KURU Footwear launched in Salt Lake City, Utah at the peak of the Great Recession in 2008. KURU’s founder, Bret Rasmussen, says he first dreamed of starting a shoe company in 5th grade, so it was a long time coming. Rasmussen studied the science and biomechanics of the foot and used that to invent the patented KURUSOLE platform, and then shortly after launch, customers started telling the company it had solved their plantar fasciitis and heel pain. KURU pivoted to become a direct-to-consumer brand focused on foot pain, heel pain, fallen arches and similar issues.
The name KURU was inspired by Kuru, a small city in southwestern Finland, and the K logo was designed to resemble the Finnish flag. I discovered KURU shoes almost by accident in 2024 when I was training for a golf trip to Scotland. Needing a good pair of walking shoes, I reached out to KURU’s media team and they sent me a pair of ATOM Slip-On sneakers. They quickly became my favorite walking & airport/travel shoes.
I went back on the road in September 2025 and again in April of 2026. Walking 10 miles a day with a huge blister on your foot is no fun, so I ditched my spikeless name-brand golf shoes after a couple days and turned to my KURU Flex Via shoes to handle the bulk of the trip. Besides playing golf, I wore them through airports, over ancient cobblestone streets, shopping centers, wilderness trails, bars, beaches and everything in between. I spent six weeks in the United Kingdom, Spain & France, played 27 rounds of golf and logged over 250 miles with my KURU shoes. No pain, no blisters, no problems. I’ve never owned a pair of shoes that could do that.
The Tech
What Goes Into Every Pair
The brand philosophy is built on a tech stack that goes into every shoe.
The patented, heel-hugging platform the company was founded on.
Shock-absorbing foam underfoot.
Built-in arch support.
Room for your feet to spread naturally.
If the shoes don’t improve your pain, return them for a full refund. Both products below are HSA/FSA eligible.
Given the performance of their walking shoes, I’m very excited to put their new DRIVE golf shoes into play, and with autumn on the way in North America, KURU’s LOFT 2 slippers will be a great gift option for the holidays. They are endlessly soft, warm and comfortable to wear around the house.
The Golf Shoe
DRIVE Golf Shoe
The DRIVE is KURU’s spikeless golf shoe, sold in unisex sizing. It weighs 12.4 oz (based on a men’s 9 / women’s 10.5), uses a mesh and synthetic upper with a mesh lining, has a 10mm heel-to-toe drop, and comes in medium width only. Sizing runs women’s 6 through 14.5 and men’s 4.5 through 13, in Dove Gray/Bright White or Jet Black/Bright White.
The upper pairs water-resistant mesh with a structured overlay to block moisture, and there’s a padded collar and plush tongue. Spikeless traction handles the course and the walk to the clubhouse, and an outsole toe wrap protects high-wear areas. Note that KURU classifies DRIVE as water-resistant, meaning it repels light moisture and splashes, not fully waterproof like its sealed styles. It gets the full KURU stack: KURUSOLE, KURUCLOUD+ cushioning and ULTIMATE INSOLES. MSRP is $179, HSA/FSA eligible, with the 91-day promise and a 6-month warranty.
KURU DRIVE in Jet Black/Bright White
DRIVE Golf At a Glance
| Type | Spikeless golf shoe, unisex sizing |
|---|---|
| Upper / Lining | Water-resistant mesh and synthetic with structured overlay / mesh |
| Weather Rating | Water-resistant (not waterproof) |
| Support Tech | KURUSOLE, KURUCLOUD+, ULTIMATE INSOLES |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 10mm |
| Weight | 12.4 oz (men’s 9 / women’s 10.5) |
| Width / Sizes | Medium only; women’s 6 to 14.5, men’s 4.5 to 13 |
| Colors | Dove Gray/Bright White, Jet Black/Bright White |
| Warranty | 6 months, plus 91-day Feel Better Promise |
| Price | $179 (HSA/FSA eligible) |
The Slipper
LOFT 2 Slippers
The LOFT 2 is a suede moccasin slipper with a faux shearling lining and a rubber outsole meant for quick trips outside. It’s a revision of the original LOFT, and the spec changes are significant. Heel-to-toe drop falls from 11mm on the original to 3.5mm, with stack height going from 27mm heel and 16mm toe down to 15.5mm heel and 12mm toe. Weight drops from 14.5 oz to 13.4 oz in a men’s 9, and from 12.7 oz to 12.4 oz in a women’s 8.
| Original LOFT | LOFT 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 11mm | 3.5mm |
| Heel Stack | 27mm | 15.5mm |
| Toe Stack | 16mm | 12mm |
| Weight (men’s 9) | 14.5 oz | 13.4 oz |
| Weight (women’s 8) | 12.7 oz | 12.4 oz |
| Price | $149 | $149 |
Under the hood, LOFT 2 uses a KURUCLOUD EVA midsole and rubber outsole, both with flex grooves, plus a refined last with internal heel padding and a reshaped opening for easier step-in. KURUSOLE, the KURU Ultimate Insole and the suede upper carry over from the original. It comes in medium width only, men’s sizes 7 through 13, in Walnut Brown/Toffee Brown and Greige/Jet Black, with a women’s version also available. Price is $149, the same as the original LOFT, and it’s HSA/FSA eligible.
KURU LOFT 2 in Greige/Jet Black
LOFT 2 At a Glance
| Type | Indoor/outdoor moccasin slipper |
|---|---|
| Upper / Lining | Suede / faux shearling |
| Midsole / Outsole | KURUCLOUD EVA with flex grooves / rubber with flex grooves |
| Support Tech | KURUSOLE, KURU Ultimate Insole |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 3.5mm (heel 15.5mm, toe 12mm) |
| Weight | 13.4 oz (men’s 9), 12.4 oz (women’s 8) |
| Width / Sizes | Medium only; men’s 7 to 13, women’s version available |
| Men’s Colors | Walnut Brown/Toffee Brown, Greige/Jet Black |
| Price | $149 (HSA/FSA eligible) |
Leave a Reply