The best shoes for natural feet can be hard to find. Traditional shoes can cause pain and discomfort, but there are options out there that will keep your feet healthy and happy. There are several different types of shoes on the market today, but not all of them are good for your feet. Below is a list of the best shoes for natural feet: Flats Flats are a great choice for anyone who wants a comfortable pair of shoes. They are perfect for every day wear because they do not require much support or cushioning. Flats come in a wide variety of styles, including sandals and ballet flats. Boots Boots provide more support than flats, but they also offer less flexibility. If you have weak ankles or need extra ankle support, then boots may be the right choice for you. They come in many different styles, such as riding boots and cowboy boots with high heels. Ballet Flats Ballet flats provide maximum comfort with little to no cushioning at all! They are also very easy to slip into which makes them ideal for busy moms on the go who don’t have time to tie their shoes each morning before heading out the door!

Best Shoes For Natural Feet

**We have taken this one step further and built the Barefoot Shoe Finder to help you find brands that are most likely to work for you!** When you switch to healthy footwear, you’re deciding your feet are important. And that means no longer wearing shoes that don’t fit. But with so many variations in foot shape and size, it can be really hard to find a shoe that actually fits YOUR foot. In this post we’re discussing how to measure your feet, the basic foot types, and barefoot shoes and brands that work well for your foot type. Keep in mind that this is a general guide. There are tons of other barefoot shoe brands that fall somewhere in the middle and aren’t listed out here. To find barefoot shoes by category and lots more brands make sure you check out my other shoe lists, and the Barefoot Shoe Finder. But no matter what type of shoe you are looking for, getting to know your feet first will make shopping that much easier! I have firsthand experience with nearly every single brand on this list. Be sure to check out the reviews section and make use of the search bar if you have any questions about a particular barefoot shoe brand!

Measuring Your Feet

First things first. Having a handle on your foot measurements is pretty important, BUT it is not foolproof. After helping many customers measure and use a size chart via Anya’s Shop we’ve learned that fit is highly personal and this advice should be taken with a grain of salt. You will need to get to know how YOU want your shoes to fit first and foremost. So take this measuring and size chart advice with a grain of salt. With that in mind, here are some measuring best practices. I always measure my feet in centimeters to ensure an accurate number, and I measure before each purchase (in case my feet have changed). If you plan to wear socks you should have them on, and make sure you measure at the end of the day when your feet are biggest. If you are new to barefoot shoes, keep in mind that they may feel too big the first time you put them on. If they stay securely on your foot when you walk and don’t slosh around, that space around your toes is good and you probably picked the correct size! The general recommendation is to wear shoes that are 1 – 1.2cm longer than your foot, but it can vary significantly depending on your preference and the style of shoe. In slip on shoes I sometimes have only .5cm extra length so that they fit close and securely on my foot. In lace up boots that are highly adjustable, I am comfortable with as much as 2cm extra length. If the shoe matches your foot shape perfectly, less extra length is required (they’re foot gloves!). And all of this can be impacted by the design of the upper, the materials used, and your particular foot type and preferences. Even still, getting an accurate measurement and understanding a size chart can reduce the chance of sizing mistakes. There are two main ways to measure: A foot tracing and the wall method. For expensive/risky shoe purchases I always measure both ways TWICE in the evening. It’s ok if your measurements are slightly different every time, just use the average.

Foot Tracing

A foot tracing is the most common way to measure. You simply trace an outline of your foot and measure. But it’s important to know that it adds about .5 cm to your actual foot size. So if you use a foot tracing to figure out what size shoe you need, take your measurement and add only .5 – 1cm (so the total shoe length you are looking for would then be 1 – 1.2cm longer than your actual foot size), and find the nearest corresponding size on the size chart. My feet measure 23.2 from a foot tracing, so I look for shoes with an internal length of 23.7-24.2. Some people get confused about their foot width when they use a tracing, because they aren’t taking into account the extra mm the tracing added. My foot measures 9.2cm wide from a tracing but I can comfortably wear shoes that have an internal measurement of 8.8cm (without socks). This is because my actual foot width is .5cm less than the 9.2 I get from a tracing. Watch the vid below for how to do a foot tracing. Make sure you keep your pencil straight up and down!

