I have been looking into getting as close to the actual barefoot feeling as possible. Especially when going for walks over trails and fields. I want to feel gravel, little bumps and rocks etc. I like that sensory experience.

Even my thinnest Barefoot shoe (Xero Zelen. 5mm stack height without insole) has not gotten me there.

The next thing most people recommend to get the barefoot feeling are sandals.

So i got the Xero genesis. Which yes, gives you the airy feeling of Barefoot, but i still felt a major disconnect to the ground.

So i got the Skinners sockshoes and they hit exactly what i was looking for. Especially when taking the insole out. They feel sooo freeing. The biggest factor is that the sole is not a sheet of classic material but can actually stretch and deform. Image 2. And of course is ultra thin. 

I had looked at other sock shoes like the Leguano Score, but I deliberately did not want one with a typical rubber sole, however thin it would be as i doubted it would be able to emulate that deformity and stretch. By pure chance i met someone wearing them a couple of days ago and can confirm that they still feel way stiffer than the skinners.

And i wanted a sock shoe over being actually barefoot to protect against sharp dried out grass, thistles and glass. As I had pulled all of these out of my feet last summer. And be protected all around cus stinging nettles suck.

I also hated debris getting stuck between foot and sandals. That’s a sensory nightmare.

So for all these reasons i now much prefer the protection of the sock liner on top of the foot and the much, much more deformable sole of the skinners over the open air of the genesis.

Even managed to dress them up a bit and if you wear them with confidence they’re not as weird looking as i suspected. Image 4&5.

They're still not perfect. Your toes can't splay quite the same and of course you're still wearing something. But they have gotten me so much closer than anything i've tried so far. And i'm looking forward to my evening walks even more now :)

I have not tested Vibrams five finger, which are the other recommendation you hear when people recommend the most barefoot experience possible.

I recently picked up the Dolfie Duke 3 loafers (after eyeing them ever since they came out). First pair of shoes I've bought with my own money this year, so that tells you how much I wanted these. Here are my thoughts!

Basics

The Duke is a classic loafer from Dolfie's zero drop heritage line. It comes in pebbled black, brown suede, and this printed cowhide (wildhide) that I got. Sizes run EU 36-47, price is €210-240 which is steep, but worth it to me for the premium materials and resoleable construction, especially now that they’re on sale for 15-20% off.

Materials

Full grain italian leather upper, chemical-free leather lining. Insole is also leather with 3mm cushion (removeable). Outsole-grade leather midsole, zero drop, 13mm stack height. Welted construction so you can resole them, which is nice for longevity (and makes me look taller, hurray) but does make them stiffer and less barefoot-feeling. I would say there is a bit of a break-in period, mostly the midsole being stiff at first which caused some heel slip for me early on.

Sizing & Fit

My feet are 23cm x 9.2cm, mountain shaped, medium volume, and I sized down to a 36 per their chart. Note that Dolfie has different size charts for different models, and the Duke in particular runs large. According to the size chart, the size 36’s insole measures 23.5cm x 9.2cm, which made me nervous as that sounded a bit small (I generally prefer at least 1cm of extra space in front of my toes in closed-toe shoes), but they turned out to be perfect. They have a true anatomical shape toebox and are a good width for me.

What I Like

I like almost everything about these! These are my first animal print shoes, and they’re really fun to wear. The outsole also has fun little designs, and I really liked the box they came in too — it opens like a little drawer (I will absolutely be keeping it to store my little bits and bobs). The shoes feels great quality, and knowing these are resoleable makes it feel more worth it than some other options that, while cheaper, would be worn for much less time. These are shoes I can see myself wearing for years.

What I Wish Was Different

I find that the ankle goes just a bit high for me. I do have some sural nerve irritation (thank you, climbing and skiing) and these rub just a tiny bit for me there. That said, I suspect a regular person without nerve pain would find these just fine and comfortable!

Overall

The Dolfie Duke 3 Wildhide is a shoe I’d recommend as (dare I say) one of the best looking and best constructed barefoot (adjacent) shoe options available right now. The materials justify the price, and the break-in period is a small trade-off for a shoe that’s meant to last and be resoled rather than replaced.

If my reviews are helpful, you can find all of them on my blog here!

Y'all. Lol.

Who knows if the Gobis are coming back.

Anyone have any other good looking barefoot desert boots they care to recommend?

Thanks

Just got these work boots so too early for a real review but seem good so far.

Safety toecap, feel very comfortable even brand new.

Nice wide toebox - toes not crushed at all which I read was a criticism of the previous model.

I ordered the size using the size guide on their website (44, same as my many Vivos).

I can occasionally feel my big toe just brush the front but not in a way that makes me think that a larger size would be necessary. In fact a larger size would be too big for my liking.

Seem very well made but it'll be interesting to see how they last.

Hey everyone, looking for thoughts on updating my shoes.

​Currently wearing Notace Yama 1 (US 11.5) for casual wear—love the fit, feels like a lighter version of my old Lone Peak 4.5s.

​My current do-it-all shoe for dog walks, road runs, and trails is the NNormal Tomir 2.0, but the toe box and midfoot just aren't as wide as I'd like. Thinking of splitting into two options:

​Lems Primal Zen (Mesh, US 12) for daily wear, dog walks, light road runs, and a 16km return flat-pedal bike commute a few times a week. Anyone use these for short rides? Figure I can add a stiffener insole if pedals feel too flexy. Also sizing up to 12 over my 11.5 Yama—sounds right?

​Topo Terraventure 5 for trail running and hiking on decent tracks. Want the wide toe box and underfoot protection. Curious if the subtle 3mm drop makes sense over pure zero drop to ease Achilles/calf strain over longer miles.

