When we call a shoe “versatile,” it’s typically referring to its chameleon-like adaptability for many activities and/or outfits. But Commbi, a newcomer on the shoe scene, is taking it one step further (pun intended). The footwear brand recently launched with its first-ever capsule collection of colorful, comfy slides, slippers, and clogs complete with mix-and-match footbeds, allowing you to customize any one pair as you please. With its Build-A-Bear approach, Commbi lets wearers customize their fit and feel to their exact liking—which is exactly why I had to try it.
My coworkers and I were curious to see for ourselves just how well customizable shoes *really* worked and stood up to a full day of wear. Turns out, Commbi is on to something. Find our full review below.
How Commbi works
Commbi currently offers four core shoe styles: the trendy Softie Slides ($180), the pretty Patchwork Slides ($150), the classic Rhoads Slides ($170), and oh-so-cozy Woolie Burro ($180). Once you pick your shoe, you choose your insole. Every shoe comes with a modular footbed of your choice (there are five total) that pops in and out of the base of the shoe. If you want to switch things up, you can purchase additional footbeds to mix and match depending on the occasion, season, or mood.
Despite the different outer materials of the footbeds (cork, shearling, vegan leather, terry-lined memory foam, and flannel-lined memory foam), each insole sports a layer of memory foam, so you’re promised cushy comfort regardless of which one you pick. All also have grooves that snap into the shoes like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, so that a single shoe can quickly be transformed into multiple footwear options, whether for plodding around the house or running errands around town. (You can see in the photo below one pair of slides worn three ways.)
Commbi footwear: Our honest review
Intrigued by Commbi’s choose-your-own-adventure model, I opted to test the Softie Slides in black with a vegan leather footbed, while my colleague and Well+Good Content Operations Director, Katie Maguire, opted for the Woolie Burro.
The Softies are the slide equivalent of inflatable pillows. They’re big and squishy and, as the name suggests, very, very soft. The straps are made from smooth vegan leather and padded with memory foam that cushions feet without adding friction, while faux-leather footbeds offer just the right amount of cushioning. Neither too firm nor too soft to be unsupportive, they have that Goldilocks effect—just right. I also received the Terry Cloth footbeds, and popping them into the shoes proved easy.
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Both footbeds clicked seamlessly into place and stayed put. However, removing the footbeds required a little more effort—just a quick tug and wiggle. Admittedly, I noticed very little difference between the Vegan Leather and Terry Cloth footbeds other than the exteriors. They’re similarly cushy, but I found I enjoy the warm texture of the terry-cloth material better thanks to its softness and moisture-wicking properties (sweaty feet owners, rejoice!).
I’ve worn these shoes in and around my apartment building and on quick trips around my neighborhood and I can confirm that they are as comfortable as they appear. Unlike so many leather (or faux leather) shoes I’ve worn in the past, they haven’t caused blisters or sore spots. They are too clunky for a walk upwards of a mile, but on days I expect to travel long distances by foot, I typically prefer sneakers to any other shoe.
Maguire also loves her Woolie Burros, which she received in Forest Elf Green. “They were made in partnership with podiatrists and I can really tell,” she says. “They’re incredibly soft, have a memory foam footbed, and feel like walking on clouds.”
Made with a wool-felt upper, they keep your feet warm without causing your feet to overheat. Its open-heel design also helps promote airflow, and it makes slipping them on and off a cinch. And they’re supportive: “I’m a big house slipper gal, and these are the first pair that actually feel supportive,” says Maguire. “Because of their cushy design, these slides could feel a little bulky for people who prefer a more streamlined look, but since I work from home, I like having support throughout the day. They also come with a removable footbed, so you can customize the look and feel of your slippers anytime you want… I’m already plotting to get the shearling footbeds for winter!”
The verdict
Team Well+Good isn’t easily won over by novelty, but Commbi’s modular shoes are more than kitschy marketing. With a quick switch of the footbeds, a single pair of shoes can morph from one style to another (and another), offering you more bang for your buck. Doesn’t hurt that they feel like marshmallows on your feet. All to say: it’s a shoe really is greater than the sum of its parts.
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