BAREFOOT SHOES / the 50 best pairs for hike, run, and casual
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- Опубликовано: 4 авг 2024
- these are the fifty best barefoot shoes, boots, and sandals for walking, hiking running, cross-training, and everything in between. (:
Best Barefootwear (referral links)
all products mentioned - - - - - - - bit.ly/4dJYf46
barefoot casual shoes - - - - - - - - bit.ly/444123G
barefoot training shoes - - - - - - - bit.ly/49p8RCh
barefoot trail shoes - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3TpJsC8
barefoot casual boots - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3QUmMc8
barefoot trail boots - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3vwpm1o
barefoot sandals - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/47utNHN
injinji wool toe socks - - - - - - - - - • INJINJI / the best soc...
Related Videos
my barefoot journey - - - • cushion vs barefoot ru...
zero-drop transition - - - - • ZERO-DROP / transition...
barefoot transition - - - - - • RUN BAREFOOT / a shoes...
plantar fasciitis cure - - - • PLANTAR FASCITIS / cur...
Social Links
instagram - - - / fthelines
medium - - - - / fthelines
youtube - - - - / andrewfolts
website - - - - fthelines.com
books - - - - - www.blurb.com/user/aofolts
#barefootshoes #minimalistshoes #zerodrop
00:00 Intro
0:54 Barefoot Casual Shoes
5:07 Barefoot Training Shoes
8:19 Barefoot Trail Shoes
11:54 Barefoot Casual Boots
15:20 Barefoot Trail Boots
19:57 Barefoot Sandals
22:54 Resources 
Хобби
*Best Barefootwear* (referral links)
all products mentioned - - - - - - - bit.ly/4dJYf46
barefoot casual shoes - - - - - - - - bit.ly/444123G
barefoot training shoes - - - - - - - bit.ly/49p8RCh
barefoot trail shoes - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3TpJsC8
barefoot casual boots - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3QUmMc8
barefoot trail boots - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3vwpm1o
barefoot sandals - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/47utNHN
injinji wool toe socks - - - - - - - - - ruclips.net/video/_e6BC2vfl4w/видео.html
*Related Videos*
my barefoot journey - - - ruclips.net/video/-BMuMiL1Z7c/видео.html
zero-drop transition - - - - ruclips.net/video/i2D7BUOAe8g/видео.html
barefoot transition - - - - - ruclips.net/video/oUUdYgHvv70/видео.html
plantar fasciitis cure - - - ruclips.net/video/Yjga6azmvhg/видео.html
Thank you for your amazing contributions to the barefoot community.
You got it , Elie! I will keep zero-dropping the videos as long as people keep watching. (:
I appreciate the effort that went into this video!
Thanks very much, yo! Will keep the videos coming. Cheers from one reviewer to another!
Great video, Andrew! You’ve introduced me to many great shoes and options, and most of all, helped me avoid shoes that wouldn’t be right for my feet and needs. Keep up the good work.
That's the key, yea, being able to narrow down your options. Glad the videos have been useful and I appreciate you hanging out. (:
The barefootwear site is amazing, based off all your experience, which is priceless, and almost thirty five gigs of media for this video is incredible, great job Andrew!!!!
Many thanks! It was probably more like 100 gb (35 gb was just the voiceover), ha! Glad you're enjoying the BF site, I use it a lot too. Cheers!
Thank you for showing off the Kingdom of Wow slippers. I have been looking for a pair of slippers that i actually like, and those are perfect.
No prob, they've been my fav's for a while now. Cheers!
Thank you for this Andrew! I trust your reviews and now looking into the Magical Shoes. I really love their designs.
Magical is def unique. Love the side zip and fur on mine!
@@AndrewFolts The side zip is definitely what caught my eye!
Such a good job!! Thank you thank you thank you!!
You're welcome, Junpin. Appreciate you watching! (:
I think I'm about to buy my first pair of barefoot shoes, and this video (and the website) will probably be very helpful with that. Thank you.
