Men's Barefoot Running Shoes | Minimalist Cross-Trainer | Zero Drop Sole

These are great shoes! I am NOT a trail runner nor do I hike often. However I cannot stand traditional hiking shoes. Look, weight, comfort and cost for a good pair, especially since I may hike once a year. I picked these up because of the price and look specifically for my once a year camping trip where I knew I'd be on at least one hike. I am as close to a true size 11 and ordered 11's. They fit like a glove, in a good way. They have a bit of compression or maybe should say that they wrap feet with nice pressure all around..First walk was on the hike which was about 2-miles over dirt, rock, gravel and pavement sections. The hike was pretty tough, but my feet did not hurt afterwards. They felt great and better than expected. I now wear these most days of the week,.with jean, khakis and shorts and even have had them at the beach. CON: These this can be very slippery on wet surfaces. Others stated this and glad that I took note because it is true. However, I feel that over time this has lessened to an extent. Grip!! Funny to follow up with 'these things grip!' They do and do it very well on dry surfaces. Would I buy again? Yes.

Update: About 1 year in and I'm ready to order a new pair due to wear. Continued wearing once or twice a week, even took the inserts out. Bought a less hardcore pair to wear the other couples days a week. In general, my knees feel better, my toes spread out and I roll my ankles less. These shoes made me realize that our infrastructure is wrong for humans to be comfortable walking more places. We made everything concrete and pavement, leading to us use using ultra padded shoes, making us walk incorrectly. Walk dirt paths, enjoy the grass and take care of yourself. Wanted to toughen up my feet and started researching. These shoes had a ton of positive reviews so this is what I went with. I only wear these once or twice a week on walks that last roughly 2 miles each. Durability: Not too bad. The shape of the rubber meant that they started wearing pretty quick, but once the high points wore, the wear slowed down a bit. The soles are very soft allowing your feet to feel much more than a standard shoe. Feeling the rocks, gravel and texture of the walking surface is pretty amazing leading to better stability. The upper of the shoe is flexible and after 4 month showing very little wear. I slip my feet in and out of the shoe without retying. Pretty sure the laces are just to shape the upper to your foot, not really yo keep them on like a standard shoe. Comfort: These are barefoot shoes, they are not comfortable by design. Our standard cushy shoes are what lead me to walk the way I do, causing an assortment of issues in my knees and back. The first couple weeks wearing these were brutal. I almost quit. But with time my feet got stronger and I changed the way I walk. Now they are just fine, but not comfortable and not supposed to be. Fun facts: My back does feel better and I'm walking with much less heel impact making my knees happy. I cleaned the gutters wearing these and the grip on the roof was unbelievable. The compound of the rubber griped the shingles and the flexibility of the soles let my feet curve to every angle. Overall I am very happy with these shoes and will probably buy again (I might try a "premium" brand just to see).

