The Best Barefoot Shoes for Walking or Running

Vivobarefoot's Primus Trail shoes have been in this guide in various guises since it launched years ago, but this latest version is their best. While I have picked the Merrell Vapor Glove over these for most people, these are my favorite running shoes. If I lived in Southern California or the desert, I'd probably stick with the Merrells, since they're cheaper. But I don't. I live in a climate that turns to complete muddy mess for four months of the year and a frozen world of snow for another four.

That's where Vivobarefoot's all-weather Primus Trail come in. They are not kidding about the all-weather. These really do keep my feet dry in anything I've thrown at them. Except like, running through a river, but no shoe stays dry when you submerge it. Despite this, my feet don't feel overly suffocated, nor do they end up a soaked sweaty mess (pro tip: get these Minus33 Merino Trail Running running socks ($23), they will change your life). Originally I disliked the outer material of these, which makes noise at first, but that went away as these broke in and these are now my go-to running shoes.

Want to get as close to the ground as possible? The 3-mm stack height in these Vivobarefoot Sensus shoes is the smallest I've been able to find, making them the best shoes for barefoot minimalists. The leather uppers are soft and comfortable, molding to your feet like a pair of gloves. They have tiny vent slats cut in the leather, but these are on the warmer side and would not be my top pick for hot summer days (see the Xero sandals above for summer). The rest of the time, though, these are the shoes I wear.

The side stitching that attaches the upper to the outsole gives these shoes an “elfin” look, according to my daughter, but that stitching also makes the Sensus extremely flexible, increasing the range of motion your foot has when walking. Your foot can easily roll as you walk on the ground. I do occasionally hit a piece of gravel that I feel (not in a good way), but otherwise there's enough padding that you don't have to think about where you step, but plenty of barefoot feel to make them an enjoyable shoe to walk and run in.

I've tried almost a dozen barefoot boots for snowy conditions, and Vivobarefoot’s Magna Forest ESC are my favorite for most people. The 7-mm lug height offers impressive traction in snow and ice, though there is a corresponding loss of ground feel. Still, I haven't tried anything with better traction, and in snow and ice I prioritize traction over ground feel. The tops of these have a neoprene collar that doesn't make them entirely waterproof but does a good job of keeping snow and ice out in most scenarios. (If you're sinking in up to your knees, you're beyond the capabilities of these boots.) Unlike most boots these aren't too heavy, either.

All that said, if you have to survive a real winter—New England, northern Midwest, etc.—I prefer the heavier-duty Tracker Forest Esc ($280). They have the same excellent sole but feature an all-leather upper that's waterproof (as much as shoes can be) and a beefier construction that feels more durable. I've worn these down to –25 F, and with some good, heavy wool socks my feet were toasty warm.

There is not a ton of scientific research to back the concept of grounding, or being in direct contact with the earth (you can read about here if you're new to the idea), but my personal experience has been interesting enough that I continue to do it everyday. Unfortunately, while barefoot shoes are wonderful for foot health, biomechanics, balance, ground feel, and dozens of other reasons, they're still usually made with synthetic soles, so you don't get the benefits of grounding. Vivobarefoot's new Pilgrim boots change that, allowing you to ground without taking off your shoes.

I've been testing these extensively for almost a year now. Comfort-wise, I love these as boots. They're the most minimally=soled boot on this page, so if you want great ground feel, a wide toe box, and minimal padding in a boot, they're worth it for that alone. The one downside to this is that walking in the snow, my feet did get colder, but that's true of any thin-soled shoe. The grounding aspect is more difficult to show in words other than to say that I have tested it with a continuity tester and it does indeed keep you grounded. For more on how I tested, check out this video from Vivobarefoot trainer and grounding expert Joshua Holland. I used the same methods with nearly identical results. If you're interested in earthing but can't go barefoot as much as you'd like, these boots offer a way to ground without getting your soles dirty.

If you've never run in sandals before, Luna's Mono Winged Edition is a great way to start. These are technically what I (and Luna) call “zero-drop,” rather than “barefoot.” The soles are thick enough to provide a good cushion—you're less likely to bruise your feet the first time you run in them. At the same time, the strap design allows your ankle to get used to moving around in a way that modern running shoes do not allow, easing the transition to sandals and barefoot style shoes. That's not to say that veteran barefoot runners won't enjoy them as well. I love them for hard surfaces, like concrete and asphalt. Experienced barefoot enthusiasts looking for a thinner sandal might like Luna's Venado sandals ($95), which lack the trail-friendly sole but are much thinner.

