12 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% year-over-year and 78% quarter-over-quarter—so consider these retro Flow Runners the 'It' shoe of fall 2024.

Sizes: EU 35-42

Colours: 7 options

Material: Nylon and suede

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. Colourways tend to sell out quickly, so don’t wait to grab your favourite.

Sizes: UK 3-13.5

Colors: 7 options

Material: Leather

Developed with taekwondo in mind, these sleek Adidas trainers 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: UK 3-13.5

Colours: Black, white

Material: Leather

Since debuting in the mid-1960s, adidas Gazelles have been worn by everyone from early hip-hop artists and 1990s supermodels to trendsetting A-listers like Harry Styles and Gigi Hadid. Searches for Gazelles are currently up 20% year-over-year on Lyst, indicating that this long-standing celebrity favourite will remain a top style through the coming seasons.

Sizes: UK 3-9.5

Colours: 14 options

Material: Leather

Asics Gel-Kayano sneakers may get plenty of hype, but the brand’s 1990s-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 £80 to £90, these are hard not to love.

Sizes: US 6-11

Colours: 3 options

Material: 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% year-over-year and 98% quarter-over-quarter on the platform, serving as further proof of the Japanese sneaker’s IYKYK status.

Sizes: UK 4-10

Colours: 7 options

Material: Suede

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: UK 5-10

Colours: Black, Off-White, Light blue

Material: Suede or leather

If you’re after vibrant trainers, 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 favourite Samba colourway is currently sold out, try the Handball Spezial in a similar pairing.

Sizes: EU 35-41

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

Material: Suede or corduroy

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 colourways to choose from, there’s destined to be one that suits your taste.

Sizes: EU 35-46

Colours: 17 options

Material: Suede or leather

Adidas’s Campus oos trainers 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: UK 3-13.5

Colours: 16 options

Material: Leather

If both Adidas Sambas and Margiela Tabi trainers are on your autumn 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: EU 35-41

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

Material: Leather

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: UK 5.5-11.5

Colour: Off-White/Brown

Material: Leather