Recent barefoot shoe outfit pairings!

1. Lejan Ones

2. Peerko Tala with DIY laces

3. Xero Z-Trek

4. Fleeters Plum

5. Muki Shoes Lyra

6. Xero Phoenix with DIY laces

I've been wearing barefoot shoes for about 6 years now and getting on great. In fact my feet have changed so much I can't wear "normal" shoes any more. I love my shoes but... Why are they all so ugly?!

Have I been searching in the wrong places? I don't always want to be wearing sports shoes or something brown that my mum would have chosen for me in the 80s. Sometimes I want something pretty, or girly, or stompy, or sexy, or sparkly, or serious. Other people get to have fashion shoes, and I miss having pretty feet.

Brand / shopping suggestions welcome! Does anyone else feel limited for choice?

I recently placed an order to try their shoes based on the glowing reviews of it that I found in this sub. My first issue was that they didnt fit. It wasn't even close. I have many pairs of size 11 shoes that I've ordered online that fit perfectly, this was a first for me. So I returned them for an exchange. My return sat in their warehouse for almost 4 weeks before they straight up canceled it and sent me a PARTIAL refund. Their customer service is mostly AI responses. They refuse to issue me a full refund. I got nothing and lost money, I've been scammed. Please avoid this brand.

Has anyone used the Vibram Eaton full sole with no heel block on custom barefoot boots or to resole barefoot boots?

I'm relatively new here. The algorithm showed me one of these posts and it resonated with me as a shoe-hater. Because I spent a good chunk of my childhood barefoot and building up calluses that could withstand Virginia summer asphalt and pokey bike pedals, as an adult, I mostly default to flip flops. Why don't I see a lot of flip flop talk here? Are they not considered "barefoot" shoes?

Is anyone else dealing with this? I've been a barefoot shoe wearer for around 18 months and I've hit a proper wall with them. I've referred myself to the physio for some guidance, as walking is pretty much unbearable. I'm back in my asics trail running shoes and the lack of zero drop is feeling much better. Edit- prior to barefoot, I was wearing adidas superstar almost exclusively.

I'm currently looking into specific barefoot shoe options and wanted to get some community input. I'm weighing up traditional-style barefoot trail shoes—specifically looking at the Xero Men's Waterproof Trail Shoes Mesa Trail (Black)—versus individual-toe shoes styled like Vibram FiveFingers.

For those who have made the switch or tried both:

• Is it significantly better or more beneficial to go with individual toe-pockets (like Vibram FiveFingers) for natural toe splay compared to a wider-toe-box conventional barefoot shoe like the Xero Mesa Trail?
• How do they compare for daily wear, trails, and overall foot function?

Poll Options:

1. Vibram FiveFingers style (Maximum individual toe splay and feedback)
2. Xero Mesa Trail style (Wider toe box sneaker style, easier to slip on/waterproof)
3. Both have their place (Depends entirely on the activity)

Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences below!

Does anyone have suggestions for a successor to Xero Mesa Trail 2s? I think the MT2s are nearly perfect for the hiking I do on packed dirt, rock, and gravel. My only complaints have been the durability of the sole (the heel lugs wear off and lose traction), and tearing of the uppers where they flex over the toes. What do you think of Xero's apparent replacement, Mesa Summit?

I've been staying away from Vivo because of an experience with Primus Trail that didn't have enough height for my big toes.

Hey everyone. I have a foot size of 10.5 with 6E width and I am having problems finding a walking/tennis shoe that is both hands free and has good padding. The problem is finding a 6E width that has both hands free and good padding. I appreciate any help. Thanks

Hello!
I've bought a white pair of groundies last year (I'm not sure about the model as I bought them from Vinted), and I must say they're really comfortable, I also work out in them. My problem is, not knowing the model and thus the material, I'm having troubles cleaning them properly. I usually wash them with a soft tissue/toothbrush and some mild soap, but after every wash the tip of the shoes keep getting this brownish stains. What am I doing wrong?

I was inspired by another post earlier on. I am looking for some kind of beach slide or sandal that doesn't look like TEVA's. I've switch 100% to barefoot shoes and boots.

I am having trouble making the final move to the sandals mainly due to vanity. I can't get over how the strap on the back looks. I am not planning on long walk in these. They would mainly be used at the beach or to head out for dinner in a tropical location.

Somebody did recommend VIBAe. Which look great. Perhaps not 100% a barefoot shoe but perhaps better than a pair of flip flops.

Just wondering if anybody has any other options that could help me out?

BTW - Mens please!!!

I just got a pair of earth runners and was super excited as I'm barefoot all the time and wanted a little more gravel/mud protection. I don't care about the grounding/earthing claim, but I swear when I wear these shoes for more than 20 minutes I get a headache and anxiety. Is that tiny disc on the bottom actually doing something?

