We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n More and more people are discovering the benefits of integrating barefoot shoes into their daily routines. Whether it\u2019s improving your balance at the gym, strengthening the muscles of your feet on daily walks, or improving your posture while running, there are a myriad of benefits to using barefoot shoes. But new terminology can also be daunting: stack height, zero drop, toe splay. To help you find your first pair, I\u2019ve broken down the pros and cons of some of the best barefoot shoes from major brands with the help of experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been wearing barefoot shoes for over a decade, and have tested almost all of the major brands on the market on everything from thru-hikes to hunts, trail running to off-trail scrambles \u2014 I even own pairs for casual and formal wear. To better inform myself on the needs of barefoot shoe users across a range of experience levels and foot mechanics, I also spoke with a number of experts, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n With traditional shoes, there are a lot of variables to sift through. How much underfoot cushion do you want? How much of a boost in the heel feels comfortable to you? What level of arch support feels right? Do you want a rocker bottom or a swallowtail heel?<\/p>\n Barefoot shoes do away with all this. There is no lift at the heel and no support under the arch. A benefit to doing away with all these structural details is that we can finally focus on fit. All shoes are built around something called a \u201clast\u201d \u2014 essentially a foot-shaped mold. \u201cThe Coca-Cola recipe is that original last shape, and that\u2019s why people either love or hate a shoe brand,\u201d says John Wadley, VP of Product Development at Xero Shoes. \u201cThey either like the way that brand fits or they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n While there are differences in approach between different barefoot shoes on the market, the most noticeable difference is in how these different shoes conform to your foot.<\/p>\n Socha described a number of factors he looks at when fitting clients with a new shoe including comfort, length, width, volume, toe slope, and planned activity (daily versus formal versus outdoor active)<\/p>\n The good news is that there is a healthy variety of lasts used by various shoe manufacturers, and several of the biggest brands do an excellent job of maintaining that last shape throughout their different styles. That means that if you find a shoe that\u2019s the perfect fit, you\u2019ll likely be able to fit the other shoes that brand carries. The bad news is that, for now, there is very little opportunity to try on a wide selection of barefoot shoes in person. One exception to this is Socha\u2019s store, Foot RX Running, in Asheville, North Carolina. <\/p>\n The two biggest brands in barefoot shoes are Vivobarefoot and Xero Shoes, and Irene Davis recommends them to her physical therapy patients. Both of these are excellent choices in terms of their barefoot bonafides, but the last each uses results in a different shape that will fit your foot differently.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Vivobarefoot last creates shoes designed for a typical foot: narrowest at the heel and fanning out toward a wide forefoot that is longest at the big toe and gently slopes down the last three toes. Xero shoes maintain more width across the length of the shoe (it does taper some) and have a less sharp curve to the toe box, which also starts closer to the third toe.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you consider your foot to be pretty typical, you will likely gravitate toward the Vivobarefoot last. If you have a higher volume foot, more width along the entire length of your foot, or toes that are a more irregular length, you will likely find that Xeros work better for you. If, like most people, you have no idea where your feet are along this spectrum, your best bet is to try both to see which one feels best to your feet. Xero shoes can be found at an increasingly\u00a0wide array of retailers<\/a>; Vivobarefoots, for now, are harder to find in stores, but have a more generous return policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Below, I cover more of the pros and cons of each shoe, as well as other options that may work well for your particular foot shape.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n When you talk to people who have been wearing barefoot shoes for a long time, the Vivobarefoot Primus comes up repeatedly. It\u2019s the shoe that ticks all the boxes: it has a great foot shape, a low stack height, and is surprisingly robust. I\u2019ve worn the FG version of this shoe (my pick for the\u00a0best minimalist shoe for hiking and trail running<\/a>) over 800 miles for thru-hiking and trail running, and it was just as serviceable at the end of that time as it was at the start (even if some of the lugs had worn down smoother than I would have liked). My husband and sister also wear the Vivobarefoot Primus; my daughter wears the kid\u2019s version.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite is narrowest at the heel and fans out toward the toe, with a slope at the front that starts at the second toe. If you have a fairly standard foot, you\u2019ll probably find this shoe\u2019s fit is perfect. But if you have an unusually shaped foot \u2014 high volume or wide \u2014 then it may feel tight in certain places. (My sister, who helped me evaluate the\u00a0best hiking shoes for wide feet<\/a>, wears the men\u2019s version of this shoe.) If this shoe is just a hair too tight, try taking out the insole, which increases the interior volume.