20 Best Women’S Minimalist Running Shoes (2023 Updated)

I am a big fan of zero drop shoes—I have used Alt…s for the past several years for hiking, walking, running, and traveling internationally. I needed a new versatile shoe for all those activities and Alt.

s have progressively been narrowing their toe box so I thought I’d give Xero shoes a go. After taking the online survey about which shoe is right for you and speaking extensively about sizing and usage with the extremely helpful Xero shoe rep.

I settled on the men’s Mesa trail shoe in size 7. 5 in Forest. I typically wear a women’s size 9 in an athletic or hiking shoe. I have a borderline wide foot and I walk around barefoot indoors. 1) I was hesitant about ordering the men’s size but so glad I did as it gave a little extra room for my wide foot.

2) The forest color is great! More like a greenish grey neutral which helps to blend with any outfit. 3) Super light and packable which is such a great bonus for international travel or long difficult hikes.

4) I hate to tie everyday shoes. I prefer slip ons. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I can tie these and I can slip them on and off as everyday shoes, as well as, athletic or trail shoes. Wore them throughout our recent trip to Ecuador and the Amazon.

5) They dry super quick! 6) Despite slipping them on and off without tying and untying; they stay tied! Former athletic shoes would untie unless I double knotted them and that was with tying them and untying them after every use.

7) I did not have to get used to the feel of a barefoot shoe on trails or even city side walks or build up my foot muscles. However, that’s probably from a lifetime of walking indoors and on beaches barefoot.

8) Even though these are technically trail running shoes, they are extremely versatile- great for airport travel, walking on pavement, hiking the jungle, and for trails. 9) Seem to be molding to my feet! Now for the deduction: 1) you can’t return these after you’ve worn them and I feel the only way you know if you’ve gotten the correct size is to be able to wear them a bit.

2) My big toe hits the rubber reinforcement at the top and comes close to the top of the shoe even though I purposely ordered the half size up of what I normally wear. On the Xero site there is advice about this specific issue and I have seen other reviews talking about this.

In a normal athletic shoe this would be a big no no as on a long run or arduous hike you could lose a toe nail. However, I haven’t found that to be the case with these—it just feels weird. Xero shoes even says that it is a different fit and that your big toe up against the top is normal but order another size up if that suits.

3) I have found that these shoes mold to my feet which is awesome but I still think the toe box could be a tad bigger for everyone’s feet to spread naturally—not just a wide foot. This seems to be an issue across the athletic shoe industry lately.

Overall, I love these and will definitely be buying another pair!.

While I love xero shoes products, I think I have had unfortunate results with getting quality items. I love my mesa trails, they fit great, they feel great, and they’re so comfy. I never wear shoes without socks, but I find myself slipping these on without socks pretty frequently.

But I have had bad luck with the craftsmanship of Xerox’s products. I bought a pair of z-trails, and the rubber grips on the bottom of the soles started coming of after just a few months, and the layers of the sole started separating.

They sent me a new pair and their warranty is great, but it’s frustrating. My new pair is starting to peel just a little bit already as well. When I got my mesa trails, one of the Huarache straps attached to the shoelace broke off after only a few days, while I was adjusting the laces.

And I wasn’t pulling hard at all. Again, Xeros warranty is great and they have agreed to send me a new pair, but it’s very frustrating. I don’t want a new pair, and have to wait for the process and the emails and then wait for the shipment.

I want the pair I bought to work and last. Durability and longevity is very important to me, and I want to wear a product without fear that it is going to fail or fall apart. Xero shoes states that their products are quality and meant to last, but that hasn’t been the case for me, which is why I give them 3 stars.

If I could do 3 1/2 I would. Hopefully I have just had bad luck.

It’s been 25+ years since I bought my first pair of quality running shoes. They were from a big name brand with a fancy checkmark on the side, and they were quite expensive for me. but they were tremendously comfortable.

Unfortunately, my pinky toes wore through the outside edges of the fabric on these before long. I wore them, despite the “aftermarket ventilation” because of their comfort and because I was running then.

Fast forward 25 years and many attempts to find another pair of shoes that felt as comfortable and could motivate me to reclaim the joy of walking and running. A few years ago I bought another name brand pair of running shoes from a running shoe store, with all kinds of running shoe store wisdom about “pronation” and “heel strike” and all the rest of it, hoping that those shoes would be the answer.

But even in those shoes, I struggled with back and hip pain as I switched back and forth from those shoes to my everyday shoes for work, and for working in the yard and such. When I saw an ad for Xero, I decided to try a pair of a style that were on sale (Hana), to see if the whole “zero rise, wide toe box” stuff was all it claimed it was, and if my heels and shins could adjust to it.

I VERY quickly fell in love. I just saved up and bought a pair of Prio, and I could not be more excited about these! Honestly, I was nervous. Because of the minimalist-ness of my canvas Hanas, I wasn’t sure if the Prio was going to feel too flimsy to feel like a real shoe.

The Prios not only feel legit, but when I put them on, I felt like they were custom-designed for my feet. it was almost surreal! I don’t know if it is because I have kinda learned how to do the minimalist/ground-feedback thing with my Hanas already or what, but they feel absolutely perfect.

