I Tried It: Why Iambic’s $600 AI-Tailored Kicks Might Be Your Feet’s Favorite High-Performance Sneakers

We tested the tech-powered footwear brand’s Model T, a custom-engineered shoe already beloved by fitness coaches, athletics directors and sports execs

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As a flat-footed former runner, I know the struggle of finding the best shoes for walking. So when I discovered Iambic, a tech company that uses artificial intelligence and old-school shoemaking to create the ultimate comfortable sneaker, at CES earlier this year, my exhausted feet were listening.

The NYC-based startup uses your smartphone camera, “NASA-grade computer vision” and its proprietary AI to design a pair of walking shoes that support all-day comfort, better posture and performance. In the brand’s words, “each seam and sole contour is shaped by 20+ biometric variables on foot structure and biomechanics,” and the kicks are then made by master artisans (yes, real humans) in Portugal from full-grain Italian leather in your choice of black or white – a popular silhouette among athletics directors, fitness coaches and sports execs.

Iambic’s flagship Model T shoes cost $600, and you’ll get them in about 4 weeks. The shoes are HSA/FSA Eligible, and they’ve also been named one of TIME‘s Best Inventions. The company works with well-known podiatrist Dr. Hylton Menz (known for his scientific research on footwear), and its technology was developed through research funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Center for Biotechnology.

Looking back at the Las Vegas tech show, there were a few things that Iambic ceo and co-founder Maeve Wang said that resonated with this weary walker. (By the time I plopped into a seat for her “Fashion Meets Function” panel, I’d walked about 80,000 steps across four days.)

“It’s hard to talk about innovation when we’re not even getting the basics right. Research shows that two-thirds of people are wearing shoes that don’t fit,” she said. “The industry relies on outdated sizing. Once people experience a shoe that understands you, it’s hard to go back.” She pointed out that we obsessively track our sleep, workouts, heart rate and other biometrics, so why don’t we treat footwear – the foundation of a healthy skeletal system – the same? That’s why her company takes a similar approach to analyzing how pressure, gait and age affect the fit of our sneakers. (Judging from the wearable-sporting crowd’s response, this revelation struck a chord with the rest of the room.)

After testing out the Model Ts during long days at Disneyland and in daily life, I now see why F1 filmmaker Luke Asper, former D1 lacrosse athlete Sarah Hermalyn, and Grammy-winning producer and DJ Zedd are among the tech-powered footwear brand’s megafans. On that note, keep reading for my honest review of Iambic’s custom shoes, what it’s like going through the customization process and how they stand up against other popular walking shoes (including one that rivals its $600 price tag).

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: The Bottom Line

Whether you’re an on-the-go fitness executive, a busy commuter or just someone who wants the very best walking shoes that money can buy, Iambic’s Model T kicks are exactly where to-the-T form, function and fashion align.

Iambic Sneaker Design Process: From 3D Scan to Delivery

After placing your shoe order, you’ll get an email with a link to your Client Portal that you’ll access on your smartphone. The approximately 15-minute process starts with a fit questionnaire about the source of your shoe discomfort (whether the arch is too low or high, or if your heels dig or slip, and so on) and your preferences for cushioning and shoe flexibility (to name a few). Then you’ll start the smartphone 3D scanning process, which requires a few pieces of standard printer paper and hard, flat and dark floors with a uniform texture.

You’ll then take photos of each foot from different angles to complete the scan and fit analysis. (Sorry, I’m not giving away my metatarsal selfies for free here.) Iambic captures your foot geometry, contours, pressure zones and more down to the millimeter before sending your data through its proprietary AI shoe fit engine, which compares your scans against more than 50,000 anonymous fit profiles. All those details are then built into every part of the leather upper, sole, insole and heel to support your foot’s natural movement and comfort.

Iambic co-founder and chief technology officer Dr. Raza Hassan helped me connect the biomechanical dots in footwear during our virtual consultation. He explained how our DNA can dictate why not every shoe is a good fit – and that conversation changed the way I shop for shoes. (He does, after all, have a PhD in biomedical engineering.)

When I joked that sweaty, skinny, no-arched feet run in my family (which also happens to be full of runners), he explained that these are the details overlooked in one-size-fits-all footwear.

“The sweatiness of the foot, that’s prevalent in Southeast Asia. The general trend is that the forefront is wider and the heel area is narrower, because in Southeast Asia, they have toes that are considerably bigger than other toes with a more bony structure,” adapted to suit the tropical climate and generations of barefoot walking, he said. As a first-generation Filipina-American who’s not too far removed from her family’s roots in the Philippines, my foot problems finally made sense.