Many inaccurate statements in other reviews (mostly the negative ones), so setting the record straight and providing an honest review. The hard part, of course, is that everyone has different opinions on shoes, the hardest thing to get a prevailing/standard opinion on. The incorrect stuff - there is no tongue; yes there is, it's just affixed all the way up the opening like a hunting boot - it has hard plastic shoelace inlets; no it doesn't, it's a soft fabric backed material a little stiffer than the main upper material - there is no padding in the foot; yes there is, but it is thinner than a tennis shoe, more than a leather dress shoe (higher quality ones). It doesn't have memory foam/gel, etc. like many tennis shoes do now. -they are narrow; this is a lot subjective in the reviews, no measurements, but IMHO, they are not wide, and not really advertised like that as I saw it a few days ago. They 'feel' a little tight/different, mostly because the middle section/eyelet material is stiffer than the main shoe material which is very soft and I assume breathable. This could create a 'ridge' you'd feel if laced tight. I generally get 'hot spots' around my ankles in hunting boots, this doesn't feel like that and once broken in (if they do break in) it shouldn't be noticeable. -no heel retention; I list this as a pro below, it actually cups my heel very well, better than most tennis shoes (what wears out first besides the sole) and dress shoes until they're broken in Pros -price - got these on Prime day for $35 which if they last (just received today) is a good deal -main material - it is very soft, shouldn't create any rubbing but for the above perceptions for some, and durability is a question, we'll see -sole - I cannot see why this would be more slippery than any other 'tennis shoe' like bottom, if they get dirty or other slippery substance on them, they may be slippery - never had a pair that wasn't in that situation - heel portion, as above cups very nice and grabs and doesn't slip like most new shoes do at first (or all the time and wear out - at least for me) Cons -you can feel the sole through the cushion - is subjective, my BMI is harder so I feel more in my feet as far as uneven -medium width, not wide; I have wider feet, but I've had shoes too wide too - these are not 'tight' but feel a bit snug, but are also brand new, not sure how much they will 'break in'. -sizing - my feet measure 12 1/2, that's the option I picked, the sticker as you can see says 46 which is European Men's, Google AI says both a 46 is a 12 and a 45 is a 12 1/2, go figure. For me, if I stand up, my toe almost touches standing still, meaning it will rub. I put on my well broken retired tennis shoes and the distance is the same and do not hurt at all, so I assume these will be fine. I considered sending back because they do not feel 'soft and smooth all over' like some tennis shoes do ($100 Nike/etc.), but they are intended minimalist and some talk about benefits for plantar (it's not planter folks, that's for plants or peanuts :-),) fasciitis, which I have, so I'm going to keep and try them out. All the testing was done with low ride thin athletic socks. -

I just retired just a after nearly a year of casual use, and my review is 99% positive. They're very comfortable, well-constructed (the soles started wearing down a couple months ago, but the uppers still look new- no tears and all the seams are as tight as the day I got them). The price is right, too- for $43, I definitely got my money's worth, and it's a great way to see if barefoot shoes are for you. This was my first pair of barefoot shoes, but adjusting to them from fat-heeled, cushy Hokas was surprisingly painless. If you plan on actually running in them, probably stick to offroad- The soles are flexible and very thin, with no cushioning: you'll definitely feel it if you pound the pavement or step on a rock. That's my only complaint, and it applies to barefoot shoes in general, not just these. I've since purchased a couple other brands of barefoot/zero drop shoes, and where these Whitins really shine are the fit and style. Barefoot shoes should move with your feet, which these do very well- the sloes flex effortlessly and the uppers have just the right balance of padding and rigidity to lock on to my heels and stay comfortably in place through my stride. Even with thin socks, they never chaffed. I tried a different, more expensive Amazon-exclusive brand of barefoot trainers and my heel would lift nearly half-way out of them when I walked. If you're comparison shopping, you've probably noticed that this type of shoe has a wide toe box, which tends to give them an unflattering "clown shoe" vibe (seller's pictures tend to show their product at only flattering angles, but if you look at user review photos, you'll see it). The model I bought-WHITIN Men's Barefoot Running Shoes | Minimalist Cross-Trainer| - is just as wide as the others, but the wrap-around soles and the placement/shape of those plastic side panels gives them a *much * slimmer appearance. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and will definitely be getting another pair soon!

I've had at least four pairs of these shoes. They are well made and very comfortable to wear at work or on sidewalks. I especially like how easily they go on. I set the lace tightness I want and then can easily pull them on without untying the next use. They are very light. and flexable I find them good at the gym for dead lifting and squats. So, obviously I keep buying them so they work for me however, these are the negatively critical points you should consider. 1) The sole is what appears to be gum rubber. It will wear out quickly. For me that is in about 3 to 4 months. Its acceptable initial traction will degrade to smooth. I walk and run with a dog as well as wear them at work. 2) The toe box is standard, not wide which would be something someone looking for a barefoot shoe would hope to have. The toe box looks nice but your toes will never have the opportunity to expand/recover for standard shoes. 3) If you step on a stone that stands proud from the ground . . . say some gravel is tossed into your path, you're not going to forget it and feel disappointed that you were not paying more attention to where you walk. I've just bought my first set of brown to wear with my lighter colored slacks. I love the black color and this new brown is very nice.It's a good shoe.

