These hands-free shoes are pretty awesome (2024)

As a person who can't use their hands very well due to disability, finding stylish apparel has always been a challenge. This isn’t a huge concern now that I'm a fairly confident adult. However, we all know that in the school years, fashion is everything. I was no different on that front, and I hated feeling like I/my shoes didn’t fit in.

I've always had to opt for hands-free shoes like slip-ons, flip-flops, or, in my darkest moments, Velcro shoes.

This was the cost of independence: putting on lace-up shoes meant I had to ask a friend for help. So, in the name of autonomy, I wore uncool shoes. (There are some very nice-looking Velcro kicks on the market now, thankfully.)

I no longer feel that my life depends upon wearing the correct style of sneaker, but I have been very pleased to discover that several footwear brands make hands-free shoes. Lucky for me, Kizik (available at Kizik) makes one. After reading so many positive Kizik reviews, I was ready to try them myself.

How Kizik shoes work

All athletic shoes I've ever owned have ended up with a broken-down heel after all the slipping on and off, as I use my feet to accomplish daily tasks most would use their hands to do.

While many slip-on tennis shoes have finger loops to help keep the shoe's structure intact as you slide your foot in, Kizik designed a heel cup that can compress and bounce back over and over without losing its shape.

This is thanks to what the company calls External Cage Technology: a crosshatch pattern of rubber strips that wrap around the heel cup. This "cage" can collapse and spring back into place, which means the shoe's heel never curls in or gets crushed.

• Hands-free Kiizik sneakers slip on without tying laces and without damaging the heel of the shoe.
• As someone who can't tie shoes due to a disability that involves hand weakness, I appreciate that these Kizik shoes are both practical and stylish.
• While the sneakers are a great option and starting point for Kizik, I wish the brand made more shoe styles, like ankle boots or pumps.

What I like

Kizik shoes are comfortable

I've tried a few hands-free shoes available today, and Kizik shoes are by far the most pleasant to wear. I started with the Athens from the lineup of Kizik shoes for women and then may or may not have bought a few more pairs.

They look like normal sneakers

My Kizik shoes have a breathable knit upper with laces that can actually be tied, but don’t worry. Once you get them at your ideal tightness, make a good double knot and you'll never have to tie them again. The fact that they look like a normal pair of shoes—with styles for men, women, and kids—makes me feel like a normal person wearing them.

They are supportive, and the heel cup is comfortable—a feature that I have not found to be true with other reinforced, heavy-duty heel cups designed to bounce back.

Kizik shoes are lightweight and feel like a regular shoe. I've worn them for occasional walks and errands, but the real test was when I recently wore them to a theme park with my family. I was able to slip them on and off whenever I needed to, and they remained miraculously comfortable all day.

I love the designs

Kiziks range in style from "hey-look-at-me" bright, contrasting colorways to a discreet black sneaker. There are styles and colors to fit pretty much any tennis-shoe-appropriate occasion, and priced at around $100, they won't break the bank (unless you buy them in every color—no judgment).

The Roamer Kizik takes on a bolder aesthetic, with the heel "cage" being one large stripe all the way around the shoe. This design is more about being unique and less about looking like regular shoes, so it's perfect for those who really want to show off their new handsfree shoes.

Since I began wearing Kizik shoes, even more colors and styles have been released. I hope that trend continues, but that brings me to my next point.

What I don't like

There could be more shoe types

As it's so difficult to find a good slip-on tennis shoe, I understand why most brands are starting here with their innovative heel designs. However, I would love a pair of dress shoes, ballet flats, ankle boots, or even pumps that don’t end up squished awkwardly to one side of the heel after so many uses. Kizik did release a line of Kizik Kids, and the younger ones are super on board with not having to tie their shoes.

How to clean Kizik shoes

Kizik shoes are made of quality, durable materials, but none of them are designed to withstand the washing machine. For Kiziks with knit uppers, the company recommends spot cleaning with dish soap and a soft cloth or toothbrush. For the pairs made of leather, your only option is to clean them with a soft cloth.

All Kizik insoles can be machine-washed. However, Kizik Kids shoes do not have removable insoles, so hand-washing is your only option with those.

Should you buy Kizik shoes?

Yes, especially if you need sneakers that are easy to put on

I think there are probably lots of able-bodied people out there who don't like taking the time to tie shoes and end up slipping them on more often than not. This is tough on your shoes, and if you find yourself trying to pry the top of the heel cup back into place after slipping your sneakers on, Kiziks are for you.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.