A
Amazon Customer
August 06, 2025
Great Introduction for Barefoot Style Running Shoe - Unbeatable at this Price - Love 'em
After going deep learning and looking into barefoot style running, I ordered a bunch of barefoot type shoes, including this one. In short, this shoe is hands-down the best option for transitioning into barefoot-style running in my opinion.Size - I usually wear a size 10. For reference, the Altra Original shoe fit fits me perfectly at size 10, with ~1 cm above my big toe. For this shoe, I ordered both a 9 and a 10 to see. The Size 9 in this shoe leaves ~1cm above my big toe. In my opinion, this shoe runs a little long compared to others.Fit - This shoe almost has a slipper-like feel to it when you put it on with socks...I mean that in a good way. It immediately comfortable on the foot. I have a medium-high arch, and a medium-high instep girth/volume (height of the foot, distance from heel to top of the foot in front of the shin). Both are more pronounced in my right foot vs me left foot. The vertical volume of the shoe (often an important aspect of a shoe fit that annoyingly is excluded from almost every shoe specification or description out there), subjectively feels like a medium = perfection on my left foot, a little snug on my right foot. No real need for lacing up on my right shoe. I suspect will give a little with time.Sole / Ground Feel - feels like a perfect balance between enough ground-feel feedback and forgiveness. I could feel creeses in the sidewalk, but it not uncomfortable, with socks on.Heel - Heel had a little movement when moving into the toe-off of a stride. Not as tight of a hold on the outsides of the heel as an Altra, but not the best comparison as Altra is known for that secure-heel.Other Notes - Despite this shoe probably using super cheap materials, it feels pretty durable. The upper is stretchy but durable, a few mm thick I'd guess.I also bought a pair of vivo primo's which were 4x expensive. Those were almost 2 sizes too long by the way. Sweet shoes, more minimalis clearly. This is more of a "shoe". For just getting into barefoot style, I'd opt for this whitin one over the primo, and I did.Compared to Xero - much softer of a sole with this whitin shoe. Softere all around actually. This is more flexible, narrower middfit area than Xero.And I'll stop there cus I could keep going. Great shoe. Unbeatable as the price, truly.
✔ Verified Purchase
A year later: still Great low cost minimalist option!
BOTTOM LINE: I highly recommend these! Comfortable, functional, ergonomic, and fashionable.I have had these shoes for over a year now and can say that they are fantastic! They are a great way to checkout minimalist footwear without breaking the bank.I am a teacher and am on my feet most of the day. These shoes allow your feet and body to work the way they were designed and have helped with my foot and back pain. You definitely need to transition into wearing these if you are not a regular user of barefoot shoes. It took me about 2-3 weeks or rotating them in with my regular shoes, but now I wear the 90% of the time.I also use these as my gym shoes for weightlifting and love them for that as well. The wide toe box and flat sole are great for lifting. I wouldn’t wear them for running, but they are good for just about everything else!I normally wear a size 10.5 Mens and ordered a 10 in these. Perfect fit.To clean, I remove the soles and laces and was in the washing machine and hang dry. Have had 0 issues!
✔ Verified Purchase
They’re good
I returned these because I don’t like the feeling of the tab on my achilles, super comfortable though, supports the inside of your foot well, size fit great, flexible, stretchy, good grip, pretty good if you like trail running shoes
✔ Verified Purchase
S
Santiago J.
January 02, 2026
My Only Workout Shoes
I bought these with the intention of using them only for the gym. When I got them, I was surprised by how comfortable they are. They are light, and have pretty decent grip to them. They fit as they should and with the elastic band around the foot, they are pretty easy to put on as well. I don't typically use zero drop shoes, but I knew it was going to provide a challenge in running/walking, as well as help with leg workouts like squats or lunges.
✔ Verified Purchase
Extremely comfortable, great value
These are the best deal on shoes ever! Extremely comfortable and easy to slip on and off. I’ve had them for 5 or 6 months and wear them as often as I can. I tried to put on my old Sketchers after wearing these and the Sketchers were so uncomfortable in comparison I actually threw them out. I knew I would never willingly wear them after getting used to these Whitin shoes. I have worn these to work, somewhat against the dress code, because they are so much more comfortable than my dress shoes I could not bear to change.The tongue of the shoe is actually just one piece with the whole shoe body, which means it doesn’t get crumpled up and you can slide on a shoe with just one hand using the ample sized finger loop. This makes this particular model shoe even more convenient than others by Whitin with a separate tongue. Note that the laces are not just decorative: you can adjust them well, but because of the shoe stretch you never need to h tie them.These are great for walking or riding the bike. I personally would not use them for running; I’d worry they’d slide around a bit. But I guess I haven’t tried.Overall they look nice! But I find it’s hard to match the tan rubber color to things; I wish I’d got the black soles or grey. Next time!
✔ Verified Purchase
W
William C. Peters Jr.
September 16, 2025
Great place to start
These shoes are basically the mullet of footwear: all business for your feet, zero style party up top. Wide toe box? Check. Super flexible? Check. Great for lifting, hiking, balancing on rocks like a mountain goat? Absolutely. I took them on a long hike expecting them to die halfway through—turns out they’re tougher than they look (and they look like potato sacks with laces).Perfect starter shoe if you want to dip a toe (literally) into the minimalist/barefoot world without breaking the bank. Just don’t expect compliments. Unless the compliment is, “Wow, you’re brave for wearing those in public.”
✔ Verified Purchase
A
Amazon Customer
November 20, 2025
Disappointing material
The sneaker fit was great, the style is very nice, comfort was great for the first few days, then the insoles slipped and kept moving under my foot. They slip around, actually working they way into a folds that are extremely uncomfortable. Because I have worn them for several days I would not return them. I plan on replacing them with something else. Poor components, disappointing to say the least.
✔ Verified Purchase
