BEST OF 2024 / andrew's ten favorite barefoot shoes

[@AndrewFolts]

*Most Used in 2024* (referral links) 1. vivobarefoot magna fg - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/45XCrO3 2. toetem alpha blackbear - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3U4cIQp 3. vibram v-trek - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3uvrLss 4. vivobarefoot ababa - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/4aqPx9c 5. vivobarefoot tracker fg - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3vldyvd 6. vivobarefoot gobi boot - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/41xEcQT 7. vivobarefoot magna lite wr sg - - - bit.ly/3vhhTCY 8. mukishoes duna - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3TAvij6 9. kow slippers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3GMzPYh 10. wildling north wolf - - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/496qA1r *Best Barefootwear* (referral links) casual shoes - - - bit.ly/3Smg8gx road shoes - - - - - bit.ly/48XEOBz trail shoes - - - - - bit.ly/4250J7B trek boots - - - - - - bit.ly/3SCgP5V winter boots - - - - bit.ly/3RRbI0X sandals - - - - - - - - bit.ly/4b2tfLu slippers - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3tNYvNz website - - - - - - - - www.barefootwear.org

[@truesight91]

I have the vivo barefoot tracker boots and they are a beast, had them for years, such a comfortable and durable boot. I use them in winter especially when I go mountain walking where there is hard and more dangerous terrain, never had any issues. I have well developed toes and never noticed them getting squished, mine actually are wider at the front than yours in the video.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yesssss! The Tracker FG's are my all time favorites. The Tracker ESC's are great too, although a bit overkill unless you're on really rough terrain.

[@DavidSinanan]

Still come to your videos first for barefoot shoe info! Hope your van stuff is treating you well as well! New story for you. I moved recently. I own around 2000 lbs of stuff. It was all in a basement room, and I got an apartment on the first floor, no elevator. I moved solo, 1 day, less than 12 hours. I wore my Vivo Primus Lites for the whole thing. Step counter read over 30000, 24km plus. And I moved 2000ish lbs up...twice. basement to ground, ground to first floor. This was 10 days ago. My feet, sore within reason, felt amazing!!! The distance vs weight would make anyone's feet hurt a bit, but all in all? The stability from the Primus' actually made me feel a bit safer. Could feel the stairs better. Pivoting under load felt secure. That's the biggest exertion I've done in barefoots to date. They were amazing!

[@AndrewFolts]

That's awesome, David! Doin' work! I had the same XP as a shoe salesman and working out in Primus Lite's. At first I thought "no way, I'll must need cushion for weight lifting," but you're right, the stability of thin barefoot shoes is unrivaled.

[@DavidSinanan]

@@AndrewFolts at this point I wasn't surprised, I've worn barefoot a point time now. But it was definitely the most work I've put into them. I was very happy with how they worked!

[@felix-eeee]

my go to hiking boot is the magna forest esc, the tread is unmatched for rugged hiking and I can wear them all year, it's a bit difficult to get them in green at the moment though, I've used them for 4 years

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, that tread is a freakin' monster, while still being surprisingly flexible. Glad to hear they've handled some hardcore duty. Cheers to many more years of outdoor adventures!

[@felix-eeee]

@@AndrewFolts thanks andrew, I hope you have a great day

[@AH-bm4ts]

What models have a roomy upper so I can put a lift inside and not have my foot rub against the top? I love my softstar chukka but I need a lift on my right foot and plan on having the cobbler put an exterior lift on it.

[@AndrewFolts]

What type of shoes/boot are you looking for? Short/tall? Casual? Hiking? Mountains?

[@wescam]

I have a high volume foot. So does my wife. We have every model in this video between us, except for the sandals, and they are all roomy. I also wear the Vivobearfoot Trail Knit FG, but it has to go in a volume stretcher for a few days first and can still get snug at the end of a long day (due to foot swelling). Hope that helps.

[@AH-bm4ts]

@@AndrewFolts causal, light trail walking mid height and dress.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@AH-bm4ts The Xero Denver Leather could check all those boxes and it's got some good volume too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJzGZY2om8SSfJI

[@pat2982]

What is best to use to impregnate new leather boots?

[@AndrewFolts]

Balsam, which is usually a mix of beeswax and lanolin. Lots of brands sell them. bit.ly/3QU7EeV

[@xaviereschembre6842]

Great video! You should do a top 10 shoes for each season series.

[@AndrewFolts]

Oh good idea, I can totally do that!

