There Are Lots of Silver Shoes, But Kane x PYNRS Tells the Best Story

Silver surfin’

Shoe trends are a funny thing — we can go years without a silver shoe, only to have three or four of them launch at once. Sound familiar? That’s the reality we’re living in, with Minted NY, Pleasures, and PYNRS teaming up with Saucony, Altra, and Kane, respectively. All three, independently, decided that it was time for silver to make its comeback.

And yes, they all decided to bring the bling to different categories of shoes — Minted NY nabbed race day, Pleasures went for a daily trainer, and PYNRS picked a recovery shoe — but the idea is the same. Interestingly, they all liked the idea of splashing models with silver paint, too, but that’s neither here nor there.

Anyway, for our purposes, the silver shoe we’re focusing on right now is the Kane x PYNRS recovery shoe. It’s the post-run pick you’ve probably seen on tons of feet, but this time it has a story beyond the bio-based RestoreFoam. The PYNRS team modeled its silver hue around something that every marathon runner can recognize: the silver space blankets waiting just past the finish line.

It’s a simple, silver symbol of community, representing the hard work and exertion that comes with running 26.2 miles (or whatever distance you set out to tackle). That’s kind of what PYNRS is all about, fostering a sense of community and oneness among runners of all different backgrounds. They don’t do the skinny little pieces of apparel; they design comfortable pieces for real people, no matter who they are.

And honestly, now that I have a pair, I get it. I ran CIM with a group of friends from all over the country last December, and as we each unboxed our pairs of the Kane x PYNRS recovery shoes, it felt like we were right back in Sacramento, even though a few of us were home in our respective states, as others made their way to California once again to start The Speed Project. We made a little community, and our recovery kicks reinforced it.

It’s easy bein’ green

Even though the Kane x PYNRS collab is mostly silver, it’s also brilliantly green — pun intended. Sure, there’s some actual green splashed throughout the midsole, but the RestoreFoam material is what I’m really talking about. If you’re at all familiar with the Kane brand, you’ll probably know it uses sustainably sourced sugarcane across pretty much the entire platform, and this version is no different.

What that means is that, before it becomes a shoe, the sugar cane plant pulls CO2 from the air, cleaning it as it grows. It’s then sealed into an impressively durable foam-like material that doesn’t stretch, warp, or deform — which is pretty cool. I’ve shoved my Kane shoes into plenty of backpacks and carry-ons, only to pull them out good as new each time. They’re kind of like grown-up Crocs, just with holes that don’t quite fit Jibbitz.

If I had to pick one flaw, though, the Kane x PYNRS aren’t the softest of recovery shoes. I thought they’d have just a bit more squish to them, but the firm platform is part of what actually allows your foot to recover — it simulates the feeling of being barefoot while adding tiny nodes to stimulate blood flow. Maybe it’s science, maybe not, but all I know is it feels pretty good on foot.

The Kane x PYNRS collaboration is selling out quickly, but you can check which sizes are still available and grab a pair for yourself using the button below.