Decathlon Forclaz MT500 Sandals Review - Barefoot Fit

The short answer

The sandal I originally reviewed as the Decathlon Trek 500/Bivouac is still sold under the same product ID, 8506214, but Decathlon UK now calls it the Forclaz MT500 compact, ultra-lightweight hiking sandal.

It is still an unusually accessible option if you want a very flexible, low-profile sandal without paying specialist barefoot-sandal prices. My pair gave me far more ground feel than the sandals I had been wearing before, packed down easily and held my foot more securely than flip-flops.

There is one important correction to the original review: Decathlon does not currently publish a heel-to-toe drop or stack-height measurement for this model. The old article presented 0 mm drop and 5 mm stack as settled specifications. I cannot verify those figures from the current manufacturer information, so they are no longer stated as facts here.

What changed since the original review?

The product has changed names in Decathlon's catalogue. Searchers may still know it as the Trek 500 or Bivouac sandal, while the current UK listing uses MT500. The product ID remains 8506214, which is the clearest way to match the current listing to the sandal reviewed here.

At the time of this review update on 23 August 2026, Decathlon UK lists the MT500 at £24.99. Prices and availability can change, so check the current Decathlon UK product page rather than relying on the historical price in the original article.

Current verified specifications

• Current name: Forclaz MT500 compact, ultra-lightweight hiking sandals
• Product ID: 8506214
• Weight: 178 g per sandal / 356 g per pair in size 9, according to Decathlon
• Outsole: 100% latex rubber
• Upper: 100% polyester
• Fastening: two rip-tab adjustment zones
• Manufacturing: made in Portugal; Decathlon says most materials are of European origin
• Warranty: two years
• Published drop: not stated on the current Decathlon UK product page
• Published stack height: not stated on the current Decathlon UK product page

Decathlon itself currently describes the MT500 as a minimalist sandal. That is useful context, but it does not replace measurements the manufacturer has not published.

How they feel on foot

Very flexible and easy to pack

The strongest impression from my pair is still how little structure there is underfoot. They flex very easily and take up very little room in a bag. That makes sense for the product's original bivouac role: a light second pair to carry while travelling, trekking or moving around camp.

Lots of ground feel

These felt thinner underfoot than the sandals I had been wearing before. Even after several years in barefoot-style footwear, the amount of ground feedback was noticeable at first. If you actively want very little between your foot and the ground, that is the appeal. If you want cushioning or protection from sharp, rough terrain, it is a reason to look elsewhere.

I would not turn that experience into a universal claim about adaptation or foot health. It is simply how this pair felt to me.

The front of the sandal is the main fit compromise

My main reservation remains the shape and placement around the front strap. I wanted more room toward the outside of the forefoot. It did not rub my little toe, but other feet may meet the strap differently.

That matters more than whether the sandal gets a broad “wide” label. A sandal can have spare platform width and still place a strap in the wrong spot for your toe line.

More secure than flip-flops

Coming from flip-flops, I liked having the ankle and forefoot held by adjustable straps. The sandal stayed with my foot much better. The two-zone rip-tab fastening also makes it easy to alter the hold through the forefoot and ankle independently.

Are the Decathlon MT500 sandals barefoot?

I would describe them as a barefoot-style or minimalist option, not as a shoe whose exact barefoot geometry has been fully documented.

They are visibly low profile, my pair is extremely flexible, and Decathlon currently calls the product minimalist. But if your definition requires a verified 0 mm heel-to-toe drop or a specific stack height, the current Decathlon specification does not give you the measurements needed to confirm that.

That distinction is important. A product can be useful for someone who likes minimalist footwear without us inventing missing specifications.

How do they fit?

Decathlon's current UK listing says the MT500 is true to size and to choose your usual size. That replaces the old article's generic advice to size up.

My own fit concern was not simply length. It was the available shape around the outer forefoot and front strap. Sizing up just to escape a strap-position problem may leave you with unnecessary length, so use Decathlon's current size guidance as the starting point and pay attention to where the forefoot strap lands on your foot.

If you can try them in store, that is more informative than applying a universal sizing rule.

What are they actually good for?

They make the most sense for:

• someone who wants to try a very minimal-feeling sandal at a low price;
• travel or van-life use where packability matters;
• a light second pair for camp, refuges, showers or casual warm-weather use;
• people who prefer a flexible sandal with adjustable ankle and forefoot straps.

I would look elsewhere if:

• you need a manufacturer-verified zero-drop or stack-height specification;
• you want substantial cushioning or underfoot protection;
• the front strap crowds the outside of your forefoot;
• you want an aggressive technical trail sandal rather than a compact lightweight option.

Would I buy them again?

Yes, for the job I bought them for. The value proposition is still the interesting part: a very flexible, packable sandal from a mainstream retailer at a price well below many specialist barefoot sandals.

I would just buy them with clearer expectations now. The useful reasons to choose them are price, flexibility, packability and how they feel on your foot - not an unverified 0 mm specification or a claim that they are healthier than another sandal.

How this review was checked

This article combines my original first-person experience with current manufacturer information reviewed on 23 August 2026. The current Decathlon UK listing confirms product ID 8506214, MT500 naming, weight, materials, fastening, manufacturing location, warranty and current sizing guidance. It does not publish heel-to-toe drop or stack height, so this update does not manufacture those measurements.