[@pat2982]

Hi Andrew the first one, the magna leather fg, did it have a sheen to it when you first got it? I checked it out online and it looks real shiny which I don’t like. Thanks

[@AndrewFolts]

No, that's the regular Magna FG, which is not in stock right now. They only have the premium leather version, which is more shiny, although more water resistant and durable, as well. The Xero Denver leather kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJzGZY2om8SSfJI is a similar option with a non-shiny leather upper. Just make sure to treat it with wax before taking it out into wet conditions, because it's not very WP out of the box.

[@zutinic]

Just in time to buy vivo!

[@AndrewFolts]

Nice! Those 20% sales help a lot. What're you picking up?

[@metteby]

Wildling now have winter boots with a new full sole ❤

[@AndrewFolts]

I see that! I'll have to get in touch to try some. Any that you like in particular?

[@paulmiller6336]

I suspect that the reason Andrew has a barefoot shoe that lasted 7 years is simply because he’s able to spread the load around a bunch of shoes rather than continuously wearing one or two…are you able to confirm one way or the other Andrew?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Paul, that's somewhat true the past couple years, but until I started my KZbin channel I had only my Xero sandals, Vivo Primus Lite, and V-Trek, which each logged 3,000+ miles since 2017. Also, although I review a lot of shoes, I only use a small handful day to day, so my V-Trek's still get a ton of miles in the summer for running and hiking. The key to making barefoot shoes last is just not twisting or scuffing. I used to be a shoe salesman and it was crazy how many people complained of their shoes wearing out, but then would be scuffing/twisting all over the place when you filmed their stride on the treadmill. When you think about it, rolling down creates very little friction, and if you're also mindful about staying on softer terrain, when possible, you can really stretch out the life of a barefoot shoe for years, since there's no foam cushion to wear out.

[@paulmiller6336]

@ thanks for this update…that’s really good to know as I’ve just bought some vivo asana leather and vivo tracker low leather too

[@AndrewFolts]

@@paulmiller6336 Right on! Just treat them mindfully and those two will last you a very long time. Happy barefooting out there. (:

[@paulmiller6336]

Thanks for your advice and encouragement Andrew

[@hawaiian-cerveza]

Dang, no Xero's. I've got really wide feet so not many shoes fit me well. I have the xero suede prio and my feet still stick out about 2cm in total on both sides. Are there other brands with the barefoot feel for hiking/snow? I just purchased the Xero Scrambler mid 2 wp. I haven't gotten them yet but I'm looking at wide shoes.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, Xero is wide, but not extra-wide. For that you'd want to look at the Softstar Switchback kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5PTkJpjbd9lrNE, Be Lenka Winter Boot kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYq5YYKirL9pj5I, or Realfoot Farmer kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooe7lZKJoauhnq8.

[@hawaiian-cerveza]

@@AndrewFolts Thanks for the info. I have pretty wide feet; they are 6 inches wide, and I'm a 12.5 shoe size. I looked at the links and Lenka had wide options. Even their wide option is a little under the width of my foot size lol.

[@hawaiian-cerveza]

@@AndrewFolts I got the Scrambler mid 2 SP today and they fit nicely. I always take out the insoles for more ground feel. The toe box is pretty big, and my flat feet splay out a little over the shoe's sole, but the material feels comfortable.

[@cybersurf5]

Hey Andrew-2 questions: (i) will you be reviewing the new vivo tracker leather low; and (ii) when does your discount code expire for vivo (hopefully after any review of said shoe 😉)

[@AndrewFolts]

I asked Vivo to send me one, so hopefully as soon. Not sure on the expiration, since it's a flash promotion, not a seasonal/holiday sale.

[@anniwilson2534]

Hey Andrew, nice review selection! I’m also a big Vivo fan - my top 3 are the Forest Tracker ESC, Primus Trail Knit FG and Gobi Chelsea. I’ve the VFF V-Trek too which feels amazing for running. I have coveted that Wildling for ages, do they fit true to size?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Anni, ooh, yea, the Gobi Chelsea looks rad! I love my Gobi Winterized so much, a slip-on version seems perfect. The North Wolf does run true to size. Maybe Vibram will collab to make a Wildling V-Wolf. (:

[@curanderoverde]

I think the Altra king MT is pretty sweet

[@AndrewFolts]

Ah nice, used to sell that one when I was a shoes salesman. I've always wished Altra would make some thin barefoot options, because their toebox shape is great!

