My Experience With Barefoot Shoes

I've been transitioning to barefoot shoes for about four years now, slowly shifting my shoes to more feet-friendly options. Until I was making this post, I didn't even realize how many I had! The biggest challenge with getting barefoot shoes is that most of them are made in Europe, which means you really can't return them. Not easily anyway. So I thought I'd share what I like and what I don't like about the shoes I have and maybe help someone else with their decision. My go-to for all things barefoot shoes is Anya's Reviews but I still want to share my real-world experiences. 

*none of the shoes in the photos above are barefoot :)

LEMS Boulder Boot

PROS
This is one of the few companies that is based in the USA. I like the look and feel of these shoes. They are thicker than a lot of barefoot shoes but I can still feel my feet adjust with the terrain. I've hiked with these shoes and use them as my work boots around our farm. They're a good height on my leg, water resistant, and surprisingly comfortable to wear all day. 

CONS
I don't know that this is really a "con" but more of a note. I ordered my normal size but didn't think of the fact that feet swell when you are on them all day so when I am wearing them for multiple hours I do wish I had a size bigger. My mom has them in the next size so I will wear hers sometimes, if she isn't using them :) Plus, if you wear barefoot shoes for years, your feet spread and get a bit bigger anyway. 

Xero Jessie Sandal

PROS
I absolutely LOVE how free my feet feel with these sandals! I dislike shoes and would go actually barefoot everywhere if I could. These are the next best thing. It also gives me a sense of wearing flip flops, which I always loved. I'm thankful that the toe strap is fabric because it is very comfortable on my toe. 

Also a USA based company. 

CONS
I seem to have sensitive feet and so when I wear these for long periods of walking, my sweaty feet rub on the rubber and I get blisters on the pads of my feet right under my big toes. Also, if it's raining and your feet are wet, these slide a lot. You have to walk carefully. I also have an issue with the ankle straps being too tight in order to get them to secure. 

They appear to not sell this model anymore :(

Feelgrounds Droptop Knit

PROS
I think these were my second pair of barefoot shoes and I'm still so happy with them! They are easy to get on and off, good to walk in, lightweight and look good. They are lasting me a good long time. The white rubber is a little dingy but these are basically my tennis shoes so I'm not using them as nice shoes. 

CONS
Many people don't wear socks with barefoot shoes. I can't do that for long periods so my struggle is that I either can't wear thick socks or I accept that I'm slightly stretching my shoes. I also had to buy a set of wool inserts because these shoes transfer the cold of the ground really well. I definitely recommend getting wool inserts for the winter but you don't need them in spring and fall.

Groundies Ballet Flat

PROS

• Really cute.
• Secure on your foot.
• Light and flexible

These are not bad shoes but they were my second choice when it came to getting ballet flats. When my first choice was out of stock so I went with these. They've served me for what I needed but I quickly learned they were not going to be a long term solution for ballet flats. 

CONS
Again, I have sensitive feet and ankles. The back rubs on my ankles and I haven't found a good way to adapt the shoe to fix that so I replaced them with the following option. I had the same cold issue as the Dropknit shoes so I put the inserts back in and they slid as I walked so I had to glue them in. But then they were very comfy other than the ankle. 

The link is not quite what I have but it's the closet of their current ballet flats. 

WHITIN Ballet Flat

PROS

• Padding on the back.
• Good price for barefoot shoes.

I'm really liking these, especially the bumpy insert that feels amazing!  Very cute and I'm just overall really pleased with them!

CONS

• Only on Amazon.
• You have to use the inserts.
  
• A bit stiffer than a lot of other barefoot shoes. 

The inserts aren't bad, per se, but a lot people who want barefoot shoes don't want extra in their shoes, so this could be a con. The bumpy/textured one feels amazing to me but the other one feeds weird. They are thicker and stiffer than barefoot shoes usually are. 

Anya's Rosa Zipper Boot

PROS

• Cute.
• Good for winter.
• Dressy.
• American shop. 

CONS

• The zippers are on the inside of the boot which is odd to me and makes getting them on and off challenging. 
• Very stiff when brand new.
• Has the same cold problem with the thin soles

Saguaro Rain Boot

PROS

• So light!!!
• Great ground feel. 
  

I needed a rain/muck boot and these work well for a good price. I do wish I had the updated model which has some upgrades I think would be beneficial. 

CONS

• Very floppy which makes them hard to get on and off. They have a newer model that appears to solve this problem.
• Feet get quite sweaty.

The updated model looks like it might have a slight heel so it may not be truly barefoot/zero drop but still looks good for a rain boot!

Grecian Sandal

PROS

• Small business.
• Handmade.
• Communicative owner.
• Can be customized.
• Beautiful. 
  

The owner was so nice to customize the pair I wanted and I was impressed with how quickly I got them!

CONS
Unfortunately, these sandals were incredibly stiff and still are after many wears. The leather also rubs on the tops of my feet and the soles have weird ridges under the pads of my feet. I can't recommend this specific pair and I don't know if it's just this pair or all her barefoot sandals. 

Xero Alpine Pull On

PROS

• TALL! I need tall snow boots and most in the barefoot realm seem to only be about ankle height. I was so excited when the released these! 
• Light.
  
• Warm. 
• Comfy.
  
• Easy to get on and off. 

CONS

• Back digs into my ankle a bit. The bottom of the boot is stiff up to the ankle so I experience some digging some times. Thicker socks might help. This is not constant and I usually experience it when I'm driving. 

Barefoot Shoe Tips

• Shop sales, especially Black Friday! Anya has a HUGE list that is updated as Black Friday sales go live.
• Always measure your feet and check based on the company's size guide. Anya's Reviews often can give you an idea of if a company runs large or small, is better for low or high volume feet, etc. 
  
• Get foot-friendly socks too. I don't have many yet but I'm very excited about the variety of options from MARO. The best part is that they are natural fibers AND foot friendly!war
  

What I'm Eyeing Next

• Chelsea Boots. These are definitely a luxury. I just want to get a pair of cute boots for spring and fall. I don't need them so it may be a few years before I get any. 
• Bokyna Sandals. I'm thinking about replacing my Jessie sandals with these in the next year or two. 
  

If you're interested in working on improving your foot health, I would start with your socks. Getting toe socks or more foot-shaped socks is an easy and cheap(er) way to start this journey. If you don't go barefoot much, start working on that. And as you buy new shoes, look for shoes that have wider toe boxes, bottoms that are flat, and shoes that have more flexibility to them. If you're someone who has been wearing very supportive shoes 24/7 for years, you really can't jump to zero-drop right away. And my experience has been that as I wear barefoot shoes more, my feet have widened, meaning that my size has changed slightly over the years.

This is all my own experience and information I've learned through the years. This is not medical or physical therapy advice and should not be taken as such. 


I hope that this was interesting and maybe helpful! I'd love to hear if you have any experience with barefoot shoes or if you might be thinking about looking into it more after this.