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You’ve probably seen them before you knew the name: knit sneakers with a chunky, sculpted sole and a small “APL” on the heel, usually on someone who looks like they’ve just come from a very expensive gym. They’re Athletic Propulsion Labs, and the first price you’ll see on their site is usually $245 or $350.
So are they worth it? That depends less on the shoes than on how you buy them. APL rarely discounts its own stock, its return window is a third the length most sneaker shoppers are used to, and its sizing has a quirk that confuses nearly everyone the first time. This guide goes through all of that, plus what each part of the range is actually for, so the first pair you order is the one you keep.
Quick answer: APL (Athletic Propulsion Labs) is an independent Los Angeles footwear brand founded in 2009 by twin brothers Adam and Ryan Goldston. It sells knit running and lifestyle sneakers from $180 to $495, plus slides from $130. The shoes are light, comfortable, many are machine washable, and they look far more polished than a typical running shoe. The catch is the buying terms: you have 10 days from delivery to send something back, a $10 handling fee comes off every mail-in refund, and full-price stock almost never goes on sale on APL’s own site. Exchanges within the US are free, so if you’re unsure of your size, exchange rather than refund. Healthcare workers, first responders and vets can get 30% off after verifying; students, teachers and military get 15%.
What APL actually is
APL’s founders were two-sport athletes at USC, playing basketball and football for the Trojans. Their first product, in 2010, was a basketball shoe called the Concept 1 with a spring-loaded forefoot device they called Load ‘N Launch. On October 19, 2010, the NBA banned it for giving players an “undue competitive advantage”. It’s still the most famous thing about the company, and APL still sells basketball shoes built around that tech: the Concept X at $450 and the SUPERFUTURE at $325.
The ban got APL attention, but most of what it sells today came later. In 2014 it launched running and training shoes for men and women, and they ended up on the shelves of Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges, Net-A-Porter and lululemon. That’s the APL most people know now: a luxury running shoe that’s as likely to be worn at an airport as on a track.
APL says it’s still fully independent and owned by its founders. It runs flagship stores in Los Angeles (at The Grove) and New York, ships from a warehouse in City of Industry, California, and its range has grown far past running shoes. When we went through the catalog it had around 550 listings, from $99 kids’ shoes up to the $495 HySpeed, in an almost absurd number of colorways. The TechLoom Zipline alone had 59.
The range, and what each shoe is for
APL’s product names don’t tell you much, and the descriptions lean heavily on words like “masterpiece”. Here’s the practical version. The knit running shoes come first, because they’re what the brand is built on.
| Shoe | Price | What it’s good for |
|---|---|---|
| TechLoom Pro | $180 | The original APL runner and the cheapest adult shoe. 7.9 oz, standard width with a slightly wider toe box. |
| TechLoom Dream | $200 | An all-purpose running and walking shoe with APL’s softest “Heavenly Ride” midsole. 9.4 oz. The best value in the range if you’ll actually run in it. |
| TechLoom Wave | $220 | 7.1 oz, laced, but the laces can come out entirely and it becomes a slip-on. |
| TechLoom Traveler | $220 | A laceless slip-on with a herringbone knit and a FutureFoam midsole. Built for airports and long days on your feet, and APL says it runs true to size. |
| Euphoria | $240 | A very breathable mesh upper on the same soft midsole as the Dream. A warm-weather running shoe. |
| TechLoom Bliss / Breeze | $245 | The lightest shoes APL makes at 6.8 oz. The Bliss is the slip-on with the satin strap that you’ve likely seen everywhere; the Breeze is the laced version. |
| TechLoom Zipline | $350 | APL’s maximum-cushion shoe and its current flagship. Thick FutureFoam midsole, 10 oz, 8mm drop. |
Where APL lists it, these shoes have an 8mm drop (heel-to-toe height difference), which is fairly standard for everyday trainers. Where the brand gets more interesting, and more expensive, is outside the knit runners:
- Big Logo TechLoom Slide ($130): a knit-strap recovery slide on the same Propelium foam as the older running shoes. It’s the cheapest way into APL, and APL says it won a 2025 Oprah Daily Bath O-ward. The leather Lusso Slide is $195.
