Why are Vessi Shoes SO Popular?
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- Опубліковано 21 бер 2023
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A lightweight, comfortable, good looking, and WATERPROOF shoe? Vessi claims they've made a shoe to do it all and we're wondering if it's really all it's cracked up to be.
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Script: Estelle Walton
Editor: Matthew Veal
Lead Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
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Are Vessi shoes too good to be true? Yes. I got suckered in by one of the _many_ ads flooding my favorite UA-cam channels a few years ago. They're more like slippers than shoes. They provide little to no support so walking in them for any length of time becomes quite tiring. After giving them a fair try for a few weeks, I chucked them in a box, never to be worn again.
Ahh darn that's unfortunate, there's definitely this big trend towards lightweight athletic footwear and it just isn't the most comfortable or practical alternative for a lot of people. Hope you've found a pair that works for you!
that being said, if you cant walk in shoes that lack a ton of padding, it may be more of a foot and tendon strength deficiency than a shoe problem for you
@@brekkoh Lol, this is true too! 😄
Surprisingly, this is one of the main reasons I love Vessi. I hate shoes with tons of support & padding, walking just doesn't feel natural to me to almost any shoe.
I want a shoe to provide the more barefoot feeling possible, while giving me the necessary protection to not actually be barefoot. When I walk on gravel I should be able to feel the individual rocks under the different parts of my feet yet not feel the pointy edges.
I had their first model/style when they were first popping up & still use them to this day (3 years later) as a hiking shoe since I don't care if they get dirty. I average about 10k steps/day in the winter time & 15k-20k/day in the summer & I wear the same pair everyday 7 days a week.
About 4 months ago I replaced them with the exact same pair as the old ones but with their updated style except went one size smaller. The older ones still fit really well since the shoes fit more like a sock then a structured shoe but I wanted a tighter fit.
I can 100% see why some people don't like them, I would never recommend them to my mom, dad, or sister since they like shoes with tons of support, cushion, & structure. But for those of us who want to wear basically a rubber pad under our feet & waterproof around/on our feet they are amazing & there is no other product on the market like them.
The waterproofness 100% works while also still being breathable. Living in north Iowa I wear them on the boat in the summer & use them to scoop snow in the winter. I have however noticed that after about 3-4 hrs of being soaked basically 100% of the time (like when I hike through 3"-4" deep slush) my socks will get wet. But Idk if that is water coming actually through the shoe material or it coming in through the top ankle area or from the couple holes I have in the sole/bottom from stepping on screws/nails on construction sites.
Don't even get me started on the price either. I know I have the income to afford more expensive shoes, especially considering what I demand out of shoes, but I can't bring myself to spend above $150 on a pair of shoes unless they are 100% worth it & I know will last through anything like a pair of muck boots.
I do love that they're a Canadian success story though! 👏👏👏🇨🇦
They are essentially a wet suit on your foot, meaning support is limited. Which is good for many situations but by no means do they replace shoes for all circumstances. If you understand the limitations and use them for what they do best, you will likely be happy. Also its worth noting that they only come in full sizes (no halfs) so it can be a bit difficult to find one that fits like regular shoes you may be used to.
Not the first wetsuit comment we've seen 👀 We weren't aware that they don't come in half sizes! That'd explain a lot of other people's sizing issues we've seen here. Thank you for sharing, Jim!
over-priced and overrated pair of shoes!
I had a pair of Skechers that also felt like a wetsuit without the benefit of staying dry and I agree that can get tiring for long days of walking far.
Huge walker 15000 plus steps a day, work on my feet and workout daily. Always use Vessie shoes. Have had brooks, new balance, etc. I gotta say this cause I’ve seen many comments like this, it varies for everyone. Let’s avoid blanket statements 👍
I got a pair of the weekend runners and honestly? Better constructed than all my other shoes. Thick, proper soles, the fabric does what they say, moulded well to my foot and has room for inserts (it came with some but I like more arch support than most shoes have). They've replaced all my other shoes but the boots :'D
The no half-sizing thing is true and annoying though. I'm an 8-wide or an 8.5 regular, and they don't do EITHER of those, just standard sizing. So I went up to 9s and they work alright... but they ARE a bit too long in so until they started to mould to my foot they felt a little like clown shoes.
I did not believe they'd really be water repellant, but they don't let any in. They have also kept my feet not just warm but regular temp (no sweating, a problem for me, but no cold either)... and I've been using them in winter in Canada. They hold up really well!
Would not say its like a wetsuit at all, or at least the weekenders are not feeling like that. They feel like basically normal runners, but a bit thicker in the soles.
Never heard of Vessi, still going to watch the video.
You probably never watched Linus’s tech tips channel
🤘🤘
Or Mikey Chen
I own a pair. After seeing their ads on UA-cam I finally got a pair during their black Friday sale.
Pros: they do what they claim. I mostly wear them during a rainy day and they keep my feet dry. They look great. I got a black and white city scape show and they go well with any oufit and I got some great compliments at work. They are light weight and they feel comfortable to wear.
Cons: even though they are light weight and feel comfortable around my feet, after maybe a few hours of wearing them they do start to become uncomfortable to wear. And if you are using them as a daily shoe be prepared for the bottoms of your feet to be sore because they aren't the best of shoes to walk around all day. This is why I only wear them when it rains.
