Best Adidas trainers (2024): great Adidas shoes for style and sport

Whether it be for fashion or fitness, get the best Adidas shoes for you.

Best Adidas trainers (2024): great Adidas shoes for style and sport

It's a good thing Adidas is such a solid brand, as the storms it has weathered of late could have sunk a less stable ship.

The fall of Kanye West and the virtual cancellation of the Yeezy brand led to Adidas's first loss in 30 years. And then to add insult to injury, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped out in a pair of Adidas Sambas, causing a 11% drop in sales according to credit company Klarna.

Adidas is soldiering on, though, as do the brand's big-name collaborations.

Want to know about some of the latest ones? On May 13, Adidas dropped a #Merky FC Predator Stormzy collaboration football boot. And if you want something you can simply wear out and about, there's a new KoRn x Adidas collaboration in the works too, rumoured to be hitting the store from May 15.

However, today we're a little more interested in the Adidas all-timers, the silhouettes that make this name an icon over the generations.

Of course, this is nowhere near a definitive list. Instead, we've tried to pick out a combination of classic and more limited-edition styles to show you how versatile Adidas trainers truly are. Some are simple and practical, others are throwing out some pretty outlandish 80s vibes. All of them have fought for their place to rightly be crowned some of the best Adidas trainers available right now.

Here are our top Adidas trainers. Remember to upvote your favourites and let us know if we’ve missed your must-have pair.

Best adidas shoes

Adidas Gazelle
at Office ShoesThe Gazelle may have started life as a football trainer, but it is now more likely to worn into town. The colourful leather upper provides a contrasting base to the three stripes that run across the side of the shoe. There are over 10 colours available including collegiate burgundy and glow blue.
Adidas Stan Smith
at Adidas UKAvailable in over 30 colour combinations, the Stan Smith is one of the most versatile adidas styles. Its classic silhouette has been the same for over four decades, and the clean white design makes it easy to pair with any outfit. The pops of colour on the heel and tongue add some character but don’t take away from the shoe’s simplicity. At £75, it is also one of the more ‘affordable’ styles.
Adidas Superstar
at Adidas UKHaving originally been released in 1970 for the basketball court, the Superstar has since become a streetwear staple. However, the hard shell toe - designed to protect the toes on the court - has remained a constant in the design even 50 years on. It’s also been worn by hip-hop and rap icons Missy Elliot, Jay-Z and Run DMC.
Adidas Spezial
at AmazonThis is a cousin to the super-popular Adidas Gazelle. It was introduced in 1979 as a show for handball players, but now is all about casual fashion. If you’re looking at this one wondering how it’s at all different to the Gazelle, the Spezial has a somewhat wider mid-foot, which some may find more comfortable. It also alters the top-down silhouette of the shoe a bit.
Adidas Continental 80
at Adidas UKAs you can tell from the name, these trainers are bringing you all the 80s looks. Originally a tennis shoe, the retro feel comes thanks to the French terry lining, split rubber sole and, obviously, that swooping two-tone stripe. There are 30 colour combinations available depending on if you want a classic white trainer or not, before then choosing the colour of your stripe.
Adidas NMD_R1
at Adidas UKOriginally launched in 2015, the NMD is “built for 21st century urban nomads who care about comfort as much as style”. The design combines the signature three stripes with the knitted upper of the UltraBoost, with the EVA midsole plugs finishing what has become an iconic style. Available in over 15 colourways, style is at the forefront of this trainer’s sporty design.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
at Adidas UKare at least as well-represented in podium finishes.
Adidas Swift Run
at Adidas UKIf you like a sportier silhouette, the Swift Run might be for you. Designed to bring the comfort of running shoes to your everyday, the Swift Run has a lightweight cushioned outsole to support your feet no matter where your work day takes you. The design is a little more subdued than many on this list, with six colours available.
Adidas Nite Jogger
at Adidas UKAnother 80s-inspired trainer, this time with a sleeker silhouette. Designed to be a ‘jogging’ shoe, the trainer has reflective stripes and a ‘boost’ midsole. The colourways are also a massive selling point of these trainers, with everything from all-black to neon orange available.
Adidas Ozweego
at Adidas UKThe Ozweego has strong 90s vibes and we’re loving it. This shoe may have a runner’s silhouette but the wavy design makes it clear that this trainer is designed to make you look cool. That doesn’t mean they’re not comfy though, with a lightweight, sock-like fit, you’ll have no problem wandering town all day in these bad boys.
Adidas UltraBoost DNA X LEGO Colors
at Adidas UKThe classic UltraBoost is something of an Adidas staple. Designed to be a running shoe, the UltraBoost have a responsive midsole, which provides cushioning while stepping keeping the shoe light and and the knitted style gives the feel of a ‘second-skin fit’. It is also the area Adidas likes to collaborate with. While we were big fans with the previous Star Wars collab, this LEGO one is just as fun.

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Marc Chacksfield
Content Director

As Content Director of Shortlist, Marc likes nothing more than to compile endless lists of an evening by candlelight. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.