Two months back, I eagerly placed my order for Kanye West’s latest creation, the Yeezy Pod – his first venture post the Adidas split.
Fast forward to mid-February, and it’s finally here. Upon inspection, I noticed the “Made In Italy” inscription on the sole, perhaps explaining the lengthy wait.
Unexpectedly, the Yeezy Pod arrived in a bag, which wasn’t quite what I anticipated.
In today’s review of the Yeezy Pod, I’ll not only unbox, or should I say unbag, this latest offering, but having spent the entire day with them on my feet, I’ll provide you with my unfiltered take on these Kanye West-designed Pods, and whether they merit their hefty price tag.
Let’s dive right into it…
Related:
Here’s our review of the Yeezy Slides Review.
Yeezy Pod Review
After this initial review, I plan to slip these Yeezy Pods back on and incorporate them into my daily attire for the entire upcoming week. Following this extended wear test, I’ll circle back with an updated review, offering insights garnered from a full week of usage.
If you’re eager to catch that follow-up, be sure to bookmark this page and stay tuned for the latest updates.
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Packaging
Inside the first bag, there was another bag that looks like a black dust bag. Alongside, the receipt serves as a harsh reminder of the $200 investment in what essentially feels like a pair of high-end socks – a notion that’s both baffling and intriguing.
The Yeezy Pods don’t have the Yeezy branding anywhere on them. So, if branding is a priority for you, these might not be your best pick.
Let me try to describe how this felt on my feet…
Yeezy Pods – How They Feel On & Under My Foot
The Yeezy Pod is a pretty thick, almost neoprene-like sock with a two-part rubber outsole that appears to be secured by an integrated insole.
The moment I slipped my feet into these Pods, I found myself immersed in what can only be described as the most peculiar try-on encounter I’ve ever experienced – donning a pair of socks atop my existing socks.
It left me pondering whether these are intended to be worn sans socks altogether, or if indeed, these Pods are the socks you’re meant to wear. The ambiguity only adds to the intrigue surrounding this unconventional footwear.
The pads on the outsole initially felt rubbery when I was unbagging them, but upon touch, they surprisingly felt softer and more akin to foam rather than traditional rubber. While this softness may be considered a positive trait, the placement of these pads left something to be desired.
As I wore the Pods throughout the day, I noticed that while the heel pod generally remained positioned under my heel, the forefoot pod tended to shift around considerably. This resulted in instances where I needed to readjust the sock’s tightness to bring my toes closer to the front of the shoe.
Despite ample room within the shoe, it managed to stay securely on my foot without slipping off entirely. Nevertheless, the noticeable movement of the pods beneath my feet proved to be somewhat frustrating – a reminder that, at its core, this is essentially a sock.
Now, let’s see how they felt without the additional layer of socks to see if that changed the experience…
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Yeezy Pods – With or Without Socks?
Right off the bat, wearing the Yeezy Pods without my own socks was a discomforting experience. The insole, or whatever it is, has a peculiar foamy texture that doesn’t offer the same comfort as a typical insole.
Unlike shoes with smooth fabric-like insoles, the Yeezy Pods feature a neoprene-like insole that feels looser in comparison.
In light of this, I strongly advise wearing socks with the Yeezy Pods, if only for sizing purposes. While it’s not uncommon to go sockless with certain shoes, these Pods seem best suited for pairing with socks to enhance both comfort and fit.
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Yeezy Pod – Fit & Sizing
When it comes to sizing, the Yeezy Pod follows the trend of other Yeezy models – it’s far from perfect. With only three available sizes for a range of 12 different foot sizes, the options are limited.
There’s a 1, 2, and 3. I grabbed a size 2 because I’m a size 9 and size 2 ranges from size 9 to size 10.5.
Each number covers like 2.5 sizes. Opting for a size 2, suitable for sizes 9 to 10.5, I find myself at the lower end of the spectrum. However, I can’t help but wonder if size 1, catering to sizes 6.5 to 8.5, might have provided a better fit, albeit potentially tighter.
Let’s dive deeper into this because there are a couple more nuances that became apparent to me only after spending an extended period wearing these shoes.
I opted for a size 2, which spans from 9 to 10.5. Being a true size 9, I found this pair to be slightly big on me. Would a size 1 have been a better fit? It’s hard to say since that range is from 6 to 8.5, and as I mentioned, I’m a size 9.
Considering I lack a prior experience with these Yeezy Pods, I would recommend sticking to the size suggested on yeezy.com. There’s likely a rationale behind their sizing recommendations. I believe most individuals should fare well by adhering to the suggested size.
Obviously, for the people whose feet are on the lower end of the range of that specific size, that’s super complicated to say, but I hope you guys understand what I mean.
It’s possible that these are designed as sock shoes, hence the fit variation, which might be more pronounced for those at the lower end of each size range.
Throughout my initial testing, I wore these shoes with socks consistently as I found they provided a better fit, perhaps because wearing socks slightly increased the size of my feet.
If any of you own a pair in a different size, like a size 1 or a size 3, feel free to share your sizing experience in the comments section below.
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Shorts
Another aspect that caught my interest is how high they sit on your leg. I paired them with shorts, but the aesthetic wasn’t flattering at all. My advice: avoid wearing these Yeezy Pods with shorts altogether.
Now let’s get into the materials that make up the Yeezy pod shoes…
Upper
The upper of the Pod is constructed like a sock, with knitted seams that converge around the heel, resembling a sock’s design.
There’s an area around the heel of the shoe where the knit gets a little bit looser and as you wear it, it kind of expands and you can see through the shoe a little bit kind of like an older pair of socks.
