The Kuru Insight – Anatomical Footwear For An Active Man

We’ve reviewed a few different brands of shoes now here at Unfinished Man; we’ve looked at barefoot running, and skate footwear, but we haven’t actually had the chance to check out some well designed kicks for walking and hiking. Kuru changed all of that for us by introducing us to their Insight model; touting themselves as the makers of “the world’s most anatomical active footwear” is no joke. These shoes have more support and fit your foot better than anything else you’ve ever worn.

They’re a pretty unassuming looking brand – their offerings are a lot of muted shades of charcoal and brown, with the occasional bright color mixed in. They don’t have a lot of flash to the design, either; most models are streamlined without too much unnecessary detailing. Where Kuru’s shoes really stand out from the crowd is with their heel and sole design: these shoes support and cushion your feet almost as if you’re wearing custom orthotics, but without the hefty price tag.

After a few days of walking outdoors extensively in them, I already had a lot of good things to say; I felt better, my legs were less tired, and I had no pain from standing on my feet at my job all day. I went over to their site and did a quick bit of research and found that most customers were claiming these shoes were performing miracles for back, heel and leg pain. I’m a young guy, and don’t have any of those issues, but I could definitely tell the difference even without them. Just to check on the claims, I lent them to my father, who has all those problems and more… and three days later, we ordered him his own pair. He said the difference was almost immediate, and that a lot of his heel and back issues were alleviated with only a couple of days of wear.

• The heel and sole are thick and shaped to take anyone’s foot while still providing orthotic like support
• The shoes are great for hiking, and even tougher activities; they’re made of leather, rubber, and canvas, and can take a beating from climbing and running
• I found that walking and running for extended periods of time was easier, and felt less tired afterwards
• Some people might say that they’re TOO plain, but I get away with wearing the all-black versions with everything I own, including to work
• They’re committed to sustainability, and will donate a portion of profits from your shoes to a charity of your choosing

One of the only things I noticed that caused some problems for me was wearing them for driving; for the first few days, my heel was so supported that it didn’t actually feel like it was in contact with the floor of my car anymore. It takes some getting used to, but it’s something that’s easily overcome in time. That being said, if you’re not a flashy guy, or you’re looking for a well-built pair of shoes to try and shred up on your local hiking trails, check Kuru out – a great pair of shoes will change the way you feel about getting out and doing more, without you even realizing it.