Freet Ibex Review - Fit, Grip & 2026 Availability

The short answer

I used the Freet Ibex as a leather hiking boot across city walking, muddy trails and wet-weather trips. The reasons I liked it were straightforward: it felt much lighter and more flexible than a conventional hiking boot, the toe area suited my foot, and the HillGrip outsole gave me useful traction on softer ground.

The original review mixed that experience with product facts that have since changed or were too broad. Freet's current Ibex information lists a different insole/midsole package from the old article, currently says the model fits small, and availability now varies by region.

The Ibex is no longer listed in Freet's current UK boot collection, while Freet's EU store still lists it as a backordered sale model. If you are shopping for it now, check your regional store before treating an old price or availability statement as current.

Current Ibex specification

Freet's current EU Ibex page, checked on 23 August 2026, publishes:

• Upper: premium full-grain leather
• Lining: waterproof, breathable full-bootee lining
• Outsole: HillGrip with 4 mm tread
• Insole: Ortholite 3.0 mm
• Midsole: SoftFlex
• Stack height: 10.5 mm with the 3 mm insole; 7.5 mm without
• Heel-to-toe geometry: zero drop, according to Freet
• Weight: 710 g per pair in EU 42
• Sizes listed: EU 37-48

Those are manufacturer specifications, not health claims. A zero-drop or flexible construction describes the boot; it does not prove that the boot will prevent injuries or improve movement for every wearer.

What I liked

Light and flexible for a leather hiking boot

The Ibex felt notably less cumbersome than the traditional hiking boots I was used to. On multi-day walking and hiking trips, that lighter feel was one of its strongest qualities.

It is still a leather boot with a waterproof lining and meaningful tread, so I would not describe it as an ultra-thin barefoot shoe. The attraction is the combination: more boot protection and grip while retaining a flexible, level platform and a roomy front.

Useful grip on softer and muddy trails

I had a positive experience with the HillGrip outsole on mixed and muddy terrain. Freet currently specifies 4 mm tread and describes it for hard and muddy trail surfaces.

“Good grip” still depends on surface, wear and conditions. My experience is not a guarantee that the outsole will outperform another boot on wet rock, ice or every trail surface.

The toe area worked well for me

The front of the boot gave my toes the room I wanted without making the whole boot feel sloppy. That is a first-person fit result, not proof that the Ibex works for every wide foot, bunion or foot shape.

What I would change

The ankle started stiff

My pair felt stiff around the ankle at first and caused some irritation during the early wears. The leather softened with use and became more comfortable, but I would not sell the boot as “no break-in required”.

The laces felt short

This was minor, but noticeable. I would have preferred a little more lace length for easier adjustment around the higher cut.

Waterproofing needs realistic expectations

My pair kept my feet dry through the rain I encountered during testing. Freet currently describes the Ibex as providing a high level of waterproofness when the water-resistant leather upper is properly treated and the full-bootee lining is intact.

That is different from claiming a leather hiking boot is permanently waterproof. Current customer reviews on Freet's own page include both positive experiences and reports of water ingress after use. Condition, seams, maintenance and age all matter.

Fit and sizing

The old Minimal-list review said the Ibex was true to size because my pair fitted me well. Freet's current product page now says customer feedback is that this style fits small and suggests considering a larger size.

Use Freet's current EU measurements rather than my one fit result. The current chart publishes insole length and width by EU size, and Freet recommends working from EU sizing where possible.

If you already know that you alternate between two sizes, the current maker guidance makes the larger size the more plausible starting point. Foot length, width, sock thickness and volume still matter, so that is guidance rather than a universal rule.

Is the Freet Ibex still available?

Availability is currently regional. On 23 August 2026, the Ibex was not present in Freet's UK boot collection and the direct UK product URL returned 404. Freet's EU store still listed the Ibex at a sale price of €95 from €200, marked “More stock coming soon” and available to backorder.

That makes the old price section obsolete. If you are in the UK, browse Freet's current boot range. If you are in the EU, check the current Ibex listing before ordering. Prices and stock can change faster than this review.

How to care for the Ibex

Freet's current instructions are simpler than the old fixed conditioning schedule:

• wipe with a damp cloth;
• air dry;
• use a conditioner/waterproofer suitable for premium leather, such as Nikwax waterproofing wax for leather;
• do not put the boots in a washing machine or dryer.

How often you need to re-treat the leather depends on use and conditions. The old article's fixed conditioning schedule was too prescriptive.

Who is the Ibex for?

I would consider it if you want:

• a leather hiking boot with a wide toe area and published zero-drop geometry;
• more trail tread and weather protection than a thin barefoot shoe;
• a flexible boot that felt relatively light in my use;
• a boot for mixed walking and hiking rather than one highly specialised terrain.

I would look elsewhere if:

• you need a model that is currently easy to buy in the UK;
• you want an unlined, highly breathable summer boot;
• you need a boot whose long-term waterproofness you can treat as guaranteed;
• you want the thinnest possible underfoot feel.

Would I choose the Ibex again?

For the same kind of mixed walking and trail use, yes: the combination of leather, flexibility, toe room and HillGrip worked well for me. I would now be more cautious about two things the old article overstated: sizing and waterproofing.

I would also only recommend buying it where the model is actually supported in your region. In 2026 the Ibex looks more like a remaining/backordered EU model than a core UK boot, so current availability matters as much as the original review.

How this review was checked

This update preserves my first-person Ibex experience and re-checks the current model against Freet's own product and collection pages on 23 August 2026. Current manufacturer information confirms the HillGrip 4 mm tread, Ortholite 3 mm insole, SoftFlex midsole, published stack heights, zero-drop geometry, full-grain leather upper, waterproof breathable lining and 710 g pair weight in EU 42. It also now says the style fits small. Regional availability is stated separately because the UK and EU stores currently differ.