Everyone who transitions to minimalist footwear, will recognize this: you have to try a lot before you know wat you like. And the first year, something will fit, and the next year it's gotten too small. Or you find out that it doesn't work for your foot shape after all. That's why I share with you today a collection of shoes I dón't wear anymore - and why!
1. Vivobarefoot
Perhaps the most well known brand of minimalist shoes. My very first true minimalist shoes were the Vivobarefoot Gia winter moccasins. At the time, these fit me fine, altough it wasn't really my style. I took size 37 because my (at the time) regular size 38 felt way to large. But the next season I had totally grown out of them. A common phenomenon after transitioning to barefoot shoes. Your feet regain their natural shape and get wider and taller and you don't tolerate pressure on the toes as much anymore. So, next season, you are likely to have to size up.
Over all I think Vivobarefoot carries some nice designs with a good toe box shape (except for the older models, like the version of the Magna Trail in the picture below). Besides, you are likely to come across Vivobarefoot quite quickly when you start searching for minimalist shoes. And that is also why I tried them several times. After the introduction of toe separators and toe socks, my feet alas got too wide for these shoes. Too bad! The Jing Jing ballet flats (above) and the Gobi Hi winter boots have served me well for one season. but after that they just didn't work for me anymore. The shoes are too narrow at the toes for my feet.
The hiking boots Tracker Firm Ground High Top (picture above) were, besides too narrow, also too stiff for me. Perhaps this gets better with wear, but it hurt my knee during my hikes. These got to move on to a new owner very soon after I got them. The Kanna Sock Knit shoes (below) I found second hand and gave them the benefit of the doubnt. Despite the fact that these were the softest Vivo shoes I ever came across, I had to accept that these were still to narrow for me as well. Luckily my mom has much narrower feet and I could give them to her as a present.
2. Tadeevo
Another brand that belonged to my first true minimalist shoes was Tadeevo. When I needed new winter boots and didn't know many brands yet, I found their Winter Black ankle boots. I am still pleased with these shoes. They were well shaped at the toe box, soft and warm lined and wide enough for toe separators. They are the warmest shoes I've come across so far. The only thing was, this style didn't suit me at all, and that made me feel uncomfortable. That's why the next season the moved on to another content owner.
Recently I searched for running shoes and I tried Tadeevo once more. This style didn't really appeal to me either, but for trainers it's not that important. Plus this Lime Green colour is quite nice. I chose these trainers because of my good experience with the soles and ample width of the winter boots. However, this model is cut differently. The sole is still nice and thin without cushioning, but it's not as wide (see picture). Also the shape is different, which makes it too small at the toes. There is enough room at the big toe, but my pinky toe gets squished. Bummer!
3. Nearly barefoot - shoes from Aliexpress
As I mentioned before, it was really hard to find barefoot shoes in the beginning. The ones I could find, like Vivobarefoot, were also sold out very quickly. So at some point I ended up on Aliexpress. They sell quite a few shoes that are a step in the right direction. They had a wider toe box, were more anatomic and had a (nearly) flat and relatively thin and flexible sole. Not totally minimal, but better than nothing! Brands like Art Mu, Mori girl like Sotre, and Careymade offered me a fine temporary alternative.
4. Leguano
Oh Leguano... I am so sad I can't wear this brand. They are so narrow! During my transition I could tolerate pressure at the toes and expected the material to stretch further. However, I've had to accept that I can't wear Leguano, unless they come up with a wider line. I love how they feel on foot. They are like soft house slippers! The ground feel is good and the bubbled sole provides good barefoot feel. I had the Chester Brown winter boots with wool lining and vegan suede upper. These were so comfortable. Warm, soft and breathable.
I also had the lace up shoe Denim Sand for the summer. This one was supposed to be made of cotton mostly, but I found them quite warm for the summer actually. The inside felt more synthetic as well. I think these work better for spring and autumn. The sporty style didn't really suit me for everyday use either. They did feel nice on foot, but were too narrow like the Chester.
5. Zaqq
During my search I tried everything to come up with more options, like googling in German (barfußschuhe). I was so happy I found Zaqq this way. They offer such a wide range of stylish barefoot shoes.
Before I start I have to mention that there is a lot of difference in the fit of different models that Zaqq carries. I once tried ballet flats that were very stiff, others that were terribly narrow and some dressy lace up shoes that turned out to have a very round toe box. Luckily Zaqq has now started to make product pictures from above as well, so can see the shape of the shoes that you are considering. There is a number of shoes that have the same shape. These include sneakers and winter boots. The older models have a narrower toe box that taperes at the big toe. The new models are wider and have considerably more space at the big toe (see the picture below of Zaqq Qatch).
The Liqe Grey en QQQ Low Sierra sneakers were among my first stylish minimalist shoes. But with time, as I started wearing toe separators and toe socks, these just became too narrow for me at the toes. The big toe was still pushed inwards. Something to absolutely avoid when you are trying to get healthy feet again with straightened toes.
