Barefoot Sandals I Like Better than Birkenstocks

If you love the classic look of Birkenstock sandals but want something with a more flexible sole, there are plenty of other options to consider.

Birkenstocks have been popular for decades, and it’s easy to see why. They have a recognizable style, adjustable straps, a roomy shape through the toes, and a supportive, structured footbed.

But those same features aren’t necessarily what everyone is looking for.

When I wear barefoot and minimalist footwear, I generally prefer sandals that allow my feet to move more freely. That means in addition to the naturally shaped toe box, I look for a totally flat sole and enough flexibility that I can feel the ground and move my feet without a highly structured footbed.

I’ve tested a lot of sandals over the years, and several brands now offer styles that have a similar aesthetic while taking a more minimalist approach to the sole.

Here are the ones I’d recommend checking out.

Since this style of sandal is so popular, I’ve been regularly updating this post throughout 2026 as new styles have hit the market. The latest one is my favorite!

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links or use one of my discount codes, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support Barefoot Shoe Guide and allows me to continue testing and reviewing footwear.

Independent comparison: This is an independent review and comparison. Barefoot Shoe Guide is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Birkenstock.

Barefoot Sandals Comparison

What I Look for in a Barefoot Sandal

Before getting into the individual sandals, here’s what I mean when I describe a sandal as barefoot or minimalist.

I’m generally looking for:

• A naturally shaped toe box with enough room for the toes
• A flat or zero-drop sole
• A sole that can flex with the foot
• A secure fit that doesn’t require me to grip with my toes
• Enough adjustability to get a comfortable, secure fit
• A construction that matches the amount of cushioning and ground feel I want

Not every sandal needs to be paper-thin to be a good option. Some people prefer more cushioning, while others want as much ground feel and flexibility as possible.

That’s why I’ve included options across a range of sole thicknesses.

How Birkenstock Sandals Compare

One reason Birkenstocks are so recognizable is their combination of a roomy, foot-shaped design with a highly structured footbed.

The traditional cork footbed has substantial contouring, support and stiffness.For someone who enjoys a more structured sandal, that can be a feature rather than a drawback.

Personally, I prefer a less structured footbed and more flexibility. I find that gives me a greater sense of ground contact and allows the sandal to move more easily with my feet.

If that’s what you’re looking for too, the sandals below are worth considering.

For other Birkenstock styles where you can remove the cork footbed, they can make great barefoot shoes. For example, the cork insole on the Lutry clogs can easily be removed and replaced with something else (here’s a few ideas if you want to try yourself.)

[watch this video about Birkenstocks here]

Best Barefoot Alternatives to Birkenstock Sandals

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All of these barefoot shoes feature a wide, anatomically shaped toe box and a flat and flexible sole. They range in sole thickness, from moderately cushioned to very thin, so you can find one that best suits your preferences. These are all most similar in strap design to the Birkenstock Milanos.

Wyde Maia Strap Sandals

Leather Uppers | Retail: $145 | Sizes: EU36 – 47 | Stack height: 14.6mm | Code KELLY for 15% off

The Wyde Maia Strap is one of the closest options I’ve found to the overall look and feel of the Birkenstock Milano.

It has substantial leather straps, a cork-based footbed, and a classic two-strap sandal design. However, the footbed is flatter the cork footbed is much more flexible.

The combination of cork and rubber gives these more cushioning than many barefoot sandals, with a total stack height of 14.6mm. So if you like the idea of barefoot footwear but don’t want to jump straight into an ultra-thin sandal, these are a nice middle ground.

The leather straps are thick and feel high quality. I also found them comfortable right away without much break-in time.

The Wyde Maia sandals also come in a slide version if you prefer a slip-on style.

These sandals are made in Portugal, and Wyde now has US distribution, which means much easier shipping and returns. Use code KELLY for 15% off at Wyde.

Fit and sizing: I’m wearing the EU38, though I probably could have sized down to the EU37. Since the footbed has a slight cupped edge, I was worried a shorter size would leave my toes or heel bumping into it. These are best suited for wide and extra-wide feet. On my medium-width feet, I feel like I’m sloshing around a bit.

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Softstar Camino Sandals

Leather Uppers | Retail: $140 | Sizes: Women’s US 5.5 – Men’s US14 | Stack height: 7 to 15 mm

The Softstar Camino is another great choice if you like a substantial leather sandal but want something with a more flexible sole.

Softstar offers several versions of the Camino, with stack heights ranging from about 7mm to 15mm.

