The Superstar has been in rotation since 1969, when adidas built it as a low-top basketball shoe and wrapped the front of it in a hard rubber shell toe for on-court protection. The version most people are searching for now is the Superstar II, sometimes written as the Superstar 2. It is the current mainline build, and it is the one we carry in the widest range of colorways. This guide walks through how to choose between them. If you want the differences between the II and the other family members, our Superstar versions explainer covers Original, II, XLG, and 82. The full lineup lives in the Superstars collection.
What changed on the Superstar II
The bones are the same. Leather upper, serrated 3-Stripes along the quarter panel, rubber shell toe, rubber cupsole underfoot. What adidas added on the II is padding. The tongue and collar are fuller than the flatter vintage-spec versions, which gives the II a rounder early-2000s shape on foot and a softer break-in. A textile lining sits inside most colorways, and the cupsole keeps the ride firm and durable rather than bouncy. If you have worn a Samba, the contrast is obvious the moment you lace up. The Samba sits lower and narrower on a thin gum sole. The Superstar sits chunkier and more structured with that hard toe cap out front.
Do the Superstar 2 run true to size?
Yes, for a standard-width foot. The caveat is width, not length. The Superstar II sits on a narrow last and the vamp pulls in over the rigid shell toe, which does not widen or soften with wear, so this is not the forgiving option next to a genuinely wide terrace model like the Handball Spezial. Narrow feet sometimes prefer a half size down for a closer hold. Wide feet should still order true to size and use a heel grip if the heel slips, or go half a size down if a locked-in heel matters more than forefoot room — and it is worth being honest that on a properly wide foot no single size is perfect in this shoe. What does not work is sizing up: the extra length adds nothing where the shell toe actually pinches, and it leaves your heel moving. For the long version, including the half-size question and how the II compares to the original Superstar last, read the Superstar II size guide and the broader Superstar sizing guide.
Black and white, or white and black?
This is the real decision for most buyers, and the two are not interchangeable. The white leather pair reads cleaner and dressier, and it is the version that most people picture when they hear Superstar. The men's White/Black Superstar II, IH8659 is that classic Cloud White and Core Black makeup, and it wears better as the leather softens with use. Its women's counterpart is the White/Black JH7032, which adds EVA cushioning under the cupsole for a little more give day to day.
The black leather version is the low-maintenance one. Marks and scuffs disappear on a black upper in a way they never will on white, and the white shell toe keeps the shoe from vanishing into a dark outfit. The men's Black/White Superstar II, JI0079 is the core men's makeup, and the women's Black/White JH7033 is the same idea in women's sizing.
The upper is where the colorways separate
Beyond the two classics, the interesting Superstar II pairs change the material rather than the shape. The women's Dusky Bronze, KI3576 uses a coated leather with a brushed metallic finish, an off-white shell toe, and a gum outsole. It shifts in the light without the mirror shine you get from a foil metallic, which makes it far easier to wear with faded denim or cream cargos. The women's Black Pony Hair, JH9475 goes the other direction with texture, using a short-pile synthetic upper over the same shell-toe base.
If you want a metallic that stays subtle, bronze is the safer choice. If you want the pair people notice, pony hair does that job.
How to keep a white pair looking right
White leather is easy to maintain if you stay ahead of it. Wipe the upper with a damp cloth and a little mild soap before dirt sets into the grain, and use a soft brush on the ridges of the shell toe where grit collects. Leather cleaner works better than anything abrasive. Avoid the washing machine, which loosens the cupsole bond over time. Our white sneakers guide goes deeper on leather versus canvas care.
Styling the shell toe in 2026
The Superstar takes a wider leg better than most low-profile sneakers because the shell toe gives the front of the shoe some visual weight. Straight-leg denim, nylon track pants, faded black cargos, and relaxed trousers all work. For where the model sits next to the rest of the adidas archive, see our guide to old school adidas models and the wider adidas lifestyle shoes rundown.
Buying a pair you can trust
The Superstar is one of the most counterfeited sneakers ever made, so the shell toe ridges, the serration on the 3-Stripes, and the heel Trefoil are all worth knowing how to read. Our legit check guide for Superstars covers the tells. Everything we sell is inspected in-house before it ships, so you do not have to run that check yourself.
Every pair is authentic, authenticated in-house, and shipped the next business day from Portland, Oregon. Verified & Shipped.
Browse the whole range in the Superstars collection.
— Anthony from West Coast Deals