HEYDUDE Shoes Review: Your Next Pair of Go-To Shoes?

We all have that go-to clothing item. 

That pair of jeans that fits just right and makes your legs look that certain way that no one else even notices. 

But you do, and that’s all that matters.

In the midst of the many stressors and trials of adulthood, it’s important to have clothing like this. When the cards of life seem perpetually stacked against you, you need somebody on your side, even if that someone is a t-shirt that slightly highlights your pecs.

I’ve always been aware of the garments I own that make me feel my best, but I’ve never had that feeling with a pair of shoes. Granted, I’m picky to the extent that my wife won’t dare to attempt gifting me shoes, but that doesn’t mean my go-to pair of shoes doesn’t exist.

My ideal shoes would be lightweight, casual, easy to slip on, and snug to my foot. With these criteria in my mind, I turned to Google. 

That’s when I came across HEYDUDE.

What Is HEYDUDE Shoes?

HEYDUDE dates back to 2008. The company’s strong track record of success led to its acquisition by the casual shoe powerhouse, Crocs, in 2022, where HEYDUDE continues to provide comfortable footwear for anyone and everyone.

Their shoes hit the American market in 2010, and since then the brand attributes 95% of its profits from enthusiastic Americans looking for their go-to shoe.

View this post on Instagram

Throughout the last decade’s impressive success, the brand still hasn’t changed its mission: creating essential, tried-and-true, comfortable shoes for everyday use.

The brand creates a wide variety of shoe styles, like boots, sneakers, sandals, and dress casuals, but far and away their most popular style is the casual Wally slip-on. 

We picked up two versions of the Wally (as well as the Kob Sox) to see what the hype is all about and to help you decide if they’re right for you.

Things to Consider Before Buying Shoes from HEYDUDE

The first consideration is your use case. If you’re looking for a new pair of shoes to wear in your semi-formal office environment, HEYDUDE isn’t the place to start.

While they do offer dress casual sneakers, their offerings lean more towards “casual” than “dress”, so they’re more appropriate for casual office environments. 

If you’re looking for a new pair of everyday go-tos that are great for a casual work environment, running errands, happy hour, and walking the dog, HEYDUDE is right up your alley.

The other consideration is price. 

View this post on Instagram

Many brands talk a big game when it comes to comfortable shoes and tout bleeding-edge memory foam technology that costs an arm and a leg. Sure, those shoes might be comfortable, but the way they leave your wallet feeling is decidedly uncomfy.

If you’re on a budget or just prefer to be frugal when it comes to buying shoes, HEYDUDE is a great option. Their most popular styles fall in the $60-$65 range, and from what I can see they don’t offer any shoes for more than $100.

If you’re after that double whammy of cheap, comfortable shoes, I recommend starting your search with HEYDUDE.

HEYDUDE Shoes Review

Besides the Wally Slub Canvas and Wally Stretch styles, I also ordered a pair of the Kob Sox to get a taste of what their dressier options are like. 

HEYDUDE offers free standard shipping on orders over $50, which made it easy to wait the 3-5 business days for my order to arrive.

The Kob Sox arrived in a standard shoe box with recyclable packaging, and I was impressed with how light the box and shoes felt together. 

Both pairs of Wallys were shipped in recyclable plastic bags made from cornstarch. I would normally prefer shoes to be shipped in a shoebox, but the Wallys are so light and flexible that a bag was adequate for shipping.

Plus, only shipping in a recyclable bag has the benefit of being better for the environment, which HEYDUDE show their enthusiasm for with the hashtag #HeyDude4Earth clearly printed on their bags.

Wally Slub Canvas

First Impressions

With this being my first time getting my hands on HEYDUDE’s Wallys of any sort, I was immediately impressed with how light the shoes are. Their website doesn’t provide specific details on weight, but they’re like a feather in your hand, and even lighter on your feet.

The slub canvas outer material had a good, textured feel to it and seemed to be sturdy enough to withstand some wear and tear without being suffocatingly hot. 

I ordered these in the Tan colorway, but the Tan that was delivered had a slightly red tint to it, which made the shoes almost look pink. I think this is largely a trick of the eyes in some lighting conditions, but apparently it’s somewhat expected.

HEYDUDE has a disclaimer on the product description of the Wally Slub Canvases that says there may be a slight variance in the color due to the manufacturing methods used. 

The color wasn’t off enough for me to consider returning them, but this is something to be mindful of when ordering these shoes. 

Sole

Part of what makes this shoe so light is the ultralight outsole. HEYDUDE doesn’t offer specifics on the materials used, but it appears to be a synthetic, durable foam that flexes well and doesn’t wear down overly quickly.

The brand advertises their proprietary Flex and Fold Technology in the shoe’s description, which, as far as I can see, is exactly what it sounds like. The shoes can be rolled, twisted, or smashed into just about any shape for easy packaging and still retain their original shape.

