There’s something extra cool about hightop shoes, and even moreso when they are foot healthy barefoot shoes. Feelgrounds has the style and the qualities of the minimalist shoes you need. Are they right for you? Read on.
Disclaimer: I have an all-black pair of Feelgrounds Highrise with the new sole shape/wider toe box that was sent to me for review and features here. I also have a limited edition pink pair of the same model that I purchased myself. All thoughts are my own and if you use one of my affiliate links on the blog to make a purchase then you are supporting reviews like this and it is appreciated.
Check out all my Feelgrounds reviews here.
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Company Information
Feelgrounds was founded in 2019 and has continued to drive forward in barefoot shoes. They have a fun energy, cool look, and focus on continuous improvement that endears many. You can read about them and their team here.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Highrise Knit – All Black
- Upper and Main Lining: Recycled PET
- Heel Lining: Microfiber
- Sole: Recyclable TPE
- Sizes: EU 35-49
- Colors – 6 base colors plus special edition white and pink in limited sizes
- Vegan
Appearance
Hightops aren’t for everyone or every wardrobe like low tops, but I’m a huge fan of the style in general. Feelgrounds Highrise, in particular, is one of the easiest to adopt because it’s unassuming, yet stylish. The close weave of the Knit doesn’t draw attention to the fabric and the color choices that you make determine your look.
Whether it’s all black with an unassuming look:
Or something more direct, such as the ltd. edition pink here.
Here too is a picture of my black and white in the previous version. This colorway is still available, but the detailing now aligns with what you see above.
You can get monotone, contrasting soles, and color. I’d like them to do even more color options in the future, like a blue. Right now it’s neutral, Olive, or contrasting gum soles when you look at the base colors, which absolutely fit their urban, cool aesthetic. A girl can dream, though.
Fit
The fit on Feelgrounds Highrise is wide and allows for great splay for most, though wearers with very squared-off or bean-shaped feet may run out of room at either the outer toes or big toe at the ends of the spectrum. My bean shape and gentle slope are doing well, though, without restriction.
They also work for a variety of insteps, from low to high, though you can tell that they are designed for average/medium insteps and ankles.
Because the fabric is so flexible, the heel works a variety of widths as well, whether narrow or wide.
Because of the wider shape now and the softness of the material, lower volume wearers may find there is extra space at the front of the shoe and need to consider either an insole or felt pads to take up some of the space.
Sizing
Most people will find that their normal EU size is correct here. I do recommend that you verify this by measuring your feet, checking the chart below, and adding extra space for big toe movement, and do find that the chart is accurate.
I love that Feelgrounds is this exhaustive in their sizing. It’s rare, and much-needed information for every brand to do something this clear and effective. I also find that size 43, at least, converts perfectly between US, UK, and EU sizes, which is also a relief. They’ve taken care here, and it shows.
Note: If you had this model before the update and you had to size up, you can most likely size down to your normal size now.
How do they feel?
They are warm, light, and very flexible with no break-in period. I always say that, and most barefoot shoes have no break-in, which should be the default – it’s one of the many falsehoods of conventional shoes, that it’s ‘normal’ to sacrifice your feet to break in your shoes. Other than soft leathers, it’s not.
They’re completely flexible, as you expect with barefoot shoes, in roll:
And side squish (meaning there’s no form of stiffener here):
I didn’t get a picture, but they’re also fully squishable from both sides of the sole wall as well.
And the sole shape is a good fit for a variety of foot shapes. I have a mid-range slope, allowing me to fit in many types of shoes. Those with especially narrow feet may find them too wide, but I’m personally thrilled, as are most people I’ve talked to.
Because they are warm, people who have feet with a tendency to sweat will probably want to wear socks.
What changed in the update?
From the earlier Highrise version, Feelgrounds changed the toebox shape and width (improvements at both the inner and outer edges), and made subtle design updates such as the larger-looking ‘wall’ on the outer sole that enhance the look. It’s all about improvements, and they nailed them.
The new sole feels a little more dense than the previous, giving them medium ground feel.
Lastly, the fabric is not quite as soft as before, but are still on the softer end of the spectrum.
Cleaning and Care
The Knit fabric from Feelgrounds includes a water repellant treatment that does need to be renewed over time. They should not be machine washed or dried, but instead brushed with a soft brush and at most hand washed with a mild soap. By contrast, the mesh material on other models can be machine washed.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
Feelgrounds is very thorough with their Shipping and Returns information and you can access it from any product page at the bottom to see exact rates.
Normal price of this model is $129 USD with a black Friday sale dropping it down to $116.10, this week only, and other Highrise models as low as $90.30. Normal shipping takes up to 2 weeks and expedited/trackable shipping is available.
Final Thoughts
I reviewed the earlier version in the past and enjoyed it a lot, but had to size up to get enough space and I love that that’s no longer the case as they’ve brought them more in line with optimal principles. The wider toe box and subtle improvements in both fit and style are big plusses in my book, and keep Feelgrounds at the top of the barefoot shoes hightops game, and are precisely why I went back and bought pink too.
Want more reviews?
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