<\/p>\n In the event the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite turns out to be your shoe of choice, I\u2019ve got good news: Vivobarefoot has done a great job of maintaining the fit across styles. I own the Gobi Chelsea and have tested the Vivobarefoot Tracker (as well as several discontinued styles): all of these shoes fit my foot just as well as the Primus. Two exceptions to this are their newest shoe, the Motus, which is somewhat wider at the middle of the foot (it\u2019s not a shoe you can wear sockless, either, if that\u2019s your preference, due to some abrasive stitching around the tongue) and the Ultra Bloom water shoe, which runs extremely wide.<\/p>\n One of the biggest cons to these shoes is their price: they are more expensive than the comparable Xero or Vibram models. One benefit of going with this higher-priced shoe is getting access to Vivobarefoot\u2019s \u201cBarefoot Fundamental Course.\u201d This online course teaches you about your feet and exercises to strengthen and stretch them, and which was recommended by the pedorthist I spoke to, Scott Socha. Also, in my experience, these shoes\u2019 durability justifies their price tag: you\u2019ll easily surpass the 500-mile mark that is standard with cushioned running shoes: I\u2019ve gotten up to a 1,000 miles out of some pairs.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n While Vivobarefoot shoes are designed to fit the ideal foot, Xero shoes are designed to fit a wider range of the feet actual humans have. This shoe will almost certainly accommodate you if you have a high-volume foot, toes that are an unusual length, or a beefy mid-foot. The downside to this is that if you do have a classic foot shape, then the Xero may not conform to your foot as well; when wearing these shoes, I sometimes feel as if my foot is sliding around no matter how tightly I lace them. But don\u2019t take my word for it: the best way to find out if the Xero or the Vivobarefoot is the right fit for your foot is to try them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Something unusual about most Xero shoes, including the HFS, compared to other barefoot shoes, is that they do use a very small amount of foam in their soles. When I queried Xero about this, they explained that the reason they use foam in their shoes is to provide protection against the ground without resorting to excessive use of rubber, which would make the shoe heavier. The amount of foam they use in their shoes is fairly negligible, making compression less of an issue over time: you can\u2019t wear something like the Hoka Clifton indefinitely because the 25mm of foam will eventually compress to 12.5mm. The HFS, which has 2.5mm foam, will compress to 1.5mm, which most people are unlikely to notice. Who may notice, however, are barefoot runners accustomed to the most minimalist shoes like the Vivobarefoot and Vibram FiveFingers. Like with the fit, this ultimately comes down to personal preference, and Xero shoes were recommended by a number of barefoot experts that I spoke with. If you like the fit of the Xero shoes, but not the slight squishiness of the foam, check out either their Speedcross or Prio models, which do not include foam.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the foam may be noticeable to some, what isn\u2019t is these shoes in public spaces. As a gear reviewer, I\u2019m constantly swiveling around to see what people have on, including their shoes. I can spot Vivobarefoots from down the block; they just have that barefoot look to them. Xeros? Not so much. I\u2019m constantly surprised when I catch sight of the logo (the only true tell-tale sign). If you\u2019re looking to try barefoot shoes, but don\u2019t want to rock your whole aesthetic, then Xero is the way to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n Like with Vivobarefoot, Xero has done an excellent job of maintaining the same fit across their collection.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n A lot of barefoot shoes are wider than average: turns out when you aren\u2019t trying to control the foot as a way to stabilize it, that opens up a lot of breathing room. As a result, these shoes can often accommodate individuals who otherwise would purchase wide-width shoes \u2014 but usually not beyond that. If you\u2019ve got 4E feet, you\u2019re out of luck.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve tested both the Freet Feldom and the Tundra and I\u2019ve found them both to be noticeably wider than other barefoot shoes. If you\u2019ve tried Xero and Vivobarefoot shoes and found that they don\u2019t accommodate the width of your foot, make this your next stop. Unfortunately, Socha shared with me that he\u2019s found that Freet\u2019s last is less consistent than other brands, with their trail running shoe, the Calver running on the narrow side.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Vibram FiveFingers: the shoe that started it all. If you went in on barefoot shoes during a certain era, you definitely owned a pair. And while they are no longer the most popular, or most recommended, barefoot shoes on the market, there is one category where Vibram FiveFingers still smoke the competition: ground feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I pull on a pair of Vibram FiveFingers, the difference is palpable. With other barefoot shoes, I can feel the undulations of the ground; with FiveFingers I can practically feel the texture. And even though the outsole is wafer thin by comparison, it\u2019s still providing best-in-class protection. This is, after all, what Vibram is known for: making the best of the best outsoles on the market. Arguably my biggest beef with other barefoot shoes is that they don\u2019t have Vibram outsoles, which are more rugged, more durable, and stickier.\u00a0<\/p>\n But I still don\u2019t typically reach for Vibram FiveFingers when heading out for a run or a hike. