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It was the combination of my least favorite conditions: drizzly weather mixed with uneven surfaces. But with less than two months to go in my Boston Marathon training, I set off on a run, despite not having my running shoes on me. On my feet: Lululemon’s first casual sneaker, the Cityverse.
Making its debut last month, the everyday shoe with a classic silhouette was not designed for running. Yet as I ran along the New Jersey side of the Hudson River Walkway, constantly switching between surfaces—from hard concrete and rickety bricks to wooden decks with loose boards, and even some muddy patches—I felt fast. With every step, a light but powerful rebound off the bouncy cushioning propelled me forward. Plus, while I’m usually such a wimp about walking on slippery surfaces that I clench my toes, I found myself relaxed and confident, thanks to the impressive outsole grip.
How does the Cityverse sneaker hold up?
After putting the Cityverse sneaker—and my own feet—through the ringer on that impromptu run, I had expected to finish with soaked socks and blisters galore—not to mention mud caked all over the bright white shoes. To my surprise, my socks were bone dry, my feet felt as good as they did after a regular run in my worn-in Hokas, and I only had a tiny splash of mud on the toe of one shoe, which easily wiped away.
While there’s nothing in their description about being waterproof, or even water-resistant, during this recent slew of rainy days, I’ve taken them out in everything from sprinkles to downpours. Earlier this week, I even purposely stepped into a puddle, just to see if any moisture would seep through. Nada. Every fiber on my sock was as dry as could be.
What are the sneaker's materials?
From its 3D molded support and cushioning to its high-abrasion rubber traction, this no-fuss, everyday shoe is all about keeping you comfortable on the move. The mixed material upper has a basic four quadrant pattern when viewed from above, giving it both pattern and texture, but also a streamlined, timeless look that works with most any outfit. I’ve paired the sneakers with running clothes, business casual dresses, jeans, and dress slacks. It's worked well with all of them—after all, nothing is as versatile as a white sneaker.
How does it compare to other shoes?
Previous to this, my go-to casual shoes were Vessi's waterproof sneaker. Their flexible material is helpful, as my feet tend to swell, especially on travel days with lots of walking or long plane rides. As much as I’m grateful to the brand's Weekend Sneaker for bringing comfort to my troubled feet, I’ll admit that I've never been a big fan of the style, and always felt slightly self-conscious wearing them.
My other go-to casual shoes are from French brand Veja. However, I often come back home with painfully scrunched toes when wearing them for long periods of time. The leather material has such little give that I've found myself having to unlace my shoes in the middle of the afternoon to let my feet breathe.
The Cityverse solved both of those pet peeves, with a style I can look down on and enjoy, as well as a much wider toe box—designed with women's feet in mind—so that all 10 of my toes have their own space to move. “Every product we make is designed to embody our feel-first philosophy, which is rooted in the belief that when you feel your best, you perform your best,” Lululemon’s chief product officer Sun Choe said in a press release.
Final verdict:
Despite being late to the Lululemon bandwagon (I was originally skeptical of the price point), the Canadian brand has won me over product by product. What impressed me most when Lululemon first broke into the footwear market in 2022 was the shoe shape itself. Instead of being designed for a man’s foot and sized down for women, like so many on the market, the sneaker was specifically designed for the anatomy of a female foot, with a wider forefoot and narrower heel. What that meant: support without squeezing and room for my toes to breathe.
The Cityverse shoe is paving new ground, as Lululemon's first footwear option specifically for men (it comes in men's and women's sizes, each designed to cater to specific needs, informed by a study of the male foot morphology).
In just a few days, the Cityverse shoe proved its worth: I wore them zig-zagging around New York City, running up and down subway stairs on icy days, and walking to a coffee shop in my hometown of Hoboken. With the northeast's recent yo-yo weather, I've worn them on both warm sunny days and in freezing temperatures (good news: they kept my toes warm).
And while it usually takes me a few weeks to break in new shoes, the Cityverse sneakers were comfortable from the moment I took them out of the box.
What's next for Lululemon?
The Cityverse is just one of the brand’s latest footwear announcements. Later this month, the Beyondfeel running shoe will hit shelves with a focus on cushioning to allow runners a “softer heel-to-toe-glide.”
Also in the works: Beyondfeel Trail, designed to tackle the unpredictable surfaces of trail running and keep you steady on rocks, dirt, and debris. Both will be available in women’s and men’s styles. And later this year, the Restfeel sandal.
