Top 7 Barefoot Shoes Like the Adidas Samba
These effortlessly cool, retro-style barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba balance style and comfort.
The Adidas Samba has made waves in 2024 and continuing into 2025 as one of the most popular sneakers on the market. Known for its vintage-inspired design, versatile style, and large selection of color combinations, it’s easy to see why it’s made such a comeback.
However, while the Adidas Samba has a lot to offer in aesthetics, it lacks some of the key features that barefoot shoe enthusiasts look for, like a wide toe box and a zero-drop sole. This posts lists my top 7 picks for barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba, plus more options at the end!
A little history on the Adidas Samba
The Adidas Samba was originally released in 1950 as a soccer shoe designed to help players maintain traction on icy, hard ground, making it one of Adidas’ oldest models. You likely wouldn’t equate this first design to the Samba you’re seeing on the streets today—it looked more like a hiking boot with a rubber toe cap than an effortlessly cool sneaker.
Over time, the Samba’s functionality and style transitioned it from the soccer field to the streets, and it became a casual staple thanks to its simple, sleek design and versatility.
Recently, the Samba design of the 1990s has experienced a major resurgence, driven by a growing trend toward retro, minimalist sneakers.
However, despite its popularity, the Samba has common drawbacks. Even those that only wear conventional shoes often complain about the extra narrow toe box, the rigid sole, or the stiff ankle that can cause blisters.
What to look for in comfortable, barefoot sneakers
If you want to balance foot health with fashion, check out these barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba. All of these barefoot shoe alternatives feature:
- Wide, naturally-shaped toe box
- Flat, zero-drop sole
- Thin, flexible sole
Sizing reference
For most of these shoes, I’ll provide a sizing reference based on my experience with the fit. Read more on measuring your feet for barefoot shoes here.
I’m most often a US7.5/EU38 in my barefoot sneakers and casual shoes. My feet are medium (‘B’) width and measure 23.3cm long with a higher instep and narrower ankle. I typically look for shoes with an extra 1.2cm of space.
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Barefoot Shoes like the Adidas Samba
These barefoot shoes combine the Samba’s vintage appeal with a more natural fit and feel.
Best Overall: Groundies Panama
Leather and Suede uppers | $140 Shop Groundies US or Groundies EU
First up is the Groundies Panama, which captures the look and feel of the Samba the best. The faux sidewall makes the sole appear thicker than it is, so you still get great flexibility out of these barefoot shoes. The uppers are high quality leather and suede, and come in class white, bold maroon, black, and green. These fit narrow to medium width feet best. I opted for a EU38 based on my 23.3cm foot measurement.
Best Affordable: WHITIN Suede Patchwork Shoes
Mesh and Suede Uppers | $42 on Amazon | Shop WHITIN
WHITIN is known for its affordable minimalist shoes sold on Amazon. The quality is solid for the price. While you don’t usually see natural materials on these shoes, this trendy barefoot sneaker has part-suede uppers. The contrasting mesh does look a bit cheap. The cushion behind the heel feels bulky, and ultimately they don’t feel quite as “barefoot” compared to the more established brands, but they are a great entry-level minimalist shoe. I opted for the US7.5/EU38. These are currently only available in women’s sizes. Read the full WHITIN brand review…
Best for Ground feel: Mukishoes Lyra
Leather and Suede leather uppers | €130 | Code KELLYMUKI for 10% off | Shop Mukishoes
The Lyra sneakers are ideal for a true barefoot shoe lover, with an ultra-flexible 3.5 mm sole, topped only with a thin leather insole. The uppers come in this mint green suede, a white leather and suede combo, or leopard print. Like most Mukishoes, these are a good fit for medium width feet and accommodate my higher instep well. They feel a little roomier than some of my other Mukishoes, though I do wish I had a touch more room around the pinky toe. I wear an EU38. Read the full Mukishoes review…
Best for Narrower Feet: Blusun 200
Nubuck and Suede leather uppers | €140 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off | Shop Blusun
Blusun is a new barefoot shoe brand that launched in 2024, and their Samba-inspired sneaker immediately caught my eye, especially the minty green and bright sky blue colorways.
They’re made with nubuck and suede leather and feature a 5mm flexible sole, putting them firmly on the “very barefoot” end of the spectrum.
These sneakers are best suited for narrower, lower-volume feet. On my higher instep, they feel a bit snug — and since they don’t come with a removable insole, there’s no way to create more space. I went with an EU37, which is a little short on length. If I were to order again, I’d stick with my usually EU38, especially as I need more width and volume in this style. Read the full Blusun review…
Best for Wider Feet: Bohempia Felix
Hemp Canvas and Vegan Suede Uppers | €139 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off | Shop Bohempia
The Bohempia Felix is a great option for wider feet and anyone looking for a breathable, vegan-friendly sneaker. The uppers are made from lightweight hemp canvas and vegan suede, making them a good choice for warmer weather.
