Ordering custom barefoot shoes can be a really daunting experience. It’s kind of nice having companies just present an offering, you pick your size, and you receive a standardized pair.
But is that the best thing for you?
Custom shoes are a niche offering that can give you a barefoot feeling like no other. With the custom experience, you can have things exactly (or almost) the way you want and get the right volume, width, and toe space perfectly aligned with your needs.
I watched for months over late 2019 and early 2020 as new order windows opened with The Drifter Leather, and then quickly closed again. I was intimidated. But you don’t have to be. Take a look below for a window into the process and how you can get your dream shoes too.
Picking Out the Model
I thought my first order with Drifter would be a pair of flats, such as Grace or Passion, but over the summer, as I was building this blog, I started to think about fall and realized that a great slouchy boot would really fit the bill and zeroed in on this Slouchy Boot option.
Drifter has the option for you to pick custom leather choices, including using veg-tanned leather, but they also frequently standardize some model and leather combinations, and this is one of them. With this lovely suede available, I did not make any custom selections in materials with my purchase.
Communicating with Drifter
To ease the tension about placing an order, I decided to communicate with Drifter in advance of an order window. I reached out via their online contact form, explained that I’m completely new to this process, but very interested and ready to get any information they needed.
The thing about Drifter is that they have done this many times, so they have a really clear process already in place. They sent me detailed information about obtaining tracings, what they could do about sizing, customizing volume, changing the foot-bed, and more.
Throughout this process, they were also clear about what they couldn’t do, such as change the opening in the shaft of my boots, but they did have the relevant measurements that would determine if this would still work, and told me that they believed I would be okay.
For more about my experience, you can read this earlier post.
Finding (and not missing) an Order Window
To actually purchase from The Drifter Leather, you need to find an open ordering window. To do this, sign up for their emails and/or follow them on Instagram. In both cases, they give a few days warning that an order window is about to open. If this sounds like some mysterious, better-jump-on-it process, you’re right: it is. These windows open at very specific times and close in just an hour or two when the allotted number of slots have been claimed. In-between these windows, if you go to their site, you will see Booked notices on all the models.
Waiting
Once you get past these steps, the hardest part is honestly waiting! They will connect with you to get any additional information or clarify points, and then confirm when they have everything they need to begin your shoes. This was 6 days after I placed my order, but would likely be longer if you wait until after purchasing to start getting them measurements.
Then you wait. The order shipped 30 days later, and then took another 3 weeks to arrive in the US.
What to Expect While Expecting Your Shoes
The shoes come in an elegantly labeled box with the Drifter logo, protective (and stylish) papering, and a brief care guide. I only have a really basic picture from receiving them because I was a teeny bit nervous about opening them. As long as they stayed in the box they were Schrödinger’s Boots.
But I need not have worried. Everything came out perfectly. Read on for all the details.
Technical Specifications of the Slouchy Boots
- Available by default in Black Suede and Soft Matte Cognac
- Zero-drop insole with no arch support
- Soft cushion of 1 mm
- Leather insole
- 6 mm highly flexible Vibram rubber outsole
- Adjustable strap for those with thin ankles
- Can be worn up or down
Appearance
The leather on these is soft, as you’d expect, and feels nice and thick. It catches the light of whatever is around it to a degree, making them a little challenging to photograph.
They wear beautifully with anything – jeans, leggings, tights, dresses, and whatever else you like. I have paired them with animal prints, neutral outfits, bring colors, and leggings + sweat shirts. They can dress up or down depending on your mood.
Sizing and Fit
You can technically tell Drifter that you want a standard size, but where’s the fun in that? Through the process, you can customize both the upper and the footbed or just 1. I did both and my toes, instep, and everything else benefits from the results.
Breaking In
Since these are custom, there is no need for stretching anywhere, but sometimes a certain spot can rub for whatever reason. There is one place on the back of my right heel that’s required me wearing a little moleskin patch (as I’ve done with some standard shoes) but otherwise they are completely ready to go right out of the box.
How do they feel?
Soft and lovely, with a dreamy-wide toebox. You can see it from above, but from the side they look entirely like any other pair of extra-nice slouchy boots.
Cleaning and Protecting Your Investment
It’s best to protect something like this right out of the box if you can. Nikwax, Kiwi, and others all make suede-specific sprays. Do not wax or cream suede. You can see product options plus notes on which shoes I’ve used different ones here.
Returns
I have not personally experienced this, but Drifter does accept returns. Hopefully, you won’t get to this point, but if you do you should reach out to them and try to assess why, if a problem can be fixed, and how to handle it. As far as I understand, they handle each situation on a case-by-case basis and do not have a standard approach. Check out their Policies page for more information and their FAQ for additional guidelines.
Company Information
The Drifter Leather is a family-owned business located in Pilea, Thessaloniki, Greece. They have a long heritage in the shoe business and make all orders by hand. They focus on comfort, sustainability, and ultimate barefoot experiences.
Check out more about the company and philosophy here.
Final thoughts:
I was nervous about my purchase but am very happy with the results and I love wearing my boots. I’ll be back to order again from Drifter and have already sent them a fresh set of questions.
If you have any questions for me, drop a comment here or come join the discussion on Instagram or Facebook. All the available reviews are here, BIG lists (like color, seasons, and types of shoes) are here, and discounts are here.
