The point is: in the era of futuristic foams and space-age silhouettes, sometimes the real flex is simplicity. A clean, well-built, no-frills skate shoe can still make the biggest impact. Adidas proved this last year with the wildly successful revival of the Samba. Now, they’re digging deeper into their archives, not just across lifestyle and basketball, but in skateboarding too. Just last week, they dropped the adidas Kobe 2s – and earlier this year, they brought back the adidas Superskate.

What stood out to our editors wasn’t just the throwback appeal – it was the honesty of the design. It looks like a shoe built to skate. No gimmicks. No flash. Just function. And here’s the kicker: the Superskate wasn’t just inspired by skateboarding, it was adidas’ first skateboarding-specific shoe, originally released in 1979. For context, Vans began seriously targeting skaters with their product in the mid-70s, so Adidas wasn’t far behind.

This reissue not only reminds us of adidas’ long-standing (but often overlooked) presence in skate culture but it also raises a big question: can this vintage silhouette hold up to modern skateboarding’s demands?

We laced up a pair to find out. Read on for the full review.

SIZING

The Adidas Superskate fits true to size.

DURABILITY

The adidas Superskate impressed us with its overall durability. Key stress areas like the sole, heel collar, laces, and eyelets are typically the first to show wear, but the Superskate held up remarkably well. Notably, the panel that houses the eyelets is reinforced with extra stitching, which proved highly effective in boosting durability.

The double-stitched suede toe panel also performed well, showing minimal wear thanks to the sole taking most of the impact. The only area that showed some breakdown was the Ollie zone, where the seam connecting the main suede panel to the toe panel began to rip. That said, even with the stitching compromised, the panels stayed intact and didn’t negatively affect performance.

CUSHIONING

The adidas Superskate offers average cushioning. One of our editors did note some heel impact after a session after skating some stairs, but overall, the shoe held up well. It features a thin cupsole with a blue EVA foam wedge under the heel and midfoot, topped with an EVA sockliner for added comfort.

While the foam wedge is the primary source of impact protection, the mid-top cut also contributes to a secure and stable feel. In our wear test, this setup performed consistently, effectively absorbing low to medium impacts without compromising board feel.

SHAPE

The adidas Superskate features a slim silhouette with minimal tongue padding. The toe area is clean and classic, while more subtle technical design elements are found around the midfoot and heel. From a top-down view, the shoe appears quite narrow, but it finishes with a slightly rounder toe than expected. Whether this shape suits your skating style ultimately comes down to personal preference.

BOARDFEELI&IGRIP

From a sole construction standpoint, the adidas Superskate checks all the boxes for solid boardfeel. The thin forefoot minimizes the material between your foot and the board, delivering direct responsiveness. Surprisingly for a cupsole, there was no break-in period; the boardfeel was dialed in from the very first session and remained consistent throughout our 10-hour wear test.

The cupsole strikes a nice balance: soft enough for good grip, yet firm enough to hold up over time. The outsole features a herringbone tread in the critical forefoot area, with smaller hexagonal patterns covering the rest. This combination provided reliable grip without any blowout spots, making the Superskate’s traction both durable and dependable.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

When it comes to comfort, the adidas Superskate delivers a secure, locked-in feel. The silhouette offers excellent foothold, and on the board, the shoe feels snug and supportive. A standout bonus: it’s surprisingly lightweight. For skaters who typically avoid high-tops, the Superskate’s lighter build, slightly looser fit around the upper ankle, and balanced support make it feel more like a low-top in certain ways.

During our wear test, the shoe didn’t cause any pressure points from internal stitching. However, if you have wider feet, it’s worth trying on in-store to ensure the fit is right. One small note: the tongue isn’t anchored with internal straps, so it tends to shift around while skating.

In terms of stability, the mid-top design wraps the ankle well, offering a solid, supportive feel. Material choices also play a role; the combination of suede in the flick zones and leather for structure proved effective. After 10 hours of skating, the Superskate maintained its shape and delivered consistent, reliable support.

