Creative Soccer Culture

adidas Release The Predator-Infused Samba OG

Two iconic pieces of footwear come together for the ultimate homage, as adidas take the classic Originals Samba and fuse it with the DNA of the OG Predator for a sneaker that boasts the most epic of throwback vibes. This is like your dream shoe come to life, so it's understandable that you would be willing to do unspeakable things to get it. Fortunately though, you don't have to...

The timeless Samba and the iconic Predator exist as two of the most recognisable silhouettes in the football world in their own rights. But now adidas have brought the two together in one of the most ultimate reworks, which sees the classic Samba canvas infused throughout with OG Predator stylings; something that was last seen in sneaker form on the Predator-inspired Sobakov back in September 2019.

70 years ago, adidas debuted the Samba, a purpose-built indoor soccer shoe made from a leather upper with suede overlays and a thin outsole for better feel and traction. While the Samba performed excellently in its intended use, the silhouette quickly became popular outside of the indoor courts, cementing its place on the feet of everyday wearers and skateboarders due to their supreme comfort and style. Then, in the 1994, the Predator happened, revolutionising football boot design from that moment on, with its radical rubber elements and overly aggressive aesthetics. And now the two are melded together in the perfect blend of Predator perfection and Samba style.

The most obvious change up to the Samba from the get go is the appearance of the tapered fang-shape of the textured white leather Three Stripe overlays, taken directly from the OG Predator. And then there’s that ultimate nod to the master of power and swerve, with the Predator’s signature rubber fins placed on the heel as opposed to across the forefoot. And the nods don’t stop there either, with the word “Samba” appearing on the insole in the original Predator font for the perfect sign off. If we were given free reign to design our own football shoe, we don't think we could do much better.

The Samba OG is available now at adidas.co.uk

Author
Daniel Jones

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