Barefoot / Minimal Shoes

Featured review by Bluelu

After years of trying various shoes, boots, orthotics, socks, etc., and never being quite happy with the way my feet feel, I tried the Vibram Classic. What a difference! Hiking/city walking both work well. Your feet feel very light. After not running for the past 20 years due to bad knees, I'm tempted to break into a run just because it feels like it would be so much fun with these on. You do have to watch where you put your feet; gravel of a certain size can give you quite a poke in the heel or mid-foot.

Read more: Vibram FiveFingers Classic reviews (6)

Featured review by Maria

As a children how many of us did not need any shoes and were happy running around barefoot even if it meant to get some blisters here and there? Later on, when we had to put shoes on and go to school and then work and so on, things changed and it would be considered inappropriate to one day show up without any shoes on. I wonder how many of us feel happy with what they are wearing on day to day basis on their feet and how many of us is actually comfortable?The Vibram soles is revolutionary innovation as far as comfortable shoes can be, which is based on the age old methodology that being barefoot helps your balance and will make you feel aware of the nature around and ground beneath your feet.

Read more: Vibram FiveFingers KSO reviews (18)

Reviewed by BC Heath

They extend cold weather running. Added protection for the feet. And extremely lightweight and flexible.

This is my third winter with my Insulated Trek Ascents. They definitely lengthen my minimalist running season (my first preference is barefoot) into the winter month. I bought a size up as suggested by the website. They fit good barefoot or with an extremely lightweight sock, but the next pair I order will be a size larger than that. Just so it’s clear, my regular Vibram FiveFingers are a size 43. My current Insulated Trek Ascents are not a 44. The next size I order will be a 45 to allow for a thicker (hopefully warmer) sock. Last year I was able to handle -15°C for a couple of hours comfortably when running. I’m hoping to extend that this year with a larger shoe and thicker sock.

Read more: Vibram FiveFingers Trek Ascent Insulated review (1)

Featured review by Uriah Hon

The closest thing you can get to nothing, without actually having nothing. A perfect shoe for marathons, ultra marathons, camp sandals, beach sandals, lounging, or trail running. The literal "do everything" sandal. Build your own here

Note: Although my review is very honest, i am an Affiliate. If these minimal sandals do not work, there are many other styles and shapes for different purposes. All are built upon the same idea of the Huarache, however some are built with thicker souls, bells and whistles etc. Nuild your own here http://xeroshoes.com/go/Mainerrisms So a few years back I made the transition to become a minimalist all while knowing that my long term plans were transitioning myself into a barefooter. As a "runner", I had done abundant amounts of research on the topic.

Read more: Xero Shoes DIY 4mm Kit reviews (2)

Featured review by Troyfromtexas

Is it a sock? is it a shoe? Yes! Skinners sock shoes might be a new category in outdoor footwear.

I recently acquired some Skinners Sock Shoes. What? They are basically a sock covered on the sole with a protective rubber polymer. I believe that this might be new category of outdoor footwear. I'd say they offer more protection that a sock and perhaps less protection than a minimalist shoe. I suppose the closest comparable footwear might be minimalist footwear like FiveFingers Shoes, Merrell Trail Gloves Shoes, and Xero Shoes. Or perhaps a traditional leather moccasin. The Skinners are put on just like any other sock.

Read more: Skinners Sock Shoes reviews (4)

Featured review by Retroleum

Versatile minimal shoes — don't have to be hardcore barefoot if you don't want to.

I was moving out of the country with a pretty limited baggage allowance, so I got these shoes for walking around, light workouts, and trails. Over a year later and they've been great for all of that and have held up pretty well! I should mention that I haven't trained to do barefoot running and so I don't attempt to in these (I only jog a bit in these if I'm late!) and cannot comment on how they perform for that. These were my first official barefoot shoes, though I've always preferred wearing form-fitting, thin-soled shoes.

Read more: Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove reviews (4)

Reviewed by Kory Stratton

Another great shoe by Vivo! This minimalist shoe is a must-have for any hikers out there who prefer breathability and maneuverability over ankle support. I recommend this shoe!

I wear an 11.5 and that was what I ordered. The shoe fits great all around. There is the nice snug fit you want while hiking for both the toes and the heel, but it is not so tight that it gets uncomfortable. There is virtually no breaking in needed as it is a shoe and not a boot. I have hiked 100+ miles in them and have not had any problems with chaffing or blistering. There are a few downfalls to the shoe though. Since it is low cut it does not keep debris or snow out very well. It also does not provide a high amount of ankle support.

Read more: Vivobarefoot Legacy review (1)

Reviewed by Mangus7175

A great lightweight trail runner that breathes and vents very well. Really good traction profile and comfortable when worn for long periods of time.

I purchased the Merrell Mix Masters back in January of this year. Since then, I have exclusively been using these shoes for all my backpacking and day-hiking trips. When purchasing these shoes, I made sure I bought it a size bigger so I have room for my toes — this is helpful on those trail descents. Fit: When purchasing shoes to wear for the trail, I typically buy them a half size to a full size larger than usual.  I find that doing this, helps with the comfort. I found the fit of Mix Masters to be good.

Read more: Merrell Mix Master review (1)

Reviewed by Jas

Very lightweight, zero heel-toe differential running shoe with some cushioning. Marketed as an 'entry to barefoot' shoe, hence the odd name (makes me think of a naturist right-to-roam law), but also a good racing shoe for minimalist runners.

Obviously pros 2 and 3 could be cons and con 1 could be a pro, depending on what you want! When I tried the Bare Access, I immediately loved their super light weight and simplicity, and had to buy them! I bought them for my attempt at sub 3:15 in this year's London Marathon. I ran it in 3:17:15, but that's another story. Even though I do most of my running in 'uncushioned', 'barefoot' shoes (inverted commas for both, because just about any shoe will add some cushioning and the only proper way to run barefoot is in bare feet), I value some cushioning when racing so I can hammer along in a more carefree manner than I otherwise would.

Read more: Merrell Barefoot Run Bare Access Trail review (1)

Featured review by Evan From Heaven

Invisible Shoes (now renamed Xero Shoes) are ultralight sandals based on the Tarahumara Indians' huaraches, made famous in the best-seller "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen." I've explored Copper Canyon where the Tarahumara live, and used the original sandals for years. The Invisible Shoes are much lighter and the nylon laces are more comfortable than the leather laces used in the original. I'm a guide in Copper Canyon, and the soles stand up just fine to the wicked sharp, loose rocks and extreme terrain there. The laces needed some Shoe Goo to protect them where they wrap around the soles.

Invisible shoes are almost just a thin slab of very tough rubber compound with 3 holes for the laces. You can choose the 4mm or 6mm thickness. I have the 6, and recommend it in the rugged country I love. The 4 would be fine for dirt trails, bike riding, or for people with very tough feet.  They do have tread and a textured foot side. Sandals mostly eliminate blisters, which are caused by heat. You can't find a cooler "shoe." It takes a little while to get used to the laces between your big and 2nd toes, but for most people it's not a problem.

Read more: Xero Shoes Invisible Shoes 6mm Contact reviews (2)