I feel like the dude version of Cinderella! No joke, my only concern since the day they arrived has been that one day yall might stop producing them, and then where will I find it’s equal??? At any rate, 12 stars! These things are awesome, and you’ve got a lifetime customer!.

This was my very first Xero shoe. The thing I immediately noticed was how great they felt on my feet. My toes did not feel cramped, and calluses that had formed from my toes being squashed together began going away within just a couple weeks.

I work in a warehouse 10 hours plus a day, so I used to always wear the lightest, softest {comma}ist shoes I could find and it usually added more cushioned insoles on top of that and yet my feet always felt sore and tired.

With these my feet felt great. The final clincher that sold me completely on getting rid of all my other shoes and wearing Xero exclusively was when I got caught in the rain and my shoes got soaked, and I didn’t want to spend all day with wet feet, but the only other shoes I had at work were my old cushy memory foam work shoes.

They felt so foreign and unnatural I couldn’t imagine how I used to actually like them, and after wearing them again for just one day my feet were sore and tired. I decided right then to get rid of everything else, and have worn nothing but Xero since.

My only concern is the long-term durability. I don’t do any running or hiking, I pretty much only wear these for walking around on smooth, even surfaces, but in less than 6 months the sole is starting to detach from the shoes.

The warranty will cover replacement and they are still wearable, but I have heard others commenting of similar issues. It might be good if they came up with a way to add a bit of stitching to help keep the sole in place.

Everything else on the shoe is fine, tread is good, nothing else is tearing or ripping, they still feel great. This is definitely a great shoe for someone wanting an introduction to minimalist footwear, and is good for pretty much any application.

I am overall happy with the flexibility and flat sole design of these shoes, however, I am not 100% happy with the comfort. Flat sole shoes are not new to me, I am already used to wearing flat soles in my daily worn lightweight boots, my flipflops, and of course barefoot.

Also, I followed the sizing recommendation to get my usual size, but had to exchange for a half size up. I do have extraordinarily high arches, as in the outer edge of my foot does not touch the ground, so I have always had to wear arch supports in my shoes.

I was hoping to avoid that in these shoes with all the hype about how much better they are for your foot muscles and flexibility, etc, but after 2 weeks of daily wear my feet ached all through my arches and heels.

They ached throughout the day and especially after having been off my feet for a while (most especially when my feet hit the floor for the first time in the mornings), I had to massage my feet to alleviate the pain so I could walk normally.

It’s strange because I can go all day barefooted or in my flat flipflops and never have such foot pain. It’s almost like these shoes made me step differently too, my heels seem to *pound* the ground with each step.

So, I finally put arch support insoles in them (not big bulky inserts, I use the type that are just enough to curve up into my arches and provide a small pad under my heels) and my foot pain immediately subsided.

Their wide design is great, though. I also have very wide feet, just across the ball of my foot and toes, right at 4″ across. These shoes have a wide enough toe box that even my toes can still spread and I don’t get a pinch in the pad of my foot.

The are very high quality shoes, I expect them to last good while. Despite my discomfort, I would recommend them to people to get their foot back to a natural position of flat on the ground. (Whether they need insole inserts or not.

).

Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit Shoes Review The Nike react infinity run flyknit shoes are made for road running as well as work well for everyday use. They also work well in the trails although I would recommend running spikes if you run the trails a lot.

They come in variety of different colors and sizes with a very comfortable fit. They are by far the best running shoes I have ever used, and their shape and design improved my running form almost immediately.

The Nike react infinity run flyknit shoes have a lightweight fit with a stable feel. They have a more durable design with a flexible fit. Their higher foam sole gives for a softer feel while their wider base provides more stability.

They feature three main layers keep your feet secure while you’re running as well is designed to reduce injury to keep you on the run. The shape of the midsole helps the phases of a runner’s stride and creates flexibility at the toe which helps propel you forward.

The midstance provides for a cushioning at contact for a smoother run and it almost feels like you’re running or walking on cushion. When I run in the Nike infinity run flyknit shoes I just feel faster.

The soles design propels you forward and gives your bounce in your step. The curved sole helps you strike the ground on your toes which improves your stride and by landing on your toes you have a lesser chance of injury.

A faster tempo is guaranteed with running in them. Their vaporfly like rocker sole shape merges takeoff and landing into a smoother transition. This causes very little energy to be lost in stride so your legs will feel fresher longer throughout your run.

They have a sleek design that is comfortable for running but also for everyday use. They have a soft feel for walking or just chilling with your friends although the price is a little hefty if you’re only looking for shoes for everyday use.

They have a titer fit so if you are looking for slip on shoes, I would not recommend them although this does provide for a very comfortable fit for everyday use and running. If you are not particularly a runner but need athletic shoes these will be perfect.

Their easy to carry around and the lightweight fit is good for warming up for your game or just going to the gym. They do cost around $160 dollars although they are worth it. After wearing these shoes, I would highly recommend them especially to runners.

If you need a shoe that will give you a bounce in your step with a comfortable feel the Nike react infinity run flyknit shoes are the shoes for you. There durable design will last you for a long time however you wear them, running or just hanging out.

There price may be on the higher end at $160 but the Nike react infinity run flyknit shoes are worth it. If you need a new pair of kicks, I would highly recommend checking them out.