SUMMARY

The adidas Superskate delivers strong stability, durability, and boardfeel, but its cushioning is fairly average, and both grip and comfort require a bit of adjustment time.

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His journey to the top includes winning Thrasher’s Skater of The Year award twice in 2018 and 2022, an accolade only two other professional skateboarders (Chris Cole and Danny Way) have achieved. These SOTY awards have also been closely followed by the release of his pro model, rightfully so; he’s had his first pro model released in 2018, and earlier this June, his second pro model was released, the Tyshawn 2. This new model not only reflects his growth as a skater but also solidifies his status as a true innovator in skateboarding. We got our hands on a pair of the newest Tyshawn 2’s and put them to the test, read on to see how they performed below.

SIZING

The Adidas Tyshawn II fits true to size.

DURABILITY

Overall, the Tyshawn II showed a good durability in the 10 hour wear test. Let’s get into the details. To evaluate the durability of the upper, the material choice and the amount of overlays play a crucial role. Given how the white leather looks, it could lead to false impression of low durability. No doubt, after skating them, there is a clear abrasion visible, which makes the shoe look worn, but the leather is so rigid that once the white layer was gone there wasn’t any further points of abrasion.

When it comes to the panel layering and stitching, the toe and lacing-panel showed signs of wear and became a bit loose. The advantage of the rigid leather material is that it keeps the panels in place and it had low impact on the skating. However, one strong disadvantage of the upper material choice is the really initial flick (or lack thereof) which took long time to adjust to. This detail is also colorway specific and if there is a suede version coming out, the flick should definitely improve. The sole’s sidewall show minimal signs of wear, as well as the thread pattern, so it stayed in very good condition for a test duration of 10 hours.

CUSHIONING

The adidas Tyshawn II provides really good impact protection, especially in the heel area. As can be seen in the cross section, the height difference between the front and heel is significant. The first third of the shoe doesn’t feature any major foam pieces; it consists only the insole, a strobel board and the outsole. But when it comes to the midfoot and heel area, there is an orange, wedge-shaped Adidas Lightstrike foam inlay which greatly increases the sole’s thickness. This construction enables it to spread forces evenly throughout and absorb even tougher impacts that occur in the heel region.

SHAPE

The shoe is quite slim, with the widest area between the area that transitions from the midfoot- to toe-area. It has a clean and classic toe design, with the more subtle technical design elements found in the midfoot and heel area. The tongue and heel step-in are well padded which helps create a feeling of not too bulky and not too slim.

BOARDFEEL & GRIP

Due to the thin sole in the forefoot area, there was better adaption of the sole to the concave and helped create a more direct contact between the foot and the board. With that, the Tyshawn II has an excellent balance of boardfeel and cushioning for a cupsole.

The grip needed some sessions to develop its full potential. Usually it takes 1-2 sessions to break in and grip is at its full potential, but for the Tyshawn II, it actually took up to 4 sessions. The outsole has a fine grip due to its narrow herringbone pattern which works very well. Once the sole becomes more flexible, the shoe can really sink to the griptape.

COMFORT & STABILITY

When it comes to comfort, the shoe impressed with a well crafted inner construction, especially highlighted by a well designed flex zone that makes the shoe feel comfortable right out the box. The flex zone is essentially the section where the toe cap starts, and enhanced by the shoe’s width and slim lacing. On the downside, the breathability is very weak and the model is rather on the heavy side.

The Tyshawn II has exceptional stability, with thanks to its design and the choice of materials for the tested colorway. The upper, with its multi material layers, kept the shoe’s rigidity and maintained a secure feeling throughout our 10 hour test. Lastly, even though the shoes have a low ankle height compared to its high Achilles heel area, it still protects from a “slipping-out” feeling while also ensuring the ankle has maximal freedom to move.

