Adidas Velosamba Vegan Cycling Shoes – Our Review

This is our review of the adidas Velosamba Vegan cycling shoes, our latest find. Those of you who follow our blog will know that we are big advocates of cycling gear that doubles as off-bike gear. We are always searching for clothes and shoes that work both on and off the bike. Because we love to cycle, but we also love doing a lot of other things as well. Like parking our bikes outside a coffee shop, a restaurant, or a pub, while we take care of the calorie deficit caused by all our cycling!

It is surprisingly hard to find cycling gear that hits all the sweet spots. It has to work well both on and off the bike, it has to look good, it has to be comfortable, and it has to fit into our fairly modest budget. Well, we just found some cycling shoes that check all the boxes. We are excited to share our find with you. The adidas Velosamba Vegan cycling shoes are just about perfect for Average Joe cyclists searching for cycling shoes they can wear both on and off the bike.

Style of the adidas Velosamba Vegan cycling shoes

Some of you will remember the classic adidas Samba soccer shoes. These cycling shoes are modeled on that iconic look. The soccer shoes were launched in 1949, and have recently made a comeback.

Now, you can have the same classic Samba look in a shoe designed for cycling. Plus, while the soccer shoes pretty much came in only black and white/white and black, you have a choice of six color combos in the Velosamba cycling shoes.

I went for the blue and white, just because I happen to like blue. If I buy another pair (which is likely), I will go for the classic black and white soccer look. Even though I don’t play soccer any more, it would feel wonderfully nostalgic.

Although the photos don’t fully capture it, these shoes are nice and shiny, as well as reflective. I don’t often have people comment on my shoes, but I have had several compliments about these shoes.

Why Are They Called Vegan?

To update a stye that debuted in 1949, and to reflect our modern realities, adidas has ensured that these shoes are partly made from recycled and vegan materials. At least 25% of every pair is recycled.

What Are the adidas Velosamba Shoes Like for Cycling?

These shoes are designed for both indoor and outdoor cycling. We found them especially perfect for city cycling, with the stiff soles making for snappy acceleration and pedaling between traffic lights.

They are designed to be two-bolt cleat compatible, with a full-length reinforced midsole to give you the stiffness you need for efficient pedaling. You could choose not to use cleats, and the stiff soles would still enable you to pedal efficiently.

The uppers are water-resistant to help protect your feet from rain.

What Are They Like for Off-the-Bike Use?

The sole has a limited amount of flex built in, so that you can also use them for walking. This means you can get off the bike and do something social, without having to find a phone booth to transform yourself. Oh, and the grip is good, so you will be solid on your feet even in slippery conditions.

That said, of course you would not want to do a 10-mile hike in the adidas Velosamba shoes. The necessary modifications for cycling (cleat recess, stiff sole) mean that these are not dedicated hiking shoes. If you do feel the need to go hiking when you are done cycling, you would be best advised to carry your hiking boots with you. But if you just want to park your bike while you get a snack or go to a movie, these shoes will do you just fine. Also if you want to wear them to cycle to work on Casual Friday, these shoes would be ideal. And the recessed cleat mount ensures that you won’t be clicking while you walk. You won’t have to go around looking and sounding like a cyclist.

What Are They Like for Indoor Cycling?

These shoes are specifically designed for both outdoor and indoor cycling. So if you also spend a lot of time cycling indoors, these shoes will work for you.

Bottom Line on the adidas Velosamba Vegan Cycling Shoes

The adidas Velsamba cycling shoes are definitely our best find this year, and we trust you will love them too. You could call them stealth cycling shoes, or just stylish trainers that happen to be perfect for bike riding. At the price point, these shoes are ideal for people who want to enjoy life on and off their bike, while looking stylish – and a little bit iconic!

Check these shoes out on the official Adidas site, by clicking right here.