Løci Classics Review

Thewhite sneaker trendshows no sign of stopping. TheStan Smithstyle has enjoyed a resurgence since the 2010s and, honestly, with all of the copycats out there, we’ve been a bit blinded by the white. Most of the styles seem to blend together with little distinction between one another. That is, until we triedLøci.

We first caught wind of the Løci brand when we saw them on Mila Kunis’s feet. It’s clear she gushed over them to her husband because, soon after, Ashton Kutcher followed suit. Within weeks we saw the likes of Gwenyth Paltrow, Dwayne Johnson, Olivia Wilde, Ben Affleck, and Kristen Bell wearing them around LA—you get the picture. They’re a celeb fav. It can be hard to discern whether celebrities are wearing a brand because they’re being paid to or because they actually love it. In this case, we are willing to bet there is some real love for Løci.

Løci seems to be the fashion sneaker brand that’s doing something a little bit different and, we’re here for it. To learn more about the brand, Løci sent us a pair of theLøci Classic ($195)and theLøci Atom ($245)to test. After two months of constant wear, our testers say they are better than《展望, and we say they're one of the most compelling sneaker brands around.

What is Løci

Løci specializes in sustainable vegan sneakers and every pair made is crafted from recycled, renewable, or biodegradable material. Their certified eco-materials range from the Canvas collection made from recycled ocean plastic (to date Løci has removed and repurposed over 982,000 plastic bottles that are land and ocean-bound) to their Maize Leather collection, which is constructed from vegan leather made from a blend of non-consumable corn and recycled textiles.

The brand also adheres to ethical manufacturing and supply-chain practices, paying their workers a fair wage and producing in smaller batches so as not to over-produce and create waste.

Shop Løci shoes

What we like about Løci

They are sustainable

There's nogreenwashingwith Løci. Every aspect of a Løci shoe is designed with the utmost attention to its environmental impact. The upper of each shoe is made from 20 recycled plastic bottles, the soles are made of recycled bamboo, and the remainder is made from ethically sourced cotton and rubber.

Their shoes are manufactured in Portugal where workers are paid a fair wage and where the manufacturing of high-quality shoes is part of the country’s identity and business infrastructure. Løci's no-waste business model means that each shoe is made as it's ordered. That approach to fulfillment cuts down massively on waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Plus, they donate 10% of all profits to charities that work to protect endangered marine life.

They have a bounce to their insoles

The first thing you’ll notice is that the insoles of the Løci Classic feel different. They are made of cork, but they don’t have the same feel as, say Birkenstock cork sandals. As far as we could tell from testing, the cork doesn’t actually mold to your feet, but it does provide shock absorption, temperature regulation, and weight distribution—it makes every step you take feel lighter. There is an immediate bounce and, quite frankly, it feels terrific.

These shoes put less pressure on our joints and our feet felt more comfortable after miles of walking than they do in similarly-styled shoes. The combination of support and softness in these insoles is unparalleled and like nothing I've felt before.

They are breathable

As one of my friend-testers pointed out: Feet don’t seem to sweat or get smelly in these shoes. While the fabric is durable, it’s still breathable. The kicks are lined with breathable bamboo mesh that is odor-resistant and seems to mitigate moisture buildup. My feet, and the feet of my fellow testers, never felt sweaty. This is a pair of shoes that you can wear without socks and feel comfortable doing so. We felt this in both the canvas Classics and the vegan leather Atoms.

Head to head, according to our testers, these shoes are infinitely more comfortable than Vejas. As one of my friend-testers described it: Vejas leave your feet sweaty and aren’t as flexible out of the box. She plans to replace her Vejas with a pair of Løci sneakers.

They are water resistant

防水透气不两个特性that easily go hand-in-hand. I wore the Classics during a drizzly trek around the University of Santa Cruz (if you don't know, it covers 2,000 walkable acres—so there was a lot of walking). I wasn’t jumping in puddles, but I was definitely leaving myself open to soggy socks. Miraculously, I was surprised to find that my feet stayed dry the whole time.

They're ready to wear right out of the box

When I received my pair of Classics, I was walking out the door on a three-day getaway. I figured there wasn’t a better time to test them! The first three days were spent walking along the Santa Cruz boardwalk, through a trail-style campus, and throughout the city of Monterey and its enormous aquarium.

By trying new shoes during this trip I was, essentially, asking for blisters—but I’ll do anything for science. I didn’t, however, experience a single blister during that three-day weekend or any time during the subsequent six weeks of continuous wear. It felt like I had owned these shoes for years.

They are perfect vacation shoes

They are comfortable, they are shock absorbent, and they stand up to the elements well. Plus they are so good looking they go with everything. One pair of Løci sneakers is worth two to three pairs of other shoes.

What we don’t like about Løci

The arch support is minimal

As with most fashion sneakers and almost every top brand that’s notable in the white shoe trend, Løci’s insoles offer minimal arch support. While it wasn’t a problem for the two testers who typically favor Vans and Vejas, my high-arched feet require something more substantial.

They are breathable, stylish, sustainable, and highly shock absorbent, so these definitely outpace other shoes of this style. I also felt like, out of the two styles, the Atoms felt a bit more supportive than the Classics. If you need more support, pick the Atoms.

I do plan to keep wearing these shoes to brunch and out for a day of shopping. For long walking tours of cities, I'm going to need to slide in some orthotics, which takes away from their bouncy insoles. That said, one of our testers just asked if she could borrow them for an upcoming trip. Not everyone needs the level of arch support I do.

Should you buy Løci

Yes

These are great city shoes or shoes to wear to work or on a date. If you plan to walk in them for longer stretches, consider whether you need arch support. If you’re looking for a stylish and sustainable pair of sneakers that are a cut above the rest, then you’ll have big love for Løci.

$195 at Løci