SUMMARY

All in all, the Tyshawn 2 was an impressive looking silhouette packed with technical details. It shined with stability, great boardfeel combined with a stable cupsole, and the durability more “visibly” worn down. The flick of the shoe wasn’t great, but that is due to the colorway/material we tested. The shoe was a bit heavy and grip took a longer time to develop its full potential.

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But off the board, Nora has done so much to push the boundaries of skateboarding for women, giving confidence to a whole new generation of skaters, and reminding the world that skateboarding at its core, is to have fun. Not to mention, speaking out on mental health and showcasing her personal art as an outlet of self-expression has also inspired countless of skaters to find their own paths. The reason Nora’s skating and personality is so magnetic is because her outlook on skateboarding is simple: she says, “For me skateboarding is pure youth, it’s just an excuse to continue playing as I turn into an adult”. This is the purest form of inspiration for skateboarders worldwide and an incredible reminder of where it all started.

With that, after turning pro for adidas’ skateboarding team in 2017, Nora’s personality, aesthetic and technicality has been directed into the form of her very own signature pro model shoe, released last fall in 2022 along with a vintage apparel pack. The low-cut silhouette boasted a simple aesthetic that popped with unique vintage color ways; we got our hands on a pair and put her shoe to the test. Read on below to see how the adidas Nora performed in our wear test.

SIZING

The adidas Nora fits true to size but is more on the slim-side, so consider going half size up.

DURABILITY

In terms of durability, the adidas Nora has notable highlights starting with the most important areas, the mid-foot and forefoot area. On the upper, the main protection comes from the suede toe cap that wraps around starting in the critical Ollie-area and follows all around the forefoot. Throughout the 10 hour wear test this element proved to be very durable and showed almost no signs of wear except a bit of the stitching. The reason why this element stayed so untouched lays in the advanced sole construction. The Nora is a vulcanized model with a standard foxing tape all around the shoe but has an additional thick foxing tape around the toe area. All of these elements enhance the performance of the upper and ensures that it is well protected, resulting in excellent durability.The sole of the shoe features a very deep and coarse/flat thread pattern which also showed good durability.

However, the collar around the ankle showed signs of wear, but this was judged more from an aesthetic point of view, rather than a characteristic that affected the performance. This is a known challenge for skateboarding shoes and for the Nora, this was the most problematic area.

CUSHIONING

There are two design elements incorporated into the cushioning for the Adidas Nora. Firstly, there is a height difference between the heel and toe area. The toe area offers minimal cushioning and the heel area is a bit more raised due to the cushioning impact support. The second element is the EVA sockliner. Typically, this type of cushioning is effective when the EVA element has a certain thickness to absorb skate related impacts. However, the Nora’s insole and outsole are both quite thin in the forefoot, so the material between foot and board is reduced to a minimum. When put to the test, the shoe’s cushioning characteristics are average and can only handle medium impacts, especially since the heel of the cushioning felt too thin to support larger impacts.

SHAPE

The Nora is a slim fitting silhouette, which means the shoe is cut very close to the foot in all areas. The model offers a secure feeling in the toe-area, the midfoot as well as the heel area, which improves board contact without compromising stability.

BOARDFEELI&IGRIP

As with most vulcanized models, a low profile shoe usually leads to good boardfeel. For the Nora, as seen in the half cut photo, there is minimal amount of material between board and foot, which means the feet can feel the board better. This was noticeable right out of the box and throughout the whole 10 hour wear test. Overall, the boardfeel of the Nora is great.

When it comes to grip, there is a drawback. The sole profile is very deep and but also has a coarse/flat thread pattern in the forefoot. The depth does increase the shoe’s flexibility which ensures a larger surface area sinks onto the griptape easily, but since the sole thread pattern was so coarse/flat, the grip felt only average for a vulcanized sole.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The comfort of a skateboard shoe is mainly influenced by its inner construction, weight and breathability. The inner construction of the Nora is well designed for a comfortable and clean fit. Additionally, the padding around the heel area adds to the comfort. However, the weight and breathability of the shoe do leave a negative impression after skating on a hot day. The shoe is rather heavy and does not leave much room for moisture to ventilate out of the shoe.

