I have been on a barefoot shoe journey for three years now ( you can read about my journey here ), and sandals were the last ones on my list. I started with a gym shoe, then day-to-day shoes, then boots and running shoes, but I did not feel like barefoot sandals would be different from regular flat sandals. But then I got myself a pair of Vivobarefoot sandals, and I fell in love with them. I don’t think my feet have ever felt so comfortable. I have compiled a list of the best barefoot sandals I could find, and will be updating this list regularly with the best-looking ones, so you don’t have to.
TL;DR
Best overall barefoot sandal: VIVOBAREFOOT Sensus Yin Sandal Womens – Premium leather and strong barefoot brand reputation
Best budget barefoot sandal: Xero Shoes Genesis Rope-Style Sandal – Excellent durability reputation for the price
Best barefoot slider: VIVOBAREFOOT Sensus Yin Slide Womens – Among the purest barefoot slider experiences available
Best closed-toe barefoot sandal: Shapen NEEJA Barefoot Sandals – true barefoot flexibility
- Best barefoot-friendly sandal for beginners: Sanuk Women’s Yoga Sling 2 Sandals – comfortable with a thin, cushioned insole.
What are barefoot sandals?
Barefoot sandals most of the time have to fit three criteria:
- Wide toe box – so your toes ( or how I call them -feet fingers ) have space to spread and are not cramped together.
- Thin and flexible sole – so you can feel the ground underneath you, and your feet can move freely.
- Adjustable straps – this is not always the case, but most of the time, the sandals are designed to fit your feet perfectly and be secure.
In a nutshell, barefoot sandals work to support your foot’s anatomy instead of cramming it into something beautiful but uncomfortable. This creates quite a big challenge for the barefoot shoe brands to make the sandals look good, so here are the best barefoot sandals for women I could find.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also earn from other affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Barefoot Basil! Full Affiliate Disclosure
Best Barefoot Sandals
Shapen, NOMAD barefoot sandals
It’s an elegant and functional pair of footwear that features a 3mm sole. A comfortable sandal that you can dress up or down, and is also perfect for bunions.
Materials: leather, microline, and rubber
Weight: 3.73 oz (106g)
Sole: 3 mm
A true barefoot sandal, with minimal sole, allowing natural foot movement and ground feel.
Softstar, Adult Camino Sandal
These barefoot sandals are handmade and feature a wide toe box and a 6mm Vibram™ midsole. A bit of a thinker, sole sandal that would be great for beginners and people who do a lot of walking on uneven terrains and want a bit more protection. A beautiful dad sandal that will look good with any pair of jeans.
Materials: Leather, suede leather footbed, foam, Vibram™ midsole
Weight: 9.6 oz oz (272g)
Sole: 11 mm
Although very comfortable, this one has a thicker sole, with a midsole that reduces the interaction between the foot and the ground.
Xero Shoes, Genesis Fashion-Forward Rope-Style Sandal
The Genesis Rope Style Sandal is inspired by one of the earliest footwear designs and embodies simplicity to support natural foot movement. It features a pre-laced, adjustable system for easy on and off. I don’t think you could get more barfoot than this. A perfect everyday sandal that feels like an extension of your feet and is great to pack for a beach or adventure vacation.
Materials: Polyester cord and FeelTrue rubber
Weight: 4.0oz (134 g)
Sole: 5 mm
Minimal sole and a more sporty look, it’s a really lightweight option.
Shapen, CALLA barefoot sandals
The Calla barefoot sandals have adjustable straps and an anatomical shape. The flexible and sleek 3mm sole allows for natural foot movement. If you want a bit more dressy sandal, this is it. They will look beautiful paired with a beach dress.
Materials: Leather, microline, and rubber
Weight: 4.16 oz (118g)
Sole: 3 mm
A sleek sandal with a very minimal sole (only 3mm).
VIVOBAREFOOT, Sensus Yin Sandal Womens
The Sensus Yin Sandal features an extremely thin sole, with only 2.5mm and 0.8mm tread depth. Great for us hipster millennials in our barrel jeans.
Materials: Taro Bonvine Leather, Ayutthaya Chrome-free, Nylon, and rubber
Weight: 6.59 oz (187g)
Sole: 2.5mm
A minimal design with an extremely thin sole.
Plaka, Nova Barefoot Sandals
These sandals feature a wide toebox and adjustable straps in a beachy design, for those looking for a high ground feel during vacation. If you want a Tulum vibe, barefoot sandal on a budget- this is perfect.
Materials: nylon and rubber
Weight: 7.93 oz (225g)
Sole: 8 mm
True barefoot experience mixed with a summer, more vacationing feel.
GROUNDIES, Verona Barefoot Sandals
Verona is a lightweight summer sandal that features a TrueSense® GC2 sole with a 5 mm base. Does not get more comfortable than this. I love this design as it goes with every outfit.
Materials: leather and microfiber
Weight: 7.93 oz (225g)
Sole: 5 mm
Very comfortable and excellent option for day-to-day use
VivoBarefoot, San-Dal II Unisex
These Vivobarefoot sandals are handmade from eland and gnu leather in Namibia by local craftsmen, inspired by original Namibian hunting sandals. All proceeds go towards sustaining the Future Footwear Foundation in the long term. Each pair of San-dals comes with a cloth hunting bag, mini San-dal keyring, removable eggshell accessory, and a booklet of the San story. A beautiful sandal without an insole.
