My experience has been mixed. On one hand, the design and eye-catching color are really attractive and stand out in any outfit. However, the comfort leaves much to be desired. The sole is quite rigid and does not provide the necessary cushioning for long periods of use, which can be uncomfortable, especially if you walk a lot. Additionally, the size was a bit tight compared to other Adidas models I have tried. If you are looking for style, these sneakers are great, but if comfort is your priority, you may want to look for other options.

Dirty Adidas

I love Nordstrom. Pretty much the only place I shop for fashion on-line. Today, my much anticipated Adidas Sambas arrived. I have been trying to buy these for a year but they never have my size in stock, but one day while looking, again, they had ONE - 7.5 women's black Sambas available. In my cart, $100 bucks, bam! Today I am sad, they came in a crushed, taped back together box, no shape insert, laced-up, clearly worn with animal or something hair inside both, and schmutz on the soles. They look like I could have gotten them at Goodwill. Not a consignment store, because they would have at least cleaned them up before selling them. :-(

Even better than expected

LOVE these. I actually searched for them based on seeing a model wear them in a clothing ad for an entirely different company. I wasn't sure whether they looked great in those photos and might be clunky or cheap-looking in person - but they are OUTSTANDING in person. So, so cute. I have rather large feet and always hate when sneakers make them look huge or bulky. These are nice and low-profile. I can see wearing them with absolutely anything, even a sporty dress. Love the dark soles, too - it makes them more versatile in terms of walking across a muddy field or something like that (as often happens over the lifetime of a sneaker). I am a thousand percent happy with this purchase!

Heads up on the sizing

I love my Sambas. Adidas is consistently large in sizing but not consistent in how much larger. For example, in the Superstar and Stan Smith, I only have to go down 1/2 a size. I would say go down a full size with the Samba. Here is my explanation...I am most consistently a UK 38. That is the sizze that best fits my foot. Typically that is a US size 7/7.5. For sneakers I wear a 7.5/8 for Nike or Reebok. I went with a 7 as that's what I get in Stan Smiths and Superstar for Adidas. The Samba are too long. Not walking out of them too long but slight clown feeling long. I checked the size on the box. Says size 7 US W but 38.5 UK. A 6.5 is what I need which will be a UK 38. I will reorder when back in stock, then I will pass these to my daughter. Until then I will be ... MoreI love my Sambas. Adidas is consistently large in sizing but not consistent in how much larger. For example, in the Superstar and Stan Smith, I only have to go down 1/2 a size. I would say go down a full size with the Samba. Here is my explanation...I am most consistently a UK 38. That is the sizze that best fits my foot. Typically that is a US size 7/7.5. For sneakers I wear a 7.5/8 for Nike or Reebok. I went with a 7 as that's what I get in Stan Smiths and Superstar for Adidas. The Samba are too long. Not walking out of them too long but slight clown feeling long. I checked the size on the box. Says size 7 US W but 38.5 UK. A 6.5 is what I need which will be a UK 38. I will reorder when back in stock, then I will pass these to my daughter. Until then I will be Homie da Clownin' it.

Lesson learned: You may not need to size up

I've been researching Samba OG sneakers for a minute and everywhere I've read, I was told to size up. I am normally a woman's size 10 (I am a true 10 with wide feet). In Converse, I wear (men's) size 7.5 or 8s. But for Samba OG sneakers, I ordered a woman's 10.5/men's 9.5. I just came on here to exchange for a smaller size but they're completely out of the white/halo blue/gum5 color way -- as is nearly every other store it seems -- so I'm sticking with these even though my feet look disproportionately larger than the rest of my body. Whoops! I think it is safe to play it conservative, at least in the way sizing is listed on Nordstrom's site, and go for your regular size.

Narrow and long

I normally wear women’s 9 and got these in 9.5 (marked on inside US 8.5, uk 8, fr42, jp 265) I got them in 9.5 because 9 was sold out. Anyway i wore them on a trip everyday for 14 days. Wore them with cotton no-show socks. They were very comfortable. No break in and no blisters. I noticed that the shoe has a very narrow toe box so even though 9 would have been better length wise, it may have squeezed my toes so the mainly walking trip may have been a more uncomfortable on my feet. I did A LOT walking in warm weather. I have other adidas in woman’s 9 (marked on the inside us 8, uk 7.5, fr 41.5, jp 260). So go figure. The sizing maybe is weird because this shoe is so narrow.

Received used shoes

I’m extremely disappointed with my recent purchase. The shoes I received were clearly used. There were visible signs of wear, including dirt on the soles and scuff marks all over. To make matters worse, I found human hair inside the shoes! This is completely unacceptable and unhygienic.I expected to receive a brand-new pair of shoes, but instead, I got something that looked like it had been worn for days. I will definitely not be ordering from here again. To make matters worse, I was told the return would be at FedEx or UPS, but it ended up being at USPS. It was not the best experience having to now wait in a long line to make a return.

Well made and stylish

As a women, unisex shoes are tough since I have medium-narrow feet, narrow heels and a low instep/low volume feet. I measure 9.5W on foot measuring devices. I wear a 10 (41/42) in running shoes of most brands, a 40 narrow in Birkenstock Bends leather sneakers, a 41 in Pumas and a 40.5 in Nike leather sneakers (not running shoes) and a 9 in most sandals due to my low volume feet. I read tons of reviews and went based off of my foot length measurement (10”) and the 41.3/9W/8M are the right length. The toe box is narrower toward the tip but it has decent volume and width for medium feet.

retro

I was so excited to get this shoe. I ordered this a while ago and it finally came in today. I opened the box only to find the stripe was red not black. I was so disappointed. I do like red, but that wasn’t what I ordered and not what I need for now. Then when I tried them on I laced the top hole. Both holes were so sticky I couldn’t get the lace into the hole in one of the shoes. That’s why I gave it a 4 star rating. The gender sizing allows for a slightly larger width, which I need. I ordered my typical size 9 womens. The fit in length and width was perfect. But since it’s the wrong color they’re going back.

sole is a different color than pictured

i've been wearing sambas for over a decade, for some reason adidas seem to have changed the color of the sole from a light brown (pictured on website) to a color closer to black. i ordered and returned a couple times direct from adidas before i realized this change since it's not reflected on their website. however, i had never purchased a pair from nordstrom and noticed that they seemed to have the original gum sole color so i tried again and once again was delivered a pair of sambas with a different color sole than advertised. sucks. i hate complaining and writing reviews, i just want the same shoe i've been wearing for 10+ years [shakes fist at clouds].