I'm glad I picked them up. They do what I need them to do and that's to keep my feet dry on a rainy day. ☔️
Thanks for the detailed response, it's definitely a common sentiment that they're not everyday shoes for most people. However, not everybody buys them for that purpose so to each their own! Glad they work for ya on rainy days and go well with what you've got on. Thanks again for sharing!
So does that mean that Vessi used their shoes as a modern day torture device, when they donated them to frontline healtcare workers, mid pandemic?
@@rk28984 you need to as a front line health care worker and or Vessi because I am neither of them.
@@00cristianH I was a healthcare frontline worker through pretty much the whole pandemic. But I only wore my trusted Adidas running shoes. ;)
@@rk28984 🫡
Yes Vessis are water-repellent. But my biggest beef with them is how they market their shoes as suitable for individuals who love travelling and exploring. I bought a pair for the sole purpose of travelling in Europe within the last 3 years and they were not comfortable at all. I generally walk around 10,000 to sometimes 30,000 steps a day when I'm travelling, so I was really disappointed when my feet felt like they were on fire by the time I hit 21,000 steps in London. This is with my added cushy insoles inside the shoe because the soles of those shoes are as hard as ever. If you're running errands and it so happens to rain, maybe this is a good shoe, but otherwise, this was a regretful purchase of mine.
They've been somewhat comfortable for me but nothing special. Their new hiking boot though is actually much more comfortable. I love wearing those. Noticeable increase in cushion and a better shape for my feet.
I took mine to Berlin and London, and I think it might be a balance thing while traveling. Berlin was better suited to wearing Birks daily. London, however, my Vessis saved my butt. I only had the one pair of shoes and it unexpectedly snowed while I was in London and my Vessis kept me warm and dry, and no other pair of shoe I own would have been able to do that *and* stand up to my London adventures.
I have had the same experience. They are super uncomfortable and I even tried to find some inserts for them which did not work well. Also they just look big and are oversized. I had to size down and they just look massive on my feet which makes me look like a clown.
@@justanewjew Pretty much any shoe with a waterproof liner will do the same things and probably better. I've been wearing Adidas & Salomon waterproof trail running shoes for 15 years and I walk 7 miles a day. Neither have failed me in pretty much any weather, the soles wear out before the waterproofness. I find pretty much every other brand of sneakers very, very uncomfortable.
Holy 21k steps is like 16km on foot
I bought a pair a few years ago. They're not very comfortable to walk in, and will give you blisters after walking for an extended period of time.
The waterproofing however, is excellent. I basically use them as an outdoor slipper.
A few other comments have noted their lack of support and how they become uncomfortable overtime. I'm sure it depends on the wearer's specific needs but unfortunate so many people can't wear them for their intended use :\
Thank you for this! Was considering them, but comfort trumps them being waterproof for me. Thanks again.
@@Labyrinth1010 I second the opinion on comfort. They have zero support, so unless you're one of the 1% gifted with biomechanically perfect feet, you will be sorry.
@@Labyrinth1010 Asics makes a Gore-Tex running shoe, it's been one of my best footwear purchases. Not quite as stylish or waterproof as Vessi, but incredibly comfortable for walking and running. I wear them all the time.
@@ropro9817 that’s all I need to hear. Back to the drawing board.
Resolable sneakers are actually quite popular, Goral based in the UK are a fantastic example of this, as are Crown Northampton. I’d love to see your take on them!
Surely they don’t come close to the behemoths like nike etc?
Man, i'l love to get Crown northamptons, but they're so expensive 😓
Ooo okay we're compiling a list of these and might make a follow-up in the future 🤩
I have Goral and Crown, love the Crown GAT's, and also Naglev and Feit. All massively better quality than Nike. Common Projects can be re-soled but they aren't really designed for it.
@@FutureProofTV if I remember correctly Thursday boot sneakers might be resoleable as well
I love my Vessi shoes. I've had a couple pairs now. Their longevity is pretty much the same as any average shoe. They look good, feel comfortable, actually are waterproof, and pretty breathable. I will note that they aren't 100% waterproof. They can stay under water for a few minutes but you are able to push water through them. If I clean them with a brush under running water for a couple minutes the inside of the shoe will get damp. That's because the stitching is a mesh that relies on the surface tension of the water to keep it out and enough force that push drops of water through. If you want the most environmentally friendly one, then get the lightest one. The lighter it is, the less material was used to make it. But it doesn't seem like it's worse for the environment than any other normal shoe.
I love my pair too! I think the people who dislike Vessis don't understand that anything you buy is going to have a drawback. Plus, not every shoe is going to work for every foot. My feet love the fit of Vessis but I can't stand Nike shoes.
So there not waterproof???
@@flawless_etherWater-repellent, if you want waterproof you need to choose something similar to Goretex.
I bought this shoe about 2 years ago. It is my everyday shoe in winter (same pair). Great shoe but does get hot in summer. So nice to be able to clean and I live in a relatively wet area and never have to worry about wet socks.
I have worn these shoes while walking 10 miles in a day and never had a problem with wearing extended time.