The stability is influenced by how the shoe is keeping its shape and also how the shoe hugs the foot. Both were positive features of the Nora, resulting in a good comfort. The material selection with suede, mesh, leather and a heel reinforcement is perceived very positively since it ensures the shoe’s shape and form. An awesome design detail is in the sole construction. Traditionally, the edge of a cupsole is characterized by a rounded out edge along the sole whereas a vulcanized sole has a sharper edge from the foxing tape. Adidas developed a vulcanized sole with a round edge that imitates the feeling of a cupsole which adds to the overall stability.

SUMMARY

Nora’s first signature model from adidas is a fantastic inaugural low-profile skate shoe that has great durability, great boardfeel and strong stability due to the material selection and sole construction. However, the grip of the shoe and its weight were two small details that could be enhanced.

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SIZING

The Adidas Puig Indoor fits true to size; we recommend going for the size you usually wear in adidas.

DURABILITY

The three main areas to evaluate the durability of a skate shoe include the toe area, the mid foot area, and the outsole. With the toe area, the Puig Indoor features a durable suede one piece toe cap which held up well during our weartest, but did have noticeable signs of wear. As you can see from the pictures, the most worn down areas of the shoe were within the Ollie-area area, which is typically a weak spot for most skate shoes. Moreover, the stitching which connects the suede toe piece and the midfoot mesh piece ripped. When it came to the midfoot area, it performed quite well during our skating. There was a small flaw around the heel collar; although the material was extremely comfortable, the collar gets shredded up quite quickly. We examined the last part of our durability test, which was the shoe’s outsole. The side areas of the outsole were quite thin but they did help protect the toe area and the durability was great, with the bottom of the outsole showing very slight signs of wear. Overall, the Puig Indoor’s durability test had a balance of pluses and minuses.

CUSHIONING

The cushioning of the Puig Indoor was surprisingly good, for a vulcanized shoe model. The Adiprene sockliner is quite thin and had the same thickness from end to end. However, the main cushioning element is the EVA midsole, which varied with thickness. The midsole was designed thinner in the front and thicker in the heel. Based on this construction, it was possible to achieve both excellent boardfeel and cushioning abilities in one sole construction. Thus, the Puig Indoor can cushion relatively tough landings which noticeably reduces the danger of heel bruises. As a result, the shoe can be recommended not only for low impact skating but also for slightly tougher landings as it manages to cushion bails quite successfully.

SHAPE

When we first tried them on, the heel, midfoot and toe area felt quite snug on the feet, which was a huge plus. The toebox area of the adidas Puig indoor is definitely inspired by the cupsole version but has a more rounded tip. The clean and pointed shape of the shoe offered great flick and allows plenty of control while doing flip tricks. The suede also felt thicker than expected, which helped hold the rigidity of the shoe throughout the 10-hour test. Another plus, was the lack of creases and wrinkles in the suede.

Boardfeel & Grip

As aforementioned, the forefoot cushioning of the model was quite minimal, which is a characteristic that helped in maximizing boardfeel. This is exactly what the Puig Indoor excelled in. The boardfeel was exceptional; the sole itself is quite thin, which minimizes the space between the foot and the board, and allows for more control for flip tricks and pop. The toe area was the best part, where the sole was the thinnest and boardfeel was amazing. Moreover, the pattern of the sole itself is quite soft, and after a few sessions, the sole broke in nicely to adapt to the concave of our feet and board. In the end, this proved to be very effective, helping immensely with flip tricks. The outsole of the shoe has the same aesthetic of the cupsole Puig model and supports the flexibility of the sole unit. The combination of a wide and thin treaded pattern on the shoe also helped in adapting to the concave of the board and maximizing boardfeel.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The Puig Indoor is a very comfortable shoe. The selection of material chosen for the upper was a mix between suede, synthetic materials and mesh. When designing the shoe, the adidas Skateboarding product designers made sure that the materials were positioned in areas where they performed best. Sometimes, vulcanized shoes can be very heavy, but with this model, we were pleasantly surprised with how lightweight the shoe was. The shoe’s stability is slightly above average. The shoe hugs the feet very well and creates a secure feeling of not slipping out even though the shoe is a very low cut model. With that said, due to the technical design focusing more on providing boardfeel, the Puig Indoor model had a minimal amount of padding and reinforcements in the heel, which sacrificed on heel support.

