Adidas Releases a Clipless Version of the Classic Samba Sneaker for Cycling Hypebeasts

Mar 2, 2021
by James Smurthwaite  
photo

Does this shoe design look familiar to you? Well, it's no surprise if it does as the classic Samba shoe is apparently the second-best-selling design of all time. Back in 1949, the shoe was created to help football (soccer) players train on hard surfaces and, 35 million sales later, it's still going strong to this day as one of Adidas' most iconic designs. In fact, it's so popular that it was probably the shoe that a lot of mountain bikers first learned to ride in before they picked up a pair of proper mtb shoes, including our Christina Chapetta and Mike Levy.

This is a Samba with a difference though, rather than an all-rubber sole, this comes with space for a cleat and will work with your clipless pedals.

photo

Adidas used to be a much bigger name in cycling footwear and it has started to make a comeback in recent years. As the parent brand of Five Ten since 2011, it has created three-striped shoes for athletes in the mountain bike world and it also released its robustly named Road Cycling Shoe at the tail end of 2020 along with the promise that it was “the first step of our long-term journey towards creating a range of products that enhance the cycling experience.”

Alongside the two-bolt cleat compatibility, the Velosamba also has a reinforced internal plate for pedaling efficiency, reflective stripes for safety and a waterproof treatment so it can still be worn in damp conditions. It is primarily targeted at indoor cyclists and commuters but we wouldn't be surprised to see a few pairs showing up at the trails too for mountain bikers wanting that retro look.

photo

Adidas is offering the Velosamba in four colours: cream white, core black, acid yellow, and crew navy. Perhaps most importantly for a truly retro cycling style, the Velosamba retains the tan wall soles of the original Samba design. The Velosamba range is available now at Adidas.com, priced at £100. International pricing is TBC. More info, here.

Author Info:
jamessmurthwaite avatar

Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

207 Comments
  • 236 5
 Clipless Yeezys when?
  • 47 1
 I would wear Reggie Miller MTB-Ball shoes.
  • 34 2
 Soon since that divorce is costing $$$
  • 68 6
 That would be the easiest way to know who to avoid on the trail
  • 38 0
 Soon as the "mtb hypebeasts" figure out how to ride single speed belt drive bikes on a-line without loosing any wheel reflectors.
  • 4 0
 @NorCalNomad: You win! Hopefully they are also wearing a matching tracksuit!
  • 7 3
 @Patsplit: Divorce is probably costing his wife money as she is the breadwinner
  • 4 1
 @NorCalNomad: in case it wasn’t easy enough to spot them with that selfie stick in their hand.
  • 3 0
 @iantmcg: ha, you're right....but because if lawyers its costing them both bigly!
  • 2 0
 @marrrty: and spilling artisan (shite) espressos from their jam jar cups
  • 2 2
 I'm waiting for Dr Martens
  • 5 3
 @bdub5696: bro these are sick. 510 are the ugliest shoes in the world
  • 2 2
 @cycling247: a crap shoe made even worse
  • 144 4
 It's kinda funny watching these sports/athleisure brands try to market to mountain bikers. They don't "get it." Go to the Five Ten site and try to search for clipless shoes. You can't...but can you filter based upon color and sustainability...LOL. Yes..you have to go shoe by shoe and look at the bottom to discern the most significant decision factor when buying shoes. And if you hit the back button..it takes you to their generic non-riding shoes.
  • 45 0
 Yet, judging by these comments, MTB has become a fashion show more now than ever.
  • 25 1
 You do not get it. Look at all the folks that buy normal stuff for 10x the price simply because it has SUPREME written across it. That is their desired market. These will be bought and worn by fixie people.

Ex: A Hanes plain white t shirt with a really really tiny SUPREME red label on it, $50. For one. Something that costs $10/ pack of 3.
  • 27 1
 @jmhills: I don't disagree. My comment was more in reference to Adidas control of Five-Ten and the MTB market specifically.

