When we reach fall, we really start caring about having some warmth in our barefoot shoes, and Wildling Shoes is showing us they can do that without even using wool this year with the release of the cotton/hemp/flax warm-lined models: Panther, Elderberry, and Wapiti. Read on to see if these may be right for your vegan barefoot shoes needs.
Disclaimer: My son was sent a pair of Panther for review (and my middle son is already eying them as a handmedown). Thinking ‘kid’ for this review, however, isn’t exactly correct as he’s in size 41. I instantly loved them and bought my own Panther and Elderberry pairs. All thoughts are ours. If you use a link on this page to make a planned purchase, a small portion will be returned to support reviews like this.
For a look at this full Fall 2021 Wildling Shoes collection, check out this page.
Sections
Company Information
Wildling Shoes maintains a constant focus on key values and vision, but in the fall of 2021 they’ve added the idea of Mudança (change) with the focus on celebrating the idea of changing and taking “a look at the images of impressions and memories etched by life every single day.” The first model I reviewed from this collection was even named for this idea.
Wildling US/CA link
Technical Specifications
The models Blackberry and Elderberry (as well as the beautiful Wapiti) are all made the same way, with some minor differences:
- Upper: twill (100% certified organically grown cotton) – Canvas in Wapiti
- Membrane: 100% polyester
- Interior lining: herringbone (100% cotton)
- Lining/insole: hemp-flax fleece (50% hemp; 50% flax)
- Midsole: 100% certified organically grown cotton
- Edging: microfiber (100% polyamide) on Panther and 10% of that is polyurethane in Elderberry
- Outsole: 80% synthetic rubber from 50% recycled material, 20% cork
- Sizes: 23-48 EU (Panther and Elderberry are available in both kids and adults ranges)
- Does not contain materials of animal origin
Appearance
While the shoes are constructed similarly, each has a very distinct vibe. Panther is intentional in its feeling a bit vintage and unfinished, with the edging of the material wrapped around the shaft even intending to fray over time.
They feel like jeans-meets-combat boots to me, and I’ve styled them that way:
My son has gone with more of vibe harkening to the Wildling Tabi roots and even enjoyed wearing them with his Halloween costume this year:
Elderberry, on the other hand, feels very warm in color and evokes visions of fruit ready for the picking:
I like it a lot with jeans, so far.
The last one of these sister shoes, Wapiti, feels very earthy, like fall leaves. I would wear it with jeans, olive, deep raspberries, or navy if I had a pair.
Fit
Wildling Shoes are noticing that many of us want more wiggle room in our shoes, and are experimenting with ways to give that to us. With this collection, several of the models have notes that read things like “Runs a little wider and a little longer.” If you need just a little more wiggle room, this is great. Wiggle on! But be aware that this doesn’t change the sole base itself. You can get more wiggle, and even a little outward spread on the edges of the sole, but the base footprint of the sole remains the same, meaning that upper change like this make the shoes more width-friendly, but do not actually make them wider.
Those of you with lower volume feet may find the models listed as wider and/or longer as feeling baggy on your feet and may want to consider adding an insole or choosing a different, non-extended, model.
I chose to size up (this is against advice y’all, so don’t just jump and do this without reading on!) to have lots of sock room and so my feet are very happy all around, but I definitely have more length than I need doing this.
Sizing
Wildling Shoes has sizing tips on every model, and these models fall under that ‘wider and longer’ so keep that in mind as you check out sizing.
Every product page will link directly to the Size Guide above the available sizes. If you’re in the US, you may look at this grid and think you have it all figured out – just tap your normal and go – but you don’t, you shouldn’t, and please read on.
Before you put anything in your cart, tap or click through to that Size Guide, which will take you to this page.
The first parts of that are all about the FitKits, but it’s advisable that you make your first stop the last option here, and familiarize yourself with how your typical US size equates to EU sizes because the EU sizes are correct with Wildling but the US sizes are not.
From there, you can take two routes – either No printer available? or dig into the FitKits.
My favorite is the first option, which will take you to a PDF that has all the foot length measurements for each size. I have tips on measuring here and tips on extra space here.
