Some things never go out of style
Written: Sep 17 '99 (Updated Sep 17 '99)
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Pros: Classic style, soft cushy sole
Cons: Don't try to play in these, purely leisure wear
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| superfly's Full Review: Adidas Gazelle |
The Gazelle is definitely a fashion item and has become a classic because of its style and comfort as a casual shoe, not its performance as an athletic shoe. I have owned two pairs of Gazelles and have had both pairs for about ten years. I wear them sparingly and always keep them clean. They look brand new. Here are the essential facts about this shoe.
The Gazelle has been around forever. I am pretty sure they were introduced in the 1970's, maybe even earlier, and I don't think they have changed one bit in all that time (which is a good thing). They have a colored suede upper, a thin synthetic tongue, and a simple white rubber sole. No air, no gel, no fins and jets, just leather and rubber, pure old-school. They were originally labelled by Adidas as an "indoor training shoe". In other words, they are not meant for real playing. They can be effectively used for light training on astroturf or hardwood floors. Jogging, exercises, and light juggling or passing are about as much as these shoes can take.
I have actually worn them for a few indoor games when I forgot to pack my real game shoes. And, I have seen many players use them as regular game shoes. This is not a good idea. While they do offer unbelievable touch on the ball (the suede is so soft, it is like playing in socks), they will cause major problems if you play in them in any serious way. They offer absolutely no support at all. I consider myself lucky that I did not seriously injure myself wearing them those few times, and friends of mine were not so lucky. Additionally, they will fall apart probably before halftime. They just are not built to withstand the rigors of a match. The toe will fall apart quickly, the rubber bumper that runs around the outsole will come off, flapping as you run like you have a piece of tape stuck to your shoe. I have actually seen the entire suede upper separate from the sole altogether when a teammate of mine made a hard cut.
These days, Adidas markets them solely as leisure wear. Of course the coolest thing about the shoe is that it comes in so many color choices. They have the classic Adidas three-stripe design, with the stripes being white. Then, you can usually find the upper in black, blue, and red. These are the mainstream color choices. Every once in a while, you can find a different color that comes out in limited numbers. My first pair is a nice green color, and then I found a really rare light grey pair that I believe was only sold in Canada for a year or so. I have also seen yellow, pink, orange, sky blue, navy blue, purple, and probably others.
Right now, Adidas is also selling some versions that have colored stripes instead of white (i.e. navy upper with red stripes, black upper with yellow stripes, even Rasta which has an rasta color scheme of yellow, green, and red stripes on a black upper). My personal opinion is that white stripes are the only way to go for soccer players. But whatever makes you happy, go for it. There is even a Gazelle Beach, which is basically a Gazelle with the toe and heel missing so that it is a sandle.
Basically, this is one shoe that I sure hope they never tinker with. It is really comfortable as a leisure shoe and looks great. I strongly recommend it for these purposes. For actual indoor play, look at the indoor versions of the high end cleats from the top makers (Copa Indoor, Puma King Indoor, Diadora Brasilia Indoor, Nike Mercurial Indoor).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
superfly
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Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 12 members
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