Many American shoe manufacturers base their shoe lasts (the 3D molds traditionally made of wood) on Caucasian feet from the 1950s and ’60s, which are typically less bony and have more muscle and a wider size, he explained. Back then, performance was different. Now we have to take into account your foot and performance profile. These two factors have changed. Today, someone might be on their feet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but then they have to go to social events as well,” he said.

The company keeps you in the loop at every step of the process. I got email updates when my scans were received, when my lasts were made and when my shoes were being designed, in production and in transit. About two and a half weeks after my virtual consultation, my shoes arrived at my door.

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: Comfort & Fit

Most shoes feel comfortable when you try them on, but not all still feel like walking on clouds at the end of the day. As someone with flat, narrow steppers, I’ve found that many off-the-shelf shoes often leave the bone of my pinky toe (where many people get bunions) and the balls of my feet sore after just a few hours. The back of my right heel tends to slip out of my shoes more than my left, and if I don’t wear my custom orthotic inserts, I get painful shin splints that’ll cut the day short. (See: Dr. Hassan’s explanation above.)

I experienced none of this while wearing the Model Ts. If we’re comparing price tags and use case, I’ve worn Iambic’s shoes and Golden Goose’s equally expensive (and not at all customized) kicks on separate occasions to Disneyland (where I usually log at least 20,000 steps per visit as a passholder) and on average days filled with meetings, errands and school pickups. Guess which pair still had me standing while enjoying churros at the end of the night?

Given my foot anatomy, it’s rare when I have nothing bad to say about a shoe. Whether I was strolling through Fantasyland or grocery store aisles, my footwear only crossed my mind when I noticed there was no fatigue, sore toes and blisters by mid-day. My back and shoulders weren’t sore at the end of the night. From the heel counter to the toe box, every part felt like it was made just for my feet and preferences (because they were).

I didn’t even need to use my orthotics; for once, I was surprised that the cushioned foam insoles (the shoes include an extra pair) and the very supportive triple-layer midsole actually powered me through the day. Within a few days, I found that the leather adapted comfortably to my feet, too.

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: Style

Most agree that style is subjective. I love my Salomon XT-6s and New Balance 327s, but there are times when I want a more streamlined, not-so-sporty silhouette. On those days, I find myself reaching for my Iambics when I want to look professional or more polished, or when I need a multi-tasking pair while traveling. Every detail on the Model Ts looks luxurious, from the green piping on the padded collar to the minimalist seams and construction.

And though this isn’t necessarily a style feature, what I love about Iambic is that though the design process begins with tech, it ends in the hands of expert craftspeople in Portugal. “Workers are taken care of; they make a good wage in a healthy environment,” Hassan said.

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: Engineering & Longevity

Ask your local athletic shoe department specialist, and they’ll tell you that supporting a healthy gait is the key to extending the life of your shoes. That’s also part of the footwear startup’s design philosophy.

When I compared the Model Ts to the aforementioned Golden Goose sneakers and other kicks in my closet that I’d worn about the same amount of time, I noticed that those shoes showed more uneven wear on key flex points and certain spots on the soles. Because Iambic designs its pairs to wear evenly based on your biomechanics, it also ensures the goods last longer. That’s why I fully expect to get exponentially more mileage out of these sneakers.

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: Price

The footwear industry loves to talk about “cost per wear” when justifying its prices. So should you shell out $600 for bespoke Italian leather shoes designed precisely to keep your feet (and your feet only) comfy all day? It’s not a bad price when you consider that you might already be burning through several pairs of your go-to $150 walking shoes that may be over-engineered for your feet’s specific shape and needs. Iambic guarantees that its product is “built for years of daily wear,” and in my experience, I believe it.

Admittedly, I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on heels that I look forward to kicking off at the first chance. Though my Iambic shoes were gifted for the purpose of this review, I’m not at all ashamed to say that I’d happily invest in a new pair if the time ever comes.

Iambic Model T Sneakers Review: The Final Verdict

If you’re tired of replacing your airport shoes every year, look to Iambic to help you hit the ground running fresh off the plane, train or automobile. Thanks to the sleek black and white leather options, their shoes have a modern, unisex look that I find goes with blazer and suit sets, casual dresses and jeans-and-a-tee ‘fits.

Eventually, Iambic plans to roll out its Precision Fit Program ($300 annually), allowing you to get a new pair of custom-fit shoes every 12 months and early access to “new silhouettes, materials and performance upgrades.” The company safely stores your data so that future shoes can be re-optimized based on insights from its Sole Fit technology (seen in those little green lines around the soles), which tracks the wear on your pair.

As someone who prioritizes maximum comfort and style (and believes the two can be “sole” mates), I look forward to every opportunity to step out in my Model Ts all day. And as a journalist who has covered fashion and tech, I wouldn’t be surprised if the future of designer footwear involves bespoke Prada or Gucci sneakers powered by Iambic.

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