10 adidas Must-Have Items You Need in Your Closet
They may be based out of Germany, but adidas’ reach is absolutely global. What sets it apart from its sportswear competitors is its well-established focus on style as much as sport. From the B-Boy culture of the 1970s, to the burgeoning rap scene in NYC during the 1980s, and well into the label’s celebrity co-signs of the present day, adidas has secured a spot at the forefront of contemporary culture.
Whether dipping into its deep archive of tennis and basketball sneakers, or tapping into some of the Three Stripes’ notable apparel designs, there’s plenty for any streetwear fan or sneakerhead to add into their daily wardrobe. But if you’re wondering where to cop, don’t worry about finding a place to score all the quality pieces. Thanks to our partner Finish Line, you’ll find all of the best items that adidas has to offer.
Whether you’ve been lacing up your Superstars every day for the last decade, or are looking at the newest designs from the team in Herzogenaurach, Germany, you won’t want to sleep on these must-have items from adidas.
adidas Tubular Invader Strap
There’s something extra stylish about suede shoes. Perhaps it’s the soft texture, or its luxe connotations—maybe it’s simply that suede looks swaggy as hell. No matter what your reasoning, it’s practically impossible to go wrong with the Tubular Invader Strap. Expanding upon adidas’ once-retro, now-revolutionary Tubular technology, the Tubular Invader Strap takes streamlined design elements to create a shoe that’s thoroughly modern.
The high top cut reminds us of basketball sneakers from the past, but that’s hardly a bad thing. With a lock down strap set in smooth suede, it’s also one of the more ingenious ways that adidas has included its iconic “three stripes,” tucking it both alongside and under the suede midfoot strap. Overall it’s certainly a shoe that benefits from adidas’ history in basketball gear, but no one could question that it’s a shoe that’s primed for high-style. Jeans or joggers, strolling the sidewalk or sitting with your friends, there’s practically nothing that this Tubular can’t handle.
adidas Superstar
If there’s a single shoe that has come to define adidas, it’s the Superstar. Born as a basketball shoe (that love-it-or-hate-it shell toe was considered a great foot protectant during aggressive on-court play) the Superstar literally lived up to its name, becoming a street style icon well before “street style” as we know it ever came into being. With the shoe’s simply timeless design, it’s not hard to see how this sneaker became far more than a trainer.
While the Superstar is one of the brand’s most versatile shoes in terms of color and design, you’d be hard-pressed to top the original design: white with black stripes. No matter what colorway you rock with, this rapper and rockstar co-signed sneaker will accent practically any piece you already have in your closet—but without fading into the background. Again, with a solid leather upper, and old-school rubber sole and toecap, there’s a lot of revolutionary design packed in such a unpretentious shoe. It doesn’t matter what drives you—be it the history or the straightforward design—just know that any sneakerhead worth their salt has at least one pair of Superstars stashed somewhere on their shoe rack.
adidas Pro Model
Like the Superstar, the Pro Model has basketball origins. Once a player favorite on the basketball courts in the 1970s, its skinny high top silhouette has allowed it to become an old-school alternative to the modern day sky high basketball sneaker.
Tall enough to stack your jeans, but skinny enough to avoid looking bulky, the Pro Model meets somewhere between classic and contemporary. If you’re a fan of the Superstar, than you’ll be right at home lacing up a pair of Pro Models; from the smooth leather upper to the iconic shell toe, the Pro Model is something that most guys should fall head-over-heels for the moment they’ve picked it up. One of the best things about adidas is how its decades-deep catalog lends itself to a variety of different personal styles—sometimes you’re not looking to lace up something that’s straight out of the 21st century. With a nod to the gold lettering, you can expect to win some high remarks on your kicks while you have this model on your feet.
adidas Tubular Radial Mono
It’s clear that Tubular is one of adidas’ most hyped-up technologies in recent years. This is particularly true in the case of the Tubular Radial Mono, where the sole’s build truly embodies Tubular’s design inspiration: a well-inflated tire. With a sole that wraps around the base of the shoe—thickening out towards the heel—there’s very few shoes that will look exactly like the Tubular Radial Mono.
But it’s not just the incredible sole that makes this shoe a standout. With a monochromatic color palette (not to mention that eye-grabbing red hue) it’s a clean addition to your rotation. Don’t get distracted however, while the color is certainly a selling point when it comes to upgrading your style, the “laceless” pull-on style means that strings don’t need to hold you down. Of course, this adidas style has laces on the upper, but its neoprene build means that you’ll score a locked-down fit even without tying things up. Oh, and if you’re trying to keep the “three stripes” branding low-key, take solace that the Tubular Radial Mono keeps things slightly incognito. The classic branding is subliminally placed on the shoelace tabs on both sides of the upper. Laced up or slipped-on, you’ll want to slide the Tubular Radial Mono in your closet.
adidas Originals Trefoil T-shirt
Before you insist that you “already have plenty of T-shirts,” take pause. While we can respect any T-shirt laden closet, there’s very few that have as much history as this one. Brandishing the three leaf Trefoil logo—the signifier of the adidas Originals line—this T-shirt is simultaneously a throwback and a modern day flex.