Hipsters will totally buy this shit...and I'm not against companies making money.
  • 10 1
 @jmhills: Just a heads up, It's 28USD for a three pack of supreme Hanes tshirts.
  • 12 0
 @Grunk, 100% correct about the website! 'unable to discern the most significant buying factor', brilliant.
  • 1 7
flag rpet (Mar 2, 2021 at 14:43) (Below Threshold)
 I can both search by mountain bike and filter by mountain bike to see the full range of Five Tens on Adidas.com.
  • 4 0
 I have just been advertised Arcteryx's "lookbook", sorry what?
  • 12 0
 @hardtailparty: Based on how horrendous mtb aesthetics have been for the past 10 years, I think some discretion is welcome to an extent
  • 4 0
 @Bchambers09: I got shown a North Face Gucci collab...
  • 2 0
 845$ Gucci North Face shite. Or shirt whatever
  • 7 1
 Went to an Adidas store. Asked for Five Ten or Anthing with stealth rubber. They had no idea what I was talking about.
  • 3 0
 The adidas website is utter shit to navigate in general, to be fair...it isn't limited to mtb.
  • 1 0
 @jmhills: or the supreme/ Santa Cruz chameleon colab!
  • 1 0
 @hardtailparty: Life in general has become a fashion show! If you don't have at least 6 or 7 life aspects to be dick about, you are loser
  • 2 0
 @jaycubzz: Yeah, that makes it better... Still a freaking joke.

I was going by eBay prices on them.

@Grunk Nor am I. If a company can seize upon some aspect of a market that may, or may not, be there, good for them. Kind of weird that it is here on PB though. Does not strike me as the desired audience really.
  • 1 0
 @hardtailparty: If I gotta wear the same outfit a few times a week, I wanna look good!
  • 2 0
 @Grunk: Totally. I have noticed that Adidas has been putting more of there flair into the shoes and that sucks. I don't need a shoe that looks cool, is super breathable etc. I need protection from the elements (mud/water), rock strikes etc. Seems like they are creating Adidas shoes first with a little fiveten built in.
  • 65 2
 The shoe all Mancunian cyclists have wanted for years. Now you can both ride your bike and save time getting changed for that 3pm pissed up fight down the Nags Head with the away team.
  • 7 0
 Haha, as someone who went to Uni in Manchester, this made me laugh.
  • 3 1
 Oops, meant to up vote
  • 2 0
 The entire world went where ? Except us ..... well done sir
  • 4 0
 @Compositepro: Tbh I was wondering why he'd cycled to Peckham.
  • 62 2
 Drip
  • 55 1
 I agree these shoes definitely look delicious and would pair well with either couch cushions or throw blankets and a few sips of toilet water for a fine spring picnic indoors when no one is around
  • 9 0
 @IamTheDogEzra: do sustainably made shoes taste different to a leather construction..?
  • 4 0
 @Dropthedebt: The new crop of sustainable shoes is closing the gap, but true connoisseurs still prefer a suede or standard leather upper construction with a natural gum sole.
  • 2 0
 @IamTheDogEzra:
I'm thinking a suede, or leather shoe, holds a little more human flavouring than a synthetic upper.
  • 45 0
 Cool, where's the new version of the five ten impacts, because they ruined them.
  • 6 0
 I’d happily settle for the 1st or s 2nd gen Impacts again. And as a bonus make them dry quicker and soak up less.
  • 1 0
 The new Impacts are so heavy and bulky. I bought them to replace my old ones and was unpleasantly surprised.The Trailcrosses aren’t bad though.
  • 3 0
 You have the Sam Hills. On a pair for over an year, they scare you at first with the bulk but are incredible shoes, super durable also
  • 1 0
 @Arierep: Have the Sam Hills been updated in the last 5 years? As I really liked my old ones.
  • 1 1
 @CustardCountry: I believe only very minor changes were made,like the Adidas logo on the tongue or the removal of lettering on the heel. I wasn't too keen on them, they were given to me as a present and I thought they looked like construction boots, but I'm really impressed. Also, people complain about Five Ten durability, but these are like new after over one year of 2/3 rides per week on aggressive pedals