If you’re not confident measuring and you do have a printer, then you can go the FitKit route and print out your size(s) to check but it’s absolutely critical that you get the print scale correct for this, and that you follow the directions, so check carefully.
Now, as mentioned above, this has those ‘wider and longer’ bits of wording, which means that most people will be their normal size at most, or may consider sizing down, if on the fence between two sizes.
How do they feel?
Definitely warm, but not oppressively so. At this point in the seasonal change (cool but not cold) I’m going sockless and getting all my warmth from the lining, and it’s perfect, but I know I’ll need to add socks when the weather gets colder and then we’ll see how low they can go. Last year’s Wombat model with insoles was great even in the cold.
They’re completely flexible, as expected, for both, though the taller shaft of Panther makes it a little more difficult to get material out of the way for a demonstration:
And Elderberry:
And they have no breaking-in required. Zero rub spot, hot spots, or hurt spots.
To wear, you notice the thicker upper but in a very comfy and cozy way. They’re still quite light on the feet and, especially thanks to my bigger size – again, not recommended, but I’m not sad I did it either – they are like besties that don’t hold you back.
My son has worn his several times as well, picking them completely on his own versus easier to wear shoes, which is not his typical. There’s a lot of lacing here (cough *side zip would be awesome* cough) and he doesn’t care because he likes how they feel and how they look like ‘cool’ boots.
Cleaning and Care
Waterproofing is a great idea with Wildling Shoes, to the point of basically saying “You Should Do This,” which means, of course, I usually don’t because I don’t like being told to do.
But really, you should waterproof your Wildlings.
They sell a spray, or you can buy your own like I have. Some options are here, including my chosen one: Nikwax.
This especially helps with lighter-colored models, though it may darken them. Colors can run. I’m not saying in particular which ones might run, *except* that I have personally seen the dye in the microfiber heel edging leech out during hand-washing, so if you can avoid getting to the point of doing that, or help seal in the color in advance, that’s a good thing.
Be aware, though, that fabric waterproofing sprays often darken colors to some degree. Maybe not massively, but if in doubt you could maybe tape the edge of the shoe and spray only the visible parts of the sole first, just in case you were to decide it wasn’t for you based on color change reasons.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
All 3 of the models – Panther, Elderberry, and Wapiti – are available in kid and adult sizes, and a version of Wapiti called Caribou is even available for toddlers for $65. The adult prices of all 3 are: Panther $149, Elderberry $119, and Wapiti $119.
Panther Adult – US/CA link or the International Link
Elderberry Adult – US/CA link or the International Link
Waipiti Adult – US/CA link or the International Link
Wildling Shoes does accept returns and handles them through an internal Return Service that works anywhere DHL runs. The first return is free.
Final Thoughts
I like them both, without question. I *think* I like Elderberry more, but that’s like choosing between two flavors of icecream – you can love them both, but you just reach for one more than the other.
I would like Wildling Shoes to make the Big. Move. and go with wider soles, so they can accommodate larger toesplays without leaving the low-volume people swimming in shoes that are far too voluminous over their feet. I know it’s costly, but I hope it’s in the cards for the future.
But these shoes in particular, with their cozy lining, style, and, of course, complete freedom for foot movement – I will keep loving them and, hopefully, be able to keep my kids from stealing my Panthers as their feet grow into my size range.
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 breakdowns?
Check out all the BIG lists here.
Keep advocating for wider shoes with more toe splay! It is so frustrating to have shoe manufacturers ignore the fact that feet come in a range of widths as well as lengths, and to keep ignoring the natural shape of the human foot, widest across the ends of the toes.
As you say, a more voluminous upper does not make the shoe wider — my pinkie toes will still be off the soles, which is very uncomfortable, no matter how thin the soles are.
There are many, many people with wide feet. I don’t know why shoe manufacturers don’t realize that if they cater to this market, they will profit.
I hope they will listen and make this happen at some point, though I recognize that it is super expensive to change the soles. I would love for more companies to do like Bohempia and offer dual widths.
Thanks for your great reviews!
Totally agreed on the need for wider soles! Even in barefoot shoes, I have to stick with wider brands or size up and risk tripping over the extra length – and my feet aren’t even that wide. But my toes want to SPLAY!