You can also get waterproof socks
We might not have repairable sneakers yet but the way we take care of our shoes can extremely extend their life. I had friends asking me couple of times if I have new shoes and when I told them that I just wash them and care of them couple of times a year they looked at me like I was an alien that I'm washing my shoes 😂😂
Any tips for washing them? I usually just clean the oytide of my shoes with a wet cloth if they are dirty.
@R K for cloth/fabric shoes I use dawn dish soap and wash them in a bucket 🪣 with hot water and a scrubber. If you can remove the inserts scrub those too. For drying you can either hang dry outside or put in washing machine spin only mode medium/high setting then hang dry or place in oven center rack at less that 170 degrees fahrenheit for about 30 minutes but you should check on them frequently
I find they're great for rainy days especially this year when our states had more rain than anytime in the past decade, but they're not super comfortable for long hikes or anything that involves hours of standing. The material they use to make them waterproof can be quite restricting for your foot to breathe which means after a few hours in the sun your feet are probably going to start sweating.
If you want one for Hiking I've been looking at Vessi's storm burst. I've seen good reviews for that one so far. And I agree! but on days that have a cool windy breeze you can feel it through the shoes but it's not a super amount, I got the cityscape classics.
Do they get stinky? And or tricky to air out?
I love that this channel is full of, videos called “Why is X so popular” and then it’s something I’ve never heard of.
Thank you for your channel. I love the way you present „uncomfortable“ topics in a digestible way - which means, I can watch without being completely depressend after… 😖 I would be interested in a deep talk about the shoe company GIESSWEIN of Austria, whose products do seem fairly future proof….. or not? Anyway, keep going, you guys are doing great!!!!
There are certain things i'd just rather buy from an established, reputable brand versus a trendy startup with supposedly brand-new technology that throws out youtube sponsorships everywhere. Shoes and mattresses are two of these things.
You should make a video in partnership with @RoseAnvil to cut one in half and learn more about the product. I would love to understand more about how they work.
Fangirling a little over here, that'd be super cool 👀
Wow I'm just blown away by how honest this video was. Subscribing!
Omg I have been waiting for this! Thank you!
levi, you and i have very different ideas on what "not too expensive" is, because $120 is double of what i'm willing to pay for a pair of shoes. in the past year i bought 2 pairs of sneakers, one is for just regular wear and the other for work, both were under €60. i'm not paying double that just for waterproofing
Life is too short to wear cheap shoes. A good, comfortable pair of shoes can completely change your mood.
@@Nicksonian I absolutely agree. Plus more expensive shoes are often higher quality and will be less expensive in the long run than buying cheap shoes more often.
@@finncon4399 Exactly. Vessi shoes are fast fashion that just happen to be temporarily waterproof. What a joke. Nothing environmental about them.
@@Nicksonian my adidas are very comfortable. i spend my whole shift on my feet at work, and got no complains. just because they don't have a ridiculous price tag it doesn't mean they're not good.
a cheap shoe is one's i've bought once that cost €20 and after a day i couldn't walk and had blisters. those are cheap shoes. €60 isn't cheap shoes
If you’re only willing to pay such a small amount of money for shoes you are encouraging brands to exploit their workers for cheap labor
99B lines goes right by my house. Loved the reference for my fellow Canadians! Great video as usual future proof team!❤
I bloody love Vivobareboot. Have 4 pairs. Depending on your country they have a take-back program for your old shoes. Are B corp certified. Lots of styles, colours and sizes too. From toddlers, kids to women and men. My feet are much stronger because there's minimal cushioning. Perfect for yogis.
Ironically, they don't have any shoes in wide sizes so I doubt I could wear them. :P
I got their Stormburst model (the only model that I really liked the looks for), and I have to say - they are totally waterproof and super comfortable. I'm able to put my orthotics in them, and for someone with a wide foot and high instep, it's great. My mom borrowed them and put in the regular inserts and fell in love with them too.
My feet stay warm and dry, and my feet are always comfortable. I put these things through snow, rain, and puddles and it's awesome. I work in warehouses and construction sites, and it's a super comfortable shoe. I made them totally slip-on too with custom laces. They are my main sneakers right now - which speaks to how much I like them.
The only thing I've noticed is that the sage/light green color stains super easily. Even when I'm not in a messy area, the blue from my jeans has stained them. I don't mind it too much, but it's a small annoyance for the price. But I'm also thinking of getting the black version since i love the shoe so much.
What orthopedics do you use with them?
Nice video as always !
I would love a video on the brand Tropicfeel or one of their product in a future video, that would also be interesting I think.
Have a great day !
I bought mine a year and half ago and so far I am quite happy with it. I wish it's a little cheaper but if it last another 2 years I am ok with it. I wore it basically everyday in Canada so 30C+ in the summer and -20C in the winter, wore it walking thru foot deep snow (not for too long) and it kept me reasonably warm and dry. Longest walk was about 16000 steps through out the day and my feet didn't complain. Tested waterproof after I wash the salt off the outside after using it the whole winter. Finally got the inside wet after walking thru 6 inches of rain water here in Hong Kong after heavy rain and flooded Street. Took a while to dry but looks almost as good as new after all the trips. No complain from me
Great content,great research. Great presentation.
I'm not a sneaker enthusiast but I've for sure gotten random-ass sneakers resoled. Results are not what someone buying a new shoe would want, and you're not gonna get those big chunky grippy plastic sculptures that come on many sneakers nowadays, but many sneakers are resoleable just by virtue of Being A Shoe With A Bottom Surface.
