REASONS TO BUY
Truly hands-free entry
Lightweight
Out of the box comfort
REASONS TO AVOID
Minimal arch support
Can get smelly
Limited width options
Kizik Athens - Women's Review
An innovative hands-free walking shoe that combines convenience with all-day comfort, making it ideal for active lifestyles
Credit: Mallory Paige
By Mallory Paige ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ January 28, 2025
RELATED: The Best Walking Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
The Kizik Athens redefines convenience in walking shoes with its hands-free entry system that actually works. During our extensive testing, we found that the shoe delivers on its promise of easy on-and-off while maintaining structure and comfort. The knit upper provides a comfortable, pressure-free fit right out of the box, while the Rabbit Foam outsole offers good cushioning for daily wear. Though the arch support could be more substantial for longer walks, the overall comfort and stability impressed us - especially for a slip-on design. It is on the higher end of the price spectrum, but its combination of convenience and comfort have earned it a spot among the best walking shoes in our test.
Our Analysis and Test Results
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.
The heel cage on the Kiziks Athens allows for a truly hands-free entry.
Credit: Mallory Paige
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
After cutting the Athens in half in our lab, we took key measurements and assessed all that makes these shoes comfortable.
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.
Our testers found the Kiziks really do slip on easily everytime.
Credit: Mallory Paige
Support
Our rigidity testing revealed a good overall structure. We found that these shoes had more bend than some very thick midsole models, but overall, they revealed good structure and stability. They bent at the toe and a bit more, but not overly so. Even with a mid-level drop of 15mm, the wide base gives these a very stable feel.
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.
The Kiziks Athens did well in our bend test - showing movement in the toe, but adequate rigidity across the midsole.
Credit: Mallory Paige
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.
The Kizik offered enough support for most of our lengthy walks.
Credit: Mallory Paige
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 various surface tests, I found that the outsole provides confident traction on dry pavement and indoor flooring, making it 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.
The shallow lug height on the Kizik Athens lends itself more to hard surfaces rather than gravel and trails.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
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. For a casual walking shoe meant primarily for urban environments, the outsole design proves quite practical, even if it's not particularly innovative.
The outsole of the Kizik Athens is great for indoor and concrete use, but we would recommend keeping the off-roading short.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
The weight of your walking shoes matters. Too heavy, and you'll experience unnecessary fatigue from lugging extra weight around; overly light shoes can lack essential support features. And while conventional wisdom suggests heavier shoes always provide better support, 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. The weight is well-distributed throughout the shoe, which helps prevent foot fatigue better than shoes with concentrated weight in specific areas.
The heel cage on the Kizik Athens does add a bit of weight, but we found these shoes feel well balanced during wear.
Credit: Mallory Paige
Durability
Our test shoes held up over months of heavy use; however, long-term use from online user reviews suggests that the arch support may diminish and, in some cases, the soles may separate.
We appreciate that the Athens are machine washable (cold water, air dry only), but the quick-to-dirty nature of the white sections means you'll likely need to clean them often. We recommend:
- 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
The white foam outersole on the Athens does shoe dirt easily, but the shoe has held up very well during our months of testing.
Credit: Mallory Paige
Should You Buy the Kiziks Athens?
The Kizik Athens is ideal for individuals seeking 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.
The Kizik Athens requires no break in period and proved comfortable right out of the box.
Credit: Mallory Paige
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.
The Kiziks Athens don't have as much arch support as other shoes we've tested, but they offer a lot of other benefits.
Credit: Mallory Paige
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Kizik Athens - Women's versus top competing products:
—Mallory Paige
You Might Also Like
