Kizik Lima Slip On Review

The Kizik Lima's innovative design features a heel that springs back into place, meaning you don't have to bend over to put them on. Once adjusted to your liking, the laces stayed tied, so you can simply slip your foot in and go. The soft, flexible mesh upper molds to the foot, while the integrated padded tongue adds extra comfort.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Kizik Lima comfort is the result of the RabbitFoam sole that was measured to have a plush 32 millimeter heel stack. The sole is rather flexible and smoothly transitions through the 13-millimeter heel-to-toe drop with ease. The stretchy mesh offers excellent breathability, and the padded tongue and heel collar enhance the comfort and fit. The toe box notably spacious, allowing for ample toe splay and vertical movement, making it ideal for those whose feet may swell during walking or extended use.

The shoe ran about a half size too small for me, so I needed to size up to get the right fit. I found the width to be appropriately sized. If you need the extra room, they are available in wide and extra wide options, as well. On my initial use I noticed some discomfort in the forefoot and plantar area that subsided over time, which I attributed to a break in period. During testing, I also noted that with faster motion, the foot tends to slip slightly inside the shoe even when tightening the laces, but it did not result in hotspots or blisters. This shoe is designed to slip on and has a stretch upper, so this isn't a surprising finding.

Shoe Exterior Shoe Interior

The advertised hands-free characteristic of the shoe turned out to be accurate and convenient, making it a good choice for quick tasks like taking the garbage out and checking the mail. The heel cup is described as having InternalCage technology that allows the heel to spring back after you step into the shoe, and I found this performs very well. The shoes come with traditional style laces which didn't require adjustment for each use, just simply tie once and forget about it.

Support

The Kizik Lima landed in the middle of the road when it came to the support department and left me wanting just a little more stiffness in the sole. During the flexion test, the Lima flexed in the toe box with some slight flexion towards the midfoot, which is a good sign, though the midfoot should remain stiff to provide support when walking.

The shoe felt relatively stable with lateral movement, and the wider flat sole helped with stability. I also noticed the shoe flexed under the foot and tends to give a greater tactile feel of the ground beneath, meaning rocks or debris. The Lima didn't offer a lot of arch support, so these would be best suited for someone with a neutral gait and normal arch.

The shoes come with standard lacing, and I didn't feel the need to adjust them regularly as they are meant to slip on. I did find the upper mesh material has some stretch, and despite tightening the laces, I still felt some foot slide.

The twist test examines how a shoe holds up to torsion and its ability maintain shape. A supportive shoe will have some movement but resist a lot of twisting. During this test, the Lima showed some resistance to torsion but allowed movement in the midfoot and toe, but the heel remained stable. The Lima provides good support, but I wouldn't use this for long walks or if additional gait and arch support is required.

Traction

The shoes didn't offer superior or inferior traction but performed well on all terrains tested. The shoe has a horizontal wavy treat pattern that is shallow but still performed rather well. Since the rubber sole is flat, there ends up being a lot of contact and friction with the ground.

On concrete, the shoes performed well with no issues, and ascending and descending hills were no problem, wet or dry. On indoor surfaces like tile, linoleum, and vinyl, the Lima held a firm grip on the ground and transitioned from surfaces like carpet to a waxed floor without sliding forward. The traction wasn't as great on gravel and dirt with the shallow tread pattern, but it still performed well enough for regular walks in the woods. These shoes would not be great for deeper loose terrain, but they performed well enough on hard-packed dirt trails. One nice part of the shallow tread depth is it doesn't trap debris like some of the other shoes.

Weight

The Kizik Lima leans just past the middle of the pack to the heavier side of the testing group, but still only weighs in at about 12.5 ounces for a men's size 10.5. The flexible mesh upper and thinner rubber sole help to mitigate weight while still providing a good fit.

Wearing the Lima, I didn't notice the weight or size, which is a nice change from some of the other walking shoes. The shoes feel sleek and agile and allows for a natural foot strike. When used for longer periods of time, there is no bulky feeling, and I didn't notice any fatigue from the shoe's weight.

Durability

The upper construction is composed of a breathable knit upper that has some stretchy properties to ease the hands-free process. We were concerned about the heel area crushing with regular hands-free use, but the shoe held up very well to that abuse. The foam sole didn't show evidence of breakdown or cracking and maintained the same cushioning effect. Covering the foam sole is a rubber layer for traction that did not show significant wear or tear throughout the testing process.

Some users reported holes in the toe fabric with use, and though I did not experience that with testing, I understand how it could be a problem with longer use. Should the shoes become quite soiled and dirty, cleaning recommendations include spot-cleaning the upper with mild detergent and water and allowing them to air dry. The upper can be spot-cleaned with a soft cloth, and the removable insole is machine washable and air dry.

Should You Buy the Kizik Lima?

The Kizik Lima fills a certain niche in the walking shoe market with the convenience of the hands-free entrance, along with a flexible and breathable design. These shoes have acceptable comfort and stability and would function well for duty around the house or running errands, but don't expect a supporting shock absorber for distance walks or long days on your feet. If the search is for a simple-to-use neutral shoe or a walker wide or extra wide, the Lima is worth a try.

What Other Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

If a simple slip-on shoe is your desire, then the Skechers Go Walk Max or Dansko Professional are quick on and off. We loved the Dankso for long shift at work. If you need a wider toe box, the Altra Experience Flow was a testing favorite. If weight is the ultimate factor, the Vamjam Ultra Lightweight is the winner of that category, but we don't recommend them for extensive walks.