The best barefoot shoes for kids have a wide, anatomically shaped toe box with a flat and flexible sole that promotes healthy foot development.
Barefoot shoes are designed to promote natural foot movement, allow for better sensory feedback, and support healthy foot development in children. After testing dozens of kid’s shoes, I’m sharing the 10 best barefoot shoes for kids that combine comfort, functionality, style and durability.
Prevention is easier than remediation
One reason I’m passionate about starting off kids in barefoot shoes is that prevention is so much easier than remediation. When kids wear healthy, barefoot shoes that respect their foot anatomy and allow a natural walking gait, they are much less likely to have to deal with many of the foot and body issues associated with modern footwear.
This study published in the scientific journal Nature compared children that were habitually barefoot to those that wore shoes often. It noted that the habitually shod populations generally had weaker arches and hallux valgus deformities (commonly known as bunions).
Just allowing the muscles to work and move will allow the feet to stay strong. Bunions, hammer toes, ingrown toenails, gait issues and plantar fascia pain are too common and mostly preventable.
Looking for affordable options only? Check out this post on the best budget-friendly barefoot shoes for kids.
Table of Contents
I. What to look for in barefoot shoes for kids
II. What I say when I mean “the best”
III. Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids
What to look for in barefoot shoes for kids
The term barefoot shoe is a bit of an oxymoron because you’re obviously not barefoot when wearing shoes. Barefoot shoes, sometimes called minimalist shoes, are so called because they are designed to let you move how you do when you’re barefoot.
This means no narrow toe boxes that squish toes, heel lifts that change your gait and posture and stiff soles that limit the range of motion in your joints.
Here’s what to look for in barefoot shoes for kids:
1 Wide, foot-shaped Toe Box — Look for shoes that fit the natural shape of the foot. Most conventional shoes taper in the toe box, which squishes the toes together. Feet are widest at the toes, and shoes should reflect that.
2 Flat aka zero-drop — There shouldn’t be any heel-to-toe drop. A flat shoe allows a child to stand in a natural, neutral position.
3 Thin, Flexible Soles — Soles should provide protection, but still allow for a sensory connection to the ground beneath and easy movement.
Unfortunately, many of the large kid’s shoe brands don’t use these criteria when designing footwear. More brands do seem to be recognizing that there is a growing demand for healthier and more minimalist footwear, so it’s never a bad idea to check to see if you can find shoes that meet these criteria in stores.
All of the shoes listed in this post can be ordered online. I’ve included information about fit and sizing as it can be difficult without trying on first.
What I say when I mean “the best”
When I first started sharing about barefoot shoes, it was much easier to make a top ten list as there weren’t a ton of options yet. Now, the number of both brands and styles of barefoot shoes are growing quickly. This is great, because it means more choices. But, it can also be overwhelming, especially for someone new to the category.
As your barefoot shoe guide, I’m trying to narrow it down and simplify the process. This list focuses on kid’s sneakers and everyday shoes. I have lists for other categories, like sandals, winter boots, or brands that offer toddler sizes.
The shoes I’ve included in this “best of” list represent a good balance of functionality, style, and durability, and they’re readily available to order in most countries. I’ve also included several affordable options in the list to be inclusive of a wider range of budgets. Check out a more comprehensive list of affordable barefoot shoes for kids here.
Also note, this list isn’t ranked from my top recommendation on down . All of the shoes listed here are great, and for a lot of different reasons. I appreciate that Splay shoes hit all the key barefoot features and are pretty affordable. Brands like Wildling and Mukishoes stand out for their sustainability, but I understand their price point is not within budget for many. Xero Shoes makes a solid kid’s shoe, but only has one sneaker style. There are pros and cons to every brand, and the most important thing is to find something that fits your child best!
More extensive list of barefoot kids shoes
The end of this post includes a more extensive list of barefoot kids shoes. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for in my top recommendations, check out the list at the end. These barefoot shoe kid’s shoes are good options too. As every foot and situation is different, you may find something there that is a better fit for your child or situation.
Tips on getting the best deal for barefoot shoes
Simply put, barefoot shoes are expensive. Especially with kid’s growing quickly out of their shoes. If you’re shopping for conventional shoes, you usually have the luxury of popping into a big box retailer, trying on some shoes, and even price shopping to get a better deal. I share any discounts and coupon codes when available, and have a blog post focused on affordable barefoot shoes. It also includes tips like second-hand Facebook groups and other resale platforms and the best time to shop for sales. There are several great affordable options included in this post as well.