I’ve been wearing Nike’s Air Zoom Pegasus 38 for about 3 days now. My first impression after unpacking was that the shoe looked and felt awesome! I thought that the coloring on the lace loops are not colors I would choose but I’ve still rocked these as much as possible since they came in! The lace loops are like a multi-coloring of pink, purple, and aqua and it looks sweet against the black and white of the shoe but it’s just not my normal color palette when choosing shoes.

The shoes are incredibly light, and the materials are really high quality compared to other running shoes I’ve owned. The upper sole around the front doesn’t feel like I can poke my toe through when putting some miles on them and the tongue is cushioned but not overly padded so it’s really comfortable.

I’ve got a slightly wide foot and usually I buy my every day shoes a little big to have the right width if they don’t come in a wide. However, these shoes fit like they were custom made for me! When I purchase running shoes I typically go a half size smaller but these shoes are true to fit and a little giving on the sides so I’m glad I got my correct foot size and didn’t overshoot for width.

They aren’t too constricting even when lacing them up pretty tight. I love the padding on the bottom sole and even after some pretty heavy use these past 3 days, I haven’t had creases really form. I’ve clocked in about 15 miles equally off trail in a rock/ clay mix, on asphalt, and on a treadmill and have not had any foot soreness from breaking them in.

The back like 1/2 inch of the shoe doesn’t seem to ever touch the ground but I have noticed that off asphalt that part helped me keep my balance if I hit a hole or rock while running. I’m a sneaker freak even when buying shoes for a purpose and I’ve been really happy about the way people have turned to look at my shoes when running or even just wearing them today to the dentist’s office.

It’s a running shoe but it goes with so much. Again, my only complaint was that the coloring on the loops for the laces and the aqua for the sole is not my typical style or color choice, but I’ve taken it as a badge to prove I’m still looking good even in those colors.

These are honestly some of the most comfortable running shoes I own and I’m so happy to own them!.

The balance of support, flexibility, and cushion are perfect. I feel the actual muscles in my feet feeling the surface under the shoe and activating accordingly, but with the right support. I did go up a full size, and probably would have done half a size up except that the toe box height is pretty…tight.

Foot type: a tiny bit wider but not wide sized, slightly low arches (not flat footed). Additionally, I actually got these to wear generally because I have a broken ankle (I’m in the stage of being out of the boot but wearing compression socks) and my mush led fee way more activated in this shoe, even more than the other models of altra (and I know you’re not supposed to use these soles on pavement, but…wearing them out is a small price to pay).

Note that I also hiked/jogged on trails in an earlier iteration of these shoes, and the ankle padding and structure isn’t as supportive as these (therefore why I bought these for the ankle recovery) — and also I was a 7 on those but an 8 in these.

One criticism: dang these colors make me feel like a clown. Even the men’s colors are more subtle. Altra, please make a basic black or white. Some people like jewel tones with high contrast in the same shoe, and some people like pink…but I bet most of your customer base would like a classic, basic, neutrally toned option.

First, the positive: these are super cute compared to other versions of the Superior. Great color options, and I really like the overall look. Also, I believe these are true to size. Other reviews are saying these run small, but I wear an 8.

5 in every running and hiking shoe I own, and the 8. 5 fits me perfectly, as far as length is concerned. ( i think there may be confusion among customers because the sizing throughout the last few models has been really inconsistent.

The 4s ran super long). Now for the negative: I’ve been hiking in the Superior since version 2. 0, and I’m sad to say that these don’t have that sock- like, snug, flexible feel that the 2s, 4s, and 4.

5s had. They feel a bit clunky and clumsy, not what I expect from the Superior. Also, i am unable to tighten the laces all the way, because when I do, it causes pain across the top of my foot and numbness.

So, I can’t get that snug feel through the mid foot and my foot is kind of slipping around. I think the discomfort has to do with the way the side reinforcements ( that attach to the laces) do not extend at enough toward the center of the top of the foot.

There is a lot of pressure on top of my foot from the laces, and I would prefer each side of the lace to be closer together – more shoe across the top of my foot, less lace. These are a great looking shoe, and I really wish they had that “signature” superior feel.

I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next version!.

Disclaimer: I’m a minimalist running shoe kind of bloke, and I’m running short fast (as I can at any rate) steep runs on technical trails. This shoe’s bloody nigh on perfect. First off, it’s super light, this is a fast shoe.

I have wide feet and the toe box is just right: accommodating but not overly spacious. I love the padded, stitched-in tongue and the softness and pliability of the uppers. With the rear lace eyelet, your foot can be bound in perfectly, snug and secure; the heel box is very supportive too: I have zero fear of the shoe spinning around on my foot or being sucked off by thick mud.

The insole is pretty good too- typically I swap out insoles for superfeet (high arches) but after a few runs in these, I will probably stick with the insole as it comes. The sole is good, there’s feel for the terrain and adequate protection from root and rock, and most importantly the grip seems good on the deep descents.

I have a short distance (about 1/4 mile) of unpaved road on one of my routes, and the shoe’s fine with that but you wouldn’t want to wear these for any sort of road running, that’s not what they’re for! As a dedicated trail shoe, for short hard runs I think this is perfect.

