Be Lenka Eazy is one of those shoes that I really, really, REALLY wish I could have kept. I love the look and the ease of wear, but they were too low-volume for me. That doesn’t stop me from sharing my thoughts, though, and how those of you with lower-volume feet can enjoy this model.
If you’d like your own pair of any Be Lenka shoe you can use the code OWBSHOES for 5% off. That is not an affiliate code, but a just-for-you-all discount. However, if you use this link to purchase (at no extra cost to you) I am paid a commission.
For a Be Lenka model that *does* work for me, check out the City review.
Technical Specifications:
- Upper: Canvas
- Lining: Canvas
- Sole: 4 mm TPU
- 100% vegan
- Padded collar
- Removable insole
Appearance:
These shoes have a very clean and classic look and are very flattering to wear. They are listed as Sand and are mix of light brown and grey in color, with a tad more grey in them. I found that they went beautifully with different clothes, but due to the volume issue I passed them on in a few weeks so I didn’t get to test them out with my whole closet.
At the time I had the Be Lenka Eazy, I was in my first month on Instagram and was posting outfit pairings like this, instead of on me.
Sizing:
Be Lenka uses wonderfully wide lasts and all of their shoes are some of the widest on the market. They also have sizing charts for every model and always check them carefully because different models measure differently. Here is the chart for Eazy.
Be Lenka recommends that you have .5-1cm of extra space, so take that into consideration. I personally lean more toward this research that says you need 12 mm of extra space, at a minimum, for optimal big toe movement.
Width, as with almost all shoes, is more generous than what’s listed, which is the width of the last used. I wear a 43 and am just shy of 11cm wide, but do not have width issues in Be Lenka shoes.
Remember, too, that the shape of your foot matters when you’re looking at any shoe. Be Lenka’s distinctive shape is focused on giving the big toe the most room and angles in over the rest. I have a more rounded shape, which puts my 4th toe closer to the edge and my first 3 toes in the middle of wide-open space.
Fit:
These shoes are not for high-volume feet and are best-suited to medium volume. Low volume will also likely do well in them as well. I tried to wear mine without the insole, but the canvas is quite thick and between it pushing down and the firm sole pushing up, my feet were not happy. I recommend you enjoy this shoe only if you are on the lower-volume end of the spectrum (meaning that your feet are more ‘flat’ on top and don’t rise as high inside your shoes – this is not the same as having a high arch).
If you’re high-volume like me, look more at Be Lenka models with laces, especially City and Prime. Icon would still work for moderately high as well. I have not tried Ace, nor any of the higher boot models.
Breaking in:
These shoes are well-made, with thick canvas and strong elastic. I didn’t get to wear them long enough to see if the elastic would loosen or the canvas soften, but a lot of the shoe is lined in a microfiber material, so the chances of a major softening felt low. None of this is meant to discourage you, but prepare you and reinforce that you shouldn’t try to do what I did and tough it out with high-volume feet.
How do they feel?
The sole is flexible, just as barefoot shoes should be, but because it is made out of a molded, manufactured material instead of rubber the sole can still feel hard. The ortholite insole inside the shoe is cushy, but not too thick, and can mitigate that some, but it does further reduce ground feel from an already low-sensation sole. Be aware that groundfeel is there, but not primo with this sole.
As I’ve mentioned, the canvas is strong. I don’t think that would have bothered me much if I had the right volume for the shoe.
The toe-boxes on Be Lenka shoes are quite generous, which means you have plenty of space to let your toes be free. Because of their stylized design, as well, your all-important big toe will be completely unrestricted.
Cleaning and Care:
I can’t possibly top Be Lenka’s extensive care guide that comes with every pair of shoes. It’s 4 pages long! I’ve not seen one more thorough than this. The relevant part for this shoe model include:
Textile – used for light and mostly summer and household footwear. Use a brush to clean dry textile shoes together with suitable textile care products, which will impregnate and brighten colours and will partially protect your shoes from dirt. Do not use textile shoes in wet environments – this type of footwear is not resistant to outside moisture.
and
Shoes should never be washed manually or in a washing machine.
I would personally brush off dry stains and lightly hand-wash shoes like this if something worse is on them, but you need to be careful and try to avoid submerging them without knowing if that will affect the glue. And never, ever put shoes like this in a dryer.
VAT:
Be Lenka does not automatically remove VAT for those of us in countries such as the US that are not subject to it, but they will remove it on request if you use the notes field when placing your order and wait to pay the invoice until they write you back with a corrected total.
Shipping:
Shipping is via super-fast DHL and varies from about 16 to over 20 Euros, depending on the number of shoes you buy. For many of their models they operate on a pre-order system, so check the advised delivery timeframe when you order. It may say something like “Deliveries begin in the second half of [the next month]” and believe that will be the case. Once your shoes are in stock, however, they will arrive in just a few days no matter where you are located.
Returns:
Be Lenka will take care of you if there is a problem with your shoes, but they currently do not accept returns from the U.S. Be sure to contact them by email if you have any problems.
Company:
Read all about them here. They were founded to “produce barefoot shoes, ergonomic baby carriers, for newborns to toddlers, as well as comfortable and beautiful babywearing clothes, nursing and maternity clothes.” They have a great look and polished design that pulls people in again and again.
Final thoughts:
Classy look, easy to wear, and well-made. They are a great pair of shoes! Look elsewhere if you have high-volume feet, but definitely check it out if you are on the lower-end or medium in volume.
I receive no compensation for the shoes or for your purchase, but you can use the code OWBSHOES for a 5% discount.
For additional information, check out these 3 videos I made during the time I had the Eazy model (and I did most things in the Insta-friendly vertical format… sorry!).
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.