Activewear has been getting more and more fashion-forward [1] — and sneakers have followed suit. While many of us used to hit the gym in an old college t-shirt, beat-up shoes, and a pair of baggy shorts, it's now a rarity to see someone in anything other than runway-ready athletic styles. But do these trend-focused pieces hold up for exercise?
That was my concern when I went to order a pair of APLs. If you haven't heard of them yet, you've likely seen them — those low-profile, subtly branded sneakers that have been taking over Instagrams everywhere (and they're one of Oprah's favorite things from 2016 [2]!). APLs caught my eye when I noticed a friend wearing them last Summer, and I couldn't identify the brand. "Those aren't Nikes. . . . They're not Adidas. . . . What . . ?" As someone who can typically pinpoint a make, model, and year of sneakers, I was stunned and knew I had to get my hands on a pair.
My first thought? "They're probably not that functional, but they're so damn cute I have to get them anyway." Boy, was I wrong. Look — I'm not a running-shoe snob, but I have my favorites that I've gravitated toward over the past two and a half years of my journey [4], with five half marathons [5] and a handful of five, 10, and 15Ks thrown in there. Though I typically wear a thicker stability shoe, I was wildly impressed with these low-profile APLs. In fact, they're my new fitness gear obsession. Here's my experience with (and details on) the TechLoom Phantom Pro [6] model.
Fit and Feel
- Super soft, cushioned, and comfortable
- In my experience, they had to be broken in a little
- Sock-like upper that you slide into, with a snug, secure fit (you should still wear socks, though)
- Upper feels like a wetsuit — it's neoprene
- Laces don't make a huge difference in how snug they fit
- They run small — I'm a 5.5 in Adidas, 5.5 to 6 in most Nikes, and these were snug at a 6. Nordstrom recommends ordering a size up; I'd recommend ordering a half-size up.
- They're so snug that after a while, they press down (and indent) the top of my feet. This is after hours of wear.
Specs
- "8mm drop from the heel to the forefoot" (meaning, there's 8 mm more cushion in the heel than there is in the toe area). Moderate to minimalist shoes have anywhere between a 4 and 10 mm drop.
- 4-way stretch upper
- "Proprietary Athletic Propulsion Labs Propelium midsole/outsole" — less rubber, less weight
- 7.9 ounces: very light, but not featherweight
Functionality
For running: I've worn my TechLoom Phantom Pro APLs on several runs; my longest run was about five miles. It was a nice, neutral ride — more stability and cushion than a Nike Free, but much closer to a barefoot run than a stability shoe like Brooks Adrenaline; a supportive sweet spot, really. They were also pretty springy, light, and soft but still had a controlled and stable feel. I'd recommend them for shorter training runs if you don't need a lot of support. I do need more support for longer distances, so I'll probably switch to something with a slightly more cushioned outsole and a bit more arch support when I start tacking on miles for training.
For training: It's important to note that this specific shoe model is intended for running and that wearing running shoes to weightlift and train can be unsafe [9], especially if the heel is really cushioned. That said, I found the APL Techloom Phantom Pro's outsole and heel cushioning to be extremely similar to my Nike Free Transform Flyknit [10] trainers. So I gave them a go in Barry's Bootcamp, in Speedplay [11], and a few other classes at Equinox. To be honest, I've never felt more comfortable; I felt as supported running as I did lifting dumbbells, doing box jumps, and squatting with barbells. These are the ideal shoes for a mixed format class like Barry's, Speedplay, or Orangetheory (which have you running on a treadmill for part of class), one of 2017's big workout trends [12]. If you're planning on trying a class that involves running, APLs are perfect.
For everyday: APLs are great shoes for walking around, so you'll want to mix them into your everyday active or athleisure looks. As mentioned in the fit and feel review, if I wear these for several hours, the top of the shoe indents my foot and can become uncomfortable, so I'd recommend them for shorter wear.