Living in New York City, walking shoes are a must-have. And since I don’t wear sneakers outside the gym, I’m always looking for substitutes that feel cute and true to my personal style while still being comfortable. Most of the time, I’m in ballet flats, kitten-heel sandals, low-heel pumps, loafers, or knee-high boots, but these usually don’t cut it when I’m walking miles at a time. For those days, my go-to choices have been Mary Janes from Camper, Naturalizer, and vintage pairs from eBay—all reliable options for when I’m on my feet for longer stretches.
For years, I’d been curious to try a pair of iconic ’90s Nike Air Rifts—despite those who compared the split-toe design to horse hooves or rabbit feet. Then NikeSkims, the standalone brand co-founded by Nike and Kim Kardashian‘s Skims, launched its own fashion-forward reimagining of the original silhouette, the Mesh Rift. More recently, they released the Rift Satin, swapping out the breathable mesh material for a sleek satin.
Since one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday is going on a long walk, I decided to try out them out over the weekend. I have narrower feet and ordered my true size, which was the right fit. On my very first wear, it happened to be an 86° day, and even in the heat, I did 19,552 steps without getting a single blister.
One detail I appreciated was the velcro strap, making them easy to slide on and off, which is ideal for situations like running errands, trying on clothes while shopping, or going to a Pilates class. And given that I didn’t pack sneakers for hikes on a recent trip to L.A., I’d even use them in that scenario. After wearing them out and about in Manhattan, they’re a perfect alternative to traditional sneakers, and passed my test for comfortable walking shoes.
Below, shop NikeSkims’ first-ever shoes, available through both Nike and Skims.
Shop NikeSkims Rift Satin
Shop NikeSkims Mesh Rift
Shop More Comfortable Walking Shoes
