Kizik Vegas Review

Ever since Chris and I reviewed the Kizik Athens late last year, I’ve loved the Kizik brand (see my author bio to find out why it’s important to me). My Cobalt Blue pair of Athens was one of my most worn pairs of sneakers in 2021. I recently got a pair of the Kizik Vegas, a formal-wear sneaker. When I looked online for some reviews of this model, I was bummed to find none. So, I decided to make my own.

Pros

Super Easy Entry

The Kizik Vegas uses a collapsible heel for simple, hands-free entry; simply slide your foot in, put some weight on the heel, and go. It allows for people with physical limitations to own a pair of formal-wear sneakers they can put on independently.

All of Kizik’s shoes use this ingenious collapsible heel design. Seeing how well my pair of Athens has held up, I do not foresee any major durability issues for the Vegas.

Formal Look

The Kizik Vegas has a very simple and formal look. It looks like a dress shoe. And I love that because there’s a real need for it. I doubt Nike’s FlyEase or Reebok’s ParaFit programs would make a formal-wear sneaker looking shoe, like the Vegas. I think Kizik said it best themselves, it “works perfectly around the house, at the office, or out on the town.”

Good Materials

The Kizik Vegas has a full leather upper, like most other formal-wear sneakers. Using thick cuts of full-grain leather, it requires little break-in time, if any.

Nice Cushioning

Kizik’s Rabbit Foam is used for the midsole. Is Rabbit Foam as plush as Nike’s React or adidas’ Boost? No, not at all. However, Rabbit Foam has some nice give and feels comfortable all day long.

Comparative Retail Price

Retailing at $129 puts the Kizik Vegas in line with other formal-wear sneakers.

Wide Fit

I have wide boats for feet, so I’m very happy that Kizik offers wide fit versions of all their models.

Cons

Minimal Traction

Most of the Kizik Vegas’ outsole is exposed Rabbit Foam. Only the forefoot and heel areas feature rubber. The rubber Kizik uses is tacky and very durable. Seeing as the rubber on my pair of Athens has held this long (and for a ton of wear), I have a good feeling that the Vegas will replicate the same performance. I do wish Kizik used more rubber for their outsoles so hopefully we’ll get better coverage on some future models.

Minimal Heel Support

In order for the collapsible heel to function, Kizik uses a soft heel counter. For comparison, the Kizik Vegas has more heel support than the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase. Still, if you’re someone who needs a lot of heel support, the Vegas is most likely not the best formal-wear sneaker for you.

Easily Scratched

I’m unsure if this is purely a me-thing but, on my second day wearing the Kizik Vegas, I had noticeable scratches on both toe boxes. The soft leather appears easily susceptible to damage even if not rubbed against rough surfaces like cement curbs or asphalt roads. So take care when wearing them.

Kizik Vegas Summary

To sum up, I’m thoroughly impressed with the Kizik Vegas. Since Kizik made them, I knew they would be really easy to get on and off. Although the Vegas won’t become a shoe I want to wear daily, they will become my go-to formal-wear sneakers.