Everybody knows Earth Runners, right? If you’re into barefoot shoes / minimalist footwear for half a second, these crop up. I’ve had about an 18-month journey with Earth Runners now, and this review is going to cover all 3 footbeds, and multiple lacing options.
Disclaimer: I bought every pair myself, but I am an affiliate so if you use links on this page to visit Earth Runners or the discount code OWB a small portion will be returned to me. But, you get a discount in the process with that code, making these some of the most accessible, affordable sandals available.
Sections
Technical Specifications
- Laces: Lifestyle and Performance
- Footbed: None or Cotton, depending on model
- Sole: Vibram
- Stack height: 8 mm (Elemental), 9 mm (Circadian), or 12 mm (Alpha)
- Vegan
- Range of colors for laces
- Grounding
Company
Earth Runners started in 2012 and has undergone a lot of evolutions over the years. They always focused on grounding, but they refined their methods, improved their construction, and settled on the current iteration in 2018, with Performance laces joining their line-up in 2019. Read all about their people, where they work, how they test, and their history via the Our Story link at the top of their site.
Explaining Footbeds and Laces
I don’t know about you, but when I first heard of Earth Runners, I was really confused about their laces, footbeds, and naming conventions. So here is my take for you:
First, there are 3 footbeds:
The thickest, on the left, is Alpha. You can access it via Alpha Adventure (Performance laces) or Alpha Lifestyle (Lifestyle laces).
The middle is Circadian, which has the same cotton footbed, but a thinner Vibram sole and is similarly accessed via the Adventure and Lifestyle sections.
On the right is Elemental, which has the same Vibram sole, but no cotton footbed, and is also accessible via the Adventure and Lifestyle sections based on which lacing you want.
Here are all 3 from the bottom:
Here are all 3 from above:
But the order is reversed with Elemental on the left, Circadian in the middle, and Alpha on the right. All are set with the instep strap at the outside for a wider heel, but they will default to using that empty hole you see.
As for laces, there are Performance, and Lifestyle, and here is a comparison of the black in both, with Performance on the left and Lifestyle on the right. They are constructed differently and the Performance is more robust, especially at the edges.
Now, within that, though, there can still be variation. Take this look at 3 different Lifestyle options, which range in thickness and robustness themselves, even as they are constructed in the Lifestyle style. It’s down to the different materials used.
The left is the thinnest/most narrow and drapes around you more closely. The black is an average thickness (yeah it looks a little grey here, but I promise it’s black). The Sunset is wider than Performance, but not as thick.
Appearance
I like a lot of different barefoot/minimalist sandals for a lot of different reasons, but these nail it on the looks department. They look like they belong on feet. Not like they’re extra, but just an extension of feet. They work with you, both mechanically, and aesthetically.
Search the internet for Earth Runners pics and you’ll find a million in gorgeous, wild locations. I am a country mom who works from home and homeschools and that’s not my season of life, so here’s the mom version of what they look like:
The above is normal, everyday wear. Yeah, you can run or hike in Earth Runners, but you can just live your life too.
However, you can dress them up too. I love this colorful look with the Sunset Lifestyle laces:
I will always and forever advocate that you have All. The. Fun. with your shoes. Black laces would dress up great with your outfits too.
And yes, if you’re new to me: I have hair loss and wear a wig – when I want to.
Fit
Earth Runners sandals are nice and wide and offer 2 ways to lace the heel to accommodate both narrow and wide heels. The front is very generous and I have 11.5 cm of width in my 9.5 men’s / 11.5 women’s.
The straps are adjustable at multiple points, and they work great for different volumes. If you’re especially high volume and you’re going with one of the thicker soles, especially Alpha, you may need to request extra strap length, which is very easy to do simply by replying to your order confirmation email with the request.
Some people get theirs, make a few adjustments, put them on, and live happily ever after. Many people do not, and this can be due to their feet, the laces chosen (thicker is stiffer), or, in my case, the sizing, but more about that below.
If you’re having trouble with fit and/or comfort, Earth Runners is incredibly helpful. They’ve already prepared diagrams, lacing tips, and videos, all accessible through their FAQ.
I’ve personally tried just about everything in the world in my old pair, even sewing the laces into a taco-like fold, which takes the pressure off the 2nd toe, but doesn’t eliminate pressure entirely. In my size up, I’ve only had a little heel slippage to deal with, which I’ve solved using their simple but highly effective method of moving the buckle back further on the heel strap so it changes the angle of the connections and keeps the strap higher and tighter.