They’ve recently expanded their color options, so you can now pair the white canvas with blue, green, or pink faux suede accents.
Although the sidewall looks a bit higher, the sole is actually just 4mm thick, with an additional 4mm removable insole for a touch of cushion. The Felix comes in both regular barefoot and wide widths. I chose an EU38 in regular, which already feels spacious on my medium-width feet. The wide version should work well for those with extra wide feet.
Discount Code: KELLY10
Best Vegan: Ohne Project 070
Vegan For Leather and Microfiber Suede Uppers | $171 | KELLY10 for 10% off | Shop Ohne Project
Ohne Project is a Spanish brand that makes retro minimalist sneakers. All are 100% vegan. They started off with some 80s inspired sneakers, and recently dropped a collection of Adidas Samba-inspired kicks, including a lot of colorful options. They’re best suited for narrow to medium width feet. They come with two sets of insoles (3mm and 5mm) to adjust volume and cushion. As someone with a higher instep, I’m most comfortable without any insoles. Size EU38 fits me best. Read the full Ohne Project brand review…
Discount Code: KELLY10
Best Dressy Sneakers: Gaucho Ninja Sneaky Ninja Retro Trainers
Leather and Suede Uppers | $174 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off | Shop Gaucho Ninja
Gaucho Ninja shoes always have quality you can feel, and these retro trainers are no different. I like that these feel like a dressier, more polished sneaker thanks to the design, materials and leather laces. They’re a good fit for medium to wide width feet, and have a strong slope shape. With the included insole, they fit lower volume feet; I removed the insole for more space. I wear these in an EU38.
More barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba
The above would be my top picks for the specific categories, but everyone is looking for a little different fit, style or color. Here are more barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba that may be a better fit for you.
Saguaro Shoes Dash 1
Mesh and Microfiber Uppers | $61 | Code KELLY15 for 15% off | Shop Saguaro
The Dash I sneakers from Saguaro are part Adidas Samba, part Onitsuka Tiger. They’re a little busy design-wise, but the green sole and yellow logo make a fun statement. If that’s not your vibe, other Dash colorways skip the T-toe and lean more toward a classic Tiger look.
They’re another solid affordable option — just know the materials feel on the cheaper side. The biggest downside? They sell out fast! I’m wearing an EU38. Read the Saguaro Shoe brand review…
Magical Shoes Nova Sneakers
Suede Uppers | $155 | Code KELLY for 10% off | Shop Magical Shoes
If you like color, the Nova sneakers come in this cute bubblegum pink, as well as a bright blue, cherry red, muted green, and purplish-blue, and dark brown. They’re a great match for medium-width, high-volume feet. The toe box appears slightly molded and reinforced to preserve that roomy fit, which is great for comfort, but as the reinforcing sits a bit back from the edge of the sole, it can look slightly awkward (you can see what I mean in the comparison photo with the Mukishoes at the top of this section).
Like other Magical Shoes sneakers, I had to size up. I’m wearing an EU39 here.
Best for Extra Wide Toe Splay: Realfoot Copero
Leather and Suede Uppers | €166 | Shop Realfoot
Realfoot shoes are catered to those with “pizza feet” — an extra wide toe splay, but narrower midfoot and ankle. They say they have the widest toe box in the world, and that just might be the case (the toe box is 10.8cm for an EU38). The Copera sneakers are made with leather and suede, and feature the popular T-toe, along with two side stripes. The 4mm sole is very flexible, topped by a 4mm insole that offers shock-absorption and cushion on harder surfaces.
Koel Barefoot ILA Napa
Leather Uppers | $151 | Shop Koel
The Koel ILA sneakers have some of the signature features of the Samba like the suede T-toe and side stripes (but here it’s two instead of three). But, they feel somewhat different stylistically as they were also inspired by golf shoes. These feature a wide toe box and 5mm natural rubber sole.
Final Thoughts
If you love the classic look of the Adidas Samba but don’t want to be like so many people I’ve heard lamenting their foot pain and blisters after wearing them, then get a shoe that is foot-shaped, flat, and flexible. Today’s barefoot shoe brands are making sneakers that don’t compromise on style or foot health, as you can see in the list above! Remember, not all minimalist sneakers are created equal, and the best barefoot shoe for you is going to be the one that best fits your foot shape, width and volume.
I hope this post helped you narrow down your options as you search for barefoot shoes like the Adidas Samba. If you end up trying one of these pairs, I’d love to hear how it goes!
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