Gear

The Best Barefoot Shoes for Walking or Running

Our favorite zero-drop, minimalist footwear will let you feel the ground beneath your feet.

You were born barefoot, and a growing body of evidence suggests you should have stayed that way. The technology and padding of the modern shoe protect your feet, but protection isn't always what you want. Feet were made to stretch, flex, roll, and bend, and letting them do what they evolved to do can reduce impact injuries and provide a host of other benefits.

That said, please do not buy a pair of these barely-there shoes and start walking or running the way you always have. That won't work, and it can lead to injuries. You need to ease into all things barefoot related, and to some degree, you need to relearn how to walk and run. In this guide, we've got advice on making the transition from padded shoes to “barefoot shoes” (also known as minimalist or zero-drop shoes), and we've rounded up our favorite shoes. They're as close as you can get to achieving that barefoot sensation without running afoul of "No shirt, no shoes, no service" signs.

Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including our Best Running Gear, and Best Snow Gear roundups.

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  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Footwear Sandal and FlipFlop
    Photograph: Xero Shoes

    How to Get Started With Barefoot Shoes

    Go Slow to Avoid Injury

    You've probably been wearing padded shoes most of your life. Don't expect to toss them and be able to do the same mileage—whether walking or running—in barefoot shoes. To a certain degree, you must relearn how to run and walk. It's going to take a conscious effort on your part, and it can be very difficult. You're not just learning, you're also unlearning some ingrained habits. The key is to go slow. Very, very, absurdly slow.

    How you approach barefoot shoes depends on what you're looking to do. I happened to be getting into running, which worked out nicely because I had to take it slow (I sucked). If you're currently an ultra-marathoner and want to try barefoot shoes, you'll have a hard time holding yourself back. If you're somewhere between those poles, it'll still be hard not to overdo it. Focus the discipline you usually use for distance into not doing distance.

    It's also worth saying that barefoot shoes are not a zero-sum game. For over a year I wore barefoot shoes running, regular shoes for other tasks, and sandals the rest of the time. It's not all or nothing. If you go on a barefoot run and then slap on your favorite Converse right after, that's OK. It's equally important to know that everyone is different. It took me six months to fully transition to barefoot shoes. But that's just me. It might take you two months or two years. Go at your own pace, and don't worry about the experiences of others.

  • Photograph: Getty Images 

    Go Barefoot Before You Buy

    Test the Waters

    The best barefoot footwear out there is … your bare feet. There is no need to run out and spend money on any of these shoes. Instead, start by walking around barefoot. This may be easier said than done; if you live in a major US city, don't stroll the sidewalks barefoot. See if a nearby park has some small stretch of grass you can explore barefoot.

    Don't walk far—10 paces is enough—but as you walk, pay attention to your feet. Focus on how much of your foot is actually in contact with the ground. If you're like most people, this can be a mind-blowing experience. Now put your shoes on and go home. If you wake up the next day feeling fine, go do it again for a little longer. Keep slowly expanding your distance until you can comfortably walk a mile barefoot. Once you've got that down, you're ready to go all-in on some shoes.

  • Photograph: Xero Shoes

    Best Sandals

    Xero Shoes Z-Trail

    I love these shoes. They are the only shoes that have ever inspired me to write 1,000 words. They are really that good. Think of these as the barefoot answer to Chacos. Except where Chacos are like putting tractors on your feet, the Z-Trails still flex and bend as you walk, giving your feet the freedom of movement you expect from a barefoot shoe. Despite being sandals, these have 10 millimeters of cushion, which is more padding than most of the shoes you see here. That makes the Z-Trail a good option for newcomers.

    $80 at Amazon (Men's)
    $85 at Amazon (Women's)
    $80 at Xero Shoes (Men's)
    $80 at Xero Shoes (Women's)
  • Photograph: Vivobarefoot

    Best for Muddy Trails

    Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG

    Vivobarefoot's Primus Trail shoes come in two flavors, FG and SG, which stand for firm ground and soft ground. I recommend the latter. They're a bit like mud tires for your bare feet. If you do any trail running, you'll appreciate the heavier tread and the way the SG gets you through muddy, boggy spots without slipping. Last winter was one of the wettest on record in my part of the country, and I ran muddy trails in these every day without ever slipping or sliding.

