Footwear Focus—A Podiatrist’s Review of Nisolo Brand Shoes
In the age of sustainability and globalization, you’ve likely heard the principle: “Think globally, act locally.”
This slogan encourages proactive engagement at the neighborhood level to make a difference in the world. Smart, right? After all, charity starts at home.
Mission-driven companies take this goal to heart, creating business models that fold in sustainability initiatives, a focus on quality, and top-shelf customer service and satisfaction.
For Nisolo, this phrase may be an unofficial guiding light. Their name even means “not alone” in Spanish.
This month, I’m digging into the Nisolo brand. As always, you’ll learn my professional, podiatrist’s opinion on their footwear, advice for choosing certain styles, and whether I recommend them.
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Nisolo footwear—who are they and what do they offer?
Let’s start with an overview of this brand, their offerings, and their approach.
A sustainability focus
These days, most consumers want to know more about the businesses and brands they support.
Many want their dollars to go toward empowering brands focused on giving back to the world.
For my part, I prefer to highlight brands that support sustainability, like Cariuma (the subject of my most recent Footwear Focus blog).
Nisolo markets itself as an “ethically made shoes and accessories” brand.
But what does that mean?
Nisolo’s sustainability initiatives represent a multi-pronged approach that includes working toward a 0% net carbon footprint, transparency and accountability in their practices, and offering living wages across their supply chain.
They’re also invested in crafting quality footwear that’s made to last.
While you’ll pay more for their quality and craftsmanship, the upfront cost is offset when you consider how long you’ll own and wear a pair of their shoes or boots.
One note for you animal lovers out there—Nisolo shoes are made from 100% cow leather. While this material is durable and a staple of quality footwear, you may want to avoid this brand if you have issues with the use of animal byproducts.
Speaking of quality, let’s take a look at what they have to offer in that department.
Classic styles, built for comfort
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. When it comes to footwear, the classics are great because they go with everything and never go out of style.
Nisolo focuses on creating shoes, boots, and sandals in timeless styles and silhouettes. From their materials to their construction, they prioritize quality and comfort.
They want their shoes to be your go-to, everyday pair.
You’ll find a lot of simple, sleek styles on their site. This brand isn’t about frills, bells, and whistles—but that’s a good thing when selecting a quality pair of shoes that will be your top choice for daily wear.
If you’ve been following my blog, you already know I’m a big fan of Chelsea boots. This classic style looks chic with any outfit.
Nisolo has some cute and comfy Chelsea boot styles. I even own some (more on that later).
The brand consistently gets 4-star and above reviews from a range of websites. Customers often comment on their comfort, durability, fit, and ease of styling.
They also have different styles for all seasons, including sandals, shoes, and boots for men and women.
But do they earn a podiatrist’s stamp of approval?
Do podiatrists recommend Nisolo shoes?
For this podiatrist, the answer is yes! In fact, I own two pairs of Nisolo shoes.
Though I’m partial to their boots, I’ve heard and read many good reviews of their sandals. Folks especially rave about their Huarache Sandal and Go-To Flatform Sandal styles.
I like their boots because they look good and offer support, which is important for fall and winter footwear in the Midwest.
I also find their shoes to be of high quality. They hold up well in various weather conditions, which is key for life in a Midwestern climate.
Footwear is a personal choice and should be based on your feet and ankles and their unique needs.
Generally speaking, I recommend my patients opt for boots that offer stability, durability, warmth, and protection from the weather.
Check out more of my expert winter footwear advice in my recent blog.
If you need personalized recommendations and guidance to choose the perfect footwear, make an appointment with me online or drop by the office to schedule. I’ll be happy to help you select options that will give you the comfort and support you deserve, coupled with the style you want.
You can also always explore our custom orthotic offerings, to make any pair of shoes or boots your perfect pair.
Which Nisolo footwear styles do I own? Let me share the Nisolo styles on my shortlist.
The All-Weather Amalia Boot
These have a cute, combat boot look that whispers “rebel” while still looking polished. They also offer a lot more support than many other brands.
While not fully waterproof, I’ve found mine do well in damp conditions. I have a friend who bikes to work every day, and these are her go-to daily shoes.
I have these in the brandy color in my normal size 9. My friend has them in both brandy and black.
Full disclosure: this style is currently discontinued, so you sadly can’t purchase them on the Nisolo site. They’re still available, however, from a variety of online retailers, including Zappos, Amazon, and (if you’re ok with a pre-owned pair) Poshmark.
Men may find these similarly styled boots offer a good alternative, though I haven’t tried them personally.
The Carmen Chelsea Boot
A good Chelsea boot is always in style, and these are a favorite. Their simple styling can be dressed up or down. I’ve worn them with jeans and dresses. Plus, their stretchy tops make them extra easy to pull on.
This style has a more round toe box, which I prefer. But, if you like a more tapered look, you can opt for the Eva Everyday style. For a higher heel, check out the Dari Boot.
Mine are in classic black. I followed their recommendations about sizing and went up a half size to a 9.5, which offered me a bit more room for a perfect fit.
Whether you’re already a fan of Nisolo or are intrigued to try a pair—as the brand’s moniker says, you’re not alone!
Got a footwear brand you’d like my expert opinion on? Reach out and let me know! I’m always happy to offer my patients the info and resources they need to make the best choices for their foot and ankle health.
Interested in becoming a patient? I’d love to meet you! Schedule your visit easily online, browse our menu of services, and get answers to your insurance and payment questions ahead of time. City Step Podiatry is here to help you step strong!
City Step Podiatry is here for you! Reach out today to schedule your visit and treat your feet to the care they deserve.
