Sambas The Bambas Review - Fit, Materials & 2026 Range
Quick verdict
Sambas The Bambas review updated for 2026: current brand name, 4mm soles, removable insoles, changing biomaterials, fit guidance and earlier development testing.
The short answer
Sambas The Bambas has changed a lot since I tested the early range. If you are considering a pair now, choose the model first: fit, materials and sole setup vary enough that one brand-wide rule is not very useful.
Many current models still use a simple barefoot setup with a thin flat outsole and removable insole. Check the exact model page for total thickness, materials and sizing before ordering.
I tested the early shoes during development
I had the opportunity to test Sambas shoes during development. On the Playa and Jungla pairs I knew, details changed after feedback, including the eyelets, and the bootie was adjusted around the ankle.
That experience tells me the brand was willing to change small construction details when something was not working. It does not tell me how every current Sambas model will fit.
The sole softened with wear
On the pairs I wore, the sole started fairly firm and became more pliable with wear. I also tried them with and without the removable insole. Taking it out gave me noticeably more room inside the shoe and more ground feel.
Many current Sambas models use a 4 mm flat, flexible outsole with a removable coconut-fibre insole around 3-4 mm. Some newer closed models list roughly 8 mm total with the insole fitted and 4 mm without it.
If ground feel or internal volume matters to you, check both the outsole and the insole rather than looking at the outsole number alone.
Materials vary by model
The current range includes organic or recycled cotton, hemp, bamboo-blend linings and plant-based alternatives using materials such as cactus, corn and olive biomass. The exact construction changes by model and colourway.
If being vegan or avoiding a particular synthetic matters to you, check the composition of the exact pair rather than relying on a brand-level materials list.
Measure for the model you want
Sizing guidance is not identical across the range. Some models allow roughly 5-15 mm of extra length, while at least one current closed model is described as fitting large and tells between-size buyers to choose the smaller size.
My sequence would be: measure your foot, use the model-specific guide, then decide whether you plan to keep the removable insole in. From the pairs I tested, I know that last choice can change the fit enough to matter.
Who Sambas is likely to suit
- Someone who wants a casual Spanish-made barefoot shoe rather than a technical trail or performance model.
- Someone who likes a thin outsole but wants the option to change ground feel and internal volume with a removable insole.
- Someone interested in unusual plant-based and lower-impact materials who is willing to check the exact construction before buying.
Would I buy Sambas now?
Yes, if one of the current shapes suited my foot. I liked the early shoes and the removable-insole setup is still practical. I would just choose the current model on its own merits rather than assume my older Playa or Jungla tells me how it will fit.