Be Lenka is always innovating new models and expanding their barefoot shoes product lines, and Champ has made a huge splash. The look is great for men or women seeking healthy minimalist footwear with a great style. Personally, I was worried they wouldn’t fit my high volume, wide feet, but the fear was unfounded and you can read on to see how they’ll work for just about anyone after a great pair of barefoot sneakers.
Disclaimer: These shoes were sent to me for review by the US-based retailer PedTerra, but all thoughts are my own. I am an affiliate of both PedTerra and Be Lenka, so if you use links on this page to buy from either company it will cost you nothing extra, but a small portion will be returned to me to support these in-depth reviews.
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Company Information
Be Lenka is one of the best-established, most versatile, and colorful barefoot shoes companies we have. They always have something new on the horizon, and every model comes in a variety of neutral or colorful options for anybody’s taste. You learn more about them here.
PedTerra, which some of you may know by the former name Young Sole Shoes, started out with kids shoes but has expanded to offer numerous women’s shoes options and continues adding new brands all the time to help people in the US get into the best barefoot shoes. I’m a big fan of supporting a small business like this in any way I can, and love that they’ve been offering free shipping and returns on European brands since 2019. This is so helpful in testing the waters with less risk.
Technical Specifications
- Upper: Leather and Textile
- Lining: Textile
- Insole: Leather
- Sole: TPU
- Sizes 33-47 are on pre-order at both Pedterra and Be Lenka‘s sites
Appearance
Vintage cool! Champ brings it in the style department. I’m always a fan of all-white, but they have done an outstanding job here, offering us something that is wide for the feet, and well-designed to look great.
From the everyday stresses:
That’s still not Mom enough, honestly, but definitely close to real life! I need 3 kids swarming around (or missing, with me yelling about us being late), and definitely more stuff in my arms.
They flex well between casual or workout needs (which is a pic I made for the collaboration I do with Bosenogice on Instagram/Facebook – #shoeforeveryfoot, this one coming soon, in case you think I just stand around in my yard with weights):
To my favorite pairing, with a comfy, flowy skater dress:
You can get wear-all-day comfort with a variety of looks. They remind me of the thick-soled white tennis shoes of my youth, but without the big heel drops and pointy toe boxes that are so bad for you.
White is not the limit here, however. The offerings also include black and white, a light brown and white, dark brown and white, (all of those also offered by PedTerra) and a blue, grey, and white space model, and other specialty models like the colors of the German flag, or a red-white-and-blue (UK or US can rock that one!) available on Be Lenka‘s site.
Fit
I’ve had a lot of Be Lenka in my time in barefoot shoes, and Champ is definitely the most spacious you can get from them. I’d rank the width as Champ > Prime > City > Icon (which I gave up as just too restrictive/low volume for my particular feet).
It helps that they have a soft, comfortable upper that doesn’t restrict your feet, and probably expands more than the leathers used in the other models. It looks extra wide here because the upper is padded and thicker than the red Prime model and the Turquoise City, which is reviewed here.
Sizing
Be Lenka is great with their sizing chart and, so far, I have yet to find a model that doesn’t match it (winter models with lining may be a different story, due to the extra material). You should measure your feet, add the extra space for good big toe movement, and compare to the chart.
However, do pay attention to the shape of the sole here. My foot, as an example, has a more rounded shape in the toes, which means that in Be Lenka I have all the space I need for my big toes (yay!) but my outer toes only have a few mms.
Additionally, people will a much longer second toe than big toe may find that their second toe hits the end when they walk, and that the Be Lenka shape doesn’t work for them.
How do they feel?
Can I just say lovely? I’m guessing that won’t fly as a real answer, but that’s how I feel about them. While other models from Be Lenka, like the 2 above, are very structured and feel like regular leather shoes, these are are softer. They’ve done a great job with the design of incorporating padding into the upper at just the right spots so that your foot feels hugged, but not cushioned in a way that negatively impacts your movement (as with a lot of insole cushion). They’re enjoyable to wear.
