Footwear Focus: Kizik
Hi there, fellow shoe lovers! It’s Dr. Alison Young. I’m back again with my latest shoe review to share with you.
I’m a slave to the algorithm as much as the next person. So, I decided to use this to my advantage by combining my professional expertise as a podiatrist with a footwear brand that’s been showing up regularly in my social feeds.
After all, social media advertising is how many of us find new products these days. But you want to be sure what you’re seeing is actually a quality product. Especially when it comes to footwear—because you don’t need another pair of shoes that fail to give your feet and ankles the comfort and support they need!
That’s why this month’s shoe review is for a brand you may have seen your favorite Instagram influencer touting—Kizik.
Let’s explore what this brand has to offer.
A podiatrist’s review of Kizik shoes
Kizik shoes have become very popular as a “hands-free” option for everyday shoes. This means they’re designed to be slipped on with minimal effort, so you can just pop them on and go.
Kizik offers a variety of gym shoes, everyday shoes, and even boots. They have options and sizes for both men and women. They even have a very cute line for kids!
I had really been wanting to try these out as I knew they might be a good option for patients in need of a quick and easy shoe for commuting, or just for their day-to-day activities. And I only recommend footwear I’ve personally tried and vetted.
Kizik divides their shoe models into three overarching groups to help customers select what’s right for them. Their categories are—
Active—as the name implies, these are meant for action. They’re more of a gym shoe than a fashion sneaker.
Relaxed—this style is more of a fashion sneaker than a gym shoe. They retain a streetwear vibe, while being best suited for everyday activities rather than intense workouts.
Explore—you guessed it, these are meant for exploring! This is Kizik’s line of hiking and winter shoes and boots, designed for outdoor adventuring.
I chose the Kizik Madrid, which is in the Active category. My normal size 9 fit well. I chose the Clay color, which was a little pinker than I expected but still nice.
I opted for the Madrid style because I wanted a shoe I could commute in and wear at work, but also something that didn’t look like my regular running shoes.
Another big plus—The Madrid are very reasonably priced at $99.00.
A podiatrist’s assessment of Kizik’s Madrid style Active shoes
I love pro and con lists, because they can help organize our thoughts around a potential purchase.
That’s why I wanted to share mine with you. It may help you understand the unique benefits and potential drawbacks of Kizik footwear and help you determine if this brand is right for you.
Here’s mine, based on my experience with the Kizik Madrids:
Pros:
Very nice looking, not heavily branded, lots of color and style options
They’re easy to pull on and off and technically you can step in to them and pull up the back with one hand. I generally like my shoes tied a little tighter so this feature did not work as well for me because I would give in and retie them every time to get the fit I wanted. But would likely work well for others!
Very affordable
The Madrid model in particular has a mesh upper and very roomy toe box without being too wide overall, which is something my patients are always searching for.
Cons:
I found the Madrid to be a bit too minimal for me with not quite enough cushioning. I would potentially try a different model in the future to see how they compare. The Madrid really reminded me of an Allbirds type shoe.
The jury’s out on how durable these are. For the price point, you can likely get a lot of wear out of them but I’d imagine if you wear them every day they may need to be replaced in under a year.
My expert takeaway
Overall, I believe Kizik is a great option for everyday shoes, particularly if you are looking for something you can pull on quickly.
I didn’t love or hate the Madrid. It didn’t give me a Cinderella moment, but it was also comfortable and easy. I’m definitely open to exploring more of this brand’s offerings and look forward to trying more of their models and styles in the future!
Got a trendy shoe brand you’re interested in me reviewing? Let me know! I’m always open to trying new styles and offering you my expert insight as both a podiatrist and active professional.
Interested in personalized guidance and support with choosing the perfect footwear for you? I’m happy to help! Book with us easily online and take advantage of our convenient downtown Chicago office location, flexible scheduling, and cutting-edge treatments.
City Step Podiatry is here for you! Reach out today to schedule your visit and treat your feet to the care they deserve.
