The Ultimate Guide to Barefoot Sandals: Style, Comfort, and Benefits

Why barefoot sandals?

Why not wear slides or flip-flops? Well, they’re pretty accurately named because they slide and flop as you walk. There’s nothing to keep them secure on your foot, causing you to grip your toes or walk funny to keep the shoe on.

Health benefits of barefoot sandals:

-Stronger feet

-Better balance

-Decreased pain in the body and feet

-Reduce ankle and knee injuries

-Alleviated back pain

-Strengthen muscles 

-improved posture

-Injury prevention

What to look for in barefoot sandals:

Thin, flexible soles to allow for natural foot movement

-A wide toe box that permits toes to spread comfortably 

-Zero-drop design keeps the heel and toe at the same level

-Lightweight materials for enhanced comfort

-Secure straps.

Groundies- Verona Vegan Sandals

About the brand: Groundies designs their shoes for conscious living. Their products blend performance, health, and contemporary design. Groundies sandals are guaranteed to elevate your daily life with style and functionality. 

Sustainability: Groundies maintains responsible supply chains and production lines and also carefully selects its materials. 

Details: The Verona Sandal is a classic and casual style. Made of synthetic leather that looks as smooth as genuine leather. Perfect for warm summer days, festive occasions, and elegant everyday looks. Each pair is handmade in Portugal and is lightweight and comfortable.

Size and Fit: This shoe features generous toe space for an authentic barefoot feel, a heel strap that ensures a secure fit without slipping, and a true-to-size fit.

Care: Caring for these sandals is very easy; simply wipe them down.

Price: $100

Feelgrounds- Seaside Twill Sandals

About the Brand: Feelgrounds is on a mission to make barefoot shoes accessible and appealing to a broader audience. They want to get people excited about barefoot shoes.

Sustainability: Feelgrounds sandals are 100% vegan, and no animals are harmed during the manufacturing process. The company believes that footwear manufacturing can be done in a responsible manner. They also try to use recycled materials whenever possible.

Details: Feelgrounds sandals are naturally shaped footwear to build strong and healthy feet. They unite barefoot functionality with style. 

Size and Fit: These sandals are lightweight, flexible, and breathable. They also feature a wide toe box and a zero-drop thin sole. The footbed is made of natural cork to keep your feet fresh. An adjustable heel strap also guarantees a good fit and keeps your foot from slipping out of place. 

Care: Feelgrounds sandals are easy to wash.

Price: $89

Shapen- Poppy barefoot sandals

About the brand: Shapen aims to debunk myths about barefoot sandals while creating shoes that will enhance your outfit. The designs reflect femininity and elegance, and are suitable for not only everyday life but also for work, weddings, or other special occasions.

Sustainability: Shapen uses vegan hydrophobic leather to make their shoes. The hydrophobic leather is water resistant and the queen of durability.

Details: Shapen’s Poppy sandals combine style with the comfort of barefoot walking, emphasizing beauty and elegance. These shoes are truly perfect for summertime. 

Size and Fit: These sandals are designed to be breathable and lightweight, featuring a thin, flexible zero-drop sole, a wide toe box, and an anatomical shape. 

Care: Wipe with a damp cloth. 

Price: $109

BOKYNA- Touchwide sandals

About the brand: As a company, BOKYNA is dedicated to bringing joy and comfort into the lives of every person who wears their products. They are laying the foundation of a community where we do good and expect good in return. They accomplish this by sourcing materials carefully and utilizing them with respect for both people and the planet. 

Sustainability: BOKYNA sandals are handmade with care and are 100% vegan. The company makes their sandals to last, withstanding any weather conditions or just general everyday wear and tear. Their sandals are also made of the highest quality materials.

Details: Start each day on the right foot with a pair of shoes that complements any outfit and feels gentle on the feet as well. These sandals feature soft nylon straps that won’t wear out or cause blisters. BOKYNA sandals are ultra-comfortable and feature an ultra-thin sole.

Size and Fit: The fit is true to size; choose your regular shoe size. If you’re between sizes, choose the larger size. Each pair features a wide toe box and is entirely flat and flexible. BOKYNA carefully crafts its shoes to ensure they do not disturb or cause discomfort during wear. 

Care: BOKYNA sandals are colorfast (they retain their color and won’t bleed/transfer) and can be washed by hand with warm water and soap.

Price: $80

Saguaro- Glow I Barefoot Sandals

About the brand: Saguaro wants their customers to be unlimited and unafraid. They create to provide an unburdened and effortless walking experience for everyone, everywhere. As a company, they are on a mission to liberate their customers from the confines of regular shoes and to help you be authentic and embrace quality.

Sustainability: These sandals are made from 100% natural rubber. As a company, they strive to minimize their environmental impact through thoughtful design and the use of eco-friendly materials.

Details: These minimalist sandals are designed to give you a natural walking sensation. You can easily customize the fit of your sandals for a more personalized comfort with every step. Saguaro sandals are ideal for exploring the world barefoot in the summer. These sandals are durable and support natural movement.

Size and Fit: These sandals feature a flexible, zero-drop sole, meaning the sole is flat from heel to toe, promoting proper posture and alignment. They also include a wide toe box, a lightweight design, and an easy-to-velcro design to keep them adjustable to different foot widths. 

Care: These Saguaro sandals are machine washable; simply wash them on a gentle setting. 

Price: $50

Ahinsa Shoes- Hava 2.0 

About the brand: Ahinsa shoes are designed by physiotherapists, made to bring you joy at every step. Each pair of shoes is hand-sewn. The company was founded after the founders were unable to find shoes that were both healthy and high-quality, and cruelty-free for both people and animals. Ahinsa shoes are on a mission to free your feet by putting on a pair of their shoes. 

Sustainability: Ahinsa Shoes are made of 100% vegan materials, including vegan leather. 

Details: These elegant sandals copy the natural shape of your foot so you’ll be walking as freely as if you were barefoot. You can fasten the straps as tightly or loosely as needed; excess can be cut off without worrying about fraying. The soft material these sandals are made of is durable and keeps your feet dry.

Size and Fit: Ahinsa Shoes are designed to fit the anatomical shape of your foot. They include a flexible sole and extra toe space. 

Care: When dirty, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth, and they’ll be as good as new.

Price: $150

Barefoot sandals offer a unique blend of comfort, freedom, and a natural feel that enhances every step. Their lightweight design and minimalist style make them an excellent choice for anyone looking to connect more closely with the ground while staying stylish and comfortable.