I Tried the New Lululemon Shoes for a Week—Here’s What It Was Like

[[Editor’s note: The Blissfeel Women’s Running Shoe is just $99 right now—shop Lululemon’s Black Friday section for more sales.]]

For the final week, I haven’t considered about my ft at all. Following a 12 months of battling with foot ache, my complications have quickly melted away. The possible cause: The shiny new Lululemon shoes on my toes.

Certainly, that is right—beloved general performance clothing brand name Lululemon has last but not least entered the footwear space, debuting its inaugural assortment on Intercontinental Women’s Working day. “Historically, sneakers have been made and developed for adult males and then analyzed on gals and taken down, but seriously not geared towards females,” states Heather Pieraldi, the company’s senior director of footwear advancement.

Around the very last 4 decades, the model has been laser-centered on the particular desires of the female foot anatomy, which includes a narrower heel, wider forefoot, and shallow big toe, as nicely as a diverse heel strike angle compared to men’s toes. They scanned extra than a million women’s ft to make the perfect match, and went by rounds of testing to develop the correct harmony of help and cushioning to create the finest experience.

The final result is Lululemon’s very first footwear assortment, launching with the aptly named Blissfeel managing shoe. It has a foam cushioning to soften landings and propel ahead movement, coupled with a flexible but supportive higher that hugs the foot in all the proper places. What that adds up to is the exact same silky, buttery sensation Lululemon’s leggings are known for, but for your toes. Alongside with sound aid and a definite springy emotion to each step, the Blissfeel has been developed so exclusively for the proper in good shape that it feels like a all-natural extension of your toes, nearly like nothing’s there.

When I laced up the shoe, there was no crack-in time necessary and none of that awkward wiggling all over to see what components of the shoe were way too free or much too limited. They match like a glove from the begin. (Even my distinct need to have for tailor made orthotics for arch guidance was a non-problem because the detachable footbed slipped correct out.)

I initially analyzed them out on a shorter run, exactly where the normal stress I exerted with every phase pushed me forward exactly the suitable amount, giving a shockingly energetic and organic and natural motion that held me managing extended than I had supposed to, just due to the fact there was this kind of an relieve of movement. Through the 7 days, whether out and about working errands, pushing the pedals of an physical exercise bike, or pounding the pavement for a walk, the footwear ended up a comforting afterthought of each individual exercise. In the course of a evening walk, I felt secure with the reflective backing.

I also wore them for the duration of a weekend excursion to Connecticut in the midst of a bomb cyclone, where by they held a company grip through transient walks on icy sidewalks and patches of snow as I explored Hartford. They even remained relaxed during the 20,000-stage weekend. An additional perk: They’re both of those versatile and breathable. One particular of my feet has a tendency to swell though sitting down for prolonged durations of time, but all through both of those of my two-and-50 percent-hour car or truck journeys, I could sense the inflammation, but there was adequate give on leading of the shoe that it hardly ever bothered me. 

The only slight hiccups throughout a 7 days of donning Lululemon’s new shoes: the very long laces had been a bit floppy, which I discovered specially on the exercise bicycle. But when I figured out the proper balance (tying slightly bigger loops did the trick), it turned a non-situation. Also, after a 7 days of day-to-day put on, the light tannish pink shade did start out to get a bit dirty and gray, specially all-around the ankle assistance space. The facet edges of the sole are displaying early symptoms of those people “wrinkles” that set in, which my pedorthist told me are indicator of too much put on. On the other hand, the minute I switched into yet another pair of sneakers, my foot suffering came again, so obviously the Lululemon’s in shape and perform is what I require to retain me gentle on my ft.

The Blissfeel is accessible to store now in dimensions 5 through 11, like fifty percent measurements. It will come in 10 thoughtfully selected shades. “The lead colorway was motivated by the minimal green speck that seems at the pretty commencing of dawn to the really conclude of the sunset,” Lululemon’s vice president of footwear design and style George Robusti says. Other layouts variety from neutral day-to-day hues to brighter shades like a bold red. (Possibly go for a darker shade if you are likely to operate trails or truly feel like its inclination to pick up dust may hassle you.)

More Lululemon footwear are on the way: the Chargefeel, a workout shoe intended for cross-schooling, will be introduced in the summer season in two silhouettes, a very low and a mid top. “Both are designed for very flexible activities,” Robusti claims. Also coming in the summer is the Restfeel slide, made for recovery ease and comfort with a twin-layer midsole. The last shoe of the initially selection, the Strongfeel, will drop in the drop. As a training shoe, it will provide the most anchored aid. Also in the will work is Lululemon’s initial men’s footwear selection, scheduled to debut in 2023.