Top Slip-On Sneakers for Comfortable Family Travel

These athletic shoes save every member of my family time and hassle.

On a recent visit with my in-laws, I noticed my father-in-law and I were wearing the same shoes. “Are those Kiziks?” I asked him. “Yes,” he replied, “they’re my airport shoes.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Since purchasing not one, but two, pairs of Kizik sneakers a few months before, I had become obsessed with the ease of slipping them on and off without bending down, tying, and untying them. The sneakers, which cost a little over $100 on average, come in tons of different styles and colors — from pink athletic shoes to white canvas sneakers — and have become my go-to for everything from travel to theme parks to Target runs.

Kiziks are hands-free athletic shoes that remain tied at all times. To get them on and off of your feet, you simply step into or out of them, and the springy “cage” mechanism in the heel effortlessly allows you to move your foot in and out.

Moreover, they are super comfortable, with a supportive sole and arch that keep my feet from hurting on long days walking around theme parks or through airports. That slip-on, slip-off mechanism is perfect for airport security lines, where individuals are required to remove their shoes (and put them back on) at a fairly fast pace before going through metal detectors.

The upper part of Kiziks is made from a variety of breathable materials. The Irvine style is made from canvas and pairs perfectly with summer skirts, dresses, and shorts. The Athens, which looks more like an athletic shoe, is made from breathable knit fabric with a soft foam sole. The Vegas is crafted from leather and would look great dressed up or down.

In addition to the novelty of comfortable shoes that look tied but slip on and off effortlessly, Kiziks came in handy when I had abdominal surgery a few months ago. As I rebuilt my fitness level and recovered, it was a relief to slip sneakers on and off for walks and other exercise without experiencing discomfort from bending forward or aggravating my incisions. I had fallen in love with my Kiziks to such an extent that I ordered an additional style, encouraging my family to wear them as well. After seeing my father-in-law swear by the shoes, they all agreed.

My husband chose the Madrid style, made from breathable, sustainable knit fabric, quickly replacing shoes made by other brands as his daily choice of sneakers. My teenage son, who has a difficult time tying his shoes and often defaults to slip-on clog styles, chose the Athens in a light gray color and has been leaving the rubber slip-on shoes behind for his Kiziks when he wants to look a bit more dressed up.

My tween daughter loved the Athens and had a tough time choosing from all of the colorways, which include beautiful shades of blue, pink, and purple. She chose an off-white color with gold accents on the heel, and has been enjoying both how comfortable they are and how well they coordinate with everything in her closet.

While my kids are older now, I remember all too well the years where I would stand in my entryway, waiting for them to tie their shoes so we could leave the house. Kizik makes shoes in kids’ sizes, too, and I wish they had existed 10 years ago when I was just trying to make it to preschool drop-off on time.

My obsession with Kiziks is far from over: I’m headed on a European cruise soon and plan to purchase a pair of its recently-released Irvine style in white to wear in ports like Florence and Barcelona, pairing them with skirts and tanks. I know from experience that, no matter how much walking we do on each excursion, my feet will feel supported and pain-free because I’m wearing my Kiziks. And, while Kiziks aren’t machine washable, they are easy to hand wash when they get a bit dirty from all that walking around.

Therefore, whether you are embarking on a vacation involving lots of walking, looking for a new athletic shoe, or hoping to find an easy shoe for kids to slip on and off, Kiziks are a fantastic addition to your footwear collection.