Wearing barefoot shoes is a great way to improve your health, but some people need more time and support before they can handle the thinnest soles on their feet. Barefoot & minimalist shoes for beginners provide the right amount of protection and comfort for those who aren’t quite ready to go barefoot just yet.
When your feet don’t hurt, you may feel like you’re ready to dive into minimalism head first. But for the feet that have been squeezed into tight shoes for years, this is not an easy step. It may take you weeks or even months to be ready for such a huge change.
This guide will help you find the best barefoot shoes and sandals for beginners who want to start wearing barefoot shoes but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into the thinnest soles.
If you need more help with transitioning to barefoot shoes, check our blog post here.
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Barefoot & minimalist shoes that are perfect for the transition
Joe Nimble
| Germany | vegan, leather | 35-48,5 | medium-wide feet | from cca. 169€ |
The Joe Nimbles were one of my first barefoot shoes and are excellent quality. In recent years they have moved from offering thin soles to thicker soled shoes that offer quite a lot of cushioning. The toebox shape has still remained good.
The shoes are available in both women’s and men’s sizes – the difference is noticeable in the higher volume, while the width remains the same (but men’s models can appear wider due to the higher volume above the toes).
Models with a thicker sole have a firmer sole that is harder to roll. The insole has a minimally elevated heel and can be exchanged for a completely flat insole.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Joe Nimble.
©Joe Nimble
Lems
| USA | vegan, leather | 37-48 | medium-wide feet | from cca. 130€ |
Lems shoes are one of the most popular models for the transition. I have personally tested three models (Primal 2, Boulder boots and Primal Pursuit) and my father has been wearing the Nive2Five model for several years.
The thickness of the sole and the available width vary from model to model. The widest models are the Primal 2 and the Boulder boots. Some models may have more toe taper than others (Primal 2 and Boulder boots are among the widest).
The softest sole is the Primal 2, which can be rolled well despite its thickness. Most other soles are firmer and thicker.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Lems.
©Lems
*affiliate link
Altra
| USA | vegan, | 36-46 | from cca. 150€ |
I haven’t tried the Altra models personally, but they are often sought after by runners who want a good toebox shape. They are also suitable for those who need a casual sneaker.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Altra Running EU.
©Altra Running EU
Barebarics
| Slovakia | vegan | 36-47 | medium and wide feet | from cca. 129€ |
Barebarics makes fully barefoot models, but I’ve included them in this list because their soles feel a bit more cushioned compared to other barefoot shoes. The sole isn’t as thick as the Lems, Joe Nimble or Altra models, but it can give you a bit more cushion when walking on harder surfaces.
Barebarics are suitable for wide feet and are best suited to low and medium height instep, but the fit may vary slightly from model to model.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Barebarics
©Barebarics
*affiliate link
Xero Shoes
| ZDA | vegan, leather | 36-48 | medium and medium-wide feet | from cca. 100€ |
- Read our reviews here
Xero Shoes also has a few models in their range where the sole can give you a bit more cushioning than other barefoot shoes, although all their models are barefoot too. One of these models is the Kelso model, for example.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Xero Shoes.
©Xero Shoes
*affiliate link
Feelgrounds
| Germany | vegan | 35-49 | medium-wide feet | from cca. 100€ |
- Read our reviews here
Some autumn and winter Feelgrounds models also have a thicker sole, so they are also suitable for beginners.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Feelgrounds.
©Feelgrounds
*affiliate link
Ballop Shoes
| Germany | vegan | 36-48 | narrow and medium width feet | from cca. 65€ |
The Ballop brand also doesn’t have as thick a sole as the first three brands, but I’ve included it in the list because their barefoot models always come with two different insoles. The thicker insole has a slightly elevated heel, so they can offer more cushioning when you need it.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Ballop Shoes.
