Many people assume that all barefoot shoes look like Vibram FiveFingers because those are the barefoot shoe style that got the most attention. And sure, maybe back in 2004, FiveFingers were the barefoot shoe style, but since then, a lot has changed.
These days, barefoot shoes look more and more like everyday footwear. From boots to loafers and even sneakers, these barefoot shoes blend right in.
Some people who are interested in trying barefoot shoes are afraid of drawing unnecessary attention to themselves with their footwear choices. For them, barefoot shoes that look like your casual shoe are the perfect solution.
That brings me to the barefoot shoe I want to review today, the Groundies Paramount. I’ve personally tried and loved these shoes, and I think you will too. Ahead, I’ll present all the information you need to make an educated purchasing decision, so let’s get started!
The Groundies Brand – What You Need to Know
First, a little about the Groundies brand.
Groundies calls itself “urban barefootwear,” which I think is an apt description. They’re a European manufacturer of barefoot shoes for men and women. All the shoe stitching is done in Portugal while the soles and design work of each Groundies shoe happens in Germany.
The company understands that our feet have countless ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints, and up to 26 bones. Groundies wants you to be able to move your feet freely and naturally in their shoes.
Besides the company’s dedication to barefoot shoes, Groundies is also very passionate about sustainability. To offset their carbon footprint, Groundies started their Plant for the Planet campaign, where their staff planted trees.
The program ended in 2021, at which point, the Groundies team planted an astounding 20,000 trees. Even cooler is that the year prior, Groundies was declared climate neutral!
What Are Groundies Paramount?
Now that you understand the Groundies brand, I want to shift the discussion to the shoe that I’m reviewing today, the Paramount. This is a unisex barefoot shoe. You can check out the link for the men’s Paramount here and the women’s version here.
At first glance, you might think you’re looking at an Adidas sneaker minus the trademark stripes and logo, but nope, these are Groundies! The Paramount shoes are available in one color for both men and women, which is off-white.
The blue accent on the heel cap–complete with the Groundies logo–reminds everyone who makes these great barefoot shoes. Plus, unlike Adidas shoes, the Groundies Paramount barefoot shoes are completely flexible.
Groundies Paramount Features
Let’s delve into the multitude of features the Groundies Paramount shoes boast, shall we?
Soft, Premium Materials
Groundies made the Paramount barefoot shoes both look and feel good. The inner liner is microfiber so it feels like it’s kissing your feet whether you wear these shoes with socks or you forego them.
The upper is made of 100 percent authentic cowhide leather that’s soft and pliable yet tough. You can wear your barefoot shoes your way without worrying about straining the leather. Groundies recommends their pure cowhide leather for use in the autumn and winter especially.
TrueSense GS1 Sole
Another standout feature of these great barefoot shoes is the TrueSense GS1 sole, which has a base height of 3 millimeters. The tread is a mere 3.9 millimeters.
The high-tech GS1 sole is so flexible that you can roll up the Paramount barefoot shoes into a tight little ball. Made of TPU, Groundies promises that its TrueSense GS1 sole has six times the abrasion resistance compared to PVC soles.
Since the soles are non-abrasive, whenever you run, walk, and play in your Paramount shoes, you’re shedding fewer plastic particles. Plus, Groundies says you can recycle the GS1 soles when they’re past their useful life.
Zero-Drop Heel
As I’ve said on the blog, no barefoot shoe is truly barefoot unless it has a zero-drop heel. Thus, you shouldn’t be surprised to see this feature in the Groundies Paramount shoes.
Despite that the sole of these sporty sneakers looks thick, you’ll be able to feel everything beneath your feet with each step you take. So go on, walk on concrete, cross over some sand, and take a stroll in the wet grass. These sensations will not be lost on you in the slightest.
Neutral Footbed
You’ll recall from earlier that Groundies promotes natural foot flexibility with their barefoot shoes. That’s why the Paramount shoes feature a neutral footbed.
The positioning of the footbed improves your arch support for greater stability, support, and comfort even if you wear these Groundies shoes all day long.
Spacious Toe Box
A good pair of barefoot shoes also requires a wide toe box, and the Groundies Paramount has ‘em. The toe box affords you more than enough space to splay your toes, wiggle them, and flex them freely. Walking will feel so much more enjoyable and pain-free.
Perforations Throughout
Leather is certainly not the most breathable shoe material even if it looks like a million bucks. To overcome that, Groundies added perforations throughout the Paramount barefoot shoes. Fresh air will be able to get in while stale air can exit so your feet feel cool, and the leather is well taken care of.
