adidas trainers: how to spot the value

adidas runs Nike close in the resale market, and right now the terrace and retro lines are especially strong. As with any trainer, the model and the colourway decide most of the value, and a trained eye can read a pair fast.

How to spot the good one

• The model line. Samba, Gazelle, Campus, Spezial and Handball Spezial lead the current retro and terrace demand, alongside long running classics like the Superstar and Stan Smith. Knowing which line you are holding is the first move.
• The tongue label. Check the label under the tongue for the model name, the article number and the production details. On the classics it should match the box if you have it.
• Original versus reissue. Many models have been reissued many times. Original or early pairs, and the less common colourways, tend to carry more than a current general release.
• Collaborations and special makeups. Brand collaborations and limited colourways are where the value climbs. The label and any extras usually flag them.
• The three stripes and finish. Look at the quality and consistency of the stripes, stitching and materials. Sloppy finishing is a warning sign.

Condition: what helps, what hurts

The usual trainer rules apply: clean, uncreased and unyellowed sells best, and deadstock with the box sits at the top. Suede models like the Gazelle and Campus mark easily, so scuffing and staining hit them harder than they do a leather pair.

Suede nap and a gum sole are terrace signatures. Both mark and scuff easily, so condition here matters. Check the tongue label for the model name and article number, as covered above.

What drives the value

The model and how in demand it is right now, then the colourway, then condition, then size. Terrace and retro demand moves with fashion, so a model that is hot this season can cool, which is all the more reason to check the live number rather than rely on what a pair fetched last year.

A quick authenticity check

Popular adidas models are widely faked. Look at the stitching and stripe alignment, the label fonts and article number, the feel of the materials, and whether everything agrees with the box. Treat anything that does not line up as a reason to pause, not a verdict. See the spotting fakes guide for more.

Deteqt it

Before you buy or list, deteqt the exact pair. Your Valuation gives the most to pay, a target sell price built on real market data, your profit after fees, and where that pair sells best. With trends moving as fast as they do on terrace trainers, the live number is the one that matters.