Thank you Altra!.

I have bought vivobarefoot shoes religiously for years. I was buying this shoe again since I loved it much because I was worried it would go out of stock. After I tried the new pair on I realized the sole had a different cut than before and it doesn’t fit my foot as nice.

The forefoot is narrower and no longer shapes around the big toe as well. These shoes no longer feel that they take the natural shape of a foot, which vivobarefoot has been known for. I noticed the print of the size in the tongue was different as well so I’m guessing they have a different manufacturer.

My other recent vivobarefoot purchases have been just as disappointing. I hope vivobarefoot will correct this and go back to their original cut of the sole, otherwise I’m afraid I will no longer be buying their products.

Remarkable, improved experience with lifting weights. I am 71 years of age and I have been weight lifting for over 15 years as part of my care plan for aging well. The program I do involves 1. Squats 2.

Snatch grip deadlifts 3. Dead lifts 4. Press I feel overwhelmingly grounded. Your product is extraordinary. My daughter who lives in England sent me your product details. Initially I felt it was too expensive however after experiencing how positive my training became, IT WAS WORTH EVERY CENT.

Guys. is it ok to be in love with a shoe this much! This is a remarkably well crafted product, well engineered, incredibly comfortable, superb composition of materials, great quality, stylish in my opinion and most importantly.

my feet love it! I’ve battled for a very long time to find comfortable shoes. Wish I had discovered Vivobarefoot much earlier in my life and been kinder to my feet. And in case I hadn’t mentioned it already.

I love it! The entire shopping experience was great, the online store is smooth and simple, the communication throughout the process prompt and the delivery was punctual and the final packaged item signed with a personal note, classy.

Look forward to my next pair, thanks guys.

I’ve been wearing FiveFingers shoes since 2014. I’ve worn many models over the years, from slip-on KSO versions to the insulated Trek Ascent. For the past 4-5 years or so I have been mostly wearing Trek Ascent models.

When attempting to buy new Trek Ascents, I was dismayed to learn they were no longer sold. I purchased both the V-Alpha and the V-Trail 2. 0; although, I was concerned about the V-Trail 2. 0 because the reviews seemed kind of low, especially compared to the V-Alpha.

Except for the KSO slip-on models I have owned, I always wear wool Injinji toe socks with my FiveFingers. So some of the negative reviews of the V-Trail 2. 0 seemed they might not apply to me cause the complaints seemed isolated to barefoot wear.

I first tried on the V-Alpha and was highly impressed. But it was no contest once I tried on the V-Trail 2. 0; it was the shoe for me. I have been wearing the V-Trail 2. 0 daily since July 2022. I take daily walks from 1-2 hours covering trails, grass, gravel, and cement.

And the V-Trail 2. 0 is amazing! The shoe offers fantastic ground feel yet my feet are well protected from sharp rocks and pointy gravel. Many times while wearing Trek Ascents I would pull my foot up in Ouch! due to stepping on a pointing stone.

Not with the V-Trail 2. 0! I walk over pointy rocks lining railroad tracks with no problem whatsoever, something I couldn’t do easily with Trek Ascents. Also, the V-Trail 2. 0 is a very ankle stabilizing shoe.

I find it excellent for preventing turned ankles and also for preventing stubbed toes. Trails I walk often have protruding roots and embedded rocks sticking up from ground. This shoe handles these potential hazards better than any other shoe I’ve worn.

The shoe is very open feeling in the toes allowing full expansion of the foot with great ground feel. There is more excellence I could speak to but this review is limiting me from writing more. I can’t recommend this shoe highly enough!.

These shoes are no where near the quality of the Spidiron Elite MRs. I would kill to have another pair of those. Why oh why did Vibrant replace them with this complete trash. I’ve been a loyal customer for years but I can’t wear these shoes.

They leave my feet MANGLED after only 5 miles. GARBAGE. No amount of breaking in has fixed it. Sadly I haven’t been able to wear five finger shoes since they discontinued the Spidiron – the best shoes EVER made.

Hope this a one time fumble and not a new direction. If it is a new direction, the direction they are heading is out of business. Complete fail. Zero stars. Angry customer. Come on guys I’ve been waiting forever for you to release a new model and get shoes made for real feet back on the market.

Oh well. RIP Five fingers.

I got that e-mail notification from Vibram to review my recent purchase and was so full of expectation because of the previous version that I answered before I tried this 2. 0 version. After, I came here to see other people thoughts, and with so much negativity I got afraid that I’d made a mistake, even with the discount on the purchase.

Now I’m here to reinforce that this shoes are awesome – It’s almost like you have 2 pairs of hands, 1 grabbing ground! Many people are saying the size number isn’t right – that this version is shorter!? – I compared the two and didn’t see the diference in my case (I’m a regular 40) – Maybe because the 2.

0 is more resistant they feel (at beggining) tighter – then after some good jumps the self adaptive lug goes to place with no signs of blisters or injured feef. I haven’t washed mine yet but i bet they will become softer with time.

Anyway, it’s one of the things i complained about the previous version – that they are too soft, but they resisted without any holes and I had some kicking rocks accidents or steping on thorns. OUTX!! – With this 2.

