Adidas Samba Footwear Review: Where Iconic Design Meets Korean Heritage
Named after Brazil’s vibrant “Samba” music, the adidas Samba is one of the brand’s most iconic and long-standing sneakers. First released in 1949, the shoes were originally designed to help athletes train on frozen and slippery fields. The Samba gained widespread attention the following year when it was worn by the German soccer team at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. While holding on to its signature, three cut-put suction cups and grippy sole, the adidas Samba continues to evolve. Today it’s become one of the company’s best-selling models, and streetwear staple, sitting alongside the Stan Smiths, Superstars, Ultraboosts and Yeezys.
In this adidas Samba footwear review we’ll dive into one of the more unique, and culturally interesting releases, the Samba Telchum mask edition.
Overview of the adidas Samba Talchum “Better Scarlet”
As one of adidas’s most iconic and popular models, the adidas Samba continues to undergo updates with fresh styles and modern looks. Some of the newest releases are a result of creative collaborations with other brands and or adidas’s own standalone collections. One of the latest releases, is the “City Series” line, a collection that pays tribute to cities around the world. Each release tends to include distinctive cultural elements and city-specific colorways. I picked up the adidas Samba Talcum in the catchy, “Better Scarlet” colorway, from the Seoul collection, with the other being the “Preloved Brown.”
Historical Elements: Talchum Mask
One of the standout features of this specific model was the Talchum (탈춤) mask. A distinct cultural symbol, the Korean masks are worn by performers performing Korea’s Talchum mask dance dramas. Often showcasing vivid and exaggerated facial expressions, the Talchum masks represent various characters from different Korean folklore and satires. As an iconic part of Korea’s cultural heritage, the Talchum is celebrated in the City Series: Seoul Collection through the embroidered mask detail stitched on the heel of the adidas Samba.
Top Reasons to Buy the adidas Samba Talchum
Versatile style
I agree with many other footwear reviewers that the adidas Samba’s are among the more versatile, affordable footwear options on the market. With the plethora of colors, simple silhouette, distinct T-shaped toe box, and low-cut style, the adidas Samba’s can be easily paired with a variety of outfits. From relaxed, weekend leisure wear to business casual work days, the adidas Samba’s may not be a statement shoe, but they will fit in with any wardrobe. At the same time, recent years have seen the the adidas Samba’s grow in popularity. With a growing list of endorsements, the Sambas don’t seem likely to lose that status any time soon.
Style in the Details
Among the details that stand out on the adidas Samba Telchums are the gold stitching and Telchum mask stitching. The symbolic Telchum mask is intricately stitched onto the outer-facing section of the heel. The mask’s red portions blend in nicely with the rest of the Samba’s red suede, while the white details give the mask just enough contrast to pop.
Another standout detail is the gold “SAMBA” stitching placed atop the farthest back stripe of adidas’s iconic three-strip logo. The gold stitching matches perfectly with the red, white, and gum sole tan, giving the shoe a sense of completeness.
I also appreciated the extra shoelace holes. This is completely a personal preference, but I do find using all the shoelace holes provides extra stability. At the same time, it’s also given me the option to loosen the laces in certain areas above the tongue, while providing a stable, but comfortably tight fit.
Durable, classic gum sole
The game-changing three cut-put suction cups of the adidas Samba’s soles are one of the sneakers biggest strengths. The soles are grippy, cushy, and provide great traction on a wide variety of surfaces. They don’t add any clunkiness to the overall silhouette of the shoes, and with the gum sole are very lightweight.
The bottom sole has a mix of different texture patterns, all designs that helped inspire the original adidas Samba soccer shoe. Personally, I can feel the enforced grip below the big toe, or hallux region. The back heel of the gum sole also hasn’t shown any signs of wearing down. With some sneakers, like my Common Project’s Achilles Low sneakers, the sole of the heel area wore down relatively quick for how often I’ve worn them.
Comfortable: Suede leather and half-day wear
Suede shoes are considered a more comfortable leather, with its softness and cushier texture. The adidas Samba Talchum, of which both colorways come in suede, will provide comfort for most the day. I’m usually able to wear mine for almost a full day, but will find some discomfort if I’m on my feet for longer periods. This is due to the narrower toe box and tongue region which seems to be cut a bit deeper. If you have a narrower foot, you probably won’t notice this as much. Some reviews found the heel area to be troublesome. As I will mention in the “Downsides section,” I also believe the base of the sole, with increased wear and tear becomes noticeably uncomfortable.
Downsides of the adidas Samba Talchum
Having worn the Sambas for over a year now, I am pretty content with how my first pair of Sambas have held up. Yet, there are some areas of concern that you should keep in mind before purchasing the Sambas. If you’re someone who enjoys instant comfort or has a slightly wider foot, here are a factors you will want to keep in consideration. Here’s the list of cons for my adidas Samba footwear review.
Narrower toe bed, slight break-in period
Many sneakerheads will admit that most sneakers require a little bit of a break-in period, especially for stiffer leathers. With adidas footwear tending to be on the wider side, some may find the adidas Samba’s to be a tad narrower in the T-shaped toe box. I had to loosen my laces a bit, especially towards the front, as the Samba’s do require a longer break-in period compared to other adidas models. So with that, expect to go through a little bit of discomfort up-front.
Questionable heel base
Though this depends on every individual’s walking style, I’ve found the heel of the Sambas to be, ironically, one of the shoe’s Achilles’ heels. I haven’t come across this issue with any of my other adidas kicks, including the Ultralboost and Stan Smith’s. The problem only became noticeable after around six months of regular wear. That’s when I noticed that the heel area would almost feel like a small dip in the base of the heel. It felt like I would sink into it with each step I took. While it’s not a dealbreaker, it does become become increasingly irritating as the day progresses.
Uncomfortable lacing panel design
I haven’t come across this problem with my other adidas kicks before. However, this was an issue that came up from the get-go. The bottom part of the shoe-lace panel almost seems to cut a bit too low. It got to the point where it was digging into upper part of my foot and requiring me to loosen up the laces to relieve the pressure. Though loosening the shoe laces has helped a bit, there does seem to be a minor design flaw in the shoe’s construction.
Troublesome shoe laces
I prefer a standard knot over double-knotting when it comes to tying my shoes. The shoe laces that come with the adidas Sambas are extremely troublesome. They loosen up too easily and I’ve found myself having to repeatedly bend down to tie them over and over again. The shoelaces are very soft, but they do not grip well. Though they look aesthetically pleasing with the overall silhouette, I would recommend adidas to swap out these laces with a different style and sturdier material shoe lace.
Extra suede maintenance
Suede offers excellent comfort, but it does come with a higher maintenance demand. I love suede shoes and don’t mind the extra cleaning. However, some might find that this crimson red suede does tend to showcase the dirt marks a bit more. So when the suede adidas Samba’s are clean, they look sharp, but when they catch some dirt, it is definitely very noticeable. Make sure you have a reliable suede spray and brush on hand for when it does collect dirt.
Adidas Samba Footwear Review: Final Thoughts
All in all the adidas Sambas should be a solid addition to anyone’s footwear collection. With its versatility, durability, and popularity, the Sambas are a nice rotational pair for both casual and sporty styles. While the comfort level and break-in period may vary depending on one’s foot, the Sambaas are a reliable pair of kicks. Personally, the Talchum Mask detail and bold crimson red colorway were why I purchased this pair. I hope this adidas Samba footwear review gave you a better idea of what to expect. And at around $100, it’s hard to go wrong with a sneaker that blends cultural flair with timeless design.
Photography: Anson Zong-Liscum
