TL;DR: I’d give the Adidas Handball Spezial a 6/10 as a travel shoe. My usual women’s 10.5 fits true to size with a surprisingly cozy and roomy toe box, but there’s no real built-in arch support and minimal cushioning. I might take them on a trip with me if I used my own inserts.
Finding a sneaker that looks good with everyday outfits and can also handle a full day of sightseeing is hard. The Adidas Handball Spezial has the style part down, at least. Its low-profile suede design is much easier to style than most serious walking shoes.
However, with them being marketed as a casual shoe and those flat gum soles, I didn’t expect much in terms of comfort.
For this Adidas Handball Spezial review, I tested them for 10,000 steps to see how they actually performed and whether they’re comfortable enough for travel. I was surprised by the results.
Note: I bought my pair of Handball Spezials myself, and this review isn’t sponsored.
Pros
- Cozy, soft, and flexible feel to the upper
- The toe box had plenty of room and the upper didn’t press on my bunion
- I finished 10,000 steps without rubbing or blisters
- Comes in lots of colors and is versatile enough to work with a lot of outfits
- Removable insole so I can add my own support
Cons
- Almost no built-in arch support, and I noticed mild arch fatigue after a couple of miles
- Very little cushioning
My Adidas Handball Spezial Review
I’d been curious to try a pair of Adidas since their Sambas blew up a few years ago. Adidas has been the “it” brand for casual retro sneakers for a while now, and I always wrote them off as likely not comfortable enough for travel. But I was still curious to try them for myself.
I liked the look of the Handball Spezials more than the Sambas, so I ordered those, and once they arrived, I walked 10,000 steps to see if I could ever take them on a trip with me.
I went into the test expecting the shoes to feel narrow, flat, and unforgiving. My first reaction after putting them on was pretty much the opposite. They felt soft, cozy, and roomy, while still staying secure on my foot.
These were my thoughts for each aspect that I tested.
Cushioning and Flexibility
The Handball Spezial has a flat, close-to-the-ground feel, and there’s not much obvious cushioning in the forefoot or heel.
With that said, these didn’t tear up my feet, even after four miles. Sometimes when shoes have minimal cushioning, it’ll feel like the bottom of my feet are raw at the end of a walk and I’ll often get water blisters. For some reason, these worked okay for my feet even without the amount of cushioning I’m used to.
The forefoot also felt more flexible than expected. The heel was soft, and I finished without any toe rubbing, heel rubbing, bunion irritation, or blisters.
Arch Support and Stability
Arch support is the biggest drawback to these shoes, in that there’s not really any. I had mild fatigue in my arches after walking two miles. That fatigue was noticeable until the end of my 10,000 steps but never became painful.
One thing that was surprising to me is that I didn’t feel any intense overpronation (my foot and ankle rolling inward) like I usually do when a shoe doesn’t have arch support. I’m wondering if that might be due to the design of the upper, which felt like it molded to my foot and kept it in place.
The stock insole is removable, which gives me the option to try my own supportive inserts. I haven’t tried that yet, so I can’t say whether that’ll solve all the comfort issues, but I could see it potentially making them a better fit for travel.
Fit and Sizing
The Adidas Handball Spezial fit true to my usual size. My women’s US 10.5 felt secure at the heel, with much more room around the toes than I expected from the narrow-looking shape. My toes didn’t feel scrunched, and the upper didn’t press on my bunion.
Style & Quality
The stylish suede upper is one of my favorite parts of the Spezial. I tested the Earth Strata color, which is a muted gray-brown. The shoes look polished and less sporty than many of the walking shoes I own, so they work easily with casual outfits.
My pair also came with an extra pair of laces in a different color if I want to slightly change the look.
In terms of quality, I didn’t have any complaints about the stitching or the soft, broken-in feel of the suede. The shoes still looked brand new after 10,000 steps, which is more than I can say for some of the shoes I’ve tested. Overall, they were well constructed.
Adidas Handball Spezial FAQs
The Handball Spezial combines an easy-to-style, low-profile shape with a history that goes back to 1979. Adidas originally made it for indoor handball, and it later became part of European football culture and street style.
The suede upper, gum sole, and wide range of colors also make it easy to wear as an everyday casual sneaker.
They’re fine for casual walking, but I wouldn’t choose them as a dedicated walking shoe. I finished 10,000 steps without blisters or pain, but the flat sole has very little cushioning or arch support, and my arches felt fatigued after about two miles.
I still want to test them with my own inserts to see if they could handle longer walking days, but I still wouldn’t call them a walking shoe.
Clean the suede only when it’s dry. Start with a suede brush to remove loose dirt, then use a suede eraser for deeper marks.
For a stubborn stain, Adidas’s suede-cleaning instructions recommend putting a small amount of suede cleaner on a cloth and dabbing the stain instead of soaking the shoe. Let it dry away from direct sunlight, then brush the suede again to restore the texture.
The Handball Spezials aren’t made in just one country. Adidas works with suppliers in several countries, and the country of origin can vary by style and production run. Check the label inside the tongue or the shoe box for the exact origin of your pair.
Final Thoughts: Are Adidas Handball Spezials Worth It?
The Adidas Handball Spezials are worth considering if you want a nice looking casual sneaker and don’t need much built-in arch support or cushioning. These are first and foremost a fashionable casual sneaker, not a walking shoe.
With that said, I liked the fit and comfy suede upper more than I expected, and I lasted 10,000 steps in them without any blisters or pain (just some fatigue). I ended up keeping them because I love them as a casual sneaker and plan to wear them a lot this fall.
I still need to try another walk in them with a heavier-duty insert to see if they might actually be a good travel shoe as well, with a little more support. I feel like they could be.
→ For more stylish walking shoe options, I have a whole article with first-hand tested picks about the best walking shoes for Europe.
Mimi McFadden
Mimi started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. 13 years and 45+ countries later, she accidentally became a packing expert. Now she helps women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and which gear is actually worth it. Outside of travel, you’ll find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, and winning 3-point contests against her husband.
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