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Feelgrounds Seaside – Review

Are they stylish? Cool-looking? Incredibly comfortable to walk in? Suitable for wide feet? Vegan? Yes, new Feelgrounds Seaside sandals are all this and more.

Feelgrounds Seaside may remind you of Birkenstock sandals in a vegan barefoot version. Their design, which is a real rarity among the wide selection of barefoot sandals, instantly convinced me. The strap between the toes ensures complete freedom of the toes, a velcro for easy on-off and a cork footbed for real comfort.

I usually take the first photos of shoes for my review when they are still new, but here I just couldn’t resist starting to wear them right away. Summer was at its peak and just the right time for sandals.

Disclaimer: I was sent these sandals as a gift to review, but as always, all opinions expressed here are my own. I’m also a Feelgrounds affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase on the Feelgrounds website through the links on my website at no additional cost to you. Thank you for all your support ♥

1. General

  • Brand: Feelgrounds
  • Model: Seaside
  • Colour: Dusty Pink
  • 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 Vietnam | Adults | Vegan | Ship worldwide |

2. Material characteristics

2.1 Upper

Seaside sandals are made of cotton upper with the sole from cork and rubber. They are available in six different colors. The color I review here is called Dusty Pink.

The strap is attached between the toes, which enables maximum freedom of the toes and more optimal movement of the foot.

Around the heel runs a gently padded strap with a velcro closure. On the inside of the strap over the instep, is hidden a small elastic band that makes sandals easier to adjust to different heights of the instep and foot volumes.

2.2 Sole

The sole is 7 mm thick and consists of a rubber outsole and cork footbed. Since my sandals were already worn, you may notice minor color changes on my cork due to the cork’s contact with water and moisture. Such a response of cork to moisture, according to Feelgrounds, is normal.

The use of cork makes the sandals more compact and harder to roll into a roll. The cork itself offers a very comfortable feeling on the foot and this sole is a mixture between a firm and a soft sole. You won’t feel every pebble under your foot in them, so sandals will also suit those who want at least a minimal cushion.

Also check my video for the close-up and to see how they look on my feet.

3. Sizing information

3.1 Length

Seaside sandals have a slightly different size chart than other Feelgrounds shoes. This means that they are shorter in the same size.

The goal of Feelgrounds was to be able to wear the same size in their sandals as you wear with their closed-toe shoes. While in open sandals, less space in front of the toes (approx. 7-10 mm) is recommended to prevent tripping, the sandals are approx. 3 mm shorter than their closed-toe shoes, where the recommended space is 12 mm.

See post How much space do we need in shoes if you want to know more about that.

With my foot length of 26.3 cm, I wear a size 42, which means that the sandals are 8 mm longer than my foot. In addition to the length, the point of attachment of the toe strap and the shape of the sandal are also important for this type of sandal.

For easier size selection, I recommend that you also print out their template, which is available separately for the left and right foot.

3.2. Toebox shape & width

Seaside sandals are suitable for medium-wide and wide feet. They are ideally suited to foot type 2, but they also fit well to foot types 1, 4 and 5. For foot type 1 with a steep slope, more space may remain in front of the smaller toes.

For more square foot shapes (3, 6), sandals are not an ideal shape. Due to the shape of the sole, your smaller toes can hang over, and if you have short toes, you will have a lot of space left in front of your toes.

Because the position of the strap attachment dictates the location of the foot in the sandal, in the case of very long toes, the shape can also be problematic for other foot types.

Sandals will fit type 6 in the case of shorter toes and a smaller width that does not fill the entire width of the sandal.

More about different foot types you can read in the post What is my Foot Type?

For me, the shape is good. The longer third toe on my right foot stays on my sole while walking.

The width of the sandals is, for my 10cm wide foot, appropriate. On the pinky side, there is room for an even wider foot, and at the big toe area, the extra width around the 1st metatarsal joint is probably added just for the visual effect.

3.3. Fit around the instep, heel and ankle

Sandals are fixed to the foot with the help of a strap over the instep and a strap around the heel.

The strap over the instep doesn’t allow for much adjustment. The inserted elastic on the inside allows some stretching, but it is not possible to tighten the strap more if it is too loose.

Sandals are therefore best suited for low-medium high and medium high instep. In the case of high instep, Feelgrounds recommends to size up. This can solve the problem of a tight strap, but you should also know that a bigger size can also leave you with some extra length at the heel and toes.

If sandals won’t hold your foot well, you’ll walk in them much like you would wear flip-flops. So a good fit at the instep is really important. Sandals hold up my foot well.

The fit around the heel is regulated by an adjustable velcro strap. The velcro on the redisgned model is long enough that you won’t have any problems tightening it, even if you opt for a bigger size or if your heels are very narrow.

4. Comfort

Despite the fact that sandals with a strap between the toes are known as “less comfortable”, I have no complaints about the Feelgrounds Seaside model. The sandals are light and soft, easy to put on and very comfortable to walk in. The strap between the toes doesn’t bother me at all.

5. How and when to wear them?

For me, Feelgrounds Seaside are very versatile sandals. This is a model of sandals that you will wear when you want something simple, breathable and easy to put on. They pair very nicely with different outfits and my favorite summer combination is definitely jeans and a T-shirt.

6. Price & where to buy

Feelgrounds sandals can only be purchased on their official website. The price for the Seaside model is 81€.

7. Shipping info

Feelgrounds ships worldwide. Delivery costs depend on the shipping country. You can read more about the shipping costs here.

8. To sum up

Feelgrounds Seaside is certainly one of the most versatile models of sandals. The combination of cotton and cork makes them exquisite casual sandals that you can easily wear to work, to the store or for a walk. The design is a little different from other barefoot sandals, but this shape perfectly ensures unlimited movement of the toes in all directions.

Due to the inability to completely adapt at the instep area, they have some limitations, so they will not be an ideal choice for all feet, but there are some tricks to improve that.

Grab a good book and put on those fantastic sandals. Your transformation to healthy and strong feet can begin.


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