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Jimmy Carl Black
February 12, 2020
Review as a general weightlifting shoe
I've tried on a handful of styles of this type of shoe for the purpose of lifting weights in a flat, nearly barefoot — and most especially cool — shoe, and these are a cut above all the rest I've tried, which were all promptly returned.These have a very light and flexible rubber outsole with a very elastic and breathable mesh upper. Because of this there are no weird pressure points anywhere, as is the case with every other ill-fitting analog I've ever tried on. These are just fantastic — comfort, fit, breathability, all A+ as far as I'm concerned.I can't vouch for their durability for the purposes of running because I don't run; I simply dislike the feeling of heavy sneakers when lifting. I would just work out in crew socks if I were allowed to do so in a public gym. If I were to guess, these might last a couple months tops in a rigorous running regime. Then again, a pair of Merrells for $75 or so may get you scarcely more use than this.For my money these might be worth a shot for a runner. I do see a bit lacking in the fusion of the toe cap with the mesh upper, which shouldn't be a problem since, as mentioned, there is a good fit here with a ton of flexibility to eliminate the tension points around the outsole's border which wears out shoes. Almost all sneakers and trainers have historically been ill-shaped to levels of idiocy that are incomprehensible to me, especially Nikes, so the emergence of minimalist and zero-drop shoes in recent years is a good thing.Such a style of shoe isn't meant 'last' I suppose but serve a purpose. It's just important that you get the right size. I for example intended to wear these in black with normal black crew-length socks with a bit of thickness, so I went with 12.5 which is my upper size. This is an outstanding fit and feel as compared with the Converse I'd been wearing for lifting — Converse have really gone to **** over time, and yet they remain $60 or so. But ANYWAY, were I to buy another pair this summer to be worn with the invisible nylon socks I'd probably go down a half size to 12 to prevent heel slippage (I have a slightly shorter right foot). The inclusion of half-sizes is another sign of an excellent shoe product. An additional bonus is the fact these are very easy to slip on and off. I find zero negatives here. As a foot-sweater and a general disliker of weight on the feet, and a wide-foot-haver, these shoes were a great find.
✔ Verified Purchase
C
Cherie Cornmesser
July 28, 2024
Perfect for pus size hiker
All of the great benefits of barefoot movement with enough protection from sharp stones. I have been searching for the perfect zero drop hiking shoe for summer. As a heavier hiker I need a thicker sole to protect my feet from being bruised by stones. I also have an ankle instability on one side which can cause my foot to supinate heavily and soft soled shoes amplify this making walking painful over time and dangerous on uneven ground. Most barefoot style shoes have very thin soles with loads of ground feel, great for the instability but really not a good idea for a heavy person as we do need a bit more cushion and shock absorption on hard ground. So I was pretty happy to find these. They feel great. Fit is snug but comfortable. I can walk comfortably over large gravel and other surfaces.I have taken them out on a few walks now and in water and out, dirt trails, steep rocky slopes and they performed so well. No slipping and moving on my feet even when wet. Good traction on steep terrain. Fit is true to size. I prefer men's shoes for hiking so I ordered the men's 8.5 which is what I usually wear. My toes have just enough space without a lot of extra to trip me up.
✔ Verified Purchase
K
kala fatchett
May 18, 2025
Perfect shoes for the trail or everyday
I’ve attached before and after pictures. We went on a 30 mile hike with a total of 3500 ft in elevation gains. Mix between rocky and dirt floor with many stream crossings, which was just me and my 40lb backpack jumping from rock to rock. I was very impressed with these shoes. This was my first experience with barefoot style shoes and I must say it was very enjoyable. I’m normally a 11.5 wide sketcher. If I could get this shoe in 10.5 it would’ve been a perfect fit. However the 11 that I bought worked great. It was so breathable my feet did not even sweat or smell until I got them a little wet on the third day of our trip. Still not bad, I almost want to get another pair for everyday use just because they are so comfortable. They are very flexible as you can see from the attached photos. Being they are slip ons makes it easy to put on which is a huge plus for me and the elastic laces make it a plus because you can tighten to your liking. For the price to quality I’d say you can’t go wrong for these pair of shoes. They were 40dollrs as of May 5, 2025.
✔ Verified Purchase
Great barefoot-style shoe – but pay attention to sizing!
I’ve been wearing these for a few days now and overall, I’m very happy. The shoes are comfortable, flexible, and give a great ground feel – exactly what I was looking for in a minimalist, barefoot-style design.The materials feel breathable and lightweight, and they held up nicely across different surfaces like pavement, sand, gravel, and natural trails.However, one important note for sizing:My foot is exactly 26 cm long, and I ordered EU size 41 (US Men’s 8). While the fit was okay, I found the toe box a bit too snug, with my big toe lightly touching the top. If you're between sizes or prefer extra toe freedom (as barefoot shoes usually encourage), I recommend going up a size – EU 42 would’ve likely been perfect for me.Bottom line: Awesome shoe for the price – just consider sizing up if you’re close to the next size.
✔ Verified Purchase
Cheap but heavy
Pro: the price, 1/3 the price of name brand minimalist shoes.Easily slips on and off. Comfortable interior with no scratchy/pokey bits.Cons: easily the heaviest shoe I’ve bought in the past 15 years. Feels 2x the weight of my other trail running shoes like Altra Superior or Vibram Vtrail. I guess I’ll be building some leg strength as I break these in.A lot of that weight seems to come from the thick padding around the sides. It’s like a throwback to a 90’s sneaker. The extra padding makes the shoes noticeably hotter.
✔ Verified Purchase
Good Price and Good Product
Surprisingly more comfortable than you would think. I'm a 10.5 and got 10s, they fit perfect (I wear with a thin sock).
✔ Verified Purchase
