Founded in 2017, Kizik is a hands-free sneaker brand for kids and adults that eliminates the need to bend down or make adjustments when putting on shoes. But you’d never know just by looking at them.
To achieve this effect, the shoes have an integrated stabilizer at the back of the heel so they don’t buckle under your foot as you slip into them. They also use tongues that are connected to the interior of the shoes so they don’t move around. This aims to make each pair easy for everyone to wear, whether you have specific mobility needs or you simply like the convenience.
Kizik isn’t the only brand to employ technology like this, but it was one of the first to popularize it more widely. The brand’s unique appeal relies highly on its aesthetics and sizing; almost all of its shoes have laces, so they just look like regular sneakers, and many of its styles also come in an inclusive range of sizes and widths.
We tested several pairs of the shoes with adults and kids to see if they live up to the claims. Spoiler alert: they did! Check out our reviews below.
Kizik Men’s Athens 2
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
As a collector of many ’90s basketball sneakers, I’ve had my fair share of shoes that are painstakingly hard to put on (Charles Barkley, I’m looking at you!). While I’ve put up with the struggle for the nostalgia and aesthetic, it is so refreshing to find shoes that have a similar vibe with none of the frustration. The Kizik Athens 2 is without a doubt the easiest sneaker to put on — and it can be done completely hands-free while they’re fully laced.
Of course, I’ve loosened laces to slip my feet into other shoes, but I always find myself pulling the heel on or having to adjust the tongue. With these, I can just step in and go because the heel is structured enough, and the tongue of the shoes doesn’t slip around. I also found them to be comfortable and stylish. These are my new go-to sneakers when comfort and convenience are the top priorities. — Amir Ismael, style editor
Kizik Women’s Athens 2
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
As someone who hates tying their shoes, I’ve been very intrigued by Kizik. I overpronate, so a stability sneaker is crucial. While Kizik doesn’t market any of its shoes specifically for pronators, the Athens has one of the widest and cushiest bases of Kizik’s offerings, so that’s what I opted for. I love the hands-free entry — that alone is enough to get me to reach for this shoe over other options.
While I hate tying my shoes out of laziness, there’s no denying that this design is a huge accessibility perk for anyone who has trouble or isn’t able to tie their shoes. I find this pair very comfortable, but not quite as supportive as I’d like for stability. I’ll still be opting for my On Clouds for super long walks, but I love these shoes for more casual activity and day-to-day wear. — Lauren Savoie, deputy executive editor
Kizik Toddler Squeeze It
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
Any parent knows just how hard it can be to get a pair of shoes on a toddler, especially if they’re not cooperating. The Kizik Squeeze It sneakers are designed to take the hassle out of putting shoes on your little one, and they work exactly as they should. You simply squeeze the sides of the shoes, and your kid can easily step into the shoes, securing them on their feet.
Aside from how easily they go on, the design is wide and roomy to allow your kids to move around without bunched up toes. My 2-year-old son has a lot of sneakers to choose from, but since getting his Kiziks, he often asks to wear his “new blue shoes.” The only downside is that they come off rather easily, too. There have been a few times I’ve put him in the car seat to find he’s taken his shoes off while I was driving. — Amir Ismael, style editor
Kizik Men’s Monaco
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
I’m a big fan of the Kizik Monaco sneakers because of the retro styling. With cut-and-sewn panels, hits of suede, and gum rubber outsoles, they can be styled just as easily as some of the more popular sporty sneakers out there.
I tested these after wearing the Athens 2 sneakers for a while, and I was happy to find out that they go on just as easily. The hands-free technology is impressively integrated into the design because you’d have absolutely no idea these sneakers could be slipped into just by looking at them, especially with a traditional tongue and lacing system. — Amir Ismael, style editor
Kizik Men’s Lima
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
My husband has the widest feet of anyone I know; even most brands’ extra wide (4E) feels tight on him, so I was curious how he’d fare in Kizik’s 4E offering. Here’s what he had to say: “I was struggling even with extra wides from other shoe brands, and these immediately felt more comfortable. I can see this being someone’s perfect weekend shoe, though honestly, the fact that they fit my wide feet is the biggest selling point to a fella like me.”
He typically clocks 10,000 steps or more a day and did note that the Lima’s are very comfortable, but less supportive than his Brooks Ghost Max pair. I hope Kizik eventually offers extra wide in its other shoes, because it’s been such a pleasure to see him find a pair that actually fits him comfortably. —Lauren Savoie, deputy executive editor
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.