If you’re looking for the best barefoot shoes, this is the article for you. We’ll be reviewing the top three brands of minimalist shoes – Xero, VivoBareFoot, and BeLenka – and helping you decide which is best barefoot shoes for you.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!What are Minimalist or Barefoot Shoes?
Minimalist shoes are called minimalist because they don’t add a lot of stuff between you and the ground. Ideally, they just have a rubber sole so you don’t cut your feet, and as little padding as possible. Minimalist shoes and barefoot shoes are terms that can be used interchangeably.
Barefoot shoes should also have a wide enough toe box to allow your toes to spread when you walk.
So, minimalist/barefoot shoes:
- Have little padding or arch support.
- Have enough room for your toes to spread.
Be sure to check out our informative article: 11 Big Barefoot Shoes Questions Answered Now!
Why Listen to Me?
Unlike other posts on shoes written by AI or content writers with no experience with the subject:
- I am a real, live human.
- I actually wear barefoot shoes all day, nearly every day.
- I know a lot about the foot.
- I’ve spoken to friends, family, and clients who wear minimalist shoes and can share their experiences.
- I’ve tried multiple brands of barefoot shoes and boots.
As a manual therapist, I probably work on 30 feet a week. I’m intimately familiar with the springy feel of healthy feet.
As a Pilates instructor and certified personal trainer, I know oodles of exercises to strengthen and add range of motion to feet. I’m also a Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) Mastery practitioner, so I’ve learned over 50 strength tests for every muscle in the foot and ankle (no joke).
BeLenka Barefoot Shoes: Review
BeLenka is a little less popular than some other brands, but don’t let that keep you away. Belenka’s minimalist shoes offer the best of both worlds: they are affordable (like Xero’s) and they have a variety of stylish options (like VivoBareFoot).
To be honest, BeLenka is my new favorite. Now that I have plenty of minimalist shoes for wearing at the studio and gym, I’ve been looking for shoes that are a bit more stylish. That way I can go out and not come home with aching feet. BeLenka has a ton of eye-catching shoes, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for fashion.
They have a full range of shoes for all seasons, including deep winter.
BeLenka is based in Europe, and their shoes are made there and now in Vietnam. You can read more about BeLenka and their efforts towards sustainability here.
Pros:
- Huge variety
- Most stylish options
- Excellent quality
- Large winter options
- Great value!
Cons:
- Usually have to pay for delivery (so maybe order a few pairs to save)
BeLenka Barefoot Shoes: Top Recommendations
BeLenka Winter Minimalist Shoes & Boots
Ok, these aren’t very “barefoot” since you’ll want some grip and warmth between your feet and the ice, but they do give you plenty of toe room. (That’s great when you’re wearing thick socks!)
Xero Shoes: Review
Xero Shoes is one of the first companies to go big in the minimalist shoe market. They are known particularly for athletic-looking shoes that are very sturdy. More recently they’ve branched out into additional designs: for hiking, freezing temperatures, and more chic options. But at their heart Xero is really into the idea of barefoot running and athletics in general. They make super, sturdy shoes that you’ll wear for thousands of miles.
Xero offers some of the least expensive barefoot shoes out there. The Prio is their most popular shoe, and with good reason: it’s sturdy and looks cool. Be sure to use our links to Xero to get the best price available.
Xero Barefoot Shoes: Glows & Grows
Pros:
- Excellent quality
- Great value!
- Fast shipping
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Limited variety (comparatively)
Healthy feet…great price!
- Fast shipping for $3-5
- Great variety
- Long-lasting quality
- Add lace-locks for quick changes
Try minimalist shoes from XeroShoes.com!
Xero Shoes: Top Recommendations
Xero Shoes for the Whole Family!
VivoBareFoot Shoes: Review
VivoBareFoot is known for having a diversity of stylish shoes. They manage to make trainers that can hold up against serious workouts and running while still looking chic! They’ve also been venturing into more dressy shoes (pumps, slippers, and ankle-high boots). They have tons of great colors and combinations, so it’s easy to spend lots of time on their website.
They tend to revamp and circulate their inventory a lot more than other brands. So if you see a shoe you like, you might want to go ahead and snatch it up. There’s a chance it won’t hang around for long.
VivoBareFoot also makes strides toward sustainability, including their ReVivo shoe buy-back and recycling program. You can read more about them here.
Pros:
- Huge variety
- Most stylish options
- Excellent quality
- Great value!
Cons:
- Quick turnover of inventory (if you see something you like, it might not stick around long)
VivoBareFoot: Top Recommendations
VivoBareFoot has a huge variety of stylish minimalist shoes with many color options. Nearly all their shoes are available in women’s and men’s models.
Two places to start out are the Motus and Primus series. These models have small variations to make the fit best to your activity.
VivoBareFoot Summer Shoes
You can wear the best barefoot shoes year round, but VivoBareFoot has a great warm weather collection as well.
Best VivoBareFoot Boots
VivoBareFoot also offers a great variety of boots for cold weather, rain, and even warmer weather. They also offer the Pilgrim, a grounding boot that allows you to “ground” your polarity by touching earth.
Other brands
There are a few other brands that make barefoot shoes. These aren’t included in our review of best barefoot shoes because either (a) I have not worn them or (b) I’ve worn them and don’t recommend them.
These brands fall into one or two major problems: quality or not actually minimalist shoes.
Quality: A number of cheaper brands you find on Amazon just don’t hold up. I’ve not purchased these personally, but I have colleagues and clients who have, and they’ve not really held up.
Not actually barefoot shoes: some shoes being sold as barefoot/minimalist shoes really aren’t.
A case in point is Merrell’s Vapor Glove. I bought these for running outdoors, and because I liked the look.
Unfortunately they have a high in-built arch, which really beats the purpose of having barefoot shoes.
Also Merrell’s Vapor Glove really doesn’t allow a lot of toe spread. So with inadequate room for toe spread and a forced arch, how are these really minimalist shoes? I guess they’d say because they have little padding so you can feel the ground more. Definitely won’t make my list of best barefoot shoes, though.
Merrell’s Vapor Glove: High Arch and Small Toe Box
Do All Barefoot Shoes Fit the Same?
I’ve tried three brands of minimalist shoes: BeLenka, Xero, and VivoBareFoot. In my experience, all brands fit the same. If you’re looking for the best barefoot shoes, you won’t be disappointed with any of these brands.
But if you’re ordering winter shoes, you should order a half size larger (in US measurements) since you’ll be wearing thicker socks.
Best Barefoot Shoes Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best barefoot shoes, I think that Xero Shoes, BeLenka, and VivoBareFoot are the three best brands to consider. I’ve worn them all and can vouch for their quality and durability.
While you might find slightly cheaper options on the web, these brands all have the best quality. Also, there are frequently sales and clearance items, so you can find a great deal.
If you want to try them and possibly return them, that’s no problem. Just be sure you wear them inside and keep them in new condition.
To learn more about minimalist shoes, be sure to read our informative article 11 Big Barefoot Shoes Questions Answered Now! There you can read about scientific studies that address minimalist shoes. You can also get tips to help you decide whether barefoot shoes might be a good fit for you.