Right on! Best wishes for your barefoot journey and lmk which ones you go with! (:
Hey Andrew, thanks once again for a great video. I'm sure your viewers appreciate the time and effort that went into this. I do have a question for you. Are you familiar at all with Tadeevo shoes, particularly the Vegan Bliss training/running shoes? I got a couple of pop ups on them and they look interesting. Would love to know if you have any thoughts on them. Thanks again!
Haven't tried them, but have looked at them before and they seem like a solid option with vented sides, medium 5mm sole, and a decently wide toebox, as far as I can tell. Similar to the Xero HFS ruclips.net/video/Tt7Vs-2aWLY/видео.html and Zelen ruclips.net/video/O5oy3sQ1oCA/видео.html, both of which I like.
You’re like the guru of barefoot shoes! Another casual one is Bohempia - they do a barefoot converse worth investigating.
I have a question about the Wildlings boots - they look great but does the split sole let moisture in?
Ha, thanks, Anni! Another good looking shoe, I love hemp. I need to clone myself, so I can test and review more house. Water doesn't seem to come in the bottom of Wildlings, because there's an extra layer above the split, but it will come in through the upper fabric. That said, they have new "Resoled" styles with no split and a higher wrap that would be a bit more effective. bit.ly/4atJLma The Tann Resoled is top on my list to try.
Love the ending. Honestly the philosophy behind Unshoes (who made my Terra Vidas I wear more than any other shoe).
Unshoes is def the OG or BF sandals. The Vida's look cool, 100% hemp sounds great!
What's really nice is they're so easy to wash! I can just scrub them by hand in the sink with a little Dr. Bronners, get all the soap out, leave them to dry in the sun. Then there's no gunk inside or outside, and the hemp canvas is nice and stiff again 👍
Surprised not to see marrell in video...vapor and trail glove are very good
Yea, I tried one years ago and it was pretty nice, although narrow. Vibram sole is always a plus.
Do you recommend other brands that has gone the same route as Lems Primal collection, Softstar Primal collection, Fivefingers and Realfoot? That almost clown shoe-like shape for full toe freedom? I have wide feet so other brands than mentioned above, i have to go up a size to the point it gets way too long, but it's the sacrifice i have to make. And Vivo's styling are so damn cool it's hard to pass up.
As someone with medium feet I find that shape to be overkill. If your feet fan out quite a bit, then they certainly would be more comfortable. If you feet are just wide, not extra-wide, then Vivo might work, but def check the sizing templates to see. FiveFingers actually don't look that wide, they just stretch out to whatever shape your toes have.
Hey Andrew, have you seen the Softstar Camino sandal! Super interested in a barefoot style Birkenstock style sandal and this sure looks like it but wonder how it actually stacks up!
Oh cool, yea I saw that a while ago before it came out. Looks great with a VIbram sole. I used to wear Birkenstocks in HS and loved them but hated the arches.
@@AndrewFolts love the channel, Got a pair of Astral Loyak’s and been on the barefoot train since. Thanks to you I’m now in Vivo’s!😎👍Gday
My Primus Lite Knit's (Acid Lime) are on the way and I ordered a first pair for the girlfriend :-)
Nice!! Those are my fav Lite's, since they've got the best of both casual and training. Have fun out there!
How the hell did you manage to not mention a single shoe I have in rotation haha. Vibram KSO EVO, Luna Venado, Lems Boulder boot, Vivo ra 3 lux, and splays (I saw those in the video). Too many to choose from these days
There's so many barefoot shoes out there now it's a blessing and a curse, ha!
you may have enough barefoot shoes at this point :)
wish i'd got that grey xero hfs in my size
Gotta catch 'em all...bare-foot-shoes! But yea, the grey's are a great design.
Hi Andrew, which shoe would you recommend for long city tours walking? I used a vivo magna leather and my feet killed me in a 4 days tour in London ( could hardly walk after the second day, in the fourth I was almost crawling 😅) but this was last year, now I'm more advanced with barefoot
Yea, the Magna's too thick for city walking. You want something that's 3-4mm with a minimal road sole. The Primus series is a great option...
