On a vigorous hike, you need a pair of shoes that offer both flexibility and grip. Barefoot hiking shoes are lightweight and feature a zero-drop sole, so you can always feel the ground beneath your feet yet stay supported. The wide toe box gives your toes plenty of space to bend and flex as well. What are the best barefoot boots for hiking?
These are the best barefoot hiking boots:
- Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest
- Joe Nimble adventureToes
- Lems Boulder Boots
- Feelmax Kuuva
- Zaqq EXPEQ Bash Waterproof
If you’d prefer to wear shoes instead of boots on your hike, what are the best barefoot hiking shoes?
Here are the top barefoot hiking shoes:
- Vivobarefoot Magna FG
- Softstar Quick Dry DASH RunAmoc
- Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II
- Softstar Megagrip Primal RunAmoc
- Merrell Trail Glove 6
- Xero Shoes TerraFlex
Whether you prefer your feet to be more covered when hiking, such as when wearing boots, or you appreciate the casualness of hiking shoes, ahead, we’ve got 11 barefoot shoes that are a hiker’s best friend. Keep reading for reviews of each pair of footwear so you can choose the one that’s best for you!
The 5 Best Barefoot Hiking Boots
Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest
Vivobarefoot is among the most popular barefoot brands, so you can’t go wrong. Their Tracker Forest shoes will prove that. Here’s the men’s version, and here’s the women’s shoe.
Made of high-quality wild hide leather that’s finished with Renapur leather balsam, the leather is water-resistant but not waterproof. Thus, while you can hike over a stream or brook, don’t spend too much time splashing around in the Tracker Forest barefoot boots.
Sandwich mesh lining keeps these boots breathable even on hot summer days. The Michelin ESC Sole is the real standout of these boots, as it’s made of durable rubber with lugs that act as claws to keep your feet secure from the edge of these shoes to the center. Whether you’re walking across the level ground or an incline, the ESC Sole is built for it.
The sole also improves your flexibility and ground feel so that each step you take feels like going without shoes. Even better is that Vivobarefoot uses natural and renewable materials for the Tracker Forest shoes.
Joe Nimble adventureToes
The classic adventureToes from Joe Nimble is a favorite among many barefoot hikers. These unisex shoes come with a textile footbed that’s 4 millimeters. This footbed includes an antibacterial, moisture-absorbing material for less stink.
You’ll feel more of every step when hiking, thanks to the zero-millimeter heel in the adventureToes. The rubber terrain sole is by Vibram, which is another superstar name in barefoot shoes. This 6-millimeter sole has cleats that improves your grip.
The shoe’s upper is made of cowhide Nappa leather that’s waxed for shine while the lining is smooth calfskin leather that never wrinkles. Joe Nimble says these barefoot hiking boots are water-repellant. Like water resistance, water repellence does not mean the adventureToes are waterproof. Once again, we’d advise you to refrain from jumping into a stream in these barefoot hiking boots.
Lems Boulder Boots
If you’d prefer your barefoot boots to look more like all your hiking friends’ footwear, try Lems Boulder boots. Here’s the link for the men’s version and here’s the women’s edition. Boulder boots come in many styles, including vegan, mid-leather, leather, and nylon. We think the waterproof version is best for hiking.
Yes, that’s right, rather than offering only water resistance, the Lems Boulder boots are completely waterproof. You won’t have to worry about whether there’s water crisscrossing the path in front of you, as these boots can get wet without the risk of damage. A gusseted tongue will keep your feet drier so soaked socks are a thing of the past (well, if you even wear your barefoot shoes with socks).
The zero-drop heel–a barefoot shoe staple–is present in the Lems Boulder boots, and they also feature an IBR outsole, with IBR standing for injection-blown rubber. You won’t believe how lightweight these shoes are just by looking at them. Once you wear these boots, your feet will feel so free.
Feelmax Kuuva
How about a unisex barefoot hiking boot? The Feelmax Kuuva fits the bill exceptionally well. This shoe has been rebuilt and reissued for 2021 so it’s got even more of the qualities that barefoot shoe wearers can’t get enough of.