I own 3 Vessi and love how well they keep my feet dry during city walks while on the go. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on style and function. They are my go to for all around versatile travel. As a carry on only and minimalist when traveling they act as my gym shoe, city walker and even gone on some hikes. A forever staple in my closet.
great video! I would love to see your take on stuff like vshred and other american diet supplement market
I bought a pair a few years back when my Nike cross trainer wore out. Living in the northeast there's plenty of rain and puddles. I didn't think they'd actually stay dry when I step into a big puddle, but it works. Cheaper than over priced Nike and stays dry.
Yes so do the sole replacement, look for Vibram sole replacement.
I don’t know all the details but it’s seems like they’re going in a good direction..
And hi from Montreal..
Plenty of boot and traditional footwear companies make resoleable traditional/casual sneakers.
A resoleable hi-tech foam midsole sneaker might be doable in the sense of keeping the upper and replacing all the worn out foam, but you're not really generating much less waste when doing this. The solution is to not wear athletic sneakers when the situation doesn't necessitate them, same principle one should apply to the Gore-Tex jackets that have risen in street wear in recent years, as mentioned in your video on the topic.
Good points here! We've definitely normalized using like running shoes for every occasion just because we associate athletic wear with comfortability and those two don't always go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing!
I finally caved in the fall and bought Blundstones. They are so close to sneakers in terms of comfort, I’m a convert for life. Not sure what I’ll do yet come the warmer weather, though.
I like these shoes a lot. I wear these year round and pretty much never wear my boots anymore, even in heavy snowfall. They last pretty long to me and to those who say they are not comfortable for long periods, get some better insoles and it works wonders. I've walked for hours in these things and when they get run down enough, I really try to wear them fully out at work and I work in a greasy kitchen. Oil tends to break rubber down and my sneakers in the past would get all warped and start to break but the Vessi's actually last quite a long time surprisingly. And they still stay waterproof. They have survived everything I have thrown at them so far! I will say that they only time I've had them leak is if I stepped on something that broke it from the bottom of the shoe, like a tack. But that's pretty much every footwear.
I think they're perfect for our rainy weather here in Vancity! Woop woop!! ☔️ Great for errands, quick walks. I have a really old pair that had the 'waterproof'-ness disappear. I asked why that was, and they said that it roughly lasts only 2 years 🤪 so much for that!
I own a pair. They’re simple, and they do their job. Walking for a while and they aren’t going to be the most comfortable shoe compared to competitors, but I enjoy them in the rain or as my biking shoes. They slip on super easily too so I really do love having a pair of nice styled shoes for wet days that you can put on in seconds.
My Jordan 1 with Gore Tex lining has kept my feet dry during this Canadian winter. From inches snow to slush and ice.
Haha I've hoped for a while that you guys would do a video on Vessis! (Just out of curiosity) Awesome lol
Also, I looove you guys, but I love Kris and Molly, too! 😄😍
This is literally the only product I have purchased because it was promoted by a YT channel that I follow. I find them comfortable enough and was surprised that my feet did not get too hot even though it was July in Las Vegas.
Corridor Crew introduced me to Vessis. I bought 2 different styles. I generally like them. They work to keep water out (if you lace them tight enough for water to not get in from the top), but they make your feet pretty hot when it's hot outside. They're definitely not the most comfortable gym shoes I own, but I still travel everywhere with them because of the convenience of not having to worry about whether they'll get ruined if it rains. I have not found them to be as uncomfortable as other people in the comments here have described. I literally wear them every day and when I walk a lot while traveling, but they fit me well, and maybe not everyone can get ones that fit well because they don't come in half sizes. I have utilized their 365-day warranty for one pair because it got a small hole in the bottom of it. Vessi replaced the pair for free. Great for hospital workers who occasionally need to wash substances off their shoes and people who commute through rainy areas. Probably not great for the environment though, as the video explains.
I had a pair of these and they did work for a while but I made the mistake of taking them to a bubble run and then they stopped being waterproof :( Also they were a bit tight around the toe area and hard to put on since the version I had fit like a wetsuit lol
bubble run?! Okay that sounds sick. Sorry they crapped out on you after that, hope you still had a blast 😅
What is a bubble run?!
@@NZKiwi87 We don't know... yet! LOL
I have had a women's everyday wear Vessi for over two years, still the most comfortable shoes of mine but their waterproof only last for a year or so, I noticed my socks get a bit damp sometimes when I walk in wet weather, but this morning my socks got soaking wet inside the Vessi after I step through a small puddle of water. Consider this before purchasing a Vessi
I have had 3 pairs of Vessi. Back when I had my first pair the warranty was 6 months and mine sprung a leak around then. Through a somewhat complex email exchange they replaced it and that second pair lasted about a year before they sprung a leak. My third pair seems to still be waterproof after 2 years but I think it's the last pair I'll get for a while. I'll note I never really went into Vessi thinking that they were particularly environmentally friendly, I just wanted a waterproof shoe.
If you do go for another, I'd recommend their new hiking boot. It's a big improvement for me. My favorite Vessi shoe by far. And despite being called a hiking boot it's not clunky like many boots can be.