Wall Method

The wall method yields the most accurate length and width of your foot. You measure foot length by placing your heel lightly against the wall (don’t push it in) and putting a heavy book where your longest toe ends. Then mark where the book is and measure that distance. You get your foot width by lining up the outside edge of your foot against the wall and placing the book on the other side. Then mark with a pencil and measure. If you are ordering custom barefoot shoes, you might have additional measurements to take! Follow each brand’s instructions carefully and don’t be afraid to measure multiple times!

Understanding A Size Chart

To understand a size chart you need to read the instructions listed on the brands’ web page, because different brands create their size charts differently. It might show the length/width of the insole, the dimensions of the “last” used to mold the shoe, or the length of the foot that fits in each size. If there are no instructions for how to use the size chart, contact the brand for clarification. But in my experience, when it’s not stated, the size chart shows the internal dimensions of the shoe and not the foot that fits inside. In that case, you would use the above instructions to find your foot length and add 1cm to find your size.

Understanding Foot Type

There are a dizzying amount of foot types and most people fall somewhere on a spectrum (metaphor for life). So let’s illustrate the main ones. Slope feet have a prominent big toe and all toes are shorter than the previous one. Mountain feet have their 2nd toe longest. Plateau feet have the first 3 toes all the same length and then it tapers (or for some it might be 2 or 4 that are the same length). And Square feet are straight across. Identifying the shape of your foot can make it a lot easier to select a shoe!

You can see that barefoot shoe brands all have a different shape to them, so let’s discuss brands that work well for each foot type.

Barefoot Shoe Brands for Slope Feet

Not many brands cater to Slope only feet, but the good news is they don’t need to. When all your toes are shorter than your big toe you’re not likely to have issues with them running into the front of the shoe. So people with Slope feet can often fit into every shoe shape (provided they work for your width and volume, keep reading for more info). Here are a few barefoot shoe brands that follow an Slope foot shape.

• Be Lenka – Be Lenka is also a very wide brand, so they will fit a wider range of people than narrower Slope shaped shoes. Use code ANYASREVIEWS 5% off directly from Be Lenka (returns are only accepted from within the EU and USA). They are also available at Anya’s Shop in the US and worldwide shipping available.
• Vivobarefoot – VIVOANYA gets you 10% off
• Luks
• Groundz – Code ANYASREVIEWS gets you 5% off

Barefoot Shoe Brands for Mountain Feet

People with Mountain feet have to be careful about shoes that slope after the big toe. The following brands have a more rounded toe box shape, but also check out the brands for Plateau & Square feet, as many of them will work too.

• Crupon Barefoot Sandals – Code ANYA for 10% off
• Feelgrounds
• Groundies
• Lisbeth Joe – Use ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Mukishoes – Use ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
• PaperKrane – Also available at Anya’s Shop!
• Posh Panda
• Splay Shoes – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. Read my Splay reviews here!
• Unshoes – ANYA for 10% off
• Xero Shoes
• Xero Shoes EU

Barefoot Shoe Brands for Plateau & Square Feet

Plateau and Square feet also need to watch for sloping toe boxes. That doesn’t mean you can never try other options, but you might need to size up for enough space for your outside toes. Below are some brands that cater to feet that are more square.

• Ahinsa – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. You can now order the black Ahinsa Jaya through Anya’s Shop! Orders placed through our shop will be eligible for US returns.
• Bohempia – ANYASREVIEWS gets you 10% off
• Freet – ANYASREVIEWS-10 gets you 10% off
• Lems – European residents can find Lems at Mugavik Barefoot and use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Origo Shoes – Code ANYA for 10% off + free shipping (doesn’t ship outside US).
• Softstar Shoes Primal Line – ANYA 15% off first shoe purchase Must be logged into an account to use
• Tadeevo – ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Unshoes – ANYA for 10% off
• Wildling
• Vivobarefoot Made in Ethiopia – This line is shaped differently than other Vivo shoes. Read my Addis review here. And VIVOANYA for 10% off
• Zeazoo Dingo – get 5% off Zeazoo direct with code ANYASREVIEWS, or get them from Anya’s Shop if you’re in the US (Save on shipping)

What is Foot Volume?

Foot volume describes how much vertical space your foot takes up. This can be at any point along the foot, including at the arch or instep, the ball of the foot, or the toes. And it is independent of your length, width, and foot type. High volume feet are “tall” or “deep” and take up space in the top of the shoe. If you have this type of foot you may find that shoes feel extra snug over the arch of your foot and you have to keep your laces loose. Low volume feet are shallow, or in other words they don’t come very high up from the ground and don’t take up much vertical space. People with this type of foot may find that there is extra space in the top of their shoes. This can result in a lot of sloshing around and toe gripping, but don’t worry it’s an easy fix.