For a barefoot sandal that prioritizes cushy comfort, look to the original SoftStar Camino Sandals. The original Camino (pictured above in brown) has a thicker sole and more cushion than most of the other options on this list, with a total 15mm stack height. This consists of a 5mm Vibram outsole and a 6mm Vibram midsole, topped with a foam and suede footbed that will mold to your foot. You’re giving up some ground feel and flexibility, but they can be a good transition option as you move away from stiffer, more supportive sandals.

The second “Street Edition” camino sandal is more flexible, made with a thinner 2mm outsole for a total stack height of 8mm.

And new in 2025, Softstar introduced the Camino Sandal Lite. These have a total stack height of 7mm, made with a 2mm Vibram Street Rubber outsole and a 3mm Vibram midsole. The Camino Lite also comes in new colors: Blush Pink (pictured below), Beach Glass (a stunning green-blue nubuck), and Black. This is stripping away 8mm of extra cushion that was on the Original, but note that neither are the most flexible option out there. The original feels like more squishy cushion, while the Lite is thinner, but the sole materials have some hardness and stiffness to them.

Fit & Sizing: Softstar has a unique sizing chart, so it won’t line up to other brands. I’m wearing a 6U in these Camino sandals and they’re just long enough. Because of the foam topper, the footbed isn’t totally flat, so you don’t have quite as much length as what you measure on the outsole. In Softstar’s size guide, it recommends size 6U for feet with length 23 to 23.9. I wouldn’t recommend much longer than my foot length (of 23.3cm) as your feet will start to overhang the bump of the foam. Therefore, I’d generally say look at the lower half of the range for size recommendations; if you’re on the upper half, I’d go up to the next size.  

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Mukishoes Nazaré

Suede Uppers | Retail: €89 | Discount code: KELLYMUKI for 5% off | Sizes: EU36 – 48 | Stack height: 6.5mm

If you’re going for more of a minimalist feel, then the Mukishoes Nazaré highlight how barefoot this style can be.

The Nazaré sandals feature a 3.5mm flexible rubber outsole and a cork midsole for a total stack height of around 8mm. Cork tends to be a lot firmer than the foam alternatives, so if you are going for something that feels softer underfoot, you might find these too firm. The adjustable straps are made from soft suede that comes in light brown. There can be a downside to such soft and minimal suede though…it can stretch. They aren’t as thick as the straps on Birks or something like the Softstar Camino. So far, mine haven’t stretched out too much, but I’ve seen a few others mention it.

I went with an EU37. These fit medium to wide feet well and offer good adjustability to accommodate different foot volumes. They’re unisex, and available in sizes EU36 – 48. 

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Freet Salcombe

Leather Uppers | Retail: $100 | Discount code: KELLY10 for 10% off | Sizes: EU37 – 48 | Stack height: 11mm

The Freet Salcombe has become another fast favorite for barefoot shoe wearers looking for comfortable, casual sandals. They come in brown or black with 2mm full grain, unlined leather uppers. Mine had a lot of color transfer to my feet with the first time I wore them, but this is supposed to fade over time. Just be aware your feet may end up with a lot of black or brown on them the first few times you wear them.

The total stack of 11mm consists of a 1.5mm rubber outsole topped with 9.5mm of foam. This makes them moderately cushioned, so you’re trading off some ground feel here. The foam itself is on the medium to soft side. The back strap hits a little high on me so that sometimes I can feel the buckle hitting the underside of my ankle.

These are a good fit for wider feet. Freet sizing can vary between styles, and these tend to run large. I’m wearing the smallest size in EU37 and they’re a decent fit (if they had half sizes, a half size down would likely be best).

Freet has three separate online shops depending on your location, but you can use KELLY10 to get 10% off at all three.

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Wildstride Leather

Bison Leather Uppers | Price: $179 | Sizes: US6 – 14 | Stack height: 10mm 

Wildstride is a US-based brand that hand makes their barefoot sandals from locally-sourced bison leather. Bison leather feels similar to cow leather, but it’s supposed to be 40% stronger, so I’m expecting these are going to be exceptionally durable sandals. The brand notes that these may need some break in time, but I felt that they were soft out of the box.

Since this is a smaller brand, they do have a lead time of about 2 weeks to make your sandals, but on the plus side, they do offer custom orders. And if you really want a slide, they make those too.

