Nike’s Throwback Soccer ‘Samba’ Looks Way Too Good to Leave on the Pitch

This former football shoe swaps the cleats for a flat rubber sneaker sole, making for a sneaky style pick that rivals one of Adidas’s best.

By Sean Tirman

Published 3 hours ago

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When it comes to soccer-cleats-turned-lifestyle-sneakers, the Adidas Samba is an undisputed classic. However, the Three Stripes brand isn’t the only name in the game.

The German sports apparel brand’s chief rival, Nike, also has a long history of turning footwear fit for the pitch into daily-wear style picks. Perhaps the Portland-born brand’s most interesting one to date just recently dropped.

The Nike Total 90 Premium might be the Swoosh’s most Samba-like sneaker ever, yet it’s also highly original.

Nike Total 90 Sneaker — The shoe’s quilted upper and offset lacing are taken right from the original version.

Borne of the beautiful game

As mentioned, Nike’s Total 90 shares much in common with Adidas’s perennially popular Samba. That starts with its origins.

Like the Samba, the Total 90 started as a soccer cleat. While this version retains many of the styling cues from its original 2000s football form — like its low-profile silhouette — it’s also been altered to suit daily life.

Nike Total 90 Sneaker laces — The asymmetrical laces are a hallmark of this model and one of the details that help set it apart from its competition.

Instead of a set of chunky, grippy cleats at the bottom, the sole has been swapped for flat, two-toned rubber. The gum-colored rubber wraps around the toe, giving the shoe a similar flair to the Samba, but the back sees a white accent that matches the stitched Swoosh, instep logo and laces.

While the sole sees a swap, two of the sneaker’s hallmark features remain: the quilted upper and the offset asymmetrical laces. These particular details, borrowed directly from the original, are the two that help this shoe stand out most.

Nike Total 90 Sneaker top-down — While they share the same origin and low-profile style, there’s no mistaking these for a Samba ripoff.

Pumped-up kicks

Two upcoming versions of this street-going Total 90 are heading to Nike stores (including online) soon. While their colorways differ, they both sport some premium upgrades.

For reference, there’s a red, white and black version presently available on the Swoosh’s site. However, these upcoming ones differ in a couple of significant ways.

Nike Total 90 Sneaker heels — The distressed upper offers a ton of character right out of the box.

For starters, they don’t have a color-blocked upper, opting instead for a complete wraparound colorway (either dark green or pale pink) with secondary accents. However, perhaps more significantly, they get an upper material swap.

Unlike the glossy uppers of the existing option, these two get premium material upgrades, utilizing a combination of leather and suede. Furthermore, the upper material is distressed out of the box, giving it a lot more character than its shiny sibling.

Admittedly, this sneaker is probably going to be a lot more divisive than the Samba for a number of reasons. However, it’s a bold choice for Nike and could be a sleeper hit for those not afraid of a little originality in their style.

Nike Total 90 Sneaker bottom — The daily wear-friendly flat rubber outsole replaces the traditional cleats.

Coming soon

Nike’s Total 90 Premium will soon be available on Nike’s site and select retailers. The price is set at $135. It will be available in Fir and Gum Med Brown and Pearl White and Gum Dark Brown colorways.