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adidas Samba vs. Gazelle: A Three Stripes Showdown

Expert Advice

adidas Samba vs. Gazelle: A Three Stripes Showdown

Feb 14, 2024

The retro silhouettes of low-top adidas Originals are trending again, with both the Gazelle and the Samba spotted everywhere from pickup soccer games to corner bodegas. These classic kicks have so much going for them: They’re affordable and stylish, with a crazy-versatile design that lets you mix and match them with practically anything.

But the question remains: If you’re choosing between adidas Gazelles vs. Sambas, which one will give you the style and comfort you’re looking for? We’ll give you a quick rundown of some of the differences between Sambas and Gazelles, so you can choose the best ones for you.

adidas Sambas

adidas Sambas

You can learn all you’ve ever wanted to know about the history of the Samba here, but to sum it up: The Samba began life as a soccer shoe in 1949. Its gum rubber outsole offered out-of-this-world grip on any field, especially on the slick, frozen ground of a winter soccer field. The Sambas quickly gained traction (sorry not sorry) for indoor sports like futsal, before eventually (we imagine), people started to ask, “Hey, these look pretty good on my feet — why don’t I just keep them on?” From then on, Sambas became as much casual footwear as athletic.


Over the years, the Samba has been retooled again and again. It’s appeared in cleat form, as platforms, and with varying fabrics, but the OG will never die, thanks to its enduring, straightforward style.

adidas Gazelles

adidas Gazelles

Introduced in 1966, adidas Gazelles started out as running shoes, but quickly morphed into all-purpose lifestyle kicks. The Gazelles phased in and out of pop culture for several decades, including a resurgence on handball courts in the late 70s, before roaring back to popularity in the 90s as they appeared on the feet of Britpop stars like the Gallagher brothers of Oasis.


Like Sambas, Gazelles have been in the limelight lately, gracing the feet of fashion icons like Harry Styles and Kendall Jenner. They’re ideal for anybody who likes the vibe of Sambas but wants a slightly more robust silhouette, and they’re more accommodating for people with wider feet.

Gazelles vs. Sambas: Sizing and More

Gazelles vs. Sambas: Sizing and More

Enough about the influencers and pop stars — when it comes to adidas Gazelles vs. Sambas, which one’s going to look better on your feet?


  • Silhouette

    • Both Gazelles and Sambas are low-top sneakers, but the Samba leans slightly slimmer with a rounded toebox. The Samba traditionally had suede uppers with its gum rubber outsole, but modern versions usually include a leather or synthetic upper with suede overlays along the toe.

    Meanwhile, the Gazelle has a wider forefoot and a flatter, shorter toebox, which offers the wearer a more relaxed fit. The shoe typically lands in velvety suede with leather striping and a standard rubber outsole that provides more versatility for everyday wear.

  • Designs

    • Sambas and Gazelles both include the iconic Three Stripes along the sides — complete with zig-zag edges. The Samba, however, has a smaller, smooth tongue logo, while the Gazelle typically showcases a debossed logo on the tongue and a larger side logo than the Samba. The Gazelle’s heel emblem also features a traditional adidas Originals Trefoil logo, while Sambas keep it simple with a plain, unadorned heel.


  • Outsoles

    • Flip the shoe over to see the differences in the outsoles. The Samba features a varied traction pattern, including a concentric circle pivot point at the forefoot, while the Gazelle has a honeycomb traction pattern covering the entire outsole.


  • Sizing

    • It’s common to wonder whether Sambas and Gazelles fit the same — and for the most part, the answer is that they do, at least in terms of sizing. What you should know is that the narrower design of Sambas means they hug your foot more closely, which can make normal-size Sambas too constrictive if you have wide feet. If you know that wide sizes tend to fit your feet better, you’ll often want to go up a half-size in Sambas — or choose the roomier Gazelles.

    With so many standout shoes on the market, the adidas Originals silhouettes transcend fashions and colorways. Both are timeless, retro-style choices that make for an easy-to-wear lifestyle sneaker for any person of any age — and Hibbett brings you a complete range of materials and colorways, available online or at a Hibbett store near you.

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