Vessi are a great shoe for tropical climates. I have not had any wet feet since I started wearing them and it was th monsoon season afew months ago.
They may not be for running or hiking cause there isn't that much ankle support but the are great for daily commute and work. The fact that it's so easy to get in and out of is great for me that has to change into steel toed shoes when I'm in the shop
I got a pair maybe 2ish years ago(?) And I honestly agree with a lot of the comments here in that they're great for rainy days but not so much for daily use. I work in an obgyn clinic and made the mistake of wearing them on our busiest day. My soles we're screaming by the end of it. However, I don't regret buying them bc they come in handy on those random rainy days, which we're having a lot more of where I live.
I live in a quite small town just outside Milan, Italy. Here there are a lot of luxury shoes manifacturers, like Chanel, Hermès, Christian Louboutin and so on. Just an advice, classic shoes (and also sneakers) with stitched soles are usually resolable, and use way less glue (thanks to the stitching) than vulcanized soles. Of course you should be able to find the perfect sole for that particular sneakers to replace it
I bought a pair because I go on long walks with my dog everyday, regardless of the weather. They are still waterproof after the hydrophobic coating wears off, but the outside layer does get soaking wet. I also have a hole in mine where the outer fabric meets the rubber sole. Doesn't seem to have affected the waterproofing factor that I can tell, but that was after only a year of use. Not super great. I do, however, find them comfy enough for a lot of walking.
It's worth noting you can find the exact composition od the Dyma-tex fabric by googling the patent for it. There's usually an excessively detailed description of the patented material in them.
I have a pair and glad I did when my car was out of service for 2/12 months during the wettest winter ever. But they were only good for short periods of time because they actually have terrible support and I found them to be very hot.
Awesome video!
Very thorough, direct and professional
Please take off and become huge, but also don't be corrupted by corporate funding ...!!
Resoleable sneakers definitely exist. Crown Northampton and Goral are 2 brands I know of. They are made of leather tho so maybe not great for running but great for sustainability
Ok, so when is the future proof on big daddy shopify?
Haha we haven't yet figured out if it's even possible to mix selling merch into our channel's ethos, but we'd definitely use Shopify if it came down to it!
I love my Vessis, but that comes with some notable caveats:
1) I enjoy that wraparound, wetsuit-esque feel. Not everyone does. 2) I don't need hyper-supportive shoes. 3) they are not the best option for mid-to-long walks, unless it's pouring out and other options are worse.
They are *fantastic* for a daily driver shoe, especially in wet climates like where I live in the PNW. I have sensory issues with wet shoes and socks, so they have been such a saving grace on rainy days. But if you work an extremely physical job, you need to make sure they work for your feet before you start taking them to work. As a teacher, I would not wear them in any position that requires you to walk further than a couple miles or stand longer than 4 hours a day.
I bought the Weekend model because I kept getting my feet wet walking on wet grass in the park. Grass in California is almost always wet, while the whole state is dry, lol.
I own a pair. Its my go to for rainy days out. I do find my feet do sweat alot in hotter climates and its a bit snugg but overall it does what it says.
owned a pair from vessi (the weekend shoe) lasted a good year before the waterproof knitting wore off from the Richmond weather. other then the waterproofing stopping after heavy usage the shoe was comfy asf
I recently ordered some Crown Northampton leather sneakers as I wanted something resolable. My current sneakers for the last four years have been ecco and I fell in love with using leather instead of fabric because of the waterproofness and durability but ecco can't be resoled. I'm not going to get the crown sneakers for a couple more weeks as every pair is made to order by hand. They were $300 but I expect them to make up for the price in longevity.
I'm a dog walker and I bought a pair of these for rainy days and they're great!
for good repairable shoes, look into Chacos! Yes most of it is sandals, but my go-to boots and lounge shoes are repairable from them too
I have a pair of vessis and like the waterproof feeture but the back heel dug into my heel and scraped it every time I took a step. Not sure if anyone else had this issue too but it made the shoe unwearable with no show socks
I recently bought a pair of Finn Comforts shoes (they have shoe laces which is basically what I consider to be sneakers, but I don't think of them as running shoes). They're crazy expensive, but are supposed to be repairable and resole-able. The small shoe company that I bought them from suggested replacing the footbed annually.
We just looked them up for reference, they're definitely a unique build - almost like a cross between a dress shoe and a sneaker since they've got the whole leather look... cool that they're repairable though! If we ever do a video in the future entirely about repairable sneaks we'll make sure to mention these 🤩
Replacing the foot bed annually??
That'll add up quick...
I actually backed their Kickstarter campaign and still use my Vessis till this day. I only have 3 pairs of shoes and my Vessis are one of them. But now I'm starting to feel their age. I have since become a more eco-conscious consumer so as much as I like these shoes, I won't buy another pair. I've been saving up for a Vivo Barefoot shoe for a while now and hope to buy one before my Vessis collapse on itself.
Woo! Vancouver represent! 🇨🇦 My wife owns a pair of Vessi's and she seems to like them, but I looked at them and they just feel like neoprene. I've had neoprene water shoes before and they were horribly unbreathable. I'm not in a rush to buy a pair myself, I'll suck it up with wet feet.