Barefoot Shoes Brands for Low Volume Feet

There aren’t many brands that cater to low volume feet, BUT that shouldn’t prevent you from trying them all. It is very easy to fix a low volume problem either with barefoot insoles or my favorite felt inserts. You can learn more ways to make shoes fit your feet better in this Low Volume FAQ

• Vivobarefoot –VIVOANYA for 10% off
• Be Lenka Wool Lined Boots & Eazy Sneaker – All available at Anya’s Shop!
• Groundies Sneakers – Except for the new Universe sneaker
• Luks Fuego Moccasins
• Bedrock Sandals
• Earth Runners – ANYASREVIEWSER10 for 10% off
• Shamma Sandals
• Splay Shoes – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. Read my Splay reviews here!

Barefoot Shoe Brands for High Volume Feet

If you have high volume feet it’s unlikely you’ll be able to make a low volume shoe fit. Your best bet is to choose a high volume shoe to begin with and get good at stretching techniques (Here you can see some more High Volume Fit Hacks). Below are a few high volume barefoot brands and shoes.

• Altra Running – Read my Altra review here
• Be Lenka Prime & Icon – The Prime can also be found at Anya’s Shop
• Bohempia – Get 10% off with code ANYASREVIEWS
• Feelgrounds Droptops (Especially in knit)
• Lems – European readers can find Lems at Mugavik Barefoot and use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Gea Soles
• Groundies Universe
• Groundz – ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Lisbeth Joe – ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• PaperKrane – Also available at Anya’s Shop
• Raum Goods
• Shapen – Ivy, Fleur, and Poppy in Wide width. Use codeANYA5 for 5% off. US/Canadian customers can find the Ivy and Poppy at Anya’s Shop!
• Tadeevo – ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Unshoes – ANYA for 10% off
• Vivobarefoot Made in Ethiopia – VIVOANYA for 10% off
• Xero Shoes
• Xero Shoes EU
• Zeazoo Dingo – get 5% off Zeazoo direct with code ANYASREVIEWS, or get them from Anya’s Shop if you’re in the US (Save on shipping)
• Bedrock Sandals
• Earth Runners – ANYASREVIEWSER10 for 10% off
• Shamma Sandals

Narrow Vs Wide

Narrow and wide are subjective terms. But most barefoot shoe brands fall into what we’ll call “average” width. So if you find that your feet are sloshing around in all your shoes then you may have narrow feet. If your foot is always rolling off the edges of your soles, then you might have wide feet. If you have no idea, I recommend trying one of the average width brands listed below (maybe one with free shipping/returns to be safe!) and going from there. In the barefoot shoe world width usually refers to toebox width, not width the entire length of the shoe. Some people might have narrow heels but wide toes, while others are wide the entire length of the foot. It helps to pay attention to the width of the entire shoe and note how it matches up with your own foot width.

You can see that some of the above brands have narrow heels, and others tend to be wider through the shoe. For the purposes of this post, we will keep it focused on toe box width, but the better you know your feet the easier it will be to find the right shoe.

Barefoot Shoe Brands for Narrow Feet

• Vivobarefoot – While they fit most medium width people, Vivobarefoot also works for narrow feet because they have a close fit.
• PaperKrane – Also available at Anya’s Shop
• Crupon Sandals – Use code ANYA for 10% off
• The Storehouse Flats – ANYA for $5 off. Select colors available at Anya’s Shop
• Xero Shoes
• Xero Shoes EU
• Shapen Ballet Flats – Use codeANYA5 for 5% off
• Bedrock Sandals
• Ahinsa – Select ballet flats for narrow feet. Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
• Zapato Feroz – select styles available at Anya’s Shop
• Zeazoo Sandals – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off. Select styles available at Anya’s Shop
• Origo Shoes – Use code ANYA for 10% off

Barefoot Shoe Brands for Extra Wide Feet

All barefoot shoe brands should be wide compared to conventional shoes. But this is a list of extra wide options, for people who don’t fit into other barefoot shoe brands, starting with the widest. Keep in mind that custom may be a good option if you have trouble finding shoes that fit (see the next section). And here is an article that goes into more detail on these shoes and separates them out into Fan Shaped and Straight – Where Do You Need Your Width?

