By Rifan Muazin 
However, once the smoke clears and the tuxedo has been tailored for a new silhouette, a secondary but equally vital question arises for the style-conscious observer: What sneakers is the world’s most famous secret agent going to wear? While Bond is synonymous with the bespoke tailoring of Savile Row and the rugged elegance of Crockett & Jones boots, the "Craig era" introduced a more pragmatic, athletic side to the character’s wardrobe. As it turns out, Daniel Craig—the man who redefined Bond as a "blunt instrument" with a soul—managed to master the casual footwear game just as effectively as he did the high-stakes world of international espionage.
In 2012’s Skyfall, a film celebrated for its stunning cinematography and its deep dive into Bond’s psychological origins, 007 finds himself at a professional nadir. After being accidentally shot by a colleague and presumed dead, he returns to London only to find he is no longer the physical specimen he once was. During a series of grueling MI6 fitness tests designed to evaluate his readiness for field duty, Bond appears in a navy SIS tracksuit, paired with a remarkably understated choice of footwear: the Adidas Gazelle II.
In this specific scene, the stakes are intimate rather than global. Bond is struggling through pull-ups and medical evaluations, his body failing to keep pace with his iron will. As a viewer swept up in the narrative tension of Bond’s vulnerability, you would be forgiven for missing the shoes entirely. Yet, for the "Bondologists" and menswear enthusiasts who dissect every frame of the franchise, the choice of the Gazelle was a masterstroke of character-driven costume design.
These were not custom-made prototypes or high-fashion reinterpretations. They were off-the-shelf Gazelles from Adidas’s spring 2011 line—the exact same pair that any civilian could have purchased from a local sporting goods store a year before the film’s release. For a character whose wardrobe is traditionally examined down to the last cufflink and the specific weave of his sea-island cotton shirts, seeing him in a regular pair of Adidas was a moment of profound relatability. His particular pair featured a "dark indigo" suede upper, contrasted with "Argentina blue" serrated stripes, a crisp white rubber sole, and the iconic gold "Gazelle" lettering stamped along the lateral sides.
Interestingly, the pursuit of screen-accuracy for this specific item has led to a minor obsession within the fan community. As noted by the comprehensive resource Bond Lifestyle, there is a slight discrepancy between the retail version of the shoe and the one seen on screen. The standard retail pair featured a light blue heel tab, matching the stripes, whereas the pair worn by Craig appeared to have a darker, perhaps navy, heel tab. Speculation suggests that the Skyfall costume department, led by Jany Temime, may have modified the shoes to better complement the navy tracksuit, or perhaps they were a rare regional variant. Regardless of the origin, this detail highlights the meticulous nature of the Bond aesthetic: even "casual" must be curated.
To understand why the Gazelle was the perfect fit for Craig’s Bond, one must look at the history of the shoe itself. The Adidas Gazelle launched in 1966 as a multipurpose training shoe. At the time, it was a revolutionary product, marking the German sportswear giant’s first-ever foray into suede footwear. Prior to the Gazelle, most athletic shoes were constructed from heavy leather or flimsy canvas. Suede offered a unique combination of lightweight flexibility and durable support, making it an instant hit among athletes.
Beyond its technical merits, the Gazelle eventually evolved into a cultural totem, particularly within the United Kingdom. By the 1970s and 80s, the shoe had been adopted by the "Casuals" subculture—football fans who traveled across Europe following their teams and returning with high-end continental sportswear. The Gazelle became a staple of the British football terraces, a symbol of a specific kind of working-class style that valued cleanliness, brand heritage, and a hint of rebellion. This cultural lineage continued into the 1990s, when the Gazelle became the unofficial uniform of the Britpop movement, worn by everyone from the Gallagher brothers to Kate Moss.
For Daniel Craig’s Bond—a character established as a Gen-X Brit with a gritty, no-nonsense background—the Gazelle makes perfect sense. It is a shoe that carries the weight of British heritage without the stuffiness of a brogue. It suggests a man who understands tradition but prioritizes functionality. In the training scene, the slim, low-profile sole of the Gazelle provides the "ground feel" necessary for a man trying to reclaim his physical prowess, while the color palette integrates seamlessly with his tactical gear.
The success of the Gazelle’s appearance in Skyfall arguably paved the way for more formal collaborations between the franchise and the brand. By 2021, ahead of the release of No Time to Die, Adidas and the 007 franchise launched an official collaborative collection. This was a far cry from the "off-the-shelf" nature of the Skyfall Gazelles. The collection centered on the Ultraboost running silhouette, featuring designs inspired by various elements of the film. There were versions that paid homage to Bond’s classic tuxedo, utilizing black-on-black textures, and a "Q Branch" edition that leaned into the gadgetry of the series. The Q Branch Ultraboost even featured a hidden compartment within the lacing cage—a playful nod to the hidden compartments found in Bond’s Aston Martin, providing a convenient spot for a key or a small tool if one’s gym shorts lacked pockets. Another pair in the collection drew inspiration from the villain Safin’s porcelain mask, utilizing a white and grey palette that felt cold and clinical.
Despite these high-tech, official collaborations, the OG Skyfall Gazelles remain the "holy grail" for many collectors. Because they were a standard seasonal release from over a decade ago, finding a deadstock pair in the correct "dark indigo" and "Argentina blue" colorway is an exercise in patience and digital detective work. They represent a moment when Bond felt most human—sweating in a gym, wearing the same shoes as the rest of us, trying to prove he still had what it takes.
As we look toward the future and the eventual announcement of the next James Bond, the wardrobe will undoubtedly shift again. If Josh O’Connor or Jack Lowden takes the role, we might see a return to a more lean, mod-inspired aesthetic. If Robert Pattinson dons the tuxedo, we could expect a more brooding, avant-garde approach to the character’s style. Each actor brings a different physical language to the role, and the costume designers will be tasked with reflecting that through every item of clothing, from the evening wear to the training gear.
The next Bond will have big shoes to fill—literally and figuratively. Daniel Craig’s tenure was marked by a commitment to physical realism, and his footwear reflected that. Whether the next iteration of the character sticks with the classic British elegance of leather soles or continues to embrace the heritage-meets-performance vibe of Adidas, the Gazelle will always stand as a reminder of the time James Bond proved that even a global icon needs a reliable pair of sneakers to get the job done. For those looking to emulate the look today without scouring eBay for 2011 archives, the Adidas Gazelle remains a permanent fixture in the brand’s "Originals" lineup, proving that some designs, much like the character of Bond himself, are truly timeless. The hunt for the actor continues, but the blueprint for 007’s off-duty style has already been expertly laid.
