adidas Gazelle Versus Samba: Breaking Down the Differences

With a catalogue as broad as adidas’, there’s going to be more than a few silhouettes that look similar. Case in point: the Samba, released in 1949, and the Gazelle that arrived nearly 20 years later in 1966.

These two football-geared silhouettes are having a gargantuan resurgence thanks to the terrace trend. Because of this, a growing generation of sneakerheads are discovering the decades-old models, and some are still trying to decipher the differences between the two.

Ponder no more, it’s time to break down the differences between the adidas Samba and Gazelle.

Perfect Panelling

The Samba and Gazelle definitely boast ‘same same, but different’ energy, as the pair rock uber-similar constructions. Both are slimline, low-top sneakers with roots in European Football culture. There are some subtle differences though, such as the eyestay panels. Where the Samba features a small notch, the Gazelle’s is just straight across. The silhouette from 66 also has a different toebox panel that is much shorter than its 1949 counterpart. The final major construction difference is that the Gazelle midfoot is slightly bulkier when compared top-down to its older sibling.

Materials Matter

Comparing materials is where you can really notice the differences between the Samba and Gazelle. The former almost always opts for a full leather upper with just a hint of suede on the toebox. The latter on the other hand can usually be seen decked out in decadent suede and a touch of leather on the Three Stripes branding.

Sole Savvy

The midsole is another distinctive way you can tell the Gazelle and Samba apart. Aside from the obvious thickness, the Samba usually hosts a lightweight EVA foam with pressure points on the outsole, making them perfect for indoor soccer. The Gazelle however boasts a durable rubber midsole with a smooth hexangle outsole finish.

Big Branding

Both these crisp creps belong to the Team Trefoil family, but still have some subtle branding differences. The Samba usually houses a smooth rectangular logo that's flush with the tongue. For the Gazelle, the tongue branding is debossed and features another logo on the heel, plus bigger lateral branding when compared to the Samba. The only similarity is the side Three Stripes, which are usually in a contrasting colour and boast a zig-zag along the edges.

One SF writer recently wore the adidas Samba for a month straight in search of the perfect beater. Read all about it here!