Adidas Originals
Maroon Handball Spezial Sneakers Women
These adidas Originals Handball Spezial low-top sneakers for women feature a genuine suede upper with layered leather overlays, a padded collar, removable foam footbed, and a non-skid gum rubber cupsole (model JP8726). Designed as a retro handball shoe, they are suited for everyday wear, walking, and commuting; reviewers note they run large (consider sizing down) and offer good arch support, but the sole under the ball of the foot is thin for extended walking.
- Color
- Maroon
- Material
- Genuine suede upper with layered leather, gum rubber outer sole
- Gender
- female
- Style
- casual, sporty, retro
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Shoes
Color
Size
Specifications
Women's adidas Handball Spezial sneakers in maroon with suede and leather upper.
Genuine suede upper with layered leather, comfortable padded collar, removable foam footbed, non-skid gum rubber outer sole.
- Color
- Maroon · red
- Material
- Genuine suede upper with layered leather, gum rubber outer sole
- Secondary
- rubber
- Style
- casual, sporty, retro
- Gender
- female
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Shoes
Additional Attributes
- genuine suede upper with layered leather
- comfortable padded collar
- removable foam footbed
- non-skid gum rubber outer sole
- adidas Originals
- Handball Spezial silhouette
Product Insights
The Maroon Handball Spezial Sneakers Women by Adidas Originals, a women's exclusive colorway at $140, is rooted in its 1979 handball origins with genuine suede upper, gum rubber outsole, and the Spezial name nearly unchanged. Revived by adidas archivist Gary Aspden in 2014 as a trend-proof design, it carries terrace culture legacy from the 1980s and a 2024 revival. The unlined suede is breathable, develops patina over time, resists creasing, and molds to the foot but outlasts the soft gum sole, which wears faster on concrete due to intentional softness for indoor grip. The 10.7mm forefoot stack with compressible hollow cells provides firm ground feel and court sensitivity at the cost of limited impact protection, while the removable footbed offers arch support and orthotic compatibility. Fit requires sizing down half for average feet or true to size for wide feet. It is marketed as a more timeless alternative to Samba, with all-day comfort superior to Samba and Gazelle, but demands regular care with a suede brush, eraser, and protector.
Verified claims
- Design heritage
- 1979 handball origins: suede, gum sole, and Spezial name remain; suede patinas.
- Terrace culture and resurgence
- Imported by football casuals in the 1980s; maroon colorway and 2024 revival continue the legacy.
- Curated revival
- Revived by adidas archivist Gary Aspden in 2014, designed to be trend-proof.
- Aging
- Suede develops patina, resists creasing, molds to foot, and outlasts the gum sole.
- Breathability
- Unlined suede is more breathable than leather-lined counterparts.
- Care
- Requires suede brush, eraser, and protector for maintenance.
- Material quality
- Genuine suede upper ultra-fine brushed for a premium tactile feel.
- Traction
- Soft compound and four-zone tread provide reliable grip on smooth surfaces, less on loose terrain.
- Cushioning
- 10.7mm forefoot and compressible hollow cells provide ground feel with limited impact protection.
- Fit
- Buyers size down half for average feet; wide feet go true to size.
- Arch support
- Buyers report the removable footbed provides arch support and accepts orthotics.
- Comfort
- Spezial is more comfortable for all-day wear than Samba and Gazelle.
- Orthotic compatibility
- Foam footbed is removable, allowing custom orthotics.
- Design ethos
- Marketed as boldly unaffected by trends, positioning it as a more timeless alternative to Samba.
- Exclusivity
- Women's exclusive colorway not available in unisex sizing.
- Patina
- Real suede upper develops beautiful patina over time.
- Outsole
- Gum rubber outsole wears faster than the suede upper, especially under the forefoot.
- Upper
- Suede upper resists creasing and molds to the foot, developing patina over time.
- Footbed
- Removable foam footbed can be swapped for custom orthotics.
- Shape retention
- Unlined suede upper molds to the foot and resists creasing; using a shoe tree preserves its shape.
- Sole Performance
- Gum rubber outsole with four-zone tread provides wet traction; thin 10.7 mm stack with hollow cells delivers court feel, but wears faster and can be firm.
- Heritage authenticity
- The Spezial name and design originate from 1960s-70s adidas archives and are carried over nearly unchanged from the 1979 handball original.
- Sole tradeoff
- Gum rubber outsole intentionally soft for indoor court grip, so it wears faster on concrete than standard rubber.
- Colorway
- Maroon/Cream/Gold colorway is women's exclusive, with suede and gold foil.
- Ground feel
- Low-profile gum sole with 10.7 mm forefoot stack gives firm ground feel.
- Durability
- Soft gum sole wears faster on concrete than harder rubber soles.
Product record
- Title
- Maroon Handball Spezial Sneakers Women
- Brand
- Adidas Originals
- Price
- 140 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Left-side profile of a low-top suede sneaker with maroon upper, three cream stripes, cream heel collar, gum rubber cupsole, and gold foil 'SPEZIAL' text near the midfoot.
