Water-Resistant Cannabis Shoes? These hemp shoes are made for walking, not smoking! Honest Review of 8000Kicks Cannabis Sneakers
Hi friends! Our pals at 8000Kicks sent me a pair of water-resistant and splash-proof cannabis sneakers in exchange for an honest review. 8000Kicks sneakers are minimalist in design. They come in three different neutral colors at this time: white and black, all black, and beige and green.
8000Kicks sneakers are made vegan materials only such as recycled (harmful) algal blooms and strong hemp fibers. (Hemp is stronger than steel!) The hemp fibers uses are pesticide-free, and hemp requires five times less water than cotton. Apparently, hemp also purifies the soil it grows in! The hemp fibers are spun into “yarn” and then woven into the splash-proof textile that makes 8000Kicks the cannabis sneakers they are. A vegan, eco-friendly, water-resistant sneaker!
Black and white 8000Kicks sneakers in woman’s size 8
I prefer the beige and green sneakers, but don’t mind the black and white pair because I feel like Tim Cook when I’m wearing them (I just need a full black ensemble to match). Your 8000Kicks will come in a fully-recyclable box and come with an extra pair of laces. The box is fully branded and nice, and the shoes come with a special thank you card.
from 8000kicks.com
Origin story
“The first use of hemp fabric dates back to the year 8000 BC. So while we may think of hemp as trendy and new, it actually has a long history as one of the strongest and most versatile natural materials. We wanted to honor that heritage in our name. In other words hemp is as old as agriculture, about 10,000 years old. That's a loooong time ago, right?”- 8000kicks.com
Comfort
These lightweight sneakers are quite comfortable! The hemp insoles are removable, soft, and flexible. I would prefer them to be just a little thicker. Arch support is moderate, and your ankles will feel sturdy enough in these sneakers. People with flat feet (like me) should find these shoes supportive and comfortable.
Can you run in 8000Kicks sneakers?
I believe you can do a light jog or a short run in these sneakers.
Pricing
A pair of 8000Kicks sneakers costs $129.
Vessi waterproof Weekend sneakers cost $155
Allbirds water-resistant Mizzles cost $135
Fit and Sizing
The sneakers fitting feels true to size. (Please note many reviewers have mentioned the shoes seem to run smaller.) I normally wear a size 8 in Women’s, and my size 8 in Women’s 8000Kicks feel just fine (without socks). These sneakers have a wider profile when the laces are loose; people with wider feet, you may be in luck since these are wider shoes (even though they do not offer wide sizes). The silhouette of these sneakers is not that sexy when the laces are loose, so be sure to tighten the laces. I’m not 100% sure if they’re the right sneakers for people with bunions.
Washing and Care
8000kicks shoes are not machine-washable or machine-dryable. You can wash them with warm water and soap. After cleaning them, air dry them.
Water-resistant properties
I tested the sneakers under a steady trickle of water in the sink, and none of the water seeped through. At this time, the 8000Kicks are not 100% waterproof (deep submersion, high water pressure), but they are splash-proof and water-resistant. Hemp fibers are breathable, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial; however, if your feet tend to stink and sweat, your shoes will not smell like strawberries and fresh grass fields after multiple wears.
Returns and Exchanges
Once you receive your 8000Kicks, you have 30 days to try them before initiating a return or exchange. Please note that the original packaging must be available, and the sneakers should not show any sign of wear and tear. Basically, just try them on indoors over carpeting, and make sure your feet aren’t dirty, stinky or smelly when you are trying them. “We currently have free shipping to the US and UK, and for our Canadian neighbors and European friends we have reduced shipping. We do not offer free returns yet, but we are working on it.”
Can you smoke these shoes?
Please don’t! You won’t get high from smoking hemp fabric. You’ll probably get very sick and need hospitalization. Also, you won’t have to worry about being jailed for wearing hemp shoes. All good, valid questions! Also don’t stab, rake, tear the shoes. While hemp fibers are stronger than steel, hemp fabric will wear and tear!
Hemp face mask?
A pretty sturdy and breathable face mask made from hemp fibers. Did not get high from it, and will not smoke it, but will wear it and keep six feet apart from others during this pandemic!
Final thoughts
I appreciate brands that are eco-friendly and innovative. 8000Kicks sneakers are made with vegan materials (hemp and algae). At first, I felt the name was a bit gimmicky but it does honor the heritage and long history of hemp used as a fabric (8000 BC, when we were all still floating in the void!). If these were my sneakers, I would name them HighKicks (har har, get it? Bernardo, hire me!). I like the minimalist design, but the one thing that bugs me is the branding stitched into the tongue. (I could just remove it, but then would people know these are 8000Kicks, sneakers made from hemp fiber?) I’m looking forward to seeing what else 8000Kicks will come up with, and love how harmful algae are removed from marine ecosystems and recycled as outer soles. I look forward to more vibrant colors, and perhaps other accessories or even bags made from the hemp fibers (think Rothy’s lol).
Friends, what do you think about 8000Kicks? Will you try a pair of water-resistant hemp sneakers?
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. We received a sample of the 8000Kicks V2 sneakers in exchange for an honest review.