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If you’re picking between Adidas vs. Nike, you’re not alone. These are ranked as the world’s biggest sporting goods companies, so if you’re buying athletic apparel, statistically speaking, odds are you’re buying products from one of them.
As two of the most recognizable global brands, it goes without saying that you’ll probably be satisfied with either. Most people’s choice may have more to do with where they live, their personal style, or which brand sponsors their favorite teams.
Between Nike’s dedication to innovative technology and bold marketing and Adidas’ longstanding commitment to quality and timeless design, there’s plenty to like about both brands. To help you make the call, we’ll dive into the strengths and unique characteristics of each company at a high level and pit some of their competing products head to head.
Nike vs. Adidas: Brand Comparison
Brand Overview
Nike
With its signature “swoosh” logo and massive endorsement deals, Nike may be the most recognizable athletic brand on the planet (followed pretty closely by Adidas). Started in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike became the Nike we know today in 1971 and remains headquartered in Beaverton, OR. It’s considered the highest-valued athletic company in the world.
Adidas
Adidas has one of the more notable origin stories of any apparel company. Started in 1924 in Germany by a young entrepreneurial cobbler and his older brother in their mother’s house, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory would eventually split when tensions grew between the two. The older brother Rudolf Dassler branched off to create Puma, and the younger brother Adolf transitioned his company to Adidas AG.
Adidas has since grown to become Europe’s biggest sportswear company — second only to Nike worldwide.
Takeaway: Both have grown from humble roots to dominate their markets, with Adidas owning Europe and Nike getting the edge in global sales.
Products
Nike
Nike is known worldwide for athletic apparel and equipment across virtually all major sports, along with stylish casual wear and extremely popular sneakers.
Adidas
In the U.S., Adidas is probably most popular for soccer and running apparel, but the company makes sports gear, activewear, leisure wear, and sneakers appropriate for just about any athletic activity — including walking to the sports bar to watch Bayern München, the club Adidas owns over an 8% stake in.
Takeaway: Both produce quality gear and apparel for just about any sport or athletic need.
Sustainability
Nike
Nike has taken big strides to reduce the impacts of manufacturing, with a dedicated “Move to Zero" plan and investment in research to make material sourcing more sustainable.
Adidas
Adidas has had plenty of green initiatives, including longstanding partnerships with multiple organizations focused on reducing plastic waste. The company has even been producing annual sustainability reports since 2001—way ahead of many other major manufacturers.
Takeaway: Both companies have launched multiple initiatives to improve sustainability and environmental accountability.
Nike vs. Adidas: Apparel Matchup
To give you an idea of how Adidas vs. Nike compare on a product-by-product basis, we rounded up some of their most popular competing garments:
- Short Sleeve T-Shirts: Nike Swoosh Sleeve rLegend Tee vs. Adidas Sport T-Shirt
- Crewneck Sweatshirt: Nike Club Fleece Crew vs. Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
- Hoodie: Nike Club Fleece Sleeve Swoosh Pullover Hoodie vs. Adidas Fleece Hoodie
- Polo: Nike Dri-Fit Vertical Mesh Polo vs. Adidas Performance Polo
- Hat: Nike Snapback Mesh Trucker Cap vs. Adidas Sustainable Trucker Cap
In the end, we found a pretty even split between our picks for these two brands, with Adidas claiming three wins compared to two for Nike.
Still, most of these were really close calls that came down to a couple core differences:
- Nike’s options tended to be notably more expensive than Adidas'.
- Adidas tended to have a more diverse range of color options.
Nike’s designs tended to lean toward more classic aesthetics.
Short Sleeve T-Shirt: Nike Swoosh Sleeve rLegend Tee vs. Adidas Sport T-Shirt
If you like your athletic apparel to have minimal impact on the planet and your body temperature, both brands have 100% recycled polyester custom t-shirts that fit the bill.
Nike’s rLegend comes in at a super lightweight 4 oz, boasting Dri-FIT tech for max performance and minimum moisture. If you’re a fan of the “swoosh,” you’ll also appreciate the contrast heat transfer logo on the left sleeve.
Coming in at 6.1 oz, Adidas' Sport T-Shirt isn’t as lightweight as the rLegend, but does feature UPF 50+ protection to help keep the sun at bay while you’re outside. You’ll also find Adidas' logo on the left sleeve, if you’re more of a “three stripes” person.
Nike also has 12 color options to Adidas' 10, with an uncharacteristically more dynamic array of hues to boot — Adidas' are pretty heavily concentrated in the grays and blues. All that said, you’ll also pay a bit more for the rLegend, with a single unit coming in at over $7 more.
Our recommendation: Nike Swoosh Sleeve rLegend Tee
If you’re looking for premium athletic tees, consider spending up for the Nike Swoosh Sleeve rLegend Tee (NKDX8730) for a wider range of colors and super lightweight design compared to the Adidas Sport T-Shirt (A376).
Crewneck Sweatshirt: Nike Club Fleece Crew vs. Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
A crewneck sweatshirt is a versatile staple. Perfect for working from the home office, a cold-weather run, or layering underneath a heavy coat in the winter, Nike’s Club Fleece Crew is about as classic as a fleece gets.