With black socks, it probably would cover up that whole area which also might be a weak point in the shoe. If you caught that in anything, that would probably be the area that would be most likely to rip.
Obviously, it’s around your heels so it’s not going to be catching on that much, but at the end of the day, it’s a sock so socks tear.
The knit material on the Yeezy Pods indeed appears thicker than your standard pair of socks. Although I initially likened it to neoprene, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that it’s a smooth knit with a texture reminiscent of neoprene, but distinct in its own right.
I wouldn’t call it springy, but it feels almost like it’s padded.
A notable detail worth highlighting is the top of the sock, which naturally rolls over itself. It’s not exactly a raw edge, but rather a thin one that, owing to its construction, forms a distinctive, natural cuff, adding to the shoe’s unique appeal.
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Inside
While the exterior of the shoe may give the impression that the entire upper is comprised of the knit material, an inside-out examination reveals a thin fuzzy liner, which appears to have been heat-pressed onto both the heel and footbed, , which should actually help with heel comfort and durability.
The same material extends across the entire footbed, providing a cushioned surface for your foot. However, I did notice that when wearing the shoes without socks, perspiration buildup occurred after about 30 minutes, which wasn’t particularly pleasant. Yet, when you wear it with socks, it feels fine.
Running the full length of the shoe is a rather thin foam insole, or footbed, which feels comparable in thickness to a standard insole. This foam padding is affixed—whether through glue, heat-pressing, or stitching—to the inner portion of the sneaker.
On the outer side of the shoe, you’ll find two rubber pods—one at the heel and the other at the forefoot. It’s worth noting that these pods are the distinguishing feature of the shoe, hence the name “Yeezy Pod.”
Talking about the pods…
Outsole, Pods, Traction
The pods underneath offer a unique experience that you might have to try to understand. The only thing I could think of is it feels like if you glued two rubber pods to the bottom of a pair of socks and added an insole—it might sound peculiar, but it surprisingly works.
These pods are crafted from a sparkly graphite gray rubber, which not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also exudes a premium feel.
While the traction pattern consists of horizontal lines molded into the shoe, which on their own don’t provide significant traction, the rubber compound used on the bottom of the shoe offers impressive non-slip properties.
I was genuinely surprised by how well it gripped various surfaces like hardwood, tile, concrete, and grass—I didn’t experience any slipping, which is quite remarkable compared to many other sneakers.
On the forefoot pod, you’ll notice the words “Made In Italy,” while the heel pod features two dots, presumably representing the sizing of the shoe.
Now let’s talk about the comfort of the Yeezy Pods…
Comfort
The sensation of wearing these shoes was reminiscent of what I imagine barefoot shoes with an insole would feel like.
There was some minimal padding beneath my feet, but not much. As someone with high arches, I noticed the complete absence of arch support, to the extent that it almost felt like negative arch support.
Surprisingly, after wearing them for six hours, I experienced discomfort in my arches—an unusual sensation considering I often walk barefoot without issue.
While I can’t pinpoint the exact reason for this discomfort, if you don’t require arch support, you should find these shoes comfortable. They essentially feel like walking on a very thin insole.
Breathability
In terms of breathability, when compared to a standard pair of socks, the Yeezy Pods fall short.
During my breathability tests, I wore them without socks. While they’re certainly more breathable than traditional shoes, they don’t match the breathability of regular socks.
That being said, the knit upper is exceptionally soft and stretchy. While it’s not the most breathable material out there, it’s still quite comfortable. If you recall the NMD City Sock from 2017, the feel is somewhat similar.
Yeezy Pod – Travel
One unique selling point of this shoe that they show off a bunch on the website is that you can fold these up very easily and travel with them pretty easily, which is a good thing if you’re looking for small shoes to travel with.
Yeezy Pod – Price
Unfortunately, the main issue I have with these Pods isn’t their appearance or feel; it’s their price.
If they were priced around $40, I wouldn’t have any complaints. I understand that the materials used are likely premium, and the production process, including creating molds and developing the rubber compound, can be costly.
Additionally, the knit used for the upper and the insole are likely not cheap either. While it’s plausible that the overall production cost may range from $20 to $40 at most, charging $200 for essentially a pair of socks with a rubber outsole seems excessive.
However, these are designer shoes. Comparable models, like the Balenciaga sock shoes, follow a similar design with a glued-on outsole.
So in that sense, while I still don’t think the price is justified, it does make a little bit more sense.
*Update Alert:
The Yeezy Pods have recently been discounted by 90%, possibly in response to the criticism regarding their sizing, design, and quality. However, interested buyers can now purchase them for only $20 on Yeezy.com. Additionally, those who initially paid the full $200 price can contact Yeezy Supply to receive a refund of $180.
Is the Yeezy Pod Worth the Price?
Again, the Yeezy Pod is a $200 designer shoe that essentially consists of a sock with rubber glued onto the outsole.
However, there’s a bit more to the Yeezy Pods than just that.
I must admit, while I don’t envision myself wearing these regularly, I have to commend Kanye. Regardless of your opinion of him, he undeniably possesses a visionary approach to footwear.
Certainly, some of his endeavors are more successful than others, and I honestly can’t predict whether these will become wildly popular or remain niche. Yet, Kanye West consistently pushes boundaries in the realm of fashion.
For me, exploring a new pair of Yeezys is always exhilarating because I never know what to expect.
So, is the Yeezy Pod worth it? In my opinion, absolutely not. However, if you’re a fan of Kanye West, enjoy the look of sock-like shoes, or don’t mind spending $200, this could be a worthwhile investment.
Overall, the Yeezy Pods are unconventional, and purchasing them has been one of the most daring shoe choices I’ve made in quite some time.
Let me know what you think about the Yeezy Pods down below.
