The adidas Superstar II runs true to size for most people, but narrow — and that one detail is behind almost every sizing question I get about this shoe. adidas's own recommendation is to order your usual size, and if you've got a standard-width foot, I'd agree with that. But I have a wide foot, so I went and tried three sizes back-to-back to map out exactly what happens at each one.
How the Superstar II Fits
The Superstar II is the latest version of adidas's iconic shell-toe sneaker — a fresh silhouette built on the classic shape, with a padded tongue and collar for all-day comfort. It keeps the line's signature traits: a low-profile leather upper, the rubber shell toe, and a midfoot that sits on the snug side. The leather has very little stretch, so the fit you feel on day one is close to what you'll get for the first few weeks — though in my experience it does soften and break in over time.
The two spots where I felt the fit most:
- The vamp and toe box — the middle and front of the shoe. This is where my wide foot felt the tightness.
- The heel — depending on your foot shape, you may get some heel slip until you lace through the top eyelet.
My Fit Test (Wide Foot)
I tried three sizes back-to-back. Here's exactly how each one felt for me.
Half Size Down — US 10.5
Pretty tight around the vamp and toe box right out of the box. My back heel was slipping until I tied it through the top eyelet — once I did, my ankle stopped slipping completely, though it still felt a little too snug overall. I'm chalking that up to my wide foot and the shoe just being narrow, and I'd expect them to break in over time. If you've got a standard-width foot, I doubt that snugness would even register.
True to Size — US 11
Fit better width-wise — didn't feel as tight across the vamp and toe box. The catch: my ankle was still slipping even after tying the laces all the way up. So true to size fixed the width for me, but left me with heel movement.
Half Size Up — US 11.5
Same sort of deal as true to size. Didn't feel as tight around the middle of my foot or the toe box, but my ankle was still slipping up when I walked. Going up didn't fix the slip — it just confirmed that for my foot, more length doesn't buy a better heel lock.
My Verdict
For me, it came down to what you're willing to trade:
- If you have a standard-width foot: Go true to size. That's adidas's own recommendation, and the narrowness that drove my whole test probably won't be an issue for you.
- If you have a wide foot and want zero heel slip: Go half a size down and lace to the top eyelet. You'll get an initially snugger fit through the midfoot, but the heel locks in and the leather breaks in within a few weeks.
- If you have a wide foot and care more about toe-box comfort than a locked heel: Go true to size and accept some heel movement, or try a heel grip insert.
The honest caveat: I couldn't find a single size that was perfect for my wide foot on this shoe. The Superstar II's last is just narrow. Pick the trade-off that matches how you wear your sneakers.
A Quick Word on Heel Slip
If you land at true to size and the heel slip bugs you, you don't have to size down. A self-adhesive heel grip or a thicker pair of socks both close that gap without giving up the width you gained. It's a cheaper fix than committing to a tighter shoe — and it's what I'd reach for first.
[Browse our selection of Superstars]
— Anthony from West Coast Deals