APL Review: Athletic Propulsion Labs Running Shoes, Sizing and the 10-Day Return Window
APL (Athletic Propulsion Labs) is a Los Angeles footwear brand that sells premium running shoes, lifestyle sneakers, basketball shoes and slides directly from its own website. Its story page says identical twins Adam and Ryan Goldston founded the company in 2009, and that the NBA banned its first basketball shoe, the Concept 1, in 2010. Today most adult running shoes on the site cost $180 to $350, lifestyle sneakers $220 to $320, slides $130 to $195, and the top performance models reach $450 to $495.
This review covers what APL sells, the specs worth comparing between models, prices, shipping, the short return window and the handling fee, and what to check before you order a pair at these prices.
At a glance Checked October 2026
APL suits shoppers who want a design-led, premium running or lifestyle sneaker and are confident about their size. The main catch is the return policy: you have 10 days from delivery to send shoes back for a refund, and a $10 handling fee comes out of mail-in refunds even though banners advertise free returns.
- Best for: Runners, walkers and sneaker buyers who like knit uppers, bold colorways and a luxury price point, and who already know how APL sizing fits them.
- Typical price: $180 (TechLoom Pro) to $350 (TechLoom Zipline, Veil) for adult running shoes; $195 for Lusso slides; $110 to $119 for kids and youth pairs.
- Shipping: Free ground shipping in the US on orders over $95; international orders pay a flat $20 and ship by DHL Express.
- Returns: Refunds within 10 days of delivery, unworn and in the original undamaged shoebox; $10 handling fee on mail-in returns; free domestic exchanges.
- Watch out for: No exchanges on international orders, Final Sale items cannot be returned, and the APL return window is much shorter than many sneaker retailers offer.
What APL sells
The navigation splits the catalog into women's, men's and kids-plus-youth sections, each organized by activity. The product feed we checked listed roughly 115 women's and 110 men's footwear listings, most of them colorway variations of a smaller set of models:
- Running. The core of the range: TechLoom Zipline, Veil, Euphoria, TechLoom Bliss, TechLoom Breeze, TechLoom Wave, TechLoom Dream and TechLoom Pro, plus Streamline, TechLoom Phantom and APL Podium in the menu.
- Lifestyle. Court- and retro-inspired sneakers such as APL Riviera, Jogger, Nostalgia '87 and TechLoom Traveler.
- Basketball. Concept X, SUPERFUTURE and TechLoom Takeoff, several of them sold in unisex X sizes.
- Training. APL HySpeed, TechLoom Tracer and Ascend.
- Slides. Lusso Slides, Lusso Pool Slides and Big Logo TechLoom Slides.
- Kids and youth. Smaller versions of TechLoom Bliss and TechLoom Wave.
- Accessories. Lux logo socks and a packable shoe bag, plus gift cards.
Specs, sizing and materials to compare
APL product pages list more technical detail than many fashion-led sneaker brands, which makes it easier to compare models before you buy:
- Midsole foam. The TechLoom Zipline uses a two-piece FutureFoam midsole with a slanted shank plate that the brand says encourages forward motion. The Veil uses a compound APL calls Heavenly Ride. Both list a 5mm Soufflé sockliner.
- Heel-to-toe drop. Both the Zipline and the Veil list an 8mm drop, a moderate figure that suits many everyday runners. Stack height is not listed on the pages we read.
- Weight. The Zipline page lists 7.7 oz. The Veil lists 8.9 oz for a women's 7.5 and 10.5 oz for a men's 9.
- Uppers. TechLoom is APL's seamless knit upper; the Zipline adds hollow cords that wrap the shoe for support. The Veil uses a segmented mesh upper the brand calls AeroLux+ with a TechLoom tongue and a quick-pull lace lock. The Zipline page also describes the shoe as vegan and machine washable.
- Sizes. Women's running shoes run from US 5 to 11 in half sizes. Men's sizes in the feed run from 7 to 11.5 in half sizes, then 12, 13 and 14 with no half sizes above 12. Width options are not listed.
- Unisex conversion. APL says all its shoes are unisex. If your women's size is sold out, it suggests choosing a men's size one and a half sizes smaller, so a women's 9 becomes a men's 7.5.
APL does not state on the pages we read whether its shoes run true to size. Because the return window is short, it is worth measuring your foot and comparing it with the size chart on the product page, especially if you are between sizes.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars, and the store can switch to local currencies for international visitors. Full-price examples from the product feed at the time of writing:
- TechLoom Pro: $180
- TechLoom Dream: $200
- TechLoom Wave and TechLoom Traveler: $220
- Euphoria: $240
- TechLoom Bliss and TechLoom Breeze: $245
- APL Riviera and Nostalgia '87: $295
- Jogger: $320
- SUPERFUTURE: $325
- TechLoom Zipline and Veil: $350
- TechLoom Takeoff: $400; Concept X: $450; APL HySpeed: $495
- Lusso Slide: $195; Big Logo TechLoom Slide: $130
- Kid's TechLoom: $110; Youth's TechLoom: $119
- Lux Logo Socks: $18; Packable Shoe Bag: $65
We did not see compare-at or markdown prices on the listings we checked, so expect to pay full price unless you qualify for one of the programs described below. Afterpay is listed as a payment option, splitting the total into four interest-free payments.
