Adi Dassler formed adidas in Germany and sponsored the first ever Black athlete in the 1936 Summer Olympics when Jesse Owens shattered Hitler’s theories about the Aryan’s athletic superiority. Adidas has been a world leader in athletic gear and sportswear and since 1948 the brand has been involved in sports as diverse as track & field, gymnastics, boxing, soccer, tennis, basketball, football, golf, rugby, cricket, lacrosse, skateboarding, NASCAR and even parkour.
Some of the kicks listed here are still being produced and a few others need to be re-issued so hypebeasts can line up for ‘em like it’s 1989. I’m from Boston, home of New Balance, Reebok, Saucony & Keds but adidas has been king of the sneaker world there since 1979, so I’m uniquely qualified to make this list. See if your favorites made it…The Top 10 Adidas Sneakers Ever*
*(According to Dart Adams [Editor’s Note: Whose opinion you should respect, period.)
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Photos: adidas
10. adidas Skyjacker (1988)
Adidas’ answer to Nike’s Air Force I’s were mega popular in Boston and they eventually became the most sought after shoe in the area. I propose the Skyjacker is brought back for a limited run of 1988 kicks and sold exclusively in four different Boston area shoe stores/boutiques at 497 pairs each. Frank The Butcher, holler at me!
9. adidas EQT Basketball (1993)
They have since been reissued due to popular demand but the original Adidas EQT Basketball (and the Equipment ADV) came with a removable foam sock and you could buy different colors to match your outfits. From 1993 to 1995, these were some of the most beloved (and coveted) Adidas ever made.
8. Adidas Samoa
The Samoa was introduced during the 80’s as an eye catching yet functional training shoe. It ended up becoming a popular casual shoe choice and a Spring and Summer go to option during the late 80’s. It’s simple but classic design has made it s pillar of the Adidas Originals line.
7. adidas Pro Model
The adidas Pro Model was introduced in 1969 and instantly became a popular sneaker in both the NBA and on the blacktops of urban America. In the early 90’s, the adidas Pro Model experienced a resurgence in popularity and it’s been a staple in the adidas Originals line ever since.
6. Adidas Samba
The Samba has been Adidas’ signature soccer shoe since 1950 when it was first introduced before the 1950 World Cup. Adidas’ Samba was a great performance shoe that also functioned as a casual shoe due to aesthetics. It’s a popular choice in the Adidas Originals line.
5. adidas Rivalry (Ewings) (1986)
Cambridge, MA’s Patrick Ewing left Georgetown and was drafted by the Knicks. He signed a sneaker deal with Adidas and released the only sneaker bearing Knicks colors to be popular in Boston, the adidas Rivalry’s (AKA The Ewings). They couldn’t stay in stock at Crystal’s, Alpha & Omega or Harry The Greek’s in Boston (where adidas head would travel from all over the world to cop their kicks). They were equally popular nationwide amongst Adidas heads.
4. adidas Top Ten
Adidas Top Ten was introduced to the 70’s era NBA and ABA slightly after the Pro Model. It’s timeless design and reliability ensured it would have a life as a street shoe throughout the 80’s & 90’s. Adidas’ Top Tens were a popular shoe and it still is…
3. adidas Rod Laver
Introduced in 1970 and named for tennis star Rod Laver, this shoe became sought after outside of it’s original designed purpose. The Rod Laver became a popular choice amongst skateboarders, B-Boy’s, graf artists and people just looking for a simple but stylish option. The unique design and mesh on the sides made it one of the many sneakers adidas brought out of deadstock in the early 90’s that ultimately reenergized the brand. It’s also notable because it’s one of the few adidas kicks made that features no stripes.
2. adidas Stan Smith
Stan Smith’s have no stripes. None. Just holes down the sides where stripes should be. The simple and clean design is both classic and timeless. An official warm weather urban staple. If you still don’t own a pair of Stan Smith’s you need to cop some right now.
1. adidas Superstar
The three adidas shoes that defined the 70’s in the NBA and ABA were the previously mentioned Pro Model, Top Ten and the adidas Superstar. The adidas Superstar was THE sneaker of the NBA during the 70’s (partly due to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar adopting them and later endorsing his own adidas shoe) since at one point 75% of all NBA players used it as their sneaker of choice. The sneaker was also immensely popular during the helter skelter days of the ABA. The shelltoed shoe became a B-Boy staple and was made immensely popular worldwide by the Hip Hop trio Run DMC during the early 80’s. The adidas Superstar experienced a serious resurgence around 1992 and has since been the cornerstone of the Adidas Originals line. It’s arguably the greatest sneaker ever made.
Honorable Mentions: adidas Powerphase (Mid & Hi), adidas Concord, adidas Equipment ADV (Boot), adidas Phantom, adidas ZX 500, adidas Decade, adidas Forum Crest, adidas Torsion Attack, adidas Torsion Artillery, adidas Gazelle
