A Big List of Barefoot Shoes Combat Boots

Whether you feel the combat shoes vibe as a way of life or an occasional look, this is the barefoot shoes list for you. Here we’re going to look at 17 different ways you can go classic, soft, or technical with your combat boots looks without sacrificing ultimate barefoot shoes qualities and great foot health with minimalist shoes. Not every boot will fit your idea of combat boots and that’s O.K.! The point is to give as many of you as possible as many options as possible so you can see how your barefoot shoes preferences can match with this style choice. And the most important part? These combat boots won’t hurt your feet.

Disclaimers: Ahinsa Jaya, Softstar Switchback, and Magical Shoes Alaskan were gifted for review. This blog is supported through the use of affiliate links and discount codes, which are marked with a *. For a full list of affiliate relationships and available discount codes, check out the Discounts page.

And final note: Every boot here is black, but black can be surprisingly reflective at times and show other tones, especially grey. Black rules in combat boots, though, and the same applies here.

What makes a combat boot?

Before we get started, how do you define a combat boot? There is a lot of feel in what makes a combat boot. It exudes a certain style, and while we can’t do the chunky heel of something like a classic Doc Marten and still love our feet, we can get a lot of the same feel in barefoot shoes.

But not all combat boots fall into a narrow line. I like to stretch the mold a bit and give people the most options, so check out the sections below for 3 segments of barefoot or minimalist shoes that can meet your combat boots desires.

Classic Combat Boots Looks

Peerko Go was my first taste of combat boots in barefoot shoes and they do not disappoint. They have a vintage feel that is classic and goes with anything you can imagine. These are lightly lined and work for most weather without getting too hot. If you’d like to take it up a notch, check out their knee-high sister, Empire, which is available at most of the sites selling Go. Check out the Peerko Go Review, Peerko Brand Feature Page, or Peerko Reviews section on the blog for more information.

Be Lenka * Winter was just revamped this year with a wider sole and improved traction for winter wear. It has a slightly upscale take on classic combat boots look and features a wool lining for winter wear. I don’t have these in person yet, but am waiting on my own pair and excited to try them in person. The chunky look to the sole while still being barefoot is a plus for combat boots cred.

Purchase directly from Be Lenka * and save 5% with code OWBSHOES. Check out the Be Lenka Barefoot Reviews section here on the blog for more on shoes offered by Be Lenka.

Gaucho Ninja is true craftsmanship in barefoot shoes and offers one of the tallest options with the Kombat boot. It’s not cheap, but should last a lifetime. You can purchase these worldwide through Etsy * or from their website. Customization is available through Gaucho Ninja.

Honorable mention: Desert Blaster boots, also available through Etsy * and the Gaucho Ninja website

VIVOBAREFOOT only has this in women’s, but the Gobi Hi II is another option in a desert boot cousin to combat boots. It skews toward the classy side more than classic but I’d feel amiss not including it because so many times this model comes into comparisons with other models on this page. You can get it directly from VIVO * and save 10% with my code OWB10. Check out my VIVO reviews here.

No(N)s offer a very classic look with a full winter lining in their WB model. It’s a sheepskin lining, which feels so good in the winter. There is also a side zip for easy access and a taller look than most of the options in this section.

Horable mention: Check out the BB model for a more Victorian take.

Zaqq Quintic is a very upscale city version of a high-cut/semi-combat boot in barefoot shoes. Many ZAQQ offerings are not particularly wide and it can be difficult to order from them in the US, but they have a very classy look that may work for many people, especially those in the EU. This boot is not warm-lined, so suitable for wear in different weather.

Honorable mention: Qice, which has a more casual look and a warm lining for winter.

The winter Zeus Anthracite from Angles Fashion is lined in synthetic fur and a membrane.

Zlatush makes custom shoes in virtually any variety you can imagine. You give her measurements and she works her magic. This particular model is lined, but she also makes other versions if you don’t want something quite so warm.

GeaSoles are beautiful, handmade, hand-dyed barefoot shoes based on your measurements. I have yet to fully review the Yrsa model I have shared on Instagram, but have nothing but nice things to say about this company. The Knut model is called a semi-boot and can be purchased in any color or combination of colors you like, but in Black it definitely fits in here.

Mocassin-Like Combat Boots Looks

For a less structured feel, you can go with options that are softer and less formal, but with varying degrees of edginess.

