Kizik Athens - Women's Review

What truly sets the Kizik Athens apart is its innovative hands-free ankle cage design. But the shoe itself has a lot more to offer than just that convenience. The knit upper's adaptive fit eliminates any break-in period, proving comfortable straight out of the box. And I liked that the cushioned outsole struck an ideal balance between cushioning and stability. To top it off, this shoe did well during our traction tests and quickly earned a spot as an all around solid walking shoe.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

In my 10,000-step walking test, the Kizik Athens proved impressively comfortable from the first step. The knit upper adapts well to different foot shapes while maintaining adequate structure. I particularly appreciated the absence of break-in period - no blisters or hot spots emerged even during extended wear. The foam outsole provides good cushioning, though not excessive, striking a nice balance between comfort and ground feel.

Fit-wise, these shoes run true to size and accommodate regular to slightly wide feet. The roomy toe box allows for natural toe splay, though narrow-footed users may find them too spacious. We wish they offered more widths in order to perfectly fit every user, but overall our testers felt like the Athens will accommodate a spectrum of foot shapes.

Shoe Exterior Shoe Interior

Without question, the hands-free entry system is the most impressive feature. I consistently found it to be highly effective and reliable, even after numerous uses. While other shoes may approach hands-free functionality, the Athens are the only ones I've tried that truly deliver on that promise. More than just hype, this feature makes them a great choice for anyone with mobility differences or people who always take their shoes off at home and are looking for a simple solution.

Support

Our rigidity testing revealed a good overall structure. During the forefoot flexion test, we measure how much each shoe bends. Ideally, we're looking for a shoe that has appropriate flex through the toe area but shows some structure. Shoes that lack appropriate forefoot flexion can block vital foot motions and potentially lead to various foot problems, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon issues, and increased risk of knee injury. We found that these shoes did have more bend than some very thick midsoled models, but overall revealed good structure and stability. They bent at the toe and a bit more, but not overly so. And even with a mid-level drop of 15mm, the wide base gives these a very stable feeling.

The lacing system, while mostly aesthetic given the slip-on design, does allow for some fit adjustment. However, I found the arch support to be minimal - during my extended walking tests, I experienced fatigue after several hours. This makes the Athens better suited for regular daily wear rather than extended walking sessions or activities requiring significant arch support.

When we performed our twist test, the Kizik Athens showed moderate torsional flexibility - not as twistable as minimalist shoes, but noticeably more pliable than stability-focused models. This middle-ground flexibility means the shoe offers enough support for neutral walkers and mild overpronators, but those with severe overpronation or who need robust arch support and stability features should look elsewhere.

Traction

The Athens features a relatively straightforward outsole design with a shallow wavy traction pattern that initially had us skeptical. The design strikes a good balance - deep enough to provide reliable grip on standard surfaces like concrete and tile but without aggressive lugs that would look out of place in casual settings.

Through the various surface tests, I found the outsole provides confident traction on dry pavement and indoor flooring, making these great for everyday use, errands, and city walking. However, the relatively mild traction pattern struggled more on loose surfaces. While adequate for occasional gravel path crossings, I wouldn't recommend these for regular off-pavement use. The shallow depth of the traction pattern also means you'll want to exercise caution on wet surfaces.

What impressed me was how the seemingly basic design avoided common annoyances we've seen in other walking shoes, the Athens pattern stayed relatively debris-free during testing. For a casual walking shoe meant primarily for urban environments, the outsole design proves quite practical, even if it's not particularly innovative.

Weight

The weight of your walking shoes matters. Too heavy and you'll get unnecessary fatigue from lugging extra weight around, while overly light shoes can lack support features. And while conventional wisdom suggests heavier shoes always provide better support, I've found through extensive testing that well-designed lightweight shoes with rigid heel cups and thoughtful stability features can deliver excellent support without the fatigue-inducing weight penalty of heavier options.

Surprisingly the Athens is among the heavier of the walking shoes we tested. But it doesn't feel heavy. I noticed during testing that the weight is well-distributed throughout the shoe, which helps prevent foot fatigue better than shoes with concentrated weight in specific areas.

Durability

Our test shoes held up over months of heavy use, but long term use from online user reviews point to diminishing arch support and sometimes even sole separation.

• Regular spot cleaning with soap and water

• Using a soft brush for stubborn dirt

• Allowing thorough drying between uses to combat odor

• Darker colorways if frequent cleaning isn't your thing

Should You Buy the Kiziks Athens?

The Kizik Athens is perfect for those who need a comfortable and convenient shoe for an active lifestyle. We particularly recommend it for those who frequently transition between indoor and outdoor environments or need quick on/off capability. While the premium price point requires consideration, the innovative design and versatility make it a worthy investment for daily wear, especially for users with mobility challenges or those who appreciate hands-free convenience.

What Other Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

For those needing more arch support, we recommend the Brooks Ghost Max 2, which offers superior support for longer walks. If you're looking for a more affordable option with similar comfort, consider the Skechers GO WALK Joy.