The Lupino is new model for winter 2021/2022 and is successfully joining their popular Alaskan winter model.
1. General
2. Material characteristics
2.1 Upper
Magical Shoes Lupino are made of suede and are available in six different colours. The burgundy that I chose to test was a step out of my comfort zone, but I’m glad I chose it. This berry colour proved to be very versatile and easy to combine with the colours of clothes I like to wear.
The model has a stretch strap inserted on the outside to allow a slight adjustment at the ankle. A zipper is added on the inside for easier putting on.
The small piece of leather that comes with the shoes allows you to test the shoe care products before applying them directly to the shoe.
The sole is stitched and glued to increase the durability of the shoes. The trained eye can be distracted by small glue residues on the leather, which are only visible at close range on my pair.
The distinctive Magical Shoes logo is added to the top of the shoe. I prefer more discreet logos on shoe like these, but I realise that people have different tastes.
2.2 Lining
The interior is made of a soft fleece lining, which is not very thick. The shoes are ideal for autumn and spring, in winter I recommend using an additional wool insole, but the shoes are still not suitable for very cold winter days.
2.3 Sole
The sole is made of 6,5 mm thick rubber (including the tread). The sole is thin and very soft and provides good ground feel.
3. Sizing information
3.1 Length
The Lupino model is available in sizes 35 to 47, but models up to 43 are listed in the women’s category and from 44 onwards in the men’s category. There is no difference between them, except where they are located on the website.
I chose the size I need based on their sizing chart, so in the photos I’m wearing size 43, which should be 11 mm longer from my 26.3 cm foot. However, the shoes are shorter than that, so I would need a size 44 in this model. Some length is also lost due to the greater curvature of the heel area, which makes it impossible for the heel to sit perfectly on the end of the shoe.
To ensure the recommended 10-12 mm of space in your shoe, I recommend choosing a size bigger than their size chart recommends. Please also note that if you are wearing a winter insole, you will need even more space in the shoe.
3.2. Toebox shape & width
Magical Shoes shoes have a milder slope towards the little toe, so their design is quite universal and fits many different foot types well. Most ideally they fit foot types 2, 4 and 5, but with enough room in front of the toes they can also fit foot type 6 very well.
The shoes are best suited for medium and medium to wide feet. Shoes are not suitable for wide feet. There is enough space above the toes and the amount of space is comparable to other barefoot brands.
3.3. Fit around the instep, heel and ankle
The size 43 fits my narrower ankles and lower instep well, but this good fit is not an ideal indicator of how well the shoes fit all feet. As my shoes are a little too short for me, a size larger shoe would also have more volume around the ankles and instep. The Lupino will therefore be the best choice for average ankle width and average instep height.
4. Comfort
Lupino are very comfortable and minimalistic barefoot ankle boots that will keep you comfortable both when wearing and when putting them on.
Due to their thinner lining, they are best suited for transitional periods (autumn, spring, mild winters) and will not provide sufficient thermal comfort in very cold winter temperatures.
5. How and when to wear them?
The range of colours of Lupino is very wide and I like to pair this charming burgundy red colour with blue, black and white clothes. My favourite combination is black trousers and a white T-shirt, or blue jeans and a white T-shirt or a dark blue sweater.
Their design allows them to be worn with both ‘casual’ and semi-formal clothes. They can be paired with a dress, skinny jeans or jeans with a wider cut, which you can cuff them just above the top of your boots or try pairing them with cropped bottoms.
6. Price & where to buy
The Magical Shoes Lupino can be purchased on the official website or from various barefoot footwear retailers. The price for the Lupino model is € 129.
You can get 10% off with code BOSENOGICE (not an affiliate code).
7. Shipping info
8. To sum up
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