Wildling Eden – A Full Review | Obsessed with Barefoot Shoes

I’m not sure I’ve seen a prettier barefoot shoe than the Eden model from Wildling Shoes. The fabric they have chosen also appears inside the Feather model which I previously reviewed, and is a delight that elevates minimalist shoes to the level of tapestry.

Disclaimer: I am a Wildling affiliate and links do return a small portion to support the blog. I bought my pair myself after seeing the gifted pair my middle son wears.

Really important note: most of the links on this page go to the main Wildling website. I know you all come from all over the world and I LOVE that. As of 6/15/2021, however, US and Canadian customers must use THIS LINK to purchase and it will require a brand new account to do so. If you sign up, however, you will receive a 5% discount code valid on your first order placed in 2021.

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Technical Specifications

Upper: Blend of Tencel and Linen
Mid-sole: 100% Organically Grown Cotton – Certified
Insole: Hemp-Flax Fleece
Outsole: Synthetic rubber and cork with 50% recycled material
Sizes: 18-48 across the Cubs (as Butterfly, with a different sole color), Wildling, and Rewild categories
Does not contain materials of animal origin

Appearance

To simply label these shoes as pretty seems like a disservice. Wilding Eden are, undeniably, pretty. But the fabric is rich with detail that holds your attention. It was designed by an independent artist and the thought and skill that went into it are obvious. (I saw the Instagram page of the artist but have lost it, so if you know it please let me know so I can give credit.)

Unless you have patterned clothes that are subtle and in corresponding colors, these pair best with solids like jeans, leggings, jeggings, dresses, etc. You would really have to have something in a narrow range of coordinating colors and non-competing patterns to make something else work. At most, for me, are the fabric stripes in the leggings below (a look I didn’t love, more because of the dress paired with leggings – definitely not the shoes).

My son wears them with joggers or shorts.

Fit

Wildling characterizes this as being “suited for wider feet” but I think it’s really important to break that down because that can mean a lot of things.

First, the sole is no different than other models, so if you’re feet are too wide for the sole and you are outside it’s bounds, then your experience will be the same here.

Second, over the instep I actually find it very close to Tanuki right out of the box, with even slightly less room. Check out this post on Instagram for details, including on-the-foot pics.

Lastly, and I think this is where the recommendation maybe has the most relevance, is that the toe room on the upper seems higher on Eden. This is not actually wider, though, it’s giving you more volume and wiggle room, but the sole width is the same.

I think their wording should be more clear.

On the flip side, they say that if you have a narrow foot, they recommend an insole. This, too, is about volume, not width. The width of all Wildling shoes is the same at the sole, but the volume of the upper changes with Feather being very generous there, and the lined models like Wombat having less volume for your feet.

Volume is a very good reason to change your size, but it is not the same as width.

As for kids, these work well with wider feet and high volume, but take note that if you close the elastic lacing with a cap, they can be difficult to get on high-volume feet and without a removable insole, there’s a moment of ‘will they’…? Once they’re on, though, the generous toe box means toes are happy. My middle son legit dislikes shoes, all shoes, but loves how light, flexible, and toe-friendly these are for him.

Sizing

Wildling has detailed sizing information on their website and includes tips right on the product page. In this case, as I mentioned above:

Runs wider; well suited for wider feet.
We recommend an additional insole for narrower feet.

I’m in my normal size and they fit very close to my Tanuki. There are 2 ways to go about this, either using the Fitkit or clicking the wording about not having a printer and pulling up the PDF. I like the second. I think there’s too much room for error in the first and, if you’re American, the sizing correlations between EU and US can be very off your normal. When in doubt, I always recommend going with numbers and doing your best to have 12 mms of space for your feet.

With the Fitkit, you must make sure your printer prints at the correct scale and you cannot assess width with them. The templates are much more narrow in their width than the actual shoes.

If you’re sizing for a child, add extra mms for growing room so they don’t too quickly outgrow the shoes.

How do they feel?

The Tencel blend fabric that makes up these Wildling Shoes Eden is very light on your feet. The appearance is of a thick tapestry due to the artistry of the fabric, but the feeling is the complete opposite. They are completely unrestrictive and feel like a light shirt, double-layered, for the main part of the upper. The microfiber is thicker and gives the upper a bit of structure, but is not restrictive. As always, the sole is completely minimalist, flexible, and light. In my size 43 it is 3.5 mms thick and if you’re size 41 or lower it’s only 2.5 mm thick.

The insole is lightly padded and sewn into the shoes. There is probably a reason for this (like it would slide if it wasn’t) but I really prefer removable insoles for easier customization and drying.

Cleaning and Care

Wildling has very reasonable care instructions and I concur in full:

Waterproof them: these shoes soak up water quickly and can be fully sprayed with a fabric spray such as one from this page
If they are wet, air dry them away from a direct heat source
Debris will generally come right off once dry, and knocking dry shoes together will help this (it’s also very satisfying
Brush dry shoes for stubborn stains
Use a damp or dry cloth if needed
Do not machine wash or dry

Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns

You can purchase Wildling Shoes anywhere in the world and prices vary depending on the size of your model and remember that the Cubs version is like a sister instead of exact copy, called Butterfly. Worldwide shipping usually is about $10, but if you buy several pairs at once you may get high enough for free shipping. As of 6/15/2021 this has changed and US/Canadian customers must now use THIS LINK.

Wildling returns are also very easy. They handle them in-house using DHL and your first one is free. Full policies are detailed here.

Final Thoughts

These were purely a want purchase for me and I am not sad about it in the least. My son picked his out because of the nature print and they fit his wide feet too. If you love Wildling already, these will fit right in. The only drawback is that they wear best with unpatterned clothing, potentially limiting wearability, but not a problem with jeans and solids. Enjoy! We do.