What's the difference between Samba and Gazelle?

The Samba is a leather indoor football shoe with a T-shaped overlay on the toe. The classic Gazelle is a suede training shoe with a smooth toe. Same size for both.

1950 for one, 1966 for the other. Sixteen years separate the Samba and the Gazelle, and adidas did not design them for the same playing surface. The difference between Samba and Gazelle comes down to that origin, which you can still read on the pair, in the upper material, the toe and the sole. We checked the product pages and the adidas archives on 23 October 2026, with the Handball Spezial in a third column, as it is the one people confuse with the other two.

Samba and Gazelle compared line by line

Where the two models come from

The adidas archives present the Samba as an indoor football shoe that appeared in the 1950s, designed to grip on frozen surfaces. The T-shaped overlay, the smooth leather and the three stripes have barely changed since: that is the design of today's Samba OG.

The Gazelle came out in 1966 as an all-round training shoe. It descends from the Olympiade model of the early 1960s and was initially only available in two colours, red for indoor sports and blue for training. The adidas website itself muddles the dates, with "launched in 1966" on the Gazelle Bold page and a "1968 Gazelle OG" on the Gazelle Indoor page. We go with 1966, the date in the archives.

How to tell a Samba from a Gazelle

Look at the toe. On the Samba, a piece of suede covers the forefoot and runs up towards the laces, forming a T. On the classic Gazelle, the upper runs all the way to the tip in one piece.

·       The Samba OG has a smooth leather upper, the Gazelle a nubuck or suede upper with a velvety feel.

·       The model name appears as a gold logo on the side, "Samba" or "Gazelle": it's the quickest check.

·       On the Samba OG, the tongue label shows the Trefoil on a blue background.

·       The Samba's sole is a brown gum cupsole, while the classic Gazelle's is usually white rubber.

Classic Gazelle or Gazelle Indoor?

In our stock, most of the Gazelle pairs are Gazelle Indoor, and those look much more like a Samba. adidas describes it as the indoor alternative to the classic Gazelle, with a gum sole that is translucent and wraps up the sides, and a waxed suede upper. It also has a T-shaped panel on the forefoot.

To tell them apart, the sole is what matters. The Samba's is opaque brown gum, the Gazelle Indoor's is translucent, with the adidas logo visible on the side. The Gazelle Bold, also with a T-shaped forefoot, sits on a triple-stacked gum sole according to adidas. Our Gazelle Bold pairs are mostly available in women's sizes.

adidas retail prices for the Samba and Gazelle

Prices checked on adidas.fr on 23 October 2026, excluding promotions. Only €10 between a Samba OG and a classic Gazelle. Limited editions and collaborations push the bill up on both sides.

Fit and sizing

adidas states "true to size" for all three models and recommends your usual size. The Samba and the Gazelle have the same narrow forefoot, so the same size. A 42 in the Samba, a 42 in the Gazelle. With wide feet, go half a size up on either one. The details are in our article How do Adidas Samba fit?, with the size chart in centimetres.

Which one to choose for your style

For everyday wear

The Samba. The leather handles rain and pavements, wipes clean with a damp cloth, and the T-toe protects the area that rubs the most. Black and white on a gum sole works just as well with raw denim as with suit trousers.

For colour and a softer look

The Gazelle. Suede takes bold colours (red, royal blue, green) far better than leather, and the slim shape lightens a loose outfit. It needs more care, with a crepe brush, a waterproofing spray before the first wear and never direct water. Our method is in the article on cleaning suede sneakers.Where does the Handball Spezial fit in?

It's the third terrace sneaker, the one people mistake for a Gazelle. Launched in 1979 for professional handball players, the Handball Spezial combines a suede upper, a T-toe and a gum sole. In the '80s and '90s it moved from sports halls to the stands of European football. Next to the classic Gazelle, the T on the toe and the gum sole give it away. Next to the Samba, it's the all-suede upper. It is slightly roomier at the front, see How do adidas Spezial fit?. Find the full range among our adidas Spezial.

Your questions about the Samba and the Gazelle

What's the difference between Samba and Gazelle at a glance?

The toe. The Samba has a suede T-shaped overlay on a leather upper, the classic Gazelle has a smooth toe and a suede or nubuck upper.

Are Sambas comfortable?

Yes, once the leather has softened, after a few days of wear. The Gazelle, in suede, is comfortable straight away.

Should you take the same size in the Samba and the Gazelle?

Yes. adidas lists both as true to size, and their narrow forefoot is the same. Keep your usual size, half a size up if you have wide feet.

Which one is more retro?

The Samba, older by sixteen years. adidas still sells both in a design close to the original.

To choose your pair, our adidas Samba and our adidas Gazelle are online with up-to-date sizes. If you're still unsure about the difference between Samba and Gazelle, start from the material. The Samba's leather handles everyday wear better, the Gazelle's suede carries colour better.

Sources

·       adidas.co.uk, Originals archives for the Samba, Gazelle and Spezial models, consulted on 23 October 2026.

·       adidas.fr, product pages Samba OG B75806, Gazelle BB5476 and BB5478, Gazelle Indoor KH9706, Gazelle Bold ID7056, Handball Spezial DB3021, same date.