A red Spezial for 53 euros. That’s less than half of what the same shoe was asking a few months back, and well under the 110-euro retail adidas first hung on it. I’ve had the Handball Spezial on my radar for a while – the terrace moment has passed, and it’s finally showing in the price.
Quick refresher: this is the classic Scarlet Gum. Red suede across the whole upper, white stripes, a white heel tab, “Spezial” in gold on the side, and that signature gum sole underneath. Low, flat indoor shape, more café than sports hall. A year-round shoe – which is exactly why it stings to pay full price when you don’t have to.
Demand stayed high, the price didn’t
Here’s the odd part: our Hypescore sits at 74/100, band ATOMIC – extremely wanted. A shoe with that much demand usually doesn’t slide. Yet the cheapest listing in our comparison is now 53 euros against a 110-euro retail, roughly 52% under retail. On paper everyone wants it; on the receipt it’s marked down. That gap between hype and price is where you want to be as a buyer.
53 euros is one listing, not a price for every size
Let’s keep it honest: those 53 euros are the single cheapest pair (at GOAT), not what you’ll pay everywhere. StockX wants 117 euros, the regular shops sit around 130 to 170, and the boutiques ask up to 347 euros for the exact same code. So don’t count on 53 in every size – it’s the find for whoever’s quick and happens to wear the right one, not the new normal. Check your size before you get excited.
One note on currency: right now the listings are in euros. There’s a single US dollar listing (around 209 US dollars at a boutique) and nothing in pounds, so UK and US buyers should factor in shipping and import on top. Buy or wait? At 53 euros it’s about as low as this colorway gets without selling out in your size; if your size only shows up at StockX or a boutique for double, there’s no rush.
Before you check out anywhere, drop the FV1227 into the comparison. The same shoe runs from 53 to over 347 euros, and the difference comes down to who has your size in stock right now. Prices and sizes side by side – you’ll see instantly where the real deal is, and where you’d overpay.