Product Review: Bzees Flawless Slip-Ons

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

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What is it: Bzees Flawless Slip-Ons

Price and Where to Buy: $59 on Bzees.com

Pros: These shoes are comfortable, lightweight, add a bit of height while also offering total stability, and—best of all for people who wear flats without socks—are machine washable. I traveled with them and tossed them in the washer when I got back. After they air dried, they looked (and smelled) as good as new again. And they lost none of their comfortable cushioning on the trip through the washing machine.

Cons: While they are lightweight, they’ve got structure, so they don’t pack small. And the cut of the sides is a little high, which I noticed because I have low ankles. Anyone who has worn shoes for a lifetime without having been told they have “low ankles” is unlikely to notice it, and it caused no chafing or rubbing in my tests.

How it Rates:

Usefulness: 10/10. If only all travel shoes were lightweight, comfortable, and machine washable.
Value: 9/10. The pricing compares well to similar sporty flats.
Durability: 9/10. Heavy use and a trip through the washing machine didn’t faze these shoes one bit.
Cool Factor: 8/10. The flats come in four colors/patterns. This isn’t a sleek city flat, but it is a sporty and casual option for travelers who walk a lot.

Final Verdict: These flats offer supported comfort and come in fun colors and patterns. They’re also machine washable—a huge plus for travelers looking for shoes that can withstand the rigors of constant walking, dirty streets, and occasional accidents involving street food, pigeon poop, red wine, and other vacation shoe-ruiners.

(Photo: Bzees)

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Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

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