At first glance the D-Trail looks like the Z-Trail with a slightly different strap pattern. It is that, the bottom of the sole is the same (Xero's 5.5-mm FeelTrue rubber outsoles), but it also adds a wide swath of soft padding between your feet and the straps. I find the D-Trail to be more comfortable than the Z-Trail thanks to the padding under the strap. Because the toe and arch strap padding extends out wider than strap, the D-Trails end up feeling every bit as secure on your foot, possibly more so, than the Z-Trails, despite having fewer straps. I also like that the hook-and-loop closure makes it easier to get these on and off. They are also made with vegan-friendly materials.

One thing to note, there is no heel cup here like you have in the Z-Trail and Z-Trek sandals. I was worried this might allow more debris to get under my shoe, but I've not found that to be the case.

My wife came back from her first run in these Softstar Primal RunAmocs and said they were so good, she'd never wear any other shoe again. I agree; they're excellent shoes. The soles are minimal, like those in the rest of this guide, but for some reason they seem softer and let me feel the ground more than many others. The leather uppers are the softest leather I've ever owned and, surprisingly, don't make my feet overly sweaty (which I was worried about going in—again, merino wool socks help a lot). The toe box is wide, almost comically so, but after wearing these you'll never want to go back to a smaller toe box. The more your toes can move, the better you will run.

If you routinely run in muddy conditions, I'd suggest the Megagrip model, which uses a Vibram sole with more traction on it. My other suggestion is that you use Softstar's sizing guide but then order a full size bigger, as all three pairs I tested were on the small side. I should also note that Softstar makes some great barefoot shoes for children as well.

WIRED readers are big Freet fans. I got quite a few emails suggesting I try these, and I'm glad I did because the Tangas are my new favorite around-the-house shoes. The single-piece mesh upper is made of recycled coffee grounds, so they lean on the positive side of the sliding scale that is environmental friendliness. They're also very comfortable, and the mesh fabric is nicely breathable for warm days.

The Tangas sport a thicker 6.5-mm sole out of the box, but it's easy to pull out the insole and reduce that down to 4 mm if you want a thinner feel. This makes them a good way to start your barefoot journey, since you can reduce the amount of padding as you go.

★ Alternative: Xero's Pagosa slippers ($70, Men's/Women's) aren't nearly as robust as the Freet Tangas, but make a good slip-on for around-the-house wear in cooler months. They're vegan (fake wool) and keep your feet toasty without feeling trapped. My only complaint is that the soles squeak loudly on my floors, YMMV.

WIRED readers emailed me asking about barefoot leather boots so I tested quite a few, and these Lems rose to the top of the stack for two reasons: They're incredibly well made and they have that rugged leather boot look that's otherwise missing in the barefoot shoe world.

Barefoot purists will decry the 13-mm sole; just call it a zero-drop boot if you get hung up on technical terms. That said, I found these somewhat jarring after years in 6-mm sandals. There is very little ground feel, but they're reasonably wide, especially in the toe box, which helps give them a different feel than your typical leather boots. When the snow has been dumping and the thermometer is just a puddle of red well below 0 degrees, these are nice to have.

If you don't understand the virtues of a slip-on boot, you don't live where it snows. Aren't you lucky? Well, this year I lived in snow, and was jealous of these Vivobarefoot Chelsea boots my wife has been wearing all season. They're well made, with the leather glued and stitched to the outsole, which makes them potentially repairable as well (I have not tested it, but Vivobarefoot has a program called ReVivo, which will repair shoes). My wife says they're the most comfortable boot she's worn. The stack height here is 5 mm, though the way the sole wraps around the sides makes these a little stiffer than what barefoot enthusiasts might be used to. That said, these are by all accounts, very comfortable shoes.

★ Alternative: Xero's Ridgeway Chelsea ($160, Men's/Women's) was our previous pick here and it's still a great boot, but I like the repairable aspect of the Vivobarefoot Chelseas. That said, there is no men's version currently available so I suggest the Xero Ridgeway Chelsea. Just be sure to size up. My experience has been that the Ridgeway Chelsea runs small.

