I have been wearing barefoot shoes for over a year, but with only one pair I use for training and walking, they get dirty very quickly. After much research, I came across Feelgrounds‘ website, which I had never heard of before. I was interested to have a look at what selection they have. Most of Feelgrounds’ shoes are simple and classic everyday shoes, and this was exactly what I was looking for.
What I Was Looking For in a barefoot shoe
I wanted a shoe that I can wear every day and that goes with any outfit. I was looking for a classic sneaker that would not go out of style and that I could take with me on any travels. I was looking for something similar to Nike Dunk, just barefoot.
As I already own a pair of knit trainers, I wanted a pair that is waterproof but also vegan.
One of the biggest worries was the shoe’s softness and fit, as I have bunions that get quite painful if I wear a shoe that is too stiff.
After reviewing all the shoes on the Feelgrounds website, I have settled on the Courtside Classic All White shoe as it fits all my criteria.
First Impressions
After about a week, my Feelgrounds Courtside Classic All White shoes arrived beautifully packaged with a thoughtful thank-you note. I initially worried they might look too wide on my narrow feet, but I was pleasantly surprised; they looked sleek and well-proportioned. Even my partner, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, gave them his stamp of approval. I was impressed by the precision stitching and how lightweight they felt (just 310 g or 10.1 oz).
Fit & Sizing
As I have quite narrow feet, I was worried that the Feelgrounds shoes would be too wide for me. But they do not look too bad at all. Also, the sizing length-wise is true to size, and I would say they are slightly smaller than Vivobarefoot, but the same size as Nike’s or other popular sneakers. My foot size is 39, and I always opt for size 40 for sneakers and training shoes; they feel roomy but not too big.
If you have wide feet or high arches, you may find the fit a bit tight, but my narrow feet fit perfectly.
Performance & Comfort
As I only wore these shoes for a couple of weeks, I will have to update you on their durability, but so far, I do not see any premature creasing or wear forming. The Courtside Classic All White is a comfortable, everyday shoe that is comfortable to wear all day without your feet feeling tired or uncomfortable. I did a 24000 test walk one day, and my feet were absolutely fine at the end of it. The day was slightly too hot to wear them, but other than my feet feeling a bit too hot, I did not feel any discomfort while walking around and even having a little dance. This is me testing my new shoes at the Pride :).
Materials & Sustainability
I love that the company started from crowdfunding; it is a very inspiring story. I also love the fair working conditions initiatives in their factory in Vietnam. They use many recycled materials, and all shoes are vegan. I love that they use recycled PET for laces.
The company started in 2019, and I feel that this is just the beginning for them. And I am excited to see what they will bring out next, and I hope they continue to experiment with materials and design.
Break-in period
As the shoes are made from faux leather, I was worried about the break-in period. The leather is very soft, and the heel area is padded. I did not have any break-in period and did not experience any rubbing or discomfort. Maybe because I am already used to barefoot shoes, I could wear them for long walks from the beginning.
Traction:
Even if the sole of the shoe is very flat, there is some texture on the bottom of it that prevents the shoe from being slippery on wet surfaces. As it has been raining quite a bit recently, I had a chance to test them out on many wet surfaces, from pavement to cobble roads, and I have felt very stable on my feet.
Cleaning/care:
As the shoes are made from faux leather, they are extremely easy to clean. I use a damp cloth for the top and an old toothbrush to clean the rubber sole.
What I like about the shoes
- Quality – Feelgrounds Courtside Classic sneakers are of great quality. The stitching is very precise, and the materials used feel of good quality.
- Design – I love the shape of the shoe. I also love how comfortable they are. Even if my foot is so close to the ground, I can walk all day, and my feet will be absolutely fine. I like the elegant look and very subtle branding, you will not find big logos in contrasting colours like in many other shoes.
- Vegan – I love that Feelgrounds uses faux leather, and it is a very soft and good quality leather that does not look or feel faux. I will talk a bit more about how it could be improved, but overall, it is great to see brands moving away from real leather and experimenting more with faux leather.