0 I already made that experience with thorns, rocks & muddy/wet terrain – you hardly feel any of those. The only drawbak is that this rubber band protecting your fingers, if exposed directry to the sun, will become very hot! Just wet it and you’ll be fine.

For me it’s a mission accomplished, anytime anywhere!.

I am in love with my new VIVOBAREFOOT shoes, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my normal sneakers! Truly a barefoot convert! I love how minimalist these shoes are, they are super lightweight and so flexible my foot can just do its natural thing! As someone who has had bunion surgery I never wanted to go back to that so I started researching and found barefoot shoes, highly recommend them for everyone! I play indoor netball and have done cricket training in these shoes and they perform beautifully.

The movement I have in these is just perfection! Normally a size 8 in sneakers wearing a 39.

Absolutely love these shoes. These are my first pair of barefoot shoes and they are sooooo comfy I will be purchasing another pair very soon. Perfect fit thanks to the guys at Sole Mechanics!!! Would highly recommend these to anyone.

These shoes are soooo comfortable! Such a different concept to the shoes that I use to wear (told were best for my feet). I would get tightness in my calves/achillies, but not anymore!

So here’s the deal. I own a newer pair of the trail glove 4’s. I love them. A lot! maybe my all time favorite shoe. But they’re almost impossible to find so I decided to give the trail glove 5’s a shot especially since I got them at an unbelievable price.

I’ve had them for a few days and have used them to go disc golfing twice out in the woods. My initial impression was they were too stiff and the arch was a little too high. But… now that I’ve worn them a few times, I really beginning to like them.

They are starting to fit more like my 4’s every day. Very comfortable and the arch seems to settle quite a bit the more I wear them. I still feel it a bit but not as much as in the beginning. I wore one of the 4’s on one foot and the 5 on the other and the difference is little.

I think I still like the 4’s by a smidge but the 5’s are good. I am not a runner so that may make a complete difference about how I feel. But for what I use them for? They’re great!.

These shoes are both comfortable and cute. I have custom orthotic insoles that I usually switch between shoes due to neuromas on both feet. I actually could wear these shoes without changing the insole.

That never happens. Not only can I wear them, but I also played soccer in them (not planning on it, it just happened). Blew my mind b/c walking in shoes without the custom insoles is one thing, but staying on my toes with quick direction changes would definitely usually kill my feet.

but it didn’t. Without question, they run big, and have a wide toe box. Which is probably why my neuroma didn’t hurt. I wear a 10 women’s in all of my sneakers, but I saw where all of the reviews said it ran big.

Since I was buying it, not for hiking, but for something cute to wear with my athleisure wear, I didn’t want it to look like I had a giant foot (which a size 10 always does), so I was excited to try a half a size down and see how it went.

So I ordered a 9. 5. I have done this before, and of course, while it’s more pleasing to the eye, I usually need the extra space so my feet don’t squish at all on the neuroma, and a 9. 5 usually would hurt some, even with the custom orthotic.

No pain in these since they run big and the toe box is wider. I actually am curious to see how I would have done with a 9. Almost feel like I have even a little more extra room in the 9. 5 and could possibly get away with a 9.

BUT, I didn’t even attempt to send back/swap because I didn’t want to do the back and forth if the 9 was too small and I had to go back to the 9. 5. When these bite the dust, I will be ordering another pair, in which case, I’ll try a 9.

So I’d say order 1/2 down definitely, but even possibly and entire size down (can’t confirm this).

Im an avid runner – approx. 55 miles per week – and am used to your standard running shoe style. Embracing the minimalist approach to life where less is more, I wanted to try some different. These shoes fit the bill! There is certainly less impact cushioning than a standard running shoe but these are remarkably comfortable.

You will feel more of the ground texture under your feet and it takes some getting used to. They are very light weight and breathe well. I would not recommend completing your typical run wearing these for the entire duration the first time.

Try some general daily use and then some longer walks and short runs working up to your regular distance. They do run about a half size large. I wear a 10 shoe but this shoe in a 9. 5 fit perfectly. Regarding width, these also seem to be on the slightly wider side but, again, nothing significant.

All in all, my experience thus far is this is a great shoe. Once these are worn out and need retired, I would certainly consider replacing them with another pair.

The big toe compartment has some fabric inside that sticks out making the shoe so annoying to wear. Every step my big toes rub against it. When I put my finger inside the shoe, I can feel about 3mm of fabric sticking out in each of the shoes big toe compartment.

Each toe compartment actually has fabric sticking out like this, but since my toes didn’t reach the end of those, I don’t feel it. For reference when I put my finger in to feel the big toe compartment of my kso evo’s, those were completely smooth.

Really disappointing and I’m surprised they went with a design like this.

I was eager to try these out. But unfortunately none of the two sizes that my other Vibram shoes turn out to fit really worked. EU 43 was too tight – my toes could not bend up without causing a lot of tension in the shoe.

44 was too big so that my longest toe had too much empty space in front of it. My other vibrant fit perfectly well. V-treks,V-runs and CTV LMs at size 43 and KSO Evo and Eco at size 44 The shaped sole had a good feeling – I’m not sure if I liked the strong padding.

Anyway I had to return them being a bit disappointed about the fit.

