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Throwback shoe styles from the ’80s and ’90s are dominating sneaker trends right now, and, per usual, the best adidas sneakers are at the forefront. While adidas Samba soccer shoes saw a major moment in fashion this year, an unlikely basketball shoe was waiting in the wings: adidas‘ Rivalry shoe. This sneaker arrived in the ’80s on the heels of adidas’ Superstar and Stan Smith sneaker success, but its retro design is seeing a fresh resurgence amongst street style stars who crave a bold pop of color and a streamlined design.
The Rivalry Low iteration, in particular, is trending online, with well over 7 million views and searches on TikTok, where a new generation is adopting the shoe in sporty-chic streetwear stylings. New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose recently sported the reissued Rivalry Lows in team colors, nodding to the shoe’s origins ahead of a game against the Knicks’ staunch rival, the Miami Heat.
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adidas’ treasure trove of heritage footwear allows the brand to lean into the retro trend in big ways — namely in its reissuing of the Rivalry’s original 1986 construction. On top of that, the style has been reimagined in several new collaborations in just the past year, including Ichy & Scratchy x Rivalry Hi shoes that front signature cartoon graphics from “The Simpsons,” along with the Three Stripes’ first-ever partnership with NCAA schools, which feature low-top suede Rivalry shoes in different collegiate colors. The new Extra Butter x adidas collection follows similar throwback themes, seen in low-top Rivalry sneakers dressed in colors that evoke alternative New York hockey team jerseys from the ’90s. The shoes even feature an aged-looking midsole to embrace the straight-from-the-vault vintage appeal of the cherished Rivalry silhouette.
adidas Rivalry sneakers have stood the test of time as a supreme basketball shoe for their grippy rubber outsole, super-fused durable construction, responsive EVA midsole, and clean leather overlays. All of these elements also make the Rivalry sneakers ideal adidas walking shoes for daily wear, especially when combined with the shoes’ soft terry lining.
Whether you’re styling on or off the court, this 43-year-old icon won’t steer you wrong. Its new wave of popularity is selling out Rivalry styles on adidas website, so shop the top styles below below before your size runs out.
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Shop the Best adidas Rivalry Sneakers
Colorways: White and blue
Materials: Leather, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Colorways: Blue and white, black and white, red and white, green and white, purple and white, white and yellow, and more
Materials: Textile, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Colorways: Yellow and cream
Materials: Nubuck, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Related: Best adidas Pastel Shoes
Colorways: Black and ash
Materials: Leather, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Related: Best adidas Skate Shoes
Colorways: Gray and white, beige, white and green, white and red
Materials: Leather, suede, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Colorways: White, black
Materials: Leather, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Colorways: Green and white, black
Materials: Leather, neoprene, suede, rubber
Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Related: Best adidas Gym Shoes
The History of adidas Rivalry Sneakers
adidas Rivalry shoes first hit the scene at the height of basketball sneaker hype in the 1980s. The heritage Three Stripes style was born in 1986 in its high and low top iterations, and served as a more streamlined and affordable successor to the wildly popular Superstar, Campus, Conductor, and Forum adidas basketball shoes. The Rivalry featured reinforced full-grain leather overlays, vamp perforations, court-gripping outsoles, and an EVA midsole — all of which offered ideal lightweight support, breathability, and durable flexibility.
The original Rivalry colorway was released in a collaboration collection with NBA Hall of Fame basketball player Patrick Ewing. Naturally, the sneaker took on the colors of Ewing’s team, the New York Knicks, with an iconic white leather upper featuring blue and orange overlays across the toe, collar, and heel. Ewing’s Rivalry was an instant hit among basketball fans and in ’80s sneaker culture and street style, and is remembered today as one of adidas’ most legendary shoes by vintage collectors and sneakerheads.
The Different Types of adidas Rivalry Shoes
- Rivalry Low Shoes: With a low-collar style, this Rivalry sneaker calls back to original Rivalry’s timeless silhouette with soft suede uppers and bold rubber accents. Its updated construction boasts a rubber cupsole for stability in every stride and responsive EVA cushioning. The low collar is also available in the Rivalry 86 Low iteration, which is a more literal reinvention of the OG shoe, with smooth leather uppers and a flexible rubber outsole.
- Rivalry Mid Shoes: The Mid silhouette from adidas’ Rivalry lineup is the most modern interpretation of the decades-old sneaker icon. It mirrors the same classic elements of the shoe, including a durable leather upper, terry lining, and EVA drop-in cushioning, with a less exaggerated fit that lands just above the ankle.
- Rivalry High Shoes: Most evocative of ’80s sneaker culture, the Rivalry High silhouette fronts luxe-looking chenille Three Stripes across a tumbled leather upper, with bold colorways currently available in red and buttery yellow. These make for ultra-comfortable shoes for walking and more, thanks to soft terry fabric lining and an airy upper panelling of mesh and nylon.
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Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. In her free time, Olivia can be found scouring adidas.com and TikTok to uncover the hottest retro sneakers of the moment.