The Gobi IV is Vivobarefoot's take on a barefoot chukka-boot style casual dress shoe. The wild hide leather is sourced from independent African cattle farmers. If you're looking for a shoe to wear around town, this is one of the best-looking barefoot shoes you'll find. The leather is soft, and I had no issues with chafing. I didn't mind wearing them without socks; my feet did not get sweaty in the leather, as I'd feared. That said, they're definitely the warmest shoes on this page, so keep that in mind if you live someplace hot.

The sole is a 4mm outer, with a cork inner that ends up at about 6mm overall, giving them good ground feel and plenty of movement. They do run wide—especially in the toe box (a good thing, really)—so I recommend trying these on in person if you can. I've included links to last year's Gobi III, which is very similar and can still be had in some sizes for bit less money.

The original HFS is back. After updating the HFS with what Xero called the HFS II, it is now, by popular demand, making the original HFS again. I've tried several of Xero's various running shoes, but the HFS is my favorite for running on human-made surfaces like concrete and asphalt. That said, they work great on trails too. I went backpacking in mine with a 45-pound pack and had no problems. Barefoot purists (yes, those exist, see the barefoot running subreddit) would 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 mm of padding to soften the impact of running on hard surfaces.

Whenever I tell someone I'm testing barefoot shoes, if they have any response at all it's usually, "Oh, like those five-finger things?" Yes, these are the classic, perhaps 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 are especially not for everyone, but I really like them. The foot-shaped sole and separate toes make them very minimal. I am especially fond of the KSO model ($115), which is lighter and more flexible than the traditional FiveFingers. I've come to appreciate the separation of toes—it does actually help with balance and it allows your toes to naturally splay wider. It also leads to things like walking through undergrowth and ending up with a bouquet of dandelions stuck between your toes.

One of the places going barefoot can be most beneficial is lifting weights. Allowing your toes to splay freely improves balance and stability, and lifting barefoot has been shown to improve foot and ankle strength. If you're like me, you just swing a kettlebell barefoot at home (and yeah, it's scary at first to be barefoot around a kettlebell, but let's face, shoes aren't going to help you if you drop a kettlebell on your foot). But what if you are not like me, and your workouts take you to the gym?

Pedestal footwear has your solution. The company advertises its barefoot, um, shoes saying "it looks like a sock but functions like a shoe," which is pretty close to the truth. These are socks with a nice, grippy, waterproof latex bottom on them. I tried the Treads Crew, though after wearing them for a bit, I wish I'd opted for the low. The sock portion of the shoe is a wool and nylon blend. Unfortunately, I can't find a percentage for the wool content, but I suspect it's low. These feel very synthetic to me. The good news is they don't start to smell until after a few wears. If I were doing a lot of lifting, especially squats, these are the "shoes" I'd be wearing. They're also plenty grippy enough to do yoga on bare floors, if you have some way to keep your hands stable.

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 premade Genesis. These are fast becoming my favorite shoes, but beginners shouldn't start here.

These are a mere 4-mm 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. Buyer beware: They will take some getting used to, and having a cord running between your toes is not for everyone.

Ever since I went to barefoot shoes, the one thing I've really been missing is a good pair of water shoes—something for paddling, stepping into streams while fishing, or wading in shallow bays where old fishhooks might be present. Xero's Aqua Cloud sandals are pretty darn close to what I was after. They're very similar to the Genesis above, but with some extra grip on the foot bed and a raised heel cup to keep out sand and gravel. The result is a shoe that's comfortable and performs well in the water.

I found the Aqua Cloud great for fishing and paddling. (I strapped them to the front of the SUP I tested so I had footwear for forays ashore.) Wading in sandals isn't the best, and that's true of the Aqua Cloud as well as my trusty old Chacos. Still, these are my go-to sandal for all things water-related, up to whitewater rafting, which is the one thing I keep my Chacos around for.

My son was only 1 when he tried these, so he couldn't exactly tell me how much he liked wearing the Vivobarefoot Pluma Knit shoes, but he clearly loved the grip and flexibility they gave him. He had an easier time climbing on slides with these shoes (something all toddlers are on a mission to do) and slipped less often than he did in classic soles. These knit shoes were easy to slide on and off his wide, thick little baby foot and didn’t squeeze. The only downside was that, even though they were knit, they didn’t seem particularly warm, and my son preferred to wear them with socks. A funny upside: Never in my life have I gotten so many compliments on a pair of toddler shoes. —Nena Farrell