I Tested kakobuy Balenciaga So You Don’t Have to Waste Your Money (or Dignity)

Let me start by saying: I hate hype. I hate it when a brand makes you feel like you’re missing out on some sacred experience if you don’t drop a month’s rent on a pair of sneakers. So when I first heard about kakobuy balenciaga, I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly pulled a muscle. But curiosity is a hell of a drug, and after weeks of seeing their sponsored posts infesting my feed like digital herpes, I caved. I bought a pair of their Triple S clones. Here’s the brutal truth.

Before I Bought: The Skepticism

I went into this expecting garbage. I mean, the original Balenciaga Triple S retails for nearly a grand, and kakobuy balenciaga was offering something that looks identical for a fraction of that. In my experience, that usually means either the materials are dogshit or the silhouette is so off that you look like you’re wearing clown shoes. But the reviews on their site were glowing—suspiciously so. I dug through Reddit, found a few threads, and the consensus was mixed. Some said the quality was shocking (in a good way), others said the sizing was a nightmare. So I ordered a pair in my usual size, 43 EU, in the ‘Cream’ colorway.

The Cringe-Worthy Unboxing

It arrived in a box that screamed ‘we spent all the money on the shoes, not packaging’. The box was flimsy, but inside, the shoes were wrapped in paper that looked like it came from a recycling bin. First impression: the smell. It had that potent industrial glue odor that makes you wonder what kind of child labor and toxic fumes went into making them. I left them on the balcony for two days to air out. The shoes themselves? Surprisingly hefty. The weight was comparable to my friend’s authentic Triple S. But the stitching had a few loose threads—like, not enough to ruin them, but enough to make me go ‘really?’

The Moment That Made Me Want to Throw Them in the Trash

I put them on for a walk to the grocery store. Within 10 minutes, the insole slid out from under my foot. The right shoe felt like I was stepping on a loose pancake. I had to stop on the sidewalk, pull the shoe off, and shove the insole back in. People stared. I wanted to die. This is the kind of crap that makes you question all your life choices that led to this moment. The insoles are not glued down properly—a design flaw that will have you adjusting your footwear like a demented penguin every few blocks.

The Surprise: When They Didn’t Suck

Okay, I’ll admit it: after I fixed the insole issue with some double-sided tape (because I’m not a quitter), the shoes actually looked great. The shape is almost spot-on. The chunky sole has that exaggerated, cartoonish vibe that makes the originals so polarizing. And the comfort? Once the insole stayed put, the padding was decent. I walked for about 2 miles and my feet didn’t hurt. That’s more than I can say for some luxury sneakers that cost 10 times as much. The materials are definitely not calfskin leather—it’s some sort of synthetic blend that feels a bit plasticky, but from a distance, you can’t tell. At a bar, a guy actually complimented them, asking if they were the real deal. I said ‘they’re replicas’ just to see his reaction, and he said ‘no way, they look legit’. So there’s that.

The Hiccup with Sizing

Here’s the thing about kakobuy balenciaga: their sizing is inconsistent. I got a 43, and they fit like a 44—half a size too big with a narrow toe box. That’s a weird combo. If I had gone down a size, my toes would have been crushed. So I’m stuck wearing thick socks and still tripping over my own feet. If you’re ordering, split the difference: if you’re between sizes, size up and add an insole. Also, the tongue is oddly short, so lacing them is a pain—the laces sit weird and the tongue keeps sliding to the side.

The Verdict: Is kakobuy Balenciaga Worth It?

Look, if you’re expecting 1:1 quality, you’re delusional. But if you want the look without the price tag and don’t mind a few tweaks, these are a decent option. For $80 (including shipping), you get a shoe that passes the glance test and even the Instagram test. But for daily wear? The insole issue alone would drive me insane. I’d only recommend them if you’re the kind of person who enjoys fixing minor annoyances in exchange for major savings. Otherwise, save up for the real thing or buy a different rep altogether. kakobuy balenciaga is not a scam—it’s just a reminder that you get what you pay for, with a little bit of luck thrown in.

Final score: 6/10. Would I buy again? Maybe, if they fix the insoles. But I’m not holding my breath.