The 10 adidas Samba alternatives we're shopping

WORDS Jasmine Pirovic PUBLISHED Sun, 24 Dec 2023 - 10:03 am

Last year, we would've called it early and said 2022 was the year of the adidas Samba – and we'd have plenty of proof too. Little did we know that the footwear frenzy was only just beginning. Well, as if to make things official, in its annual 'Year in Fashion' report for 2023, Lyst has crunched the numbers and crowned the adidas Samba the shoe of the year. From the state of the street and given the amount of collaborations this year – Wales Bonner, Sporty & Rich, Humanrace, and more – I doubt you'll be surprised.

Blame it on blokecore, on Bella Hadid, A$AP Rocky, Pinterest girlies – even the FIFA Women's World Cup. Whatever you chalk the rise of the adidas Samba up to, in Lyst's 2023 report it shared insights that the style was searched from every 1.7 minutes on the site. There's no sign of the adidas Samba's popularity dying down, either. In the last four months, searches for the sneaker have only increased, with Lyst reporting an increase in interest by 43%. Does this trend have enough gas to carry through to 2024? It very well might.

But despite their abundance, getting your hands on a pair of adidas Sambas is not the easiest of purchases. If they're not sold out, you're signing up for competitive draws or setting alarms for a specific launch time. Too old to play this game? We're bringing you 10 alternatives to adidas Sambas to shop instead. If you're suffering from Samba fatigue, this is another way to shop the football-inspired shape without snapping up the most obvious style.