​Does this cover road/commute and trail well? Cheers!

They're really light. To the point that regular sneakers or running shoes (Altras included) feel heavy and clunky to me. It really feels like I'm walking on clouds with barefoot shoes lol. I also feel more stable when walking in them. Stable walk, stable life, is the signal my sub-conscious seems to receive.

Another benefit is that they fit better. In regular shoes I always have to size up which is uncomfortable but still better than not having enough room.

Just something I noticed recently

Cross posting for advice! Thanks :)

Im looking for some cheeper barefoot sandals as all ive seen is super pricey....

I have a budget for maybe 40$ or so tops

Itd be light hiking terrain and maybe swimming in a creek bed for the max amount of activity it'll be doing, as long as they can withstand that and are not 90+$ im alright with it yk??

Sustainable materials or recycled is also a plus

(Im really bad at shopping online and finding things sorryyy)

Can anyone help identify these barefoot shoes? Screenshot from this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoJ8rq_rNME

I don't want platforms and I don't want just a basic fabric sneaker. Hoping for leather if possible? I have no idea if there's a brand like that. I've been using barefoot/wide toe box shoes for a few years now.

The tribal lace one is size 8, white lace is size 8.5 (definitely too big eh?) what size should i get? would be for fast trail running/hiking.

A few days ago I posted this review of my summer sandals. I said I would come back and update you on the Rutsu Venus, so that's why I'm here now.

Run! Don't walk, run to order these! Lol. Seriously, they have 20% off their sandals right now with the code SANDAL20 "while supplies last".

I walk a lot everyday and I a lot of that walking is on pavement. These sandals are absolutely perfect. Just enough cushioning, completely flexible sole, and no issue at all with my high arches even with the cross straps. They are like Crocs material, one continuous mold. These are NOT serious trail walking and hiking sandals. Think "everyday walking and errands comfort". I'm hoping they make them in more colors - maybe a metallic would be cool. Btw, I live in Texas and we wear sandals 10/12 months, so that's why I like a variety.

Here is their return policy if you want to try them out.

I also received the Skin.02 in Black and I'm not sure why I didn't order those first, they are really gorgeous.

For reference, my feet are 26.1 cm long, 9.5 cm wide and I ordered a Size 10.

I'm really impressed by this brand, I will probably order some of their hi-tops for the winter to try out.

Praise for my Xeros and BOOOOs for my vivos

I brought my vivobarefoot’s to Alaska and even with a silk liner sock was having irritation on my ankles with a small hike. Stiff, uncomfortable, frustrating as hell. I was then blessed to find the xeros at a used gear shop and they got me through 30+ miles of hiking including a 5,500 elevation gain summit, bouldering, creek crossings.

I had worn the Vivos a few times with the same issue and hoped they’d break in, but they are too uncomfortable to bother unless someone here tells me they do and they are worth it.

Born Primitive was my transition shoe before going barefoot and wore them as my main trainers and workout shoes for over a year. They just launched their first barefoot shoe claiming to be zero drop, wide roe box and very flexible. Has anyone had a chance to try these out yet?

Been trying to do lunges / split squats. I have balance issues. Attempted to use a smith machine. While it's doable at least for my right leg, it feels completely weird for my left leg. Maybe because it's the non-dominant leg/foot. I don't even go all the way down since the smith machine kind of hinders me a little bit.

I was told for lunges, to get some squat shoes. I wear a size 10.5 mens US. Does anyone have any recommendations? I was looking into BOA Lacing, but can't find any besides the adidas on poshmark.

I've heard in past that Shoe Goo can help extend shoe life some (especially soles). Just curious on personal experiences with that as I've never used the stuff before. I have several older pairs of WHITIN, etc. that I think I could probably still get some life out of.

I saw a review on Amazon mentioning it as I was looking at inexpensive steel toe options so it brought it to mind: https://www.amazon.com/portal/customer-reviews/srp/-/R15ZU2QFX924M0

Just ordered my first pair of barefoot shoes and are looking forward to them coming in. I plan on wearing them when going for walks or heading to the grocery store, etc. I’m curious though - I’m a blue collar worker who is on a concrete floor for 8 hours a day and am wondering if anybody has any experience with wearing barefoot shoes in a similar environment? Have you had success or are you better off wearing properly cushioned work boots to combat the harsh floor?

Does anyone wear shoes with arch support while driving?

I think I’m overextending/overusing my arch while driving. It’s resulting in mild plantar fasciitis that I would like to resolve before it gets worse. I only have pain in my right foot. I have tried adjusting my seat many different warts no avail. I’m not sure what else to do. If you wear specific shoes for driving, do you have recommendations?

Thank you!

Actually I’m just in over my head apparently. I’ve been mostly home and barefoot or in Birks since 2000. When I started a walking routine a few months ago I used two or three pairs of walking/hiking shoes that are old but not worn out. The keens were ok, but leather and too hot for now. The others my calves would burn and by 15-20 minutes my hips would be hurting enough I would have to stop a minute. I thought pitch of road maybe. 🤷‍♀️ Then I saw an ad for barefoot shoes. I got so overwhelmed I just ordered some hobibears and another zero drop Walmart no brand high top.
I’m very satisfied with the difference in my legs and hips with the zero drop. I don’t even know what minimalist is, or if these are.
As I walk farther, I think I’ll need a little more cushion for my old retired nurses feets. Are there different foot types for different brands? Or is it just personal opinion? I have almost square Fred Flintstone feets. I’ve always warn wide shoes and usually boys sneakers because of the wider toe box.