Best Barefoot Trail Shoes - Voted By The Community

👉 This is post 2/11 of our series of Golden Toe Awards 2023 announcements.

In the heart of the bustling barefoot community, the anticipation reaches a crescendo as we proudly unveil the winners of the coveted "🏔️ Best Barefoot Trail Shoe" category in the Golden Toe Awards 2023.

The communities journey of exploration, testing, and collaboration has led us to the doorstep of excellence, where the most exceptional trail shoes have emerged victorious.

This is the second instalment of the Golden Toe Awards 2023 results, where the community votes and celebrates the finest in the world of barefoot shoes and minimalist footwear.

And the Winners Are...

🥇 Mesa Trail II by Xero Shoes - Rating: 9.85

🥈 Feldom by Freet - Rating: 9.50

🥉 Primus Trail II by Vivobarefoot - Rating: 9.00

‍

Why They Won - Community Feedback

We've gone through all the community feedback and reviews about the winning shoes and compiled it to give you a clear picture of why these shoes have captured the community's heart.

‍

🥇 Mesa Trail II by Xero Shoes - Rating: 9.85

‍

Mesa Trail II by Xero Shoes barefoot shoes

Design and Fit:

Feet and toes can bend and flex
Perfect shape
Mesh could have smaller holes to prevent sand from entering
Adjust sole pattern for longevity

Comfort and Performance:

Great for mountain hikes and long runs
No blisters
Lightweight and flexible
Provides ground protection
Super comfortable for hiking and trail running
Grippy sole with room to move
Dries fast
Lets dust and fine particles through the upper, making feet dirty
Ideal for disc golf
Provides just enough protection and grip without sacrificing ground feel
Sizing similar to original
Lighter laces

Specific Requests and Improvements:

Improve the insole or the way it is put in the shoe/glue or change the insole to prevent it from creeping out
More durable fabric for the upper
Add gusseted tongue and better wet rock traction
Make some shoes without reflective stripes
Improve sizing accuracy

Customer Feedback and Experiences:

Durable and comfortable
Used for dirt, rock, gravel, and sand trails
Willing to purchase multiple pairs
Recommended for hiking and everyday use
No break-in period required
Loved for running and backpacking trips

Overall Value and Price:

Great grip and comfort
Lightweight and durable
Absorbs impact well
Provides barefoot feel

Get the Xero Mesa Trail II ->

‍

🥈 Feldom by Freet - Rating: 9.50

‍

Design and Fit:

Lightweight and flexible
Roomy toe box
Slightly larger than indicated on size chart
Limited color options

Comfort and Performance:

Excellent grip on soles
Suitable for both trail and pavement
Breathable
Good ground feel
Roomy and comfortable

Specific Requests and Improvements:

Water resistance
More color options

Customer Feedback and Experiences:

Positive overall feedback
Comparable to other minimalist shoes like Altra Lone Peaks and Xero Mesa Trails
Positive experience with traction and breathability

Overall Value and Price:

Relatively inexpensive compared to other barefoot shoes
Positive experience with shipping and delivery time
Recommended for those in need of a minimalist-yet-grippy trail shoe

Get the Freet Feldom ->

‍

🥉 Primus Trail II by Vivobarefoot - Rating: 9.00

‍

Design and Fit:

Resistant and fits very well
Lacing system could be improved with either elasticated pullcord laces or normal laces that can be tied
Great colors available
Variation with a knit upper/sock opening is comfortable

Comfort and Performance:

Sole is very good for walking/running on hard ground
Great traction for long hikes and trail runs

Specific Requests and Improvements:

Laces should be shorter and thicker

Customer Feedback and Experiences:

Amazing feel and worth the price
Used for both hikes and everyday use

Overall Value and Price:

Lower price appreciated

Get the Vivobareoot Primus Trail II ->

‍

What's Next?

This is post #2 of our series of Golden Toe Awards 2023 announcements. Stay tuned as we continue to unveil winners in other categories. Next up, we'll be spotlighting the exceptional performers in the 🥾 Best Barefoot Hiking Boots category. Don't miss out on discovering the shoes that are redefining trail running.

A huge shoutout and gratitude to the brands that have made the Golden Toe Awards even more special with their contributions to our epic giveaway: Barebarics, Be Lenka, Cool East Market, Deliberate Life Designs, Earthing Moccasins, Feelgrounds, Freet, Fullsoul Runningpad, Geniale Sandals, Iguaneye, Kyrgies, PaperKrane, Shapen Barefoot, The Last Shoe Maker, Tomar Creation, Xero Shoes, and Zlatush.