I’ve Been Wearing These Pete Davidson–Approved Sneakers for Two Years (Here’s My Full Review!)

Is the sustainable brand worth the hype? We tested the Salvas, the Oca Low, the Uba, and the Vallely to give you the lowdown on each Cariuma sneaker style.

Hi, my name is Hannah, and I used to be the (admittedly semi-annoying) person who walked into every college lecture in high heels. I had no problem walking in them, so why not? Well, fast-forward a handful of years of living in NYC clocking 10,000+ steps a day, and I’ve swapped most of my former poor shoe choices for a single pair of Cariuma sneakers that are much more suited to running around the city to work events and appointments. At this point, I wear my Cariuma sneakers multiple times a week—like, look down at my feet at the office, at any bar, while climbing up a mountain (they’re not hiking shoes, but I stand by it) and I’m wearing ’em.

For anyone who isn’t familiar, the Brazilian brand actually started out by catering to skateboarders. They’ve since branched out to create everyday sneakers in a wide range of staple styles and colors. They’re known for their collabs (Pantone, Atari, National Geographic, Peanuts, The Skimm, and Marie Kondo, to name a few) as well as their reforestation program. For every pair of sneakers they sell, Cariuma plants two trees in the Brazilian rainforest in partnership with nearby Indigenous communities. Oh, and they only plant native species (!!!) and are ideal for regrowing the forest that is home to over 60 percent of Brazil’s endangered species.

Cute shoes, good for the planet—what’s not to love, right? If your interest has been ~piqued~, let Cosmo’sTeam Shop help you figure out which pair to buy! Each editor on our team tested out a pair of Cariuma shoes and gave their honest reviews below.

The Salvas

Unfortunately, I *do* have a deep-seated need to wear something different than everyone around me, so instead of rocking Air Force Ones or Stan Smiths like every other normal person, I’ve been wearing Cariumas for the past two years as my go-to, throw-it-on-with-anything white sneaker—and lemme tell you, they’ve truly become my ride-or-die shoes. I love them, okay?! I’ve worn my Salvas for flights, hikes, office days, and corner store runs. If I won an Oscar, they’d deserve a shout-out.

The subtle black and green details against the white leather adds a little spice to what would’ve otherwise been a regular ol’ sneak, and they literally go with e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Plus, the leather material gets gorgeously soft over time and the comfort is hard to beat once you break ’em in. One thing I will say is that my boyfriend experienced some ripping at the heel of his Salvas (sorry, vomit alert, we do have matching sneakers) but he might just be a violent walker because I haven’t had that issue at all. They’ve held up really nicely—only recently have they started to feel sliiiightly flat but I’ve worn them so frequently that it’s probably time for a new pair anyway!

The Oca Low

“You can’t go wrong with a classic white sneaker,” says associate shopping editor Daisy Maldonado. “It’s the most inoffensive colorway! I love thatI can pair these shoes with practically anything and it will look very chic in an understated way. Typically, I go for a pair of sneakers with a leather upper for durability, so the canvas material was new to me. One thing I noticed was that the top of my foot felt a bit irritated after walking around all day. No blisters were present, though, and I’ve heard great things about the brand though so fingers crossed once I break them in a bit more they’ll be as comfy as ever!”

Associate shopping editor Meg Uy also tested the same shoe in a different style. “I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked these Cariuma sneakers,” says Meg. “I’m very picky about my sneakers and usually go for something that’s got a lil more of a street style vibe (think dad shoes, chunky tennis shoes, etc.). But the retro look of these gum-sole sneakers caught my eye—and I can also say after doing a wear test, they’re also quite comfortable! Ahem, the most important part!! They were lightweight, true to size, and the best part was that I had no blisters in sight. The relaxed style makes it a versatile shoe that can be paired with a flowy minidress, shorts, or jeans.”

The Uba

“Okay, honestly, do not sleep on Cariuma,” says assistant shopping editor Jasmine Hyman. “Their styles rival the trendy silhouettes of some really popular brands AND every single style comes in a bunch of fun colorways. The pair I tried was equally sporty and casual, so they were perf to commute in and wear to the office. Also, in addition to being v cute, I found them to be SUPER comfy for all-day wear.”

The Vallely

“I was skeptical that the skate-inspired silhouette would look too costumey, but I actually found that the overall shape is pretty sleek,” says deputy shopping director Kim Duong. “These shoes are so flattering, and I love that the stitching gives it a nostalgic ’90s feel that still feels fresh enough for 2024. As for comfort, these took some time to break in (as nearly any shoe does) but are ultimately comfortable. Plus, the cork and bio-based foam insole has a slight ergonomic design that isn’t too intense for my arches.”