Koops Barefoot Shoes Review: Stylish Barefoot Sneakers from Spain
Looking for barefoot shoes that don’t all look the same? Take a look at Koops’ colorful, playful sneakers and get the details on fit and sizing.
Koops is another barefoot shoe brand that’s been sitting on my “I need to try these” list for a while. They’re a Spanish brand created with a popular podiatrist, and their shoes combine a foot-shaped design with a fashion-forward look along with fun materials and prints.
I finally got a chance to try the Venan sneaker (and soon will be trying the low-profile Zen sneakers), and I have to say, the leopard print pony hair was a pretty good way to make an introduction.
About the Brand
Koops was created in collaboration with Spanish podiatrist Neus Moya, who specializes in children’s and adult biomechanics. The brand puts a lot of emphasis on the relationship between foot shape, movement, balance, and the design of the shoe.
Koops barefoot shoes are available for women, men, and kids, and they currently have several sneaker styles. The Venan and the Kai have a fairly classic barefoot design, but they’re creative with the colors and materials, including several pony hair prints (like leopard, cow and Dalmatian), and metallic silver.
Is Koops Barefoot?
Yes. Koops designs its shoes around the basic features of barefoot footwear: a foot-shaped toe box, flexible sole, zero drop, and a relatively thin sole that allows the foot to move naturally.
The exact shape does vary between models, though, which is something I always recommend paying attention to when choosing a barefoot shoe. A shoe can technically have a foot-shaped toe box and still fit differently from another barefoot brand.
Brand Snapshot
- Foot Type Compatibility: Narrow to medium width; low to high volume
- Sizing: EU21–44 (varies by model)
- Price Range: $$ ($115+ for adults)
- Coupon Codes: BSG10 for 10% off
- Location: Based and made in Spain
- Shipping: Ships worldwide from Spain. Shipped Delivered Duties Paid (DDP), so all extra duties and tariffs are included in the price at check out. Free shipping on orders over €140 (EU & UK) and €180 (worldwide).
Sizing Reference
My foot measurements: 23.3 cm long, 9.0 cm wide
My usual size: EU 38 in most barefoot sneakers
Koops Venan: EU 38
Venan Barefoot Sneaker Review
Code BSG10 for 10% off
The Venan is a pretty simple barefoot sneaker design, but I think Koops gets all the little details right.
If you’re looking for the most affordable option, the vegan leather Venan in white is $115. Or, if you want something with a little more personality, the animal print pony hair styles are really well done. I can be a little skeptical of animal print because it can sometimes look cheesy, but the texture of the pony hair makes these work. If you’re a big fan of these leopard print sneakers but want to consider more options, find some here.
The Kai has a similar overall shape and cup sole to the Venan, but with different paneling. It comes in natural leather, suede, pony hair, and metallic silver.
And this is probably my favorite thing about Koops sneakers: they look like fun sneakers first and barefoot shoes second. That’s something I appreciate more and more as the barefoot shoe selection gets better. You get the foot-friendly shape and flexibility without the shoe feeling overly technical or like it has to advertise that it’s a barefoot shoe.
The construction is also nicely lightweight and flexible. The Venan has a recycled rubber sole, and I found the flexibility particularly good.
Fit and sizing: I went with my usual EU 38, and the overall fit works well for me.
That said, I think the Venan does run a little short compared to some other EU38 sneakers I have. I think part of that is the shape around the big toe, which has a little more rounding than some of the barefoot shoes I wear. I have enough room to wear them comfortably, but I wouldn’t want them any shorter.
If you’re between sizes, have longer toes, or simply prefer more space in front of your toes, this is one where I’d consider sizing up.