They don’t feel like they have any padding under the insole, though, which is glued down. Some Be Lenka models have a thin Ortholite under a layer you see (that’s a really common insole foam) but this one is different in that the same material that lines the sides, a cloth mesh, extends down under a single layer of leather. I find this great, as I don’t like any extra cushion, but if you like cushion you may want to add your own.
The toe box is also higher than the other models, and with the softer upper, more flexible. No worries about it feeling tight or restrictive.
The sole is thin at 4mm, but more firm than others. This gives you great durability, and still plenty of flexibility, but it does reduce the ground feel somewhat.
Stellar Hightops
While Champ looks cool on its own, if you want to go even cooler, check out the Stellar Be Lenka high-top model.
They fit well enough I can wear them without even fully lacing them as a slip-on, but for the sticklers out there, here’s what they look like properly laced:
In that picture, you can see some effects from walking through wet grass, showing how quickly they pick up the moisture. If you expect to do this a lot, maybe check out a protectant like Otter Wax. There are options on this page.
Style-wise, it’s definitely casual:
Fit-wise, they bring the same comfort as you get with other Be Lenka models. High-tops are always a little more difficult to get on for those of us with higher volume feet, but they fit very well and will work for a variety of volumes but probably not the highest-volume men, as that seems to be a much higher level of ‘high volume’ than what it means for women.
They are also fully flexible, including sideways or rolls, and have a generous toe box but a distinctive bean shape (that Be Lenka is starting to replace):
The styling is a dupe of Nike Dunks and for additional styling choices, which I’ll be experimenting with as I really like these, Google that model. You could go really, really casual like this, or a little more up-town with a faux hoodie sweater or other option.
I sized up in these by 1 versus Champ, expecting a huge internal length of 29 cm and lots of sock room, but they come up short in my 44s against the chart. Be Lenka jumps from unisex sizing to all men’s at that point, so I expect it’s just something unique about the higher sizes and lower sizes should find them virtually the same as the sizing chart. My sole length jumps as expected, but the internal space doesn’t jump quite as much.
They feel great inside with a nice fabric liner and so far I’m wearing them entirely sockless with no sweating. There is also a removable insole, but I like keeping it in for Be Lenka shoes as the midsole+firm sole can feel a bit hard under the feet otherwise.
Cleaning and Care
Be Lenka comes with an extensive care guide that can’t be beat. You’ll get it in your package, and you can download it from their website. Being leather, you can treat these, but the front of the upper has holes so you’re not going to get any kind of actual waterproofing. However, protectant is good for leather itself, and it can protect your shoes from stains, so even without waterproofing as a goal, it’s helpful to treat your shoes. Some product options are here.
Leather is generally easy to wipe off, and dry material can be brushed away. Please don’t machine wash or dry any shoes unless a company specifically says it’s okay.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
If you’re in the US, check out PedTerra first. Shipping is free, returns are free if the size doesn’t work out, and you can save 10% if it’s your first time, using my code affiliate OWBSHOES. If you use this link, the discount is automatically applied to your cart.
If you’re in the rest of the world, you can get alllll the models directly from Be Lenka. You can save 5% here with the non-affiliate code OWBSHOES. Returns for 14 countries are free, other EU countries accepted, but you cannot return them from outside the EU. Full return policies are here. People outside the EU can request VAT removal using the notes field before completing final payment.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t think I would be able to wear them.
PedTerra gave me a chance to try them.
I love them.
How’s that for a barefoot shoes story with a happy ending?
But since I have to just keep talking (it’s my nature, y’all) I’ll say that Be Lenka has done an amazing job with this model. I loved it immediately. It’s a classic sneaker/trainer look but HEALTHY! Feet can be feet, while looking just like the shoes we’ve loved for years. I feel the call of sweat shirts, leggings, and Champ as my casual Mom Uniform of choice, but love that they can look so much cooler, 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.
