Updated in 2024

If you’ve ever searched the internet for comfortable shoes you can wear without bending over, you’ve likely ran into both Zeba Shoes and Kizik. Both companies created a similar product which allows people to put their shoes on without bending down. But which is better? What are the main differences? As an industrial engineer by trade, it’s clear to me that the functionality of both products are similar, but the way they achieve said functionality is a bit different. I personally bought a pair of Zeba Shoes and Kiziks for my own use and I find my Zeba shoes to be much more comfortable. But that’s just my experience. Beyond comfort though, Zeba ‘wins’ in terms of functionality. They’re objectively easier to put on. Kiziks are a cheaper though so they ‘win’ on that. I currently own and wear my Steel Navy Zeba Shoes.

Design: (Kizik wins on ‘look’ Zeba wins on comfort and Functionality)

The key difference between Zeba Shoes and Kizik is their design. Both Zeba Shoes and Kiziks are designed to look like regular sneakers. I’ve tried both shoes on and while Kiziks look better visually, my Zebas are much more comfortable. I’ve tried 2 different styles of Kiziks and 1 style of Zebas, and my Zeba Shoes just slide in easier and feel better on my feet. The Zebas definitely look a bit bulkier though. They clearly focused more on comfort than aesthethics. Walking a few miles in my Kiziks just didn’t feel good and the back of my foot felt irritation, whereas I regularly walk 4-5 miles a day in my Zebas without issue. Purely on aesthetics though, I think the Kiziks look better. Much better. Personally? I like my Zebas a lot more because they prioritized comfort and functionality. It’s worth mentioning though that the Zebas are a bit heavier than the Kiziks. Thise is because the functionality of the collapsible heel on Zebas are more intricate. In design, simplicity is usually better, but in this case the extra complexity in Zeba’s product results in much easier entry of your foot.

Functionality / Comfort (Winner: Zeba)

I’ve worn both my Zeba shoes and my Kiziks for a few weeks before putting this post up and I personally find my Zebas to be more comfortable. The functionality on both shoes is very similar, but it seems like my Zeba shoes slip in a little bit easier and the shoes themselves are more comfortable with Zeba. I average 7,000 or so steps per day so I’ve been able to test both extensively. Due to the slightly heavier nature of Zebas though, I don’t think they’d be suitable for running, but neither would Kiziks. Both are suitable for weight training in the gym, but for runners a performance sneaker from Nike or Asics will likely be better. Zebas and Kiziks are best used as casual walking / everyday shoes. The back functionality on Kiziks are similar to Skechers in that they can be worn by sliding them in. The back is stiff and allows your foot to slide in since the back is a bit further out whereas the Zebas actually collapse down. The functionality in Zebas definitely require more engineering, which may be why they’re more expensive.

Price (Winner: Kizik)

Zeba Shoes are available for $139.99 for most of their styles with size 14 and 15 available for a +$10 or +$20 extra. Kiziks on the other hand are significantly cheaper with most styles priced around $99, but they have styles to go all the way up to $129+. They regularly have sales on certain styles which can bring them down even cheaper, so strictly price-wise, Kizik wins. Overall though, I think this is one of those situations where you get what you pay for. Zeba Shoes cost more, but if you want better comfort over prolonged use, stick with Zeba. For shorter walks and minimal walking, the Kiziks will do just fine as well and they’re cheaper. I’ll stick with Zeba.

Update January 2024: Skechers launched their own slip on / hands free shoes to compete with Kizik and Zeba. I’ve had a chance to try them on at the mall and the basic functionality with Skechers is nearly identical to Kizik. Customers need to force their foot in with a bit of wiggling at times to get them to work, whereas the heel on Zeba shoes actually folds down then pops back up on its own. Simply put – Skechers are a competitive product against Kizik as the functionality is largely the same, but Zebas still have a unique approach to this solution and it seems to work much better. Skechers are cheaper too at just $90. I recommend trying Skechers though before making any purchase as they may be ‘good enough’ for some people and every Skechers store has hands-free shoes now. Seems like Skechers has gone all-in on the concept as they ran Super Bowl ads showing off their hands-free shoes. Still, it’s strange to me that we have multiple competitors doing the exact same functionaltiy as Kizik/Skechers, but no one has copied the more complex engineering of the Zebas.