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The Ultimate adidas Continental 80 FAQ

July 2, 2023 8:43 AM
The Ultimate adidas Continental 80 FAQ
Updated at
March 20, 2025

The History of the adidas Continental 80

The adidas Continental first hit the shelves in 1986. Inspired by tennis, it was actually designed for indoor sports, with clean lines reminiscent of the court look, but sole technology adapted to the floor conditions of the sports hall.

While some athletes immediately fell in love with the sneaker, it didn’t gain a lot of attention upon its release. It wasn’t until 2018, when adidas dug the model out of the archives and reissued it, that it became a celebrated style icon on the streetwear scene.

The reissued silhouette remains mostly true to its 80s design except for a few small updates, with its clean, minimalist look ushering in a new era of trend sneakers. The sneaker traditionally comes with a leather upper and two-piece rubber outsole with EVA insert for a comfortable and flexible fit.

At the time of its design, sneaker culture wasn’t as pronounced as today. That’s why the Continental’s breakthrough into the streetwear scene is significant. With no more boundaries between the sports, lifestyle and streetwear scene, the Continental brings the nostalgic 80s feeling of the past back out onto the streets of today, popular amongst athletes and streetwear enthusiasts alike.

Characteristic of the design are the adidas logo window on the lacing strip, the perforation at the toe, a slim silhouette and a mostly white upper: timeless, harmonious, and legendary.

In 2019, a year after its return to the scene, the Continental 80 got a couple of noteworthy collaborations that boosted its appeal and popularity.

Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, released a unique take on the model that featured a deconstructed design with uneven stitching. The inside-out eyelets, hand-painted details and other rough features encouraged wearers to add their own personal stories to the shoes.

donald glover x adidas continental 80

Japanese brand BEAUTY & YOUTH also collaborated on the model in 2019, creating a luxurious version with a smooth cream-coloured leather upper. Bold black branding contrasted with the minimalist colorway, and two set of laces were released with the special sneaker – one white, and one speckled black and white.

beauty & Youth x adidas continental 80

Today, the Continental is at home in many shoe closets, its clean design easy to style and its retro vibes fitting well into current fashion and style.

adidas Continental 80: Answering Your Questions

Is the adidas Continental a tennis shoe?

The adidas Continental was inspired by tennis, but is actually designed for indoor athletes. Its two-piece rubber outsole is adapted for the floor conditions of a sports hall.

Are adidas Continental unisex?

While the Continental 80 comes in both men’s and women’s sizing, meaning women need to size down 1.5 sizes to wear the men’s version and vice versa, it is a unisex model and is available in a large size run.

Does the adidas Continental 80 run true to size?

The fit of the adidas Continental 80 may run a little large. If you have narrower feet, we would recommend buying a size smaller. Otherwise, the adidas Continental 80 fits true to size.

Are adidas Continental 80 comfortable?

The adidas Continental 80 has an EVA midsole that provides cushioning and comfort. The leather or faux leather upper is flexible and hugs your foot.

How do you tie the adidas Continental 80?

For guidance on tying your Continental laces, check out our Ultimate Sneakerjagers Lacing Guide!

How do I clean my adidas Continental?

An adidas Continental 80 is best cleaned by hand. For the best results, remove the laces, then use a toothbrush to remove obvious dirt from the surface. Mix a mild detergent with some water, and use a sponge or cloth to gently scrub harder stains. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the residue, then let them air-dry.

For a smelly sneaker, you can sprinkle baking soda inside the shoe, then leave overnight. The powder will absorb moisture and neutralise the smell. Shake out the excess before wearing again. Alternatively, you can use silica gel or activated charcoal bags for the same results.

Laces can be cleaned with a mild detergent and rinsed afterwards, or you can put white laces in a 1:5 bleach and water solution for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

In addition, we do not recommend putting your shoes in the washing machine. Sneakers made of leather and suede can come out damaged. With shoes made of canvas or cotton, the risk is less, but the chance of damaged sneakers remains. So we recommend always washing your sneakers by hand. If you do put them in the washing machine, then place the shoes in an old pillowcase beforehand.

Where can I buy adidas Continental?

Do you have your eye on this model? With our sneaker search engine, you can browse the adidas Continental 80 at different retailers and at different prices. Our release calendar also keeps you up to date on Continental restocks and new releases!

Popular adidas Continental 80 Colorways

adidas have released many successful colorways on the Continental 80, and these are some of the most popular and recent favourites.

For more FAQs on your favourite sneaker models, visit the Sneaker FAQ page.

All the content is created according to our Editorial guidelines.

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