Used as the official adidas logo beginning in 1972, the Trefoil symbolizes the Olympic spirit while nodding to the history of adidas as a whole. When the official logo was changed to the “mountain” three stripes logo in 1996, it was determined that the Trefoil would come to represent adidas’ heritage products—seen on products like the Stan Smith and the classic T-shirt. Of course it’s not hard to see how to blend this cotton T-shirt into your wardrobe; dressed up with a blazer or dressed down with jeans, a go-to T-shirt is a go-to T-shirt. With a “not too loose, not too tight” fit, the only thing you have to worry about is how many you’ll be adding to your wardrobe.
adidas The Brand Track Jacket
Everyone knows that adidas knows how to put together a stylish track jacket. The brand’s three stripes have covered the shoulders of hip-hop legends and fashion icons in equal measure, thanks in part to its iconic tracksuits. But instead of looking back on retros for moment, look forward with an updated track jacket from the brand that helped pioneer them.
At first glance “The Brand” Track Jacket looks a little...well, unbranded—save for the small trefoil insignia added to the upper right. But flip the jacket over, and it’s instantly obvious how you can make a statement, even if you’re simply walking away. Foregoing the adidas three stripes on the sleeves, this jacket instead nods to that detail with it’s text graphic on the back. With the back reading “The Brand With the Three Stripes,” it’s clear that—while you may not see the adidas stripes running across the shoulders—the classic symbol is still represented. Sure, the text on the back progressively fades out, but when you throw this track jacket on, you can bet you’ll have a hard time fading into the background.
adidas Originals Noize Sweatpants
There’s definitely something different about these cool-meets-casual bottoms. While these sweats have a cuff that likens them to the joggers you’re already wearing on the regular, their throwback fit turns them into more than your average sweatpants.
With a marled-like print, these sweats take their design (and name) from the “white noise” that you’d spot on a static analog television. But while white noise is anything but pleasant, this "noize" is—especially when it's a cozy pair of pants in top-class French terry cotton. With a relaxed straight-leg design and an adjustable waistband, you don’t have to forego comfort in place of style when you’re pulling these on. Bonus details include two side zippered pockets, meaning that—no matter how you move about your day—what stays in your pockets, stays in your pockets. Lounging around the house, or out for a day with your crew, these minimally branded sweatpants are definitely one to consider for your closet.
adidas Originals Trefoil Hoodie
As the weather cools down, there’s more reasons than ever to add a new hoodie to your daily rotation. But while you’re wondering what to buy, let this adidas Originals hoodie make the decision easier than ever.
With the classic adidas Trefoil logo adorning the front of the sweatshirt, that’s plenty enough reason for some fans of the Three Stripes to consider copping. But it’s more than skin deep with this piece, as the small details add up to a hoodie that’s well worth it. With a completely cotton jersey build and raglan sleeves, this hoodie is sure to be as comfortable as it is stylish. Layer it up, or wear it on its own—no matter how you slice it, this standard bearing hoodie takes the simple details to help it transform into a standout garment.
adidas AlphaBounce
It’s clear that Boost is one of the Three Stripes most exciting pieces of footwear tech. From the basketball-focused CrazyLight Boost to the all-around use of the Ultra Boost, it’s apparent that Boost is here to stay. But just because Boost is so popular doesn’t mean that it’s all the team in Herzogenaurach has up its sleeve.
As one of the vessels for the increasingly popular Bounce technology, the AlphaBounce introduces something brand new to the table—especially if you’re someone who’s lacing up your Ultra Boosts nearly every day. With an upper that’s constructed from neoprene mesh, the AlphaBounce keeps the foot contained, but still with plenty of room to breathe. As the name implies, the AlphaBounce features a Bounce sole, which—aside from being firmer than Boost—is more responsive than soles of the past, meaning that the spring in your step is more than just the excitement of putting these on your feet. We understand that adidas has plenty of great shoes, but for those looking for something different, you might want to try something with a little more “Bounce.”
adidas Crazy Explosive Primeknit
If there’s one way to describe this shoe, “explosive” sounds just about right. A combination of some of the brand’s most forward-facing materials, you’d be hard-pressed to find a modern-day basketball shoe that goes as hard as the Crazy Explosive Primeknit—even if you’re nowhere near a basketball court.
Starting from the bottom, the Boost sole runs throughout the shoe; a detail that’s fully exposed on the inner foot, but peeking out through cutouts in the outer foot. TPU wrapped for responsiveness and tint, it’s supported by the coral traction pattern that lines the bottom of the shoe. The upper is constructed primarily out of Primeknit, which promises a light and breathable feel no matter what you’re up to. But basketball style isn’t forgotten, and with the high-top Geofit bootie design, you’ll be able to rock these with shorts—or, better yet—a crispy pair of stacked denim. With contemporary tech, a modern high top design, and an eye-popping red color, you don’t need to be on-court to see why these basketball shoes belong in your wardrobe's starting five.