I stumbled upon kigo footwear by accident.  I was thumbing through a Wilderness Press book, Fixing Your Feet, 5th Edition by John Vonhof, and was reading the chapter on minimalist shoe options.  I have a terrible time running in general, but a few weeks ago when I went on a short run and got shin splints from my bad gym shoes, I decided I needed to make a change.  I have always wanted to have a pair of minimalist shoes — maybe it’s the romantic idea of walking barefoot, or close to it, and feeling like you’re really connected to the ground.  It helped that I had heard great things about shoes such as the Vibram Fivefingers.  Author John Vonhof listed several other minimalist shoe companies in his book besides Vibram, including kigo footwear which I had not heard of before, but I’m so happy I looked into them.

I received my first pair of kigo shoes (the kigo curv retail for $69.99) in grey with green stitching.  They are wonderful!  With the minimal sole that bends with my foot, the removable insole, and the breathable material, my feet have been feeling mega free.  They have become my most worn shoe next to my TOMS, and I wear them for more than just everyday use.  I’ve been hiking in them, waded through a creek and large puddles (they don’t shrink up or blister my skin when wet), exercised, and ran in them.  The shoes also have a fixed webbing loop on the heel so you can easily pull them on and off.  I’ve had a few of the stitchings come loose which I was able to fix by snipping off the excess, but that’s the only problem I’ve come across after nearly a month of daily use.  They are really versatile shoes, but my favorite part about them is that they are environmentally friendly.

Kigo prides themselves on being responsible for their carbon footprint, and therefore utilizing the resources they have to reduce their footprint on the Earth, that are making big steps in being a great, green company.  The “Kigo Philosophy” is to Avoid (by working from home and telecommuting), Reuse (using recycled materials such asCYCLEPET), and Reduce (using minimal packaging for the shoes and shipment).  When I received by pair of Kigo Curv shoes, they came in a thin, recycled, soft envelope with the shoes wrapped in a clear, 100% biodegradable corn starch bag that I can now bury in the ground.  How cool is that?

I dare you to find another shoe company willing to go as far to be kind to our planet with shoes as comfortable, versatile, and stylish as Kigo’s.