I’ve had a lot of different barefoot shoes on my feet this year, and below you will find my top minimalist footwear options for all of 2020, with a few honorable mentions added in because there are too many good options to stop!
Want more? Check out the lists compiled by Katja from Bose Nogice and Alex from The Barefoot Shoe Review for more top barefoot shoes.
If you’re interested learning more about any of the Top 10s, follow their review links for more information, including some smart discounts.
Bedrock Sandals
We love these so much here that my everyone by my youngest has a pair (he’s below their minimum or he’d have them too), and we’ve filled in the missing sizes with smart buys so the kids can grow up wearing them at every size. They are so easy to wear with their smart strapping system, highly flexible, and super secure for any outdoor adventure. I purposely pick them in the city as well when I know there will be a downpour because they will dry so quickly.
Technical Specs of the sandals:
- Bedrock Sandals Cairn Model
- Vibram sole
- 14 mm stack height
- 3/4 inch wide strap system
- 3 adjustment points
You can check out my full review here.
Bohempia Kolda
These super-wide canvas sneakers are are staple in my wardrobe. They come in 9 colors, 2 widths, and have a little bit of cushion when you need it. I wear them with everything, even my Halloween costume.
- Upper: 100% hemp canvas
- Insole: molded PU
- Outsole: natural rubber
You can check out my full review here.
Earthrunners
These are one of the best all-around barefoot sandals and come in 3 footbeds and 2 different lacing systems. They look great with dresses, shorts, pants, at the beach, on the trails, in the city… anywhere you might go. I have recently expanded my collection to include a second footbed and look forward to sharing more soon.
- Model: Circadian Adventure with Khaki laces
- Sole: 7.5mm Vibram with 1.5mm tread
- Foodbed: cotton canvas
You can check out my mini review here, and I will complete a detailed review in the Spring.
Groundies Odessa
These zippered Groundies Odessa boots are so easy to wear. They work great with my wide calves and are structured to hold their shape. They come in 3 colors, but I’m particularly fond of this one that goes with everything. They are light, flexible, and very barefoot-feeling.
- Upper: 100% cowhide suede
- Outsole: LTPU 3.3mm base with 3mm tread
You can check out my full review here.
Lisbeth Joe
With these Harare Flats from Lisbeth Joe I am comfortable and feel stylish, which is a great combination to add on top of the healthy footwear benefits. The straps are removable to change up the look and the style smart to look less wide than it really is.
- Sole: Custom rubber-stamped with logo, 4 mm thick
- Insole: Leather
- Upper: Nubuck
You can check out my full review here.
Mukishoes Chelsea
Mukishoes jumped into a completely new arena with their Chelsea model, and I love it! It’s super lightweight and barefoot, easy to wear, highly water-resistant (you just need to care for the seams), and goes so well with a variety of outfits.
- 100% vegan
- Sole: 100% natural rubber
- Lining: Organic Cotton Flannel
- Upper: Cork leather, colored black
You can check out my full review here.
Peerko Go
Peerko has been moving from one success to another, first with their canvas models, then leather low-cuts, and onto a hat trick of great boots. I love the Go boots for their versatility, well-designed upper, and zippered construction making them easy on and easy off.
- Model: Go – Black (5 total color options)
- Upper: High-quality smooth leather
- Lining: Synthetic Fleece with 10% wool
- Insole: Same material as lining, separate piece attached to midsole
- Sole: 3.5 mm recyclable thermoplastic rubber with 1.5 mm profile
You can check out my full review here.
Softstar Primal Merry Jane
Softstar has been a good bet in barefoot shoes for a long time, and this year they upped their game with the new Primal Merry Jane offering. These shoes are dreamy-wide and at the top of charts when it comes to barefoot feeling. They come in brown, red, and purple, and I hope to see even more leather options in the future.
- 2 mm Vibram sole
- Handmade leather upper
- Comes in narrow (regular/wide fit) and regular (extra wide fit)
I will complete a full review of these in the spring and they currently feature on my Purple Barefoot Shoes list.
Wildling Wombat
This is my first pair of winter shoes from Wildling and I have been impressed with their warmth. I never imagined I could have such a light pair of shoes in deep cold, even snow, and feel so comfortable. The inclusion of a membrane in-between double-layer wool means I have a lot of protection from the elements.
- Upper of 100% virgin wool
- Integrated polyester membrane (for waterproofing)
- Lined in felted wool from Nordwolle
- Edging of 100% polyamide microfiber
- Outsole of 80% synthetic rubber with 50% recycled content, 20% cork. 2.5 mm thick from sizes 36–41 and 3.5 mm thick from sizes 42–48
You can check out my full review here.
Xero Shoes Alpine
These are designed to be snow boots and they live up to the promise. I find them warm, waterproof, and comfortable, as well as stylish and easy to wear. They do not disappoint in winter and I’m glad to have them when the snow starts falling.
- 5.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole
- Luggy tread for extra traction
- Removable 2mm heat-reflective insole
- 200g insulation, rated to -25°/-32°C
- Fully seam-sealed inner bootie and a water-resistant membrane
- 100% vegan-friendly materials
These feature high on my Winter Barefoot Shoes list and I will have a full review of them soon.
I really can’t stop there, though, so here are a few of my honorable mentions:
| Be Lenka Eazy – I wasn’t able to keep these, but the classic lines and construction make them an excellent slip-on for anyone with medium/low insteps. Full review here. |
| Feelgrounds Everything – Seriously. I love all their shoes, have reviewed the Highrise here, and will be reviewing every model in the next few months, including the winter Patrol that you can read about on the Winter list. |
| Freet Mudee – Great boots for big kids and adults that are vegan and waterproof. Full review. |
| Mukishoes Plum – Excess volume has stopped a lot of people from enjoying Mukis (not a problem for me) and the new uppers such as that of Plum, combined with the 100% rubber soles, make Mukishoes more accessible to lower-volume feet. Review here. |
| Peerko Empire/Classics – These are just as good as the Go boot. I have reviewed the leather classics here and will be doing the same for Empire soon. |
| Tikki Vibe – Wide, comfortable, well-made, and stylish – I love these sandals and will be reviewing them in full in the spring. |
| Unshoes Foragers – House shoes? Camp shoes? Casual walkers? I love these leather shoes! Check out the mini-review here. I’ll have a full one in the future for sure. |
| VIVOBAREFOOT Fulhams – I fell in love with the Fulhams I reviewed here, and the cross-over to men’s cemented both my love of Chelsea style boots and VIVO craftsmanship. |
| Zeazoo Dingo – The only reason these are not in my top 10 is that they’re only suitable for dry days. Otherwise, I adore them and never want to take them off when I slip them on my feet. They are comfortable and oh-so-warm. Review soon! Check out the Insta look in the meantime. |
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.
Want to check out other lists, such as color and type break-downs?
Check out the BIG lists here.