  • 44 0
 **Heavy Slavik Breathing**
  • 12 0
 I tried the squat once. My glutes were too tight and I was outed as an Amerikinski Spi immediately. I've been in physical therapy working on leg flexibility ever since.
  • 42 3
 To be fair, this shoe isnt aimed at MTB at all. Every photo with a bike is showing an urban commute ride. Trust me, I know the photo ops teams at Adi and they wouldn't make that kind of mistake. Kind of misleading headline.
  • 3 0
 Headline now corrected. :-)
  • 2 3
 Except Pinkbike chose to aim it at mountain bikers, so yeah, garbage nonetheless.
  • 2 0
 Yup, would love these for touring around the city and back roads on my 'cross bike in normal clothes, but they'd suck as actual mountain bike shoes.
  • 26 1
 finally finna drippppp on friday fails
  • 23 0
 Designed and tested in Portland, Oregon !
  • 21 0
 Adidas's American design offices area actually in Portland...
  • 30 4
 And made by children in China.
  • 11 0
 @woofer2609: I'm sure you have great inside knowledge to the asian sourcing of Adidas's Asia operations.......but I'd bet my bike quiver on that these aren't getting made by kids. Labor standards and practices in the footwear world have increased a lot in the last 2 decades.
  • 10 0
 @woofer2609: that'd be Nike
  • 14 0
 @NorCalNomad: I know, I know, I just cringe every time I see a "Designed in (insert first world country here)" label but the product is made in some country offshore, and the company uses minimum hybrid accounting, thereby almost completely avoiding taxation, and shifting the tax burden to wage workers.
  • 2 0
 @woofer2609: China is waaay too expensive these days for a big brand like Adidas. Bangladesh or India.
  • 21 1
 Can finally ride, dance, play soccer, and go out to eat with 1 shoe!
  • 61 0
 What do you wear on your other foot?
  • 5 0
 @woofer2609: nice ONE!
  • 20 2
 are these ebike compatible?
  • 19 0
 Vans...you're up!
  • 2 0
 see if you can ebay a pair of "vans warner" shoes Wink
  • 4 0
 they used to make a shoe called the gravel, it was awesome!
bmxultra.com/review/vans_gravel_shoes
  • 3 0
 @y9pema: had mine for 3 or 4 years...worn everyday for riding. one sad day the soles in the area where the pedals have contact with the shoes fell off in one piece. would buy a new pair in a heartbeat. the new vans pro models they make for bmx riding are pure rubbish. they dont last and sole is so slippy compared to the gravel or five ten.
  • 1 0
 The BMX SK8 High are good to me
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: too bad Vans doesn't make size 12.5
  • 1 0
 As long as they move the clear box further back than the old ones I’ me buy a pair.
  • 11 0
 I actually think these look dope. I would be concerned about longevity though.
  • 15 3
 Hipsters rejoice
  • 28 0
 Still waiting for those clipless Birkenstocks.
  • 8 0
 @dudeism: nothing better than the shimano clipless sandals
  • 2 2
 Sambas are also good for former Skinheads and Herberts.
  • 2 0
 @funkzander: I've got a pair and I wear it on MTB park in summer. It's sooo comfy and you actually look forward to the river crossings!
  • 1 0
 Clipless Converse?
  • 10 0
 Make some with Stealth rubber and I'm all in!!
  • 4 4
 They do. 5-10 Sleuth DLX
  • 5 3
 @riverbum: Not the same
  • 8 0
 I'm holding out for clipless Crocs
  • 1 0
 LOL!
  • 1 0
 I’m on the same boat!
  • 4 0
 Cool. Now could we get some stock of mountain bike shoes in Canada? Any mountain bike shoe? (has anyone been on their Canadian site lately? Barely any stock. Which is a problem since they only list shoes for which they have stock)
  • 5 0
 As a former football player, Sambas suck. Way too flat, no padding or support whatsoever, and very thin. Some of those things are good for playing football, but they're all terrible for mountain biking.
  • 5 0
 100% agree, along side playing proper footy I tried to work out how many games of 5 a side I played - about 1000 (yes I’m old) Sambas were the only shoe that got binned after 1 game!

