The Best Barefoot Clogs: Comfy, Easy, and Actually Foot-Shaped
Discover the best barefoot clogs that are easy to slip on, foot-friendly, and actually comfortable. From DIY Birkenstock hacks to ready-made options, here’s what to look for.
Clogs are one of those shoes you don’t realize you need… until you slip them on and wonder how you lived without them.
I’d been eyeing the Birkenstock Boston clogs since they were so cute and seemed foot-shaped, but after a quick try-on, there was no way my feet were putting up with that stiff, contoured footbed. Then I found the Birkenstock Lutry—same vibe, but the cork insole was easily removable. Naturally, I swapped out the contoured cork footbed for a flat one to make it barefoot-friendly, and gave them a shot.
No surprise: I loved them. They’re perfect for quick errands, stepping outside, or just padding around the house during the winter.
And the good news? You don’t have to DIY your way into a foot-shaped clog anymore. There are now a handful of barefoot clogs that are wide, flexible, zero-drop, and ready to wear right out of the box. Easy on, easy off, made with natural materials, and even available in some fun colors.
What Makes a Clog Barefoot-Approved?
Just like with other barefoot shoes, there are a few things I look for in a clog:
- Wide toe box – Your toes should be able to splay and move freely, not get squished.
- Zero drop – That means no heel rise. Your foot stays in its natural position.
- Flexible sole – The sole should bend and twist easily, not feel like a brick.
- Thin sole (optional) – For more ground feel, though some clog lovers prefer a slightly thicker sole for comfort.
Top Picks for Barefoot Clogs
Let’s dive right in! Here are my favorites when it comes to comfy, foot-shaped clogs.
Best Style: Birkenstock Lutry Clogs
Suede uppers | EU35 – 48 | $150
You don’t often get to stick with the original name brand when switching to barefoot shoes, so it’s a nice surprise that you can actually make a pair of Birkenstocks more foot-friendly. Most Birkenstocks have the cork footbed glued in and built into the structure of the shoe, but on the Lutry, the cork insole simply pops out. I have a full post on how to remove it and suggestions for what to replace it with, because once it’s out, you’re left with quite a bit of extra space to fill. The good news: the remaining rubber sole is surprisingly flexible.
The suede uppers are soft but structured, especially around the toes, which helps keep the shape even without the original footbed.
Sizing: I opted for the EU37 clog (which lists a length of 24cm), which fits with both my 23.3cm feet with both the cork insole and once I add a thick and fluffy sheepskin insole. If I were going to go for a more minimal insole, I’d likely size down, but I’d still have some extra volume to fill in.
Best fit for: The Lutry clog comes in Birkenstock’s Medium/Narrow width in smaller sizes and Regular/Wide in larger ones. My EU37 pair in the Medium/Narrow width actually felt quite roomy, especially after removing the thick cork footbed. They’re best suited to medium to wide feet and higher volume, though you can easily adjust the fit with different insoles to accommodate lower volume feet too.
Shipping: Birkenstock has the widest selection of Lutry clogs plus free shipping when you become a Birkenstock member. A limited selection is also available at REI which offers free shipping and free returns in store (or $7.99 for shipped returns).
Best Minimal: Mukishoes Soca Clog
Suede uppers | EU36 – 48 | €89 | Code KELLYMUKI for 10% off
Mukishoes recently released the Soca Clog which looks similar to the Birkenstock Boston clog (or technically, the Tokio, since it has a back strap), but with a much more minimal barefoot design. Both the upper and footbed are made of soft suede, which feels amazing, but the uppers do have a lot less structure and sturdiness compared to a Birkenstock. They feel more delicate, almost leaning towards a slipper. The sole is incredibly flexible, but there is a touch of cushion thanks to the cork midsole.
Mukishoes pulled in a lot of great elements from the inspiration design, including adjustable buckles across the top of the foot and at the heel. I also appreciate the structured toe box—it helps the clog maintain its shape and gives your toes room to move.
The one detail I’m not totally sold on is the strip of leather that extends up the back of the heel by about 1.5cm. On traditional Birkenstocks, that area is reinforced by the molded cork heel cup, but here it’s just soft suede with no backing, and doesn’t really add function. I can’t help but wonder if a fully open back would have made more sense.
Sizing: Sizing-wise, I think a EU37.5 would be ideal for me. I went with an EU38 (my usual size in their tennis shoes), and they feel a bit roomy without socks—but just right when I wear them with socks. Come fall, these will likely be my barefoot clogs of choice!
Best fit for: They fit medium to wide feet and can fit adjust to higher volume. I have a high instep, and I’m using the smallest top buckle.
