In this piece, we are about to shed light on 12 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba. If you wish to skip our detailed discussion on the footwear market, you can skip and go directly to 5 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba.
In the realm of footwear, the market size of the industry struck a whopping $243 billion in 2023, which is further expected to grow through the forecasted period of 2024-2032 at a cool CAGR of 3.4% to $332.3 billion, according to IMARC Group.
While purchasing shoes on online platforms is troublesome for consumers, the latest technology like Nike Fit, capitalizes on Artificial Intelligence and boasts the ability to measure the size of feet just with the phone’s camera. Upgrades as such in the market are enhancing customers’ online shopping experience which is boosting the market substantially. In the world of footwear, FDRA has found out that 64% of consumers are prioritizing the sustainability of shoes so much that they are down to pay as much as $5 for shoes that bring sustainability with them.
The biggest shoemaker in the world is China, producing most shoes globally, followed by India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia. As such, sneakers are getting all the hype nowadays, especially among Gen-Z people, who are all about taking their comfort to the next level. In the world of sneakers, Adidas Sambas is that cool baby that goes back to 1949, designed for soccer back then; however, over time, they have evolved into becoming a complete street style fashion. Their popularity can be seen from the fact that Google search volume for these sneakers skyrocketed by a cool 497% from March 2022 to March 2023 - even becoming the “it-girl” shoes, as they have been seen to be loved by celebs like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, taking their popularity just everywhere - which also explains why they are always sold out. The closest competitor to Adidas Sambas, the Gazelles were seen to be worn by Harry Styles, who was seen to be in love with them during his shows in 2022, which led to a spike in the shoe's sales in 2023.
However, Adidas has reported the demand for Adidas Samba exceeds its supply, which has made it extremely troublesome for some people to get their hands on a pair of them, which is why we bring you this list of 12 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba. But before we take you to it, let’s take a peek into some of the big giants of the footwear industry. Namely, we are going to be discussing Nike (NYSE:NKE), Puma (XETRA:PUM.DE), and Adidas (OTCQX:ADDYY).
Nike (NYSE:NKE), taking its birth back in 1964, is one of the big players in athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories. Nike (NYSE:NKE) just recently disclosed its strategy to put its savings into cost-cutting steps to bolster future growth, to achieve long-term profitability. For the quarter ending February 29, 2024, it boasted a revenue of $12.4 billion, with a net profit figure of a staggering $1.2 billion.
Puma (XETRA:PUM.DE), yet another athletic and casual footwear brand, came into its inception back in 1948. Puma (XETRA:PUM.DE) is eyeing its EBIT figure between $672-759 million for the current year, with the figure already hitting $674.2 million for the year 2023. The footwear giant’s sales saw a downtick for the last quarter ending 29th February 2024, falling 9.8% to $2.15 billion from the prior year’s figure.
Adidas (OTCQX:ADDYY), the biggest athletic and casual footwear brand, along with Nike, is headquartered in Germany. For the year 2024, it expects its Yeezy inventory to be written off at cost during the year, which could help it bag sales of $271 million. For the year 2023, Adidas (OTCQX:ADDYY) sales took a downturn of 5% to $23.2 billion on an annual basis.
Enough with the detailed industry discussion, now, let’s take you to our list of 12 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba.
12 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba
andersphoto / Shutterstock.com
Methodology
To curate our list of 12 Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba, we scoured the internet, locating credible sources like Byrdie, The Mom Edit, Sabukaru, and many others. Based on the commonality of the brands across these sources, we ranked the Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba. For the ones that stood equal in terms of frequency of appearance in various sources, we used the price metric to rank them further, cheaper ones ranked higher. With this, let’s now move on to our list of Best Alternatives to Adidas Samba.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
12. New Balance RC30
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 140
New Balance, which has maintained itself as a powerhouse in the realm of sneakers for years, is taking its game to next level with a modern touch to classic styles. The New Balance RC30s are getting the hype amongst the sneaker lovers worldwide, especially because of variety of cool colors, sleek design, and high-quality material. While Adidas Sambas are ruling the sneaker world, New Balance isn't far behind. These Samba alternatives might not be too trendy, as of now, but they offer decent walking comfort, which is a top-priority for Gen-Z folks specifically.
11. Adidas Campus 00s Sneaker
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 110
Achieving some serious street credibility are the Adidas Campus 00s, which roam amongst the greats like the Sambas and Gazzelles. Initially made for skateboarding, their tough built providing that comfy feeling over time, have allowed them to rock the sneaker scene. With a high quality leather upper and cozy terry fabric, all chilling on an off-white midsole, Campus 00 is definitely a cool alternative to the iconic Sambas.
10. Adidas Munchen
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 110
Adidas' "City Series" consists of The Munchen, which stays true to Germany's major cities' urban roots; because of its rich heritage and timeless design, it has got fruitful following, just like the Samba. Boasting the stylish "T-toe" design and a classic gum sole, the Munchen is definitely up there amongst the top-notch alternatives to the Samba, mixing style and tradition together!
9. Adidas Busenitz
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 85
The Busenitz is arguably one big deal in the realm of skateboarding, which is a pro-model shoe of Dennis Busenitz, an American professional skateboarder. Not only does it cater to the indoor sports' fans, but it also offers a hint of resemblance to iconic Samba style, hence becoming a cool choice for both comfort and style.
Boasting the classic Adidas 3-Stripes, giving away that additional touch of coolness, the Busenitz is an all-round shoe that smoothly roams around the skatepark, as well as out in the town in night. Offering that clean and timeless look, it is definitely one to turn heads wherever it goes.
8. Adidas Nora
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 80
Nora Vasconcellos has hit the skateboarding shoe scenes with the signature Nora Shoes, which bring her energetic persona and values into the shoe's design; integrating durability with premium vulcanized style, the shoe draws inspiration from traditional tennis shoes from the adidas archives. Not only top-notch comfort is offered through its cushioned midsole, but great stability and fit is also on the offering, without compromising on the much-asked board feel. Boasting high quality suede and great attention-to-detail, such as toe bumper and textile lining, Adidas Nora shoes are surely perfect substitute to the trendy Sambas.
7. Puma Super Liga OG Retro
Number of Mentions: 2
Price ($): 75
Puma SuperLiga OG Retro boasts top-notch comfort and style with its unique branding. With its lace-up design, suede overlays, and classic Formstrip giving away a timeless look, you can chill in these kicks all day long, without losing out on any comfort. Moreover, with its iconic "Our Archive Fotball' Icon: Super Liga" design paying tribute to the 80's, it's not only a hit with fashionistas, but also with the football fans. And hey, let's not get carried away and forget the padded collar and low-profile tongue, enhancing its style even further!
6. Adidas Hamburg
Number of Mentions: 3
Price ($): 84
Debuted back in '82, as part of Adidas' 'City Series', the Adidas Hamburg is definitely a hit amongst the market of casual kicks, boasting its signature translucent midsole, allowing it to stand out in any crowd it goes to. Although, it was initially made for sports training, it quickly jumped on to the street and became an epitome of style in everyday wear, because of its premium leather upper and iconic 3-Stripes. Offering simple and stylish design, the Hamburger is an epitome of timelessness!
