Review: We Put NikeSkims’ Trending Rift Mesh Sneakers Through A 12-Hour Wear Test

NikeSkims just launched in Singapore, and it’s about to make studio workout sessions look cuter and more snatched. From their range of adorable yet functional activewear and accessories, NikeSkims has been an activewear collaboration on my radar for a while. Other than their sports bras and leggings, there’s one accessory that many fitness girlies have had their eye on: the NikeSkims Rift Mesh sneakers.

It’s the ultimate Frankensneaker: a Mary Jane sneaker hybrid blended with a mesh ballet flat, and with a tabi toe. When they first dropped in North America back in January, the concept alone had sneakerheads and fashion girlies alike doing a double take.

Whether they loved or hated it, everyone was asking the same question: what would it be like to wear them out? I got my hands on a pair, and took them for a 12-hour spin on my day off. Here’s how it went.

First impressions of NikeSkims Rift Mesh sneakers

When I first saw the Rift Meshes at the Nike store, I was immediately reminded of cycling or spin shoes...except with a split toe. True to its marketing, the material is extremely lightweight, with mesh panels all around the tops, sides, and heels of the shoe, and a smooth and turgid outer shell — so it kept its shape as I was strolling around in-store. It’s also also molded to your foot, like shapewear, almost like wearing a second skin.

While I did try on the black version, I ended up walking away with the pinks. I know, black would’ve been a safer option styling-wise, but I’m on a personal mission to add more colour to my wardrobe this year and since the pink versions are a limited-edition colourway, I just went for it.

Do note that photos don’t do the colour justice — it is so much brighter and more fluorescent in person.

12 hours of wearing the NikeSkims Rift Meshes

I really put my pair through the ringer: I stepped out when a thunderstorm was well underway, and it continued to rain even until the evening. So, my brand new pair had to traverse through some intense tropical elements. Despite these circumstances, they were actually very comfortable.

Thanks to the shape and hard exterior, the shoes gave my feet plenty of support, and their flexible rubber soles kept me comfortable while walking. Because it was raining, my feet felt every breeze thanks to the mesh, so I’d imagine they’d keep my feet very ventilated on a hotter, and more humid day.

That said, the material is very thin. So while the shoes were very light to wear (I hardly felt them at times), walking over textured surfaces like tactile paving, gravel or even cement pavements was an experience, because I could feel every ridge and bump.

Despite how light the material is, there isn’t much give around the upper sole. So, after a few hours, I started to feel some discomfort from the tightness around the sides of my feet and had to take a short break at a cafe.

I will say, because of how bright my shoes were, every person I walked passed was practically breaking their neck looking back to stare. While resting at the cafe, I was essentially a zoo animal as passersby were fully staring at my shoes through the windows. Maybe that would’ve been less of a case if they weren’t as brightly coloured.

By the end of the day, the NikeSkims Rift Meshes survived the rain unscathed without as much as a scruff, and my feet weren’t even sore even after a 12-hour day of walking. However, the stiff heel tab had been rubbing against my achilles, so they were pretty red and irritated (no blistering, thankfully).

Final thoughts

If you love the silhouette and style of the Rift Meshes, I’d highly recommend them. They’re very dainty looking and add a quirky yet casual twist to even the simplest outfit, with the added bonus of fitting like a barely-there glove.

That said, if you have wide feet, these won’t be as comfortable. With the tapered toe box and turgid material, it’s going to be an extremely tight fit even if you size up. Because of the material of the shoe, they can’t be broken into like, say, leather, so it’s going to be a very tight squeeze at any given time.

On that note, if you plan on wearing socks with your Rift Meshes, I’d recommend going up by half a size to give your feet some room as you move around. All-in-all, a very comfortable shoe that’s easier to style than you’d think.

NikeSkims is available online and in-store at Nike stories at Nike Orchard Road at #01-01/02-01/03-01, 268 Orchard Road and Nike Jewel #02 - 232 / 233, 8 Airport Boulevard.

NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh rubber and mesh shoes, $229