Atoms Model 000/001 Review: Splitting The Differences

Introduction to the Atoms Model 000/001

Editor’s note: Because we’re covering two shoes in one review, I’ll refer to each reviewer’s model in parentheses. We’re not numbering reviewers, just their shoes—I promise.

JOHN (Model 000): Work. Fun. Daily Sprints. All in the same shoes. Yes, 100%. I was all in on the Atoms and Model 000 after reading this on the Atoms website.

I had never heard about Atoms before lacing up for this review, but the more I read up on the company and the Swiss Army knife functionality they put into their shoes, the more interested I got. It was almost like this company made a shoe specifically for me! I’m a dad and a caregiver who’s always trying to get in runs, walking my dogs, and driving everywhere, and I always need a shoe that can keep up. Can the Atoms Model 000 keep up with my crazy life? Let’s find out.

ALLISON (Model 000): Everyone has that one teacher in school who completely changed the game for them and actually made school cool. For me, it was my eighth-grade chemistry teacher, Mr. Dietz. He would always begin the class talking about a current event like a crushing Georgia Tech loss or UGA winning and then magically transfer the conversation to something chemistry-related, whether it was the makeup of an atom, the periodic table, or a beaker exploding.

Whatever it was he kept us engaged and wanting to learn more. I channeled my inner nerd and competitive nature by wanting to be on the all-nerd team (highest scoring test for 10 weeks), where you got your own lab coat and element named after you. Unfortunately, I never got one (damn you, Teddy and Heather), but I will always have lasting memories of that class.

Fast forward to getting to do a shoe review for a brand called Atoms, and I literally felt like I was in my “element.”

SAM (Model 001): And just like that, the Dirt Division goes casual. We’ve slid our Speedgoats and Norda 001s into the closet (did I remember to knock all the mud out of the tread this time?) and our feet into another Model 001, this time from a brand called Atoms out of New York City. Atoms was founded by a couple from Pakistan by way of the fabled Y-combinator start-up incubator. They have a fascinating feature in Humans of New York that’s worth taking a read through.

Atoms aims to produce casual shoes with unparalleled comfort that can be either dressed up or dressed down. They feature a knit upper with a gusseted and lace-looped tongue, elastic laces, an EVA midsole, and a non-slip outsole. The interior lining is adorned with copper pinstriping to prevent odor. Outside of the copper — which, cool — this is a shoe for everyday wear that’s packed with running shoe tech. So, I guess it makes sense we’re giving this a review.

What we like about the Atoms Model 000/001

JOHN (Model 000): Where this shoe shines brightest is as a travel shoe. Walking in it feels great. I used this shoe at the Boars Head resort in Charlottesville, VA, walking their Winter Wander and during WinterFest at Kings Dominion. I also did a couple of really easy runs in the Model 000 to mess around on the road, treadmill, and easy trails with my dogs, and hanging with my buddy Donald while being a caregiver.

The Model 000 will keep you comfy with a two-part construction midsole made with a proprietary blend of EVA foam and blown rubber. The foam is very comfortable, paired with the lightweight and flexible polyurethane-coated knit yarn upper and stretchy laces. The shoe has a stretchy sock-like feel that is easy to put on and never tight.

The look of Model 000 reminds me of old-school 90s Puma shoes. The colorways are all really eye-popping, and people have been asking about them. I got many comments on social media and in public, like: What are those? Where do I get them? and so on.

My feet, unfortunately, always smell bad. I sweat a lot, and the antimicrobial copper threaded lining throughout the Model 000 kills bacteria and prevents shoe odor, which is good for everyone I come into contact with and an aid to national security.

So, would I wear these on the Marine Corps Marathon? No. But traveling to Europe, Disney, or any theme park with lots of walking, a cruise, or if you live a lifestyle jumping from one thing to the next, the Model 000 is an excellent option. In addition, if you find you can sneak off for 45 minutes or so, I found that this shoe can be good for either some treadmill miles or easy road miles. And, if you happen to need a burst of speed because your kid bolts off or you need to stop a thief, these shoes definitely will be ready! While this is a better running shoe than many I’ve run in over the years, it isn’t a performance shoe. If you buy it, buy it because of its functionality as a cool-looking walking shoe, and I think you will be extremely satisfied.

ALLISON (Model 000): Unlike John, I didn’t push this shoe to its limits — I stuck to errands and neighborhood strolls. From the start, the elastic laces won me over. They make slipping the shoe on a breeze (it’s the little conveniences that count). The design is wonderfully minimalist, with a unique atom-like sole that adds a creative flair without being flashy. The look definitely channels a Puma or skateboarder vibe, as John pointed out — a laid-back aesthetic I appreciated.

Initially, the arch felt odd, but it grew on me quickly. Over time, it provided a supportive and pleasant fit. I also loved how lightweight the shoe is, yet the cushion was unrestricted. A good casual shoe shouldn’t feel heavy, making it perfect for easy-going activities.

Lastly, I was skeptical about the yarn upper, but it proved to be both durable and breathable — a surprisingly sturdy choice. Overall, this shoe delivers a great balance of style, comfort, and practicality for everyday wear.

SAM (Model 001): You know how runners get a bad rap on their everyday footwear? That we just rotate through our old pairs of running shoes until we retire the next, ad nauseam? While that’s maybe exactly what we do, it doesn’t mean we don’t want to be better. Atoms offer the comfort of a running shoe — and not necessarily one with 300-plus miles on it — with a refined look that you can match to the dressiest clothes you have (along with that shiny 100-mile belt buckle). These are good-looking shoes that feel great after long days on your feet.

