Do Sambas Run
Big or Small?

Only if you have wide feet. Average to narrow feet should go true-to-size. Wide feet benefit from +0.5 to avoid forefoot squeeze. If you're between sizes, go with the larger size for Sambas since they don't stretch much in width.

Neither—Sambas run true-to-size in length. The confusion comes from width: they have a narrow last that can feel "small" if you have wide feet, even though the length is accurate. The sizing is correct; the shape is just slim.

Leather softens but doesn't stretch much in width. Expect 1-2mm of give after 10-15 wears, mostly in the toe box. If they feel too narrow on day one, they won't magically fit later. Size up or choose a different model. Length doesn't change at all—Sambas don't "grow" longer with wear.

3-5 wears for leather OG/Classic models. Suede versions break in faster (1-3 wears). Synthetics don't really "break in"—they feel on day 10 how they felt on day one. The leather softens around the collar and flex points but maintains its shape. Most wearers report "finally comfortable" around wear 3-4.

Not ideal. Sambas have a narrow terrace last designed for agility on indoor courts. Wide feet should consider sizing up +0.5, removing the insole for extra space, or looking at Campus, Ultraboost, or Samba Indoor for more room. If your feet are very wide (E+ width), Sambas may never feel comfortable regardless of sizing.

No—the last is the same, just sized differently. Women's US 8 = Men's US 6.5. Use CM measurement for most accurate conversion. Both are equally narrow. There's no advantage to buying men's vs women's except for colorway availability.

Leather models will be uncomfortable without break-in—expect stiffness and possible heel blisters. Suede is better out of the box but still needs 1-2 wears. If you need immediate comfort for an event, go with suede Sambas or a knit model like Ultraboost. Don't expect leather Sambas to feel great on day one.

95% the same. Both use nearly identical lasts. Some wearers report Samba Classic having slightly more toe box room (1-2mm), but most people won't notice. The main difference is the suede T-toe on OG vs all-leather on Classic. If you're US 9 in OG, you're US 9 in Classic.

Core colorways (Black/White, White/Green, etc.) fit identically—same last, same leather grade. Limited edition collabs can vary if they use different materials (thicker suede, textile, pony hair). Always check SizeCheck data for specific collabs. Vegan Sambas have the same dimensions but don't stretch like leather.

Size up +0.5 in Samba compared to Ultraboost. If you wear US 9 in Ultraboost, go US 9.5 in Samba. Ultraboost has a roomy Primeknit upper that stretches; Samba has a tight leather upper that doesn't. They're opposite ends of Adidas' fit spectrum.

Very similar—both are TTS with narrow-ish lasts. If you wear US 9 in Stan Smith, go US 9 in Samba. Stan Smith has slightly more volume in the midfoot (it's a tennis shoe), but forefoot width is comparable. Some wearers find Stan Smith more forgiving, but it's marginal.

Yes—both use nearly identical slim terrace lasts. If you're US 9 in Gazelle, go US 9 in Samba. The main difference: Gazelle's all-suede upper breaks in faster than Samba's leather. Both are equally narrow through the forefoot.

Mostly yes, but Spezial has slightly more forefoot room. If you wear US 9 in Samba, go US 9 in Spezial—but Spezial will feel less restrictive in the toe box. Good option if you like the Samba aesthetic but need a bit more width without sizing up.

Yes—Handball Spezial runs long. If you wear US 9 in Samba, try US 8.5 in Handball Spezial. Handball has an elongated toe box that adds ~5mm of length. Also very narrow, similar to Samba. Not recommended for wide feet.

Nike Dunk runs about half-size smaller than Samba. If you wear US 10 in Nike Dunk, you'll likely wear US 9.5 in Samba. Both are narrow, but Dunk's toe box is even tighter. Nike generally sizes smaller than Adidas across the board. Wide feet will struggle in both models.

Yes—Sambas are one of Adidas' narrowest models. Only Gazelle and Handball Spezial are similarly slim. Models like Ultraboost, NMD, Campus, and even Stan Smith all have more forefoot width. If you have wide feet and struggle with Sambas, most other Adidas models will fit better.