I had the V-Run before (2 times with around 1k km each). I had to glue the soles (black-yellow) few times, but upper material was still so good, that I want to keep them. The Retro come with new soles and new upper material.

The foots feel warmer in these material. The soles have a great barefoot feeling. Better than old V-Run. Hope they’ll also last 1k km.

Bought these to replace an ageing pair of Salming and defunct Salomon shoes. They are a good fit for me, I like a wider shoe with some wiggle room. I’m 84kg so not light on a shoe. Outer is fairly stiff but this makes them nice and robust in the rough stuff.

The sole is fairly stiff too and feels a little unforgiving at first but they are surprisingly comfortable as they retain their cushioning throughout the run. You wouldn’t describe them as plush but they have a nice ride, firm but feels very natural.

My first run was a 12k through undulating woodland and was a mixed bag of mud, stones and roots. Shoes coped really well, decent grip in the mud without being too grippy on hardpack, which can feel draggy if the lugs are too big.

Very supportive, feet stayed dry and comfortable. Recommended.

I LOVED my Under Armour Women’s Charged Bandit 5 Running Shoes. I bought the Halo Grey Size 7. ID 1535748. They were the most comfortable shoes I think I’ve ever worn. They were so light weight I would forget I had shoes on! The mesh allowed my feet to breathe it was so refreshing.

The huge bonus was the fact they were so stylish!! Overall one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. You may have noticed I’ve talked about these shoes in the past tense. That’s because these shoes are so nice two weeks after I purchased them my house was broke into and unfortunately my shoes were one of the things taken.

Believe it or not they were the one thing I was most heart broken over!! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a quality stylish comfortable shoes.

My original purchase for these shoes was the wrong size and I realised a little later in the day. I contacted Rebel and informed them and they provided the easy return process for when I received the incorrect size.

Due to this, I was able to order the ‘correct’ size for the 2 x shoes that I ordered straight away, knowing that there wasn’t an issue with returning them. Love the shoes, comfortable and look good. So good that I’m only wearing them to the gym as I don’t want to get them dirty.

First time I have been like this but I think its due to my son being a shoe fan. In saying all this Under Armour sizing is a little smaller and I should have kept the first ones which were the incorrect size but would in fact have fitted perfectly.

(I didn’t even try them on just sent them straight back).

Last month I purchased the vapor glove 4, after owning a pair of 2 (possibly 3 series) many years ago with that full expectation of feeling more grounded while still having a functional everyday/training shoe.

These did not and have yet too disappoint! Most comfortable minimalist footwear I’ve personally worn. I’m also know to be a tank with my shoes. Since owning them the activities they have exceeded expectations in are: every day work shoes, the gym, trail walking and hiking, running errands and just all around daily shoe.

The only minor inconvenience is that weekly or bi-weekly washing are a must, especially if you skip socks a few times and they develop a funk. But again, quick wash and air dry and there golden. Would highly recommend for individuals who prefer bare feet, feeling more connected with the ground while still providing protection.

The last holdout from several prior Merrell trail running shoes that fit my feet well. It seems Merrell has transitioned to shoes with a more narrow toe box and longer length, but these work well for me.

I am sure this pair is one of the last few available. Thank you Dillards.

Just received the shoe. Delivery done from USA to Singapore in 2 weeks with good tracking so very satisfied. Very happy with shoe. Fits perfectly with enough ground feel and some protection and a little bit of arch support for a barefoot shoe just to make it more comforatble.

I live in Argentina and Ive been using Vibrams since they came out. this means each time I buy some, I have to get someone to bring them over from abroad and cant return them. Had people buy vibrams for me in Italy, Spain and USA.

Every time I buy them I end up not being able to use at least one pair because of the constant changes in size. Not only that, I have wide beefy feet from using minimalist shoes. so it’s kind of ironic that I need to buy bigger and bigger vibrams because of how narrow they are being made.

Originally there was a time when all shoes changed sizes because they started to be made in a new factory, It was a nasty surprise when that happened since I had to give away 3 pairs of shoes that my wide feed didnt fit into.

ever since that happened i decided to buy only one pair at a time and ever since I ALWAYS had problems. And I get it. Maybe you totally lost control of the manufacturing process. What I dont get, is why the sizing charts are not including width and lenght in them.

I’m attaching pictures with a measuring tape to compare the 3 shoes I still have. You’ll notice that the new shoes are almost an inch narrower, that the previous vibrams, and those were already narrower than the ones before.

Sadly this is the last time I’m buying vibrams. Manufacturing is too unpredictable. even If I had the option to return them, I think the constant changes are not a good customer retention policy.

I’ve used KSO EVO since their intro (10+ years?). This model is like a racing glove for feet; cozy, snug but not tight, protective, grippy. I also run barefoot but when I want something on my feet these are easily the closest to barefoot I’ve ever had.

The same goes for walking/hiking. In the gym, they provide the fully grounded footfall you need for many acgivities; same for yoga (if you don’t like bare feet). For me, this footwear lasts nearly forever.

My walk/run stride is slightly different/improved and my soles wear almost exclusively on the *ball* of the foot. And because of my barefoot stride, my feet fall so lightly there’s hardly any wear at all.