[@ThomazBlankesteijn]

Hey Andrew. Nice top ten! I'm looking for some boots for fall and winter (without ankle support). I''m thinking of getting those vivobarefoot gobi boots, but I also really like the boots from Wildling. Have you tried the waterproofing spray wildling sells on your boots?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Thomaz, the North Wolf's have a fuzzy wool outer, so I would not recommend trying to waterproof them. The Vivo Gobi Boots are a much better pick if you need waterproofing. FOLTSY20 for 20% off is going right, which helps on price.

[@ThomazBlankesteijn]

@@AndrewFolts Hey Andrew, that's what i thought as well but apparently Wilding sells the waterproofing specifically for their shoes. According to them it's also supposed to work with their wool material shoes. The Gobi boots would indeed be a good choice. They seem like good allround boots. Do you think they need waterproofing or are they water resistant enough allready? Do you ever waterproof your shoes?

[@AndrewFolts]

@@ThomazBlankesteijn Leather can always be improved by wax, of course, but no I've not needed to waterproof the Gobi's even once since I got them a year ago.

[@StanleySimons-ek4dz]

Hey Andrew. Do you think the v-trek or v-alpha are best for road running? What vibram shoe would you recommend for road running for someone new to "toe" shoes? Thanks!

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Stanley, they're both durable, but the V-Trek has wider lugs that are designed to handle roads and rocks, whereas the V-Alpha is more geared towards trails and slippery conditions with deeper more aggressive lugs. The KSO kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCrlqqLrbZ_gZo series VIbram's are made for roads, but I still prefer the V-Trek's feel and versatility.

[@StanleySimons-ek4dz]

Andrew, what's your opinion on cheaper knockoff barefoot shoes like TSLA. My first barefoot running shoes were TSLA Trail Running shoes that I bought for less than $30. Although billed as trail shoes, the tread was smooth so I used them for road running only. Despite the somewhat cheaper look to them, I have close to 400 miles on them and the shoe integrity is still good. Thanks!

[@AndrewFolts]

@@StanleySimons-ek4dz Hey Stanley, I bought a pair of Whitin's once and they started falling apart within a few months and felt kind of stiff compared to what I'd tried at the point from Vivo and Vibram. Another problem is that the only way they can charge so little is by exploiting everyone in their supply chain and using literal slave labor. A better option would be the Lono Flow kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZK5ZXmaeq6cmtk, which is under $100 but still good quality. Their ethical standards, I'm sure, are not as high as Vivobarefoot, etc, but they at least use factories that are regulated for reasonable work conditions.

[@MrStormywolf]

Hi Andrew I'm a huge fan of your channel, found you a few months ago and really enjoy your videos both vlogs and shoe reviews, and thoughts on minimalism (heavily night shift my screens inspired by you). I switched to barefoot recently - got the V-Treks but didn't love the fit and seperate toe feeling so returned them, and realized I could go even more minimal with a sandal - got shamma warriors and have been LOVING trail running in those having lots of fun, also wearing them everywhere and in rain. Now I'm looking for something to wear at gym, for tennis, and days when a sandal won't do. I'm in montreal canada so it's getting colder. I was thinking of getting a Freet Vibe as it seems that's your top recommended 'everything' shoe. And I HATE wearing my old high drop cushiony running shoes now. But I'm also like- should I just get a water-resistant or waterproof hiking boot that's warmer for fall, and I could wear in the rain? Maybe there's a winter boot I could get away with for fall as well... I want to be able to run in it for sure. Also, my warriors are 5-6mm stack height I believe, and I'm not sure what to look for for the shoe. I love the minimal height sole and feeling the earth, but when running on rocks it hurts a bit. Anyways- would love your advice. Have a wonderful day :)

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, the Freet Vibe would be a good pick. Lono Flow, as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZK5ZXmaeq6cmtk. Or the Vivo Primus Lite Knit kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5XJYoVoj5d-d7s if you want max flexibility. My FOLTSY20 (20% off code) is on at the moment, which helps make Vivo's pricing closer to the others. For winter hiking the Vivo Tracker FG kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJyyfZVne8d_gtk is my go-to. It's waterproof and insulated with a versatile tread for roads and trails. Finding a WP boot option for running is harder. Maybe the Xero Denver canvas, kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3ecXpd_nJecpdE which is quite flexible, and then get yourself some beeswax for extra water resistance.

