The legendary Air Jordan 1 sneakers were released back in 1985 and are still one of the most popular and best-selling sneakers today.
Of course, a good design is not the only thing you need to look for in shoes and unfortunately the Air Jordan 1 also has some drawbacks. Their thick sole prevents the movement of the foot, the narrow toebox squeezes the toes into an unnatural position. As a result, our feet become weak and dysfunctional.
Disclaimer: I bought shoes myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. I’m also a Be Lenka and PedTerra (US retailer) affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase on the Be Lenka website or PedTerra through the links on my website at no additional cost to you. Thank you for all your support ♥
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1. General
- Brand: Be Lenka
- Model: Stellar
- Colour: Grey
- Tested on: woman, medium-wide feet, 26.3 cm long and 10 cm wide (10.3 cm between metatarsal heads), low instep, skinny ankles with narrow heels, fin-shaped foot (see my how to measure guide and foot type) – wearing size 42
| Made in EU | Adult | Leather | Ship worldwide |
2. Material characteristics
2.1 Upper
Be Lenka Stellar sneakers are made of smooth leather and are available in three different color combinations: red-white, black-white and grey-white.
The grey-white combination is the color I chose. This color is quite neutral and it doesn’t standout.
The flat laces match the color of the shoe. The Be Lenka logo in contrasting black colour is added to the ends of the laces. Eyelets are added all the way to the top, but shoes can be worn tied to the last or second to last hole if desired.
The sole is curved upwards at the heel, which contributes to additional protection and greater durability of the shoe. The collar is padded but soft enough not to impede ankle movement. A strong pull loop is added at the top, which makes it much easier to put on the shoe.
2.2 Lining
The shoes are lined with soft textile in black. An insole can be removed if desired.
2.3 Sole
The Stellar model uses the same sole as other Be Lenka models with an “old” sole shape. The sole has a characteristic pattern with leaves and is made of 4 mm thick TPU material.
The shoes can be easily rolled into a roll and have good flexiblity even in the longitudinal direction. Due to the firmer sole, the ground feeling is less intense in them than with softer soles. At first, this sole seemed a bit ‘loud’ to me, which I didn’t notice in their other models with the same sole.
Also check my video for the close-up and to see how they look on my feet.
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3. Sizing information
3.1 Length
Stellar is suitable for both men and women, so there are no gender differences between the models. They are available in sizes 36 to 46.
The shoes are true to size and the inside length listed in the size chart correspond to the internal length measured with Plus 12.
At my foot length of 26.3cm, I wear a size 42, which means the shoes are 9mm longer than my foot. Due to the extremely generous toebox, the reason I wear shoes barefoot or with thin socks and the possibility of very good fixation around the ankles, this length of the shoe suits me, despite the fact that I have a little less space in the shoe than usual.
See post How much space do we need in shoes if you want to know more about that.
3.2. Toebox shape & width
The shape of the Be Lenka Stellar model has a stronger slope towards the little toe, so this shape is most suitable for foot types 1, 2 and 5. Feet that have longer smaller toes or a more square-shaped feet may run out of space for smaller toes in this shoe.
More about different foot types you can read in the post What is my Foot Type?
The shoes are suitable for wide feet and are one of Be Lenka’s widest models in the toebox. Stellar are similar in width as their Champ or Prime model.
The internal width of 10.3 cm (size 42) in the size chart corresponds to the width measured on the last, but there is more space in width than this inside the shoe. There is enough space above the toes and it is more than in most barefoot shoes.
Due to the “bean” shape of the shoe, they fit best on feet that have more width on the inside and where the toe is curved away from the other toes, such as e.g. the shape of my foot.
3.3. Fit around the instep, heel and ankle
The shoes fit well to different heights of the instep. The laces are long enough to be nicely fixed on both the low and high instep, but you will have to tie the laces to the last hole if you have feet with less volume to ensure that they are not too long.
Due to the way the upper part is made, this model is more difficult to adapt to different volumes in the middle part of the foot. At this point, feet with a bigger volume may find them snug there.
4. Comfort
The shoes are very comfortable to wear and I have no complains on that. The collar is padded, so the shoes are also extremely soft and comfortable around the ankles.
Putting on shoes requires a little more time, but a large pull loop makes this process much easier.
5. How and when to wear them?
Stellar is a model of sneakers that can be easily worn with all casual clothes. It pairs well with jeans, shorts and also sportswear. Due to the design, the shoes look shorter than on the foot, which is especially welcome in bigger sizes.
6. Price & where to buy
You can buy Be Lenka shoes at their official website. My readers from US/Canada can buy them at PedTerra (10% off on your first order at PedTerra with BOSENOGICE).
The price for the Stellar model is 139 €.
7. Shipping info
Be Lenka ships worldwide and the shipping time is fast. Shipping costs depend on the shipping country and the method of delivery. Free returns for some EU countries. Be Lenka does not accept any returns/exchanges outside the EU.
8. To sum up
Be Lenka Stellar sneakers immediately convinced me and I do not regret the purchase at all. I love the feeling of spaciousness and softness, I love the design that makes my foot look shorter and the range of colors (for which, I hope, it will become even bigger). Just who wouldn’t want shoes that not only look cool but also respect the natural shape of our feet.
