Combat boots are always fun, and not too hard to find in barefoot shoes, but the Ahinsa Shoes Jaya Bare brings the added benefit of being the most accessible and easy-wearing vegan option you can find for this style. But don’t stop there, it brings a lot more to the table in ultimate barefoot shoes qualities. Read on to see if these shoes are right for you.
Disclaimer: The Ahinsa Shoes Jaya Bare Barefoot Boots were sent to me for review, but all thoughts are my own. I am an affiliate of Ahinsa, and if you use the links or discount code on this page a small portion will go to support the blog and reviews like this.
Sections
Company Information
Ahinsa Shoes is a very principled company helmed by a physiotherapist who set out to bring us shoes that would allow feet, and entire bodies, to operate optimally. The word Ahinsa translates as ‘non-violence’ and the company is founded on the ideals of non-violence through ethical production and the use of 100% vegan materials. You can read out their Story, Principles, and more under the About Ahinsa link in their site navigation.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Jaya Bare Black (The Comfort version is not 100% barefoot due to the insole, so make sure you’re on the Bare version)
- Upper: CF+ high performance
- Outsole: Lifo+ from German innovative Lifoprene® compound
- Lining: Suede microfiber
- Insole: not listed, but appears to be a layer of similar suede over a sturdier material, possibly foam
- Water resistance
- 3 model options: Black (reviewed), Burgundy, and Brown
Appearance
The Jaya boot is a low-key lace-up boot that can work for an elegant or funky style. My reviewed model is solid black with black sole and black laces (it can very easily look grey in pics, but it’s very black) and the alternatives are red or brown with a black sole.
I received these near the end of boot weather earlier in 2021, so have taken awhile with them and waited for boot weather to return because, being a vegan leather, they can run warm. At the beginning, I gave them an all-black treatment:
But more recently, I have paired them with my favorite types of outfits: colorful!
You can wear these all kinds of ways, with any outfit that works with black boots. They’re unassuming on their own, and will slot in easily. Bunched up jeans like at the end of this review is the one place where I cannot do up the final eyelet (wide calf problems). Otherwise, they are usually able to completely lace up.
The distinctive part is here, with one of the widest standard toe boxes available to us in barefoot shoes.
Fit
Ahinsa Shoes has two things in common across every model: they will always be vegan, and they will always have an amazing toe box.
You can check out a similar toe box in the Ballerina model I previously reviewed and know that even with my wide feet I can easily wear Correct Toes inside these and you’ll never know it. If this toe box still isn’t wide enough for you, check out the Extra Wide option available in their Bindu model.
Those are the perks, but there are a few more things to consider with Ahinsa.
First, the instep of these is more medium volume at best. The ‘waist’ of the shoe (which equates to the Vamp in the Ballerina review) is snug. The shoes are built on the expectation that you have a very flat foot profile from front to back. I was fortunate to find this out in advance, so automatically sized up 1 to account for this, which I’ll discuss more below. I have a high volume foot for a woman, but men with even higher high volume feet will probably not do well in these. Women, though, it works, at least the way I’ve done it.
Second, the curve of the sole in Ahinsa shoes is quite strong, and that will not work for everyone.
I feel that arch cut-on in the ballerina more than the boots, but know that it is there and people with very low arches should be aware of this. In the boots, which are very flexible and have a different sole, I barely notice it.
Lastly, while the boots can absolutely cinch down for thin ankles:
They absolutely work for my wide calves as well, with tights or leggings:
Sizing
Ahinsa really doesn’t want you to add extra mm and has set up their sizing system based on recommended foot lengths with an unknown amount of extra space added (thumbs width likely, but I’m certain that my thumb and your thumb are different) and multiple cautions for you to not add any extra space.
I’m really terrible at doing what I’m told.
My feet are 26.8 cm and the recommended foot length for my normal 43 is 265-270 mm. Being close to the upper limit plus already knowing that the instep would be snug, I opted to do exactly what I was cautioned against, and sized up to 44.
I’m 100% glad I did.
The internal length I get for size 44 is at most 28 cm. I’ve tried every which way to get longer, but can’t (using a Plus 12 device). This tells me that they are allowing as little as 1/2 a cm, giving a little bit of the benefit of doubt that I’m still short, and as much as 1 cm in extra space. I follow and recommend 1.2 cm of extra space inside your shoes.
On every product page there is a place to Select Size, followed directly by a “Choosing correct size?” link. This will take you to their measuring advice (my page on that is here) and their recommended foot lengths, as well as expected US size. I recommend ignoring the US sizes entirely as they do not translate the same as others and focus on foot lengths, knowing that if you’re on the edge between sizes, or even fairly high close to the edge, a size up may be right for you. With the low-to-medium instep it is unlikely you will feel insecure even with lower volume feet.
If you like a snug fit with less space in front of your toes, and you do *not* have especially high volume feet, ignore all that and go with the suggested size.
How do they feel?
These are some of the lightest barefoot shoes you can find, and definitely the lightest boots available. You hardly feel like you’re wearing any weight at all.
They have amazing ground feel and flexibility:
Being vegan leather, they can get warm quickly. I don’t feel sweaty in them, just get hot sometimes.
There is no breaking-in at all, and even when you cinch them down quite a lot they don’t feel the slightest bit uncomfortable. Unless I get hot in them (and I run hot naturally), I can wear them all day without a care.
Cleaning and Care
Ahins Shoes Jaya Bare boots have some inherent water resistance with this material, but can and should be impregnated to maximize this benefit. Ahinsa sells its own version of this, purchasable with the shoes.
I’ve found these very easy to wipe. I would avoid soaking them, and definitely never machine wash or dry them.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
Ahinsa Shoes Jaya Bare boots are $164 before applying the 10% discount price with my code A10_OWBSHOES. They ship via DHL for the cost of 12 EUR inside Europe or 19 USD worldwide.
You can return shoes, but you will be responsible for return costs. Check out the full provisions here.
Final Thoughts
While I generally look for natural materials, whether vegan or not, I’m really impressed by these boots. They feel really good on the feet, especially with they’re lightness and the way they conform so comfortably to you from the ground up. I recommend checking them out if you’re looking for a good pair of vegan boots, or if you’re looking for a combat boots style in your barefoot shoes wardrobe, whether the vegan aspect is important to you or not. They deliver a highly barefoot experience and look great too.
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.
Want to check out other lists, such as color and type break-downs?
Check out all the BIG lists here.
