The adidas Handball Spezial has gone from cult terrace favorite to one of the most searched-for sneakers in the world — and for men it might be the smartest buy in the whole retro-adidas lineup. Same suede-and-gum-sole formula as the Samba, slightly lower profile, and colorways the Samba never gets. Here's the full guide to the men's adidas Handball Spezial pairs we carry, how they fit, and how to pick one.
What is the adidas Handball Spezial?
The Handball Spezial launched in 1979 as an indoor handball shoe — built low to the ground with a soft suede upper, a grippy gum sole, and a T-toe overlay for court durability. Like the Samba and Gazelle, it was adopted off the court by terrace culture in the UK, and it's the connoisseur's pick of the three: the shape sits lower and flatter, the fit is the most forgiving of the family, the colors lean richer, and the gold foil "HANDBALL SPEZIAL" hit on the side gives it away to people who know.
Which men's Handball Spezial colorways can you get?
This is where the Spezial beats the Samba: color. Our current men's lineup in the Spezials collection covers the spectrum. The black/white with gum sole is the do-everything classic — black cow suede, white leather 3-Stripes, goes with every pair of pants you own. The night indigo and the collegiate navy/clear sky/gum are the shoes most people picture when they hear "Spezial" — the archetypal blue-suede-and-gum terrace look, one deep and one brighter. From there it gets fun: light blue for summer fits and maroon for fall, which is the one that reads richest against denim. The green and violet pairs are between drops — the collection is where they'll reappear. Each product page shows current sizes.
Do men's Handball Spezials run true to size?
Yes — true to size for standard-width feet. The Handball Spezial is the widest-fitting and most accommodating of the classic terrace models: a roomier toe box than the Samba, and a thinner tongue and collar than the Gazelle. Most men take their usual adidas size and let the suede break in. Go up half a size if you have a wide foot, or if you wear a medium-to-thick sock. Either way, lace the shoe all the way up through the top eyelet — it doesn't come laced that way out of the box, and it's the difference between a Spezial that feels loose and one that feels locked in. We wrote a full Handball Spezial sizing guide with heel, midfoot, and toe-box notes, plus an on-foot Handball Spezial review if you want the long version.
Spezial vs. Samba vs. Gazelle: which should you buy?
Short answer: the Samba is the default and the narrowest of the three, the Gazelle is the softest and most casual, and the Spezial is the roomiest — the one for people who want the terrace look without wearing what everyone else wears, and the easy call if width has ever been a problem for you. The full breakdown lives in our Samba vs. Gazelle vs. Spezial comparison.
How to style them
The Spezial's low profile works the same magic as the Samba — wide or straight-leg denim, chinos, track pants, shorts in summer. With the louder colorways, keep the rest of the fit quiet and let the suede do the talking. The navy and night indigo pairs are the most versatile of the bunch after black.
Verified before it ships
The Spezial's popularity has made it a counterfeit magnet. Every pair we sell is authenticated in-house at our Portland, Oregon warehouse before it goes out the door — Verified & Shipped, no marketplace roulette. Browse the men's adidas Handball Spezial collection and find your colorway.
— Anthony from West Coast Deals