adidas Handball Spezial Colorways: Which One to Buy

Once you have settled on the Handball Spezial, the only question left is which colorway. We carry five men's makeups in Portland, and the suede tone, trim material, lining and even the sizing standard on the product page vary from one code to the next. Here is what each one is, pulled off the live product pages.

What every Handball Spezial shares

The Spezial was released in 1979 as an elite indoor handball shoe, and the tooling still shows it. Every colorway runs a suede upper, a T-toe overlay from the indoor court build, a thin tongue and collar, and a low gum rubber outsole. That is why the model reads roomier than a Samba and breaks in fast. Everything past that point is where the colorways separate.

DB3021: Core Black, Cloud White, and gum

DB3021 is the makeup most people picture. The upper is cow suede in Core Black, the 3-Stripes are white leather, and the sidewall carries gold Spezial branding over a gum rubber outsole. It is listed on the US Men's size scale.

Black suede with white leather stripes behaves like a neutral, so it sits under relaxed denim, olive cargos or straight-leg trousers without competing. If you want one Spezial that works with what is already in the closet, this is the one.

See the DB3021 Handball Spezial

IF7087: Night Indigo with cream leather stripes

IF7087 takes the same build into deep Night Indigo suede with cream leather stripes and Cloud White accents. The serrated 3-Stripes and heel tab use smooth leather against the suede panels, the Spezial lettering is gold, the lining is synthetic, and the gum outsole runs a darker tone that keeps the palette grounded.

Cream instead of bright white is what makes this one easy to wear. It warms the navy and gives the shoe a worn-in look from day one. Faded denim, olive fatigue pants and grey sweats all land with it. We put this colorway head to head with the black in DB3021 vs IF7087 if you are deciding between those two specifically.

See the IF7087 Night Indigo Handball Spezial

JR3848: maroon suede

JR3848 is the maroon makeup. The build is the standard Spezial package: premium suede upper, classic T-toe construction, gum rubber outsole, padded insole and three-stripe branding. Its page does not break out a lining spec the way the black and navy pages do, so that is all we will claim for it.

Maroon reads richer than black in person and still stays in the neutral family. It suits people who want the Spezial to look deliberate. Cream, grey and tan pair with it cleanly.

See the JR3848 maroon Handball Spezial

FV1227: scarlet with white leather stripes

FV1227 is the scarlet makeup, listed as Scarlet, Cloud White and Gum. The upper is suede with leather detailing, the Three Stripes are leather, the Spezial branding is metallic gold, and the lining is textile. That leather trim over suede is what gives the red depth instead of a flat single-tone finish.

One thing to check before you order: the product page for FV1227 lists the shoe on the US Women's size scale and gives the conversion on the page, where Women's 8.5 equals Men's 7. Read the fit section on that page rather than assuming it matches the other codes here.

See the FV1227 scarlet Handball Spezial

BD7632: light blue with a gum sole

BD7632 is the light blue makeup over gum. Like the maroon, its page describes the standard Spezial package rather than a broken-out spec sheet: suede upper, T-toe construction, gum rubber outsole, padded insole, three-stripe branding.

Light blue is the softest of the five and the most seasonal. It sits well with white, cream and washed denim, and it is the pick if your rotation is already dark.

See the BD7632 light blue Handball Spezial

Do adidas Handball Spezials run true to size?

Generally yes, and the Spezial gives you the roomiest fit of the classic terrace models. If you wear a 10 in a Samba and it feels tight across the forefoot, take your 10 in a Spezial and expect real room through that area. Wide feet do well for the same reason, and the thin tongue and collar keep the break-in short.

The one exception in this lineup is FV1227, which is listed on the women's scale as described above. Our full breakdown of the model's fit is in the Handball Spezial sizing guide, and the Handball Spezial review covers comfort and wear over time.

Which colorway is easiest to keep clean?

Darker gum ages more cleanly than light gum, so IF7087 hides scuffing best over a season of wear. Black suede is the most forgiving upper, putting DB3021 close behind. BD7632 and FV1227 show dust soonest and ask for the most upkeep. Maroon sits in the middle.

All five are easy to maintain. Brush the suede dry, stay off soap and water, and the gum sole handles the rest.

Which Handball Spezial colorway should you buy?

Buy DB3021 if you want the Spezial to function as a neutral. Buy IF7087 if you already own something black and want color that still behaves, with the lowest upkeep of the group. Buy JR3848 for a richer take that stays wearable. Buy FV1227 if you want the shoe to lead the outfit, and read its size chart first. Buy BD7632 if your rotation needs something lighter.

The full lineup sits in the Handball Spezial collection, where current pricing and available sizes are always live on the page. If you are cross-shopping the model against its siblings, Samba vs Gazelle vs Spezial covers that split, and the women's Handball Spezial loafers are the slip-on version of the same silhouette. Before you buy anywhere, how to spot fake Handball Spezials is worth five minutes.

Every pair is authenticated by hand on our floor, then shipped Verified & Shipped from Portland, Oregon.

— Anthony from West Coast Deals