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Adidas Made a Legit Gym Shoe Styled Just Like Its Most Iconic Sneakers

The Spezial heads back into the weight room with a new update that brings modern performance features to the ’70s-era shoe.

Adidas Training SpezialAdidas

By Jack Seemer

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Shoes like the Samba and Spezial may be style icons in today’s day and age, but their flat, stable soles give them a leg up in the gym, where ground contact is paramount.

Then again, both designs were originally designed for athletic pursuits, even if most pairs sold today never make it further than the quick coffee run.

Now the latter is ready to get back into the weight room, thanks to a brand-new update that brings modern performance features to the Spezial sub-brand.

Adidas Training Spezial
The Training Spezial may look like your typical Adidas shoe but it hides modern performance features that add both durability and stability.
Adidas

Best foot forward

The Adidas Training Spezial is a unique reimagining of the ’70s-era shoe, starting with a dual-density midsole that’s firmer in the heel. This gives the shoe an extra dose of stability when performing power lifts.

Adidas Training Spezial
The dual-density midsole is firmer in the heel, making it more stable during power lifts.
Adidas

The original Spezial, designed for handball athletes, features a suede upper. Here, Adidas swapped the material with hardwearing Cordura — a material so rugged and durable, it’s more commonly associated with military and outdoor gear.

Adidas Training Spezial
Hardwearing Cordura makes up the bulk of the upper.
Adidas

Finally, the unique outsole pattern — dubbed “Traxion” — delivers superior grip for dynamic movements, a trait supported by the midsole’s more responsive forefoot design.

Adidas Training Spezial
A uniquely patterned outsole gives the shoe extra grip for dynamic movements.
Adidas

Of course, none of these attributes are particularly novel when it comes to modern gym shoes. What is unique, however, is combining all three into a shoe that could pass for not just a casual lifestyle sneaker but one that could pass for an iconic model.

Adidas Training Spezial
The Training Spezial comes in classic Adidas colorways, like black and white.
Adidas

Price and availability

The Adidas Training Spezial is available now in two classic colorways: black with white stripes and white with black stripes. Both have gum soles reminiscent of the Samba and Spezial.

It costs $120.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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