KSwiss Aero Knit Women's Review

Comfort - Score: 4.5

Comfort was easily the highlight of the KSwiss Aero Knit playtest. Our players found these shoes comfortable from the first hit to the last. Michelle is no stranger to KSwiss shoes. She said, "First things first, the Aero Knit is a very comfortable shoe! The upper is soft, and the cushioning underfoot is plush and springy. I think we were all a bit unsure of what to expect from these shoes because of the new upper construction, but the comfort was a standout feature that was apparent from the very first wear. They also felt light and quick. Throughout the playtest, it was easy to keep these shoes on long past my court time, and I could wear them in the gym."

This was the first shoe review for our newest team member, Julie, and also her first time wearing KSwiss shoes. She said, "I was very impressed with the comfort and flexibility of the Aero Knits. At first fit, I found the length to be a little short for me, and the toe box had more width and less support than I usually like. Having narrow feet, I had to tie my laces extra tightly and decided to stick to my normal 9.5 size. After a couple hours of playtesting and a slight break-in, the length wasn't an issue anymore. I really enjoyed the super soft underfoot and the pillow-like cushioning that almost gave the shoes a bouncy feel. However, after a few ball strikes I knew I would have some issues with lateral movement. Unfortunately, the lack of support from the shoes impacted my on-court comfort, and even though the shoes were super cushy and enjoyable to wear, I didn't trust them enough to move aggressively on the court. I had a hard time pushing off the ground when changing directions because my feet were sliding in the shoes. Besides this downside, the arch support felt standard and comfortable. Also, the mesh fabric upper made these shoes super breathable, so I didn't have any trouble with ventilation."

Brittany noticed right away that the Aero Knits looked different from any other shoes she has playtested. She noted, "Sometimes I have difficulty getting bootie shoes on my feet, but I had no issues with the Aero Knits. When I was walking down to the court I was impressed with the plush cushioning underfoot and the soft upper. There was absolutely no pinching or hot spots, which also contributed to the immediate comfort. The ankle collar had just the right amount of cushioning to be comfortable, and although the tongue had little to no padding, I couldn't even tell. The fit was perfect for me; both the length and the width were true to size. They may have been slightly snug, but that worked well for my narrower feet. The shoes did get a little warm at times, but not enough for me to have to take them off."

"From the first time I saw the design of this shoe, I loved it," added Kristen. "The look was something new and innovative: the full knit upper, the hidden shoelaces, the overall cosmetic. I was excited to get my pair and try them out. They were a bit tricky to get on my feet at first. I really had to pull the material back and wedge my feet in there, but after my first go at figuring out the construction, they became easier to put on. These Aero Knits fit true to size, and right away I noticed the high comfort factor of the soft knit uppers and plush underfoot cushioning. In fact, they reminded me more of recovery shoes than tennis shoes, so I was interested to see how they were going to perform on court."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 2.8

Although the comfort of the KSwiss Aero Knits received high marks from our playtesters, the support and stability were less impressive. Kristen described, "While I didn't have as much of an issue with forward and backward movements, I had a lot of trouble moving laterally. Ankle support was definitely lacking, and during my first hitting session I made a lateral cut and felt my ankle bending slightly. Another time, when I was moving laterally, I rolled my foot slightly over the side of the shoe; the uppers simply weren't keeping my feet in place. Because of this, I was always really nervous about moving aggressively in these shoes. I doubled up on socks to try and create a more supportive feel within the shoes, but it only acted as a bandage, not a complete fix. In the end, I didn't trust the Aero Knits very much on court. However, I did love wearing them off court due to the comfort and style!"

"Looking at these shoes, I wasn't sure about the laces," continued Brittany. "However, I had no issues tying the laces and having them stayed tied. There really wasn't a lot of adjusting I could do, and honestly, I'm not even sure that tying the laces is necessary with the bootie construction. Regardless, I was looking for more support and stability with these shoes. The soft uppers didn't hold my feet in place as well as I would have liked. It wasn't as noticeable in doubles, but my feet were sliding around in the shoe as soon as I started moving aggressively in singles, which caused some unpleasant rubbing."

Julie likes to move aggressively, and she agreed that the Aero Knits could have provided more lateral support. She critiqued, "It actually took me a while to trust these shoes, and I made sure to tighten my laces as tightly as I could before each hit in an attempt to secure my feet. After a couple of training sessions I decided to double up on the socks, which helped the shoes feel slightly more supportive through the midfoot. Even after getting accustomed to the unique design of the Aero Knits, I still had trouble properly covering the court laterally. The lack of support and stability kept me from being able to react as quickly as I usually can, which was a bit frustrating. I also had a hard time finding balance on quick stops; the shoes stuck to the court and my feet slid inside them. Despite the difficulties I encountered when stopping and changing directions, I did find the shoes to be pretty responsive on quick starts. It was almost like the bouncy feel of the midsole was helping me gain extra speed when moving forward and back."