• Softstar Shoes Primal Line – The absolute widest there is! I have written two Primal Softstar reviews. Use code ANYA for 15% off your first shoe purchase.
• Bohempia Wide Width – Get 10% off with code ANYASREVIEWS
• Be Lenka – International customers can get 5% off with code ANYASREVIEWS. You can order Be Lenka shoes from Anya’s Shop!
• Duchess and Fox – Womens flats made in the USA. Use code ANYA for 10% off
• Groundz – ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Ahinsa – Everything here is vegan! Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. You can now order the black Ahinsa Jaya through Anya’s Shop! Orders placed through our shop will be eligible for US returns.
• Vivobarefoot Made in Ethiopia – VIVOANYA gets you 10% off
• Feelgrounds
• Freet – ANYASREVIEWS-10 gets you 10% off
• Lems – Follow their sizing recs! European readers can shop for Lems at Mugavik and use code ANYASREVIEWS to get 5% off.
• Gea Soles
• Magical Shoes – ANYA 10% off
• Tadeevo – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off
• Luks
• Zlatush
• Joe Nimble (International) – AFFANY10 for 10% off first purchase
• Joe Nimble US – ANYASREVIEWS for $10 off
• Unshoes – ANYA gets you 10% off
• Tikki Sandals – Available for US/Canadians at Anya’s Shop
• Shapen Barefoot – Ivy, Fleur, and other models in Wide width are extra wide. Use codeANYA5 for 5% off. US/Canadian customers can find the Ivy and Poppy at Anya’s Shop!

Major Barefoot Shoe Brands for Average Width Feet

• Groundies
• Mukishoes – ANYASREVIEWS gets you 10% off
• Softstar Shoes – Non Primal models. Use code ANYA for 15% off your first shoe purchase
• Shapen Barefoot – Poppy model. Use codeANYA5 for 5% off. US/Canadian customers can find the Poppy flat at Anya’s Shop!
• Vivobarefoot – VIVOANYA gets you 10% off
• Wildling
• Zaqq Barefoot – Some models are tapered. You can find select Zaqq boots at Anya’s Shop!

38 Barefoot Shoe Brands from Narrow To Wide

In the photo below I ordered 35 different barefoot shoe brands that carry everyday barefoot sneakers and lifestyle shoes from narrowest to widest. This is looking specifically at width across the ball of the foot – you can see that there are variations in overall shape between them which may make some shoes feel narrow on your foot, even if they measure wide at the ball of the foot (that’s why the above information on foot shape is useful!). Also, keep in mind that some brands have different width options available, and variations between models. This is my best attempt at generalizing the information to help orient you!

A couple notes: Some of these brands that show up as a narrower option sometimes work for even extra wide feet. Most notably, Wildling Shoes and Mukishoes. Both of these barefoot shoe brands have extra flexible soles that flatten out and tend to accommodate a variety of shapes. Wildling also often has wide-fitting options even with the same sole shape (more material up top). While it’s true that the actual sole width on those two brands are in the correct order in this photo, you may find that they still fit wide. Ultimately we’ll all experience shoes differently, so take everything here with a grain of salt.

Custom Barefoot Shoe Brands

While custom shoes can be a scary investment, if you have tricky feet it can make all the difference. My custom shoes are some of my all time favorites because they fit like a glove. Check out this list of shoemakers that will customize your purchase to your personal foot measurements. For more info on the ones that I have worked with, read this article on Custom Barefoot Shoe Brands.

• Gaucho Ninja Leather – My review of two Gaucho Ninja boots here. Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
• The Drifter Leather – My ordering guide here
• Zlatush
• Gea Soles
• Zkama shoes
• Ela Faustus Shoes (formerly Botky Mechovky)
• Prime Trotter
• Dextra Perspective – Fabric flats for women
• Conker Shoes
• Jenon Leather – Shipping to EU & USA only
• Green Shoes

Sandals

• Chala
• Conker Shoes
• Deliberate Life Designs – ANYASREVIEWS
• The Drifter Leather
• ElaFaustus (formerly Botky Mechovky)
• Jenon Leather – Shipping to EU & USA only
• Laboo Leather – LOVE these. Also available at Anya’s Shop!
• Nallu
• Paisley Running Sandals
• Rachell
• Running Pads
• Tarasoles
• Zlatush
• Zkama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoUjgxGZg2o