- Nostalgia ’87 ($295): a leather court-style sneaker. It’s APL’s take on the classic white tennis shoe, and it’s a lifestyle shoe first (more on that below).
- Jogger ($320): a 90s-style retro runner in suede, mesh and microfiber on a tall FutureFoam sole. Popular, but it can’t go in the washing machine.
- Streamline and Podium ($300): the Streamline is APL’s most purely running-focused shoe (7.3 oz); the Podium came out of its Formula 1 partnership.
- HySpeed ($495): a gym trainer with a full-length carbon-fiber plate between two foam pods. Gear Patrol gave it its 2023 Editor’s Choice for best gym shoe. It’s also heavy for a trainer, at 13 oz in a men’s 9.
Sizing: every APL shoe is unisex
This is the part that trips people up. APL lists men’s and women’s versions of almost every shoe, but they’re the same shoe. Only the size labels differ. In APL’s own words: “All of our shoes are unisex.”
The conversion is a size and a half. A women’s 9 is a men’s 7.5, and a men’s 7 is a women’s 8.5. That matters for two reasons:
- When your size is sold out, check the other gender’s listing. APL suggests exactly this on every product page, and colorways sometimes show up under one gender before the other.
- When you’re reading reviews, make sure you know which scale the reviewer is talking about. “I went down half a size” means nothing if you don’t know whether they started from a men’s or a women’s size.
Beyond that, APL gives very little fit guidance. The Traveler is listed as true to size and the TechLoom Pro as normal width with a slightly roomier toe box, and that’s about it. Knit uppers stretch a bit with wear, but the sole doesn’t, so if you’re between sizes and have wide feet, size up. And because the return window is short (next section), try them on the day they arrive, on carpet, rather than leaving the box in the hall.
Returns: you get 10 days, and refunds cost $10
APL’s return terms are much tighter than the price tag suggests. Here’s what its returns page says for US orders:
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 10 days from delivery | Not 30, and not from when you ordered. Late returns are “at the discretion of APL”. |
| $10 handling fee | Deducted from every mail-in refund. A $245 pair of Bliss comes back as $235. |
| Free exchanges | Domestic exchanges don’t carry the fee, and you print a prepaid label from the returns portal. |
| Unworn, in the original box | Tags, extra laces and any promotional gift go back too. The shoebox has to arrive undamaged, so APL asks you to pack it inside another box. |
| Final Sale is final | No returns or exchanges at all. |
| Slow refunds | Returns are processed within 10 to 15 business days of reaching the warehouse, and the credit can take one or two billing cycles to show. |
The practical takeaway: if the shoe is right but the size is wrong, exchange it. It costs nothing. Only take a refund if you don’t want the shoe at all. And the old trick of ordering two sizes and sending one back works here, but it costs you $10 and you have to decide quickly.
Two more things to know. If you bought your APLs at Saks, Neiman Marcus or another retailer, they go back to that retailer, not to APL. And APL says it tracks how often customers return things and may close accounts that return repeatedly.
There’s also a short warranty: if shoes or slides bought directly from APL develop a material or workmanship flaw within 30 days of arriving, APL will exchange or refund them. Expect to be asked for photos.
One warning. APL’s FAQ page is older than its returns page and contradicts it in places: it says exchanges are charged shipping and refunds take three business days. Go by the dedicated Exchanges & Returns page, which is the one quoted above.
Shipping
US shipping is straightforward. Ground shipping is free on orders over $95, which covers every adult shoe and the slides, and it applies to all 50 states, US territories and P.O. boxes (shipping to Hawaii and Alaska is calculated by weight). Orders placed before 12pm Pacific usually ship the same business day, and delivery takes 1 to 9 business days in the contiguous US. Orders over $500 need a signature.