Yes, this can help with width. Removing the insole adds ~3-4mm of vertical space, which can relieve pressure on the top of your foot. However, it won't make the toe box wider—just taller. Good temporary fix for borderline fits, but if your forefoot is truly squeezed, size up instead.

Yes, but only apply it to the interior collar and heel counter—not the exterior. Leather conditioner softens stiff areas that cause blisters. Don't over-condition the exterior or you'll darken the leather and lose structure. Wear thick socks for the first 2-3 wears as well.

Sambas run about the same length as Vans Old Skool but narrower. If you wear US 9 in Vans, try US 9 in Samba—but Samba will feel tighter in the forefoot. Vans have a roomier toe box. Wide-footed Vans wearers often need to size up +0.5 in Sambas.

Sambas run about half-size smaller than Converse Chuck Taylors. If you wear US 9 in Chuck Taylors, try US 8.5 in Samba. Converse runs notoriously large and roomy; Sambas are TTS and narrow. These are opposite fit philosophies.

Kids' Sambas use the same TTS philosophy but a slightly different last shape (less aggressive taper). If your child wears Kids' US 5, they'll transition to Youth/Adult US 5 when they outgrow kids' sizes. The narrow fit still applies—kids with wide feet may need to size up.

Toddler Sambas (Toddler sizes 4-10) have a slightly wider last to accommodate growing feet and easier on/off. They're not as aggressively narrow as adult Sambas. Still TTS in length. Most parents find toddler Sambas more forgiving than adult sizing.

Possibly, especially at the heel collar. The stiff leather can rub during the first 2-4 wears. Wear thicker socks, use blister prevention tape on your heels, or apply leather conditioner to the interior collar. After break-in, blisters should stop. If they persist after 10 wears, the fit is wrong.

Not recommended for width. Sambas' construction doesn't allow for significant stretching—the leather and stitching will resist. Shoe stretchers can help with length (if you went half-size too small) but won't meaningfully increase forefoot width. Better to exchange for a larger size.

Depends on your fit preference. TTS Sambas fit best with thin to medium socks for most people. If you sized up +0.5, thicker socks can take up extra space. During break-in, thick socks help stretch the leather faster. After break-in, wear whatever sock thickness feels comfortable—the shoe will accommodate.

High arches may feel pressure on top of the foot due to Sambas' low-volume design. The flat insole provides minimal arch support. Consider adding a thin arch support insole, or size up +0.5 if the top of your foot feels squeezed. Length and width are the same for high arches; it's the vertical space that matters.

Flat feet may find Sambas' narrow last uncomfortable since flat feet often spread wider. The minimal arch support also provides no stability. Consider sizing up +0.5 or adding a supportive insole. If you have wide, flat feet, Sambas may not be the right shoe—try Campus or Ultraboost instead.

Sambas were designed for indoor soccer, so they can handle light sports (futsal, gym workouts). The flat gum sole provides excellent grip on hardwood. However, they offer minimal cushioning and arch support—not ideal for running or high-impact activities. Sizing is the same whether you're wearing them for sports or casual.

Yes—vintage Sambas often ran slightly larger and used softer leather that stretched more. Modern Sambas (2010s+) use stiffer leather and a more refined last. If you wore US 9 in vintage Sambas, you might still be US 9 in modern Sambas, but the fit will feel snugger initially. Vintage sizing wasn't as standardized either.

Sambas run about the same length as New Balance but much narrower. If you wear US 9 in New Balance 550, you'll likely wear US 9 in Samba—but Samba will feel significantly tighter in the forefoot. New Balance offers D (standard) and 2E (wide) widths; Sambas only come in one narrow width.

Try removing the insole (adds vertical space), wearing thin socks, using a leather conditioner on the interior to speed softening, or trying Samba Indoor (slightly roomier last). But if your forefoot is genuinely too wide for the last, no trick will fix it—exchange for +0.5 or try a different model.