Karhu Ikoni 3.0 Review: An Icon of Comfort

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

Within the past couple of years, you may have heard of a big-name brand building running shoes based on scans from customer’s feet. What you probably didn’t know is that a smaller, lesser-known Finnish sports brand did this first.

In 2018 Karhu debuted the Ikoni (Finnish for icon), built with data from 100,000 Fleet Feet customer foot scans using fit id® data. "Through the use of data and technology, we're doing something no one else in the world is doing, and something our founders certainly wouldn't have envisioned as possible 100 years ago," Karhu CEO Huub Valkenburg told Fleet Feet Chicago in 2018.

Fast forward 6 years later, and the Ikoni has been through multiple iterations that all build upon the same concept: merging real customer data with biomechanical research to create a shoe that seamlessly blends comfort and performance.

The Ikoni 3.0, available in-store only at Fleet Feet, is even more iconic than previous versions, thanks to a taller stack height, softer foam and a more breathable upper. Read on to hear what our reviewers thought.

Because Heather, Mandy and I are all rehabbing injuries right now, we appreciated the wide, stable base that creates a secure, supportive feeling on the run.

“I’m getting ready to start training for Every Woman’s Marathon in November, but since I’m just coming back from COVID and injuring my foot I’ve mostly been running easy or doing run-walk intervals,” says Mandy. “However, each of my runs in the Karhu Ikoni 3.0 felt snappy. I loved how the Fulcrum pushed me forward and helped me keep moving strong throughout my runs.”

Okay, while the upper on the Ikoni might not offer a complete break from the brutal summer heat, it’s definitely one of the most breathable shoes I’ve tested recently. I love when I can almost see my feet inside the shoe, it makes it a little bit easier to lace up and get out the door in 90-degree South Florida humidity.

“The upper feels like a cocoon that wraps perfectly around my foot, just waiting to let me fly during my runs,” says Mandy. “The shoe is super breathable as I run in the hot, steamy shower that is North Carolina in the summer. We are currently in the not-so-pretty season of running, the season when I step outside, sweat immediately starts running down my back and I look like a drowned whale. The good news is my feet never felt too hot in these shoes.”

One thing I’ve loved about the past two versions of the Ikoni is the low heel and ankle collar. It gives the shoe a really sleek profile that seems to blend seamlessly with my foot, almost like I’m wearing nothing. While the heel collar sits nice and low around my ankles, it has a decent amount of padding on the back of it. I’ve seen a lot of other brands try to cut weight by decreasing padding in the heel, leaving me with the occasional blister. I appreciate having some extra cushion back there to protect my heels and achilles.

The entire upper is built around a last (a mold used to shape the shoe) that was modeled after real customer’s data. Mandy and I found the fit to be true-to-size, while Heather noticed it felt tight on her high-volume feet.

High-volume feet are feet that take up a lot of space within the shoe. Conversely, low-volume feet don’t take up much room within the shoe. If you’re not sure about the volume, size or shape of your feet, your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height. Your feet could be used to help create the next Karhu shoe!

The Ikoni 3.0 has increased in just about every way: weight, stack height, price and overall comfort. While most runners wouldn’t think of additional weight as something that adds comfort, I think the extra stack height is worth it.

However, if you’re someone who loves lightweight shoes with enhanced ground feel (like all my Saucony Kinvara lovers out there), you may prefer the 2.5.

While the Ikoni 3.0 feels noticeably softer than the 2.5, I’d still categorize it as firm when it comes to neutral shoes.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how they stack up against the Karhu Ikoni 3.0. Here’s what we found.

The Karhu Ikoni 3.0 offers a neutral ride that’s on the firmer side, similar to the Mizuno Wave Rider 28 and the Saucony Kinvara 15.

The Ikoni and Kinvara both offer low stack heights, giving you an enhanced sense of ground feedback on the run. While the Wave Rider has a significantly higher stack height, it offers a similar rocker sensation as the Ikoni, thanks to its rigid Wave Plate embedded in the midsole.

Thanks to its moderate stack height and relatively firm foam, the Ikoni 3.0 will be enjoyed by runners who like a good bit of ground feel while still maintaining enough cushioning to absorb impact.

“The Ikoni 3.0 is a great everyday trainer, but it’s also a solid shoe to walk the dog in or work a long shift on your feet,” Heather says. “It’s basically like the “swiss army knife” of shoes–it’s ready to do whatever you need it to do.”

If you have high-volume feet like Heather, you may want to consider trying on Karhu’s Hi-Vo size. This is similar to wide sizing in other brands (D for women, 2E for men), but it also takes into account the volume of your feet, something other brands don’t typically do.