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Ascent Gen 2
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.
A black Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents; top view
A black Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot sneaker with metallic gold accents, displayed on a stack of gold bars; front-view
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
A pair of white Icarus Ascent Gen 2 barefoot shoes with red accents; rear-view
3 wide-toebox insoles of varying thicknesses: 3mm zero-drop, 4mm zero-drop, and 4-9mm thick (non-zero-drop)
Ascent Gen 2
Ascent Gen 2

Ascent Gen 2

$144.99

INVENTORY RESTOCKED!

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.

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. Made using a mix-of natural and synthetic rubber to balance grip with durability. The sole features a herringbone tread-pattern; proven to be the optimal design for maximizing grip in all directions.

Insoles: You don't have to sacrifice cushion for a wide toebox - you can have both! Each order includes 3 insole options: 3mm insoles (zero-drop), 4mm insoles (zero-drop), and 4-9mm insoles (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. Our insoles also fit many other wide-toebox shoe brands.

Sizing

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

What's Included?

1x pair of Ascent Gen 2 shoes

3x pairs of insoles: 3mm (zero-drop); 4mm (zero-drop); 4-9mm "high cushion" (5mm heel-toe drop)

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

Gen 2 Improvements

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: You spoke and we listened! Based on feedback that the tongue wouldn't stay in place and fell to the side of the shoe: 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.

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 284 reviews
85%
(241)
12%
(33)
2%
(7)
0%
(1)
1%
(2)
96.8
100.0
M
Matthew Defazio
Great shoes

I love the fit of these shoes - lots of room for toes.

S
Sharon Gruber
Ascent Gen 2

I loved the look and quality of this shoe. Sadly it didn’t fit my low-volume foot and the next size down would have been too short.

K
Karen
I love them!

I got these shoes because they were extra wide at the ball of the foot. They are great for me, and I also appreciate being able to fit the extra thick sole in, to get used to feeling more of the ground. All the extras make it very worth it, even with extra import costs for the EU.
I would like to suggest some more designs, preferably with some optical illusion to give it the appearance of not being a super wide shoe 🙏

H
Haichao Yu
Shoes With a Natural Foot Shape That Look Great

I've slowly been rotating out all of my shoes to ones that have wider toeboxes and a more natural foot shape. While I find my Altras much more comfortable than my previous shoes and love wearing them, I was getting tired of wearing only athletic sneakers all of the time. I'm glad I stumbled upon these shoes, which look much more stylish while also retaining the same level of comfort. The construction feels great and the level of packaging and extra insoles feels very premium. I also really appreciated the note from the founder that was included with the shoes. I like knowing that I'm supporting an individual and a small business that cares about their product over a faceless corporation. I wholeheartedly recommend these shoes and encourage anyone to give them a try.

C
Cynthia Douglas
Excellent

Love the shoes and the customer service and the letter you sent with the shoes!

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