+ Primus Lite Knit ruclips.net/video/ydf1R2Z2KAY/видео.html
+ Primus Asana ruclips.net/video/dLtqaedAp4M/видео.html
+ Sensus ruclips.net/video/ARV_lCuxrco/видео.html
@@AndrewFoltsI was considering vivo lite 3 or all theater IV. Are they also a good option?
Sensus doesn't even have a insole. Can it really handle the amount of walking?
What is this road sole that you mentioned?
@@User-Tal1951 Between the Lite and AW it's just about how much you need water resistance. My original Primus Lite's were 3mm like the Sensus (no insole) and I wore them for both working 8+ hours on concrete as a shoe salesman and running on roads. As long as you use a smooth stride, there's no need for padding, as your foot will come down softly. As with any new shoe, it's a good idea to work it in gradually so your feet can adjust and strengthen.
@@AndrewFolts yes, I only do smooth stride with front feet landing (I practiced a lot the walking style, and no longer land with heels). It will be two years of only barefoot shoes soon. I checked your videos above about the Primus and Sensus, they do look more comfortable, but I didn't like theire look 😄. That's why, I am thinking more about the lite or AW( hope they can handle a possible new challenge in the future.
Make a video with your diet and running tips
I don't feel like I know the perfect diet, although what I'm eating right now is mainly organic/free-range bison/elk, wild caught salmon, lettuce/spinach, alkaline fruits (kiwi, pear, papaya, avocado, lemon, coconut), veggie juice (celery, fennel, ginger, lime), soaked/sprouted nuts, seeds, legumes, and pseudo-grains (quinoa, lentils, buckwheat, cashews, walnuts, pepitas, pecans). No dairy, gluten, acidic, or processed foods. For running tips, my Zero-Drop Transition video has a lot: ruclips.net/video/i2D7BUOAe8g/видео.html. Anything in specific you wanted to know?
I've had 3 pairs of Xero's shoes and never again. The Toe box is NOT wide. They have somehting like 4-5mm less than the Vivo's. I've measured them trust me. I still have a pair to sell here if someone is from Canada
Yea, it's really frustrating, because they make great shoes otherwise. I've told Xero this repeatedly and they'd probably increase profits by like 2x if they just added a bit more room. Idk what the their reasoning is.
VIVO also often short and narrow and also shallow jn toe box dept 😅😊
@@slavasss2189 Vivo are definitley wider than Xero, can't debate that. And, they last 10 times longer. I've destroyed the first 2 pairs I had of Xero in a year, I've had all my Vivo's for over 3to 5 years and still intact
Yeah they have great designs, but need to be wider
They used to be wider. At some point they changed the last. They may have had to change production facilities. This happens all the time with Chinese manufacturing. But I still want a wider Xero shoe. I can't wear them anymore.
Andrew, what do you think about barefoot shoes for those who have flat arches/flat feet? Is it true, in your opinion, that people with flat arches actually need/benefit from cushioning/support in their shoes, or is this yet another misconceptions (like the one which says that we, in general, even those without any foot conditions, *need* support/cushioning in our shoes)?
Btw, am I wrong using terms "cushioning" and "support" interchangeably?
Thank you in advance.
Barefoot shoes are great for flat feet! I had borderline flat arches back in 2017 and, without a doubt, cushion and arch supports made it worse, because my feet just became weaker and more exhausted from trying to keep steady on squishy foam. When I transitioned to barefoot shoes, my arches raised and became much stronger, to the point where they're now medium height. Also, yes, cushion and support are different. Cushion is just padding. Support usually usually means more firm devices, like inserts and dense stability foam, which are meant to "prop up" a weak foot/ankle.
@@AndrewFolts
Thank you Andrew, you always give great, clear answers! 🙂
What about the transition period, would someone with flat feet possibly feel more discomfort/pain in the first few weeks or months of transitioning to barefoot shoes or no such thing? And should one alternate at first, wear one day normal shoes, next day barefoot shoes, etc. or not really?
Oh, and also, in your view, is there like a limit for those with flat feet on how thin of the sole they should choose, for the transition period (that is if there is such a period at all)? Or is it actually the thinner - the better?
