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The New Adidas Samba Costs Way Less Than Its Luxe Look Suggests

Don’t be fooled by the tonal upper and embossed branding. This is still the affordable Samba you remember.

Close-up of the heel and side of a brown suede sneaker with a textured rubber sole and visible stitching. The shoe has a smooth leather trim around the ankle opening. The word "SAMBA" is partially visible on the side. The background is a solid muted blue color.Adidas

By Jack Seemer

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The Samba is one of those shoes that won’t go away. But who said anything about standing still?

Its name goes back to the 1940s, when Adidas founder Adi Dassler attached it to a winter soccer shoe designed for cold, hard pitches.

Since then, the Samba has reinvented itself countless times, including a series high-end makeovers in recent years that have seen it go from affordable classic to bona fide dress shoe.

The newest colorway is caught between both worlds in the best possible way, meaning it looks way more luxe than the price tag would suggest.

Light brown suede Adidas Samba sneaker with matching laces, textured sole, and the word "SAMBA" embossed on the side.
The new Adidas Samba takes on a textured tonal upper and embossed branding.
Adidas

Cardboard cutout

Already available overseas, the new Adidas Samba takes on a suede upper to replace the smooth leather of the original.

Light brown suede Adidas sneaker with matching laces, gold Adidas logo on the tongue, and a padded collar. The shoe has a classic design with visible stitching and a shadow cast to the left.
Gold foil on the tongue is the only pop of color.
Adidas

It’s a textured touch that imbues the shoe with a touch of quiet luxury, especially when you factor in the matching stripes.

Close-up of the front part of a beige suede sneaker with matching beige laces and a textured rubber sole. The shoe features detailed stitching and a smooth suede finish.
Adidas calls this light brown “Cardboard” but that’s selling it short.
Adidas
Sole of a beige Adidas shoe featuring a textured pattern with triangular shapes, three circular indentations, and concentric circles near the ball of the foot. The Adidas logo is embossed near the heel area.
Even the rubber outsole matches.
Adidas

But what really sets this Samba apart is the so-called “Cardboard” colorway that sits closer to a classic desert boot than anything resembling a former soccer cleat.

What’s more, the name “Samba” is embossed on the side of the shoe, rather than stamped, with its gold-foil branding reserved for the tongue.

Light brown suede Adidas Samba sneaker with tonal laces, three stitched stripes on the side, and a textured rubber sole. The word "SAMBA" is embossed near the stripes. The shoe is shown from a rear-side angle.
Embossed lettering on the side replaces the usual stamped “Samba” tag.
Adidas

Availability and pricing

For its final trick, the new variant — which is now live on the Adidas Japan website — costs the same as the standard Samba OG.

That suggests a retail price of just $100 when it eventually lands in the US. Look for it to drop in the coming weeks.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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