Available in six fairly neutral shades, this 80/20 cotton-poly blend brings effortless comfort with brushed-back fleece, neck taping, saddle stitching, and rib knit cuffs. It’s basically the sweater you think of when you think of a fleece sweater.
Adidas' sweatshirt has a bit more polyester, with a 70% BCI cotton / 30% recycled polyester blend, and comes in just a hair heavier than Nike’s (8.5 oz to 8.2). Its fit is a bit less tapered and features a small sleeve logo, leaving more room on the chest for your custom design.
Adidas' fleece also has more size and color options. Available in every size from XS to 4 XL (compared to S to 3XL for Nike), it even has two extra colors spanning a broader array of hues.
Our recommendation: Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
While the Nike Club Fleece Crew (CJ1614) has a more classic style, the Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt (A434) is a better value with more versatility for customizations.
Hoodie: Nike Club Fleece Sleeve Swoosh Pullover Hoodie vs. Adidas Fleece Hoodie
If you’re looking for a new favorite hoodie, it could easily be one of these two options. Both Nike and Adidas' products are pretty similar, so your choice may come down to style preference — or whether you like your logo on the right arm (Adidas) or left (Nike).
Both hoodies register at 8-8.5 oz, feature three-panel hoods and large front pouch pockets, have dye-matched drawcords, and round out with hemmed cuffs. Stylistically, they’re nearly identical, though Nike’s has a slightly more pronounced cuff while Adidas' collar meets at a more symmetrical V cut-out.
Nike gets an edge on material with a softer blend of 72% cotton / 20% polyester / 8% organic cotton, compared to Adidas' 70% BCI cotton / 30% recycled polyester blend. Both have fairly diverse color options and come in the same sizes. Price points aren’t dramatically different, though Nike buyers will pay nearly $7 more for a single unit.
Our recommendation: Nike Club Fleece Sleeve Swoosh Pullover Hoodie
This one was tough to call, but the Nike Club Fleece Sleeve Swoosh Pullover Hoodie (NKDR1499) edges out the Adidas Fleece Hoodie (A432) for its material and style.
Polo: Nike Dri-Fit Vertical Mesh Polo vs. Adidas Performance Polo
Whether it’s for golf attire or just a polished yet athletic look, a performance polo is the perfect hybrid of activewear and casualwear.
True to form, Nike’s Vertical Mesh Polo helps you stay ahead of perspiration with mesh Dri-FIT innovation that wicks moisture while maximizing airflow. This customizable 100% polyester polo also comes in 13 diverse colors to match your logo and branded assets.
The Adidas Performance Polo is also highly customizable, with 10 distinct color choices and left-breast logo placement. It's constructed of 100% recycled polyester jersey, which also has moisture-wicking properties. It weighs an ultra-light 3.8 oz and offers UPF 50+ protection.
Our recommendation: Adidas Performance Polo
With savings of over $10 for a single unit, the Adidas Performance Polo (A230) is worth the value over Nike Dri-Fit Vertical Mesh Polo (637167) with incredibly light construction and top-notch sun protection.
Hat: Nike Snapback Mesh Trucker Cap vs. Adidas Sustainable Trucker Cap
Here’s what these two custom trucker hats have in common: curved brims, superior breathability, recycled polyester construction, mid-profile build, 7-position adjustable snapback closures, side logos — admittedly, a lot.
Still, there are some key differences between the two embroidered hats. For starters, this Nike snapback has a more traditional trucker-style five-panel build, giving it a full front panel for a custom design. It’s also made from 100% recycled polyester, making it sturdy yet comfortable, if a bit rigidly sized at M/L only.
Meanwhile, the Adidas hat has a six-panel build, meaning the front is broken into two panels, which also gives it a slightly more flexible fit — especially considering it also contains 3% spandex. While it has fewer color options (six, compared to Nike’s eight), its choices are more diverse for those looking for a bolder color.
Our recommendation: Adidas Sustainable Trucker Cap
While the Nike Snapback Mesh Trucker Cap (NKFN9893) features a more classic look, the Adidas Sustainable Trucker Cap (A627S) offers more flexibility in fit and design.
Nike vs. Adidas: Which Brand Should You Choose?
Adidas may have come out with more wins, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the Adidas vs. Nike debate has been solved. Honestly, these were predictably well-matched products. If you’re still not sure which to pick, here’s how I’d look at it:
- If you want value, Adidas tends to be cheaper.
- If you want the clout of Nike’s more premium branding, go with Nike.
- If you like the look of one brand’s garments over the other, pick that one.
Since many of these garments have similar characteristics, your personal taste could help you make the final call. In either case, you can rest assured you’re getting garments from some of the top custom apparel brands.
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About the Author
Based in New Mexico, Bryce Emley is a seasoned content writer and expert in the realms of custom apparel and eCommerce. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing, he seamlessly blends his passions, specializing in insightful content that bridges the gap between innovative apparel solutions and digital commerce trends. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bryce is an avid creator, channeling his creativity into poetry, screenplays, and creative nonfiction. In his leisure time, he has a penchant for collecting unique, vintage anime t-shirts, showcasing his love for both rare finds and the artistry of apparel design.