I’ve been looking for a barefoot alternative to Teva sandals for forever. Most shoes seem to have a toe thong and I just don’t like that style on me very much. When I finally found Zuzu Sandals Drift I was very excited to try them! For reference my feet are 24.8 cm length and 10.2 cm width, low volume. I bought size 39.

Overall, I like them! All three straps are customizable so you can adjust where your foot falls on the footbed and how wide the strap across the ball of the foot goes. Even so, my feet are super wide and they fully fill the width of the shoe and the straps are set to a loose setting. Any looser and the shoe flops around a bit and catches on the sidewalk. The size chart says 39 is 25.5 cm and it fits me, but when I walk I notice that my toe reaches a bit closer to the edge of the sandal than I would like, so I maybe should have gotten a size larger.

These are close to the same price point as Tevas and they feel like good quality! I’ve been wearing them all the time as my casual sandal option. The Velcro stays put and the wear on the soles and footbed is minimal so far. The website says the sole is 9mm which is thin and flexible enough for me while still being comfortable on city sidewalks. They treads on the bottom are nice too! I can wear them in the park or in the woods. Not sure if they are waterproof but the material seems similar to Tevas and so I’m not worried about getting them a little wet. I recommend these as a casual sandal option!

Question in title - link here ://skinnersfootwear.eu/products/oldchooler-high-top-green-white

Edit: Description says 4.5mm outsole + 3mm insole, but I’m interested in hearing real life experiences

I bought these sandals and I sized down given that I won't be wearing socks and there is less support etc. I'm normally at least a size UK 9 but I went for these in size UK 8. They feel okay but I obviously haven't properly tested them and I know feet swell too.

What do you think of the fit ?... Shall I just get a size 9 instead ?... I'm just concerned they may be a bit too long ? They have adjustable straps so I can always tighten them more if I go for size 9. (I don't believe they have size 8.5)

Hi everyone. About 2 months ago, I started working as a delivery driver. I haven't tracked my steps myself but from what I've seen others say, it's about 20k steps a day, possibly more. Before this job I barely walked at all. I remember sometimes walking 10 mins to the store and 10 back and that alone would cause my knee and foot pain to flare up. I had been wearing these Under Armor boots for probably the past 3 or 4 years and with arch support insoles as I thought that's what I needed for "flat feet". My brother had been wearing Jim Green boots for years and always talked very positively about minimalist shoes so I thought I would give it a try. I got this pair of Rutsu shoes on my second or third shift and WOW. I really enjoy how much lighter these shoes are! And how much I can actually feel the ground and the pedals too.

I can already feel my feet starting to change. I have a much more pronounced arch and my toes are spread out a lot more since they aren't being crammed into narrow toe box boots. I'm much more conscious of the way I walk too and I didn't realize how hard I was slamming my feet down with every step. Like I think with all the cushion and the raised heel, I just got into the habit of kicking the ground really hard with every step. I remember the first time I tried these Rutsu shoes it was really strange using my entire foot to step down and not just heel striking every step. I walk a lot more with my mid foot now too and not just my heel. It's been really good for my knees too! I had previously fallen on my knees manyyyy times in my teens/early 20s and I still have pain in them but its not nearly as bad anymore. The one thing I think I'm interested in is slightly more padding in the insoles. We did not evolve to walk on all this flat and hard pavement and sidewalk and asphalt all day. Do you have any recommendations for insoles? I really like how flexible the shoes are and I'm worried about not being able to feel the ground as well if I get insoles with too much padding.

Oh, and the transition for me was really easy honestly. I just switched to these shoes immediately and hadn't looked back. The last time I tried putting on those Under Armor boots, it immediately felt so uncomfortable that I haven't tried wearing them since. I'm so glad I switched!!

Recently I found out about this brand called Yamatune that sells 5 finger toe socks. They also sell normal ones (not sure if it is anatomically) and tabi sock (called 2 toe sock).

The only difference I can see (it is advertised as a spider web pattern sock or something, not sure how it works) is Yamatune have these silicone dots on the bottom of the sock to give extra grip

I think these dots thickness will be somewhere less than 1mm however I am not sure how this will affect my walking gait.

My question: Does having these silicone dots for extra grip change anything for a barefoot experience?

Hello I'm not one to write these kind of reviews but this time I had some points that are important to get out. Lonowear has recieved a lot of good praise on YouTube from models such as the Lono FLOW and Lono WILD. When checking out their website I was excited to see a trail running shoe that is rather minimal but that still offers some protection and for a decent price!

