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Best Barefoot Shoes for Running or Walking (2026)

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Best Barefoot Shoes for Running or Walking (2026)
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Featured in this article

Best All-Around Barefoot ShoeXero Shoes Prio ShoeRead more$100

REI (Men's)

Best Barefoot Running ShoeMerrell Vapor Glove 6Read more$100 $85 (15% off)

Amazon

Best Barefoot SandalsXero Shoes Z-TrailRead more$80

REI (Mens)

The Best All-Weather Running ShoeVivobarefoot Primus Trail III All Weather FGRead more$170

Vivobarefoot (Men's)

You were born barefoot, and in a perfect world you'd stay that way. You'd stroll through the fields like a hobbit, barefoot, toes splayed, foot flexing and stretching naturally. Unfortunately, the minute you hit the pavement in the city, you'd be one sad hobbit. That's where barefoot shoes come in.

The best barefoot shoes have wide toe boxes, minimal soles, and plenty of flex to let your feet stretch, roll, and bend the way nature intended, but without exposing your bare sole to the perils of modern cities. They're as close as you can get to achieving that barefoot sensation without running afoul of “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” signs.

The best barefoot footwear is … your bare feet. There is no need to run out and buy your first pair of barefoot shoes just to get started. Instead, start by walking around 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.

Be sure to also check out WIRED’s guides to the Best Merino Wool, Best Rain Jackets, Best Daypacks, Best Backpacking Tents, and all the rest of WIRED's outdoor coverage.

Updated April 2026: We've completely revamped our guide with a new top pick, as well as some new shoes like Vivobarefoot's Tracker Leather AT and the Xero Prio. We've removed a few sold-out shoes and also updated prices and links throughout.

Honorable Mentions

When I started this guide six years ago, there weren't a ton of barefoot shoes out there. Today I'm happy to report that there are so many barefoot shoes on the market it's difficult to keep up with all of them. Here are a few more options that didn't quite make our top picks, but are still great shoes and worth considering if none of the above are quite right for you. Got a favorite you don't see here? Drop your barefoot shoe suggestions in the comments below.

Genesis SandalCourtesy of Xero ShoesSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Xero Shoes

Genesis

$45

Amazon (Men's)

$45

Xero Shoes (Men's)

$45

Xero Shoes (Women's)

Modeled (somewhat) on the running sandal of the famous Tarahumara runners, the Genesis sandal is where Xero Shoes started. You buy either a DIY kit to make your own sandals or opt for the premade Genesis. 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.

Zero HFS shoesCourtesy of XeroSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Xero Shoes

HFS

$120

Xero Shoes (Women's)

$120

Xero Shoes (Men's)

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. The HFS is my favorite for running on human-made surfaces like concrete and asphalt. It has a 7mm stack height which offers just enough extra padding. That said, they work great on trails too. I went backpacking in mine with a 45-pound pack and had no problems.

Softstar Primal Runamoc barefoot running shoeCourtesy of SoftstarSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Softstar

Primal RunAmoc

$190

Softstar

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.

Luna Sandals Winged Mono in BlueCourtesy of Luna SandalsSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Luna Sandals

Mono Winged

$115

Amazon

$110

Backcountry (limited sizes)

$110

Luna Sandals

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.

Xero Aqua Cloud Blue shoesCourtesy of Xero ShoesSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Xero Shoes

Aqua Cloud

$50

Xero Shoes (Men's)

$50

Xero Shoes (Women's)

$50

Amazon (Women's)

$50 $40 (20% off)

Amazon (Men's)

The Aqua Cloud is a great water shoe (I strapped them to the front of my SUP so I have footwear for forays ashore). Wading in sandals isn't the best, and that's true of the Aqua Cloud, these are my go-to sandal for all things water-related, right up to whitewater rafting, which is the one thing I keep my Chacos around for.

  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
ChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Xero Shoes

D-Trail Sandals

$80

REI (Men's)

$80

REI (Women's)

The D-Trail is the Z-Trail with a different strap pattern. It also adds a wide swath of soft padding between your feet and the straps, which makes it nice and comfortable. 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.

Pedestal Barefoot shoes, black and white thin shoes.Photograph: Scott GilbertsonSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Pedestal Footwear

Treads

$40

Pedestal

One of the places going barefoot can be very 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, but what if you go 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 nailing it. They're comfortable, and allow great freedom of movement.

