The adidas Velosamba Goes Vegan
Last year, caused a stir within the sneakerhead-cycling crossover community by announcing the , a bike-ready remake of the classic indoor shoe. After releasing the model in sturdy leather builds, this year sees adi satisfy another niche increasingly found within the pedal-powered crowd: vegans. Out now is the Velosamba Vegan, an animal cruelty-free edition of the popular shoe.
For those not familiar with cycling-specific footwear, the Velosamba is compatible with cleat-based bicycle pedals. This is achieved by installing a plate in the forefoot of the sole, which enables two-bolt cleats (such as Shimano SPD or Time ATAC) to be fitted. Thanks to a recessed section, the cleats don’t protrude from the outsole and enable these shoes to be worn fairly normally off the bike.
Beyond this main hardware addition, the Velosamba is pretty much true to its indoor soccer origins, but with practical features hidden on the surface. For example, the uppers – as mentioned, now using vegan materials – are treated with a water-resistant coating, and the stripe branding is also reflective for extra visibility and safety. Even the tongue has a little elastic loop to thread excess shoelace through, preventing any snagging in bicycle chains. Plus, the tricolour and gum palette is pretty sweet.
The adidas Velosamba Vegan is available now directly from adidas.