I have a bias because my friend works for Vessi and managed to get me a very nice discount. As a lazy person, it's nicer to have shoes that are waterproof right out of the gate instead of having to treat them with waterproofing spray every now and then. And a protip for anyone who wears shoes: Never stick with the stock insoles. Do your feet a favor and get some 3rd party insoles, they will ALWAYS be better than what your shoes came with.
Vancouver is cold, wet, and f**king awesome Levi. I miss living there so much but also glad I don't with the added expense of it just being Vancouver.
Goral and Crown North Hampton both make resolable sneakers. They both use, primarily, leather uppers though. I don’t know of any canvas or sythetic shoes that are resolable, but there could be some out there that I am not aware of.
I worked in my vessis and also wore them to Disneyland comfort wasn't an issue.
But wearing them all the time in a constantly wet environment they eventually started soaking up moisture and no longer were very water resistant, nothing is water proof
brand trying to capitalize: whispers 'we're eco-conscious -𝓌ₕₐₜₑᵥₑᵣ ₜₕₐₜ ₘₑₐₙₛ'
Levi: *bolts upright out of a dead sleep and sprints toward the fact checker at inhuman speeds*
I got Vessis specifically for puddle season. There's this time where all the snow is melting but it's not warm enough for the water to go anywhere, and it refreezes every night; rubber boots are too cold and sweaty, but winter boots are too hot and sweaty. They are perfect for my purposes in this regard. They also kept my feet dry and warm during a week-long winter Vancouver trip which is impressive. Are they cute? Meh. Are they comfortable? For a few hours. But they deliver on the waterproof (compared to my other shoes) and breathability (compared to both winter and rubber boots).
1:12 LOL funny guy. the ad integration was really good and worked with the flow of the video. it was almost too smooth but i can forgive it because you disclosed the sposorship at the beginning.
vessi can't really be good for the planet when they are selling a plasitc shoe.
I bought a pair of Vivobarefoot’s sneakers a couple months ago and I couldn’t be happier. They’re the best fitting and most well constructed shoes I’ve ever owned. The “barefoot” aspect of their design sounds intimidating, but it’s proven to be a comfortable and functional design for me. Walking on hard surfaces or in wet weather isn’t as nice compared to regular shoes, but because you can really feel the nuances of the surface you’re walking on, you don’t get tripped up or misstep nearly as much. I also suffered from toe cramps pretty regularly and the wider toe box of the Vivos gives my toes more room and flexibility, which has cut the number of cramps I’ve had to literally zero. Can’t recommend Vivo enough and I’m looking forward to buying some of their hiking boots soon.
You should actually cover the LTTstore , its really cool that they have a heavy focus on quality merch . Usually a brand just sells a logo or something but Linus has an engineering team
not quite sneakers, but I treat mine as such: the Softstar Shoes lineup. I've had both their runamocs and chukkas, both of which were easily brought to cobblers for resoling and restitching. they're leather, so a quick mink oil treatment every few weeks makes them look like new every time. And, they're zero drop for anyone who's interested in the minimalist shoe aspect.
I bought a pair of the Chelsea style ones for bicycling in Portland, OR and they’ve been pretty great at keeping my feet dry. I wish they had a pair with a bit more grip. I’ve picked up a couple pairs of these since + biggest problem has been breaking them in.
I’m from Vancouver as well and got on the Vessi train pretty early. Unfortunately after 4/5 pairs now I can finally accept that I am OFF the train. Sure, they are waterproof at first but after walking in them for a bit (nowhere near a 500 miles travelled) they leak! I’ve known others who’ve gotten them that have had them leak from the get go. The material may be waterproof but if the seams are no go then it doesn’t really matter.
Very disappointing because I really wanted them to be good.
I got a pair of the 5th anniversary Weekender sneakers just recently as I finally caved *due to needing to finally replace the sneakers I basically wear in all but the worst of Canadian weather, and got a pair of Vessis. I couldn't find any comparables that were verified to work AND which I liked enough to pay for, and there's always coupon and discount codes floating around (which still doesn't make them 'affordable' IMO lmao I'm used to thrift shoes).
I can't speak to the slimmer shoes, but the weekenders feel and work like any other high-quality skater show with the flat bottom and thick rubber sole. They're heaver than all my other runners, but the solid feeling is preferable for the all-weather-in-CANADA shoe I was looking for.
They've served me really well, and after having worn them for a bit for daily dog walks and errands, they've worn in enough that the initial discomfort from the flat-hard rubber soles has eased. They don't hurt my feet, they keep all the water out, and they look great!
My ONLY complaint (pending testing their breathability in the summer months - we'll see about that) is that they do not come in half or wide sizing. Now, the wide-width not being available makes some sense, since the material is made to stretch and wear like a sock. The half-sizing, however, is a huge setback IMO...
I'm a large gal, I weigh a lot, and so my feet are not a straight sizing and I need a decent amount of support and not so much length. Alas, I had to order my shoes in a size 9 in order to ensure they would fit with any bulky socks, and as a result they do feel a WEE bit like clown shoes in how long they are. It took a bit of getting used to, but they aren't so much longer that I can't adapt - luckily I'm on the higher end of the 8.5 half-sizing and can wear and walk in size 9s without tripping.
