A hot melt adhesive composition comprising from about 5% to about 15% by weight of at least one radial styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer having the general configuration (pS--pI--pB).sub.n X wherein n is a number greater than 2, said block copolymer having a molecular weight from about 90,000 to about 380,000, and preferably from about 100,000 to about 250,000, and a styrene content from about 15% to about 35% by weight, and preferably from about 20% to about 30% by weight; up to about 10% of a compatible polymer, wherein the total polymer content does not exceed 15%; from about 30% to about 60% by weight of at least one compatible tackifying resin; from about 20% to about 40% by weight of at least one compatible plasticizer; and from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight stabilizer.