@@MaximC What I'd do is just wear barefoot shoes for as long each day as you can without any significant discomfort, then go back to your normal shoes for the rest. Each day just gradually spend more time in barefoot shoes as it feels right.
@@AndrewFolts
Thank you.❤️
Once someone becomes accustomed to barefoot shoes would they run a 100 mile ultra on trails in them? Or is there max distance most people can run in these shoes?
Nope, in fact some people run ultra's completely barefoot, although you need a lot more callus for that. I've found that I can run much longer in barefoot shoes than in cushion with less fatigue, especially with FiveFingers shoes.
Wait the Primus Trail FG Knit is WIDER than the standard version? For some reason I thought it was the opposite.
Why, have you tried both? The original Primus Trail FG def felt more slim to me.
@@AndrewFolts I'm just comparing the Primus Trail FG 2 to the Primus Trail FG knit.
I'm looking for a video that covers durable and tough hiking barefoot shoes that are cactus and sharp rock resistant in places like Arizona.
The Vivo Magna FG has a tough medium thick sole and rugged leather upper ruclips.net/video/NYIWI47hooA/видео.html and if you want super protective, then the Magna ESC has more beefy lugs while still being flexible and breathable up top. ruclips.net/video/pog4cqDpAC0/видео.html
Jim Green Barefoot African Ranger.
I want to try the vibrams but I’m convinced they won’t fit as I have a longer second toe than big toe and their shoes are designed that way. So I’m fucked out of them.
Actually I'm looking at my KSO ECO's right now and the second toe is exactly the same length as the big toe, plus the toe rubber is flexible and kind of folds down to accommodate longer toes, so it might work for you. My second toe is also longer than normal.
@@AndrewFolts fair enough. Good to know.
They’ve never appeared such in photos.
how do you rate shoes?
I use an algorithm based on width, flexibility, thickness, materials, etc. It's not perfect, but does at least give an objective comparison for reference.
@@AndrewFolts Ok it is a ranking on "barefoot level", not necessarily the quality/durability/efficiency/resistance/longevity of the product !
@@morgant6508 It includes durability too.
Por favor me gustaría saber el nombre de las pantuflas de lana gris 4:45 ♥️
KOW Bamboo/Wool Slipper: bit.ly/3v3AmT6
@@AndrewFolts thank you so much! So sad because they don’t ship to spain. But thank you anyway, love your channel! ☺️
@@Patoybroccoli Idk if their Etsy store is any different, but you could check: bit.ly/3eineSa
@@AndrewFolts thank you, so kind! But doesn’ t work 😔
@@Patoybroccoli The link doesn't work or they don't ship to Spain on Etsy?
I wish the term "vegan mesh upper" or just any "vegan" description was a clearer. I would prefer to know if I'm getting something that's mostly plastic or something with some meaningful biodegradable potential. If it's mostly cotton, hemp, etc, I'd be more interested. If the shoe is almost entirely plastic or if it's some ambiguous greenwashed thing (ex. Lono says they use "biodegradable polyester" without publishing proper reference documents or having third party certifications), then I'd probably pause and think harder about that purchase.
Yea, I should have specified further, although you can use the search icon on my website barefootwear.org look up a specific shoe and see its materials or the shoe finder tool to filter for specific materials. bit.ly/49U1Ryo. In terms of a deeper dive on supply chain that's something you'd have to do yourself, because it''s not practically possible for me to do it for hundreds of shoes, and companies constantly change their sourcing/production. That said, Wildling and Vivobarefoot are the two brands with the highest level of sustainability and transparency/certification.
@@AndrewFolts Thanks! You do more than enough good work tbh. It's honestly more on the companies to communicate these things effectively, or at least not be misleadingly ambiguous.
Vegan leather is always plastic. But I 100% agree with you. I feel like companies use the term vegan is to give the illusion that the material is good for the environment when it's most likely non recycled plastic. And if it is recycled they are pretty good about mentioning that usually
@@jamesclawson9243 To be fair, vegan is also a common search term. Like, no one is searching for "synthetic shoes," but a lot of people are searching for "vegan shoes." The reality of the internet is that you have to use the terms people are searching for, or you'll never get found, but yea, more transparency is always a good thing when it comes to materials.
