When I say “barefoot shoes,” you most likely conjure up an image of fugly trainers with disastrous toe shapes sitting at the end of your legs. You’d be right to do so.

When I started my barefoot journey five years ago, the options were limited—especially here in the UK. We had Vivobarefoot, which offered great quality but was expensive, with relatively few styles available. You could send away for something from Saguaro, but again, the choice was limited.

A lot has changed in five years, and the offering has improved dramatically.

I started my barefoot journey for several reasons. Primarily, I have bunions on both feet. They’re so pronounced that my big toes bend across and finish roughly where my middle toes should.

Why I Made the Switch

I often tell people I’ve always had them or that they came from my mother forcing me into shoes that were too small so I could remain in children’s sizes when I was young. The truth is that I don’t know exactly why I have them. Years of cramped shoes may have contributed, or they may not have. What I do know is that they drastically limit the movement of my toes, and I didn’t want them getting any worse.

Also, from a purely selfish point of view, I am a fiend for comfort. I don’t enjoy heels or restrictive clothing of any kind—whether it’s on my feet or the rest of my body.

When I first switched, all I had were a pair of ballet flats and some hiking boots from Vivobarefoot. Stylistically, they weren’t doing much for me. I kept my most precious conventional shoes and wore them whenever I simply couldn’t bear to ruin another outfit with barefoot shoes.

As I mentioned, though, times have changed. So much so that I was eventually able to relinquish all of my conventional shoes—including my beloved brown Doc Martens, which had previously been the perfect shoe for almost every outfit.

Here is a round-up of the barefoot shoes currently in my regular rotation. I own a few more, but these are the pairs I reach for repeatedly, plus a couple of honourable mentions.

This post reflects my personal experience with barefoot footwear and what feels comfortable for me. It isn’t medical or podiatric advice.

The Boots

1. El Naturalista Nómada Boots

My most recent purchase has quickly become my favourite—and, by far, the best replacement I’ve found for my Doc Martens.

The Nómada boot by El Naturalista is a barefoot take on the classic Chelsea boot. If you see me wearing boots, it’s highly likely that these are the ones I’ll have on.

I love the rich brown colour, they’re easy to pull on and off, and the false heel makes them look much more like a conventional boot. They work with almost everything in my wardrobe without immediately announcing themselves as barefoot shoes.

2. Oak & Hyde Beech 12 Barefoot Boots

What can I say? I’m a boots girl.

My second pair is the Oak & Hyde Beech 12 barefoot boot in dark brown. I wear these frequently too. They have a zip at the side and come much farther up my leg than the Nómadas.

They also have a very thin wool lining, so they keep my feet a little warmer than most barefoot boots—although, let’s be honest, with your feet that close to the ground, warmth is always going to be an issue.

3. Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC

The Vivobarefoot Tracker Forest ESC in Forest Bracken was the first barefoot boot I ever bought.

These are incredibly comfortable. They never gave me a blister, and I could wear them all day without a problem. I eventually had to buy separate waterproof hiking boots because, while the leather provides some water resistance, it isn’t enough for a particularly wet hike.

I reach for these much less frequently now that I have other boot styles. Before more attractive options became available, though, I wore them almost daily. These days, I’m less drawn to them because they have a more obviously barefoot, hiking-shoe appearance than my other boots.

The Trainers

During summer, I rotate between three pairs of trainers. In winter, that drops to two.

4.Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather Low II

The Vivobarefoot Tracker Leather AT Low II in Bracken is my year-round trainer.

It is essentially the trainer version of my Tracker boots. It offers considerably more protection from wet weather than my other trainers, although I don’t find it quite as comfortable as the boots because the leather is stiffer.

It’s a solid, practical trainer and the only one I wear throughout the year. However, it does have a definite hiking-shoe quality, and I don’t particularly enjoy driving in it because of that stiffness.

5 and 6. IceUnicorn Water Shoes

Cheap and cheerful: my IceUnicorn water shoes in beige and dark khaki.

These are not trainers for wet conditions. They’re designed to dry quickly, but they won’t keep water out. They are, however, extremely comfortable, inexpensive and easy to pull on and off.

They’re my favourite trainers for throwing on quickly and for driving. They are absolutely not winter trainers.

7. Hobibear Lace-Up Retro Sneakers

My barefoot-hybrid option is the Hobibear lace-up retro sneaker in brown and white.

A barefoot purist would probably point out that these aren’t true barefoot trainers. They are zero-drop and have a wide toe box, but they also have a thick sole, so you can’t feel the ground through them.

They still give my toes plenty of room and feel comfortable to me. That thick sole is also precisely why I own them.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, I run extremely cold. Once midwinter arrives, no number of merino-wool insoles or doubled-up socks can keep my toes warm in a very thin sole. Feeling the frozen ground beneath my feet makes my toes cold, and once they’re cold, they don’t recover. I therefore save these thicker-soled trainers for winter.

Sandals and Shoes

8. Vivobarefoot Asana Yin Ballet Flats

My original Vivobarefoot Asana Yin ballet flats in tan are still going strong years later.

They come on every summer holiday where there is a strong possibility that my feet will sweat or that another pair of sandals might give me blisters. They’re light, easy to wear and exceptionally comfortable.

They are an underestimated hero in emergency-footwear situations.

9. Origo Huarache Sandals by Anya

My Origo Huarache sandals by Anya in Toffee are the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever owned.

They feel slightly cushioned, work with almost everything and have never given me a blister. I can walk long distances in them, making them my go-to sandals.

10. Vivobarefoot Sensus Yin Slides

The Vivobarefoot Sensus Yin slide in Dark Olive is ideal when I want something I can simply slip on.

I struggle to walk long distances in them because I prefer the support of a back strap. However, they look great when extensive walking isn’t on the agenda, and I love that they have the appearance of Birkenstocks.

They also provide a welcome colour change. As you’ve probably noticed, almost all my other shoes are brown.

Honourable Mentions

I have two pairs of shoes I reach for frequently that aren’t technically barefoot shoes. They’re zero-drop and don’t cause me any obvious discomfort, so they receive a pass from me.

Birkenstock Lutry

First are my tan Birkenstock Lutry clogs.

They have a wide toe box and a removable footbed. I replaced the original footbed with a merino-wool liner, and the back strap makes them particularly useful during the transitional months.

They aren’t flexible like barefoot shoes, but they work well for me.

Havaianas Luna

Then we have the Havaianas Luna sandals.

Pools, beaches, gym showers—sometimes you simply need an actual flip-flop. They’re flat, have no enclosed toe box and include a back strap, which makes them easier for me to walk in than a conventional flip-flop.

I think the reasons for keeping these speak for themselves.

Five Years Later

When I began this journey, choosing barefoot shoes often meant accepting that my footwear wouldn’t work with the rest of my outfit. Five years later, I can finally choose between boots, trainers, ballet flats, sandals and slides without abandoning either comfort or my personal style.

I no longer own conventional shoes, and I don’t miss them—even the brown Doc Martens.

Are you beginning your own barefoot journey? I’d love to know what you’re wearing and whether you have any recommendations for me.