Where to Buy:
As one of the most iconic retro sneakers on the market today, Adidas Originals Samoa certainly deserves a closer look and a review of its silhouette. There are a few sneakers on the market with the classic flair of the adidas Samoa shoe that are still going strong on the market today. The 80’s runner not only has stood the test of time but it managed to have a strong fan base with every new generation. Its design was inspired from the soccer shoes, with an enforced toe and low profile, just like the Gazelle or the Dragon were. Over the time adidas enhanced the rubber bumper toe, giving it a stylish, distinct look.
I owned several pairs of Samoas over the time but the last one, in collegiate navy and yellow is certainly one of my favorites. It was released as part of a special vinta ge collection last summer that featured a colored EVA midsole on each sneaker.
As with the ones I had before, this shoe is stylish and comfortable; making me feel like I am making a statement each time I wear them. As you’d expect, I only used these for casual wear, as their running days are clearly long gone.
Upper
This special edition of the adidas Samoa features a suede upper with leather stripes and heel tab. Some of my past Samoa were made of full grain leather and others from herringbone textile. They all gave me the same comfortable feel only after I wore them several times. As I have slightly wide feet, these did not fit well from the beginning; I sort of grew into them. Also, in some cases I went a half size down, especially because they run narrow. The shoes feature the signature-reinforced toebox with the rubber bumber along with perforated side stripes and heel tab. This special edition in collegiate navy and yellow has a smaller toebox, being closer to the og versions of the 80’s.
Sole Unit
The adidas Samoa sole unit is representative for its era. It features a lightly padded-removable insole that sits on top of the visible EVA midsole, usually in white. As you can see, my latest acquisition comes in yellow, adidas getting into this phase of coloring their white midsoles in mid 2016 (in the mist of the colored BOOST experiment). The sole unit is completes by the rubber outsole in a trefoil logo pattern with an oversized one in the medial area. The cushioning of the shoe is what you’d expect from a 80’s runner; comfortable enough to spend long hours walking or standing up while offering moderate arch support. The outsole makes them quite durable, with all my previous Samoa being able to wear them extensively for al least a year.
Bottom Line
To conclude this adidas Originals Samoa review, this is a classic sneaker that does a great job in keeping you stylish with an every day look. I would not recommend them for running, as they don’t offer enough cushion and support. I can see them being used for light training exercises but I would stick using them just casually. They do have a silhouette like no other and there are some many colors and versions available to match any fashion style.
The price for the Samoas is usually about $70 these days (I payed $90 for this navy one) but many times you can find some colorways on sale. Even with the retail price they offer a great value so you can be assured they will be money well spent either way.