©Ballop Shoes
Freet
| Great Britain | vegan, leather | 37-48 | medium and wide feet | from cca. 80€ |
I have also included Freet on this list, even though their models are completely barefoot. Some of the models have slightly more cushioned soles (thicker insoles), so for example they suited my parents very well when they transitioned. One of their softest models is the Pace.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Freet Footwear.
©Freet Footwear
*affiliate link
Ahinsa Shoes
| Czech Republic | vegan | 37-46 | medium and wide feet | from cca. 109€ |
Ahinsa is a vegan barefoot shoe brand that offers both fully barefoot models and models from the ‘Comfort’ line. The only difference between the ‘barefoot’ and ‘Comfort’ models is the insole used in the shoe, which is slightly thicker and cushioned in the ‘Comfort’ models and has a slightly raised heel.
Their ‘Comfort’ range is therefore suitable for the transition and for those who are looking for a little more cushioning (but don’t want to completely give up the ground feel).
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Ahinsa Shoes.
©Ahinsa Shoes
*affiliate link
BÄR Schuhe
| Germany | vegan, leather | 35-48,5 | medium-wide feet | from 169€ |
Bär Shoes is the brand from which Joe Nimble evolved. Although the vast majority of their models have a raised heel or some do not offer proper foot fixation to avoid toe gripping, I still decided to include them in this list because they have a properly shaped toebox area.
I think they are a good option for older people in particular, because it gives them enough toe space, even though they may not be ready to change their footwear completely.
Pictures are published with the kind permission of BÄR Schuhe .
©BÄR Schuhe
Barefoot & minimalist sandals that are perfect for the transition
In case you choose to transition to barefoot shoes in summer, here are some options for sandals with thicker soles. Some brands have both thinner and thicker soles, some only thick soles. So choose from the models that have a bigger sole thickness.
Sandals that have a soft and squishy soles with thickness of approx. 6-8 mm can often provide you with enough cushion and softness which you usually look for when transitioning to barefoot footwear and when walking on harder surfaces. This sole thickness, combined with its softness, is usually sufficient for many people. This type of sole you can find for example in Tikki or Zeazoo sandals.
For sandals, I always recommend using a printable template to determine the correct size. Read more about fitting sandals properly here.
Earth Runners
| USA | vegan | 36-48 | printable templates | from 71€ |
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Earth Runners.
©Earth Runners
*affiliate link
Nörd Republic
| Spain | vegan | 40-45 | printable templates | from 69,90€ |
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Nörd Republic.
©Nörd Republic
*affiliate link
Bedrock Sandals
| USA | vegan | 35-47.5 | printable templates
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Bedrock Sandals.
©Bedrock Sandals
Shamma
| USA | vegan, leather | 21,9-31,3 cm | printable templates | from 100€ |
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Shamma Sandals.
©Shamma Sandals
Luna Sandals
| USA | vegan, leather | 36-45 | printable templates | from 85€ |
- Read our review here
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Luna Sandals.
©Luna Sandals
*affiliate link
Toetem Sandals
| USA | leather | printable templates | from 100€ |
- Discount: 5% discount with code BOSENOGICE (affiliate code)
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Toetem Sandals.
©Toetem Sandals
*affiliate link
Saltic
| Czech Republic | vegan | 34-47 | from 52€ |
Pictures are published with the kind permission of znamke Saltic.
©Saltic
Curious Red
| China | vegan, leather | 35-46 | printable templates | from 90€ |
- Discount: $5 discount with code BU5 (affiliate code)
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Curious Red.
©Curious Red
*affiliate link
Joe Nimble
| Germany | vegan | 35-46 | wide feet | from 45€ |
Pictures are published with the kind permission of Joe Nimble.
©Joe Nimble
Conclusion
No matter where you are in the barefoot journey, there is a variety of minimalist shoes to help your feet along the way. It’s important to remember that it can take months for your feet and ankles to strengthen. Be patient and go easy on yourself. We hope this list has helped you in your search, and at least given you some good places to start your journey. We wish you the best of luck in finding your perfect barefoot shoe.
