Get Back to the Basics With These Barefoot Shoes (2024)

Xero’s Prio is a standout for anyone looking for an everyday barefoot shoe and they come in both women’s and men’s sizes. With a supportive amount of cushion and a comfortable toe box design, these shoes are a crowd pleaser for people looking for a classically styled shoe that encourages a natural stride and connective ground-feel. They have a 5.5-millimeter outsole, which falls mid-range for barefoot shoes and will feel comfortable for most wearers, whether they’re experienced in the realm of barefoot shoes or newer to the style.

These also have a removable midsole, so you can start with added cushioning and remove it for closer ground contact once you get used to the shoe. “This is our best-selling and the ultimate all-in-one style shoe,” Funck says. “From the gym to the street, this is a great shoe for every occasion.”

The Details: Size 5-12 women’s and 6-14 men’s | Mesh, synthetic leather, rubber

These affordable barefoot shoes come in a wide variety of styles for men and women looking to dip a toe into the barefoot waters, or who want several style options without breaking the bank. We like the Minimalist Trail Runner for its just-enough cushion and moderate outsole grip, along with the snug fit that feels supportive, but not suffocating. These are a super flexible shoe, and the insole is actually removable for anyone who wants to start slow in the barefoot world and work their way into a true barefoot feel. The standard width can feel a bit snug, so anyone with average or high-volume feet may want to size up.

The Details: Size 5.5-12 women’s and 7-14 men’s | Rubber, mesh

These gym-oriented shoes with men’s and women’s sizes are a great introduction to the style of barefoot footwear. Altra was one of the mainstream pioneers of zero-drop shoes with a wide toe box, though many of their models have more midsole cushion than a true barefoot shoe. The Solstice XT 2 skirts closer to the line of a classic barefoot shoe than others in the brand’s lineup, with a firm, minimalist midsole that offers stability and support for everyday use as well as gym workouts, which often have lateral movement and need support for movements like squats, lunges, box jumps, and agility drills. These shoes also offer additional support in the reinforced upper material, which wraps the side and top of your foot and can help prevent lateral slips.

The Details: Size 5.5-12 women’s and 7-15 men’s | Mesh, EVA foam, rubber

This ultralight pair of barefoot shoes weighs just 11 ounces for the women’s style and 12.7 ounces for men’s, making these some of the most lightweight full-coverage barefoot shoes on this list. That low weight means every aspect of this shoe, from the thin rubber outsole to the micro-mesh upper, is as bare minimum as it gets while still performing as a running shoe. These shoes offer the benefits of a barefoot stride while having just enough protection from the ground for use on paved and dirt-roads. The two-millimeter lugs also offer just enough traction without sacrificing ground feel, and the streamlined upper wraps your foot like, well, a glove. The lug patterning was designed in part to shed debris, which is helpful on trails, but only advanced barefoot runners will feel comfortable on rocky or uneven trails with a shoe this minimalistic.

The Details: Size 6-11 women’s and 6-13 men’s | Mesh, rubber

Vibram is a longtime category leader in the barefoot shoe movement, best known for their distinctive toe shoes. These continue to be a favorite for barefoot runners and hikers looking for maximum toe splay that even the wider toe box in traditional barefoot shoes doesn’t offer. The V-trail 2.0 Shoes for men and women has a minimal outsole (less than four millimeters) that maximizes traction on the Vibram Megagrip rubber thanks to tiny pyramid-shaped cleats under the entire footbed. Paired with the unique design of the toe shoes themselves, these have incredible traction that allow you to use your entire foot (including your toes) for fine-tuned grip and traction on rocks, roots, and steep trails. The upper is made with an abrasion-resistant, water-resistant polyester, and the straps are wide and comfortable for adjusting on the go.

The Details: Size 5-10 women’s and 6-14 men’s | Rubber, mesh

Merrell’s Trail Gloves 7 Trail-running Shoe for women and men is a more rugged take on their Vapor Glove, with the addition of a taller stack height (14 millimeters) and a more aggressive Vibram outsole with tightly patterned lugs for grip to aid barefoot flexibility. These are a fan-favorite update from the Trail Glove 6, which has a slightly stiffer and more structured build. The Trail Gloves 7 goes back to the basics while still providing protection from the ground and debris. They have a snug heel counter and a bellows-style tongue that keeps trail grit out of the shoes, and a breathable mesh upper to keep you comfortable on hot hikes and trail runs.

The Details: Size 7-15 women’s and 6-13 men’s | Mesh, foam, rubber

For hikers and water sports enthusiasts looking for a trail sandal that doesn’t weigh you down, the Xero Shoes Z-trail EV Sandals for women and men are your answer. This minimal-yet-supportive shoe is built with a three-part underfoot construction: the top layer is a thin sheet of foot-conforming BareFoam, which helps resist odor buildup and feels soft and flexible underfoot; the middle layer is made from TrailFoam, which offers just enough protection and rebound without losing the natural feel of the ground; and the outsole is Xero’s FeelLite rubber, a durable, chevron-patterned rubber that helps maintain traction on a variety of tread without adding weight. Finally, an adjustable Z-strap secures down over foot and can be adjusted on the go as needed.

The Details: Size 5-12 women’s and 5-13 men’s | Rubber, foam, polyester

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are barefoot shoes healthy for feet?

  When worn correctly and with adequate transition, barefoot shoes are healthy for many people’s feet.“Barefoot shoes are designed with wider, foot-shaped toe boxes that allow your toes to spread out and your feet to relax,” Funck says. “Since they are designed to feel barefoot, these shoes are zero-drop, meaning the height from heel to toe is the same. This maintains proper posture and keeps your feet and toes in a natural position.”

  Funck also says that the low-to-the-ground sole offers protection from the elements while still allowing your feet to experience sensory feedback, and can enhance a natural stride and help strengthen the muscles in your feet.

• How do you transition to barefoot shoes?

  Start small! If you’ve never worn barefoot shoes before, the barefoot community often recommends starting your transition by wearing them for everyday use like running errands or walking the dog. During this period, you may notice the stabilizer muscles in your feet, ankles, and legs are more activated.

  
  Funck calls it “microdosing” barefoot shoes. “It’s the sense of adopting a gradual and measured approach transitioning from traditional, highly cushioned, overly supportive footwear to minimalist, barefoot shoes,” she says. “If you’re one of those people who want to run barefoot, Xero Shoes Partner and Run Coach, Eric Orton recommends starting with as little as five minutes in [barefoot shoes] then switching to your regular shoes.”

• When should you not wear barefoot shoes?

  It’s important to note that there will be an adjustment to wearing barefoot shoes, and they won’t be ideal in some circ*mstances. You may want to consult your doctor before beginning the transition into wearing barefoot shoes for long periods of time. You should also avoid wearing barefoot shoes on super rugged or challenging terrain where you could experience bruising from the ground. “Those with arthritis of the big toe or midfoot, for example, may require a stiffer sole and more cushioning, so they may not be a candidate for barefoot shoes,” Podiatrist Dr. Alissa Kuizinas, DPM adds.

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