When it comes to iconic sneakers, the Adidas Stan Smith has earned a place at center court. In fact, Complex Sneakers once ranked the Stan Smith fourth on its list of the Greatest Tennis Sneakers of All Time, and that crew knows a thing or two about grails and hyped drops.
Ironically, the Stan Smith wasn’t originally named the Stan Smith. As legend has it, Adidas first released the shoe in 1965 as the Robert Haillet, named after the French tennis star. Thirteen years later, it was renamed after the American. Strangely, for the five years leading up the renaming, the shoe experienced an identity crisis as it featured Smith’s face but Haillet’s name on the tongue.
Stylish in its simplicity, the Stan Smith found a home on the streets in the ‘80s after the player retired and performance technology passed it by. The clean looks and minimal branding allow it to work with just about any outfit. Although we have seem many versions and colorways over the years, the all-white upper and midsole with the padded green foam heel tab is the OG colorway.
With retro sneaker styles making the move from the streets to the course in recent years, the biggest golf sneaker heads clamored for Stans to make the jump to the course. Prior to this year’s Masters, Adidas answered the calls, sort of. The Augusta-inspired version reversed the original white and green colorway, gave it an environmentally-friendly recycled upper, and topped it off with an optional old-school kiltie.
See also: Adidas Adicross Debuts at the Genesis Invitational
Little did we know this limited-edition colorway was just the appetizer. On May 1, Adidas gives us what we have been waiting for—a golf-specific Stan Smith in the classic white and green colorway!
As part of Adidas’ mission to END PLASTIC WASTE, the PRIMEGREEN upper on this OG version is made with high-performance recycled materials. Of course, the biggest difference between the Stan Smith Golf and the street models is the adiwear spikeless outsole. Although inspired by the original outsole, the spikeless outsole features lugs for added traction. To boost walking comfort during a round, Adidas strategically added PU cushioning in targeted areas in the midsole along with a PU die-cut sockliner.
The Stan Smith Golf is a stylish option for casual summer rounds. It pairs easily with shorts or Adidas’ new Pin Roll Pants. Look for it on Adidas.com, through the Adidas app, and at select retail partners worldwide beginning Saturday, May 1.
