At first glance, you might think these are Keens. Or maybe J-41? That's exactly what I thought when browsing new arrivals online and came across these sporty cuties. But they're naot (sorry, I had to attempt the pun). Thank you to the friendly folk at Naot for sending me a pair of their environmentally friendly and oh-so comfortable shoes from the BE collection.
I chose the Believe style because I can wear it now in the cold with warm socks or go sockless in the summer. The charcoal gray leather is a nice change from basic black and yet still goes with so many outfits. And would you believe these are my first Naots? I'm so thrilled to own a pair because you truly can't beat Naot for comfort. The anatomic footbed supports my rather high arches, but I can easily take out the footbed and insert my custom orthotics if needed (the only problem is I have blue orthotics and they look tacky in open-backed shoes). But I'll repeat what many Naot customers claim, the footbed is so supportive, I don't foresee needing my orthotics.
For anyone with arthritic hands and fingers, the Naot Believe is so easy to fasten and adjust. The back heel strap has a small amount of elastic for a customized fit and the instep strap is fastened with velcro. I also like the slight elevation of the 1 1/4" heel which is recommended for plantar fasciitis. All in all, this is a very walkable shoe.
What makes the BE collection environmentally friendly?
- Vegetable tanning of leather uppers: less pollution
- Less glue, more stitiching: significantly reduces use of chemical adhesives.
- Handmade: less machinery, less pollution.
- Soles made from latex, a natural rubber from the Caoutchoua tree.
- Natural cork insoles: recyclable
The photo above shows that you don't always have to wear sporty shoes with cargos or jeans. I had fun putting this together. The scarf is from Old Navy and I highly recommend picking one up for around $10--I think they're still in the stores. It's made of cotton so not itchy, and can be worn many different ways.
A word on sizing: I ordered the 41 as I'm closer to a 10 than 9. It's a tad roomy, but perfect with socks.
Where to buy the Naot Believe and other shoes from the BE collection:
- OnlineShoes.com: $169.95, free shipping and exchanges.
- Zappos: $169, free shipping both ways.
- PlanetShoes.com: $169 (limited sizes currently), free shipping, free returns.
