If you love good barefoot shoes, have you checked out Freet? They are one of the stand-out brands with solid designs AND vegan construction. These shoes are easy to wear and maintain, and offer extra bonuses such as above-and-beyond water resistance and a wipe-able upper.
We bought these shoes for my 2 oldest kids at a discount in exchange for review, but all thoughts are from me, and the kids wearing them. You can get your own here, and a 10% discount with the affiliate code WY-10.
Sections
Technical Specifications
- 100% vegan
- Sole: ‘GripPlus’ performance outsole
- Lining: Water-resistant, hydrophobic microfibre (different type from outer material)
- Upper: Quick-drying, hydrophobic microfibre
- Sizes: 37-48, with smaller sizes down to 35 available in the Junior section
- $150 for US customers without discount
Appearance
Since these aren’t mine and my kids still really don’t know what style is, I don’t have pics in them. Style them similar to any hiking type boots. The vegan material is a nice deep black with a pebbled-leather texture and will go with a lot of clothing options. The front toe protection where it comes up over the tip of the upper is distinctive of the brand and gives them a more casual and outdoor look that will work great with anything from jeans to sweats to leggings.
The shoes are available in both brown and black to suit your particular tastes and the soles coordinate with the uppers.
Fit
The fit on Freet shoes does vary, but these are wide and generous in the uppers. They are great for those with very thick feet, sometimes called ‘bread’ feet, but can also be cinched down a lot if you are particularly flat in presentation. A model like Citee will go even more voluminous in the upper, but is not going to be appropriate for rugged use like these.
Sizing
Freet includes measurements of both length and width on their site, which is always helpful. They do run small by measurements, though, so be sure to check that information. You will most likely be 1 size above your normal in these shoes.
Here is the information provided and my one wish is that they would format it into a table so it is easier to read. But the information is all there.
The shape of the toebox is rounded for a generous fit.
Breaking In
They are nicely padded shoes but not excessively stiff. You will notice some creasing over time very much like leather, but the material itself maintains it’s texture and similar flexibility. The kids have not had any problems with particular spots feeling uncomfortable.
Water Experiences
Freet lists these shoes as water resistant, but we have found them to be waterproof. The limitation here, though, is that you cannot go over the point where the tongue is gusseted (sewn) to the upper. If you are in moderate water below that, your feet should stay dry. Top the limit, though, and water will be inside. Completely normal, but since the shoes are ankle boots I don’t want you thinking you’ll be able to go in quite that deep.
The tongue is fully attached at this point:
How do they feel?
They are not the warmest shoes in the world. I say that up front because my kids have been wearing them recently in the snow, where their feet stayed dry, but not particularly toasty. We used snow bibs with a double layer construction to keep snow out of the top of the shoes and had no problems there. But, if you think, you’ll spend a lot of time in really cold environments, consider sizing up so you can add an extra warm insole and/or thick socks.
They are highly flexible and with only 7 mm between you and the ground (unless you sprint for an optional thicker insole or RockPlate) you have great barefoot feeling.
They are very easy to put on and off with the speed hooks. I do recommend knotting the laces, however, as they are prone to slipping undone.
The kids have found them great for everything but ice, where they can become a bit slippery. No one has fallen, but they took some extra care when our snow became ice.
Cleaning and Care
Many stains will wipe or brush right off the vegan material, which has been some of the easiest to care for that we’ve seen. You can give it a deeper clean with handwashing, but should not use a machine to wash or dry. Let them air dry and they’ll be good to go again quickly. You can also condition these to help maintain their water resistance.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
The shoes are available directly from Freet in brown and black and you can save 10% with the WY-10. Shipping is via DHL, which is generally fast and reliable. Returns are accepted but you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. You can see their full policies here.
Company Information
Freet is dedicated to barefoot shoes, good business ethics, and continuous improvement. They also support charities such as Shoe Aid with free pairs for those in need. You can find their full company information here.
Final Thoughts
I expected my kids would be getting great shoes for winter, and have not been disappointed. I think we would have to use something else if we were in a northern climate with persistently cold temperatures and snow, but with our moderate winter they have performed very well and, being unlined, will continue to serve us well in the wet spring or on any excursions. My middle son has already been muddy creek wading in them and will keep putting them through their paces.
Want more reviews?
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