I once clocked a pair of Bikilas at over 3,000 km of running and gave up with them still going strong. Try that with your average “running” shoe. If you’ve never walked/run in minimalist footwear, you’d do well to introduce FiveFingers gradually to your body.

Once you find your stride, you’ll wonder how you ever wore those foamy, puffy, floofy, oddly engineered and reeeeeaaaallly expensive foot traps that manufacturers hawk with their marketing dollars.

I’ve been wearing Lems barefoot shoes for a couple years for the health benefits and ground feel of a flat, wide shoe that restricts my feet as little as possible. Now, I can’t stand wearing traditional narrow toebox shoes with raised heels.

However, Lems is still a bit narrow in the midfoot and stiff. I bought these for running and they are really wide, (the widest shoe I’ve worn), thin, and flexible. They are light, stable, and feel like you’re barely wearing shoes).

It’s also nice to be able to spread your toes more, especially for running. However, I have a few minor complaints. There is stitching on the bottom that rubs on your skin, but this is solved with toe socks.

There is a bit of pressure on the big toe of one foot when walking, but no problems running. Lastly, you can feel all the rock salt dig into your foot during the winter (ground feel has it’s cons). Also it might look weird lol but that’s ok.

Longtime fan of minimalist running shoes. Previously owned New Balance Minimus and TSLA trail runners. These are sturdier than the New Balance and more lightweight than the TSLA. Even the laces are lightweight, and hold their ties a lot better than New Balance laces do.

The one minor gripe is that there is a bit of a cosmetic fold on the instep near the heal which sort of sticks out a half inch; it doesn’t affect feel but it looks a little odd. Otherwise, happy with the feel, which is the most important thing.

Gotta love vibram soles.

These shoes are my first minimal footwear, and I really love them. I’ve wanted to try shoes that are more minimal for a while and I was advised to transition gently to them from more traditional footwear.

I introduced these slowly into my rotation, starting from about two hours a day on my feet over a period of several months into full-time, all the time, for everything. I really really like them. Putting on other shoes feels kind of like wearing high heels (I’d imagine).

This, however, is not a shoe for everyone and every person. The toe box, as mentioned by other reviewers, is not for the wide-footed among us; I have a medium-narrow foot and the toebox is pretty comfortably snug.

There are so many wide-footed minimal shoes out there, but these are not one of them. The laces have to be very specifically tightened over the foot, I find, else they get really tight in some spots and loose in others – it’s not a slip-on shoe, more like a glove.

As for durability. I’ve been wearing one pair all the time, for everything, as I said. I’ve had them for just about a year, and the biggest issues with durability is with the gray piece that runs over the back of the toebox – it started splitting pretty early, but does not impact the function of the shoe whatsoever.

Further, the textured knobs on the sole started rubbing away slowly (to be completely expected); they lasted about a year for me. which is totally reasonable. I loved them so much, I bought a second pair after a few months that I can’t wait to get into, but the first one just won’t give up.

Awesome minimal shoes.

I bought a pair of these in 2018 not so much for trail running but for a general minimalist shoe. I had a pair of original Trail Gloves which I bought back in ~2008/9 which I just finally had to replace.

I wore these shoes literally for a year mostly walking on pavement and the sole became completely useless after that time other than for walking on pavement. All grip disappeared and all the pads turned completely smooth and slick.

They are no longer suitable for using on any sort of terrain. I understand these are designed to be a minimalist trail running shoe, not an everyday shoe for walking around. but I found the comfortable enough for that purpose and was quite disappointed by how quickly the soles wore out, especially compared to my original Trail gloves which lasted for many years.

I give them 4 stars because they ARE a good shoe, but don’t expect the sole to last long if you are walking around in pavement all the time.

I’ve worn these for years and they are my go-to walking, adventure, travel, wear-all-day-if-I have-to shoe. The toe box is wide; the shoe has only a 2mm heel rise. They were once my running shoe – I have neutral “bare-foot” gait and I just need enough shoe to protect my skin.

The Vibram sole has great grip on rocks, tile, slippery smooth surfaces of all kinds. Since they have no internal structure there isn’t anything to wear out as with most running shoes, so I ended up wearing them for everything.

After years, there are holes in the uppers and I’ve worn the rubber sole out almost to the insole. I’m glad I found them on Ebay!.

Well, I hate leaving less than stellar reviews, but I’ll try to be fair and honest, in hopes it’s reviews like this that make a product better in the future. I originally got these shoes for backpacking.

After wearing them for one backpacking trip, and then for maybe 6 months of daily use, I noticed the shoe coming apart around the bottom of the shoe, mostly in the front. I definitely hadn’t walked for 5000 miles, which is what the warrantee covers.

I contacted customer support and they were fantastic. They had me take pictures of the defects, and after confirming my date of purchase etc, I was able to send them back and get another pair. The customer service representative told me by the looks of things, the first pair of shoes had a defect and the glue didn’t hold the shoe together, but defects were rare.

Anyway, I got the second pair of shoes and again, wore them on a backpacking trip (16 total miles), and noticed upon my return, the shoe was already starting to come apart at the toe box area. At this point, I don’t want to continue to hassle customer service and it’s really inconvenient to continue to return the shoes every time there’s a problem, and at this point, I’m assuming it’s not a defect, but instead just a flaw in the product itself, whether that’s materials, or just how the shoe is put together.