@@jamesclawson9243That's not true. There are vegan leathers made from other materials that are biodegradable, such as cactus, pineapple, mushrooms, rubber, corn, hemp and new ones are popping up all the time.
This is great, but I can't understand the names. I know several of the shoes, but could you either enunciate the names better or put a title with the actual name of the shoes. You tend to slur your consonants.
Hey John, here's the video in article form with photos and all the names written out: bit.ly/4dJYf46
@@AndrewFolts Thank you. This is very very helpful!!!! Thanks for putting this together. It is a great resource :)
"Vegan upper" is code for: cheap plastic sold at the price of leather.
Sometimes, but not necessarily. For example, synthetic can be made into a finer mesh for hot weather without sacrificing durability. You can't make a thin durable mesh with leather.
@@AndrewFolts The thing is: synthetic is cheap. You get the same kind of mesh, from the same materials and the same quality, made in the same factories from some China brand as well as Vivo Barefoot. One costs a third of the price. I am not saying that certain materials are not functionally useful, they definitely are, but some materials are just... cheap, sold at a premium.
I am not a fan of synthetic materials because of the turnaround. These shoes are done after 1-2 years. A bit like fast fashion. They produce a huge amount of waste and I try to buy products with turnaround, made from materials, that will not clog up my son's and his children's children arteries for the next 300 years. The whole "vegan" thing makes me angry, because people pretend that this is the "better for the planet and morals" option, while it objectively is easily as hurtful to animals as leather, just indirectly and for decades, centuries to come.
If "vegan upper" would mean: made from high quality cotton, made from hemp etc. (there are dozens of plant fibers, that are incredibly durable, functional and bio degradable), then I would nothing but applaud "vegan alternatives" to leather/wool.
Vegan is supposed to be the "moral option" (and I really would love for it to be that). To be that, it needs to be cradle2cradle. It cannot damage maybe even more living creatures, than actually killing them for leather. Otherwise, it's a cheap scam, branded to play on the emotions of customers.
Then you add the "nicely branded" "membrane" for water resistance.... PTFE coated cotton or synthetic fibre. A forever chemical. It's incredible bad for the environment, animals and every human on this planet, for hundreds if not thousands of years. Especially vegan options have those in them. Why not use oilskin? Made from carnauba wax or some other non animal alternative wax and linseed oil, mineral oil (i get that's not a great option, but still). If those brands would really care about the environment, as their green washing branding wants us to believe, they would look for viable alternatives to some of the worst materials known to men. (A good company in that regard is Mukishoes, that you also reviewed, the are actively looking for REALLY sustainable alternatives)
@@W4ldgeist I totally agree with you that natural fabrics are preferable and much healthier for the planet, but you can't expect to change everyone's behavior with one video. Furthermore, the barefoot products/brands that check all the boxes of 100% sustainable, natural, ethical, durable, breathable, etc, are so few that it would be financially impossible for me to only make reviews about them, currently. My goal is to draw people in through a variety of options that are still orders of magnitude better than the ultra cushioned marshmallow "trash in 300 miles" shoes that the majority of the population wears, so that we can all move in a better direction. Finally, it's not that case that synthetic shoes fall apart any faster than natural fabrics. My original Vivo Primus Lite's (all synthetic) are still going after 7+ years. How you treat your shoes is a big part of it.
@@AndrewFolts From your comment I gather that I might have come across as critical towards you, your videos: This is absolutely not the case. I am sorry if I came across as critical towards your work. Your channel is great, your videos interesting, educating and informative. You review some of the shoes that I haven't seen anywhere. I would never demand any RUclipsr, that has to make a living to fight a fight of an environmentalist. That's incredibly unrealistic. Continue doing what you do! I wish you all the best :)
Have you done a review on the Lems Chelsea boots? I'm rocking a pair of those.
🫡🫡💯
No, since I just review barefoot shoes without cushion, but my mom has some Lems Primals and likes them.
@@AndrewFolts ahh ok. Gotcha.
I’m going to have to check out those Chelsea boots your recommended. I like those.
Cheers 🥂!
T/y