On a side note managed a short after work trail ride today, forgot my 5-10s, rode in standard Adidas trainers and my feet were all over the place! Sorry went off on a tangent there!
  • 2 0
 not for mtb
  • 2 0
 I've been using adidas skateboarding shoes for mtb and as a messenger for years; they give you a bit more protection and are way more durable and stiffer than sambas. Plus they usually have a pair or two that's a similar style, but it's like $60-75 instead of $120. Not clipless, obviously, but you can basically afford two pairs instead of one.
  • 2 0
 @abayers: yeah I use vans most of the time. I like the high top ones. I was just saying the ones they are showing are not for mtb because everyone acting like they r. Not saying you cant use them for mtb, but they are marketed for commuting.
  • 4 0
 If it is deep enough that I can walk on them without the cleats hitting the ground they would be a good commuter shoe. My job I can defiantly wear some sambas but not most other cycling shoes.
  • 3 0
 These are being bought by people like my girlfriend that bikes to work occasionally and wants to wear them to spinning class, I think they look dope. It wouldn't lake much for them to be better that the Fiveten kestrels shoes I had anyway.
  • 7 1
 clipless slides coming next
  • 5 3
 How about you just bring back the original 510 quality (that you addidas completely ruined) rather than this fashion concious crap...

There is a reason that people are moving away from 510s (and the other companies are taking hold with inferior products) and it's not that the performance is bad.. it's because they fall apart in 2 seconds and costs bs levels of money.. unlike the older stuff before you ruined it.
  • 5 0
 Nike has been real quiet in the bicycle shoe landscape since these were released
  • 5 0
 They are focussed on indoor spin shoes. Just released a new line. Nothing for MTB.
  • 5 3
 If Nike would come out with Jordan I styled riding shoes in black and blue that are SPD compatible, I’d be first inline.
  • 3 0
 nike had awesome clipless hi top shoes in the 90ies called the pooh bah. please bring them back. they had that early nike acg vibe. something dan corteze would wear at mtv sports.
  • 5 0
 Nah clipless crocs are what we need
  • 3 0
 I really dislike the term "parent brand" in it's usage here. I understand why it is used and Adidas have paid for FiveTen™, but yet it just doesn't seem right.
Sorry, gotta go... It's pension day. Eek
  • 4 0
 Cycles 5 mins to the local watering hole......spends hours bragging about shoes & bike......cycles 5 mins back home.....sleep....repeat...
  • 11 7
 Their shoes suck my last Five Ten's last five years the ones I have now the eyelets ripped after four rides.
  • 3 21
flag DownHooligan (Mar 2, 2021 at 11:21) (Below Threshold)
 @mariomtblt: the bike shop I purchased them from is closed but the owner agreed to refund my money when they open up again.
  • 1 0
 Incredible the amount of hatred towards a shoe. Think they are great for around town, breweries, beer cruises on a bike with spds. Don't think adidas is marketing them as a mountain bike shoe. Please do continue with the hatred it's good comedy.
  • 2 0
 Looks nice, wish it cam with a Velcro strap to tuck in the laces. Love my Hellcats. With being exactly in between Euro sizes having US sized shoes is pretty much a must for me. So I am basically stuck with Addidas/510
  • 3 0
 GOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfTM1mMce40
  • 4 0
 ADIDAS BETTER PAY @BICYCLEPUBES HIS MONEY ; )
  • 1 0
 pyay thyat myan his myoney.
  • 2 0
 Interesting - I own Sambas and that's why I swung over to 5-10 Sleuth DLX for flat pedals. The Sleuth DLX looks like Samba with the Stealth sole underneath
  • 4 0
 What are indoor cyclists?
  • 2 0
 Pinkbikes new market?
Apartment dwellers in lockdown?
I don't know either, but I'll keep my cycling al fresco please.
  • 2 0
 I would actually love a pair if I thought I'd get £100 worth of life out of them. As a kid sambas would be dead in about 6 weeks...
  • 3 0
 what's with the negativity, they look s**t hot
  • 1 0
 now i'm going to need a red track suit, a gold chain, another gold chain for my bike, a litre of vodka, and an AK47 to finish the look.
  • 1 0
 These are actually awesome to use on the gravel bike or my mountain bike to just cruise town without looking like a try hard for a brewery ride or stop for a pizza.
  • 3 0
 All Day I Dream About... Sneakers...?
  • 7 0
 Shredding
  • 2 0
 Shagging baby
  • 2 0
 Says austin powers
  • 2 0
 Shimano
  • 1 0
 R U Ready?
  • 3 0
 I still have my 2007 spd-am41’ s, they never die
  • 2 0
 I've got a spare pair of those still fresh in the box too!
  • 3 0
 I can already see Rob Warner wearing these, full Adidas kit
  • 2 0
 If only they would redirect their efforts to making functional mountain bike shoes...
  • 1 0
 I’ll probs end up with a pair of these. Not stoked on the styling but I know my skinny-ass feet fit well into low volume adidas shoes.
  • 1 0
 How many people that wear this shoe ride? And of that group how many actually clip in? Regardless, I'm holding out for Jordan XI's.
  • 1 0
 u want 11s for mtb
  • 3 0
 Fuck Adidas
  • 3 1
 Um, Stealth rubber flats please?
  • 2 0
 Adidas owns Five Ten (and make the TrailCross stuff with Stealth soles if they'd even try to have them in stock). These appear to be for the hipsters that just got "serious" about their cycling.
  • 2 0
 These will pair great with my denim overalls and pit vipers!
  • 2 0
 I mean, I want some. For the city though, not mtb
  • 2 0
 Rather be a pinker than a hypebeast
  • 1 0
 These are fine, but we all know that real commuters rock Shimano SPD sandals......
  • 2 0
 I’ll be happy when I can get some clipless Blundstones.
  • 1 1
 Can we talk about the bottom bracket on the bike in these pics? WTF is going on there with the bolts?!?!
  • 2 0
 eccentric BB
  • 2 1
 Tt's a concentric BB to allow for tensioning of your belt driven bike.
  • 1 0
 EBB, or eccentric bb, to adjust the tension on the belt drive. Thinking of one on a custom hard tail to offset between 27.5 and 29.
  • 1 0
 eccentric BB. Look it up. They're made for adjusting tension on chain (or belt) without changing chainstay length.
  • 2 1
 I'm putting these on my bike stuff to purchase list, right below ebike!
  • 1 0
 Make sambas with stealth rubber!
  • 1 0
 All day I dream about Singletrack!
  • 1 0
 Bring back Freerider high tops!!!
  • 1 0
 i love my sambas im actually thinking about this purchase
  • 2 1
 I think I'm gonna stick to the recycled shoes but... thanks?
  • 1 1
 Ride to your indoor soccer game? Is the cleat recessed enough that I won't slide and fall on my face?
  • 1 0
 you mean stop on a dime, and pivot on the cleat?