This made me feel better about the fact that they ship the Wallys in plastic bags, since there’s really no need to protect the shoes from getting crushed or deformed. 

Despite being so lightweight, the sole offers surprisingly good support. I wore these for two hours while running some errands and never once felt my feet get tired or uncomfortable. 

The insole is leather-lined and seems to have a memory foam component, which shapes to your feet and makes these shoes more comfortable as you wear them. 

HEYDUDE also designed the insoles to be removable, which makes the shoes easy to wash. In addition, if you need more support than the stock insole offers, you can easily swap it out for a third-party insert.

Construction Quality

The Wally Slubs seem to have sturdy construction, with lots of heavy, neat stitching throughout the exterior of the shoe.

These shoes are constructed in the moccasin style, which features the raised edge around the top of the shoes and toes. Thus, the main areas of pressure and greatest potential for tears will be around these seams, especially where the shoe creases in line with the ball of your foot.

The stitching throughout this area is especially thick and sturdy, and after a few minutes of twisting and stretching the shoes like a ShamWow towel I was convinced they wouldn’t be falling apart any time soon. 

Fit and Sizing

I ordered the Wally Slubs in a men’s size 10, which is usually slightly large for me, but these still fit well. I usually order half sizes since my foot is an ambiguous size in between half and whole sizes, but HEYDUDE doesn’t offer half sizing. 

That said, the brand notes on the production description that most people who order half sizes will order up for a comfortable fit, and I can confirm that this is the right call. If I had ordered a size 9 my toes would have been scrunched up against the inner wall. 

The Wally Slubs feature HEYDUDE’s proprietary Easy-On System, which uses elastic laces and cuffs to lightly tighten the upper portion to your foot if necessary. My one complaint is that if you choose to do this the end of the laces stick out far to each side, which bears a passing resemblance to bug antennae or Shrek’s ears.

View this post on Instagram

That said, this system does a good job at keeping the shoe snug against your foot, and an even better job at keeping these shoes easy to slip on without having to use your hands. 

The Wally Slubs also have a cushioned ankle collar around the back and sides of the heel that helps to keep your foot in place and prevents chafing or blisters when first wearing them.

I have fairly wide feet, but didn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable by HEYDUDE’s normal sizing. They don’t offer wide sizes, but I doubt you’ll need it.

Break-in Period

View this post on Instagram

The Wally Slubs have no noticeable break-in period. Sure, they become more comfortable over time due to the memory foam sole and Flex and Fold Technology becoming even more flexible, but they’re great for all-day use right out of the bag or box.

It’s usually the soles and stiff uppers that need to be broken in with a new pair of shoes, but the ultralight soles twist and bend easily, and the slub canvas uppers don’t need to be broken in like leather would. 

Overall, the Wally Slubs stay true to the HEYDUDE promise of comfortable, accessible footwear. I’m a big fan of how easy it is to slip these shoes on, and love that they’re comfortable and breathable from the first step. I wore these primarily without socks, but they would be just as comfortable and breathable with socks on.

Kob Sox

First Impressions

Given that there’s considerably more material to the Kob Sox than either of the Wallys I got, I was once again surprised with how light these shoes were. 

The inner lining has a tropical, printed design which got me in a mentally relaxed space even before putting these on, and the cork insole was responsive and comfortable to walk in straight out of the box.

I didn’t love the thickness of the sole when first inspecting the shoe, as it barely tapers towards the toe, but that’s just a personal preference. 

These shoes are much closer to the dress sneaker profile than the Wallys, so I was excited to hopefully experience the same level of comfort in slightly more formal outfits.

The color of these shoes was much closer to what I saw online, at least compared to the Wally Slubs, which I appreciated.

Sole

Similar to the Wally Slubs, the Kob Sox feature the same Flex and Fold Technology. Considering that the Kob Sox have such a thick sole, I was impressed that the shoe could be rolled up into a tight little ball and still return to its original shape. 

The outsole is etched to provide extra grip in heel and toe, and the ridges throughout the midsole of the shoe are effective at dispersing water and providing good traction.

Like the Wally Slubs, these shoes have a removable insole, but this time the insole is cork-lined rather than leather or canvas. The cork shaped to my foot nicely and is surprisingly breathable, and from an aesthetic standpoint it looks great inside the shoe.

The outsole is lightly speckled with dots of color, which lends a little more style, but I think it would have been fine with just a straight white exterior as well. 

Construction Quality

The transition from the outsole to the knit uppers has no visible stitching, which had me worried about the structural integrity of these shoes at first, but they seem sturdy enough after several wears.

I’ve had similar shoes where the outsole was simply glued to a canvas or knit upper, and these typically don’t last long in the face of rain or wet conditions. 

