Buyer's Guide For Finding The Best Budget Barefoot Shoes
You're not alone, many people want to experience the benefits of barefoot shoes but don't want to break the bank. I'll guide you to finding the best barefoot shoes available on a budget and provide tips and hacks along the way. Are you interested in barefoot shoes but find the cost too high?
Before we dive into the list, let's briefly discuss what barefoot shoes are and what to look for when choosing one.
What are barefoot shoes?
Barefoot shoes are a type of footwear designed to mimic the feeling of walking barefoot. They are usually very lightweight, flexible, and have a thin sole. Unlike traditional shoes, barefoot shoes don't have a raised heel, arch support, or toe spring. They are designed to let your feet move and function naturally, which can help to strengthen your foot muscles and improve your posture.
Barefoot Shoes vs Minimalist Shoes
While barefoot shoes and minimalist shoes share some similarities, there are some key differences. Minimalist shoes are designed to be minimal in design and weight, but still offer some level of support and cushioning. Barefoot shoes, on the other hand, are designed to be completely flat and offer no support or cushioning.
What to look for in a barefoot shoe
When choosing barefoot shoes, there are several key criteria to look for. These include:
- Zero drop: This means that the sole of the shoe is completely flat, with no raised heel.Wide toe box: A wide toe box allows your toes to spread out and move freely.
- Low sole thickness (low stack height): A thin sole allows you to feel the ground beneath your feet, which is important for maintaining good balance and posture.
- No extra support (like arch support): Barefoot shoes should offer no additional support, as this can interfere with the natural movement of your feet.
- Light and flexible: Barefoot shoes should be very lightweight and flexible, allowing your feet to move naturally.
- No toe spring: Toe spring is the upward curve at the toe of a shoe. Barefoot shoes should have no toe spring, as this can interfere with the natural movement of your toes.
Why are barefoot shoes so expensive?
Have you ever wondered why barefoot shoes are so expensive?
You might think they should be cheaper because they have less material than regular shoes. But there's actually a lot that goes into making and selling barefoot shoes that most people don't realize. For one, the materials used are often thin and flexible, which can be more expensive to manufacture. Plus, barefoot shoe companies are usually small businesses that face a lot of start-up costs, like developing custom shoe lasts and molds, sourcing materials, and marketing their products.
They also have to navigate challenges like finding factory volume thresholds and dealing with import costs. All of these factors add up, making barefoot shoes more expensive than you might expect.
Hacks for getting barefoot shoes cheap
We've got some great tips and tricks for you when buy barefoot shoe!
First off, if you're buying online and worried about getting the wrong size, use Amazon Prime Wardrobe, which lets you try shoes (and clothes) on at home for free and only pay for what you keep. Amazon Warehouse also sell returned items at a big discount. It's hit or miss but worth looking at.
Similarly, it can pay to check Facebook groups where you can find secondhand barefoot shoes or even do a swap.
Most barefoot shoe brands have sales throughout the year and we keep a live list of every brand on sale right now. Don't forget to sign up for our email alerts if you want to get those sales alerts straight to your inbox. We also have a big list of unique discount codes for a lot of brands here.
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