SUMMARY

The Puig Indoor, Lucas Puig’s lightweight vulcanized version of his Pro Model, offers extremely impressive boardfeel and grip, while also surprising us with its cushioning performance. Durability of the shoe could be better, and although stability was not the main focus of the model, it could also be improved with some heel reinforcements. In all, the Puig Indoor is a great looking shoe with impeccable performance capabilities for technical low impact to mid-grade impact skating.

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SIZING

The Adidas Puig firs true to size; we recommend going for the size you usually wear in adidas.

DURABILITY

Overall, the durability of the adidas Puig was good, however there were some areas for improvement. Let’s start off with some highlights; there were three main points that helped prolong the entire lifespan of the shoe while skating. First off, the quality of the materials used in the shoe proved to be very high-performance quality, and in this case, you absolutely get what you pay for. In our 10 hours of skating for previous adidas skateboarding models, the shoe’s vulc and suede would wear out and rip through fast, but in the case of the Puig, the shoe was very resilient to griptape abuse and the suede was a hit. The second durability highlight is the shoe’s sole. The sole is very thick, especially in the toe area. It helps to protect the suede toe from griptape contact and provides great flick, which is a huge bonus especially when trying out a new shoe you’re not used to. The third great feature is the lacing system. The hidden lace system proved to be extremely effective and even the seams in the midfoot area did not show signs of wear.

A detail that was very noticeable that didn’t help with durability was the positioning of seams where the toe area connects to the midfoot area and seams of the panel around the laces. As you can see from the pictures,  although the seamster deliberately positioned outside of the critical zone, the seams still ripped and the suede became rather loose fitting. With that said, the suede was still quite thick, so the overall quality of the suede did help prevent the loose suede areas from ripping further. Another flaw of the shoe was the heel collar; even-though the material was very comfortable, the collar gets shredded up very quickly from the griptape, Neither of these affect the overall performance of the shoe, but they do make the shoe look a bit untidy and makes it seem like the shoe has been skated for a really long time.

CUSHIONING

Even though the differences between vulc and cupsole constructions seem to fade off more and more, capsules still take the cake when it comes down to cushioning. The adidas Puig is no exception. The cushioning is above average, thanks to the high sole construction in the heel area and the additional EVA-foam inlay. However, the absence of a foamed midsole in the center and front-area reduce the model’s ability to dampen high impacts in these regions.

SHAPE

The toebox area of the adidas Puig closely resembles that of the Busenitz Pro, with a more rounded tip. The pointed arrow shape of the shoe offers great flick and allows plenty of control while doing flip tricks. The suede is thicker than usual and thus, the shape also holds rigidity throughout the 10-hour test, without any shoe wrinkles. The mid foot and heel run almost parallel and are very slim gutted which helps that the shoe feels very close to the feet.

Boardfeel and Grip

Boardfeel and grip are two more strengths of this model. The thin forefoot area and sockliner in the first third of the shoe create a very close connection between foot and board. As shown in the cut-picture, the sole is very thin in the front and quite thick in the last third, the balance between cushioning and direct contact to the board is executed really well. This is further supported by the flexibility of the sole unit. Due to the thin treaded pattern and the medium thick sidewalls of the sole, the Puig adapts very well to the concave of the board, especially for a cupsole.

