A review of Fluevog Hula Hoop Mary Janes

I think I've caught a case of the Fluevog Shoe Flu

An unexpected thing happened to me last year. While I was compiling my list of wide toe box shoes with attitude, I discovered a bunch of awesome shoes made by John Fluevog that definitely deserved to be on the list. One model in particular made a big impression on me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

My feet are very particular about the shoes they’ll let me wear; if the toe box is too narrow or the sole is too thin, or if the heel is elevated too much, I know the shoes are an instant no for me. This has lead most of my shoe purchases to be rather tame fashion-wise, and I consider myself lucky whenever I find sneakers or boots I can wear. For the longest time I was stuck wearing athletic shoes because there were no other options that would allow me to walk without pain.

So, most of the time when I see cool or pretty shoes, I’ve come to accept that they won’t work for my feet. But when I saw the Fluevog Hula Hoop Mary Janes, I realized, wait a second, I think I might actually be able to wear those!

Because I’ve become so accustomed to wearing basic styles, I really questioned why I was drawn to these shoes. Could I really see myself wearing them? Did I even have anything in my closet that would go with them? Were they ugly?

After a few days of deliberation, I held my breath and pulled the trigger.

Ordering process

Fluevog has a number of stores throughout Canada and the US, and international shipping is available for those who live outside North America.

When placing an order online, your shoes will ship from one of Fluevog’s brick and mortar stores. If you need to make a return you’ll need to contact the specific store that shipped your order and arrange the return with them.

My ordering experience was a breeze so there’s not much to report on the topic.

Construction, materials, & quality

The upper on the black version is made of box leather, while the other colors come in suede. I’m not sure if the lining on my pair is vegetable or chrome tanned leather, but the suede models look like they might have veg tan lining.

The leather feels really nice. Box leather is pretty durable, but if you want to keep the upper looking glossy and fresh it does require some maintenance. Fluevog recommends treating it with a clear shoe cream and clear shoe polish as needed.

Fluevog’s website states the Hula Hoop is made using the Pratik construction. I couldn’t track down much information on the specifics, but from what I gather the Pratik is essentially a stitchdown construction. I reached out to Fluevog to ask if this model is resoleable and this is what they told me:

“The Pratik construction means the upper is stitched to the midsole; this type of construction is meant for durability and increased flexibility. The Hula Hoop is not a traditionally resoleable style; we don’t provide replacement parts. The crepe sole is cemented to the midsole. Theoretically, a skilled cobbler could replace the crepe if they had the right tools or machines.”

There’s a faux welt glued the way all around the top edge of the sole, which was somewhat disappointing to me. The glue was rather sloppily applied on the pair I received but it wasn’t noticeable enough to try to exchange them. There’s some gaping between the faux welt and upper in a few places, so I’m guessing the glossiness of the leather prevented the glue from adhering properly.

Other than the glue/faux welt, the shoes seem pretty well made.

Visible glue/faux welt

The crepe soles have a pleasant springiness without being too squishy. People generally seem to have mixed feelings about crepe. Some love it for the cushion and flexibility, but others complain that it gets dirty easily (shoe soles are in direct contact with the ground, so I’m not sure what people expect) and it can melt when exposed to heat. You also cannot allow the soles to come in contact with petroleum/gasoline because it causes crepe to deteriorate.

The sole has around 5mm heel elevation. The total thickness of the sole is about 20mm thick at the forefoot and 25mm at the heel.

Sizing & comfort

This is the first pair of Fluevogs I’ve owned. Everything I read online recommended sizing up with Fluevog shoes generally and the Hula Hoop specifically. My shoe size can be all over the place depending on the brand. Typically I’ll wear size 38/39 (US8, give or take). Fluevog’s size chart put me at W8/M7.

I decided to heed everyone’s advice and went with size W9/M7. This worked well for me because I like having at least 15-20mm extra space at the end of my toes. If you like a close fit you might be able to follow Fluevog’s size guide, but if you prefer more room or plan to wear socks with them, I’d size up.

Overall, the Hula Hoop feels pretty comfortable off the bat without requiring a break-in period. The toe box is much wider than the heel, which suits my foot shape well. The toe box is actually a bit too wide for me, which rarely happens. My feet are 24cm long and 9.5cm wide at the forefoot, for reference.

Sole flexibility

The sole is flexible, but doesn’t quite match the flexibility of the foot. This causes the shoe to come away from the foot somewhat while walking, resulting in some heel slippage. For this reason I would recommend wearing socks to prevent blisters.

The shoes are higher volume than my feet, so I ended up putting a half insole in the front to take up some space and reduce the amount of heel elevation. Because my ankles are so narrow I had to punch extra holes in the straps, which was rather nerve-wracking.

Aesthetics

Fluevog has long been known for taking traditional shoe styles and adding their own unique flair to them. The brand has been a mainstay in the punk and grunge fashion scenes since at least the 90’s. With the four buckles and the stitches on the faux welt, the Hula Hoop definitely screams punk to me.

I’ve received a few compliments from strangers while wearing the Hula Hoop, and also had people ask where I bought them.

The crepe soles lend a bit of a relaxed look to the shoe. A darker sole made of a different material would’ve looked more edgy, but based on the shoe’s description¹ on Fluevog’s website, I think the designers were channeling a playful vibe with these.

The toe box fully embraces a ducky shape, which is something that would normally give me pause, but alt-fashion is one area I think a foot-shaped toe box is perfectly suited. After all, the whole point of alt-fashion is to be a bit “out there.” One reason it works here is that every design choice of the Hula Hoop looks intentional, which is a topic I wrote about previously.

Final thoughts

The Hula Hoop is a great choice for those who are drawn to edgier styles but don’t want to sacrifice toe room or wear precarious chunky heels.

Shortly after I ordered the Hula Hoop (back in June!) most of the sizes sold out, so it didn’t make sense to me to write a review for a shoe that was no longer available. Thankfully they were recently restocked, and now come in two new snazzy colors!

Not only did Fluevog add more color options for the Hula Hoop, but they also introduced a few more models to the Play Grounders “shoe family,” which are all made on the same last. With these new additions, let’s hope this shoe family is here to stay.

The price went up since I bought them ($329 vs $399), but Fluevog does offer sales now and then—sometimes as high as 50% off.

These shoes have encouraged me to be a teensy bit more daring with my wardrobe choices, though I still stay in my comfort zone most of the time. I dunno, maybe I gotta go full goth now or something.

“Those who have tried hula hooping know that it’s not as easy as it looks — you either get it or you don’t (much like our shoes). Fortunately, The Hula Hoop from our Play Grounders family is much easier to pick up and enjoy. Combining classic craftsmanship with stylish modern elements, these multi-strap, crepe sole shoes are bold, versatile, and a whole lotta fun (even without much practice).”

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