I didn’t get that sense with the Kob Sox, though, and the Flex and Fold Technology went a long way in reassuring me that these shoes could withstand everyday wear and tear for a while. 

The Kob Sox feature a more robust lacing system than either of the Wallys, and each eyelet has reinforced stitching around the edge to prevent tearing at these pressure points.

The end of the laces are capped with a metal clasp which prevents the laces from being pulled through the top eyelets. In this version of the Easy-On system, the laces start in a snug position, and stretch when you put your foot in the shoe to provide a comfortable, close fit. 

The metal clasps keep the laces in place and provide the tension of the shoe on your foot, and on a visual inspection these metal clasps don’t look to be going anywhere. 

Fit and Sizing

The Kob Sox have a slightly more narrow fit than either pair of Wallys, but it’s still comfortable. The stretch knit uppers allow your feet to breathe well and don’t seal in any unsavory smells or liquids, which goes a long way in keeping these shoes fresh and enjoyable to wear. 

I ordered a men’s size 10 for the Kob Sox and am happy with how it fits. I’m typically somewhere between a 9.5 and 10, but since HEYDUDE doesn’t offer half sizes I took their advice and ordered up. This was definitely the right call. 

I’m a big fan of the Kob Sox’s Easy-On System, which gives the neat look of laced-up shoes without actually requiring you to lace them up. These shoes are easy to slip on without needing to use your hands, and the cotton laces keep the shoe comfortably snug to your foot.

Break-in Period

Like the Wally Slubs, there was no noticeable break-in period with the Kob Sox. The Flex and Fold Technology guarantees that they’re flexible right out of the box, and the cork insole is great with or without socks from the first time you put them on. 

Overall, I’m a big fan of the Kob Sox. Their dress sneaker design opens up many more wearing opportunities than the Wallys have, but they’re just as comfortable and light as the Wally Slubs. 

I love the Easy-On System that lets me slip the shoes on without having to tie them, and the snug fit ensures they don’t slide around on my feet and potentially chafe or cause blisters.

Wally Stretch

First Impressions

The Wally Stretch, as the name suggests, is nearly identical to the Wally Slub Canvas. The only point of difference between the two pairs of shoes is the outer material used for the uppers, which has a bit more stretch than the slub canvas.

Also, I like that the Wally Stretch has a patterned, contrasting stretch-cotton lining. This adds a little internal flair to the shoe that I appreciate every time I put them on.

Sole

Like the Wally Slub, the Wally Stretch has the same ultralight foam outsole that’s surprisingly durable and easy to bend. As expected, you get the same Flex and Fold Technology with the Wally Stretch, and the shoe returns to its original shape no matter how much you twist and smash it.

Construction Quality

The Wally Stretch is just as durable as the Wally Slub Canvas, with the only difference being the upper material for the shoes. The Wally Stretch uses a stretch-cotton material for the upper, which is slightly more flexible and elastic than the slub cotton material used on the Wally Slubs.

I was initially concerned that this stretchy cotton on the Wally Stretch would be more flimsy and more likely to let my toe bust through, but after several wears I’m confident this isn’t something you’ll need to worry about.

Fit and Sizing

If you’re concerned about the Wally Slubs fitting differently than the Wally Stretch, they don’t. I ordered a men’s size 10 in both and the fit was identical.

Again, if you’re typically a half size, HEYDUDE recommends ordering up for a comfortable fit.

Break-in Period

Like you’d expect from any shoe that’s expressly designed for comfort, there’s no noticeable break-in period for the Wally Stretch. Grab it out of the box, smack it onto your foot, and you’re good to go all day.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the Wally Stretch, especially the stretch-cotton fabric used for the upper portion of the shoe. Since it’s more flexible and elastic than the slub canvas material used on the Wally Slub, the Wally Stretch is slightly easier to slide on your feet and flexes more against your toes.

I found that this gave the shoe a slightly looser fit, but that’s not a bad thing. If you want more of a snug fit, I’d stick with the Wally Slub Canvas.

What Do Other Reviewers Say About HEYDUDE Shoes?

View this post on Instagram

Reviews for HEYDUDE shoes are overwhelmingly positive. Satisfied, comfortable customers loved how easy they are to slip on and how they don’t get uncomfortable after all-day use. Many others appreciated that the shoes are so easy to clean due to the removable insoles.

Of the negative reviews I could find, quite a few had to do with difficulty in reaching customer service representatives. Whether it be for a refund, to exercise the shoe’s warranty, or having never received an order, more than a few customers had trouble getting assistance when needed.

That said, these complaints were few and far between and the vast majority of orders were fulfilled in a timely manner and left customers happy.

My Overall Thoughts on HEYDUDE Shoes

FAQs