I’m always excited to test new footwear, but I have rarely been as surprised and delighted by every aspect of a shoe as I have been with Deckers X Lab‘s KO-Z Slide. First, it looks like a space-age mukluk sandal; all I need is a stylish white unitard coverall thingy and I’m working at the new lab in the sky! Second, the slide is both incredibly comfortable and supportive, and that’s by serious engineering.
Created by the designers who brought us Uggs, Hoka, Teva, and Sanuk, the KO-Z Slide is one in a collection of several new, innovative footwear styles that somehow combine comfort, coziness, functionality, futuristic style, and serious foot care.
I’ll start with the footbed.
Footbed
The memory foam-cushioned leather footbed is contoured enough that it provides decent arch support (made out of a sturdy patch of 80% wool, 20% polyester fabric) and a toe grip bar for support and stability. The edges of the footbed give my heel a defined space to land when I’m walking. The footbed design resembles a Birkenstock footbed, but with a less pronounced arch, no metatarsal arch, and no negative heel cup. Still, the KO-Z Slide’s streamlined footbed provided enough stability for me.
I like that my feet don’t slide around when I walk in the KO-Z Slide. The footbed is also nice and wide, with a rounded toe area, for my Frodo feet (I tested a men’s size 9. The KO-Z Slide is also available in women’s sizes.) The cushioning feels nice and still has spring after more than a month of daily wear. Air holes across the footbed surface help with moisture management. I most often wear the KO-Z Slide without socks, which feels a bit scandalous during the winter, but the cozy shearling uppers keep my feet warm. I also like the grip I get on the footbed with bare feet.
Midsole
The KO-Z Slide has five layers of dense cushioning, with it’s softest layer under the footbed. I’m not usually a fan of cushy footwear because I need stability due to many old injuries, but I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed the spring-back cush I felt with each step. It’s a bit magical after decades of wearing hard shoes. It feels like the springiness comes from deep in the midsole, which shows no signs of wearing out any time soon.
Sometimes I’m still bewildered that I love the Slide so much. It doesn’t make sense until I wear it. Somehow Deckers X Lab made a clunky shoe that doesn’t feel or act clunky, a supportive shoe that feels luxuriously cushy and incredibly lightweight.
Rocker Sole
I just love the rocker sole. It helps my foot biomechanics in two key ways. I feel like I am propelled forward in a more natural way that when I wear a flat soled shoe. Also, the thicker, curved sole reduced pressure on my forefoot (where one of my old injuries lives). I wish more brands used rocker soles. In the KO-Z Slide, the rocker sole and the uppers are designed to work together to provide stability I normally wouldn’t expect from a slide shoe.
Sheepskin Uppers
I love the sheepskin uppers. They cover enough of my foot that when I walk the Slide doesn’t feel floppy. Between the long upper length and the rocker sole, my feet stay safely in place when I walk. If I need to, I can tighten the uppers using the two Teva-style nylon straps.
I can’t emphasize enough how well designed the KO-Z Slide is. I can’t think of any mule or slide shoes that I still wear. I have drop foot on my left side, so it’s critical that shoes don’t move around or feel floppy on my feet. When I wear the KO-Z Slide I can feel the rocker sole and uppers synergy that keeps my feet in the shoes. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to wear a fun, stylish shoe that feels so good on my feet. I could run for my life in the KO-Z Slide if I had to.
As for comfort and warmth, the uppers are perfect. The shearling keeps my feet plenty warm, and the sheepskin is also scored with air holes to help with temperature regulation.
Soles
Finally, the KO-Z Slide has a techy looking sole with hexagon cutouts. It’s like the opposite of a trail shoe. Where the treads would be there are indents. I’m not sure what the design does other than weigh less, but it looks cool and it’s durable. My soles show no sign of wear despite daily wear.
Cush + Stability = Love
The KO-Z Slide is the perfect shoe/slipper for me. Actual slippers don’t provide the support I need. A more structured slide, such as a Birkenstock sandal or mule, are too substantial for indoor wear (and they don’t stay on my feed as well as the KO-Z Slide does). I am so happy to have these shoe slippers. I literally line up my KO-Z Slide slippers next to my bed when I go to sleep so my feet never have to touch the floor when I wake up. Once they’re on, I never take them off until bedtime, even when I lie on the couch. (And I will never wear them outside because I’m going to have a new rule about taking shoes off when entering my home. The Swedes do it. The Japanese do it. Better pack your KO-Z Slides if you wanna come over when Covid’s over.)
Deckers X Lab talks about the KO-Z Slide as a recovery type shoe, and I can see how it would be ideal in that use case, but I don’t think anyone should HAVE to ski or snowboard or even leave the house to be able to enjoy these super space age mukluk slippers. We’re in a pandemic after all. Stay indoors! Love your feet!
Having written a book on foot care and lived with a few foot and lower leg injuries, I know a bit about feet and shoes. Deckers X Lab has done a brilliant job of including and integrating several important features in designing the KO-Z Slide. I can’t wait to see what they release next.
Available in men’s and women’s sizes.
