Top pick
These pliant leather shoes — originally designed for the soccer pitch — have been fashionable for decades. Most of our testers found them comfortable, but some people struggle with the tall, rigid heel tabs.
These are the same streamlined sneakers, in men’s sizes.
Top pick
These graceful suede sneakers have the lowest, thinnest soles among all the models we tested — almost like indoor-outdoor slippers. They run a touch long, so consider sizing down by one half size.
Adidas is famed for its slender silhouettes, and for good reason: It makes an array of low-profile sneakers that are attractive, well constructed, and totally wearable. (You could say they’ve earned their three stripes.)
For this guide, we considered five popular styles — and we liked ’em all, for different reasons. Our favorites include the slim and sporty Samba OG Shoes (women’s, men’s) — they hit the sweet spot between form and function — and the exceptionally minimal Tokyo Shoes (women’s), which stand out as the brand’s most graceful design. But there’s no “right” answer, and depending on your preferences, you might find one of the other models that we tried more appealing.
Adidas gets the important things right. Each of the styles that we tested has a lean, versatile silhouette — wear them with anything from barrel jeans and wide-leg trousers to breezy day dresses and midi skirts. They come in lots of appealing colorways, ranging from reliable neutrals to bold, showstopping combinations. And they’re a good value: In our experience, these approachably priced sneakers, costing around $100 per pair, hold up to years of wear.
For a slim, elegant, and surprisingly sturdy sneaker, the Samba OG is hard to beat. As far as we’re concerned, the Samba OG has transcended its trendy “It”-shoe status to become a bona fide closet staple (it’s also one of our favorite white sneakers). Introduced as a soccer shoe in 1950, the design’s popularity has persisted thanks to its sleek shape, flexible comfort, and durable build. I can personally attest to the hardiness of their soft leather uppers, gently contoured insoles, and grippy rubber soles — my pair, in heavy rotation since 2024, shows hardly any signs of wear.
If you want an even sleeker silhouette and more minimal sole, go for the Tokyo Shoe. I fell head over heels for the lean and low Tokyo Shoes (originally created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics). With soft suede uppers and wafer-thin rubber soles, these sneakers are the daintiest and most foot-hugging among all the Adidas models we’ve tested. Their proportions are particularly striking: They have a slim, tapered form that visually extends the leg and a shortened toe box that makes feet appear petite.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Samba OG Shoes have rigid back tabs that bother some people. One tester with self-described “pointy heels” developed blisters on the backs of her ankles after a few hours of wearing these shoes (and we found similar complaints online, along with a handful of hacks for breaking ’em in). It’s hard to predict whether you’ll have this issue, but if you’d prefer to steer clear, the tab-free Tokyo Shoes, as well as the cushier Adidas Taekwondo and Gazelle Indoor Shoes (which we also tested) could be a safer bet.
The Tokyo sneakers run large. My usual size (women’s 8) was noticeably roomy in comparison with other Adidas sneakers I tried (especially lengthwise; the Tokyo Shoes are slim but long). Consider sizing down by one half size for a truer fit.
The Tokyo Shoe’s slim rubber soles aren’t very supportive. They’re thin and low to the ground, more akin to the soles on an indoor/outdoor slipper than a traditional trainer. The insoles aren’t that squishy either. Nevertheless, I found the shoes totally fine for my low arches on casual strolls — but they might not feel robust enough for some feet. (Samba OG Shoes have relatively chunkier soles and more insole padding. But if you need a cushier ride, check out our picks from Nike, which have foam midsoles.)
Key specs
Shoe sizes: typically available in women’s 5 to 12, men’s/unisex 4 to 19 (Samba OG); typically available in women’s 5 to 12 (Tokyo)
Sizing advice: We’ve found that Samba OG sneakers fit true to size, though some owner reviews say they run narrow. Tokyo sneakers run large, so size down by one half size.
Color options: over three dozen colors in varying materials (Samba OG); over a dozen colors in varying materials (Tokyo)