I’m usually one to resist elastic laces. For running shoes they’re often a recipe for sloppy fits, but the Atoms 001 sold me on them for casual wear. This shoe goes on and off with incredible ease and holds your foot as securely as you need once you have it on. The gussets and lace loops on the tongue keep it squarely in place. The mesh upper is also slightly elastic, but only in as much as it accommodates your foot. It still manages to breathe well and is very comfy.

Underneath, there’s a plush bed of EVA foam inside a single-piece rubber outsole. Atoms says its shoes require no break-in period but that this footbed molds to your foot over time. I found that the latter was closer to the truth, and my 001 started really feeling like it fit after about a week of wear. The outsole itself grips fine, even on wet tile floors, and the rim around the edge of the shoe helps with durability.

What we don’t like about the Atoms Model 000/001

JOHN (Model 000): I personally like the fit of the Model 000 a lot but I am extremely curious how my fellow reviewers with wider feet will feel because I can see them not being comfortable. The option of quarter sizes that Atoms offers is interesting. I wear a US M11.5, and it ran kind of long. Initially, I thought that maybe the US M11.25 would have worked better, but the more I used the Model 000, the better it felt — the knit yarn upper is stretchy and has some give. I personally feel this shoe would benefit from a slightly wider toe box. And that’s my biggest criticism of this shoe. I am extremely curious about Allison and Sam’s take here.

ALLISON (Model 000): Hearing John’s initial thoughts of the Model 000, I was nervous about sizing, as I have dealt with it being all over the place in some of the shoes I’ve reviewed. So, interestingly, the Model 000 felt weirdly snug in the midsole, yet I had plenty of room (thumbnail check, just like they teach us for proper sizing) between my toe and the front of the shoe.

Also, I don’t know about the other guys, but the mint green color of the shoe threw me through a loop, as I didn’t know what to match it with. I feel like with a casual shoe, brands should choose a neutral colorway that goes with everything. Maybe I’m just a “plain Jane,” but that’s my thought process with casual shoes that I would want to wear every day.

Lastly, with a thinner outsole, I wondered how durable the Model 000 would be, as I tend to wear down shoes quickly. I’m no Clydesdale by any means, but when it comes to shoes, I need something with a little more protection, or I will literally run it to the ground.

SAM (Model 001): The Atoms 001 is wildly narrow. My feet are in the medium-wide area of the spectrum, and this shoe felt uncomfortably tight and constricting at first. The lateral edge of my foot pushed outward against the outsole rim from my little toe to my heel, and my toes felt bunched up.

It still feels narrow, and my feet still push at the sides of the shoe, but some of that constricting feeling could be chalked up to how I had it laced. More of it could be that, despite what Atoms says, these really do have a break-in period. As I mentioned above, the midsole took about a week to ease in. The entire rest of the shoe — toebox, midfoot, and heel — also needed the same amount of time before they felt really, truly comfortable. They don’t feel constricting anymore, and what felt like excess padding in the heel has calmed down and become very comfortable. Give this shoe some time. It’s worth it.

Other than that, the gripes are very minor. The elastic gussets on either side of the tongue are a little floppy and don’t seem to do much beyond what the lace loops provide. They also bunch up and get pinched against my foot and the upper when I’m putting the shoe on, which isn’t comfortable until I stick my finger into the shoe to get them to lie flat. If you have a high-volume foot, I imagine the elastic on the laces is going to be a little tight around your midfoot, but there are potentially some lacing tricks you could use to get past that.

Atoms also says that it has improved the medial and lateral posts in the midsole to decrease pronation, but I’ve noticed that that lateral post feels just a touch firmer and edges my feet towards pronation, something I’m not usually prone to. There’s still arch support, and it’s nice, I’m just pronating slightly more than I usually do.

Final thoughts on the Atoms Model 000/001

JOHN (Model 000): The Model 000 flat-out won me over. Initially, I had every intention of not liking it, but the more I wore it everywhere during the holidays it really grew on me. I loved testing the Model 000, and it kept up with my wild lifestyle. The older I get, the more I love Swiss Army knife-type shoes. The model 000’s yarn knit upper and stretchy laces allow it to easily slip on your foot and keep smelling fresh with the antimicrobial copper lining feature and, of course, the comforting foam and rubber. This shoe really works for me.

There are a few caveats, though. Make sure the fit is right for you, and acknowledge that this is primarily a walking shoe. It may work for you to do more than that, but just remember to approach it with proper expectations.

ALLISON (Model 000): I enjoyed mixing it up with reviewing something without a 5 mm lug for a change. The Model 000 was definitely that, and I look forward to wearing it more, I just will have to figure out what goes with mint green in my wardrobe.

SAM (Model 001): When I showed my wife the Atoms 001, she responded, “Oh, good. Now you’ll have something better than trail shoes to wear when we have to dress nicely.” That’s a good sell for any runner, I think. I’d recommend grabbing a pair of these (or two if you need some color variation) if you like the feel of wearing running shoes every day but need something that looks, well, not like a running shoe at all. Just a word of warning, they are not for those with wide feet, and give them a bit of time to break in.

You can pick up the Atoms Model 000 for $145 or the Atoms Model 001 for $179 by using the buttons below.