The Handball Spezial has kept much of its original character since adidas introduced it in 1979. Built for indoor handball, it became a familiar sight on football terraces through the following decades, with its low gum sole, suede upper and gold Spezial lettering making it one of the more recognisable designs in the adidas Originals archive. Today's women's adidas Spezial trainers stay close to that original shape, although the choice of colours, materials and finishes has grown considerably.
The adidas Handball Spezial: Suede and Gum Soles
The classic Handball Spezial uses a suede upper with a reinforced T-toe, serrated three stripes and a gum rubber outsole. Its low-profile construction keeps the sole relatively thin compared with modern running-inspired trainers, while the rounded toe and padded lining give it a familiar indoor-court shape.
Suede remains the material most closely associated with the Spezial, particularly across the classic colourways. Selected editions introduce leather, textile and other finishes, changing the texture and structure of the upper. It's worth checking the individual product details if you're choosing between two similar-looking pairs, especially where the materials differ.
Women's adidas Spezial Colours and Special Editions
There's a lot more to the Spezial than the original navy suede. Black adidas Spezial trainers with white stripes keep the contrast simple, while brown, burgundy, green and pink editions bring different combinations of suede, heel detailing and gum rubber into the range. Some colourways use tonal stripes that blend into the upper, while others make the three-stripe design much more prominent.
The special editions take things further. Leopard Print Handball Spezial trainers introduce animal-print detailing to the familiar silhouette, while adidas Originals collaborations with Liberty London bring floral patterns and different textures into the design. The sole and overall proportions remain recognisable, even when the upper looks very different from the traditional suede versions.
Materials are worth considering alongside colour. Suede needs a little more attention through wet weather, particularly lighter shades, while smooth leather is generally easier to wipe clean. For patterned and collaborative editions, check the individual construction and care instructions.
How Do Women's adidas Handball Spezial Trainers Fit?
adidas generally describes the standard Handball Spezial as a regular fit and recommends ordering your usual size. The low-profile construction and different upper materials can affect how the shoe feels, so it's worth checking the individual model's sizing information, particularly if you're between UK sizes.
Some Handball Spezial releases are sold as unisex models, with the same shoe available across different size ranges. Check the listed UK sizing rather than assuming every women's colourway has a different fit.
adidas Spezial vs Samba and Gazelle
The Handball Spezial shares plenty of its sporting background with the women's adidas Samba and adidas Gazelle, although there are useful differences between them. The classic Samba OG uses a leather upper with a suede T-toe, while the Handball Spezial is more closely associated with a predominantly suede construction. Gazelle Indoor is distinguished by its translucent gum outsole, which wraps further around the sides of the shoe.
If you're comparing the three, start with the upper materials, toe shape and sole construction, then check the fit of the particular model.
Browse women's adidas Handball Spezial trainers at Pro:Direct Lifestyle by colour and UK size, or explore the wider women's adidas trainers collection.