- Overall silhouetteLow-top left-side profile of a lace-up sneaker shown in full-profile with toe pointing right and heel at left.
1 region
x 0.03 · y 0.55 · w 0.94 · h 0.34 (high) - Upper materialSuede upper covering toe box, vamp, quarter and heel counter with visible nap texture.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.58 · w 0.58 · h 0.28 (high) - Color of upperDeep maroon / burgundy color on the suede upper.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.58 · w 0.58 · h 0.28 (high) - Three stripesThree parallel cream leather stripes on the lateral side running diagonally from midfoot toward sole with visible stitching along edges.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.61 · w 0.28 · h 0.18 (high) - Heel collar and liningCream-colored smooth leather heel collar and inner lining visible above the suede heel counter.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.56 · w 0.18 · h 0.17 (high) - Lacing and eyeletsFlat maroon laces threaded through punched eyelets along the tongue, matching the upper color.
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.58 · w 0.29 · h 0.21 (high) - Midfoot text“Gold foil text 'SPEZIAL' printed on the lateral quarter just above the first stripe with a small gold trefoil-like mark to its right.”
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.64 · w 0.10 · h 0.06 (high) - Toe stitchingDouble-row decorative stitching outlining the toe cap area on the suede upper.
1 region
x 0.58 · y 0.68 · w 0.29 · h 0.12 (high) - Sole constructionGum rubber cupsole with textured sidewall and patterned tread visible on the midsole edge.
1 region
x 0.03 · y 0.77 · w 0.94 · h 0.12 (high) - Sole branding panelRectangular embossed panel on the lateral midsole near the heel with the word 'adidas' and a trefoil mark recessed into the gum rubber.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.78 · w 0.18 · h 0.08 (high) - Tongue topTop of tongue in the same maroon suede as the upper, slightly protruding above the collar.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.56 · w 0.12 · h 0.11 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a light gray seamless background with soft even lighting and minimal shadows. Shoe centered horizontally near the lower third of the frame.
- BackgroundEven light gray seamless background occupying the majority of the image area above the shoe.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.75 (high) - ShadowSoft diffuse shadow directly beneath the shoe following its contour, indicating overhead studio lighting.
1 region
x 0.03 · y 0.86 · w 0.94 · h 0.07 (medium) - Shot compositionSide-on composition with the shoe centered horizontally and ample negative space above; image cropped to include full shoe and a margin of background.
Colors
deep maroon· suede upper#4B0423cream· stripes and heel collargum brown· midsole and outsolemetallic gold· branding text#D3C3B4- Overall silhouetteLow-top left-side profile of a lace-up sneaker shown in full-profile with toe pointing right and heel at left.
- 02
Product
Low-top suede sneaker shown from a rear three-quarter view emphasizing the heel, outer side, and gum sole. Visible details include a textured gum rubber outsole with embossed adidas logo, white leather heel tab and three stripes, maroon/purple suede upper, and gold 'SPEZIAL' lettering on the outer side.
- Upper materialTextured suede upper in a deep maroon/purple tone covering heel, quarter, and toe cap areas visible in the image.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.45 · w 0.60 · h 0.35 (high) - Heel tabSmooth off-white leather heel tab wrapping the top rear of the shoe with visible topstitching along its lower edge.
1 region
x 0.29 · y 0.41 · w 0.18 · h 0.17 (high) - Three stripesThree parallel off-white leather stripes on the outer side, each with visible stitching and slightly textured edge contrast against the suede.
1 region
x 0.49 · y 0.47 · w 0.32 · h 0.22 (high) - Gold side text“Small gold printed text reading 'SPEZIAL' positioned between the stripes and heel area on the outer side of the shoe.”
1 region
x 0.54 · y 0.55 · w 0.12 · h 0.07 (high) - Midsole and outsole constructionRaised gum rubber midsole and outsole with textured patterned sidewall; outsole extends slightly beyond upper and shows a pronounced textured tread and circular pattern on the bottom of the other shoe.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.61 · w 0.75 · h 0.32 (high) - Embossed sole logo“Rectangular recessed panel on the outer side of the gum midsole embossed with the word adidas and the trefoil logo.”
1 region
x 0.21 · y 0.74 · w 0.23 · h 0.09 (high) - Visible outsole patternUnderside of the second shoe visible in the background showing circular and grid tread elements and an embossed round adidas trefoil mark.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.39 · w 0.60 · h 0.25 (high) - Collar interiorInner collar opening visible showing a dark interior lining contrasting with the off-white heel tab and maroon upper.
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.45 · w 0.18 · h 0.14 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a neutral light gray background with soft shadows; primary shoe is foregrounded with a second shoe partially visible behind it showing the sole.
- Shot compositionRear three-quarter studio shot with the left shoe in the foreground and a second shoe placed behind it rotated to show the outsole.
- Background and lightingEven neutral light gray background with soft diffuse lighting and a subtle shadow beneath the shoes.
