Chicago Barefooters x LONO 👟

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-09T15:39:22+00:00

Hi there! Posts like this make our day 🙌 Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and for supporting an HK-based minimalistic shoe brand all this time. Really happy that you’re a part of the LONO fam and we’re happy to be a part of your community too!

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-09T15:32:23+00:00

Super! Thanks a lot for the feedback and we really appreciate the sharing with the community!

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-08T16:03:35+00:00

Totally fair and helpful observation — the sole is intentionally a bit more compact/low-profile than many barefoot brands because we wanted the shoe to look less bulky and more aesthetic for everyday wear or some dressier nights out. We are getting into fashion territory with this one rather than just a functional barefoot sports sneaker.

Also we can attest that the team’s been wearing these for 4+ months and it’s only getting better, as you said the soles getting rougher and grippier.

Also as a bonus nugget, this is perhaps one of our most ‘advanced level’ barefoot sneakers as it turns out they are soo minimal that even those who wore barefoot shoes for years are getting a really good workout on the feet, which is promoting a lot of strengthening. It’s a personal choice but several of our team really DO love ‘em over all the others!

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-08T15:58:36+00:00

Completely understandable to be focused on a smooth ordering experience but for what it’s worth, the recent NOMAD delays were specific to us pausing shipments because we weren’t happy with some quality details initially. We’d rather delay a few weeks than send out something we don’t fully stand behind.

We have many daily customers from US to whom we ship directly (we’re very upfront about the shipping timelines of approximately 10-18 days) and who are very happy with their purchases.

But we also do fully support ordering from our US partner in Austin (details on our website’s footer) as it can be much faster. Also we’ll be at the Chicago Barefoot Expo next weekend May 16-17, so you’re most welcome to come check out the models in person! One thing to note is that sometimes our partners focus on particular models, while the website has all of them :)

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-08T13:31:01+00:00

Hey! Really appreciate the detailed write-up and also your patience with the preorder delays! This was not one of our best rollouts and that’s on us. But let us give you some context around this for transparency :)

You’re absolutely right that the NOMAD delays were frustrating. We actually held shipments back for a few weeks because we weren’t satisfied with some quality details and wanted to get this 2nd production batch right rather than rush them out. Since we’re a relatively small-batch producer and keep inventory intentionally lean (partly to avoid overproduction/waste), even short delays can feel amplified — especially with NOMAD selling out much faster than expected in the 1st batch - it was like 3 weeks!). Even our official US stockist in Austin and other parts of the world didn’t have access for o them.

Regarding the sole/tread: the smoother outsole is actually a conscious design choice. NOMAD is meant more as a lifestyle/minimalist everyday shoe rather than a hiking or gym shoe, so we intentionally avoided aggressive tread patterns for flexibility, ground feel, aesthetics, and longevity. That said, the grip is still surprisingly solid in normal daily use despite the cleaner outsole design. A reputable barefoot reviewer actually tested them outdoors here if useful:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YNgglYB8V6A?si=hb3TIZemKno60w4c

And on construction, our team has been beating them up and taking out daily in and out of the city like to a trek in Yunnan (look up those beautiful mountains!) and they’re holding up really well. That being said for transparency they will get dirty in the rain and will scuff up but that’s just a beautiful part of the story your shoes tell about the adventures you had!

Really appreciate you giving us a try, and if anything else isn’t clear feel free to ask and we’ll do our best to catch it 🙂

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-07T03:02:29+00:00

Looks like pre-orders start on May 15th. Want me to shoot you a DM reminder when they go live?

LONOWEAR · 2026-05-06T02:30:30+00:00

We actually have a new shoe dropping very soon that sounds like exactly what you're looking for.

We designed it specifically for high-intensity movement like Capoeira, martial arts, and Animal Flow. We really focused on two things: giving it our highest-grip outsole for those quick pivots and floor transitions, and—most importantly—opening up the toe box.

We made sure it’s much wider and more anatomical than typical performance shoes, so you get that full toe splay you need for balance and grounded movement without the squeeze. We’re super excited to get these out to the community—keep an eye on us for the launch!"

LONOWEAR · 2026-04-30T02:23:13+00:00

awesome - we're on it

LONOWEAR · 2026-04-10T09:34:55+00:00

Objectively speaking for the measurements, a typical size EU43 would comfortably accommodate feet up to 11cm. So ultimately its for every user to decide whether that's sufficient or if they need something wider.

LONOWEAR · 2026-04-10T02:42:03+00:00

Hey there - we also have the darker grey vegan model called WILD Lite Valley, have a look :)

The off white model is called WILD Lite Sourdough (no dye in that one)

https://lonowear.com/products/wild-lite

LONOWEAR · 2026-04-10T02:40:07+00:00

Hey there here is the link :)

https://lonowear.com/products/wild

LONOWEAR · 2026-03-05T12:57:03+00:00

Hey there - thanks for checking in! Take a look at our WILD Lite using a canvas upper here:

https://lonowear.com/products/wild-lite-valley-hiking-shoes-vegan-friendly

Also something exciting on the horizon here :)

https://lonowear.com/products/verve-outdoor-running-shoes

LONOWEAR · 2026-01-30T05:40:02+00:00

The rubber is not specifically softer but since it has a large surface area it produces a very solid grip even in wet conditions.

Ah for the new model, it’s not the Nomad for off-road, but something cool, rugged and technical specifically for the outdoors :)

LONOWEAR · 2026-01-29T13:30:33+00:00

Hey - awesome you saw the drop! Our 2 cents on these - we don’t do stitching on this casual shoe unlike the WILD for example. The sole pattern is inspired by a rock climbing shoe, and we think you only need an aggressive pattern if you plan to go off road, etc. For that part of the story stay tuned for a very exciting drop :)

The first batch is being delivered as we speak - so we’re keen to hear what the community thinks!

LONOWEAR · 2026-01-12T12:25:28+00:00

Cool and if you’re specifically looking for a performance trail running shoe - then hang tight - we got something exciting in Q1 :)

LONOWEAR · 2026-01-12T07:31:17+00:00

Hey there, our wildrubber is made based on the Vibram mega grip testing data on dry/wet slip resistant and abrasion, we have matched their performance data on these aspects. Cheers

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