First, let’s talk about the SympaTex waterproof membrane, which Feelmax improved upon for the new Kuuva shoes. You won’t have to worry about sogginess when you’re wearing these barefoot shoes, the same of which your fellow hiking buddies won’t be able to say.
The leather upper is finished with a crazy horse wax that’s more ecological. The laces and lace hooks are new and improved, both of which are reinforced for easier and faster wearing as well as longer-term use.
Feelmax adds their Sierra outsole to the Kuuva barefoot hiking boots. This zero-drop outsole is a mere 2.5 millimeters thick. Lugs throughout the outsole are 4 millimeters apiece and will keep you from slipping on wet and uneven terrain. You can now hike with greater confidence!
Zaqq EXPEQ Bash Waterproof
Our last recommended barefoot hiking boot is the Zaqq EXPEQ Bash, which is delightfully waterproof. All Zaqq boots are handcrafted in Germany, including these sleek mid-cut boots that you’ll want to wear even when you’re not hiking.
Zaqq is dedicated to sustainability, processing their barefoot footwear in their German factory and regularly testing for low-pollution shoe manufacturing. The result is a lightweight hiking boot that’s 300 grams or 10.6 ounces in a size 41 European.
These boots are flexible so your feet feel unobstructed, which might reduce soreness and blisters. The roomy toe box will let your toes move and grip onto rocks as you hike. A heelless rubber sole, which is 3.9 millimeters and stitched by hand, promotes great posture to reduce pressure on the spine. It’s also non-slip so you can venture off the beaten path.
The Zaqq waterproof membrane is windproof and intended for breathability to resist the buildup of stinky foot odors. You’ll also quite like the uppers of the EXPEQ Bash boots, as they’re premium Nappa leather with a wax finish.
The Top 6 Barefoot Hiking Shoes
Vivobarefoot Magna FG
A great pair of barefoot hiking shoes from Vivobarefoot is the Magna FG. The link for the women’s shoes is here; the men’s shoes are available here. These sleek-looking, foldable shoes are vegan, with no animal products or byproducts used.
Vivobarefoot produces the Magna FC shoes with recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic waste. Even better is that you’re encouraged to recycle your barefoot hiking shoes when they’re no longer wearable through Vivobarefoot’s Revivo recycling program.
Non-absorbent and water-resistant (which still doesn’t mean waterproof, by the way), the Magna FC barefoot shoes feature a Firm Ground Sole that makes them perfect for hiking. The sole provides traction on a variety of terrain and won’t slip since it’s made of a sticky rubber compound. Arch texturing improves your zonal grip so you can do even technical trail-climbing in these shoes.
The lugs are each 4 millimeters and the base of this shoe is 2.5 millimeters so the Magna FC shoes are authentically barefoot shoes. A knitted collar upper makes wearing these shoes much like putting on a pair of socks. Adjustable laces also let you customize the fit of your Magna FC shoes.
Softstar Quick Dry DASH RunAmoc
The unisex Softstar Quick Dry DASH RunAmoc barefoot shoes might look more like an office shoe at first glance, but they’re intended for athletic activities. These lightweight, insanely flexible shoes are sock-optional. By skipping the socks, you get an even truer barefoot feel!
The Vibram Omniflex sole is zero-drop and only 5 millimeters. Softstar says you can customize your sole if you want it to be even thinner or thicker. An appealing leather upper is sustainably sourced so you can feel good about the impact on the environment that these barefoot shoes make.
These vegan barefoot running shoes dry quickly so you’re free to splash, play, and enjoy your hikes to the fullest without worrying about soaking socks and shoes ruining the rest of your hike.
Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II
Okay, this is the last pair of Vivobarefoot shoes on this list, we promise. The Primus Trail II is one of the most groundbreaking barefoot shoes period, let alone barefoot hiking shoes. Take a look at the men’s shoes here and the women’s shoes here.
