15 Adidas Sambas Alternatives Worth Keeping on Your Radar

Everyone is talking about Loewe designer Jonathan Anderson following his stint costuming the hit film Challengers. This summer, Loewe was named the hottest brand on Lyst’s quarterly Index report—which ranks the most popular labels and items of the season. According to recent Lyst data shared with ELLE, searches for the brand’s sneakers are up 110 percent year-over-year and 78 percent quarter-over-quarter—so consider these retro Flow Runners the “It” shoe of fall 2024.

Sizes: EU 35-42

Colors: 7 options

Material: Nylon and suede

Developed with taekwondo in mind, these sleek Adidas sneakers offer a cool, laceless take on the brand’s trendy Sambas. If you’re after a versatile yet unexpected Samba alternative, this is it.

Sizes: 5-10.5

Colors: Black, white

Material: Leather

Customer review: “I love the look and get lots of 'where did you get those?' from people I don't even know. They are also comfortable. Best new Adidas style in years!”

Lyst ranked the Adidas SL72 OG sneaker within its top ten most sought-after products in Q2 of 2024, noting that the vintage silhouette offers a “subtle departure from the smash hit Samba shape.” An excellent choice for any Adidas fans looking to diversify their sneaker collection, the SL72 OG has been spotted on numerous Fashion Week attendees this season. Colorways tend to sell out quickly, so don’t wait to grab your favorite.

Sizes: 5-10

Colors: 7 options

Material: Leather

Customer review: “Very comfortable, just the right width, light. Would be great for long walks or even traveling.”

Asics Gel-Kayano sneakers may get plenty of hype, but the brand’s ’90s-inspired Skyhand OG deserves just as much attention. Inspired by handball sneakers, the low-profile silhouette features gum soles like the Samba but is accented with Asics’s signature stripes. Priced from $90 to $100, these are hard not to love.

Sizes: 6-11

Colors: 6 options

Material: Suede

Customer review: “My toes don't feel all squished inside, and most importantly, they don't blister the back of my ankles like other shoes that are similar in style. I even wore these at work for a 10-hour shift.”

The Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL Sneakers that topped the Q1 Lyst Index earlier this year are virtually sold out, but there are plenty of viable alternatives available. Case in point: these Miu Miu Plume Sneakers that have begun popping up all over TikTok lately. The pared-back silhouette is just as versatile, tapping into both the retro runner and designer soccer sneaker trends.

Sizes: 34-42 IT

Colors: Black, Ivory, Navy, White, Scarlet

Materials: Leather or suede

Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 sneakers became a cult classic the moment Uma Thurman wore a yellow and black pair in Kill Bill: Volume 1. Be forewarned, this isn’t the easiest Adidas Sambas alternative to get your hands on; stock is limited, and resale prices for this design tend to be steep. Lyst shared that searches for the Mexico 66 are now up 186 percent year-over-year and 98 percent quarter-over-quarter on the platform, serving as further proof of the Japanese sneaker’s IYKYK status.

Sizes: 5.5-12 US

Colors: 7 options

Material: Suede

The sneaker experts at Lyst also told me that searches for the Puma Palermo are currently up 93 percent quarter-over-quarter on the site, so don’t be surprised to see the style popping up right and left this fall. Though the shoe comes in plenty of bright colorways, a timeless neutral combo will never lead you astray.

I’ll also be keeping close tabs on the currently sold-out Puma Speedcat, another buzzy sneaker that social media has declared the “next Adidas Samba.” Like the Puma Palermo, these have been spotted on stars including Dua Lipa and Emily Ratajkowski.

Sizes: 5.5-11

Colors: 7 options

Material: Suede

Customer review: “I love the look of Sambas, but they were always out of stock. Glad they were because I like these so much better... They are super comfy, have no break-in period, and look chic.”

Though these Adidas Japan shoes haven’t reached mainstream popularity just yet, they’re coveted by die-hard sneakerheads. A reissue of a low-top sneaker from the mid-’60s, they tap into the same retro sneaker trend as the Samba in a slightly different way.