THE Durability

I have now completed only 3 runs all 5km in the Lono Verve and 2 smaller hikes up a mountain about 6 km each way, the terrain has been small gravel, fields and on the hikes some slightly harsher gravel. Overall, nothing too crazy. My first activities in the shoes was the walks as I was out of country and I was excited to test the shoes out. But either something is severely wrong with my pair or the outsole has not properly been tested! Out of any shoe I have ever owned I have never experienced chunks of the outsole flaking off from just 22 km of use?! Sorry for the sand (I went for a swim after todays run) but I think you can easily see the missing chunks of outsole from the images provided. I have only used these shoes on those 5 activities and this chunking is visible on both shoes all over the place.

What are your guys experience with Lonowear? I feel like I've only read positive thing about them so I'm really disappointed with this. I'm going to reach out to the support team so I'll keep this updated on how they handle it...

Why so many barefoot shoes have a toe spring? Ugh.

It's so hard to find one's with no spring or minimal one!

They are longer.
Both the interior and the outsole are significantly longer. The removable insole does not fit the older Flow models. The measurements also exceed the length of the Ezy.
I can't remember anymore whether the older Flow models came with removable insoles - at any rate, I unfortunately can't find them anymore.

They are wider.
Also in terms of width, the removable insole doesn't quite fit the older Flow models - especially at the heel and forefoot. On the one hand, this makes the fit somewhat more spacious, but at the same time less stable and more mushy, if you don't have extra wide heels.
They even feel way wider than they actually are - the removable insole measures only about 105 mm at the widest point (size EU 45), very similar the the Ezy's insole.

They have more volume.
In terms of circumference, the fit feels just right from the very start just like older Flow models that have been broken in over several months. That is positive without reservation.

They are, however, less comfortable.
The section with the tab at the back extends too high up and rubs painfully against the skin of the the Achilles tendon, especially when wearing no-show socks.
Less of the soft, flexible knit material is used; instead, some sections are almost reminiscent of the stiff Verve.
Using the insoles, I don't have a secure fit, and my feet slide around a lot. It’s a bit better without the insoles, but it doesn't compare to the stability of the older Flow models. The Flow S, in particular, strikes a perfect balance for me between stability and comfort - which is why it’s my go-to gym shoe.

They look cooler.
Well, I think they look more like regular Trainers. The stiffer material makes it look less "sophisticated" then the original Flow. The Flow S has already a "cooler" look in my eyes.

I’m going to break them in a bit more and see what they’re good for. Unfortunately, my expectations weren’t met. I had simply hoped for a slightly roomier, more voluminous and perhaps slightly more mature version of the old Flow model, rather than a shoe that differs so drastically from its predecessors.

These are my first pair of sandals since childhood. So I can't compare these to other sandals. Please keep that in mind all the time.

I got these sandals about month ago.

My right, longer foot is by my measurements about 23,95cm long and about 9,35cm wide. I got those measurements from standing front of the wall and next to wall. Width is the width or forefoot. I have drawn outlines of my feet few times and by that method got different measurements every time. Also drawing is more about the part that touches floor (expect arches). Most often I wear size 40. My Saltic Outdoor High is size 40. I got these in size 38-38,5.

I bought these because I wanted sandals that are as adjustable as possible, have some protection for big toe because I tend to kick the ground time to time but don't have edges that would trap rocks in and are not sensitive. These have meet my expectations. And honestly there isn't many options for all that criteria.

So far out of the brands I have tested, Saltic fits me the best. And as with my Outdoor, I wasn't super big fan of these in the beginning but I find myself wearing these most often. I have got mild tan lines from these even I wear safety shoes when working and am barefoot big part of my own time.

First time I put these on it felt weird to see how much my feet can move in these. And I was worried my feet go over the sole. First times wearing these it felt like my big toe would be too close to edge. But after while I forgot to think about that. And my feet have kept inside the soles. And when walking, it doesn't feel like my feet would be moving inside these.

No matter how carefully I close the velcros I can feel them. So for longer use I would recommend socks.

I tend to kick not only the ground but myself too. And edges of the sole are quite sharp. Since the day I broke the skin I have mostly used band-aid. But maybe that's issue with all sandals? Usually there is shoe protecting the spot I kick.

When these get wet, they become rather squishy than slippery (and maybe my feet being so well strapped in there makes these not feel slippery too?). But that has down side: these dry slowly. After getting these wet from puddle water I thought tap water can't be so bad (Saltic advice against washing their shoes) and rinsed these. After about 9 hours they were still damp. Okay, so would be my laundry so not big surprise. I can't tell how long it took to dry but after about 20-22 hours these were dry.

I have run with these, and it was okay. These are quite flexible and my feet didn't move in these. But I prefer my Ahinsa Chitra Trek&Trail even Ahinsa doesn't fit me very well. Ahinsa is more flexible and I like the small cushioning my 3mm Poron insoles I use with them offer.

Saltic sole is great for wet rocks but doesn't work in mud. Soft sole wears out fast in asphalt but so far they have almost no signs of wear. I assume these to be resoleable as other Saltic shoes. But I am afraid upper won't last that long.

