New premium shoe brand Zebra Oasis sent me a pair of shoes to review. ZO claims these kicks are the world’s first fully recyclable shoes. Nice. Made of hemp, merino wool, bamboo and cotton, they look pretty snazzy too. Double nice! But how do they feel to wear?
Here’s what the brand says are the key features of these shoes, followed by my thoughts about these features and what it’s like to try them out.
- 100% truly recyclable: Just pull out the patented R-ring inside the shoe to separate the parts for 100% recycling;
- Recycled-CO2-injected sole: our 100% recyclable TPU foam utilises innovative gas-assisted technology, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals in the foaming process and reducing existing CO2;
- World’s first Self-Adapting hemp flynit upper: perfectly fit for every foot for blister-free comfort; breathable and durable, inherently environmentally sustainable;
- No dye: no extra pollution or emission during the process;
- Machine-washable and foldable with a resilient sole even at -10°C;
- Versatile design for all-day wear including traveling, hiking, office, etc.
What’s that “truly” recyclable business all about? Well, apparently most shoes never get recycled even if they’re made of recyclable parts. The problem is the shoes can’t be separated into individual parts for proper recycling. ZO shoes have an R-ring (“R” stands for “reboot”) so you can separate the sole and upper of shoes, allowing for complete recycling and biodegradation of each component.
I’ve only worn these shoes a few times. The key reason I haven’t worn them more often is because the pair sent to me are this lovely creamy white colour. I know that as soon as I wear them out in the rain, or go for a ride on my bike, or even just battle the masses on my daily commute that they won’t keep that pure clean look for long. Another reason I’ve been hesitant to wear them on a day-to-day basis is that my feet have high arches and I prefer shoes with some sort of arch support.
Despite those two factors, I still plan to keep wearing them because they are super comfy. ZOs don’t have arch support, but the TPU foam soles seem to being doing the trick for me. The few times I have worn my ZOs, I had them on for hours at a time and was mostly standing as well. I felt fine afterward. When they eventually get broken in and lose their pearly gleam, they’ll probably become my default choice for around town footwear.
As for aesthetics, the design remind me of old school K-Swiss tennis shoes. I reckon they’d pass as stylish on the street or most smart casual workplaces. Lightweight and foldable, I can see myself opting for these over other shoes for easy stowing in a suitcase, backpack or gym bag.
Zebra Oasis shoes aren’t available for purchase yet, so I don’t know what sort of retail price they’ll have. I’m certainly glad to own a pair for the price of this review.
To find out more and get your own pair of Zebra Oasis shoes, go to https://outdoormaster.com/products/zebraoasis-hemp-shoes. And when you do, use coupon code CHRIS10772 for a 10% discount off your purchase.