[@nvcn86]

i hate my magnas lite ;_; the lack of tongue makes tying them a pain, feels like they will fall off my feet with no heel lock, and in general just designed to look good not feel good. i really regret buying them. lost water resistance after first wear. crazy how they feel completely different to us. i have the old tracker FG and that one is superb. vivo's are very hit and miss for me... trying some Xeros now. the tread on the vff looks insane, do you even use them? ;) i used to wear my down in about a year, walking on pavements.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, it's true, shoes can work totally different for different people. My Magna Lite's have always felt snug, I've literally not tied the laces or adjusted them once since day one. They're not that WR, but it works well enough for me when I'm moving fast. The Tracker FG is def killer! The V-Trek is probably my most used shoe. I lost count around 4,000 miles. With fast tread wear one thing to check is that you're not twisting and/or scuffing. That accounts for most of the wear on shoes. Striding too long can do it too. My stride's very short, so it puts a lot less strain on the soles.

[@MaximC]

Andrew, hi! 👋 Is there a reason why there's no link to your barefoot wear website on your Andrew Folts website? Because when I try to find your barefoot wear website I always try to do it by googling your name, but then find no link to it on your personal website. In case it's done purposefully, never mind.

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Maxim, my main website and barefootwear.org serve different audiences, so there's not much reason to link them. You can just type "barefootwear" or "shoe finder" into your URL bar and the search history should suggest barefootwear.org if you've been there before.

[@LocalYokel01]

Thanks for the review. I, for one, would prefer no background music. I find it distracting.

[@AndrewFolts]

Without fail, people always complain about the background music whenever the track has vocals. I need to remember not to use those, ha.

[@LocalYokel01]

@@AndrewFolts For me, it doesn't matter whether there are vocals or not. I would prefer to listen to you without the interference of other noise.

[@ChengJiou]

Why all those shoes are so expensive 😫

[@AndrewFolts]

They might seem expensive, but the V-Trek is $120, for example, and they've been my favorite shoes for seven years, while not even being close to wearing out. Which means they've cost me only $1.40/mo. Barefoot shoes are a bargain if you take care of them.

[@ty-le5lv]

He's right. They built really tough in comparison to price. I own many pairs of vivos and have a hard time wearing them out years later

[@Msasha2727]

One thing I have found about barefoot shoes… they all have very good sales at the same points in the year every year. Labor Day is the time for Vivo… also lems. Also Siarra trading post is your friend.

[@nitesh17101]

No Xeros?

[@AndrewFolts]

I use the Xero Denver Canvas and Leather a lot too, but for this list they got beat out by the Vivo Magna FG, which has a more convenient slip-on upper and better water resistance, plus no synthetic insulation, which is more natural and works better for all-season, not just winter.

[@kylehazachode]

Gobi Boot ftw! Are the chapters AI generated? So many typos.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, they are, must have forgot to put them in for this video. AI is still so bad at understanding things, ha.

[@weew0e767]

Yooo I miss you andrew! How have you been?

[@AndrewFolts]

Exhausted but excited, ha! Van build is coming along nicely. Bout to do my floors and insulation, after which I'll get to put in my mini wood stove. What's new with you?

[@weew0e767]

@@AndrewFolts Sorry i didn't get the notification. Ive been alright just haning in there honestly! 😅 Just ordered the Kso Eco Wool hoping that the upper will be a more durable option for rock climbing than the original one.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@weew0e767 Hmm, I might not use those for rock climbing. The wool upper is soft and would probably tear easily, although breathability's excellent. You might want the KSO ECO (hemp) one's. Hemp's generally more tear resistant, although I haven't gotten to test it yet. Did you have problems with those or the synthetic ECO's? The V-Trek kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX-TaJehhNGii5Y I know for sure is great for rock climbing. It's partly wool, but has synthetic for strength, plus reinforcement and a thicker fabric overall. Def more rugged than the ECO wool.

[@weew0e767]

@AndrewFolts Yeah I own a v trek for hiking but I had destroyed my v alpha from rock climbing and I need something new 😅

[@AndrewFolts]

@@weew0e767 Have you tried the V-Trek for climbing? It's def tougher than the V-Alpha.

[@angelsalgado5714]

Hey Andrew when are you going to Make the full Barefoot 🦶🏼 video thank you

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Angel, full barefoot videos aren't popular and I don't earn any income from them, so it's hard to justify the time/energy it takes to produce them, but I'll do my best to fit one in sometime.

[@angelsalgado5714]

@@AndrewFolts oh ok Andrew it’s fine

[@majamidzor3801]

You have Way too many shoes! 😁

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, tell me about it! I only have this many so that I can do comparisons and answer questions longterm. If I wasn't a reviewer I'd be good with maybe six pairs or so, ha.