COMFORT AND STABILITY

The most important features for a comfortable skate shoe includes weight, ventilation and a well-crafted inner shoe area. The adidas Puig is lightweight and the inner area is crafted very well, although some slight pressure marks on the top area of the tongue, made out of a very inflexible material, were noticeable during the sessions. The only disappointment of the shoe is it’s below average breathability. The model has basically no areas designed to alleviate the feet heat generated from skating. But when it come to stability, the Adidas Puig is by far the best model on the market. The stability is incredible and well balanced, ensuring a secure feeling on and off the board. The heel area is very stiff, due to the sole, which goes up to almost the mid heel area and acts almost as an external heel reinforcement. The padding in the heel area makes the shoe extremely comfortable and also helps secure the heel when skating. The midfoot area keeps the foot in place and prevents any horizontal movements within the shoe. The suede upper did not stretch out at all during the test. This means the sidewalls won’t get too flexible and lose their shape, and the stability of the shoe should maintain it’s full potential over the whole lifespan of the shoe, which is rarely the case with most suede models.

SUMMARY

The third upgraded and sleek new offering from adidas’ Lucas Pro models is highlighted by strong durability in the toe area, excellent stability, and exceptional boardfeel. However, there were some flaws with the comfort of the tongue and certain points of weakness in other parts of the shoe’s durability. If you can cash out for a pair, we definitely recommend trying the new upgrade out.

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Sizing

The adidas 3ST.001 fit true to size.

Durability

The durability of the Adidas 3ST.001 was quite good, with three main points that helped prolong the entire lifespan of the shoe. For starters, the quality of the materials used in the shoe proved to be very high-performance quality, in this case, you absolutely get what you pay for. In our 10 hours of skating for previous adidas skateboarding models, the shoe’s vulc and suede would wear out and rip through fast, but in the case of the 3ST.001, the vulcanized rubber outsole and suede was quite resilient to griptape abuse. Another aspect of the shoe was the positioning of seams around the toecap. As you can see from the pictures, the iconic knitted sock piece was positioned more towards the back of the shoe, while the critical area for the sewn edge of the toecap was placed much further from the Ollie hole area. This is a critical point of contact for griptape and by positioning the seams further back helps to prevent any seams that hold the toe cap together from ripping apart to negatively affect the structure or durability of the shoe.  In addition, the noticeable TPU triangular rubber pads on the lateral side of the shoe proved to be a great first line of defense against griptape abuse, which in turn, effectively helped to increase the durability. The combination of these three elements proved to sustain the adidas 3ST.001’s durability well during the first 10 hours of skating. However, a weak spot found after skating the model was the extremely limited durability of the laces. Although this is a tough characteristic of the shoe to design against wear, the shoe’s laces were completely worn through several times during the test period, especially in the upper area. Another flaw of the shoe is the knitted collar; the material used for the collar gets shredded up very quickly from the griptape, and the same goes for the top part of the mesh tongue, which isn’t hidden under the laces. Neither of these affect the overall performance of the shoe, but they do make the shoe look a bit untidy and as if the shoe has been skated for a really long time.

Shape

Overall, the shape of the shoe tapers off into a sleek and relatively narrow silhouette, with the heel to the midfoot area of the shoe quite compact to prevent any slippage. Moreover, the shoe’s knitted construction is found on the lateral side and heel of the shoe, which help to hold the foot very tightly against the shoe. Another aspect of the shoe’s shape that was highly favored was the thinly padded heel area, which offered a wide range of motion for the ankle but still offered a strong ankle stability.

