About APL
Athletic Propulsion Labs is recognized worldwide as a leading manufacturer of athletic footwear and apparel for men and women. Their edgy designs combined with innovative comfort and performance technology have quickly gained recognition from celebrities and athletes alike, including popular influencers like the Kardashians.
This APL shoe review noted that the Load N’ Launch technology in the APL Concept 1 design was the first shoe to be banned by the NBA for its exceptional benefits. Today, the combined technology of LOAD ‘N LAUNCH and Propelium is one of the most comfortable and high performing athletic shoes on the market.
Athletic Propulsion Labs has been recognized by many high-profile magazines and media outlets, including Business Insider, Forbes and the Los Angeles Business Journal. This APL shoe review will delve into the people behind the brand, best-selling shoes, customer reviews and more to help you decide if the shoes live up to the hype.
Overview of APL
APL’s fascination begins with its name and ends with its ability to deliver unique, high-performance and fashionable sports shoes. There is a good reason why the young company has attracted so much attention. Founded by twin brothers Adam and Ryan Goldston at the age of 22, the company aims to make the best athletic shoes in the world.
APL describes its shoes as designs that are at the intersection of luxury and performance. Founded in 2009, the L.A.-based brand continues to offer stunning footwear with innovative features like removable laces that allow you to switch from lace-ups to slip-ons. Today, APL shoes are sold in over 300 premium stores around the world.
The Goldston brothers continue to be involved in their community and contribute to issues that align with their mission. These include women’s health through APL breast cancer shoes, children in need, scholarship programs and solving the problem of homelessness in their hometown of Los Angeles.
Pros
- Sports shoes in a variety of designs for men and women
- Stylish and modern designs
- Exceptional comfort and support
- Advanced and innovative performance features, including patented Load N’ Launch and Propelium technology
- Easily accessible in over 300 retail stores and on the APL website
- Committed to charitable initiatives for women, children, education and homelessness
Cons
- Expensive compared to other high-end sports shoes
APL Women’s Shoes
With the ideal combination of fashion and function, APL women’s shoes are supported by proprietary technology to optimize performance and comfort. The brand offers stylish athletic shoes for running and training, as well as slip-ons for chilling out between workouts.
These APL running shoe reviews will give you an insight into the best sellers for women:
Women’s Ascend
To stay fit and improve performance, the APL Women’s Ascend is designed specifically for training. With a mid-cut silhouette, the TechLoom upper has built-in ventilation and support designed for comfort and durability. Lace the shoe to your liking and customize it with the flexible closure for a personalized feel.
The Women’s Ascend is an all-day shoe, whether you’re running errands or logging miles. These high-top trainers feature a cushioned APL Propelium midsole/outsole and are available in a range of attractive color combinations. Choose from White, Black/Melange, Black/White, Black/White/Black, Cosmic Grey/Metallic Silver, Leopard/Black/White, Multi/Black and Quited Black/Metallic Silver/White for $200.
Women’s TechLoom Wave
The structured silhouette of the Women’s TechLoom Wave is luxurious and stylish. This shoe features APL’s newly developed highly elastic 3D Stretch Rebound TechLoom in the upper, which allows for movement with increased stretch from front to back as well as lateral and medial support.
The Women’s TechLoom Wave lacing ensures the ideal fit with an integrated lace loop. Lace up, tie and go in these streamlined shoes, which can be transformed into slip-on shoes with the ingenious detachable lacing system. Propelium technology and a durable rubber outsole provide superior comfort and an intact midsole for years of comfort and support.
These understated sneakers come in a range of unique colors, from classic black and white marble sole to citrus in pale yellow and burgundy/white/melange to deep emerald/peppermint. With 18 fashionable color combinations, the Women’s TechLoom Wave is available for $225.
APL Men’s Shoes
Whether on the road, at the gym or in the pub, every step in APL men’s shoes is supported by APL’s proprietary technology that optimizes performance with every stride.
In this APL shoe review, we’ve discovered a range of running shoes and sneakers, an iconic basketball shoe, as well as luxury TechLoom, calf hair and sweater shoes. Continue to the most popular APL shoes for men:
Men’s Concept Boomer
The Men’s Concept Boomer is the only APL basketball shoe. It has everything you want when you’re on the court, including a high-top silhouette and a molded heel counter designed for premium support and a custom fit. Your feet will stay cool all day long thanks to open mesh windows that are carefully designed to wrap from lateral to medial.
These APL basketball shoes are built with a TPU cage that keeps your feet secure while providing exceptional support, even when the game calls for instant acceleration and crazy dodging maneuvers. With an integrated toe cap, your feet are well protected and your shoes will survive game after game. The patented APL Load ‘N Launch technology is so effective at improving vertical leaps that these shoes have been banned by the NBA.
If you’re looking for a stylish and comfortable shoe that performs at the highest level, the Men’s Concept Boomer is a winner. This APL performance shoe is available in black/onyx or space gray/white, both designs with an eye-catching blue outsole for $200.
