Samba vs Gazelle: the real difference, and the price

The cheaper pair to buy is a Samba. The boutiques hold 9 Sambas between $100 and $175, while 5 Gazelles run from $235 to $290. That puts the decision squarely on what you want to spend.

You are choosing between $170 for a Song for the Mute Samba and $235 or more for a Wales Bonner Gazelle. Both are designer collaborations with distinct silhouettes, but one leaves you with extra cash in your pocket.

Quick facts

• On within: 9 Samba pairs and 5 Gazelle pairs in stock across four boutiques, read 9 November 2026.
• Samba shelf prices: $100 to $175 CAD.
• Gazelle shelf prices: $235 to $290 CAD.
• Samba designed: 1949, for footballers training on icy, hard ground.
• Brand founding: 18 August 1949, registered by Adi Dassler in Herzogenaurach.
• Song for the Mute debut: 2010, founded in Sydney by Lyna Ty and Melvin Tanaya.
• Wales Bonner launch: 2014, started by Grace Wales Bonner after Central Saint Martins.

The sole tells you which is which

Footballers on icy training pitches needed suction, so adidas gave the Samba a gum sole in 1949. The gum carries a suction design. You get firm traction on icy and hard ground.

The Gazelle came later as a training shoe before finding a role in indoor handball. Its sole is thinner. Choose the Gazelle when you prefer a thinner sole underfoot.

Suede against leather

The Gazelle arrived as the first adidas shoe built with suede rather than canvas or leather. Suede wraps the foot softly from the first step. Pairs like the Adidas Gazelle "CLOT Halo Ivory" 2024 at Parlor 23 cost $290 CAD.

Sambas mix leather and suede. The Samba OG keeps that suede and leather mix along with a contrasting gum sole and the three stripes. A pre owned Adidas Samba OG Sporty & Rich White Green at Utopia costs $100 CAD in size 9.5M.

The collaborations on the shelf

Lyna Ty and Melvin Tanaya founded Song for the Mute in Sydney in 2010. There is more on the label in our note on Song for the Mute. Due West lists the Adidas x Song for the Mute Samba OG SFTM Sneakers in brown at $170 CAD with an elasticated heel collar and a dry brushed sole.

WDLT117 stocks the same collaboration in clay toned brown nubuck leather. Grace Wales Bonner launched her label in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins, reshaping both classic models. Due West lists her adidas x Wales Bonner Millennium Samba Sneakers at $175 CAD, complete with satin lining and a crocodile printed heel panel.

Wales Bonner turns the Gazelle into something more tactile. Due West prices the Adidas x Wales Bonner Gazelle Pony Sneakers at $235 CAD, built with a leather upper and cold cement construction. The St Thomas Street shop carries the same pony hair Gazelle with a croc embossed tongue for $260 CAD.

A designer Samba tops out at $175, while every Gazelle starts at $235.

Which one to buy

Buy the Samba if you want the sharper deal. You get a leather upper and the Song for the Mute collaboration from $170 CAD. That leaves you paying $170 instead of $235 or more for a Wales Bonner Gazelle.

Choose the Gazelle if your priority is immediate softness. The suede is soft from the first wear, and the sole is thinner. (If you pick the pony hair Wales Bonner pair, inspect the textured panels under shop lighting before buying).

For an in person try on in Toronto, visit Due West at 431 Queen St W, Monday to Saturday 11 to 7. The Yorkville shop at 132 Cumberland Street stays open daily until 8. Due West's listings give men's sizing and the St Thomas Street shop's give UK and US sizes side by side, so check the size line before paying.

Common questions

Are sambas or gazelles better?

Sambas offer firmer grip and a lower entry price, while Gazelles give you softer suede and a thinner sole. The Samba suits daily street wear because its gum sole was engineered in 1949 to handle hard ground. The Gazelle offers suede comfort, though boutique pairs begin at $235 CAD.

What is the difference between samba and samba og shoes?

The Samba OG is usually a mix of suede and leather on a contrasting gum sole, with the three stripes. The collaborations change the upper: brown nubuck from Song for the Mute, a crocodile printed heel panel from Wales Bonner.

Is samba and gazelle the same?

No, the Samba is a firmer leather football shoe with a suction gum sole, whereas the Gazelle is a softer trainer built in suede. Adi Dassler registered adidas in 1949, the year the Samba was designed for icy, hard ground; the Gazelle came later as a training shoe. Boutique stock on within reflects the divide, with Sambas priced from $100 and Gazelles from $235.

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