I tend to be a little skeptical of running shoes that aren't from the biggest brands in the sport. Human feet are highly individual, so it’s hard enough to find holy-grail sneakers for walking and casual wear. If I’m going to pound the pavement (and my body) for miles and miles, I prefer to leave my feet in the hands of companies like Nike and Saucony, which have been at the top of their running game for decades.

That said, when an APL rep offered to send me a free pair of the new TechLoom Dream ($250, Athletic Propulsion Labs), I was curious to see if they could compete with my running standbys. Aside from the impressive list of features and stylish design, the claim that the sneaker performs as well on a run as it does on the go intrigued me. A shoe that can keep up with my workouts and my life—and look good doing it—sounded like, well, a dream, so I was eager to test it out.

Who these shoes are for

APL designed the TechLoom Dream to be an extra cushy, “all-purpose” running and walking shoe. Features like a stretchy sock liner, a soft but responsive midsole, and a cushioned collar are meant to add up to a sneaker you can jog, sprint, stroll, and bop around in.

Out of the box

I tested the black and white colorway, so there wasn’t an immediate wow factor when I opened the box—which is just the way I like it. I’m not one for flashy hues or edgy details, and I love that APL keeps their lines clean and their colors simple: I found them sleek as hell.

Upon further inspection, it was clear that the shoe was high-quality. The flexible material of the upper just felt well-made, and the thick, three-piece outsole looked super sturdy. I also thought the sneaker was surprisingly lightweight, considering it was designed to be extra soft and supportive.

Fit and feel

The stretchy sock liner made the shoes easy to slip on (and, later, off—a major perk, since I’ve decided I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have the time or energy to unlace my sneakers). Once I tied them and started walking around my apartment, I immediately noticed two things: My feet felt comfy and cozy, but my toes were a little cramped. I have a medium-width foot overall, but I need a little more, uh, wiggle room in the toe box, especially when running. My big toe was also almost at the end of the shoe, even though I went a half-size up, as I typically do in running shoes. I tried another APL style a few years ago and found that it ran small, also, so if you’re between sizes, I recommend going with the bigger one.

On the run

The “dream”-like cushioning is supposed to be the standout feature of this shoe, and while my feet were plenty comfortable when I was walking leading up to my run, the ride was a tad too firm when I picked up the pace. It wasn’t hard by any means, and it was fine for my shorter three-mile run, but if you’re someone who prefers a cushioned trainer like I do (especially for longer distances), this pair might not be for you.

That said, my feet did feel very secure throughout my testing. My heels were nice and supported (the sneaker has a cushioned collar and molded heel), and I felt decent arch support as well. Thanks to the traction on the outsole, I didn’t notice any slipping when I ran up and down hills that were wet from recent rain, either. Despite the dense midsole, I could still feel the road under my feet, and the shoes weren’t too heavy when I picked up speed for some sprints. For slower paces, however, they weren’t quite responsive or springy enough for me—I felt like I had to put more effort into maintaining my speed.

Other than the firmness and responsiveness issues, the only other downside while running was, again, the toe box. Because of the sneaker’s super stretchy upper, I didn’t feel any pain or get blisters, but my toes were still a little too squished for my liking.

On the walk

In my opinion, this is where the TechLoom Dream shines. Walking outside is a huge part of my exercise (and self-care) routine, and the midsole was very comfortable on all my strolls (as well as a fast, hilly, hour-long walk on the trail by my apartment). I particularly loved how they hugged my feet—the aforementioned arch support, soft collar, and structured heel had me feeling well-supported every step of the way. And while I didn’t love the slightly narrow toe box on my runs, it didn’t bother me as much on my walks, since I don’t need as much space for my toes to splay then. Would I have liked more wiggle room? For sure! But the width won’t stop me from reaching for these sneakers when I need to run errands or take a nature break.

APL

APL TechLoom Dream

$250

APL

That said, if you have a wide foot and/or a spacious toe box is a must-have, I wouldn’t recommend this style. They’re also really expensive for just a walking sneaker, so they might not be practical for a lot of people. (If you’re raising your hand, SELF’s recent roundup of the most comfortable walking shoes includes some much cheaper options.)

The bottom line

As someone who logs about 15 running miles per week, I found that this sneaker wasn’t quite responsive or roomy enough to contend with styles from the sport’s biggest brands. However, after taking them on a few walks, short runs, and errands, I can say that I’m definitely going to keep them in my rotation. They won’t replace the Saucony Triumph ($160, Saucony) or Nike Pegasus ($140, Nike) in my closet anytime soon, but they’re comfortable and stylish enough to make me a fan. If you’re a walker or casual jogger (without a wide foot) who wants a pair of versatile, comfy, fly sneakers—and has $250 to drop on a pair—you might find that the TechLoom Dream lives up to its name.