Cushioning

The adidas 3ST.001 cushioning elements left us with mixed feelings. In this model, there’s no doubt that adidas worked hard to modernize their vulcanized sole. Although the crafted midsole construction has the goal of adding protective cushioning, the feeling of the sole construction is a bit too direct to the feet, and only offered average cushioning. The sole can absorb regular impacts, but nothing more and nothing less. It is a vulcanized sole with typical vulcanized cushioning, but possesses the advantages of a cupsole with regards to the stable support of the feet. The midsole is way thicker in the heel area compared to the toe area, and has the aim of offering a softer feeling of cushioning for the heel.

Boardfeel and Grip

As aforementioned, the cushioning of the 3ST 001 was good but not exceptional, and as we all know, minimal cushioning often correlates to maximal boardfeel, which is exactly what the adidas 3ST.001 performed best in. The boardfeel of the shoe was extremely good. The vulcanized sole was quite thin, which paved a close gap between the foot and the board, and allowed for more foot control when it came to pop and flip tricks. The toe area was the best part, where the sole was the thinnest and boardfeel was amazing. Moreover, adidas used the small hexagonal pattern for the sole, which was quite soft, and only after a few sessions, broke in nicely to adapt to the concave of your feet and board. This, in the end, proved to be very effective, and helped immensely with flip tricks and flat ground. The outsole’s tread design provided consistent grip and didn’t reveal any blow out spots during the wear test. 

Comfort and Stability

The adidas 3ST.001 will set a standard when it comes to a skate shoe’s comfort and fit. The internal fit system has the feeling of a slip-on but the design of a regular shoe with laces. The fit system, built like a thin sock, helps to keep the shoe really close to the feet and improves security. However, since the shoe is very thin and slim, it might be a problem for skaters with wider feet. The weight of the shoe is comparable to industry standard and left a good impression while the breathability can be described only as average. Since the 3ST.001 is very comfortable and fits very close to the feet it in turn, provided exceptional stability. The lateral TPU pieces on the inner and outer side support the rather soft knit very well and leave a secure and stable feeling for the feet underneath. One highlight of the shoe is the adidas patented Torsion system, which is a supportive platform in the midfoot and has the ability to allow your forefoot and rear foot flex independently. Although this isn’t new technology, it is the first time adidas has adapted this torsion system into their skate footwear and can help combat improper flexing of your foot’s arch…which in skate terms mean a decrease in probable heel bruising, hot pockets and ankle twists.

Summary

The introduction of the 3ST line from adidas has set a completely new high performance standard for vulcanized skate shoe models. From the technical elements tested in our 10 hours, the stability, comfort, boardfeel and grip were absolute highlights of the shoe. However, the cushioning, as expected from most vulcanized models, needed more support, and the durability of the material around the knitted collar needs an improvement.

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BOARDFEEL AND GRIP

As aforementioned, the cushioning of the Samba ADV was minimal. As we know, minimal cushioning often correlates to maximal boardfeel, which is exactly what the Samba ADV excelled in. The boardfeel of the shoe was very good. The sole itself is quite thin, which paves for a close gap between the foot and the board, allowing for more control for flip tricks and pop. The toe area was the best part, where the sole was the thinnest and boardfeel was amazing. Moreover, the pattern of the sole itself is quite soft, and after a few sessions, broke in nicely to adapt and form to the concaves of your feet and board. This in the end proved to be very effective, and helped immensely with flip tricks and flatground. The outsole features a classic herringbone tread pattern that provided consistent grip and didn’t reveal any blow out spots during the weartest. Adidas also paid homage to the original Samba outsole by adding in a separate pill tread pattern on the medial side of the heel that helped with additional support and functioned as a bit of a heel stopper.

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Sizing

The adidas Samba ADV fits true to size.