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the way I just laughed at the note about "when to replace shoes" BISH *_I'll replace them when they're literally so full of holes and tape that people are commenting on it. I don't pay more unless I HAVE to._*
I will take these shoes to the grave if I have to, I paid like 100$+ for these shoes! :'D That's a fortune, they best last me for the rest of my life.
I did buy a pair because of LinusTechTips, and I have to say that I really do enjoy wearing them as my everyday and work shoes (I have the high-tops version and walk quite a bit at work). Even went hiking with them before.
I love how they're lightweight, SUPER EASY to clean, and have a flat sole. I personally avoid shoes that have too much padding or put your feet at an uneven angle.
Honestly my only complaint about them (or at least the pair I own) is that the traction of the rubber outsole is mediocre at best. Performs well, but I've had better and expected better from a shoe that advertises being worn in wet conditions.
I own two pairs (a classic and a weekend), and they've been a godsend for me. Living in Colorado, it's so nice to not worry about wearing heavy boots for snow or rain just to get to my desk job. I also have wide-and-tall feet, and the soles are wide enough and the fabric flexible enough to actually work for me more than almost all other brands. My first pair is close to 3 years old now, and I've only recently really worried about the sole wearing down (swapping it between my other pair).
Comfort and support vary by style pretty drastically, it's why I own the two different versions and why I'm ignoring a lot of the other comments. If anything it's just the difficulty of pre-manufactured online-only shoes where you can't "try before you buy" without shipping the item, which is hardly a Vessi exclusive issue. Every person is unique, heck most people have different shoe sizes per foot technically speaking. I recently bought a pair of $35 barefoot shoes and they're more comfortable in many ways than my $150 Hokas with custom $70 insoles which start hurting after like an hour of walking, so amount of support isn't necessarily the only aspect of shoe comfort either.
If anything I would love if Vessi and other brands did as you mentioned with replaceable soles, or even just programs to shave it level and re-add grip.
Which styles do you have and how would you rather them comparable to one another?
Cool shoe, got them as a gift since I live in Seattle. Only complain is they do get warm after an hour or so of walking. Cool learning about their background though.
I think i found them by chance on kickstarter and got a couple pairs because its something i needed, i bike to work and that often means in the rain and snow so i needed a waterproof shoe among other things, but one i could also in comfortably. They do seem a lot more slippery than a normal shoe when walking on wet surfaces though.
I hated my vessis. The mesh top had no structure to it so I always found my feet slipping off the top of the sole and throwing me off balance or twisting my ankles. Plus both the sole and waterproofing completely wore out in under a year.
Thanks for this. I always suspected they weren’t well made.
That's really good to know, there's definitely been a few people commenting on their lack of support and such. Thanks for adding to the conversation here! 🤩
When I had to be on my feet a lot SAS were the only things I wore regularly. Can be resoled, come in half sizes, leather, last for freakin' ever, similar price points, super comfortable.
Merrill Moab2 waterproof hiking boots are what I wear in Oregon in the winter. I swear the heavens opened and a choir sang when I first tried them. Most comfortable shoe out of the box I've ever had, and they have room for orthotics. My first pair didn't wear out so much as my feet randomly grew a half size for some reason? IDK either.
I recently bought a pair their chelseas, as some others have noted - they do what they claim. I got them mainly a multipurpose shoe that I can slip on and off particularly when it gets rainy. They're comfy enough and are indeed waterproof...
That said, as few others have mentioned, I can also attest to them not being great for very long periods of time. I can wear my Converse sneakers for a full day of work and walking around Manhattan nonstop; but these babies start to feel a bit raw after barely a half day of use and I day at Disney was draining on my feet, hell even while just sitting in a plane for a 3 hour jump they get a bit uncomfortable.
That said, do I regret my purchase? No. For quick weekend errands or short runs to the mall or wherever, they're great, and again they're perfect in the rain when I really don't want to have to use boots. In short: good for a quick slip-on when you need to get going for short stint, especially when raining; not so good if you're going to be out for a full day of movement.
At least that's how they've been for me.
I always wondered about these shoe recycling programs, especially Puma's. It's really unclear what happens with the shoes or if they just get trashed.
Can't say about Puma, but I know Dow chemical had a shoe "recycling" program and they were just busted selling old shoes in Indonesia instead of recycling them. I guess they can semantically claim they "recycled" them. Most corporations will literally say anything to get people to feel good about buying their products. Buyer beware indeed...
Some German journalists once put GPS trackers in some shoes to check these brand. I don't know the exact brand anymore, but they were like Nike, Adidas, Fila etc. Most just went straight to trash or were sold to Afrika, where people don't want them either, and end up trashed too
Lightly worn shoes are fine to buy used, but even with a new insole (if it goes over the old) they can mess with your gait and posture since your food conforms to another person's wear patterns in the insole, or so I've been told by physical and occupational therapists that I know. This video shed some light on some aspects of the company I didn't know. I was buying a $50-60 pair every year when I was working because I just ran them into the ground working at a grocery store, which was annoying, but I couldn't afford the price tag for a much more expensive pair for the most part. Though when I did get closer to the 70-90 range I might have gotten 18 months- 2 years outta them.
