Reese Witherspoon, My Mom, and I All Comfortably Wear Sneex: ‘You’d Never Know They Were 3-Inch Heels’

I’ve always wanted to be like Carrie Bradshaw. But in reality, I’m much more like Michael Jordan — for shoes, that is. 

As much as I love the rhythmic clickity-clack of a pair of pumps, I’m just the type of girl who’d rather wear a pair of walking-friendly sneakers or slip-on ballet flats. My mother, though, who is in her 60s, definitely follows in Bradshaw’s footsteps: For years, she never wore anything but heels, resulting in a collection so large it’s practically a mini shoe store. So when Sneex launched its stilettos that are secretly sneakers, neither one of us could have predicted the style shake-up we were about to experience. 

And with them, we decided to try walking in each other’s shoes for a change — and those of Reese Witherspoon and Kathy Bates who have worn the Oprah-favorite brand, for that matter. 

Sneex The Icon Hy-Heel Sneaker in Black 

My mother was the first to wear her pair of The Icon shoes, which she was gifted in black, for a day of regular errands. We were both surprised that they didn’t need any breaking in. I was a bit hesitant that she might think these 78-millimeter heels were too tall and painful, but she didn’t even blink an eye when she said: “You’d never know they were 3-inch heels.” 

Okay, but how can heels that tall be comfortable, you ask? It comes down to a few things: The weight distribution was entirely rebalanced, so the brunt of your body isn’t just on your toes. They’re also made with arch support and a toe box that’s not too narrow or crammed, per the brand, plus the rubber sole offers a nice cushioned platform with each step.  

We both sized down from our typical 9.5 to 9s, like the brand recommends, which usually never works out well for us. My mom didn’t say anything about them being too small, which means they weren’t, and I thought my camel-colored ones, which were also gifted, fit like a glove with no tightness or pinky toe-pinching. 

Every time my mom wore them, I couldn’t believe how often she got stopped. People were all over them wherever she went. At one point, a woman asked her to take off one shoe so she could examine the label. Another time, a boutique owner was fawning over them so much, she expressed wanting to stock them in her store. 

As for me, I work from home, so I don’t wear shoes most of the time. Because of this, I wanted to really put them to the test when I wore them, and I saw no better way to do that than holiday shopping — I stood in lines, walked laps, and spent hours on my feet. And guess what? My feet felt totally normal, with the small exception of a bit of chafing under the ankle bone (though that eventually went away!). 

In the name of science, I also wore them with my puffer jacket on dog walks two days in a row and didn’t experience a single trace of pain. Another time, I had to jump out of an Uber earlier than expected and walk a few blocks. Normally, I would have been terrified to do this in a pair of heels, but my feet didn’t bother me then, nor did they at the very end of the night.  

My mom and I like to wear them with footsie-like socks to keep the bulk down and prevent the accumulation of sweat, but they’re made with mesh, so they are actually breathable to begin with. The rubber sole is also important for clumsy gals like myself. 

Sneex The Icon Hy-Heel Sneaker in Camel 

But the million dollar question: Would we spend $395 on them? I probably wouldn’t, but only because I don’t wear heels nearly enough. Meanwhile, my mother wears them at least three times a week, so her answer is, without a doubt, a big resounding yes. She even wants them in another color because, according to her, “one pair is not enough.” 

Head to Sneex to get The Icon Hy-Heel Sneakers now. Then keep scrolling to shop more styles from the brand. 

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