Comfort is everything

The most comfortable pair of sneakers Veer Arjun Singh has ever worn can handle a bit of performance too

Reebok played it cool this time. Its biggest drop this season, the Zig Kinetica, does not fit any one category. It’s neither a trainer nor a running shoe. There’s Conor Mcgregor, the blue-eyed boy of mixed martial arts, promoting the pair and celebrities walking the ramp in it. It must be one of those sneakers that look dope with athleisure wear and can handle a little bit of exercise. With that assumption, I took it to the gym and wore it on the roads. And here’s what I found.

Design 5/5

The silhouette of the shoe takes after the Zigtech brand of performance shoes that Reebok introduced about a decade ago. Back then, they flew off the shelves more for their edgy, zigzag midsoles than for performance metrics. The new Zig Kinetica tones down the midsole disfiguration a bit and fuses it with the sneaker culture of the time. The result is a chunky “daddy sneaker” but one that is extremely well-cushioned and airy.

The Zig Kinetica is easily one of the best-looking sneakers to have launched in India this year. It’s a chic basic, like the

Nike Air Max 270, that will be sculpted by designers in myriad iterations and has the potential of gaining cult status if Reebok builds on it. The Zig Kinetica Concept_type 1 in its four colourways is already making waves worldwide.

The reinforced upper is a mix of mesh and synthetic with layered detailing. The one that I am talking about is the Radiant Red colourway. Although the poster pair of the launch is the Sunbaked Orange with a full black upper, I prefer the full red with its orange hued midsole. The pair is bold, chic and versatile.

Performance 3/5

One of the most sort-after sneakers of recent times is not just a pretty pair of shoes. That’s not to say that you should buy it for a specific athletic vocation, but despite its weight — almost obese at 350 grams a piece — it does an impressive job of moving feet, and fast.

The feature that truly elevates it is a mix of three underlying technologies in its midsole and some delightfully cushiony tidbits. Used as trainers when weightlifting, you can rely on the pair’s stability. It inspires a lot of confidence to go heavy. The thick neoprene tongue and a fluffy heel collar almost insulate the feet from abrasion even when you wear it with shoe liners. The midfoot locks in well and despite its standard heel drop, the shoe is good for low-tomedium intensity conditioning drills and light treadmill runs.

With serious running, the shoe does better than expected. Its Floatride Fuel midsole wrapped between two cushioning technologies — the ZIG Energy shells and the ZIG Energy bands — absorbs a lot of impact and protects the heel as well as the shin. While it’s great for casual running, the shoe feels too heavy and too warm beyond a few kilometres.

Verdict 4/5

Shoes rarely look this good in the gym and the “daddy sneakers” can handle a bit of running, too. Even so, the Zig Kinetica is not a performance shoe. It’s simply the most comfortable and well-cushioned sneaker I have ever worn. And I wear a new pair every week. A sum of ~11,999 is for comfort and style. Consider performance a bonus.