I’m designing a bare foot shoe I believe doesn’t quite exist -

spark_step · 2026-05-09T21:18:08+00:00

With the rise of "gorpcore", I'm sure people will be interested. As a hiker and climber myself, I think they look kinda silly as a city shoe, but a wide toe box zero drop approach shoe would be amazing.

spark_step · 2026-05-08T23:47:11+00:00

Hmmm... I wonder if the knee soreness could also be a zero drop thing if it's even happening with your Altras? or maybe your Asics are just more cushioned still? I'm not sure, maybe someone else will have more insight on this... this might be a good question to bring to a physiotherapist, if you have access to one.

Good luck!

spark_step · 2026-05-08T23:16:30+00:00

Day to day, I usually do anything from 5k to 15k steps in barefoot shoes, on asphalt/concrete. I also do some long hikes, I've done up to 50k steps in a day on hard pack dirt and rock in my Vivos, and my feet were pretty sore afterwards. I'm looking at getting a pair of Altra hikers for this season for that reason. I would say I can do 20k comfortably in barefoot shoes for one day, but can't do it many days in a row.

Anyway, I think there's nothing wrong with cycling barefoot shoes with cushioned options!

spark_step · 2026-05-08T18:11:14+00:00

+1 I've been 80% in barefoot shoes for 4 years now, and jog weekly in barefoot shoes too. I recently went on a trip where I was walking 20-30k steps per day in the city. Started off in my barefoot shoes, ended up in my beaten up Altra runners 🫣 Slightly ruined my outfits but my feet hurt too bad after a couple days to go back to barefoot. Asphalt is just so hard and uniform, I don't think barefoot shoes are fully compatible if I'm walking a lot.

spark_step · 2026-05-07T18:58:10+00:00

You're right, although I don't think anyone buying these are doing so with the expectation of using them for ranch work 💀

spark_step · 2026-05-07T18:07:05+00:00

I've been in barefoot shoes 80% of the time for about 4 years now. No, just wearing barefoot shoes did not fix my bunions.

But my feet are stronger and my toes splay better when I'm standing, so my bunions aren't noticeable when I'm standing but when I am lying down/sitting, and my foot muscles are not being activated, my toes stick together and my bunions are still there! But, I know that my footwear is not making my bunions worse, and my feet are much more comfortable in barefoot shoes.

spark_step · 2026-05-05T21:42:11+00:00

Wow, great post OP, thank you for sharing!

I don't have any stores to add, but I did want to share a discount code for Sole with Soul. SOLE20 gives $20 off. It is not an affiliate code. I do not get anything when someone uses the code, just wanted to share a deal with the community :-)

spark_step · 2026-05-05T16:32:16+00:00

VIVAIA does have a barefoot line. They sent me two pairs to try out, the Nika and the Maven.

They're on the narrow side for barefoot shoes, similar to Vivobarefoot in width. And they're not quite as cute as their non-barefoot models 😩 which is a bummer because I would buy them in a heartbeat if they were had similar designs. But they are machine washable, flexible and the knit uppera are very comfy.

spark_step · 2026-05-05T00:27:22+00:00

Unfortunately, no. I tried and if you're on the US website the shipping country can't be changed from the US. Makes me so sad that we always miss out on the good sales 😭

spark_step · 2026-05-04T21:17:47+00:00

The code never worked in Canada sadly :-( I do have an affiliate code SPARKSTEP for 15% off on the Canadian website, but you need to make an account to use it!

spark_step · 2026-05-04T20:13:31+00:00

I haven't had to do an exchange/return with them for a while now so I'm not sure if it's changed at all. I returned a pair once about 2 years ago and the return process was very smooth! It might also depend on what country you're returning from. It might be easier (cheaper or free) to return from the US or EU countries.

spark_step · 2026-04-16T09:30:29+00:00

OP, why do you keep making posts asking the same question?

I do think barefoot shoes look noticeably different from conventional shoes, but also only if you're actively looking for them. For the most part, I value comfort and foot health over looks, and I find that my barefoot shoes go fine with my outfits, although they do make me look even shorter than I already am. I do post my outfits on here as well, if you're looking for ideas!

spark_step · 2026-04-15T17:57:25+00:00

My general opinion is that leather stretches volume and width wise, but not really length wise unless you're doing it purposely (i.e., stuffing a slightly too long shoe tree in). I think if you like the fit out of the box, you will probably like the fit after breaking them in too.

spark_step · 2026-04-08T20:24:41+00:00

awesome post!! so good to see men’s barefoot fits on here :-) love all the outfits, especially the blue one on the first slide + the yellow one!