Durability

While the hype was high to skate these adidas Samba ADV’s up, we were a bit let down with the durability of the shoe. All in all, the shoe’s durability was below average. The shoe updates the classic Samba toe piece cap with a high quality suede, that wraps around the toe-piece similar to a T. The material itself was great, however, the toe cap piece was only fixed with three stitchings and was in the high abrasion zone of the shoe, right smack dab in the ollie and kickflip area. As a result, in the first few hours, the stitching came loose and soon the toe cap piece ripped apart fast, with no double backed suede or canvas to prolong the life of the shoe. Even so, the sidewalls of the shoe were made of a high quality leather, and did well against the griptape abuse, with no holes and barely any wear to it. We were quite impressed with the quality of the leather around the toe piece and sidewalls; they not only provided strong durability but also structured the shoe very well. Lastly, the sole of the shoe turned out to be a highlight. The sole was very durable and held up extremely well, with no blow out spots and minimal wear.

Shape

If you’ve ever worn the original Samba’s, you know that the shoe sits very close to the feet, which is also the case in the vamped up Samba ADV. It’s a bit of a slimmer fit, and those with wider feet may take a bit longer to break into the shoes, once the leather sidewalls wear in and cave outwards a bit you’ll find a snug fit. As a low top slim fitting shoe, the medial and arch area of the shoe was extremely snug and secured the foot nicely, minimizing the risk for slippage. The shape of the shoe itself tapers in the first third and features a very pointy toe, which helped a lot with flip tricks. All in all, the shape of the Samba was quite form-fitting and was a nice fit for slim feet.

Cushioning

The cushioning of the Samba ADV was ok; the insole of the Samba was extremely thin and minimal, which sacrificed a lot of cushioning in exchange for boardfeel. This was especially the case in the first third toe area, where the sole was the thinnest. In the second third medial area, the cushioning got a bit thicker but not by much; the impact from 5-8 stairs was still fairly absorbed by the insole. The area with the most amount of cushioning, was the heel area, where not only was the insole cushioning the thickest, but the midsole had a honey comb construction which helped to absorb and disperse the impact from landings evenly. In the end, it was clear that the focus of the Samba ADV was to offer a minimally padded shoe that felt great on the feet and had excellent boardfeel.

Boardfeel and Grip

As aforementioned, the cushioning of the Samba ADV was minimal. As we know, minimal cushioning often correlates to maximal boardfeel, which is exactly what the Samba ADV excelled in. The boardfeel of the shoe was very good. The sole itself is quite thin, which paves for a close gap between the foot and the board, allowing for more control for flip tricks and pop. The toe area was the best part, where the sole was the thinnest and boardfeel was amazing. Moreover, the pattern of the sole itself is quite soft, and after a few sessions, broke in nicely to adapt and form to the concaves of your feet and board. This in the end proved to be very effective, and helped immensely with flip tricks and flatground. The outsole features a classic herringbone tread pattern that provided consistent grip and didn’t reveal any blow out spots during the weartest. Adidas also paid homage to the original Samba outsole by adding in a separate pill tread pattern on the medial side of the heel that helped with additional support and functioned as a bit of a heel stopper.

Comfort and Stability

The adidas Samba ADV was a very comfortable shoe. The selection of material chosen for the upper was a mix between high quality leather and suede, which not only held up well in terms of durability, but also made the shoe extremely comfortable to wear. Not to mention, the shoe proved quite stable even after a few heavy sessions. The shoe also features an internal mesh bootie construction which included an extremely light and breathable tongue and tongue centering mesh straps. But when putting the shoes on, the bootie construction sometimes got in the way and was a bit annoying. A highlight of the shoe is definitely it’s stability. In this model, adidas added in a molded TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, known for it’s high shear strength) heel clip into the heel counter, which helped strengthen the shoe’s stability and decreased the off chance of slippage and ankle rolls. The heel clip was very stiff and secure, even tapping on heel clip feels like knocking on a door. The inner heel area was also a plus; adidas’ material choice for the inner heel area was the premium leather which also provided a good heel lock and made the shoes more comfortable to wear.

Summary

It’s always a challenge to adapt a classic sports shoe model for skateboarding but the adidas Samba ADV’s attempt was good. The added stability and grip elements were extremely impressive and made the shoe very pleasant to wear, however, the durability was lacking.

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