These feel like the perfect middle ground of not too thick and not too thin with their total 10mm stack height. This includes a 4mm Vibram outsole that is both durable and flexible. I opted for the size US6/6.5, which is their smallest size (it’s similar sizing to my EU37 sandals from other brands).

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Sambas the Bambas Vegan Freya

Vegan Leather and Fabric uppers | Price: €119 | Discount Code: KELLY for 5% off | Sizes: EU36 – 44 | Stack height: 10mm 

The Freya sandals from Sambas the Bambas share a similar minimalist design with the other barefoot-style sandals on this list, but with a more playful and refined twist. They feature thick vegan leather straps layered with recycled microfiber and finished with gold buckles—Sambas is a fully vegan brand known for its creative use of sustainable materials.

The midsole includes about 4mm of coconut fiber for light cushioning, and the cork insole feels smooth underfoot without being slippery.

Fit and sizing: They’re fully adjustable with two buckle straps and velcro at the heel. They fit my medium-width feet comfortably, but might feel snug on wide or extra-wide feet. I’m wearing a size EU37.

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Posh Panda Sandals

Leather Uppers | Prices start at $107  | Sizes: Women’s US 5 – Men’s US13 | Stack height: 4 to 10mm 

Posh Panda Sandals are the barefoot sandals that can be fully customized—chose your sole thickness, buckle color, and from 40 different leather colors and patterns.

The leather on the Posh Panda sandals is thinner and softer—more similar to the Mukishoes leather, and in contrast to the thicker leather on options like the Wyde Maia and SoftStar Camino Sandals. The suede side of the leather sits against your foot, so it’s really soft. My main concern is that they can stretch over time.

You can choose from soles that are 4mm to 10 mm. For the most barefoot-feeling sandal, I opted for the 4mm. It is a very thin and flexible sole. As I’ve mentioned in my other posts on barefoot sandals, sometimes there is such a thing as too much flexibility for a sandal as it increases the risk of the front catching. While I love the feel, I may opt for the 6mm next time just to prevent any issues. 

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Ruby Barefoot Sandals

Leather Uppers | Price: $84  | Discount code: KELLY35 | Sizes: EU35 – 43 | Stack height: 6mm 

Ruby Leather offers barefoot shoes and sandals on Etsy. These also have thinner leather strap and a sole with a total 6mm stack height. These soles aren’t thick, but they’re still a little stiff. These run longer than the size chart. I originally ordered an EU38 which was much too long, so ended up sized down to an EU37. Ruby Barefoot also offers some customization in sizing and shape; you can message them about custom sizing. 

Use code KELLY35 for an extra 35% off.

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Bioworld Vegan Sandals

Vegan Leather Uppers | Price: $88  | Sizes: EU35 – 45  

For those wanting a barefoot vegan sandal, look to the beautifully made sandals by Bioworld. These sandals are handmade by two brothers in Spain and available on Etsy. The uppers are faux leather or faux suede. They use a flexible, durable Vibram sole. This specific Vibram soling is one of their more flexible options.

Shipping is about $30 to the US and returns are only accepted from EU countries. 

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More Barefoot Sandals to Consider

There’s a few more options to check out here:

Crupon Sandals on Etsy: These aren’t quite as similar to the Birkenstock Milanos as some of the others, but still have a similar style.

Butterfly Your World: This is a one-person shoemaker based in the US that periodically opens for orders, with current processing times around 8 weeks. All the sandals are custom. Find more about them on Instagram.

Tara Soles: These are slip-on sandals that only have the two front straps like the Birkenstock Arizona. They do have a flat and flexible sole, but I generally recommend a sandal with a back strap and secure fit that doesn’t impact a natural walking gait.

Tomar Creation: These affordable handmade sandals start at €50 and are made in Slovakia.

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Looking for a Slip-on Sandal?

Slides aren’t usually part of a barefoot shoe lineup, since they lack a back strap—something that helps keep your foot secure and supports natural movement. But even barefoot shoe fans can appreciate the convenience of a slip-on now and then.

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Final Thoughts

There are a lot of reasons people love the classic Birkenstock sandal aesthetic. The style is simple, versatile, and easy to wear.

But if you’re looking for a sandal with a less structured footbed and a more flexible sole, you don’t have to give up that general look.

The options above take different approaches to cushioning, flexibility, materials, and fit, so there’s no single “best” choice for everyone.

That’s really the goal of this list: not to find a sandal that is identical to another brand, but to help you find an option with the features you personally want.

Have you found another barefoot or minimalist sandal that you love? Let me know in the comments!