Ok, I do keep my promises! (big apology to Philippe H. about the delay on a review) The shoes I will be talking about are the FUSED Oki and I bought these April 8th and they arrived April 17th. My order number was #1346!
Website: 4.5/5 Doesn't need to be talked about much but just thought it was something to mention because it looks so simple and the shoes are really what add a crazy look to the site. Easy to use and great explanations like on the recycle program which is a big plus!
Communication: 5/5 I can't actually give enough praise to how quick and easy it was (since I actually made a mistake in my order) to have the order fixed!
Now onto the actual review of the shoes; I will start w/ acknowledging the fact of why it took so long to make a review! Really it was due to the fact that I had no clue what it took to make a 3D printed shoe from concept to a reality and now I understand the process more and OWN 5 pairs of 3D printed shoes: 1 from FUSED, 3 from Zellerfeld (1 being the 2.0 updated shoes they have now), and 1 slide from Autrion (Which funny enough look like the Eirean Fused footwear shoes if they were slides)
I want to tell you the cons first so you know what you are getting before you buy it AND tell you Pros last because I do think these are a good purchase IMO and want you to still have an open mind when looking to purchase a pair (if not the Oki a different pair)
cons
1. (more of a funny gripe) The shoes are LOUD! It's hard to explain but it happens when you pick up your foot and when you actually take a step. When you pick your foot up, the top of your foot interacts with the shoe upper and when your foot lands, I would have to say probably due to the layering and how it collides it makes a crunch sound. But that actually isn't what makes the LOUD noise its the crunch paired to the sounds of the holes in the shoes. It's easy to tell on the FUSED Gaiba (black pair second picture with grey background) that there are holes on the top and its so hot air doesn't stay in (I could only assume). Due to the holes being just small enough they actually make a whistle/gasp sound because with every step, air escapes and gets sucked back in. No matter what you are doing running, walking, or just have a nice stride while jogging, these shoes make that air noise through the holes and that crunch sound. The only real way I could see that sound changing is if the holes were a bit wider on the shoes so the air isn't forcing itself out and through a small hole, like a persons mouth it needs to open a bit wider to get more air in. The crunching sound I think just comes with the material but it might help to have something inside the upper or make the upper slightly thicker so the collision is more padded with the top of your foot so it isn't as loud.
2. 1 complaint I have is the fact that the upper is thin. I said before about the sound that the upper could be thicker. Well the reason I think that is not just the sound but the actual shoe "quality" itself. If the upper of the shoe was more like the midsole/outsole of the shoe (specifically where the ball of my foot/the forefoot part of the foot) and was a little thicker, enough to still have some movement and as it gets to the ankle area it gets gradually gets thinner the shoe would be more solid as a whole and would still be able to bend as it does for the bottom. I think the idea behind the holes in the shoe is a great idea to combat your feet getting warm but I think if tweaked the execution of these shoes would make them go from B- to S tier. I think that could be a fix because as it stands the soles of the shoes are great but the uppers feel more like, when you go to a costume store and look at the plastic swords or plastic costume pieces for cosplay they just feel way to easily bendable and a tad too hollow.
3. MIGHT NOT BAD but I have seen the prices of the shoes go up and that isn't a bad thing if the quality has improved w/ the price but just to note I bought these shoes when they were $145 ($180 w/ shipping). The shoes now are $195 w/o shipping so with the shoe price increasing by more than a 1/3 I can only think it's due to better quality or faster printing.
PROS!!!
1. Design wise these shoes are INSANE!!! I have always wanted something that looks fluid and solid at the same time and these deliver!
2. Quality of print is amazing and durable, the lines in this shoe aren't noticeable because of the position it is printed, and due to the position being up and down, light hitting it makes it look awesome, kinda lenticular.
3. COMFY! If holes were bigger I think they wouldn't be as warm inside but all in all they are comfy w/ a nice dense midsole and outsole, and great sizing.
This brand is more pros than cons for sure and is a 4/5 btw they come w/ a shoehorn and insoles. I hope they continue because I do want FUSED Gaibas but I really want FUSED to be as big as any other footwear brand! I believe in FUSED fully and can't wait for more.