Shipping: You can order these directly from Mukishoes, and use code KELLYMUKI for 10% off. Shipping is about €25. If you’re in the US, barefoot retailer PedTerra offers them at a slightly higher price point with free shipping and free returns. Use code KELLY for 10% off at PedTerra.
Best for Outdoors: Bedrock Mountain Clogs
Women’s US6 – Men’s US14 | $160 – $175
These are the durable, adventure-ready take on the everyday clog. With a wide toe box, zero drop, and a Vibram Megagrip sole, they strike a nice balance between barefoot functionality and all-terrain capability. You can wear them loose like a slip-on or use the strap for a more secure fit. They come in nubuck, suede, or synthetic suede uppers.
They’re a bit stiffer than your average barefoot shoe due to the thicker, heavily lugged sole, but these are for the outdoors after all. Think of these as your favorite clogs to hang around the campsite or cabin, your recover slide after a long hike, or the ones you throw on to putz around the garden. Despite their thicker stack height, these still have enough flexibility that I don’t think you’re massively compromising on natural movement.
They’re easy to throw on, but tough enough for just about anything. If you’ve been looking for a barefoot-friendly clog that actually performs outside, this is it.
Sizing: These run a little small and only come in full sizes, so I’d recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes. I found the Women’s size 7 a little small, so the 8 was a better fit. The volume felt good on my higher instep, and I like that these are adjustable with a strap similar to the Bedrock Sandals.
Best fit for: They fit medium to wide feet and can fit adjust to higher volume.
Shipping: These are available directly from Bedrock, with free shipping and free returns in the US (so you don’t have to sweat the fit so much!). They also have a more limited selection available at REI, which often has stock in-store for try ons, as well as free in-store returns.
Best Customizable: Drifter Leather Solis Clogs
EU36 – 42 | €130
Drifter Leather is a barefoot shoe brand that periodically offers both ready-to-ship and custom-fitting barefoot shoes. If you’ve been having a hard time find the perfect fit for you, send your foot measurements or a tracing to help the Drifter Leather adjust the clog to better suit your foot. I opted for their standard fit in this clog, and found that the the leather uppers are low volume over the toes (as you can see below) and start out a little stiff, so I’ve been needing to break them in both to soften them up and stretch them out. I do wish they’d increase some volume at the toes, and even add a bit more structure here at the front (like the new Mukishoes or Birkenstock clogs).
These clogs use a 5mm Superflex Vibram sole that strike a great balance of cushioning, bounce, and flexibility.
The back straps have built in elastic, and secure with metal rivets with two holes on each side for adjustability. Even though they rivets are covered by leather, they’re still a bit pronounced on the inside. I may add a small piece of moleskin for extra padding. You can also remove the back strap entirely to wear them as slides.
I’m wearing these in the purple glicine color, but they also come in black, brown and burgundy.
Best fit for: Standard sizing is best fit for medium width and medium volume (lower over the toes, and slightly tight over the top of my higher instep). As these can be customizable, you can work with them to get the best fit possible.
Sizing: I’m wearing an EU37, which feels like the right length if I can scoot my foot to the front of the shoe. Because of the low volume at the toes, my feet end up getting pushed back a bit. As the leather is stretching and softening, they are become a better fit.
More Barefoot Clogs
If you didn’t find quite what you’re looking for in this list above, here are a few more options including slip-ons.
EU36 – 44 | $61 | KELLY15 for 15% off
These are backless, so technically mules rather than clogs. As with most of Saguaro’s lineup, they’re a more affordable option—which also means they use lower-cost materials, like the microfiber uppers you see here.
EU35 – 43 | $84 | KELLY35 for 35% off
Handmade leather barefoot clogs crafted in Turkey and sold on Etsy. They run large, and the front panel offers less coverage than most clogs—it doesn’t extend as far over the top of the foot—so the fit is quite adjustable thanks to the long back strap. That said, I still have a lot of extra sole length in my EU37, and would size down to an EU36 for my 23.3cm feet next time.
US6 – 15 | $135 | KELLY for $10 off
This is another convenient slip-on option, but it does compromise on some barefoot features—most notably, the lack of a back strap means the fit isn’t as secure. They feature leather uppers and a leather sole with a copper grounding plug. These leather soles start out quite slippery and need to be scuffed up for better traction, very similar to the Feelbarefoot Etsy brand.
EU36 – 15 | $150
I haven’t tried these ones yet, but they promise a 5mm, zero-drop sole, even if they don’t look like it. Vegan leather uppers and vegan shearling lining for those cooler days!
Final Thoughts
If you thought you had to give up clogs when switching to barefoot shoes, I hope this guide helps you find a barefoot version you love.
Have a barefoot clog you love that I didn’t mention? Let me know—I’m always looking for more to test!
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