My first time using zero drop shoes. It's definitely a different experience and feeling than wearing other shoes. Used them for running and it's like running barefooted. I can actually feel the ground. My calves were burning after a run, but it felt good like they we're actually being used like they're supposed to. My feet also felt better after the run compared to using other running shoes. I didn't get blisters after running 5 miles. Felt more natural with my feet striking the ground instead of being supported by memory foam. These shoes are like wearing socks with a sole at the bottom. Definitely worth a try and for the price it's a steal. I wear a size 10 U.S, so I got the size 43. It fit perfectly snug, so if you want a little more room in the front of your toes I suggest going a size up, but if you want a snug fit buy the exact size. The material is stretchy, so even if it fits tight it will stretch. It does feel a bit tight in the beginning, but after the run I didn't even notice. Edit: So I ripped one of the top shoe lace loop holes. This was my mistake as I pulled hard to get the shoe really tight, but in the process the rubber ripped. Just putting this note here to let others know to not pull too hard or you can rip the rubber with the shoe lace. All in all still a great shoe. I'm going to fix it with some super glue.

I'll try to make this quick I got these shoes to see how I'd feel about the barefoot feeling And they feel great. I wear them all the time, inside and out. I will say, I'm an 8.5, and ordered such, and these are a tiny bit too big on me in terms of length. But they do feel rather small in terms of the size of the toe box. They feel very similar to my New Balance trail running shoes in the toe area. 2.5 hour hiking trips really helped my feet get used to these shoes Although, if you are unable to walk a lot on dirt with these shoes to start off. TAKE IT SLOW. Do not injure your self by transitioning too fast. I'm able to walk just fine on any surface for extended periods at this point I have been heavily slowed down when I wear these on the coast on my hikes because of how rocky it is, the rocks do hurt my feet some. Although it is getting better and better with the more my feet grow stronger These shoes are incredibly grippy. The only time it isn't grippy for me is when I'm inside and the tile floor is wet. But wet rocks, logs, dirt, mud, all of those I feel more confident walking on and in with these shoes than my New Balance trail running shoes that cost me $140. I have noticed a better and more responsive connection to whatever I'm doing when I'm wearing these compared to my other shoes. In a very good way it makes me want to jump on things more, and just explore more. It could just be placebo, I have no idea. But it is there for me. I have noticed my legs get stronger than they already are(I bike a lot, so I have strong legs), especially with balance and the ability to go onto my knees from a standing position. If you want to get into barefoot shoes for a good price, this is a good option. If you get the white shoes. They are blindingly bright when you first get them. Once mine got a little dirty, I liked them a lot more.

If you're getting a zero drop sole shoe, then these are great. The fabric is a bit elastic which helps make the shoes feel comfortable immediately out of the box. I paired them with some elastic shoe laces and they make a great slip on. They are quiet, fit right but offer no arch support. Simple warnings if you have never had barefoot shoes, the lack of cushion is, at first, very hard on your shins. You will go around a month with shin pain as your body adapts to the change. The pain is never unbearable, but it's a bone pain which is definitely unpleasant. Due to this, don't give up. The temporary shin pain is worth the eventually lack of back pain and strain. While not a perfect solution to lower back pains, the benefits of barefoot shoes and zero drop soles are very real ib my experience and have relieved years of back pain. The next part, specific to this shoe is that the sole is thin. This is intentional but something you may not realize is that it is just thin enough for longer goat heads to penetrate the sole and prick your foot. This came as a shock to me the first time I got soles these thin. If you live in an area where goat heads grow then you may want to look into some sort of sole insert that is puncture resistant. Many are sold for construction workers for protection and they are around $15-35. You are easily able to remove the included insole and replace it and I'd recommend it if you may find yourself walking in goat heads or other such spikes. While you may debate whether or not you should try barefoot shoes and zero drop soles, if you find yourself wanting to try them out then I'd recommend these ones. Good for work, good for walking and worth the money. Edit: I have gone through my first pair. It lasted just over a year, like a month passed a year. The material in the sple finally wore through. The entire construction held up though, the only failure was the thin sole which is it's defining feature. I have no issue with the longevity, and bought a second pair.