2021
Where the Golden Toe began
The first awards invited people to recommend the shoes they owned. Xero Shoes, Freet, Paperkrane and Luks helped put barefoot shoes into the prize pool.
Visit the first awardsThe third Golden Toe Awards · 2026
You make the shoes.
You deserve a little fanfare.
The Golden Toe Awards are a community-led celebration of barefoot shoes, the people who make them and the people who wear them. For the third edition, let’s celebrate what you’ve helped put on people’s feet. Join in with a prize or a partnership and give your brand a place in the celebration.
10 community-voted categories · Voting 19 Oct to 15 Nov
Want to share the awards with your audience? Get the free media kit →
Already supporting GTA 2026
- Icarus Footwear
- Barely Barefoot
- Bearfoot
- Carson Footwear
- Cool East Market
- Kingdom of Wow
- Nallu
- PaperKrane
- The Drifter Leather
- The Last ShoemakerThe Last Shoemaker
- Tomar Creation
- Xero Shoes
Our planned prize pool includes confirmed contributions and offers being finalised. Voters choose the award winners.
Chosen by the community
Third time around. Still all about the community.
After editions in 2021 and 2023, the Golden Toe Awards are back for their third celebration. Finding a good pair of barefoot shoes can take some digging. Golden Toe asks the people wearing them to share their favourites, helping newcomers find a starting point and giving great makers a chance to shine, whatever their marketing budget.
This year, voters can choose across ten categories, from everyday shoes and running to kids’ footwear, their favourite brand and best retailer. They can search the catalogue or add a missing shoe. Verified community votes decide the results.
Your support helps build the prize pool and get the word out. People get a reason to join in; your brand gets recognition among people who already care about barefoot footwear. The recommendations remain useful long after the last prize has gone out.
2023
More shoes. More community favourites.
The awards grew to cover more ways people use barefoot shoes, with roughly 32 brand-supplied prizes (wow). Here are a few of the community’s choices.
Meet the 2023 winnersWays to take part
Bring a prize.
Back the party.
Barefoot shoes keep finding new fans. I want the third Golden Toe Awards to be the biggest and best yet, and I’d love you to be involved in whatever way you can.
Have an idea for a collaboration? I’d love to hear it. Email me at adam@minimal-list.org.
Join the celebrationPrize Sponsor
Any prize contribution
Put a pair of your shoes on someone’s feet. Give a product, gift card or bundle, and introduce a barefoot fan to your brand. There’s no cash sponsorship fee.
- Your logo and brand link beside your prize
- Included in campaign sponsor thank-yous
State of Barefoot 2026 Industry Intelligence Pack included (US$199 value) →
The main State of Barefoot report will be free. The Pack is the deeper professional layer for organisations using the research in planning, benchmarking and presentations.
We recommend a prize worth at least a pair of your shoes, but smaller gifts are welcome too. One pair, several gift cards or a bundle — contribute what works for your brand.
Golden Toe Partner
$500
Your brand is placed prominently throughout the voting and results journey, so it is seen by the people actively taking part in the Golden Toe Awards, rather than only through a one-off sponsored post. A prize is optional.
- Prominent linked logo on the voting page and again on the results page
- One newsletter feature with an image, a short brand introduction and a link
- One dedicated Instagram post featuring your support or prize
State of Barefoot 2026 Industry Intelligence Pack included (US$199 value) →
The main State of Barefoot report will be free. The Pack is the deeper professional layer for organisations using the research in planning, benchmarking and presentations.
The 2026 celebration
From first votes to golden toes.
One public voting round. A whole lot of community love. Here’s the plan for this year’s awards.
Your cue to join in
Get in touch by 18 October.
Join from launch. Later enquiries are welcome by email—we’ll confirm what’s still possible.
Voting opens
19 October
The community shares its favourites.
Voting closes
15 November
The final day to give your favourites some love.
Votes checked
16–18 November
We validate the votes before the big reveal.
Results celebration
Around 19 November
Meet the winners. Bring on the fanfare.
Target dates for 2026. We’ll confirm any changes here.
A couple of useful things to know
Does sponsorship affect who wins?
No. The community picks the winners. Sponsorship never changes eligibility, vote weight or results. Categories and winner status aren’t for sale.
What is the included research pack?
The State of Barefoot 2026 Industry Intelligence Pack is the deeper professional layer alongside the free public report. It adds expanded anonymised analysis, benchmarking and detailed charts where the sample supports them. It normally costs US$199 per organisation and is included with every confirmed sponsorship. Release is planned for late January or early February 2027.
Let’s make it happen
Your brand.
A little Golden Toe magic.
Bring your brand into the celebration. Choose a prize contribution or a partnership, add your details below, and help make this the biggest Golden Toe yet.
Prefer to skip the form? Email your contribution or questions directly to Adam at Email adam@minimal-list.org.