The Kane Revive is a fabulous concept: a shoe designed for active recovery, made from planet-friendly materials, and created by a Certified B Corporation. The shoes look a bit like Crocs, with a closed back rather than a clog style, and come in at least 20 colors.
Kane Footwear CEO John Gagliardi started dreaming up his company a few years back. “I walked past a pile of EVA [ethylene-vinyl acetate] shoes on a beach and wondered why there isn’t a better looking slip-on shoe made out of planet-friendly materials,” he said in a statement. “That experience led me to start Kane. From the beginning, our mission has been to create a well-designed, bio-based EVA shoe that supports and stimulates recovery.”
Gagliardi has the perfect pedigree for a shoe baron. He grew up working in his dad’s sneaker store in Queens, New York. Later, he was a professional athlete. “I began to understand that footwear can have a profound influence on recovery,” he said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished with the launch of the Kane Revive. And it’s only the beginning.”
So, how does this shoe help recovery? Kane worked with board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Daniel Geller on the design. These shoes are riddled with holes that promote air circulation. Raised nodes in the footbed help activate blood flow in key pressure points. Ample cushioning supports the wearer’s heel, arch, and instep. The soles are flexible and provide good traction.
While these shoes look like regular plastic, they’re actually made of a trademarked material called RestoreFoam™, created from Brazilian sugarcane. Sugarcane is a renewable resource and captures carbon as it grows. So these shoes help your feet as they help the planet. Plus, the Kane Revive is made from all vegan materials.
Kane sent me two review pairs to try out. They are totally comfortable. I like the support and the space for toes to spread out and relax. The shoes also grip well when I walk down my slippery back steps to take the trash out. The lace loops on the back help you pull them on. And Kane sends two pairs of spare loops in contrasting colors in case you want to jazz up your look.
Is the Kane Revive for you? A lot depends on your aesthetic sense. While the Revive is more attractive than Crocs, the resemblance is unmistakable. And debate has raged for 20+ years about this controversial yet popular design. I’ve always striven for a Croc-free household. Now, I’m faced with two pairs of comfortable and apparently good-for-my-feet Kane Revives. So far, I haven’t ventured off my property in them. But they are starting to grow on me. We’ll see if I can overcome my aesthetic hangups to reap the full benefit of these innovative new shoes.
Kane Footwear provided Outdoors Wire with a product sample for review.