Men’s TechLoom Pro
The Men’s TechLoom Pro is the original, classic running shoe from APL with all of APL’s patented technology. The one-piece woven upper is at the heart of the unique running shoe style. The innovative performance textiles feature APL’s distinctive knit patterns, artfully selected color palettes and a streamlined silhouette.
For the ultimate in cushioning, APL’s patented Propelium midsole/outsole provides unrivaled comfort. You can choose the ideal fit for ultimate performance with a regular width and a slightly wider toe box. The Men’s TechLoom Pro is available in 18 cutting-edge colors that are ideal for fashion-conscious men and is priced at $140.
APL Shoes Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Business Insider called them a “mainstay for the fitness community, celebrities and sneaker fans alike,” and you would think these shoes must be good. Some reviewers felt that the shoes are not worth their high price tag, and it is debatable whether or not the basketball shoes improve bounce. Other than that, the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. These quotes summarize the kind of comments you’ll find in APL shoe reviews:
- “They actually help you jump a little higher”. – Wired
- “The high-cut silhouette, combined with the sturdy materials, gave me a very secure and almost ‘invincible’ feeling. – The Hoops Geek
- “I would say that this sneaker offers the most cushioning with the least weight of any I have.” – APL shoe review on the website
- “Stylish enough to wear in and out of the gym.” – Business Insider
For this APL shoe review, I looked at the reviews on Amazon for selected models. My search yielded 4.2/5 stars out of 74 reviews for the Women’s TechLoom Phantom, 4.4/5 stars out of 15 reviews for the Women’s TechLoom Pro, and 4.2/5 stars out of 20 reviews for the Women’s Ascend (other available shoes had only a handful of reviews).
Are APL Shoes Worth It?
From APL tennis shoes to stylish running shoes, most customers are big fans of the comfort, fit and look of the footwear. However, when researching for this APL shoes review, although some basketball fanatics felt the basketball shoes delivered on improved bounce, the feeling was not unanimous. Buyers also pointed out that the shoes are quite expensive, even when compared to other high-end athletic shoes.
Athletic Propulsion Labs is definitely ahead of the curve when it comes to innovative technology, and their designs reflect what’s trending (as evidenced by the numerous celebrities wearing APL). If you’re buying shoes purely for looks and comfort, APL shoes offer an impressive choice. If, on the other hand, you’re in it for fitness and performance, you really need to try the shoes on to see if they suit you. If APL shoes are in your price range, go for it!
APL Promotions & Discounts
This APL shoe trial has resulted in a number of discounts including:
- 30% discount for healthcare workers and first responders
- 15% discount for all active, reserve, veteran and retired US military personnel, as well as spouses and dependents of active personnel
- 15% discount for all K-12 or university graduate teachers, faculty and staff
With the APL rewards program, you can earn and redeem rewards not only for purchases, but also from the moment you create an account, for your birthday, for following them on Twitter, and even for referring a friend who makes a purchase of at least $140. You will receive 1 point for every dollar spent.
The program includes different VIP reward levels:
- Gold: Spend $500 or refer 2 friends and receive 1.2x the points
- Platinum: Spend $1250 or refer 5 friends and receive 1.5 times the points
- Diamond: Spend $2500 or refer 10 friends and get 2 times the points
Where to Buy APL Shoes
You can find APL shoes for sale at their online store, AthleticPropulsionLabs.com, at their first retail store in LA, as well as at: Saks, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, SoulCycle, Mr. Porter, Shopbop, East Dane, Amazon, and more. You can check the APL website to see which stores are near you.
FAQ
This report on APL shoes addresses the most common questions that new and existing customers want answered.
What sizes are available at APL?
Check the APL size chart to see if APL carries your size:
Are APL shoes machine washable?
APL says that the shoes can be washed in the washing machine, but should be air-dried.
What is APL’s shipping policy?
APL ships throughout the U.S. and Canada, and its partners carry and ship products all over the world. Here is the most important information about APL’s shipping policy:
- Free shipping is available in the US on all orders over $45.
- Domestic orders placed before 12 PM PT will ship the same business day, and orders placed after 11 AM PT on Friday will ship on Monday.
- For international orders, shipping costs are calculated per item, based on weight and destination.
- All orders can take 7-14 business days to ship via FedEx.
- Once orders are shipped, customers will receive a tracking number via email.
What is APL’s return policy?
This APL shoe review has determined that returns must be received in their original, unworn, undamaged, unwashed and smoke-free condition with the original packaging, tags, accessories and extra laces (if included).
Domestic
Customers must fill out a form to receive their free shipping label. Items can then be returned via FedEx to:
Athletic Propulsion Labs
108 S. Mayo Ave
City of Industry
California
91789
How to Contact APL
If you have any questions not covered in this APL shoe review, please feel free to contact the team:
- Phone (toll free): 866-672-8630; 7 am-7 pm PST Monday-Friday through Friday
- Email: help@athleticpropulsionlabs.com
- Contact form on AthleticPropulsionLabs.com
- Author: Amanda Walsh