I really wish these shoes lasted a lot longer, like maybe the soles went out before the actual shoe, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. While I wore the shoes they were impressive. During my backpacking trip, my feet didn’t hurt, I was able to hop across rocks in rivers to cross them without slipping at all, and they’re light shoes which is what I also liked about them.

Beyond them seeming to fall apart way to easily, I liked the shoes and was impressed with the customer service. I gave the shoes 3* because I thought they were comfortable, they had great traction, and customer service would probably replace them again if I had the fortitude to make another request.

I’d just rather buy a different brand of shoe at this point.

Would you attempt to summit Everest in a light fleece and shorts? In nearly all cases, these shoes are a suboptimal gear choice. The barefoot shoe myth has been debunked, which is why you don’t see professional athletes competing in barefoot shoes.

If you prioritize wearing barefoot shoes over comfort, safety, performance, distance, and longevity, then these could be your shoes. Even so, there are many other similar barefoot options available for much less than these.

In my experience, these shoes are poorly made with cheap materials. The outsole began to separate on both shoes in under 30 miles. The outsole is comically slippery in all wet conditions, like walking on an ice rink.

I fell and sprained my wrist after slipping on a wet tree root. I hiked through the pain of wearing these, thinking my feet would “get stronger” — consistent with the barefoot shoe propaganda — but I ended up with severe, chronic injuries.

If you insist on wearing these, I suggest checking with a podiatrist or knowledgeable professional first to spare yourself the debilitating pain I continue to have after wearing these shoes. I wish I would not have drank the barefoot shoe Kool Aid and worn these.

I am disappointed and angry to still be living with the pain and injuries of having tried them.

A word of caution: I developed a severe case of plantar fasciitis — a condition I had never had before — as a result of hiking in these shoes. I have used zero drop shoes for years, and attempted to transition to these slowly and carefully.

I have now been unable to hike for several weeks, and have moderate pain while walking and standing. Initially, I did like the ground feel while wearing these shoes. The traction in mud and soft ground is outstanding.

The grip on wet wood and rock is poor/ non-existent; the worst I have experienced with any trail shoe. The durability of the upper and outsole seem excellent, but the thin ribbon eyelets do not seem durable at all.

The thin ribbons do tend to snag often on all kinds of debris on-trail, and have worn out disproportionately fast. In terms of value, I think these shoes are extremely overpriced relative to the design and performance (my personal injuries aside), and should be closer to competitors in the $40-60 range.

The only use case I could see is for very short, casual hikes. Even so, I think there are far more substantial choices, especially at this price point and with these features.

They are very comfortable though I’m disappointed in the quality in relation to the cost of $100+. I’m still blown away how a minimalist shoe without all the fancy stuff cost that much! Originally I thought the shoes were made in America which they are not, they are made in China.

After less than a year I wore through the original insoles and then the company was out of stock for months. When I finally was able to order new insoles and wear them again I was pleased until the mesh area started getting holes and I’m starting to see heavy wear on other parts.

Lems shoes Primal 2 are my first pair of barefoot shoes! And it feels really good! 🙂 Very glad about this decision, to get them! Thank you very much Urban Kit Supply for such a fast respond and delivery! It is really comfortable to have access to order Lems in Europe! Hope to come back to your store to prepare for winter’s season!.

Hi there, i do like the shoes, but they Are a bit too comfy And the contact with the hrozně could be a bit more intimate (i had a model from another manufacturer för 2 years). Then again, I ve had them just 2 weeks – walking mostly in the forrest, on dirt roads/cobblestone – So far, they work.

Would recommend. Cheers.

I bought these for work where I typically walk around 7miles/25k steps a day in (according to my phone) a day in. The first few hours of breaking them was okay, the discomfort was minimal but by the end of the night I was impressed.

I felt like I could go another 10,000 steps in them. The usual heel pain I’d have at the end of the night is gone with these. They’re very cushiony and work well with mid-high arches. Standing up was nice too and I didn’t feel like dragging my feet or sitting down.

As far as sizing goes, I went up to a size 7. 5 instead of my usual size 7 as they run small. As far as appearance goes, the mesh on the toebox will show your socks pretty good lol so don’t wear any scandalous ones.

There’s also reflective font on the shoes which comes in handy at night. I’m happy with my purchase and hope they hold up well.

Excellent cushion through the heel; does indeed feel more cushion than other shoes! Sparse through the toes and forefoot. This shoe was perfect for me as a narrow foot person who wanted lots of heel and mid-foot cushion for standing at work all day.

My heels feel much better and I can shift my weight a little and feel the cushion massage. I think with my running stance landing more on the front of the foot, I would want more cushion there (if I was to wear these running).

For trail running in particular, I would want a stiffer sole and more insulation at the front.

These are as amazing as I’d hoped. They do fit a bit narrow, so if you have wide feet these might not be for you. They are very comfortable. I haven’t used them for running yet, but walking around all day for work, they have been amazing right out of the box.

Great ventilation, which is why I got them, really shows up with even a mild breeze. Got caught in the rain in the morning, totally soaked, were almost totally dry by the end of the day. Super comfortable, great ventilation, incredible cushioning.

Highly recommended.