Ahinsa Shoes Jaya Bare leads the pack in this soft-and-light barefoot combat boots section. These are vegan and lined for warmth in cooler weather. They are extremely light and flexible on your feet and offer one of the best toeboxes in barefoot shoes. You can check out the full Ahinsa Jaya Bare Review for details and and the Ahinsa section of blog reviews for even more brand info. You can also buy your own pair directly from Ahinsa * and save 10% with my code A10_OWBSHOES *.

Mukishoes Igneous is made of soft and light leather and lined in wool for a warm and toasty winter. It has a side zip for access and has just one tiny (or not so tiny thing) that’s not very combat-boot-esque: a big orange pull tab on the back. I’m sure you could find a way to dye that if it bothers you, but after seeing several barefoot shoes boots either with no pull tab or a tiny, useless one, I’m 100% on #teampulltab.

You can save 10% on Mukishoes Igneous with my code OBSESSEDWITHBAREFOOTSHOES * as long as you can catch your size in stock. Join the waitlist beneath your size if it’s out and be ready for future restocks. For more Muki info, check out my section of Mukishoes Reviews.

Wildling Shoes * (US/CA link to Panther) (International link to Panther) likes boot cuts with their fall seasonal drops, and this year it’s the Panther model, which is more like ninja combat and one step away from full ninja Tabi boots meets jeans, and they’re so comfy to wear. They’re lined, so on the warm side, but also one of the few vegan options available in this area. They’ve already sold out once, so if they’re sold out when you see this, keep an eye out for restocks. Check out my look at Wildlings, including the full Fall 2021 collection, here.

Magical Shoes Alaskan is one of the lightest and most flexible barefoot boots available, and has a dark styling that is fun with different looks. It is shorter than most barefoot boots, but has so much character that you can easily forget that. It is lined in wool for winter, but the overall thinness means it doesn’t overheat you too quickly. Check out the full Magical Shoes Alaskan review for more info, and you can get your own pair directly from Magical Shoes with a 10% discount using my code WENDY.

Technical-Look Combat Boots

This section is a bit of a cross-over, with boots that aren’t expressly designed to be combat boots, but can fill a similar role in your wardrobe. Barefoot shoes aren’t cheap and we’re all about being versatile here. These boots can take you from a hike or hard job and switch around for the day-to-day wear with an edge that you desire.

Softstar Shoes * Switchback is a hiking boot with some fine design chops. The base is an all-black Vibram Mega Grip sole, is lined lightly in wool, and features black leather trim on top of a Superfabric that is slash-, tear-, water-, and just about everything else resistant. It comes with blue and black laces, but I switched mine out for all-black to embrace the look. Check out the full review of Softstar Shoes Switchback here for more details. It launched in the fall of 2021 with a backlog of weeks just to get your hands on a pair. Peek at the review to see why it has garnered so much happy attention. Note: this is the one boot that does actually have a grey dominance, due to the reinforcement added on top of the super fabric.

Bellville Mini Mil is an actual combat boot, and looks like it. On the Belleville site it only shows a Coyote Brown color, but if you’re in the US you can get them in black on Amazon *. These are technically minimalist boots, not barefoot boots, because they have a 2 mm drop, but can not only give you a true combat look, but can also meet legitimate tactical boots need for areas such as law enforcement or military work.

Lems Shoes * brings you 3 deep black options for a bit more work-like look in the barefoot combat shoes boots options: The standard Boulder Boot comes in both a vegan canvas and leather, or the Waterproof Boulder Boot is available in Shadow. Each of these is built on exactly the same sole, but the standard boulder is leather with a fabric lining, while the waterproof version also sports a membrane between the other layers. This means that the waterproof tends to require a higher size to achieve the same interior space. For more information about Lems, check out Lems Reviews section here on the blog, which includes a detailed review of the Mid Cut of the boulder boot.

Groundies Union is a new model in 2021 with a bit of a moccasin look married with a combat boot style, thanks to the stitching and overall construction, which is similar to Lems. It features a side zipper for easy access and visible stitching for detail. The GS1 sole is deep enough for some help with puddles and leather can be waxed for increased water protection. This model is lined in microfiber for increased warmth. For more information about this brand check out the Groundies Reviews section here on the blog.

Honorable mention from Groundies is the Manchester, which is suede and lined in lambswool for an even warmer winter experience. They also have the Berlin, which is a super-classic combat boots look), but it’s out of stock at the time of writing and it’s not clear if it truly will be back.

Want reviews?

Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.

Looking for Winter?

Take a look at this BIG list.

Love color or need a specific type of shoe?

Check out the BIG lists here.