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 Jas

A true 'barefoot' shoe with a tough sole that is good for trails, provided they're not too muddy. The very 'precise' fit makes them a good shoe for technical trails.

***See bottom of review for my most recent experience, using TGs for a 100 mile ultra!*** The Merrell Trail Glove (TG) is one of the new generation of 'barefoot' running shoes. The TG's cushioning is very minimal, but what makes it a true 'barefoot' shoe is that it has no heel-forefoot differential, that is the shoe does not lift the heel relative to the forefoot at all. Standard running shoes have 8-12mm (1/3-1/2 inch) differential, with 'minimal' shoes around 4mm. I bought them in May 2011. I'm a UK-based ultra runner who is used to minimal (but not 'barefoot') shoes, ie Brooks Mach Spikeless, Inov8 F-Lite 230, and even I have found the Trail Gloves a huge change! The TGs engage all the leg and core muscles, not just the more limited range...

Read more: Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove reviews (6)

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 Michael Sanborn

Extremely comfortable, great fit, great price, and durable. You can run in downpours and they perform well and dry quickly. You don't need to wear socks with them.

These are my first pair of minimalist shoes. I needed something for work and I really didn't like the looks of the FiveFingers. I read that if one wants to truly learn barefoot running they should start out running barefoot- the minimalists can confuse you because you are not truly running on your bare skin which tells you what you are doing wrong. For example, you would not scuff your barefeet, but minimalists will allow it. So they did take some time to get used to. I liked them from the start, but I was not used to doing a lot of walking barefoot.

Read more: Merrell Barefoot Run Vapor Glove review (1)

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)

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)