  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
  • Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
ChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Vivobarefoot

Motus Strength

$120

REI (Men's)

$120

REI (Women's)

Vivobarefoot's training shoe struck me as unnecessary when it first arrived, but it's grown on me as a good, light, all-around gym shoe. The do a good job at handling a variety of scenarios. I used them lifting and for more explosive exercises like broad jumps and burpees. The sole is especially great on gym mats, behaving almost like the sticky rubber in climbing shoes. There is now a Motus Strength II out. I have not tested it yet, but based on photos and the spec sheet from Vivobarefoot it has not changed significantly.

What Is a Barefoot Shoe?

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Readers often ask why we don't include Altra or other zero-drop shoes. The answer has to do with how thick the sole is. Our definition of a barefoot shoe is that it should have a thin sole, or stack height as this is sometimes called. I put the cutoff at 12-mm or less (ideally less) to allow for good ground feel and toe splay, and to give you the kinds of feedback your foot needs to maintain natural movement.

That said, there are some categories where this doesn't always make sense. WIRED readers asked about heavier, work-boot style shoes, so we now include Lems boots. They have a 13-mm sole, but no arch. Splitting hairs over definitions does more harm than help to the barefoot community in my opinion. Zero-drop shoes are a huge step up from high-arch, super-padded running shoes, and if that's where you want to start, that's great.

How Do I Get Started With Barefoot Shoes?

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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.

If you don't know where to start, check out Graham Tuttle's YouTube channel, especially his foot strengthening exercises. These will help you develop the foot and ankle strength you lack if you're coming from years of padded shoes, and help reduce muscle soreness when you're getting started in barefoot running. Tuttle also offers some paid programs aimed at giving you more personalized direction (I have not tried any of these). Another YouTube channel I've found helpful is the MovNat channel, which isn't barefoot-specific but has plenty of good barefoot advice sprinkled throughout its content. And if you haven't read Christopher McDougall, both Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes are fun barefoot-related reads. Indeed, Born to Run arguably did more to popularize barefoot running than anything else since the padded shoe was born in the early 1970s.

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.

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Back to topTriangleScott Gilbertson is Operations Manager for the WIRED Reviews Team. He was previously a writer and editor for WIRED’s Webmonkey.com, covering the independent web and early internet culture. You can reach him at luxagraf.net. ... Read MoreSenior Writer and ReviewerTopicsShoppingshoesrunningoutdoorsbuying guidesThe Best Theraguns and Therabody Devices for Rest and RelaxationFrom massage guns to compression boots and LED face masks, these are the top performers in Therabody’s wellness lineup.Boutayna Chokrane The Best Gravel Running Shoes for Travel, Hiking, and MoreThe best new shoes in this hybrid, niche footwear style can take you from your front door, down the asphalt, and into the trees.Kieran AlgerThe Best Mid Layers for Hiking, Backpacking, and TravelShould you get a high-tech jacket like a grid fleece, or stick with tried and true merino wool? We found the warmest, lightest mid layers for your next adventure.Scott GilbertsonThe Best Headphones for Working Out, Traveling, and Putzing AroundRock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones. Here are our favorites.Adrienne SoThese Are the Best Wireless Headphones in 2026From workout-ready earbuds to gaming over-ears, these WIRED-tested picks sound like a million bucks.Ryan WaniataLayer Your Clothes to Stay Comfortable in Any WeatherWhether you’re hiking, climbing, or backpacking, here’s how to use base layers, mid layers, and a shell to be comfortable no matter what nature throws at you.Scott GilbertsonBreathe Easy—We Found the Best Air PurifiersProtect your home against dust, pets, allergies, and more with air purifiers tested firsthand by WIRED.Lisa Wood ShapiroHow to Choose the Best Electric Toothbrush for Sensitive Teeth and GumsHow to choose a toothbrush that protects your smile and gum health.Boutayna Chokrane The Best Android Phones, Tested and ReviewedShopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.Julian ChokkattuThe Best Smart Bird Feeders for Backyard BirdingThese bird feeders come with cameras and connected apps to let you see and learn about the birds in your neighborhood.Kat MerckJones’ Mercury FASE Snowboard Bindings Are Fast and SecureIn! Out! In! Out! Jones’ latest fast-entry snowboard bindings mean you’ll never get left behind by a bunch of skiers again.Brent RoseThe Best Smart Rings for Tracking EverythingA svelte smart ring can track important activity, sleep, and health metrics. Unlike some smartwatches, a ring doesn’t need to be charged every day.Adrienne So

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