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The Best Barefoot Shoes for Walking or Running
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gear
Dec 2020
You were born barefoot, and a growing body of evidence suggests you should have stayed that way. The technology and padding of the modern shoe protect your feet, but protection isn't always what you want. Feet were made to stretch, flex, roll, and bend, and letting them do what they evolved to do can reduce impact injuries and provide a host of other benefits.
That said, please do not buy a pair of these barely there shoes and start walking or running the way you always have. That won't work, and it can lead to injuries. You need to ease into all things barefoot-related, and to some degree you need to relearn how to walk and run. In this guide, we've got advice on making the transition from padded shoes to "barefoot shoes" (also known as minimalist or zero-drop shoes), and we've rounded up our favorites. They're as close as you can get to achieving that barefoot sensation without running afoul of "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" signs.
Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including our Best Running Gear and Best Snow Gear roundups.
Updated March 2023: We've added the Xero Prio Neo and Xero Tari boots and updated prices and links throughout.
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The best barefoot footwear out there is ... your bare feet. There is no need to run out and spend money on any of these shoes. Instead, start by walking around barefoot. This may be easier said than done; if you live in a major US city, don't stroll the sidewalks barefoot. See if a nearby park has some small stretch of grass you can explore barefoot.
Don't walk far--10 paces is enough--but as you walk, pay attention to your feet. Focus on how much of your foot is actually in contact with the ground. If you're like most people, this can be a mind-blowing experience. Now put your shoes on and go home. If you wake up the next day feeling fine, go do it again for a little longer. Keep slowly expanding your distance until you can comfortably walk a mile barefoot. Once you've got that down, you're ready to go all-in on some shoes.
I love these shoes. They are the only shoes that have ever inspired me to write 1,000 words. They are really that good. Think of these as the barefoot answer to Chacos. Except where Chacos are like putting tractors on your feet, the Z-Trails still flex and bend as you walk, giving your feet the freedom of movement you expect from a barefoot shoe. Despite being sandals, these have 10 millimeters of cushion, which is more padding than most of the shoes you see here. That makes the Z-Trail a good option for newcomers. If you want an even more minimalist sandal, I also love Xero's Z-Trek sandals ($60), which have less padding.
The Vapor Glove 3 was the first barefoot shoe I ever tried. They're still fairly shoe-like, with a wide toe box and tight heel cup. But they have zero drop (the heel is the same height as the forefoot) and minimal padding, putting them firmly in the barefoot shoe camp. It's a solid, comfortable shoe that will fit a wide range of feet.
My only problem is that Merrell feels the need to update the Vapor Glove constantly. Those of us wearing them don't like change. A like-new Vapor Glove 3 sells for more on eBay than a brand-new Vapor Glove 5 straight from Merrell. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the Vapor Glove 5 (I haven't tried it yet), but it is a warning that if this version is your favorite shoe ever, you might want to buy a few pairs. The Vapor Glove 6 will inevitably be slightly different. You'll use those pairs if you like them. The one thing I don't like about these shoes is that they only last me about six months (I run about 3-5 miles a day).
If you've never run in sandals before, Luna's Mono Winged Edition is a great way to start. These are technically what I (and Luna) call "zero-drop," rather than "barefoot." The soles are thick enough to provide a good cushion--you're less likely to bruise your feet the first time you run in them. At the same time, the strap design allows your ankle to get used to moving around in a way that modern running shoes do not allow, easing the transition to sandals. That's not to say that veteran barefoot runners won't enjoy them as well. I love them for hard surfaces, like concrete and asphalt. Experienced barefoot enthusiasts looking for a thinner sandal might like Luna's Venado sandals ($90), which lack the trail-friendly sole but are much thinner.
My wife came back from her first run in these Softstar Primal RunAmocs and said they were so good, she'd never wear any other shoe again. I agree; these are my favorite shoes for running trails that I can't run in sandals or barefoot (usually due to mud). The soles are minimal, like those in the rest of this guide, but for some reason they seem softer and let me feel the ground more than the others. The leather uppers are the softest leather I've ever owned and, surprisingly, don't make my feet overly sweaty (which I was worried about going in). The toe box is wide, almost comically so, but after wearing these you'll never want to go back to a smaller toe box. The more your toes can move, the better you will run.
If you routinely run in muddy conditions, I'd suggest the Megagrip model, which uses a Vibram sole with more traction on it. My other suggestion is that you use Softstar's sizing guide but then order a full size bigger, as all three pairs I tested were on the small side. I should also note that Softstar makes some great barefoot shoes for children as well.
Remember when you were a kid and you just had shoes? Like one pair of shoes? They were your shoes. There were not shoes for the gym and shoes for a night out, there were just shoes. If you want to return to that world in minimalist fashion, I recommend these. Xero calls them "athleisure" shoes, which gets most of their appeal into a single word. They're trim, light, flexible, and well ventilated, making them good for a run, but they're also nice enough to wear around town as a causal shoe. If you want something even nicer, there's a Prio Suede ($110, Men's/Women's), which is more or less the same shoe in suede.
WIRED readers are big Freet fans. I got quite a few emails suggesting I try these, and I'm glad I did because the Tangas are my new favorite around-the-house shoes. The single-piece mesh upper is made of recycled coffee grounds, so they lean on the positive side of the sliding scale that is environmental friendliness. They're also very comfortable, and the mesh fabric is nicely breathable for warm days.
The Tangas sport a thicker 6.5-mm sole out of the box, but it's easy to pull out the insole and reduce that down to 4 mm if you want a thinner feel. This makes them a good way to start your barefoot journey, since you can reduce the amount of padding as you go.