    My one gripe is that the heel stitching gave me awful blisters. Actually, "blisters" is a nice word for the wounds I've received from these shoes, but I liked them so much otherwise that I experimented until I found a solution: I put a piece of moleskin ($11 for 15 feet) over the area and they're fine. They remain my go-to choice for trail running, but I suggest trying them on in-person if possible.

    $149 at Amazon (Men's)
    $93 at Amazon (Women's)
    $160 at Vivobarefoot (Men's)
    $160 at Vivobarefoot (Women's)
  • Photograph: Vibram

    Best for Toe Freedom

    Vibram FiveFingers Classic

    Whenever I told someone I was testing barefoot shoes, if they had any response at all it was usually, "Oh, like those five-finger things?" Yes, the classic, perhaps the original barefoot shoe (if you're willing to disregard millennia of sandal-making around the world). Barefoot shoes aren't for everyone, and these FiveFingers especially are not for everyone. I do not like them, but one of the people who introduced me to barefoot shoes has been wearing nothing but these for well over a decade and swears by them. I find the separation of toes annoying, and I don't feel like I gain anything in the way of balance by having my toes separated. But people love their FiveFingers, and maybe it's worth trying if you're curious. Head to your local running shoe store and spend some time in them so you can decide for yourself.

    $80 at Amazon (Men's)
    $80 at Amazon (Women's)
    $80 at Vibram (Men's)
    $80 at Vibram (Women's)
  • Photograph: Xero Shoes 

    Best for Road Running

    Xero Shoes HFS

    I've tried several of Xero's various running shoes, and the HFS is my favorite for running on human-made surfaces like concrete and asphalt. That said, the HFS work great on trails too. I went backpacking in mine with 45 pounds on my back and had no problems. Barefoot purists (yes, there are those, see the barefoot running subreddit) would perhaps rightly argue that these are pushing the definition of barefoot, but why let semantics get in the way of a great shoe? These are comfortable and durable, and they offer about 7 millimeters of padding to soften the impact of running on concrete.

    $110 at Amazon (Men's)
    $110 at Amazon (Women's)
    $110 at Xero Shoes (Men's)
    $110 at Xero Shoes (Women's)
  • Photograph: Amazon

    Best for a Night Out

    Merrell Vapor Glove 3

    The Vapor Glove 3 is the first barefoot shoe I ever tried. They're still fairly shoe-like, with a wide toe box and tight heel cup. But they have zero drop (the heel is the same height as the forefoot) and minimal padding, putting them firmly in the barefoot shoe camp. It's a solid, comfortable shoe that will fit a wide range of feet. The problem is they tend to last about six months. There is a newer version called the Vapor Glove 4, but I don't like the synthetic material used in its construction (although it is washable). The VG3 I prefer also comes in leather, which looks nice enough that you won't get funny looks when you're out on the town. (Don't try that in the Vibram FiveFingers.)

    $110 at Amazon (Men's)
    $110 at Amazon (Women's)
  • Photograph: Xero Shoes

    Best for Minimalists

    Xero Shoes Genesis

    Modeled (somewhat) on the running sandal of the famous Tarahumara runners, the Genesis sandal was my first exposure to Xero Shoes. You buy either a DIY kit to make your own sandals or opt for the pre-made Genesis. These are fast becoming my favorite shoes, but beginners shouldn't start here. These are a mere 4-millimeter sole with some shock cord to hold them to your feet. Despite their apparent flimsiness, they're wonderful to run in and great for just lounging around the house. They will take some getting used to, and having a cord running between your toes is not for everyone.

    $45 at Amazon (Men's)
    $45 at Amazon (Women's)
    $40 at Xero Shoes (Men's)
    $40 at Xero Shoes (Women's)
Scott Gilbertson is a product reviewer for WIRED, specializing in portable technology. He was previously a writer and editor for WIRED's Webmonkey.com, covering the browser wars, web standards, the independent web, and all aspects of internet culture. He studied at the University of Georgia.
Writer and Reviewer
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