Colors
deep maroon· suede upper#63143Boff-white· heel tab and stripe panelsmetallic gold· side textgum brown· midsole and outsole#C3936C- Upper materialTextured suede upper in a deep maroon/purple tone covering heel, quarter, and toe cap areas visible in the image.
- 03
Product
Top-down view of a pair of low-profile suede sneakers in a deep maroon color with contrasting off-white three-stripe overlays and a gum-colored midsole; a coiled spare lace sits above the pair.
- Overall orientationPair of sneakers shown from a direct top-down view with toes toward the top of the image and heels toward the bottom.
- Upper materialSuede upper covering vamp and quarter panels with visible suede nap texture and tonal stitching outlining toe and vamp panels.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.28 · w 0.76 · h 0.50 (high) - Three-stripe overlaysThree off-white leather or synthetic stripes applied to outer side of each shoe, stitched to the upper and running diagonally from midsole toward lacing area.
2 regions
x 0.14 · y 0.36 · w 0.28 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.58 · y 0.36 · w 0.28 · h 0.28 (high) - Lacing and eyeletsFlat tonal laces threaded through a series of punched eyelets on each shoe; laces tied in a loose, flat bow shape within the tongue area.
2 regions
x 0.14 · y 0.28 · w 0.32 · h 0.24 (high); x 0.54 · y 0.28 · w 0.32 · h 0.24 (high) - Tongue label textGold foil label visible at top of each tongue with block text and small logo elements.
2 regions
x 0.30 · y 0.38 · w 0.12 · h 0.08 (medium); x 0.58 · y 0.38 · w 0.12 · h 0.08 (medium) - Heel collar and liningLow-cut heel collar with smooth off-white inner lining visible around each heel opening.
2 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.70 · w 0.36 · h 0.20 (high); x 0.52 · y 0.70 · w 0.36 · h 0.20 (high) - Insole printed text“White printed text and a trefoil-style logo visible on the insoles of both shoes.”
2 regions
x 0.20 · y 0.74 · w 0.18 · h 0.16 (high); x 0.62 · y 0.74 · w 0.18 · h 0.16 (high) - Midsole and outsoleGum-colored rubber midsole and outsole forming a thin uniform rim around each shoe base.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.24 · w 0.76 · h 0.60 (high) - Spare lacesCoiled pair of spare laces in a light beige color placed above the shoes, not threaded.
1 region
x 0.37 · y 0.04 · w 0.26 · h 0.18 (high)
Other
Studio top-down product shot on a uniform light gray background with soft shadows; image is centered and evenly lit.
- Shot compositionTop-down studio photograph with both shoes and spare laces arranged symmetrically on a flat background.
- Background and lightingNeutral light gray background with soft diffuse lighting and faint soft shadows beneath shoes and laces.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution, sharp focus across shoes and laces with visible texture detail; no significant motion blur.
Colors
deep maroon· suede upper#731343off-white· three stripes and heel lining#C3C3C3gum brown· midsole/outsolelight beige· spare laces#CBC4B4
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
5 threads · r/AusFemaleFashion, r/adidasOverall, users are enthusiastic about the Adidas Handball Spezials' comfort and retro style, particularly appreciating the fit for wide feet, though they caution about the thin sole and sizing quirks.
The majority of comments highlight the shoes' comfort, arch support, and style, with a few noting issues like thin soles and color transfer, resulting in a generally favorable sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Everyday walking and commuting
- Travel and sightseeing
- Music festivals and events
- Work (on feet all day)
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Samba
Spezials rated more comfortable than Sambas, with better arch support.
vs Gazelle
More comfortable and supportive than Gazelles.
vs SL72
Spezials have more arch support but less cushioning than SL72 RS.
Source Threads
Comfort and Fit for Wide Feet
The spezials are the most comfortable adidas shoes I own (more comfortable than Sambas, SL72s and Gazelles). I have them in this colour and in burgundy and I love them, lightweight and with a bit of arch support. My feet are on the wider side (I have trouble finding sandals where my feet don't spill over the footbed) and they are comfortable in these.
u/heids1234r/AusFemaleFashionView thread →
Removable Insole for Arch Support Adjustment
If the insoles bother you because of the aggressive arch support, you can take it out.
u/Ms_Mambor/adidasView thread →
Style and Versatility of Earth Strata Color
I'm going to say earth strata. I have a pair and they are so stylish looking and go with a wide range of outfits.
u/the_knifeofdunwallr/adidasView thread →
Sizing Advice for Comfort
I get mine TTS. I could probably wear a half size down and still be comfortable. I think if you have wider feet though def stick tts
u/sangebor/adidasView thread →
Walking Comfort and Thin Sole Caution
I love my Spezials, I have 10 pairs and they are extremely comfortable. I wore mine around Europe last summer and I was fine. The arch support was a welcome feature for all that walking. However, the sole under the ball of the foot is a bit thin and that can be hard for some people.
u/TacoDeliDonaSaucer/adidasView thread →