall how many wears it took, but probably about 5-6 times before they felt broken in.
Are these for you?
While I can’t say with 100% certainty, here are a few things I would take into account when considering them:
Due to their low profile, there is little to no support (read: cushion) in the sole. If you have trouble with this, I would steer away from them. With that said, I’ve worn them for hours on end and had no issue on high mileage days. Most recently, I wore them on a 20k+ step afternoon in Mexico City and had no issues.
You want to purchase a specific color based on what you see on others. My first and only pair (so far!) is olive green. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else post these. While I like the classic white pair, I knew I was most excited about this color as my first pair. So instead of giving into the pressure of what I saw everywhere, I bought a color I knew I loved.
How I Style Them
I noticed I enjoy wearing specific denim inseams with my Sambas. Their low profile lends super well to jean puddling and often makes your feet look smaller. I think this can be helpful when you’re trying to have the focus of the outfit on something other than your shoes. The less chunky the shoe, the more the jeans you pair them with will elongate your legs, at least in my experience.
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I love the wrong shoe theory. I particularly love wearing them with dresses and structured outfits. I find myself wearing them with dresses the most as they’re easy to pair together when I don’t want to think too much about them.
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Alternatives
If you’re interested in a similar price point and want to stay with Adidas my recommendations are as follows. If you’re looking for a bit more support, I would consider the Gazelles. If you’re looking for some cushioned arch support, I would put my money on the Handball Spezials. I’m currently obsessed with this color, but can’t find my size anywhere.
Not quite the same price point, but I’m also a Veja fan and I think the Campo line is a close match in terms of low profile shoes. I have multiple Veja pairs and they’re very comfy. One pair that I’ve seen really good reviews about have been M.GEMI’s Palestra Due. I own their flats and they are insanely comfy, so I can only imagine their sneakers are just as great if not better. Other honorable mention brands are Puma, Onitsuka, Nike and New Balance.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of articles on how overdone the sambas are, but if you’re buying them because they fit your needs and you love them, do away with what everyone else thinks. Pay no attention to the noise!
They are everywhere for good reason — their low profile, wide array of colorway options and price clocking in at $100 make them a winner for me. I can see myself buying another color if I find myself wanting an alternative to my olive green pair.
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Kelly, thank you so much for letting me write a review!! I had so much fun writing about my sambas. I am also honored to hear your recommendation about All The Above. It means the world to me coming from you 🥹❤️
As someone that observed the incoming trend, saw it peak, and still decided to buy it, I completely agree with you! TBH, I didn’t even consider sambas bc it felt like everyone was wearing them but I decided to try them on while in Europe (bc at the time it was impossible to find from US retailers)and I instantly loved them.They just work for my style, slouchier fits, and lifestyle…no regrets!