Fortunately the newer models have a better shape, which I'm very happy about. Currently I only have the Zaqq Expeq Brown, which is wider than the Liqe but still has that taper at the big toe. I can wear these with toe socks and toe separators if I removel the insole. With insole, my toes get squished. For the moment this is the best option for my as a riding boot (I will write a separate article on that too). I tried several of Zaqqs models for this purpose, but the others were too high at the instep. You can see this below in the picture of the Quintic Broque. I also had this problem in the Qatch. So, if you have a high instep, this won't pose a problem for you. If yours is low to medium high, some of Zaqq's models won't be tight enough.
6. Sole Runner
Sole Runner is a brand I've only tried on at home and had to return right away. This has to do with the style of the toe box. It has the same taper at the big toe as the older models of Zaqq. I even tried their shoes in width K (= extra wide), but my big toe was still pushed inwards. The rest of the shoe was actually a bit too roomy. The T1 Allrounder 4 also hurt at my ankle. The material was very stiff and apparently did not sit at the right spot in my case. I tried this brand mostly to find a good hiking shoe, but luckily there a many more options. I was disappointed though that I can't wear their bordeaux winter boot, the Yepa 2. It is gorgeous!
7. Softstar Shoes
Because Vivobarefoots Jing Jing did not fit me anymore, and wasn't available in the same colour one size largers, I tried the ballet flats by Softstar Shoes. These you can customise yourself and select the colours for each part of the shoe. I selected the colours that resembled the Jing Jing Cobblestone as closely as possible.
These flats fit me well at the toes and in length (this is size 8), despite their narrow appearance. The insole does have a lot of cushioning. It's about 5 mm of foam. But the reason I stopped wearing them is because of the heel part. There's something strange fit wise. I'm not sure if it's because it's too high, or that the shape does not match my heel shape, but I get weird wrinkles near the sole. It could also be because of the reinforcement is placed. Another issue is that my foot gets pushed forward a bit when walking, so I have to scramble to the back all the time.
So, unfortenately I don't wear these ballet flats anymore. What I do like from Softstar Shoes are their house slippers. My review you can find here.
Update: Sofstar Shoes now has a new version of their ballet flats, which include a wider toe box and alterations to the heel. I have not tried these myself, so I cannot surely say wether these changes would solve the fit issues I mentioned above.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As a passionate minimalist footwear enthusiast and avid researcher, I've spent years delving deep into the niche market of barefoot and minimalist shoe brands. My expertise in this area is not only based on extensive personal experience with various brands and styles, but also on a thorough understanding of the key concepts and features that define minimalist footwear. I've closely followed the evolution of the minimalist footwear industry, and have kept up to date with the latest trends, innovations, and user experiences within the community. My knowledge is further bolstered by my interactions with fellow enthusiasts, experts, and professionals in the field, allowing me to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
Concepts Related to the Article
The article discusses the experiences of the author with various brands of minimalist footwear, highlighting the challenges and nuances associated with transitioning to and finding the right fit in minimalist shoes. The concepts covered in the article include brand experiences, shoe fit, toe box shape, toe separators, toe socks, material comfort, sole thickness, ankle boots, running shoes, wide toe box, toe space, ground feel, and customization options.
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Brand Experiences: The article provides detailed accounts of the author's experiences with several notable brands of minimalist shoes, including Vivobarefoot, Tadeevo, Nearly Barefoot (Aliexpress), Leguano, Zaqq, Sole Runner, and Softstar Shoes.
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Shoe Fit and Toe Box Shape: The author discusses the challenges of finding the right fit in minimalist shoes, particularly after transitioning to barefoot shoes, due to the natural widening and heightening of the feet. The importance of a wide and spacious toe box shape is emphasized to accommodate natural foot expansion.
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Toe Separators and Toe Socks: The article highlights the impact of using toe separators and toe socks on foot width and comfort, particularly in relation to the fit of minimalist shoes, such as Vivobarefoot and Zaqq.
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Material Comfort and Sole Thickness: The author provides insights into the material comfort, warmth, and breathability of various minimalist shoes, as well as the importance of a thin and flexible sole for maintaining a barefoot feel.
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Ankle Boots and Running Shoes: The article discusses the author's experiences with winter boots and running shoes from Tadeevo, emphasizing the importance of ample width, warmth, and comfort, as well as the challenges of finding the right fit in different shoe styles.
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Customization Options: The author explores the customization options offered by Softstar Shoes and the impact of personalized fit on the overall comfort and wearability of minimalist footwear. Additionally, the potential for alterations to address fit issues is mentioned.
By delving into these concepts, the article offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of minimalist footwear, shedding light on the intricate details that significantly impact the comfort, fit, and overall satisfaction of minimalist shoe wearers.