Vegan and recyclable, these are another pair of Vivobarefoot shoes that are eligible for their Revivo program. The Primus Trail II shoes also feature the Firm Ground Sole that’s a Vivobarefoot staple. The lugs are 4 millimeters tall and the base of this shoe is 2.5 millimeters to bring you closer to ground level. The rubber compound with the sticky texture will get you across firm, rocky, dry, and wet terrain without slipping.
Although you don’t have as many color options to select from as you do with the RunAmocs, the Primus Trail II barefoot shoes come in some fun hues. Your options are Obsidian (black), Fiery Coral (bright red), and Sea Green (dark teal).
Softstar Megagrip Primal RunAmoc
The new and improved Primal RunAmocs from Softstar will make hiking more enjoyable than it’s ever been. These shoes are produced right here in the USA and are sock-optional, so feel free to go without if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
A rubber toe cap around the front of the shoe keeps your toes from hitting rocks and other hard terrains during your hikes. The tongue comes padded so it won’t keep slipping down, causing you to have to stop and readjust it a hundred times.
The Primal RunAmocs feature Vibram’s Megagrip Zegama zero-drop rubber sole, which has a 3.5-millimeter midsole and a 6-millimeter sole. The sole height is 9.5 millimeters overall. This sole is ideal for hiking on rough terrain.
The leather throughout the rest of this barefoot hiking shoe is sustainably sourced. The other materials are for breathability.
Softstar designed the Primal RunAmocs with a sole shape that more naturally mimics the curvature of your bare feet. The toe box also gives your feet room to move as they would without shoes.
Merrell Trail Glove 6
You’ll turn heads on your hiking route when you wear the Merrell Trail Glove 6 barefoot shoes. The women’s version is available here and the men’s version is here.
As part of the long-standing Trail collection, the Glove 6 is the sixth edition of these beloved barefoot shoes. A Vibram EcoStep sole is better for our planet, as it’s made of recycled rubber (up to 30 percent). The BLOOM performance midsole foam pads your feet for walking, and it too has sustainable roots. The foam is partially (10 percent) algae biomass.
Your feet will stay in a natural position when wearing the Trail Glove 6 barefoot hiking shoes. Mesh lining, which is 40 percent recycled, keeps your feet less sweaty as well. The Sketch Mesh Post Industrial x NXT is made of 100 percent recycled materials, as is the webbing pull tab for slipping into these shoes.
Oh, and the laces are 100 percent recycled materials too, not to mention you can pull on them for adjustments. The mesh upper is incredibly breathable, and it too is recycled (65 percent this time).
Xero Shoes TerraFlex
Last but certainly not least on our list of barefoot hiking footwear is Xero Shoes’ TerraFlex running and hiking shoes. This is the women’s shoe and here’s the version for men.
The TerraFlex shoes come off the heels (pun intended) of Xero’s best-selling shoes the Prio. As the name would attest to, TerraFlex barefoot shoes are even more flexible than their predecessor. You don’t have to wear them with socks so you can feel the full degree of that flexibility for yourself.
The thin, 2-millimeter FeelTrue insole is removable so there’s even less material between your bare feet and the ground. An inverted-V instep strap is adjustable and lockable so your shoes fit you just right. The straps at the instep as well as the heel’s midsection feature reflective strips so if you go hiking early in the morning or later in the day, you’re still visible.
The TerraFlex’s heel strap is a love letter to the huarache shoe. Even better is that these barefoot hiking shoes are entirely vegan. Xero promises a sole warranty that’s good for 5,000 miles so you can shop assuredly.
Conclusion
Hiking in barefoot shoes is a transformative experience. You can feel the dirt and smooth rockfaces beneath your feet like never before. Barefoot hiking boots and shoes have all the features you need for safe hiking, including grippy soles, lugs for traction, pull laces, and waterproofing.
The next time you go hiking in a pair of the barefoot shoes we reviewed today, don’t be surprised if you’re the envy of all your buddies!