Sizing
Earth Runners recommends a snug fit on their sandals. If you’re following recommendations in closed-toed shoes to give yourself adequate big toe space, that likely means your size in these sandals will be smaller. And every sandals company seems to compare Men’s and Women’s sizes differently. in Earth Runners I’m in my exact women’s size, but 1/2 to 1 size below my typical men’s sizes.
Use the chart or the printable templates, accessible via Sizing at the top of their site. It’s always the best strategy anyway. Measuring tips on this page, if you’ve not done it before.
I started out in a 9 men’s, with 10 men’s being my typical closed-toed shoes. Maybe I was too small to begin with, or maybe my feet changed (it happens a lot with barefoot shoes!) but eventually sized up 1/2 a size and am thrilled with the choice.
Do you need to size up too? Here is my experience with a too-small size:
When I was in the 9s, I struggled constantly with pain on my 2nd toe, no matter how much I adjusted the laces. It never went away. I delved into working the laces, soaking the laces, and even sewing the laces. It never stopped, and even started to feel like my big toe was being pulled in because, as it turns out, the toe post hole was partially under my foot instead of in front of it. If any of that sounds familiar, maybe you should recheck your size too.
My experience sizing up 1/2 a size:
Instantly, the straps were fine. After, I only felt that initial stiffness they mention, not rip-them-off pain. I adjusted for comfort and let them break in naturally with no special/crazy efforts. Plus, my big toe no longer feels like it’s reactively pulling toward the other toes either.
On the flip side of this, if your shoes are too big, it may make it more likely that the heel will slip. I never experienced that with my previous size, but did on my smaller foot after sizing up. However, the trick to move the buckle back has eliminated that too and it’s nothing but smooth sailing now.
How do they feel?
Whatever footbed you pick, the shoes are very flexible, but the flexibility does drop the higher you go up the scale:
As does groundfeel:
The texturing (or lack of) on the footbed also changes the feel. Because these are grounding sandals, they can easily wick up water from wet grass through the straps, making it likely you will experience wet feet at some point. There are pros and cons to the cotton footbed/no cotton approaches. If you have cotton, you will have more traction when wet, but they will take longer to dry. Conversely, the Elemental footbed dries quickly, but does allow your foot to slide more, and can be slippery on hills.
I prefer the feedback of the textured footbed to the completely smooth Elementals, but do love the all-black look and thinner feel. If they ever come out with a version that has that super-thin, all-black look, but a bit of stimulating texture, I’m all-in.
Obviously, as open sandals like this, they’re going to be best for warm weather, but Earth Runners sells wool Tabi socks for cooler weather (check out the details on them here) and I’ve worn them plenty with my own colorful toe socks. Here’s a Tabi/toe socks comparison:
The Tabi are these and the toe socks are these.
Cleaning and Care
The FAQ covers this well, but I find nothing really sticks to the Elemental footbed and you can pretty much scrub/wipe/rinse it off. The cotton has texture and therefore is more likely to hold on to whatever gets on it. A hose (not power washer), some light soap, and possibly a scrub brush for stubborn stains should refresh your Earth Runners nicely. They should not be left in the sun for a long time nor machine washed or dried.
Changing out laces is super easy, but I highly recommend you spring for the $4 pliers they offer. Typical tool pliers are too bulky, and even craft pliers do not perform as well as the extended-point one offered by Earth Runners under Shop > Extra Buckles and Laces.
Purchasing and Returns
Earth Runners are purchased directly from their site and you can save 10% with my code OWB. Before discount, the shoes range from $73-$93, depending on the footbed and lacing you choose.
Returns are accepted on sandals in like-new condition within 30 days. They do provide a prepaid return label and deduct $5 from your refund for that service.
They also ship internationally via DDP service.
Final thoughts
It took me a long time to review these because I was on the struggle bus. I set out to do it anyway, because these are important shoes in the arena of barefoot shoes, and I was unsure where that would lead. But, with a size up, I’m thrilled with them. I now fully see what everyone loves about them and am delighted to finally have the same experience. They live up to the hype.
My favorite model: Circadian Lifestyle. The footbed is balanced with a good thickness and has the texture I like, and the laces are perfectly comfortable. I can happily wear any of them, but these are the ones I grab for first.
Want more reviews?
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