I confess that I try not to wear shoes at all. Being barefoot is the top pick in this guide for a reason. I have to wear the shoes you see here to test them, but left to my own devices, I'd just as soon never wear shoes. That said, Xero's Denver leather boot almost makes me wish I lived in a place where I did need to wear shoes because it is remarkably comfortable, warm, and perfect for the cold days I experienced on a recent trip to Wyoming. You get the same minimal sole, with a reasonably wide toe box (very similar fit-wise to the HFS shoe below). The flannel lining and leather outer make this the warmest minimalist shoe I've ever worn--perfect for winter.
This slip-on boot has kept my daughter's feet warm from the cold winter beaches of Texas to the frigid plains of Colorado. While technically a slip-on, it does have an adjustable strap that runs from the top of the arch, down to the sole, and then through a buckle near the back, which means you can snug it down a little if you need to. That said the fit on these is pretty true to size so unless you have a very low arch, you shouldn't need the strap too much. I am the last person you want to go to for fashion advice, but to my eye these look great, and unless you really know your barefoot shoes, most people probably won't notice these as anything other than cool boots.
I've tried several of Xero's various running shoes, but the HFS is my favorite for running on human-made surfaces like concrete and asphalt. That said, they work great on trails too. I went backpacking in mine with a 45-pound pack and had no problems. Barefoot purists (yes, those exist, see the barefoot running subreddit) would argue that these are pushing the definition of barefoot, but why let semantics get in the way of a great shoe? These are comfortable and durable, and they offer about 7 millimeters of padding to soften the impact of running on hard surfaces.
Whenever I told someone I was testing barefoot shoes, if they had any response at all it was usually, "Oh, like those five-finger things?" Yes, these are the classic, perhaps the original barefoot shoe (if you're willing to disregard millennia of sandal-making around the world).
Barefoot shoes aren't for everyone, and these FiveFingers especially are not for everyone. I do not like them, but one of the people who introduced me to barefoot shoes has been wearing nothing but these for well over a decade and swears by them. I find the separation of toes annoying, and I don't feel like I gain anything in the way of balance by having my toes separated. But people love their FiveFingers, and maybe it's worth trying if you're curious. Head to your local running shoe store and spend some time in them so you can decide for yourself.
The Addis is Vivobarefoot's take on a barefoot casual dress shoe. The leather is sourced from independent Ethiopian cattle farmers--that's why they're named after Ethiopia's highland capital--and it makes them some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.
If you're looking for a shoe for around town, this is one of the best-looking barefoot shoes you'll find. The leather is soft, I had no issues with chaffing. and I didn't mind wearing them without socks; my feet did not get sweaty in the leather, as I expected. That said, they're definitely the warmest shoes on this page, so keep that in mind if you live someplace that gets hot. Another thing to note is that they run wide--especially in the toe box. Try these on in person if you can.
Modeled (somewhat) on the running sandal of the famous Tarahumara runners, the Genesis sandal was my first exposure to Xero Shoes. You buy either a DIY kit to make your own sandals or opt for the premade Genesis. These are fast becoming my favorite shoes, but beginners shouldn't start here.
These are a mere 4-millimeter sole with some shock cord to hold them to your feet. Despite their apparent flimsiness, they're wonderful to run in and great for just lounging around the house. Buyer beware: They will take some getting used to, and having a cord running between your toes is not for everyone.
Ever since I went to barefoot shoes, the one thing I've really been missing is a good pair of water shoes--something for paddling, stepping into streams while fishing, or wading in shallow bays where old fishhooks might be present. Xero's Aqua Cloud sandals are pretty darn close to what I was after. They're very similar to the Genesis above, but with some extra grip on the foot bed and a raised heel cup to keep out sand and gravel. The result is a shoe that's comfortable and performs well in the water.
I found the Aqua Cloud great for fishing and paddling. (I strapped them to the front of the SUP I tested so I had footwear for forays ashore.) Wading in sandals isn't the best, and that's true of the Aqua Cloud as well as my trusty old Chacos. Still, these are my go-to sandal for all things water related, up to whitewater rafting, which is the one thing I keep my Chacos around for.
You've probably been wearing padded shoes most of your life. Don't expect to toss them and be able to do the same mileage--whether walking or running--in barefoot shoes. To a certain degree, you must relearn how to run and walk. It's going to take a conscious effort on your part, and it can be very difficult. You're not just learning, you're also unlearning some ingrained habits. The key is to go slow. Very, very, absurdly slow.
How you approach barefoot shoes depends on what you're looking to do. I happened to be getting into running, which worked out nicely because I had to take it slow (I sucked). If you're currently an ultra-marathoner and want to try barefoot shoes, you'll have a hard time holding yourself back. If you're somewhere between those poles, it'll still be hard not to overdo it. Focus the discipline you usually use for distance into not doing distance.
notIf you don't know where to start, check out Graham Tuttle's YouTube channel, especially his foot strengthening exercises. These will help you develop the foot and ankle strength you lack if you're coming from years of padded shoes, and help reduce muscle soreness when you're getting started in barefoot running. Tuttle also offers some paid programs aimed at giving you a more personalized guide (I have not tried any of these). Another YouTube channel I've found helpful is the MovNat channel, which isn't barefoot-specific but has plenty of good barefoot advice sprinkled throughout its content. And if you haven't read Christopher McDougall, both Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes are fun barefoot-related reads. Indeed, Born to Run arguably did more to popularize barefoot running than anything else since the padded shoe was born in the early 1970s.
It's also worth saying that barefoot shoes are not a zero-sum game. For over a year I wore barefoot shoes running, regular shoes for other tasks, and sandals the rest of the time. It's not all or nothing. If you go on a barefoot run and then slap on your favorite Converse right after, that's OK. It's equally important to know that everyone is different. It took me six months to fully transition to barefoot shoes. But that's just me. It might take you two months or two years. Go at your own pace, and don't worry about the experiences of others.
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