Anti-Slip
You won’t have to worry about losing your footing in the Groundies Paramount barefoot shoes. The TrueSense GS1 sole is designed for optimal traction so that even on slick or wet ground, you’ll maintain your grip.
Groundies Warranty
Groundies is so confident in their brand of barefoot shoes that the Paramount sneakers are covered under a three-year warranty for sole leakage and wear.
My Experience in Groundies Paramount
Next, I want to tell you about my own experience wearing the Groundies Paramount shoes.
To be fair, I chose these shoes for their appearance. I really like the clean white basic sneaker, as I’m sure a lot of you do. It’s timeless and goes great with many outfits, sometimes even formal looks.
I started wearing barefoot shoes about a year ago and the only thing I missed about regular shoes was the look of Nike and Adidas sneakers. Then I found the Groundies Paramount shoes.
I have worn these barefoot shoes intensely for the past six months, and they’ve become my main pair of shoes.
The Paramount shoes are very light, and they feel great on your feet. My feet get plenty of room since the sneakers are somewhat wider at the front compared to regular sneakers (non-barefoot). That’s due to the wide toe box.
I can’t even wear my old Nike or Adidas sneakers anymore since switching to the Paramount shoes. My feet feel trapped because those sneakers fit so tightly on my feet. If I try to take a long walk, I end up with blisters and foot pain.
Not so with the Groundies Paramount. I can walk as far as I want (and trust me, I have), without pain. Even if I spend the afternoon on my feet walking around town, I’m always good to go by the end of the day.
I love the materials especially. The leather is supple and breathable; the perforations definitely help, as I talked about before. I also like the style of the perforations. Like everything in these Groundies shoes, the perforations look good.
I typically always wore socks with my sneakers to prevent both my feet and the shoes from stinking, but I found I don’t have to do that with my Groundies.
Even several months after they arrived and after regular use, the Paramount shoes still have a pleasing lingering leather smell. This is after some very intensive wear too!
Recently, I was caught in a huge rainstorm and got soaking wet from my head to my toes. I was wearing my Groundies Paramount shoes at the time. I was very concerned the shoes would be ruined since leather and water don’t play nicely together.
Although it took two or three days for them to dry, they did dry fully and now they’re fine.
I wouldn’t recommend getting your own Groundies Paramount shoes wet, but if it happens once, it won’t be the end of the world. Going forward, I will be extra careful about my footwear choices when it’s raining hard.
How to Clean Groundies Shoes
One of the biggest downsides of buying white sneakers is that they rarely stay white. After a few months, dirt and grime discolor your shoes, and it’s tough to get them back to their original pristine condition again.
That doesn’t have to be the case for the Groundies Paramount barefoot shoes! Groundies, on their website, has tips and pointers for keeping your shoes looking fresh and clean. Here’s what they recommend.
Don’t Use Heat to Dry Wet Shoes
Groundies says that if your shoes ever do get caught in a storm like what I experienced that you should not let the shoes dry out via radiator or hairdryer. The heat can cause the leather to become brittle. Allowing the shoes to sit out and dry in a room-temperature environment is fine though.
Use a Brush for Loose Dirt
When your shoes have coarse dirt on them, a damp cloth or a standard brush will remove it. Don’t scrub at the dirt, as you can grind it into the leather or soft liner of the Paramount shoes. Then they’d be stained.
Waterproof Your Shoes
Even if you don’t plan on splashing around in the water when wearing your Groundies Paramount barefoot shoes (and I really recommend you don’t), waterproofing the shoes is still a good idea. Groundies says a waterproofing treatment will prevent moisture and dirt from impregnating the shoe material.
Groundies recommends Collonil Carbon Pro for waterproofing your Paramount shoes. After you get them out of the box, waterproof them a few times. Then, every autumn through the end of winter, waterproof regularly.
Wax Your Shoes
For a new-shoe shine, why not wax your barefoot shoes? To maintain the beautiful cowhide leather that comprises the Paramount barefoot shoes, use Fibertec Shoe Wax. The wax will prevent water from invading the pores while moisturizing the leather and keeping it supple.
Deodorize
If you wear your barefoot shoes without socks as I do, then deodorizing your barefoot shoes is a must. You can buy your shoe deodorizer in a variety of scents, from zesty lemon to soothing laundry fresh.
Conclusion
The Groundies Paramount shoes are barefoot sneakers that rival any shoe from Nike or Adidas. Unlike those sneakers, your feet can roam unencumbered in the Paramount shoes. Stylish, flexible. and available for men and women, there’s no reason not to add these sneakers to your barefoot shoe collection!