I own a pair, here in upstate NY they actually keep my feet warm in the cold winter months, and I haven't had sweat issues in the relatively warm summer months. Seriously, I went out for a walk on one of the coldest days we had in a long time and my feet were the warmest part of my body which is insane for wearing sneakers and not boots. They are good for walking, but I don't think they are as comfortable standing in place for a long period of time. Luckily that's not something I have to deal with much anymore. Had my first pair for almost a year before I stepped into broken glass and it ruptured the side wall of the shoe. The one downside to un-reinforced sides and such. I didn't get stabbed, thankfully, but they are no longer waterproof. I have them still and use them for yard work now, but I couldn't figure out how to patch them and make them waterproof again, so I just bit the bullet and bought another pair. Those are still going strong after about a year.
Best sponsor integration I’ve seen yet.
I’m not too bothered by wet feet for whatever reason, what I really want is a magical shoe that allows me to not slip on ice in the winter.
I pretty much figured when I heard “waterproof shoe” that meant Teflon or some similar fluoropolymer, which probably used PFAS or similar chemicals to manufacture, and by extension is not great for the planet or human health.
Repairable sneakers do exist but they are also quite expensive. Look into Crown Northhampton, wonderful sneakers made using the same techniques for the most part as high end dress shoes.
I’ve got two pairs. I’ve had the first one for a few years. They are good for rainy weather, but I really only wear them when it’s raining. Otherwise I find them too uncomfortable if I want to wear them the whole day long. Over in all, I definitely prefer wearing those over a normal shoe while it’s raining. But that’s it 😅 I also think they get kinda sweaty after a while.. also, the sole gets extremely slippery when wet, even though that shouldn’t be the case!!! Actually can be pretty dangerous. Almost slipped a couple times. 😆 I also had Gortex shoes is the past but those were super heavy and uncomfortable. Hard to find a good pair of shoes! 😢
I have had a pair of Vessis for 2 years and they are still in good condition and still 100% waterproof. They're durable enough that I have been wearing them daily for taking my dog for walks and they've held up incredibly well - besides some discoloration and very mild wear on the soles, hardly any signs of wear. They are great for keeping my feet dry in unpredictable weather, and are comfortable and supportive enough not to aggravate my patellofemoral pain syndrome even during really long walks. That being said, yes, they aren't the most environmentally incredible, but I also haven't found anything that does better environmentally and has the features I need.
Wow, that's awesome that they've worked out so well for you! We can admit that their waterproof-ness is super nifty and if they're this durable than they definitely could be worth it for some people. We've seen other comments on them not being as supportive as other sneaks, so its good that that isn't your experience. Thank you for sharing, Chris!
Goral shoes have trainers that are resolable, but they are based in the UK. They are not as waterproof as the Vessi’s but I have kept my feet dry with them. They dont have as many fancy colors though..
Crown Northampton sneakers are repairable, as they can fix the sneakers for you for a price (new soles). Just quite expensive, alternatively just wear resolable boots or shoes.
Vivobarefoot does have the Re-Vivo program that sells repaired shoes (worldwide) and will repair your Vivobarefoot shoes (not available in North America yet) - so that seems promising since their otsoles do wear faster than I would like and the rest of the shoe is still new.
Speaking of shoe brands, I’d love to see a deep dive into Call it Spring and their vegan shoe line that they focus a lot of their energy on. The brand is also owned by Aldo (or vice versa)
I own two pairs of Spring dress shoes and really dislike them. Bought them because they looked great and were vegan. But then after a couple wears realized they're terribly uncomfortable plus they crease in the ugliest way possible.
can you take a look at tropicfeel shoes? their concept of hiking-walking-running-water in one shoes is pretty amazinng
Asolo brand boots and shoes are resolable, but good luck with their customer service. However, I will say I had their boots for 16 years, and the uppers were still waterproof. Yes, I did take good care of them. I tried for 6 months to get the company to respond before I finally threw them out. Cobblers in my area didn't have treads for them, which sucked. I loved those boots.
They really did a loyal customer like you dirty
try red wings
I've been working on designing a boot like repairable leather sneaker. Been into leather working and love the for of custom shoes
You can always use a water repellent spray, but obviously your mileage will vary, depending on how tight the knitting is on the fabric
I too got one last year with their massive ad and the claim of waterproof yet breathable technology during their Black Friday sale. Totally regret it. It is more like water-repellent not waterproof if you really stay out in the heavy rain.
Even worse, it's really not breathable so if you have sweaty feet the shoes basically trap moist inside. After the rainy day out, the shoes are smelly and not easy to get dry for a while. On top of that, no they were not comfortable at all for long walk. I never understood people said they can even jog with them.
Honestly, I also bought them, I had mine for about 5 years when I decided to let them go, they still good looking, but very much gone on the support side, the use was not on daily basis but for travel, workout, sometimes for walks, I like them and last me forever, I never payed attention to the media or anything, overall I had a good experience, but is good to know some of the facts.
When I got some for myself I'm usually a 9.5 in us size they were really tight especially me being a wide footed person so you have to wear them for a while to break into them, also they say they keep your feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter but I'd use them for fall and winter in cold and wet regions
There is a mexican leather shoe maker called "Miles and Louie" that offer resole-able options when you buy their boots/shoes, also they offer repair as a maintenance package so you can send your shoes to repair if anything happens to them
Victory Sportswear in Massachusetts makes resolable sneakers. Their stuff has a vintage runner vibe.
Would love to see a similar video on Cariuma