Kane revive shoes review 2024: Testing the internet’s favorite recovery footwear

We tested whether these breathable slip-ons are worth the post-workout hype.

Recovery footwear is having a moment, and Kane’s Revive shoes are leading the charge.

As someone who plays basketball weekly and grew up obsessing over performance sneakers (those 2008 Olympic Hyperdunks, anyone?), I couldn’t help but notice when these started popping up on my Instagram feed. And when my pickup teammates started showing up in them post-game, I knew it was time to see what the hype was about.

Keep reading to see my overall thoughts on the Kane Revive after I got extensive hands-on experience with them.

Footwear for active recovery

Kane dubs itself as an “active recovery shoe.” But, what’s that?

Active recovery with low-intensity activities like walking and yoga is an in-motion alternative to passive recovery, in which you simply sit still or lie down. It’s similar to a cold-down jog that allows your body to remove lactic acid buildup.

Kane Revive Shoes

Testing out the Kane Revive shoes.

While passive recovery has its advantages, especially if you’re nursing an injury, active recovery is arguably better after endurance workouts.

Kane’s recovery shoes are designed to reduce foot pain and stiffness after exercise by encouraging your foot’s natural recovery process. Strategically-place bumps on the footbed are designed to increase blood flow and the cushioning is intended to reduce leg soreness.

The nitty gritty on the Kane Revive

At the risk of sounding cliché, the Kane Revive looks like a cooler, more technically advanced pair of Crocs. They’re made via injection molding in Brazil from the brand’s proprietary EVA RestoreFoam™, which is derived from Brazilian sugarcane.

Kane Revive

The Revives are made from proprietary EVA RestoreFoam™, which is derived from Brazilian sugarcane.

The upper is a slip-on singular piece with a ton of small holes for breathability and air flow spread. The rubbery texture does feel similar to Crocs, though it’s more supportive and air passes through more easily.

The speckle outsole—still one solid piece—has plenty of grooves and ridges along with a few straight “cuts” along the footbed. It’s similar to Nike’s Free Run soles that flex to the shape of your foot in motion.

On the heel is an elastic band. At first glance, I wasn’t sure what it was for, but then I quickly realized it’s a pull tab for getting them on — it’s a bit of a tight squeeze!

Kane Revives in a gym bag.

The Revives became a gym bag staple for me.

One thing that’s undeniable about the Revive is that whether you live in California, New York, or anywhere in between, they’re stylish. A little out there, sure, but you can’t call any of the colors boring. Most of the options are two-tone designs with a contrasting upper and lower.

I tested my pair of Kanes for a few weeks across several activities: First, just hanging out inside the house with casual strolls in my neighborhood; Second, after a grueling game of pickup basketball; And finally, after working out at the gym.

Kane Revive Shoes

Heading home in the Revives after my weekly basketball game.

In total, I spent about 12 hours spread out on different days and between different activities.

  • Price: $80
  • Colorway: Ivory / Cement Sparkle (+ 15 other men’s and women’s color options)
  • Materials: Sugarcane-derived EVA foam

My thoughts on the Kane Revive

Here’s what I concluded after my testing period.

They’re great for sweaty feet

Right when I started walking around in them, I could feel the breeze come through. When I get done with a workout, I’m typically not going directly back home to shower, so walking around in drenched socks is extremely uncomfortable. The holes are useful, and my feet still feel protected.

Perhaps what I’m most excited about is wearing the Revives as sandals. I’ve never been a fan of open-toe slides because they’re not very supportive and I don’t like having my feet exposed, especially at the beach. Because they’re made from foam, not fabric, they’re washable and quick drying;

I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling this year, so I’m excited to have footwear that’s more convenient than laced shoes and as versatile as sandals.

They feel like sneakers

The Revives have so much support, it’s hard to believe they’re priced under $100. Aside from the simple upper build, these function very similarly to tennis shoes. The sole is as thick as any regular pair of gym shoes, and I felt it.

When I walked around in them I had no problem going for a quick jog. Obviously that’s not what they’re intended for and they wouldn’t make good running shoes, but the point is that they have plenty of stability and cushion.

Putting them on takes some getting used to

Entering into these slip-on shoes isn’t super easy at first, especially with sweaty feet. Since Kane only offers whole unisex sizes, I went with a size 10 (I’m typically a 10.5) as they recommended. Since they’re formed more like clogs, the opening is pretty small, especially for a wider foot.

I found myself shoving my narrow foot into the base and aggressively pulling back on the ankle pull tab to get them on properly. Unfortunately, there’s a tradeoff between the laceless convenience and actually getting them on. Taking them off is a bit easier, but there’s still some friction between my skin and the sides of the shoe.

Comfort is there, recovery perks to be determined

These shoes serve wonderfully as a functional alternative to sandals, and they provide excellent support for my feet and body.

While I appreciate the comfort they offer after workouts, I’m still evaluating the specific recovery benefits. The experience of wearing them post-gym is pleasant, though I haven’t yet noticed a substantial difference in foot recovery. They’re definitely more comfortable than keeping on sweaty workout socks, and they feel supportive – even if some of the marketed benefits remain uncertain for me.

The Revviews work great to bridge the gap between finishing a workout and getting home to focus on additional active recovery modalities.

Pros
plus
The breathable design offers excellent ventilation and moisture management
plus
The supportive structure provides sneaker-like stability
Cons
minus
The slip-on design requires some adjustment at first
minus
Recovery benefits appear subtle in my experience

Why they’re worth it if you’re active

The bottom line is that if you go to the gym or play sports at least a few times a week, then the Kane Revives are worth it. At $80, they’re more expensive than Crocs or sandals, but they’re also not outrageous.

I love being able to quickly slip into something supportive after I take off my workout shoes and socks, and I would feel totally fine wearing these out for dinner or drinks after a game of basketball.

If you currently don’t transition out of your workout sneakers or are typically using sandals, you could benefit from the Kane Revive. They allow you to still move around without feeling like you need to be careful because your sandals can’t handle the impact and the breathable holes are a major plus.

Kane x Cope revive recovery shoe
Kane
Revive
A sustainably designed injection molded sneaker for active recovery.