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By now, you should be familiar with the crew over at 8000Kicks. They’re making all manner of stuff out of hemp, including shoes that lean into the cannabis connection, casual waterproof sneakers, and a waterproof hemp backpack that’s ready for commuter duty. Now, they’ve expanded into a category that will keep your feet comfortable for a jog, or even just lounging around. Meet the 8000Kicks Hemp Runners.
What are they?
The 8000Kicks Hemp Runners are a pair of running shoes that take the modern approach to the knit runner, and turn things towards the more sustainable. They do that, first and foremost, with the knit uppers made of hemp. Along with being an easy-to-grow fiber, hemp is also naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. That helps to keep the shoes from getting to be a smelly biohazard. Hemp itself isn’t naturally stretchy, so this is blended (with what looks to be a polyester) to give it that stretch. That means comfort as you move with the shoes, as well as superb ease of putting them on.
They’ve also got a hemp insole, and the soles of the shoes are made from recycled soles of older running shoes. So, by putting a pair of these one, you’re also helping to keep 25g of plastic (per pair) out of landfills. Even with those components in there, these look to be super springy, which should help with comfort, as well as propelling each part of your stride.
Perfect for warm weather?
With the knit structure of the uppers of the 8000Kicks Hemp Runners, these look like they should be plenty breathable, letting both moisture out, and cooler air back in, helping your feet to stay dry and comfortable. While their other shoes are indeed waterproof, these are not labelled as such, so bear that in mind if you’re heading out on a rainy day.
Even if you’re not going out for a run, the 8000Kicks Hemp Runners look to be super comfortable, with a dose of fashionable looks while at the same time keeping things subtly branded. You’ve got some rather neutral colors that will work with just about whatever you’re wearing, as well as a brighter pink pair if you are looking for that pop of color.
Finally, they’ve got a slightly wider toebox than most running shoes have. This gives your toes a bit of wiggle room, as well as allowing for some extra space (aside from the stretching of the upper) for your foot to spread and move more naturally as you go through your paces.
Wrapping things up
To date, we’ve been impressed with the 8000Kicks hemp products that we’ve been able to test out hands-on. The new 8000Kicks Hemp Runners look to be another solid addition to their catalog, whether you’re looking for a new pair to log some miles this summer, or just need a comfortable pair of shoes for your commute into the office. They’re currently funding over on Kickstarter, with the campaign closing out on April 20, 2024 (420 and all that). Earlybird pricing puts a pair of these shoes at half off of the MSRP, so you’ll be pledging $99 for a pair. They’ve smashed through their funding goal, so you should be seeing these – if you back them – in August this year. Check out all the details, and pick up your pair, over at kickstarter.com / 8000kicks.com