the down side is the floor will have divots.
  • 2 2
 Can we please get the shittiest clipless shoes possible with a Supreme tag stitched on, for like $2000?
  • 1 0
 Pair of acid yellow for race days unless clipless yeezys come first.
  • 1 0
 Adidas marketing working hard here on the down votes, I see.
  • 1 0
 I can dig it, but they better perform for that price.
  • 1 0
 I'd be all over some mid top Superstar shell toes... Just sayin'
  • 1 0
 My new gravel shoes for sure
  • 1 0
 Can someone explain what a hypebeast is to me
  • 2 0
 Someone who is only focused on having newest and rarest things to be fashionable. It is a term frequently used in the sneaker and streetwear crowd.
  • 2 0
 @ols532704: Thanks, and thanks for not telling me to look it up for my damn self!
  • 1 0
 @boozed: to be honest I think it is a horrible word to use in this case, because there is nothing hype about this shoe, and he classified anyone who like sneakers as a hypebeast. I would have said - for Cycling Sneakerheads.
  • 1 0
 There is no flat pedal version? Shame!
  • 1 0
 After dinner I did a sneaker...
  • 1 0
 How about some chucky all star converse...lol
  • 1 0
 Hopefully made from old recycled dildos procured from the ocean....
  • 1 0
 What is a hypebeast and are they dangerous?
  • 1 0
 It better stiffer than the original version!
  • 1 0
 All Day I Dream About Flats.
  • 1 0
 100quid for clipless chavy daps? haha
  • 1 2
 This is for all the roadmen that ride around on bikes all day in London with their mandem.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a Sleuth
  • 1 0
 Looks soft as.
  • 1 0
 Yeah I need these
  • 1 0
 Drip is forever
  • 2 3
 Holding out for the clipless yeezys
  • 3 4
 When are the clipless yeezy's dropping???
  • 2 4
 These definitely don’t seem very functional, I wish more brands made mid top shoes, I like my ankles to feel snug.
  • 3 3
 RCs mids so nice
  • 2 0
 Etnies has Marana mid crank with Michelin rubber. I had their mid tops in 2015 but don't remember the name and aside the not so good traction on their own rubber they were comfy and held the foot better than the Freeriders.
  • 2 0
 @sk8mountain: not clipless
  • 5 1
 You can't really complain the Samba looks like a Samba. It's like saying you want your banana to be an orange.
  • 1 1
 @Riggbeck: yeah thats kinda my point its a soccer shoe not a mountain bike shoe, this would be fine for cruising around town, it shouldn't be categorized as a mtb shoe.
  • 2 0
 @MDRipper: not sure where you read that, I think Adidas are promoting the Samba only for commuting and indoor training, not MTB.
  • 2 0
 @MDRipper: Its not being categorized as a mtb shoe.
  • 1 2
 Trust Adidas to sneaker new model into their line up.
  • 4 7
 £100? they look about £10 tops.
  • 2 4
 Ew...
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.043516
Mobile Version of Website