If a parcel goes missing, you have five days from the tracking delivery date to report it to APL. That’s short, so check tracking rather than assuming it’s running late.
International orders go through Global-E and ship by DHL Express, usually arriving in 3 to 5 business days after one or two days of processing. There’s a flat $20 shipping charge, and duties and taxes are calculated and charged at checkout, so there’s nothing extra to pay on delivery. Two catches: international orders can’t be exchanged (you return and reorder), and duties are refunded on returns only for buyers in Canada, the EU and the UK.
Discounts: rare, unless you qualify for one
When we went through APL’s catalog, not one of the roughly 550 listings had a crossed-out price. APL keeps its own stock at full price most of the time. Here’s what’s actually available:
| Who | Discount | On a $350 Zipline |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare workers (US, Canada, UK and 12 European countries) | 30% | $245 |
| First responders (US) | 30% | $245 |
| Veterinarians and vet students (US) | 30% | $245 |
| Military, veterans, and spouses and dependents of active personnel (US) | 15% | $297.50 |
| Teachers and school or university staff | 15% | $297.50 |
| High school, college and university students | 15% | $297.50 |
| Anyone who signs up for APL text alerts | 10% | $315 |
The group discounts are verified through SheerID. You get a single-use code that’s valid for 30 days, and you can verify again for a new code every 30 days. They apply to full-price items only and exclude accessories, gift cards and APL’s breast cancer awareness (BCA) shoes. If you’re a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, physical therapist or anyone else on the long list of eligible healthcare roles, 30% off is the single biggest saving available on APL, and it’s one most people don’t know about.
There’s also a loyalty program with three tiers: Gold after $500 of spending (1.2x points), Platinum at $1,250 (1.5x) and Diamond at $2,500 (2x). You can also reach each tier by referring friends instead. Afterpay is offered at checkout if you’d rather split the cost.
If what you want is a markdown, department stores that stock APL are a likelier place to find one than APL’s own site, but you’ll be on that store’s return policy rather than APL’s.
Looking after them
One genuinely useful thing about the knit models: you can put them in the washing machine. APL’s care page lists the Zipline, Euphoria, Traveler, Dream, Tracer, Pro, Phantom, Bliss, Breeze, Wave and the Big Logo TechLoom Slide as washable. For a white knit shoe at $245, that’s a big deal.
APL’s instructions are specific: cold water, the quickest cycle, a small towel in with them, no other clothes, and no mixing lights and darks. It recommends Dreft detergent. You can do up to three pairs at once, and an optional spin cycle of no more than ten minutes gets the water out. Then air dry, never in the dryer and not in direct sun.
Anything with leather, suede, wool, calf hair, crystals or metallic finishes is out. That rules out the Nostalgia ’87, the Jogger, the HySpeed, the Lusso slides and the basketball shoes, which APL suggests cleaning with a Jason Markk kit instead.
Who APL suits, and who should shop elsewhere
APL makes the most sense for people who want one comfortable, good-looking sneaker for long days: travel, walking around a city, standing at work, the gym, then dinner. It’s probably no coincidence that its biggest discounts go to nurses, doctors and first responders, who spend twelve-hour shifts on their feet and still need to look tidy. The knit models are light, they’re washable, and the slip-ons (the Bliss and Traveler) are easy at airport security.
It’s a weaker choice in a few situations:
- Serious runners. The Dream, Streamline and Zipline are real running shoes, but at $200 to $350 you’re paying for design as much as performance. A dedicated running brand gives you more width and fit options at the same price.
- Tennis and pickleball. APL’s FAQ says plainly that none of its shoes are designed for tennis and it doesn’t warranty them for it. APL’s own description of the Nostalgia ’87 mentions tennis and pickleball, but given that FAQ answer, we’d treat it as a lifestyle shoe.