- Water repellent – I love that I can wear these shoes when it’s raining and in the morning when the grass is still wet after the night without worrying about my feet getting wet.
Things that could be improved
- No Insoles – when I received my shoes, I realised that they come without insoles. This is the first time I have received shoes with no insoles. I understand the thinking that barefoot shoes aim to give you a closer-to-the-ground feeling, and I do find no insoles quite comfortable; however, I do think that not having insoles is a bit strange.
- First of all, because there is no insole, you can see interior stitching, which is difficult to make neat. Normally, insoles would cover any not perfect sticking inside the shoe.
- Secondly, even if the sole is made from sustainable eucalyptus wood fiber (TENCEL™ Lyocell) that absorbs moisture, keeping your feet cool and dry, I do think that after a year of wear, the shoes will get dirty and start smelling, even if I never walk in shoes without socks. I would definitely need to get a sole to make sure my shoes last longer.
- Synthetic vegan leather – Feelgrounds uses vegan PU leather for the upper of the shoes. It is better than animal-derived leather; however, it still relies on synthetic, petroleum-derived materials, meaning it’s not fully biodegradable and has an environmental footprint. It would be amazing to see different, more sustainable leather options like natural rubber or cork, corn-based, or mushroom-mycelium leather. I can see on Feelgrounds blog that they have used bamboo leather in the past, so it would be great to see more experimentation and innovation coming soon. Having said that, I do understand that synthetic leather lasts longer than any plant leather would, and it is surprisingly soft and does not have a “synthetic sheen” that some faux leathers have.
- Colour choices – I do love the shape of the shoe, and I know I will be wearing them a lot. My only criticism is that I wish they had a few more pastel, softer colour choices in this shoe, as white, black, red and beige feel a bit basic, although I do understand that these colours will never go out of fashion, but it would be cool to see some spring, summer colours. It might be due to the faux leather used, but I feel like this would be a great occasion to explore more sustainable faux leathers and introduce more colours.
How do Feelgrounds compare to Vivobarefoot shoes?
As I only have Vivobarefoot shoes that are meant for training and are made from knit material, the comparison might not be fair. But in general, analysing both brands, there are a few things I have noticed that might be useful when choosing a barefoot shoe brand:
| Sole Design | Flat sole allows full foot freedom | Slight support structure around the foot for added stability |
| Branding | Discreet, elegant, minimalistic design | A prominent, visible logo on the shoe |
| Purpose / Focus | Every day, in casual wear, the foot feels loose and natural inside | Performance-focused; the foot feels more supported with the insole structure |
| Fit | True to size | Tends to run slightly large |
| Width | Slightly wider fit | Slightly narrower fit |
You can check out my Vivobarefoot review here:
I wore VivoBarefoot shoes for 2 months; here is my honest review.
To reap the benefits of barefoot shoes, I would recommend wearing toe socks.
If you are new to barefoot shoes and want to learn the benefits, read:
What are barefoot shoes, and are they good for you?
And if you want to explore more barefoot sneakers:
Final Verdict
I love Feelgrounds Courtside Classic more than I expected, and I have worn them since the day I received them. They are not shoes that people will compliment you for or make you stand out from the crowd, but they are simple, elegant, and high-quality shoes that feel very comfortable and are good for your feet and your posture.
I have only worn Feelgrounds Courtside Classic for a few weeks and will keep updating on their durability as I wear them for longer.
I would like to thank the Feelgrounds team for sending me a pair of Courtside Classic shoes and for trusting me to write a review without any prearranged conditions. This is a sign of a brand believing in its product.
Have you tried Feelgrounds or other barefoot shoes? Share your experience in the comments, I’d love to hear how you wear yours and whether they’ve changed how you walk!
Silvija Meilunaite PN1-NC, is a certified nutrition coach and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field with a passion for exploring science-based knowledge focusing on holistic health and plant-based nutrition.
Featured in the Wellness on Time magazine.
