Barefoot Shoes like HEYDUDE Shoes

Check out these barefoot shoes to replace your Hey Dudes.

HEYDUDE Shoes are known for being super comfy, but are they good for your long-term foot health? Let’s break down what makes a good shoe (aka a barefoot shoe) and if HEYDUDEs level up. (Spoiler alert, they don’t).

But don’t worry! We’ll share some awesome barefoot shoes to replace your HEYDUDES. These keep the style of HEYDUDEs, but they’re even comfier and better for your feet.

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HEYDUDE Shoes: Are They Barefoot Shoes?

First off, what are HeyDudes, and why did they explode in popularity so fast? HeyDude shoes feel like a mix of slipper, loafer and boat shoe, meant to be the ultimate comfort shoe.

The brand’s quest was to make the “cushiest, comfiest, airiest, featheriest, lightest shoes on Earth.”

When it comes to determining if a shoe qualifies as “barefoot,” there are four key criteria to consider:

Wide, foot shaped toe box that doesn’t squish your toes

HEYDUDE shoes often boast a comfortable and roomy toe box. But is it really? HeyDude’s toe box shape may be wider than most, but it’s still not foot-shaped.

We checked the HEYDUDE shoes toe box by pulling out the insole and placing the foot over it while wearing toe spacers to keep the toes in proper alignment. In this video here, it was easy to see that there was not enough room for the toes. That means when you wear these shoes, your toes are being squished together and are not able to maintain a healthy, natural alignment.

Any shoe that cramps your toes is going to limit the functionality of the big toe, which compromises your entire foot function and alters your walking gait.

Thin, flat and flexible sole

HEYDUDE shoes continue to veer away from the barefoot category when looking at the sole. The soles of HEYDUDE shoes typically provide more cushioning and have a noticeable heel drop, which means your heel is elevated compared to your toes.

The HeyDude shoes we reviewed had about a 12mm drop from heel to toe. This means you’re constantly standing on an incline, and your body adjusts to compensate for this elevated heel.

The front portion of HeyDudes are pretty flexible, but it’s harder to bend at the back and side to side.

This design isn’t aligned with the concept of barefoot shoes, which aim to mimic the sensation of walking barefoot on natural surfaces.

The sole of a true barefoot shoe should be as minimal as possible, allowing your feet to feel the ground beneath you. The idea is to encourage a more natural gait and enhance proprioception.

Watch a video review of HEYDUDE shoes

Are HEYDUDE Shoes Good for Your Feet?

A shoe that is good for your feet should be good for your long-term foot and body health. This means a wide, foot-shaped toe box and a thin, flat and flexible sole that allows for a natural walking gait. As we just discussed, the toe box on HEYDUDE shoes taper, and the sole is overly cushioned and features a prominent heel drop. Because of these features, HEYDUDE shoes are not good for your feet.

Barefoot Shoes like HeyDudes

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While HEYDUDE shoes offer their unique blend of style and comfort, if you’re on the hunt for genuine barefoot or minimalist shoes, there are some fantastic alternatives to consider.

1 Lems Drifter Slip-ons

$95 | Canvas uppers | 13mm stack height

Lems is a well-known brand in the barefoot shoe world. Their Drifter model is designed with a spacious toe box and a flat and flexible sole, making it a great choice for those seeking the barefoot experience. The microfiber heel makes the Drifter super easy to slip on. Lems have a moderate amount of cushion with a 10mm sole and a 3mm insole. This makes them a good transition shoe, especially someone that is concerned about giving up all the cushion after wearing HEYDUDE shoes.

The Lems Drifters are currently available in black, blue and green cotton canvas.

For a lace-up version with similar styling, see the Lems Chillums.

Lems also recently released another slip-on specifically for women called the Laguna (it has a narrower to make it better for women’s feet). These don’t have the seem, and look more like Vans slip-ons than Hey Dudes. They are available in a cotton canvas or suede.

2 Feelgrounds Docks

$114 | Cotton Canvas uppers | 5 mm stack height | EU 35 to EU 49

These boat shoe inspired slip-ons are one of the newest summer barefoot shoes from Feelgrounds. They have cotton canvas uppers that are lightweight and very breathable, so they’re perfect for warm weather. The heel has a little extra padding, so they’re comfortable to wear with thin socks or no socks.

You can adjust the volume a bit with the laces, but after tying them once, I’ve mostly used this as slip-on shoes. They fit medium to wide feet best, and medium to high volume. I have a higher instep, and use their 3cm cork insole to fill up some space to get a better fit.

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3 WHITIN Shoes on Amazon

$30 | Canvas and Corduroy Uppers

For the most affordable HEYDUDE dupe, check out Whitin shoes on Amazon. Whitin offers a range of barefoot-style shoes that are casual, comfortable, and usually under $40. They have a minimalist shoes that is very similar in style to HEYDUDES, but it has a wider toe box and a flat and flexible sole.

They come in a few different fabrics, including a textured canvas and a smoother corduroy in neutral colors like black, grey and beige.

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4 Xero Shoes Kona

$75 | Canvas Uppers

For another slip-on barefoot shoe style similar to HEYDUDEs, check out the Xero Shoes Kona. This casual minimalist moccasin has the thinnest sole of all of these barefoot shoes, so is best for someone going for more ground feel.

They are currently only available in the men’s section of Xero Shoes, so sizing starts at Men’s 6.5 and goes up to Men’s 15. The Men’s styles do run slightly wider, but overall, Xero Shoes tend to fit narrow to medium width feet best.

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5 Bearfoot Oso Canvas Slip-ons

$99 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off | 7mm Stack Height | Canvas Uppers

These canvas slip-ons don’t have quite the same vibe as HEYDUDES, but the seam around the top is somewhat reminiscent. And if the goal is a simple, comfortable, everyday shoe, then these Bearfoot Oso shoes fit the bill. These are one of the widest options on the list, meant to fit up to a EEE width.

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Conclusion

In summary, HEYDUDE shoes are not considered barefoot shoes due to their tapered toe box, cushioned soles and heel drop. If you’re looking for shoes that meet the criteria for barefoot footwear, brands like Lems, Whitin and Xero Shoes offer similar styling without compromising your foot health.