Some shoes are born icons. Others get there slowly, building a quiet following until their place in the pantheon of footwear greats is undeniable. The Adidas SL 72 falls into the latter camp. First released for the 1972 Munich Olympics, it was designed as a performance running shoe – a featherlight trainer made for the track. But somewhere along the way, it became much more than that. Today, the SL 72 sits comfortably alongside the Samba, the Gazelle, and the Spezial as a timeless piece of design that feels as culturally relevant in 2025 as it did over fifty years ago.
From Olympic podium to pub carpet
The clue is in the name. SL stands for ‘Super Light’ – and that’s exactly what the Adidas SL 72 was. A low-profile, barely-there racing shoe built to help athletes chase marginal gains at the Munich Games. It featured a nylon upper, suede overlays for reinforcement, and a serrated rubber outsole – all working together to keep weight down without sacrificing grip or support.
It was performance-driven, right down to the slim last and shallow midsole. But like so many classic sportswear designs, the SL 72’s appeal extended well beyond its intended purpose. Runners loved it, sure. But so did anyone drawn to simple sneakers. Clean lines, subtle curves and classic Adidas DNA. That trefoil logo resplendent on the heel and tongue, those unmistakable Three Stripes.
By the mid-1970s, the SL 72 was already making the leap from track shoe to casual classic. It was light, comfortable, and easy to wear – qualities that, decades later, would form the backbone of terrace style and cement the shoe’s place in British menswear.
The return of the slimline runner
Today, retro sneakers are everywhere. As the chunky dad shoe trend slowly starts to burn out, the slimline trainer is having a moment. Brands from New Balance to Nike are trawling the archives, dusting off 1970s silhouettes with low profiles and slim soles. The SL 72 fits perfectly into that landscape – a sleek, minimalist runner that feels just as relevant now as it did in the days of bell-bottoms and long hair.
Adidas has been smart about the reissue. The shape is right – narrow through the body with just the right amount of curve – and the materials stay true to the original, with lightweight nylon uppers and plush suede overlays. It feels fast, even when you’re standing still.
Then there’s the colour palette. That classic blue with white stripes will always be the most recognisable – a colourway synonymous with the SL 72 and Adidas in general – but recent drops have explored earth tones, neutrals, and rich jewel shades. There’s even been a couple of Wales Bonner collabs.
Why the Adidas SL 72 still matters
What’s impressive about the SL 72 is how little it’s changed. There are no bells and whistles, no visible tech, no pumped-up midsoles or oversized logos. It’s a reminder of a time when sportswear design was simple – when the focus was on stripping things back rather than piling things on. And in an age of maximalist footwear, that simplicity feels refreshing.
It’s also part of a wider movement towards function-led fashion. Just as the Samba has been pulled from five-a-side pitches onto front rows, and the Gazelle has gone from gym floors to the TikTok FYP, the SL 72 represents the enduring appeal of form-follows-function design. These shoes weren’t made for style – they were made for sport.
The Adidas SL 72 legacy
For Adidas, the SL 72 is more than just a nostalgia piece – it’s a blueprint. A reminder that good design doesn’t age. You can see its influence in countless other Adidas models. It’s a shoe that’s spawned imitators, homages and straight-up copies, but none have quite nailed that mix of lightness, versatility and heritage appeal.
In 2025, the SL 72 feels perfectly placed. It’s a natural choice for those bored of chunky trainers but not ready to embrace leather loafers or – heaven forbid – ‘snoafers’. It’s sporty, but not aggressively so. Stylish, but still grounded in its original purpose. And like all great pieces of design, it’s evolved with the times without ever really changing.
Ultimately, the SL 72 is proof that the best sneakers don’t need to shout. They don’t need to be plastered with logos or bulked out with plastic. Sometimes, a slim nylon upper, a soft suede toe cap, and a three-stripe signature are all you need. And when you get it right – when the proportions are spot on – you don’t just make a good running shoe. You make an icon.
Next up: ICONS – The ASICS Gel-Kayano 14.
