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Ascent Gen 2
Ascent Gen 2
A black Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents, displayed on a stack of gold bars.
Bottom of black/gum Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker; showing herringbone high-traction outsole pattern and red accent
A white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents, displayed on a stack of gold bars; side-view
A white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents, displayed on a stack of gold bars; rear-view
A white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents, displayed on a stack of gold bars; rear-view
A white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents; bottom view of the high-traction herringbone rubber outsole
Ascent Gen 2
A pair of white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot shoes with red accents; rear-view
Top-view of a white Icarus Ascent barefoot sneaker against white background
Ascent Gen 2
Ascent Gen 2
Tattooed man lacing up Icarus Ascent shoe laces on a turf surface inside a gym.
White Icarus Ascent barefoot shoe on a concrete surface, top-down view showing the profile of the toebox

Ascent Gen 2

$144.99
Description

The Ascent is our minimalist version of the classic court sneaker. Dress it up or dress it down. Wear it to work, wear it to the gym, wear it to dinner or the bar. Enjoy the comfort and health benefits of a barefoot shoe without getting weird looks or awkward comments from your date, friends, family, or coworkers. These will quickly become your go-to pair of barefoot shoes that seamlessly fit into your lifestyle.

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, we'll refund your money. The shoes won't last forever (nothing does) but we want you totally satisfied with your experience, and a repeat customer for life. There is absolutely zero risk in trying our shoes.

  • Upper: The upper is constructed using a full-grain leather for unparalleled comfort, water-resistance, and breathability. The leather breaks-in with each wear, adopting the exact shape of your feet. Soft padding was strategically added to the tongue and ankle collar to ensure all-day comfort.
  • Outsole: The outsole is thin, flexible, and zero-drop. At 5mm-thick, it's made using a mix-of natural and synthetic rubber to maximize both grip with durability. The sole features a full-length herringbone tread-pattern for glue-like grip in all directions, on all surfaces, wet or dry.
  • Insoles: Each order comes with 3 sets of insoles:
    • 3mm (zero-drop)
    • 4mm (zero-drop)
    • 4-9mm (5mm heel-toe drop)
  • You can swap insoles to change the volume of the shoe and to change the level of cushion to match your activity and personal preference. 3mm offers the highest level of sensation, while 4mm gives you a little more cushion for long days on concrete. The thickest option with added heel cushion, 4-9mm, is best for those transitioning or with low foot volume. Our insoles also fit many other wide toebox shoe brands. You don't have to sacrifice cushion for a wide toebox - you can have both!
Sizing

Our shoes run true to size; if you already have a "usual" US shoe size - just order that instead of trying to re-measure.

If you don't know your US shoe size, please reference the sizing guide before purchasing, or message us using the chat feature! The "Recommended Foot Length" in the table below already includes 1.5cm of space in front of your toes, so the recommended numbers represent just your actual foot length (we did the math for you!)

What's Included?

1x pair of Ascent Gen 2 shoes

1x pair of 3mm (zero-drop) insoles

1x pair of 4mm (zero-drop) insoles

1x pair of 4-9mm (5mm drop) insoles

1x pre-paid return mailer (US orders only)

Gen 2 Improvements

You spoke and we listened! Here are the changes we made to the Gen 2 model based on your feedback on the Gen1:

Sizing: We switched to a Unisex sizing approach, starting from Women's US 6 through Men's US 14, including half sizes. Our updated sizes are slightly wider and fit true to size compared to our initial release, which were 1/2 size (or more!) too big.

Lace loop: We added a lace loop to secure the tongue and prevent it falling to the side.

Leather Finish: Although we used a premium full-grain leather for the initial production, we added a thin protective finishing coating to increase durability. This will decrease the likelihood of cuts and scuffs and extends the lifespan of the shoes.

Insoles:

  • We increased the density of the 3mm zero-drop insole to be less flimsy and more durable.
  • We changed the 4mm insole from die-cut (flat) to a more durable, secure molded design. This 3-dimensional structure will be more durable, secure, and won't roll-up under your heel like the original. The density of this insole was also increased.
  • We decreased the thickness of the "high-cushion" insole from 5-11mm to 4-9mm. The thinner heel will be closer to zero-drop and also allow your foot to sit deeper in the shoe for a more secure fit. We also increased the density of this thick insole to provide the same amount of cushion in a smaller form factor.
Shipping

Domestic (USA) Orders:

Free shipping, returns, and exchanges. Each package includes prepaid return mailer.

International Orders:

Free shipping; you may be charged import duty fees by your country. Check our FAQ Page to see estimated import fees by country

You are responsible for arranging return shipping back to USA for either return or exchange.

Photo Gallery

Man in green jacket and black pants leaning against a building wall, wearing Icarus Ascent white/red sneakerTom Segura wearing Icarus Ascent barefoot shoe on the Power Bell podcastMan dressed for dinner date wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot shoe in white/redMark Bell posing with Thor Bjornson wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 sneakers (white/red colorway)Man doing Crossfit working, lifting weights in a gym wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot shoe in white/redPerson deadlifting a barbell with weights in a gym setting, wearing Ascent Gen 2 sneaker in white/redPerson performing a bench press with weights in a gym setting wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 in barefoot shoe in white/redMuscular man sitting on a weight bench in a gym setting; wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot shoe in white/redShane Hunt sitting on a chair outdoors on a deck wearing Icarus Ascent Gen 2 sneakers in white/red

Customer Reviews

Based on 310 reviews
85%
(263)
11%
(35)
3%
(8)
0%
(1)
1%
(3)
97.1
100.0
P
Paxton Nippert
Outstanding shoes

Truly incredible shoes. I have had one pair for over 3 years including work wear, and they have lasted very well. I will keep buying these shoes as long as they are around. Great company, great people.

E
Emily Pinto
Best Crossfit shoes

Got these after seeing memefortime dude's videos - I love them. Had them nearly a year and they've only gotten better as they've broken in. I use the 4mm zero drop insole regularly and use for all gym activities even shorter runs.

Will definitely replace my pair with the same product when the time comes!

J
Jake C
Ascent Gen 2

I compared this shoe to the Xero leather Dillon shoe. I’m actually a fan of Xero shoes but I ended up going with the Icarus Ascent Gen 2 and returning the Dillon shoes from Xero. Main reasons were because it was quiet, the leather on the Dillon shoes made noise, and I liked that the outsole was stitched on. It’s a good looking shoe, it’s comfortable, and the bottom of the shoe has good grip. Some things that I wish were different about the shoe is that the tongue isn’t gusseted so as I walk it slides over to the left on my left foot and over to the right on my right foot and I have to adjust them back to the center. This is made worse by the fact that the tongue is a little too long. A shorter gusseted tongue and shorter laces and this shoe would be perfect IMO. I can’t speak to the durability yet but overall I’m happy with the shoe and the customer service has been great too.

P
Parker Donaldson
Comfort out of the box

Really enjoying the shoes. My first barefoot shoes were vivobarefoot. These seem more durable and have more of a classic design. I also enjoy the inclusion of different insoles for different applications.

R
Ray
2 years of daily wear and counting

I got these shoes 2 years ago and wear them most days. Very satisfied. They have a lot of life left, but I just started thinking I needed to make sure the company was still in business for when I eventually need a replacement. Thank you for making durable shoes!

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