What is the Difference Between Samba and Gazelle

Samba and Gazelle are two popular Adidas shoe models that share many similarities. Both were designed as shoes for indoor sports. These shoes have a long history, with Samba released in 1949 and Gazelle released 15 years later, in 1966.

The most noticeable difference between Samba and Gazelle is their tongues. In Samba, the tongue is usually white in color and contrasts with the color of the shoe, while in Gazelle, the tongue is the same color as the shoe.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Adidas Samba 
3. What is Adidas Gazelle
3. Similarities Between Adidas Samba and Gazelle
4. Samba vs Gazelle in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Samba vs Gazelle
6. FAQ: Samba and Gazelle

What is Adidas Samba?

Adidas Samba was released in 1949 and is one of the oldest shoes in the Adidas brand. Samba is the second-highest-selling Adidas shoe design (over 35 million pairs have been sold worldwide). It was designed originally for indoor football training. This is why these shoes have a large gum-rubber ‘pivot point’ on the sole of the shoe. This sole design helps with grip and stability on slippery floors in sports halls. Another characteristic feature of Adidas Samba is its T-shaped overlay on its toe. Another classic feature is the three stripes you can see in all Samba shoes. These shoes usually come in a mix of leather and suede materials.

Many different versions of Samba shoes have been released over the years. Some of these include Samba OG, Samba ADV (designed for skateboarding), Samba Vegan (made with faux leather), Sambae (platform variants), Samba Super (for urban use, rather than sports use), and Samba Rose (women’s-sized model).

What is Adidas Gazelle?

Adidas Gazelle was released in 1966. It was originally designed for training but was later redesigned for indoor sports. In fact, it was a continuation of a previous shoe, the Adidas Olympiade, which were running shoes. Gazelle was the first Adidas shoe to be made with suede instead of leather or canvas.

Like Samba, Gazelle has a stylish and simplistic design. These shoes have a suede upper, a unique rubber midsole with a rough texture, and a contrasting heel patch and tongue. They are available in a variety of colors and models. The most popular versions include Gazelle OG, Gazelle Bold (platform variant for women), and Gazelle ADV (designed for skateboarding).

Similarities Between Adidas Samba and Gazelle

1. Samba and Gazelle are two shoe brands by Adidas.
2. Both models have a long history.
3. They have the iconic Three Stripes on both the instep and outstep.
4. Both have T-shaped toe caps.

Difference Between Samba and Gazelle

Definition

1. Adidas Samba, released in 1949, is one of the oldest shoes in the Adidas brand.
2. Adidas Gazelle is an Adidas shoe released in 1966.

Material of Sole

1. Samba usually has a rubber gum sole.
2. Gazelle has a standard rubber sole.

Sole Design

1. Samba has a ‘pivot point’ at the ball of the foot and a contrasting half-and-half tread design.
2. Gazelle has a repeat hexagonal pattern covering the entire outsole.

Tongue

1. In Samba, the tongue is usually white in color and contrasts with the color of the shoe.
2. In Gazelle, the tongue is the same color as the shoe.

The following table summarizes the difference between Samba and Gazelle.

Summary – Samba vs Gazelle

Samba was released in 1949 and Gazelle was released 15 years later, in 1966. Samba has rubber gum sole while Gazelle has a standard rubber sole. Moreover, Samba usually has a white tongue, which contrasts with the color of the shoe, whereas Gazelle has a tongue that is the same color as the shoe. This is the summary of the  difference between Samba and Gazelle.

FAQ: Samba and Gazelle

1. Is gazelle sizing similar to Samba?

• The Adidas Gazelle is wider than the Adidas Samba, especially in the midfoot and toe box areas. Some find it easy to go a half-size down from their true size when choosing. But for those with wide feet, going with the true size will work.

2. Are Sambas comfortable for walking?

• Since Adidas Samba was originally designed for indoor sports, they do not provide as much cushioning or support provided by shoes specifically designed for walking. But they’re still suitable for walking shoes as they are durable.

3. Are Sambas made of real leather?

• Adidas Sambas are made of real leather. But if you are someone who feels uncomfortable with using real leather shoes, you can opt for Samba Vegan, which is made of faux leather.

4. How to know if Adidas Samba is original?

• To check if your Adidas Samba is original, you can look for the QC sticker and anti-mould sticker on your shoe. You can also Google the barcode on the shoe box to make sure its original.

5. What does OG mean in Adidas Gazelle?

• OG in both Adidas Gazelle means ‘original’. This means the design is the same as a very first version or an early release of a specific model. Therefore, OG Adidas Gazelle represents an earlier version of the Gazelle model.

6. What material is Adidas Gazelle?

• The Adidas Gazelle is made of suede. In fact, Gazelle was the first Adidas shoe to be made with suede. This made it more supple and lighter than other shoes, which were made of leather.

Reference:

1. “Adidas Samba.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Adidas Gazelle.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Adidas Samba Black” By Glen Bowman – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Adidas Gazelle” By LeDroider – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia

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