I first noticed Cushe (pronounced “Cushy”) at a recent footwear trade show and was so impressed with their shoes that I wanted to test them out as soon as possible. They look like a brand that is very hip and encouraging an active outdoor lifestyle even though their logo featured a laid back and relaxed lifestyle (lazy boy or sitting boy silhouette). But they design serious shoes for the not so serious athletes.
Cushe was born in the summer of 2004. An independent-thinking, design-led footwear brand, Cushe offers unique and exciting footwear choices for a dynamic, inspired, and confident generation. Creating leading-edge designs for lifestyles as varied as the independent men and women they gleefully call their customers who day in and day out do things their own way at their own pace.
First up, the C.L.I.M.A.T.E. collection – Contains Low Impact Material And Thinking Environmentally. This is proof that a footwear company can make fresh and exciting products that is simple, environmentally conscious, and at an affordable price. From the CLIMATE collection, is the Shucoon, based on the cocoon concept – two soles connect to form the cocoon. Made simply with a recycled rubber outsole, recycled EVA midsole, natural hemp uppers, and stretched-Lycra made of recycled fibers. This is as minimalistic as it gets!
Using recycled materials and a much smaller box, Cushe can ship more shoes in less space and therefore reducing the environmental cost of getting these shoes to their intended locations around the globe.
The Shucoon Slide is a women’s only shoe that can be worn with closed or open toes. The heel can be folded down so you can easily configure the shoe to be a slide slipper.
The Shucoon Slide weighs 6.8 ounces (size 9) and has a stack height of 16mm and is almost a zero drop shoe – 1mm to 2mm differential. There is no insert or insole and the footbed is seamless for sockless wear.
The Shucoon Slide has an upper material made of organic cotton/hemp with Neoprene lining and microfiber in-sock. The midsole is made of a molded EVA for added cushioning and support. The outsole is made of molded rubber with pressed canvas.
The Shucoon Mocc is a men’s shoe looks more traditional than a moccasin.
The Shucoon Mocc weighs 9.8 ounces (size 10) and has a stack height of 20mm and is also almost a zero drop shoe – 1mm to 2mm differential. Like the Shucoon Slide, there is also no insert or insole and the footbed is seamless for sockless wear.
It has an ultra-wide toe box and that was what drew me to the shoe initially. The non-traditional design and softness in the uppers sealed the deal for me.
The Shucoon Mocc also has an upper material made of organic cotton/hemp with Neoprene lining and microfiber in-sock. The midsole is made of a molded EVA for added cushioning and support. The outsole is made of molded rubber with pressed canvas. Identically built with the same materials as the Shucoon Slide, the Shucoon Mocc has an additional elastic lacing system.
The Shucoon Mocc is one of the most comfortable shoe (great as a recovery shoe too) I have ever worn on all terrains for walking and other outdoor activities. I would choose this over Patagonia Advocate Moc or OeTZI330 GMS300.
There is moderate cushioning but not as much as you think based on the deceptive cocoon-looking outsole. The toe box is very generous and uppers very soft and flexible. And after walking about 4 miles with my dogs in them (sockless of course), I never experienced any rubbing on my feet. And my toes were able to spread and splay freely up and down hilly asphalt and concrete. The glove-like and snug fit kept my feet warm at night and the shoe felt like an extension of my feet.
The only negative I have for these shoes is that if you wear it as much as I do for walking on asphalt and concrete (3 miles daily) is that the pressed canvas outsole started unraveling. But I’m not the norm and these shoes are designed for the beach and sand.
Cushe was set up as a direct response to the global brands that dominate the lifestyle footwear market. Their aim is to make something a bit different, unique and set apart from the masses, challenging the boundaries of footwear design rather than following trends set by others. Keep your eyes (and feet) out for great products from Cushe! We will review Wild Run and Baja Mocc WP shoes from Cushe Universal Traveler collection in a future post.
Now available in many trendy colorways for men and women.
You can check out Cushe shoes at Cushe and Planet Shoes.
*Product provided by Cushe (MSRP $80). CMP.LY/1 Review
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