Shipping
APL's shipping and returns page says it offers free ground shipping in the US on orders over $95, covering all 50 states, P.O. boxes and US territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands. Since every adult shoe costs more than $95, that effectively means free shipping on any pair; an order of socks alone would not qualify. The same page says shipping to Hawaii and Alaska is calculated by weight and method, which sits awkwardly with the all-50-states statement, so check the checkout total if you live there.
- Speed: typically 1 to 9 business days in the contiguous US and 3 to 9 business days to Alaska and Hawaii. Orders placed before 12 p.m. Pacific usually ship the same business day.
- Delivery: Monday to Friday, and free ground delivery dates are not guaranteed. Orders over $500 require a signature.
- International: a flat $20 shipping charge, 1 to 2 business days of processing and DHL Express delivery in about 3 to 5 business days from City of Industry, California. Duties and taxes are calculated and shown at checkout.
- Problems: delivery or non-receipt issues must be reported within 5 days of the delivery date shown in tracking, and APL says a police report may be requested as part of its investigation.
Returns and warranty
This is the part to read carefully. APL's returns page says returns are eligible for a refund if they are made within 10 days of delivery; later returns are accepted only at APL's discretion. Shoes must be unworn, undamaged and unwashed, with all tags and accessories, and back in the original shoebox, which itself must be undamaged. Worn shoes are not eligible.
- Fees: US returns use a prepaid label from the returns portal, but a $10 handling fee is deducted from the refund on all mail-in returns. Original shipping charges are not refunded unless APL sent the wrong item or it arrived damaged.
- Exchanges: free for domestic orders. International orders cannot be exchanged, and international return labels are deducted from the refund.
- Refund timing: 10 to 15 business days after the warehouse receives the return, plus one to two billing cycles to show on your statement. Refunds cover product and tax.
- Exclusions: Final Sale items cannot be returned or exchanged, and shoes bought from APL's retail partners must go back to that retailer.
- Defects: shoes and slides bought from the APL website or its Grove flagship that show a material or workmanship flaw within 30 days of receipt can be returned for an exchange or full refund; APL may ask for photos.
The policy also warns that repeated returns may lead to an account being closed or future orders refused. Site banners promise "Free Shipping & Returns" in the US, so the $10 handling fee is easy to miss.
Who should buy from APL
- Runners who want a premium, good-looking shoe for daily miles, walking or the gym and are willing to pay $180 to $350 for it.
- Repeat APL buyers who already know their size in a specific model and can decide within the 10-day window.
- Gift buyers purchasing slides or socks, where sizing risk is lower.
Think twice if you are new to the brand and unsure of your size, if you want a long trial period, if you need wide widths, or if you are ordering from outside the US and might need an exchange.
APL coupon codes
We did not find a public code we could verify at the time of writing, and we do not publish codes we cannot check. The offers APL lists on its own site are 10% off for signing up to APL text alerts, a 15% student discount verified through SheerID (accessories, gift cards and BCA shoes are excluded, and the code is single-use), and separate discount pages for military members, healthcare workers, first responders, teaching staff and veterinarians, whose percentages we did not confirm. There is also a loyalty program, and free US shipping applies over $95. Any working offers we find are listed on our APL coupons page.
Frequently asked questions
Is APL legit?
Yes, by the usual checks: Athletic Propulsion Labs, LLC runs the site, lists a toll-free number, (866) 672-8630, and a help email, publishes detailed shipping and return terms, and operates flagship stores in Los Angeles and New York according to its story page. The things to understand before buying are the 10-day refund window and the $10 handling fee on mail-in returns.
How long do I have to return APL shoes?
Ten days from delivery for a refund, with the shoes unworn and in the original shoebox. Domestic exchanges are free; international orders cannot be exchanged.
Does APL ship for free?
Free ground shipping applies to US orders over $95, which covers any adult pair. International orders pay a flat $20 for DHL Express delivery, with duties shown at checkout.
Are APL shoes unisex?
APL says all its shoes are unisex. To convert a women's size to men's, go down one and a half sizes; a women's 9 is a men's 7.5.
The bottom line
APL sells eye-catching premium running and lifestyle sneakers with clear specs, free US shipping on any shoe and a wide choice of colorways. The trade-off is a strict return policy: 10 days, unworn, original box, and a $10 deduction on mail-in returns. Buy from APL when you are confident about the model and size, and decide quickly once the box arrives.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the APL website at the time of writing and may change.