I’ve had my Mukishoes Cloud Canvas for 10 months now. They are my most worn, most loved, and most versatile barefoot shoe. Check out this review to learn about sizing, fitting, breaking in, and enjoying your own pair. If you decide to get your own, the code OWBMUKI will get you 10% off your purchase.
Note: I wear these shoes often. They get dirty. Sorry for the grass stains, leaves, and other additions in my pictures, but these shoes are lived in.
Technical specifications:
- 100% vegan
- Upper: organic cotton canvas
- Lining: 70% recycled cotton 30% organic cotton
- Sole: recycled rubber, 3.5 mm thick (this has since been updated to natural rubber, like what’s on the Plum model, reviewed here)
- 95 Euros, standard pricing
Note 2: this model shares design and construction with Onyx (black) and Obsidian (grey), and there are high-tops of those 2 models, as well. Cloud itself also comes in a leather version.
Appearance:
If you want a casual sneaker that doesn’t look ‘too’ barefoot, you’re in luck. These can fill the gap for more traditional looks like Keds really well. Being white, they go with basically anything – from shorts and leggings, to jeans, and even casual dresses like Skater looks. I’ve worn them with basically everything and I think they work well with pretty much any age, as well.
Fit:
These are some of the most high-volume shoes available on the market, which endears me greatly, but this does mean that if you love the style and are low volume you will need to be prepared to use insoles and/or felt to improve your fit. This can reduce ground feel and add a small amount weight, but you may be used to doing this already. I have the opposite problem with my feet, as there is not much I can do to make a shoe that’s too small around fit, so I’m glad shoes like this exist.
Curious about what volume you are? The most basic way to assess is to think about your past experiences with shoes. Do you normally feel like it’s hard to get you feet in shoes even when they are the right length, or get them closed even when they do fit in width? You’re probably higher volume. On the other hand, if you often find you are ‘swimming’ in shoes and need to lace them really tightly, you’re probably low-volume.
For a detailed technical explanation, check here.
Sizing:
Mukishoes uses the same lasts to make all their shoes, but they use some very different materials, and this can alter the fit. I find that I wear Sand, Sol/Storm, and Basil/Thyme in my typical closed-toed size of 43, but this one in 44 with basically the same internal length. However, my choice to size up does increase the already generous volume even more. I would not recommend sizing up if you’re low volume, unless you plan to wear a lot of socks and other fit-assisting materials. For the record, I’m fine wearing these around with no socks (as I am in every picture on this review), even sized up, but I have enough volume at my disposal in my 44s to wear 2 pairs of socks in the winter. In my other models, I can only comfortably wear one pair of socks.
Breaking in:
These are made with a thick, sturdy canvas, and there are 2 points that may need breaking in, depending on your foot. I can reasonably say it’s related to the thickness of the material, because I haven’t had the same adjustment period with any other model.
First, the heel can feel rough. I solved this by applying cotton moleskin stickers to my heel for a few wears. This area of the shoe needs to soften a bit and then you won’t notice it.
Second, the place where the shoe bends over your big toe joint can push in hard at first. I promise this does soften, but it takes a few more wears than the heel.
I’d imagine, but didn’t do this, that you can speed both processes along by ‘working’ the shoes a bit with your hands.
How do they feel?
Mukishoes are very light and extremely flexible. They leave your feet unrestricted and the thin sole gives you lots of ground feel. There’s not a lot of texture there, so they may be slippery on ice, but in dry conditions I’ve walked on pretty much everything, including a big boulder, and been fine. I also took them briefly out in snow last year, but brrr! They are a go-to shoe for me in rainy conditions, since the molded sole comes up the side and gives you some level of puddle protection.
Cleaning:
Many basic stains can be brushed off, while deeper ones may require spot treatment or a gentle handwashing. These shoes should not be put in the washer or dryer. I find that nothing lasts very long on the sole, and don’t worry about it.
Shipping and Returns:
Shipping is via DHL Express and costs 16 Euros for international shipments, less within Portugal and the EU.
You can return these if they don’t fit, but you need to fill out an online form and, if you’re outside the EU, wait to hear back before you ship them. You will be responsible for the return shipping costs. If you are simply after a different size, you will need to place a different order.
Their full polices can be found on this page.
Company Philosophy:
I highly recommend you read it for yourself here. They’re very dedicated to giving everyone healthy shoes, in a sustainable way. They look for local materials, safe pigments, and environmentally-friendly practices. They also have numerous vegan models, like this one.
Final thoughts:
Unless your feet are extremely low-volume or extra wide at the toes/forefoot, Mukishoes are a brand I highly recommend. The flexibility, the look, the materials used, and the company’s desire to minimize waste through their production processes are all plusses to me. And I love to wear the shoes so much that I have purchased Onyx and numerous other pairs made with different materials, which I look forward to reviewing in the future.
Follow this link to get your own Mukishoes Cloud Canvas and remember the OWBMUKI code to get your discount.
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.