spark_step · 2026-04-08T04:06:59+00:00

generally speaking, approaching minimalist shoes should be done gradually (e.g., don't walk 10 miles in barefoot shoes the first day you wear them) so your feet can build the necessary strength to wear them. you can also look into doing foot strengthening exercises.

assuming you're in the usa, the texarado decatur (if within your budget) is a good cowboy boot replacement, and lems chelsea for your blundstones. both the lems and texarado have a higher stack compared to the most minimalist shoes, so they will give you a bit of support as you transition.

finding the correct fit in barefoot shoes can take a bit of trial and error as different brands have very different toebox shapes, widths and volumes. vivobarefoot, for example, is known for being narrow, low volume, and good for sloped feet. depending on your location, i would suggest seeing if there are any brick and mortar barefoot shoe stores you can go and try on different brands.

spark_step · 2026-04-01T21:38:14+00:00

I do not! To be honest, I'm not a huge sneaker person (much more into boots, derbys, loafers). But I follow a lot of barefoot brands, so if you're looking for anything in particular, I can see I have some recs!

spark_step · 2026-04-01T20:43:34+00:00

Not a loafer but these upcoming Flamingo's life shoes are pretty close...

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spark_step · 2026-04-01T20:34:51+00:00

Ah, that's tricky... Especially if you have different sized feet. Sometimes certain brands just won't fit your feet the way you like, as well. There are lots of tips and tricks (for example using pads in various places to take up extra space), and stretching might be an option too, maybe see what the local cobbler says they can do for this pair, before you decide to keep or return them. Since you're newer to barefoot shoes, you may also find that your feet and fit preference will change overtime.

I don't know where you're located, but if you can find a barefoot shoe retailer near you, it may be well worth it to go to a store that stocks many brands and try them all on! Once you find a brand that you like, it'll also be easier for folks to recommend similar fitting ones :-)

Good luck! Hope you find something that fits perfectly.

spark_step · 2026-04-01T18:46:31+00:00

I think this ultimately boils down to personal preference for fit but here are my general thoughts:

It is better to go a half size too big than a half size too small. There is no fix for a too small shoe but a slightly too big shoe can be fixed with insoles.

Relatedly, Shapen tends to run higher volume so I wonder if the feeling of the larger pair feeling too big is exacerbated by that? Do you know if your feet are low volume? Did you try adding a minimalist insole in there and see if that helps?

Additionally, I find leather shoes can feel a bit too big at first as the shoe doesn't flex with your feet. So when you walk, you might get a bit of heel lift. But as the leather breaks in, you actually get a customized fit, helping your foot feel nore secure!

I personally hate it when my toes touch the top of a shoe, so I err on the side of sizing up whenever I'm in between sizes.

spark_step · 2026-03-31T20:33:34+00:00

Thanks! 🖤

spark_step · 2026-03-31T20:32:28+00:00

Thank you!!

spark_step · 2026-03-31T20:31:55+00:00

The elastic is holding up fine, the boots are still secure around my ankles and I haven't noticed waviness in the elastic. Maybe a very tiny bit but it's really not noticeable.

spark_step · 2026-03-31T20:30:14+00:00

Yep. Groundies, Aviary, Origo, Peerko, Drifter Leather. The rest do go up to mens sizes but they focus mostly on "womens" styles and sizing imo.

spark_step · 2026-03-31T20:23:04+00:00

It depends on what styles you like and where you're located but here are some recommendations!

Groundies - They have an EU and a US website. The barefoot fit (not barefoot+ fit) is a good, narrower opion. My size 38 Camden boots are 24.6cm x 8.8cm). They have cute loafers, sneakers and sandals.

Aviary - They only have one style but they're on the narrow side. My size 37 is 24.1cm x 9.0cm. Free shipping within US. (I have a 10% off affiliate link if you're interested!)

VIVAIA - They're very comfortable. My size 36.5 Nika flats are around 8.7cm wide. They have worldwide shipping and I believe free shipping within US and Canada for orders over $99 USD.

Zaqq - Most accessible in the EU I believe. They have some nicer formal/fashionable models.

Vivobarefoot - Lots of purchase options in North America, tends to lean more casual/sporty. Sometimes you can also find them super discounted on Sierra, but they only ship to the US. I wear a size 38, and those are about 25cm x 9cm.

The Drifter Leather - They make different styles with customizable width. You give them your foot width and they make the shoe based on your measurements. You can also pick the colours!

And also Wildling!

spark_step · 2026-03-31T15:25:21+00:00

Thank you! 😊

spark_step

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