Materials: Namibian Eland Leather,
Weight: 5 oz (141g)
Sole: 7.5 mm
True barefoot experience and contributes to the preservation of indigenous craftsmanship.
Xero Shoes, Limited-edition Xero X J.Crew barefoot sandals
The Genesis sandal gets a summer refresh in collaboration with J Crew. It comes with coloured beads and metal hardware without losing any of the lightweight comfort the Genesis barefoot sandal is known for.
Materials: Polyester cord and FeelTrue rubber
Weight: 4.0oz (134 g)
Sole: 5 mm
Cool colorways for the summer in a true barefoot design.
Best Barefoot Sliders
VivoBarefoot, Sensus Yin Slide Womens
The Sensus Yin Slide is made of leather, with minimal stitchlines and an adjustable fit. It has no insole and an extremely thin 2.5mm sole with 0.8mm tread depth. I love sliders for day-to-day use, for example, dog walks, where I like to spend some time in nature completely barefoot and like to take my shoes off fast. It’s a pair that I am thinking of investing in this summer.
Materials: Leather, nylon velcro, and rubber
Weight: 6.58 oz (186.7 g)
Sole: 2.5 mm
Another true barefoot experience with a very thin sole (2.5mm), this time, without the backstrap.
Best Closed Toes Barefoot Sandals
Shapen, NEEJA barefoot sandals
It’s a perfect sandal for a hot summer day in the city if you’re not a fan of exposed toes. It features a super-thin 3mm sole and a wide toebox. Elegant but still barefoot.
Materials: Leather and rubber
Weight: 6.52 oz (185g)
Sole: 3 mm
Great option for those who don’t want an open-toe shoe but would like to stay closer to the ground.
Vibram, FiveFingers V-Soul
A minimalist, strappy, lightweight shoe with excellent flexibility. The Vibram FiveFingers V-Soul features a 5mm sole. It’s a shoe that turns heads but is also extremely comfortable.
Materials: Polyester, Wool Sockliner, and Foam
Weight: 3.20 oz (91g)
Sole: 5 mm
With a sporty feel, this sandal transitions well from the gym to a more trendy look.
Best Barefoot-Friendly Sandals
If you love the idea of a barefoot sandal but want slightly more cushioning with all the other benefits, I have included a few options for you. Not quite barefoot, but very beautiful options for beginners not ready to go full-on barefoot.
Sanuk, Women’s Yoga Sling 2 Sandals
The Yoga Sling 2 features two-way stretch jersey straps for a secure, flexible fit. It’s a very lightweight shoe, although it does have a bit of cushioning, so this one may be more of a transitioning shoe for those looking to start on a barefoot journey. These sandals are also very affordable.
Materials: recycled REPREVE and sponge rubber
Weight: 5.4 oz (153g)
Sole: 6.35 mm
Really lightweight and comfortable, but not 100% barefoot due to the cushioned insone.
Merrell, Women’s Haven Backstrap
Although Merrell is known for its barefoot shoes, this sandal is technically barefoot-friendly, more suitable for beginners who may need a bit of an in-between shoe while on a barefoot journey. Even so, it’s still very lightweight, flexible, and features a FloatMax Foam integrated insole. I love this unique design that is great for bunions.
Materials: grain leather upper, Microfiber, and foam
Weight: 8.11 oz (230g)
Sole: under 1 inch.
It’s a good transition shoe for those who are not used to a barefoot sole yet.
Best Barefoot Sandals In Europe
be lenka, Promenade Barefoot Sandal
Made from premium leather, these sandals are available in 3 colors. They feature an adjustable backstrap and a 3mm sole.
Materials: leather and rubber
Weight: 5 oz (150g)
Sole: 3 mm
Minimal sole and a lightweight shoe
Groundies, Kos Black barefoot sandals
Kos is a lightweight sandal with a clean, minimalist design. It runs a bit large, so it’s recommended to size down.
Materials: Leather, microfiber, and TrueSense® rubber
Weight: 6.17 oz (175g)
Sole: 5 mm
Very lightweight with minimal sole in a sleek design.
FAQ
Why choose a barefoot sandal?
The reason for choosing barefoot sandals is the same as any other barefoot shoes. I choose them for my feet’ health and the feeling I have being so close to the ground and being able to move my feet so freely.
Where to wear barefoot sandals?
I can speak from my own experience here, as I tested barefoot sandals in many terrains. I have worn them every day on my trip to Thailand. I rode a shooter in them, I walked on the beach, and in the jungle, as well as on concrete roads and rocks. But the only time I managed to scrape my toe was while walking in a city where the pavement was extremely uneven. So my advice is, wear them everywhere you feel comfortable, but still keep in mind that your feet are slightly less protected than with regular sandals.
To summarize,
You might not think you need barefoot sandals until you try a pair. Like with any other barefoot shoes, there is no way back. It is amazing to see all these brands innovating and bringing out more unique and beautiful designs. I love a good shoe that not only looks good but also is good for your feet.
Any brands I missed? Comment below, and I will add them.
Editorial Note
This post is for informational purposes only. Product formulations can change; always check current ingredient labels before purchasing.
Silvija Meilunaite, PN1-NC, CSMC, is a certified nutrition coach and menopause coaching specialist writing from personal experience of perimenopause. She covers midlife health, hormone-supportive nutrition, and non-toxic living with a research-driven approach, helping women over 40 feel informed, strong, and healthy.