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that I do a lot of my running on sidewalks (alas), and I find the couple of extra millimeters in the Vivobarefoots do a better job at balancing ground feel and comfort. The next is that the separated toes can be pretty distracting. I spend a lot more time in Vibram FiveFingers thinking about my feet than I would like. Of course, if you are concerned about achieving toe splay, the nice thing is that Vibram FiveFingers take care of that for you by separating your toes manually. Finally, they look a little ridiculous. That\u2019s more of a personal aesthetic reason to not purchase Vibram FiveFingers, but it was shared by the experts I spoke with, who told me they rarely recommend these because of that.<\/p>\n That said: Vibram FiveFingers have a dedicated fanbase for good reason. If you want the ultimate barefoot experience, these are still best in class.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n While these sandals are a hair on the thick side for most diehard barefoot shoe enthusiasts, they are some of the most secure sandals I\u2019ve used. While I typically wear sandals loose on the foot to promote underfoot airflow and reduce the odds that I end up with that inevitable in-between toe blister, I feel comfortable lashing down the Luna Middle Bears tight enough that I can actually head out for a run in them. That\u2019s because, in addition to the soft and pliable underfoot, the webbing is also exceptionally soft. And yet, at the same time, the Vibram outsole means it\u2019s tough enough to handle almost any conditions. If you\u2019re looking for a heavy duty sandal for summer hiking and trail running, this should be your go to.\u00a0<\/p>\n The biggest downside to this sandal, besides its slightly beefy sole, is that the toe thong tends to get twisted. While this is unlikely to result in a blister, it is distracting.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Key Features<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for the best barefoot shoes for kids (and more and more parents are), then \u2014 unfortunately \u2014 there aren\u2019t a ton of options. The best options are from Vivobarefoot, which has shoes for first-time walkers to older children, winter boots to school shoes. The one I most often stick my kid in is the Primus Sport. For something so lightweight, it\u2019s proven to be surprisingly durable and protective: even as she has gotten older, with more rough and tumble play and longer stretches between new shoes, she still hasn\u2019t worn through a pair before she simply outgrew them (Vivobarefoot\u2019s Gaia model has, unfortunately, proven to be less durable.) Even during her phase of bombing down hills on her balance bicycle, dragging her toes along the pavement to control her speed and brake, the Primus Sport didn\u2019t have any issues with breaking down or delamination.\u00a0<\/p>\n My only complaint is that the colors and patterns haven\u2019t been interesting enough to hold her attention as she\u2019s gotten older. When faced with rainbow sparkle galoshes that light up at the heel or sequined loafers embroidered with cat faces (two actual pairs of shoes in current rotation), there is some negotiating to get her to wear the Vivobarefoots, even though she knows those are the ones where she can run the farthest and the fastest. Kids have more adventurous fashion aesthetics than their parents, and it would be great if the barefoot shoe options available reflected that.\u00a0<\/p>\n One barefoot shoe I was surprised to find out was fine from the experts I spoke to were Whitins, a budget Amazon brand. While these shoes fall apart faster than more robust models like Vivobarefoot and Xero shoes, they may be a good first pair for someone who is on the fence and doesn\u2019t want to commit to a larger outlay upfront.<\/p>\n I have tested Lems shoes in the past and found them to be stylish and comfortable, especially if you are looking for a robust waterproof work boot. The downside to their shoes is that they have a higher stack height, basically across the board, which can prevent you from engaging with ground feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bedrocks are another popular minimalist sandal. While I have enjoyed testing them in the past, and have found their toe-thong approach superior to Luna, the actual footbed material can be uncomfortable to walk on for extended periods.<\/p>\n The original Merrell Trail Glove was what I wore on my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and I keep hoping their newer barefoot shoes will match that initial impression. Unfortunately, this hasn\u2019t been the case. The Trail Glove has undergone numerous iterations, resulting in something closer to a traditional running shoe with arch support and a foam midsole. Their Vapor Glove is a better choice, with a lower stack height and no midsole. This shoe may work for individuals with a very narrow foot (the Vapor Glove is too narrow to allow for proper toe splay for average-width feet), but be sure to check that the shoe hasn\u2019t suddenly sprouted arch support or a heel drop when purchasing a new iteration.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Differences](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/PXL_20231215_223156697.jpg?w=3695\")
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<\/figure>\nMost Comfortable: Xero HFS II<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Best for Wide Feet: Freet Feldom<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Best Ground Feel: Vibram FiveFingers KSO EVO<\/a>\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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Best Sandal: Luna Middle Bear<\/a><\/h3>\n
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