adidas Consortium Samba 3way

You know the Samba from its training shoe origins, but you've never seen it like this. The onetime terrace favourite in its more outdoor-friendly silhouette (as opposed to the affordable, almost ubiquitous 5-a-side 'flatter' version) is also pretty bike-friendly. That's a bonus in the era of fixed-gear mania, but made over with shuttlecock inspiration via China's ACU and Japan's VA? That's something very, very different, yet it makes a certain sense, seeing as this model could easily accommodate badminton too.

Green, yellow and purple 3-Stripes represent bright feathers - depicted more literally as images on the sockliner. They're reflective too, as are the more sober black lace panels and heeltab, and while the blue suede on the upper makes a concession to classicism, the completely transparent panelling on the forked forefoot detailing and beneath the side branding brings back the shock of the new.

Set atop an appropriately clear cup sole unit, the alternate 'ACU' and 'VA' logos on the left and right shoe tongues, green top eyelet, choice of matching laces, plus yellow, red and blue tops to the heel Trefoils adds even more colourful touches to a shoe that serves up something far from subtle. Appropriately, given its sporting theme, by jettisoning any excess of leathers, this makeover is borderline featherweight too.