Amazon has a handful of shoes that shoppers consider the "best," like the Adidas Cloudfoams, Superga's Cotu sneakers (everyone from Kate Middleton to Emily Ratajkowski has worn them), and the site's best-selling women's walking shoe from Slow Man. All of these options have pretty standard designs and come in traditional colors like black, white, and gray — so how did an under-the-radar shoe with a super controversial look become one of the highest-rated sneakers across all of Amazon?

The Umyogo Running Sneaker is a lot to take in at first glance. The $49 shoe has a very busy design between its unique honeycomb sole, multicolor mesh exterior, and strips of text running across the sides and between the laces. It comes in 17 bright colors like coral, lime, and purple, and every single one stands out — even the white option, which has stark black detailing.

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Shop now: $39–$49; amazon.com

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Shop now: $39–$49; amazon.com

According to the Umyogo listing, the sneaker launched on Amazon in April 2020, when the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you sift through the reviews, tons of nurses, hospital workers, and people in the medical field have left comments raving that these shoes are the "hottest kicks in the hospital" and that their feet feel "flippin' happy" while wearing them, even during 12-hour shifts spent on their feet. Multiple nurses noted that a bunch of their coworkers ended up purchasing the Umyogo sneaker after seeing them wear it, while other reviewers were influenced to buy the shoe after seeing it on a hospital worker. It seems like the sneaker first became a hit among frontline workers, and the popularity spiraled on Amazon from there.

Now, the Umyogo shoes have racked up a whopping 42,440 five-star ratings from enthusiastic shoppers who call them the "most comfortable sneakers right out of the box" and say they look as good as any "big name shoe brand." More than 90 customers have specifically compared them to Nike sneakers, going as far as saying they're "way better" and even bidding the Nike brand adieu. Another common thread between reviewers? The relief of foot and back pain after wearing the style daily.

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Shop now: $39–$49; amazon.com

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Shop now: $39–$49; amazon.com

Whether you think they're ugly or fashionable, one thing's for sure: The Umyogo sneakers are darn comfortable, according to thousands of wearers. If you're willing to give them a whirl to see what all the hype is about, you can shop your own pair at Amazon for less than $50.

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