- Anyone who hates fast decisions. Ten days and a $10 refund fee leave less room for “I’ll try them on at the weekend” than you’d get at most sneaker shops.
How we’d buy APL
- Check your discount first. If you work in healthcare, emergency services or veterinary care, verify before you add anything to your cart. Otherwise sign up for the 10% text-alert code.
- Start with the Dream or the Bliss. The Dream if you’ll run or walk a lot, the Bliss if you mostly want an easy, light everyday shoe. The Zipline is the one to buy second, once you know your size.
- Work out your size on one scale. Women’s minus 1.5 equals men’s. Check both listings if your size or color looks sold out.
- Try them on the day they arrive, indoors and without wearing them out. The clock is 10 days from delivery.
- Exchange rather than refund if it’s only the size that’s wrong. Exchanges are free; refunds lose $10.
- Keep the shoebox in good shape until you’re sure, and pack it inside another box if it goes back.
Frequently asked questions
Are APL shoes worth the money?
If you want a light, very comfortable everyday sneaker that looks smart enough for travel or work, yes, especially the TechLoom Dream at $200 or the Bliss at $245. If you’re mainly buying for running performance, specialist running brands give you more for the same price.
Do APL shoes run true to size?
APL lists the TechLoom Traveler as true to size, and most knit models fit close to standard. The bigger issue is that every APL shoe is unisex: a women’s 9 is a men’s 7.5. If you’re between sizes or have wide feet, size up.
What is APL’s return policy?
You have 10 days from delivery to return unworn shoes in their original, undamaged shoebox. US exchanges are free, but a $10 handling fee is deducted from mail-in refunds and shipping isn’t refunded. Final Sale items can’t be returned.
Does APL ever have sales?
Rarely on its own site. The main savings are a 10% code for signing up to text alerts, 30% for verified healthcare workers, first responders and vets, and 15% for students, teachers and military.
Can you wash APL shoes in the washing machine?
Most knit models, yes: the Zipline, Euphoria, Traveler, Dream, Tracer, Pro, Phantom, Bliss, Breeze, Wave and Big Logo TechLoom Slide. Use cold water and the quickest cycle, then air dry. Anything with leather, suede, wool or metallic details should be spot cleaned.
Why were APL shoes banned by the NBA?
In October 2010 the NBA banned APL’s Concept 1 basketball shoe, saying its Load ‘N Launch spring device gave players an undue competitive advantage. APL still sells basketball shoes using that technology.
Does APL ship internationally?
Yes. International orders ship by DHL Express, usually in 3 to 5 business days, with a flat $20 shipping charge and duties and taxes calculated at checkout. International orders can be returned but not exchanged.
The short version
APL makes some of the most comfortable, best-looking knit sneakers you can buy, and the washable ones hold up to daily wear better than their price suggests. What makes them expensive isn’t only the $200 to $350 price. It’s that you’ll rarely see a discount and the return window is short. Check whether you qualify for 30% off, get your size right on the unisex scale, try them on the day they arrive, and exchange instead of refunding if the size is off.
More shopping guides: Hogan’s luxury everyday sneakers, Lunya’s washable silk and how to judge sale prices online.
Sources: athleticpropulsionlabs.com Exchanges & Returns page, Shipping page, refund and shipping policies, FAQs, Care & Cleaning page, Our Story page, Loyalty Program page, and the healthcare worker, first responder, veterinarian, military, teaching staff and student discount pages, plus product listings for the TechLoom Pro, Dream, Wave, Traveler, Bliss, Breeze, Phantom and Zipline, Euphoria, Streamline, Podium, Jogger, Nostalgia ’87, HySpeed, Concept X and the Big Logo TechLoom and Lusso slides. Prices, weights and policies were recorded at the time of writing and may change; the figures at checkout are the ones that count. Product photography is APL’s own.