I'm looking for a new pair of shoes for walking/hiking and would love to hear your experiences and recommendations.

I've been wearing barefoot shoes in my everyday life for quite a while now and really like the freedom they give my feet. However, I still use my Meindl Mondello GTX for longer walks, especially when walking the dog through fields and woods.

After more than two years of use, the second sole is now getting close to being worn out, so I'm looking for a replacement.

My main use case:

• Mostly walking the dog
• Around town, but also field paths, forest trails, etc.
• Occasionally longer hikes
• Nothing technical or alpine

What I'm looking for:

• Waterproof
• Robust and durable
• Preferably relatively easy to clean
• Good grip for wet and muddy trails
• Ideally something that can handle everyday abuse rather than being a lightweight running shoe
• A lacing-free or at least tying-free fastening system, such as BOA, would be practical
• Wide and foot-shaped, with enough room for natural toe splay

The Mondello has actually worked very well for me, especially the rubber protection around the heel and toe area, which I really like. What I don't like is the suede upper, as it has become quite discolored and looks rather dirty after a while. I used them with custom made orthopedic insoles.

So I'm basically looking for something between a traditional hiking shoe like the Meindl Mondello GTX and a barefoot shoe: very wide and foot-shaped, but still waterproof, durable and protective enough for walking in the woods.

The big question, though:

I have rheumatic osteoarthritis in my knees, so I'm wondering whether moving towards barefoot/zero-drop shoes for longer walks is actually a good idea for me.

I already wear barefoot shoes in everyday life without major problems, but I'm unsure whether it makes sense to go in the same direction for longer walks and hiking, or whether a bit more cushioning/support, and the option to use orthopedic insoles would be the smarter choice for my knees.

I'm not looking for medical advice, but I'd be very interested in hearing from people who have a similar situation or have made the transition from conventional hiking shoes to barefoot/zero-drop footwear.

What would you recommend as a Mondello alternative that moves more towards barefoot shoes? And how would you approach the knee issue?

I’m looking for a lightweight zip-up boot with a wide toebox.

All the boots in this style I’ve looked at were either tapered in the front or the soles were way too thin.

My Altras are good enough from spring to fall, but I need a boot to protect my lower legs from cold wind and snow.

I’m interested in the tall zip up boot by ZAQQ, but I’m wary because I’m in the US and returns/exchanges can be a pain to Germany. I usually wear a US size 9 or EU 40, which would be a UK 7. By Zaqq’s size guidance I’d get their 6.5, but they also warn to size up. They don’t offer a size 7, only a 7.5. Has anybody had experience with this particular boot?

Edit to include foot measurements:

length just under 25 cm, mountain shape with second toe slightly longer than first

width just under 10 cm, with a small bunionette at the little toe

I really want a pair!

Hey there, please don’t dog pile me if this is a dumb question, I’m a bit new to this whole thing but I have a genetic pre disposition to bunions and they are starting to develop, not helped at all by my insanely pronating ankles. I read the book Born to Run and it had me intrigued about the possibilities of barefoot shoes. Has anyone here experienced their pronating ankles/fallen arches improve with barefoot shoes? Or bunions?
Thanks

I recently received a pair of Prio, but they’re a bit too big, so I’m planning to return them and order a size smaller.
Does anyone know if Prio shoes normally come with a physical tag attached? I can’t remember removing one, and I can’t seem to find it. Just want to make sure before returning them to the retailer.
Thanks!

These are the shoes I wear, they're almost perfect, the toe box is a little tight. I bought them in person and can't find them online. I haven't found a barefoot shoe like this, ordered one but that turned out to be something more formal. https://naturcontact.com/products/naturcontact-intemperia-2-0?_pos=1&_psq=Intemperia+2.0%C2%AE&_psid=90076f819&_ss=e

Even though I’ve been wearing mainly barefoot shoes for over 3 years now, I still occasionally wear crocs and Birkenstocks out and about. Even though they’re not zero drop, the wide toe box makes up for it lol heck in my opinion, they have a wider toe box than xeros and vivos. I still rock my Lems and splays most of the time

About 2 years ago I was looking on line to venture into barefoot wide toe box shoes and was surprised how costly they were. I stumbled upon an Uknown brand to me on AliExpress and decided to order as they were only $21 USD. Now today it’s the shoes I wear and cans say enough good about them! They are HOBIBEAR branded and very reasonably priced.

I wear a variety of different barefoot shoes for casual, work, training etc
Have loved trail running in the Topo Pursuit 2. They are wide toe box, zero drop and just enough cushioning for rocky trails.
Has anyone tried the Pursuit 3 shoe?