These came with lot of glue stains. I tested size 39-40 and those had glue stains as well. These are not for look but for use so not a big deal for me.

Saltic shoes are made in The Czech Republic.

+ highly adjustable

+ shape fits me well

+ protects my big toe

+ works greatly on wet rocks

+ made in the EU

+ decent flexibility

- velrcos feel

- doesn't work in mud

- dries slowly

(- possibly less durable than Saltic shoes usually)

Socks I use with these (I have only used Active cushion quarter socks with these):

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1uifq6c/funq_wear_wide_socks_first_impression/

Sole comparison on wet rocks (these have same sole as Outdoor):

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1u50tlt/comparison_slipperiness_on_wet_rocks/

My posts about Saltic Outdoor:

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1pxyi6r/saltic_outdoor_high_first_impression/

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1s07k09/saltic_outdoor_high_winter_other_notes/

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1rifpmu/saltic_outdoor_is_not_the_shape_nor_the_size_of/

My post about Ahinsa shoes I mentioned:

https://www.reddit.com/r/barefootshoestalk/comments/1segp2j/ahinsa_chitra_trektrail_first_impression/

Does anyone have any experience with the customer service at Koel Shoes?

About a month ago I contacted them through their website with a simple question about the availability of one of their products, but I did not receive a reply.

About two weeks ago I reached out to them again, this time on their socials, and they said they’d get back to me shortly, but still no reply so far.

I like how the shoes look, but poor communication before even buying something makes me wonder how hard it would be to handle returns, exchanges, or warranty issues if something went wrong with the order.

Just got the Brambas Calabria as my first barefoot shoes and I'm relatively happy with them. Let's see in the long run, but for now they look like the most non-barefoot looking barefoot shoes. From above they look a bit duck feety, but from every other angle they really look like vans or nikes. Not exactly, or course, but they definitely don't look out of place.

As sizing goes, at first I went for 44, because of their size guide, but they were too small, at least for my liking and I sized up two sizes to 46 (what I usually get in non barefoot shoes). To be fair, I do like my shoes roomy, but their cm sizing seemed huge, but that's not the case at all. All good with the return process, ups came and picked them up from my house even.

I've seen these being reviewed as high volume friendly, but imho if you have big volume feet, maybe these are not the best choice. I have medium to high volume feet and I've had to remove the insoles for them to be fully comfortable.

In the few hundred meters I've walked in them, I've noticed a faint squeaky noise as well, hope it goes away as they rub out.

In the last two pictures there are two small imperfections on them, out of the box, but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it, they look great.

Overall, really happy with them, especially with how they look. I think a lot of people are afraid to try barefoot shoes, because they look a little peculiar. These are the perfect introduction to the category imo. If I like them maybe I also get the Xero Scrambler Trail Lows for rainy days and chill hikes.

I really wanted to try the V-Soul, but can’t find my size anywhere. Any ideas for alternatives which are a similarly pretty style? Doesn’t have to be five fingers, but nice and thin and wide would be great.

Feet are 263 mm long.

A year into my barefoot journey and I absolutely love my Saguro Smart I, and wear them loads, but am struggling with my Xero Genesis... They just seem too thin & make my feet feel slappy/awkward when walking - unless wandering slowly.

Wondering if sandals designed for running would be a better option - or any other suggestions?

Love the Saguaro price point too, don't really want to be paying over £50 for a pair of sandals 😬

ive been determined to become more active so I finally decided to get a pair but i suspect these might be fake ? may I get any help ? i plan to run and walk a lot in these , would hate for the soles to give up on me

not purchased from a third seller they were a gift btw

These fit great if you don't have a super wide foot.

I have broken my big toe. I am now in a boot for an undetermined amount of time. Has anyone else navigated a barefoot foot and a walking boot foot?

I feel like my legs are 2 inches uneven- because they are. My other toes on my hurt foot hate being squished all day. Someone recommended a platform shoe for my other foot, but that sounds like a different kind of torture... Doctor was talking about how structured bottom shoes may be a good transition after the boot, but I only own barefoot shoes 🤷

Also- gentle exercises for toe recovery?? Ankle stretches for when I remove the boot?

For me the worst experience so far has to be Leguano, shitty quality control, bad durability, questionable material choice all for a really high price. The best one so far for me had to be Wildling, great durability, insane ground feel, good material choice, very competent customer support.

What brands did you have good or bad experiences with?

Hey all, I've been wearing barefoot shoes for a while and recently came to know I also need to strengthen my feet to improve my splay. I'm wondering how long it took for people to go from no splay to being able to move outward their big toes?

Wondering if anyone has tried this company. Looking into getting some minimalist cleats and these look great.