The spacious toebox part of a barefoot shoe allows the toes to spread completely while hiking, and the extremely thin sole ensures that the foot can move naturally and respond properly to the ground. In nature, this surface is constantly changing, which means a lot of good exercises for your feet on different surfaces.
Trailwalkers are something completely different from all the barefoot hiking boots on the market. They are one of the lightest, softest and thinnest hiking shoes I have tried. They are also something completely new at Be Lenka. New sole, changed toebox with more volume and different sizinng. These are shoes designed for all your nature adventures.
1. General
- Brand: Be Lenka
- Model: Trailwalker
- Colour: Mustard
- Tested on: woman, medium-wide feet, 26.3 cm long and 10 cm wide (10.3 cm between metatarsal heads), low instep, skinny ankles with narrow heels, fin-shaped foot (see my how to measure guide and foot type) – wearing size 42
| Made in EU | Adult | Leather | Ship worldwide |
2. Material characteristics
2.1 Upper
Be Lenka Trailwalker are made of suede leather and are available in four different colors – Grey, Deep Ocean, Clay Red and Mustand, which I review here. The leather is soft and pleasant to the touch.
Suede leather in yellow may be a little more sensitive to dirt, but if you don’t step directly into deep mud with your whole shoe, that won’t be a problem. The side rubber, which runs high along the edge of the shoe, ensures that the mud stays on the rubber, which is very easy to clean.
The contrast created by the combination of vibrant yellow and black details add a special charm to the shoe.
The sole is curved upwards at the heel, which contributes to additional protection and greater durability of the shoe. Strong and durable pull loops make it very easy to put on the shoe. You can also use the loops to easily attach the shoes to the backpack.
2.2 Lining
The shoes are lined with a thin layer material with is a mixture of PAD and PU. The interior is soft and pleasant to the touch. There is no extra insole in the shoe, so the sole is very thin.
2.3 Sole
The Trailwalker sole is made of 4 mm thick rubber and is designed for good grip on all natural surfaces. It also offers good grip on wet rocks, but I haven’t had a chance to test them on wet, slippery mud yet.
The sole runs only along the bottom of the shoe, and the side rubber protects the shoe at the sides.
This extremely minimal sole is very flexible in all directions. The ground-feel is fantastic, which I just adore, but this feeling can be very intense for some who have just switched to barefoot shoes. In this case, I recommend using an extra insole during the transition period.
3. Sizing information
3.1 Length
Be Lenka Trailwalker are available in sizes 36 to 45 and have a different size chart than other Be Lenka shoes. At the same sizes, they are slightly longer (e.g. size 42 is 1 mm longer in the Trailwalker model than in other Be Lelenka models).
Before ordering, be sure to check the internal lengths listed in the size chart and select the appropriate size based on this value.
The length of my foot is 26.3 cm and in the Trailwalker model I wear a size 42 which is 10mm longer than my feet. This length would suit me perfectly for normal use, but I would like a few mm more with this model when I wear socks as my feet swell a little on longer hikes or also when walking downhill.
See post How much space do we need in shoes if you want to know more about that.
3.2. Toebox shape & width
If you are already familiar with Be Lenka shoes, you will immediately notice a different shape of the toebox with this model. The modified shape means that the Trailwalker has a milder slope towards the little toe than other models. This means more space for the feet with a milder slope.
This new design is “more universal” and fits better to several different foot types. Wide and fairly square foot shapes can still run out of space for little toes, but a sufficient amount of space in front of the toes can also solve this problem.
More about different foot types you can read in post What is my Foot Type?
The new toebox shape fits my foot shape with the longest second toe and relatively long third toe better than the shape of other Be Lenka models where my third toe was usually problematic.
The shoes also have a modified overall shape that is less “bean-like”. Which means the big toe area is less generous, but more width is added at the little toe.
Trailwalker are suitable for wide feet. The width in size 42 is approx. 10.6 cm, but the final width also depends on the volume and circumference of the foot itself, which means that a foot with more volume has less width available than a foot with less.
The shoes also have a lot of space above the toes. I have never had such spacious shoes on my foot. Because my feet have less volume, you can notice some creasing of the material at the toes due to the thin leather, but this does not bother me while walking.
3.3. Fit around the instep, heel and ankle
Trailwalker shoes are designed to fit perfectly to different ankle widths and different heights of the instep. They can be secured very well on both low and high instep (you can see the comparison in the photo below).
The front part of the shoe is better filled with feet with more volume.
4. Comfort
I have no complains about comfort. The leather is soft, the shoes are very light, easy to put on and they don’t press or rub me anywhere. They are also great to wear on a completely bare feet and my feet don’t sweat in them.
The shoe snugly fit around the ankles, so no dirt gets into them.
5. How and when to wear them?
Trailwalkers have been specially designed for walking on natural surfaces – easy hikes, camping and for all nature adventures. They pair well with all sportswear, but with more vibrant colors like this yellow is, I like to wear more neutral clothes, like black and white.
6. Price & where to buy
You can buy Be Lenka Trailwalker on their official website. The price for the Trailwalker model is 149€.
7. Shipping info
Be Lenka ships worldwide and the shipping time is fast. Shipping costs depend on the country and the method of delivery. Free returns for some EU countries. Be Lenka do not accept any returns/exchanges outside the EU.
8. To sum up
Trailwalker are extremely minimalist hiking shoes of excellent quality. This extremely thin sole will allow you to enjoy nature to the fullest and provide an excellent response of the body to stimuli from the ground. The shoes are also one of the lightest and most spacious hiking barefoot shoes on the market, with enough toe space even for the most demanding. Watch out! They can quickly become your favorite hiking shoes 😉
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