adidas Continental 80

If you're a Three Stripes fan then you'd know that the adidas Originals Continental 80 has been around for much longer than most of us think. While it made a comeback back in 2018, the silhouette actually debuted over three decades ago back in the '80s when it was simple known as the Continental 80. A true retro icon, it was initially designed to be a tennis shoe that paid homage to other legends such as the Stan Smith and the Gazelle. At the time of its release, competitors like Nike and PUMA were dropping some crazy looking pairs that took technical advancements to another dimension, but adidas didn't want this. Instead, they delved back into their archives and kept things clean and simple, giving birth to the Continental 80 trainer that we all know and love even to this day.

Because it's just so clean, you can rock the Continental 80 with absolutely anything you want. Whether you've got a full tux in mind or T-shirt and tracksuit, this is the trainer for you. Essential colourways include the "Collegiate Navy", the "Scarlet", the "Triple Black", and of course, the minimalistic "White" that oozes with vintage tennis vibes. To add to this, collaborations such as the Arizona Ice Tea and the Transport For London collections make this a pure sneaker staple that deserves a spot in any sportswear rotation.

So what exactly makes the Continental 80 shoe so iconic? Well, it features an ultra soft grain leather upper with perforations at the toebox for the ultimate breathing experience. French terry lining inside offers up a retro look that is sure to turn heads, and down below, you'll find a split-rubber cupsole with EVA insert bends and flexes with your every step. An Ortholite insole provides an insanely comfortable experience, and rounding it all off is the truly legendary Trefoil logo that's proudly displayed within a window on the lateral side, rounding off the design with that throwback aesthetic.

The adidas Continental 80 Clean Classics dropped in 2020 alongside the Stan Smith, the Superstar, and the Supercourt. Made for the eco-conscious sneakerhead, it ditches the traditional grain leather in favour of vegan leather that's made from 100% recycled polyester. It also revamps the split-rubber cupsole as well, switching the materials with 90% natural rubber and 10% waste rubber content.

Shifting its focus from the tennis court to the halfpipe, the adidas Continental 80 Vulc boasts more or less the same minimalistic design but with reworked rubber that offers up more grip with every step. Retaining the retro look that made the model so famous in the first place, the grippiness rivals that of Converse and Vans making it the perfect shoe to go skating in.

The adidas Originals Continental 80 is available in a wide range of styles and colourways. Make sure you keep it locked at The Sole Supplier as we'll be the first to let you know when more pairs drop. We'll also keep you up to date with links for your best chance to cop!