Do you suffer from foot pain? Do your feet ache and hurt when you’ve been on them for a long time? Has your doctor suggested shoe inserts?
I can answer “yes” to all the above questions. I do have foot pain. They do ache if I have been standing or walking too long. My doctor has not only recommended shoe inserts, but I’ve had a couple of pairs over the years.
Shoe inserts are not only expensive, but they are inconvenience when you have to remove them and insert them into every shoe you wear. In addition, there are times where they don’t even fit into a shoe you want to wear.
Did you know that every step you take starts with your heels—and it can get painful, fast. Repeated stress on the band of tissue underneath our feet—our plantar fascia—can lead to tightness, inflammation, and micro-tears. This overuse results in the characteristic symptom of plantar fasciitis: heel pain.
I’m a sneaker girl. No, I’m not one of those people who spend their paycheck on limited edition kicks to wear them once then put them on a shelf to look at. I know a few people – even an 80 year old neighbor – who do that. No way!
What I meant by saying I’m a sneaker girl is that it’s what I wear 99.9% of the time. I’ll wear a dress shoe if needed, but the last time I needed to get dressed up was 2014.
I do have boots that I’ll wear if necessary. Of course I only wear those on cold, snowy days.
When shopping for sneakers, I always make sure they offer my feet ample support.
The brand KURU has a way to stop heel pain with KURUSOLE.
KURU’s patented solution to heel pain relief, KURUSOLE. Unlike anything else, KURUSOLE’s responsive technology dynamically flexes with each step to hug and protect your heels. The curved, heel-cupping design protects the body’s natural cushioning system—the heel pad—so your feet stay happy and healthy in the most comfortable shoes.
KURU studied the foot’s natural biomechanics and designed footwear to match. No flat insoles. No flimsy inserts. Just the most comfortable shoes for plantar fasciitis with perfect cushion and support in all the right places.
Here is a comparison chart for KURU shoes and other brand’s shoes.
PHOTO CREDIT: KuruFootwear.com
To be honest, I knew that your feel needed arch support, but I never thought about support for other parts of your foot like the footbed, insole and heel.
KURU was kind enough to send me a couple of pairs of sneakers to try out and see the difference compared to other sneakers I own. They sent met he following pairs.
APOGEE Unisex Sneaker
I received this sneaker is Jet Black/Storm Gray. They do have other color combinations available, but I took into my consideration. I felt the black/gray worked best with my wardrobe.
You can tell from the moment you slip your foot into this sneaker that it provides you with ample support all the way around.
Initially I thought perhaps I had to break the sneakers in, because they didn’t feel as “loose” (for lack of a better description) as my other sneakers. I realized as I was walking around in the APOGEE sneaker that it’s not that “brand new tightness” but rather it’s the support I was feeling. I simply wasn’t used to such support. But that is a GOOD thing.
It did get a wee bit “looser” the more I wore it, but nothing like my other sneakers. This is a great, solid, sneaker that embraces your entire foot from top to bottom.
The heel support is evident in this sneaker. You can feel the sneaker “hugging” your heel. I didn’t feel my heel shifting when I waked. It stayed in place.
Wearing these reminded me of wearing shoes with my inserts, but without having them in my shoe. That’s because I felt the overall support these sneakers were providing me.
I was worried that these might look like a man’s sneaker since these are unisex, but that is not the case at all. I think they look great and they go with pretty much everything I wear.
I did have to loosen up the shoelaces. They are pre-laced, which I appreciate. I just had to loosen it a bit because the top of my foot is a little chubby. The laces are not perfect in my photos only because we have eight cats and to them, shoelaces are a fun toy. Our cat Rosie (she only has 1/2 a tail) especially was a nuisance when I was trying to take photos of this review post.
I think this is a great shoe for both work and casual wear. My daughter works part-time as a waitress, and she always complains about her feet. I told her about these sneakers. She said she was going to look into them because the ones she currently has are not working for her. She’s only 28 too! She shouldn’t have foot problems at this age (I wouldn’t think so anyway). She’s not overweight and she is overall very healthy. She just has to work long hours on her feet.
I also received another pair of sneakers from KURU.
KURU ATOM Fusion
These shoes are specifically from the brand’s women’s section. They are also available in different color combinations. I opted for Jet Black/Bright White. It’s not that I don’t like colors (I do!) it’s just that I prefer shoes that I can wear with anything and not have to worry about color matching.
These shoes slid on to my feet as if I have worn them dozens of time. They felt like they were already “broke in,” even though they are brand new.
When I wore these for the first time I went to a street fair, then I ran some errands with my husband. We were out and about for several hours. Not once did these shoes bother my feet – even being brand new. There is no “breaking in” necessary for these sneakers.
I find that they are very “breathable” for a hot and humid summer day too.
My apologies for my photos (cat hair). I was walking around my home with them on before taking my photos.
As with the APOGEE sneaker, these hug my feet in all the right places.
If I had to compare the two I’d say the APOGEE is ideal for people who work on their feet (restaurants, retail…) and the ATOM Fusion is great for the casual walker. BOTH are wonderful and feel great on my feet. I’m just thinking about their overall fit.
I’m going to the mall and to the movies with my husband today. I’ll be wearing the ATOM Fusion sneaker.
Both of these sneakers are exceptionally well made. These are high quality shoes and it show. You can feel the difference. Personally I think they are worth every penny.
KURU doesn’t just sell sneakers. The brand also has slip-ons, sandals, slippers and boots. They have shoes for both men and women.
If you suffer from foot pain, or you want to prevent it from happening, check out the styles available at KURUFootwear.com. You can also check them out on social media to see what others have to say about the brand, as well as keep up to date on sales and new releases.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