Sizes: 5—11

Colors: White, Off-White, Red

Material: Leather

Customer review: “Everything about these shoes is a 10/10. They fit like a glove with no need to break them in. I’ve purchased Spezials, Sambas, and Gazelles, and these might just be in the running for my newest fave.”

For a more minimalist take, try Axel Arigato’s Court sneaker. Though a far cry from the chunky, celeb-loved Marathon Runners that put the Scandi label on the map, these streamlined, suede low-tops feel just as cool. Slightly less sporty than Sambas, they’re sophisticated enough to work with nearly any outfit.

Sizes: 5-10

Colors: Black, Off-White, Light blue

Material: Suede or leather

If you’re after vibrant sneakers, try Adidas’s Handball Spezial. As its name implies, the style was developed to meet the demands of handball players—resulting in a gum-soled low-top that doesn’t look all too different from the Samba. So, if your favorite Samba colorway is currently sold out, try the Handball Spezial in a similar pairing.

Sizes: 5-11

Colors: Blue and Pink, Blue and Orange, Green, Lucid Pink

Material: Suede or corduroy

Customer review: “I see why these sell out in moments. The color and texture are stunning. Sambas have been my faves, but now I love these!”

Alohas’s Tb.490 Rife sneakers skyrocketed in popularity when social media users noticed their aesthetic similarities to sold-out Miu Miu x New Balance and Adidas x Wales Bonner collaborations. Order this Adidas Samba alternative now or forever hold your peace when it inevitably sells out. With nearly 30 colorways to choose from, there’s destined to be one that suits your taste.

Sizes: 35-46 EU

Colors: 17 options

Material: Suede or leather

Customer review: “I purchased these looking for something like my Adidas Gazelles but with a more dainty look. These shoes have exceeded my expectations. They are so cute and one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own.”

Adidas’s Campus oos sneakers are perfect for those looking to adopt a slightly beefier silhouette. The chunky low-tops have more of an early 2000s vibe than the Sambas, while still maintaining an overall sporty feel. For further proof of their cool factor, take a peek at Bad Bunny’s now sold-out Adidas Campus 00s collaboration.

Sizes: 5.5-11

Colors: Hazy Green, Black, Cloud White, Putty Grey, Charcoal

Material: Leather

Customer review: “The Campus is a proven classic right alongside the Superstar, Gazelle, and Samba. The Campus has a wider look and fit. Comfortable to wear all day and versatile to wear to the gym or out on the town.”

If both Adidas Sambas and Margiela Tabi sneakers are on your fall wishlist, these Margiela Replica sneakers are a nice one-and-done solution. Like the Samba, they’re an easy-to-style low-top silhouette with gum soles and minimal suede accents. Though these may not have the split toe of Tabis, they channel the same cool-girl energy.

Sizes: 35-41 IT

Colors: White, Silver Birch, Reversed Replica, Birdy, Brown

Material: Leather

Customer review: “They really go with a lot. I wear them to work. They are such a clean and professional sneaker.”

Since debuting in the mid-’60s, Adidas Gazelles have been worn by everyone from early hip-hop artists and ’90s supermodels to trendsetting A-listers like Harry Styles and Gigi Hadid. Searches for Adidas Gazelles are currently up 20 percent year-over-year on Lyst, indicating that this long-standing celebrity favorite will remain a top soccer shoe through the coming seasons.

Sizes: 5-11

Colors: Clear Pink/Lucid Blue, Clear Sky/Solar Green, Halo Blush/White

Material: Leather

Customer review: “The Gazelle is true to size with more cushion than the Samba.”

While these are technically Adidas Sambas, they certainly aren’t your average pair. Made in collaboration with designer Grace Wales Bonner, the neutral style is finished with green satin linings and contrast stitching that bring an entirely different vibe to the tried-and-true soccer shoe. Whether they’re your first or fifth pair of Sambas, these certainly won’t steer you wrong.

Sizes: 5.5-11.5

Color: Off-White/Brown

Material: Leather