Michelle came into this playtest skeptical about the knit uppers. She said, "Although there was no shortage of comfort in these shoes, there was a bit of support missing. I had my doubts that they would be supportive enough with the knit upper. It was fairly stable and did the trick most of the time, but the second I got into point play or aggressive drilling, I was craving more support. My feet felt like they were tipping over within the shoes, and the lacing system really didn't hold me in as much as I would've liked. Moving forward was just fine, but I was hoping for more support and stability laterally. I'd love to have the ability to cinch the shoes up better in the next iteration."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.6

The outsoles of the KSwiss Aero Knits held up to our playtesters' standards for lightweight tennis shoes. The shoes performed exactly how Michelle expected. She shared, "The outsoles held up fairly well for lightweight shoes. There is some smoothing after a few weeks of wear, and these are not going to be the most durable shoes, but they're holding up according to how I would expect them to."

Kristen also found the Aero Knit's durability about on par with the average light tennis shoe. She said, "I didn't clock too many hours in these shoes, but I still noticed some slight wear on the outsoles. However, it's nothing more than I would typically expect from lightweight shoes."

Although Brittany didn't have any issues with the sole durability, she did note issues with the toe durability. She commented, "The outsoles performed above average in terms of durability, and I only had the very start of smoothing in high-wear areas. However, if you are any sort of toe dragger or are hard on the uppers, these shoes do not have adequate protection. The toe bumper is thick but doesn't cover the outside of the upper, so the knit is exposed to damage from dragging."

Julie was able to do a little more damage to her outsoles. She said, "I started noticing signs of wear within the first 10 hours of use. I usually wear my tennis shoes out pretty quickly, but the outsoles smoothed down faster than I expected. However, I was impressed with how well the cosmetics held up. Besides a few minor dark scratches on the front of my shoes due to toe dragging, the Aero Knits didn't lose their unique charm!"

Traction - Score: 3.9

Although each playtester had a slightly different opinion when it came to traction, the Aero Knits were still impressive on aggressive movements. Brittany had no complaints about the level of traction. She noted, "The traction was very predictable on the Aero Knits, which was a good thing! They had a blend of give and grip that took the guesswork out of how the shoes would perform when changing directions. The traction remained consistent throughout the playtest."

Julie was looking for a little more give. She explained, "Traction was good, but maybe slightly too grippy for these shoes. I would have enjoyed less traction for smoother transitions when changing directions. I think giving up a little bit of grip could have reduced the sliding inside the shoes, and it could have definitely helped me cover the court more efficiently."

Kristen didn't have any issues with the traction. She said, "These shoes seemed to grip the court slightly, just enough to stay grounded but not enough to feel like I was going to slip out. I was more concerned about the lack of support causing footing issues than the traction."

Even though the traction was slicker than Michelle is used to, she was a fan. She said, "The traction was great. It played a little on the slicker side, which left me a bit wary when I felt like I didn't have enough support. However, I didn't slide out at all, and I think this sort of traction is great for aggressive movers who like a bit more give from their outsoles."

Weight - Score: 4.3

At 11.1 ounces (size 8.5), the Aero Knits are currently the lightest shoes in the KSwiss lineup. Julie thought the Aero Knits did a good job of staying nimble without being so minimal that they sacrificed comfort. She noted, "The Aero Knits never weighed me down, and the plush cushioning made rallying in them super enjoyable, but I honestly wouldn't have minded more weight for extra lateral support."

The low weight was a positive for Kristen as well. She described, "In addition to comfort, another highlight of these shoes was their lightweight nature. I tend to gravitate toward light shoes, and I loved the speedy feel of these Aero Knits. I liked how the knit uppers conformed to my feet so I didn't feel like I was carrying any extra weight sprinting to balls."

"I found these shoes to be a perfectly light option," said Michelle. "They never felt bulky and were quick on the court. They weren't too minimal and offered a good amount of cushioning, but were still light and fast."

The weight of the Aero Knits also received high marks from Brittany. She concluded, "Although they do not look like the lightest of shoes, they felt very light on my feet. I didn't feel weighed down at all. I tend to lean toward lighter shoes, and I would easily include the Aero Knits on that list."

Overall - Score: 3.7