10 Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids
1 Splay Athletics
Price: From $44 | Code: KELLY10 for 10% off
Sizes: US8/EU24 to Adult
Best For: narrow to medium width, low to average volume,
What I love:
- Affordable
- Velcro and slip-on for easy on for younger kids, or laces for older kids
- Simple styling with fun colors
What I don’t:
- Issues with soles separating from uppers when washed
- Canvas can feel stiff at first
- Can be too low volume for some children
Uppers: Cotton Canvas + microfiber | Models: Velcro, Laces, or Slip-on
Location + Shipping: USA, ship to most countries | Manufacturing location: Mexico
First up, Splay Athletics offers an affordable barefoot shoe for kids with a wide toe box. They have a few different styles, including a velcro shoe, a slip-on, and a casual shoe with laces. Most are made with cotton canvas; some of the styles come with a microfiber toe bumper to help with durability. They also offer a leather upper in the lace up sneaker in larger sizes. The soles are flexible, and the toe box has ample space. Splay shoes are a great overall value based on price, functionality, durability and style.
Durability
My son has had four pairs of Splay Shoes as he’s continued to grow, and all of them have held up well to a lot of outdoor use.
The main weak point with Splays is that they don’t do well when getting super wet. Some people say they hold up to machine washing, while others have the soles separate from the uppers (it sounds like an issue with the glue). We haven’t had issues with them separating, so it seems a bit hit or miss. I’ve often heard that Splay will work with the customer to fix/replace the shoe if this does happen.
2 Vivobarefoot Shoes
Price: From $60 | Code: KELLY10 for 10% off | Boosted Code KELLY25 for 25% off in April 2024
Sizes: US5/EU20 to Adult
Best For: medium to wide feet, medium volume for kid’s styles
Code KELLY25 for 25% off in April 2024
What I love:
- Well-made with sustainable materials
- Wide range of options
- 100 day trial period
What I don’t:
- More expensive
Uppers: Various uppers, focus on recycled, sustainable and natural materials | Models: Velcro, Elastic Pull, or Laces
Location + Shipping: UK-based, offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: China, and in the process of moving most manufacturing to Vietnam. Some styles made in Ethiopia and Portugal.
Vivobarefoot is a pioneer in the barefoot shoe industry, offering a diverse range of options for kids and adults. The toddler and kid’s line includes barefoot shoes for every day, exploring the outdoors, boots, and slippers. They also offer a few styles in all black to meet some school uniform requirements.
Vivobarefoot’s mission is focused both on foot health and environmental health; they use sustainable materials and are constantly working on creating a circular product lifecycle so that Vivobarefoot shoes can be repaired and reworn. You can shop remade shoes at revivo.com
For everyday barefoot shoes for kids, see styles like the Addis casual sneakers or the Primus sport tennis shoes.
They also have a range of school shoes in all black that are meant to meet common uniform requirements.
Durability
All of our Vivobarefoot shoes feel well-made and have held up to a lot of use. The 100-day trial period on shoes ordered from Vivobarefoot means you can get a full refund if you have any issues within those first few months.
3 Saguaro Shoes
Price: From $35 | Code: KELLY15 for 15% off on Saguaro Shoes
Sizes: US Toddler 7.5 to Adult
Best For: medium wide feet, medium to high volume
What I love:
- Affordable
- Pretty durable
What I don’t:
- Not everyone will love the front toe outline
- Seem to get smelly quickly
- No info about manufacturing or sustainability practices
Uppers: Stretchy mesh uppers | Models: Elastic Laces
Location + Shipping: Offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: China
Saguaro Shoes makes water shoes that work well as summer barefoot shoes for kids. The toe box is wide, and the sole is flat and flexible. They come with an insole that may have a small heel lift, so you can remove it for a completely flat sole with more ground feel, or leave it in for kids with lower volume feet.
At $35, they’re the most affordable barefoot shoes on this list. They represent a good value as they’ve held up well. You can get them on the Saguaro Shoes website or on Amazon in the US. You can use code KELLY15 on the Saguaro Shoes website.
The soles are grippy with small lugs, so these have been another good option for sports and hiking.
The style is somewhat reminiscent of the five finger shoes as the toe bumper outlines each of the toes, so I know everyone isn’t going to love that style. There are several brands on Amazon with a similar styles and price point: Check out Cior and Joomra. Saguaro shoes is also rapidly coming out with casual barefoot shoe styles for both kids and adults.
Durability
Our Saguaro Shoes have had a lot of use, and it shows, but they’re not falling apart. The insoles did get holes in them, but the upper mesh is holding up. These have had a lot of play on concrete, so the soles are starting to wearing thin after 3+ months of regular wear. As they’re water shoes, they may be using a softer rubber made more for natural surfaces, so that may explain why they are wearing more quickly on the concrete. For $35, I’m happy that they are lasting 4-5months, or until my son grows out of them. I probably wouldn’t plan on being able to pass these on or being able to resell them for much.
4 BeLenka
Price: From $69 | Code: KELLY5 for 5% off on BeLenka | Code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra
Sizes: US9/EU25 to Adult
Best For: medium to wide feet, medium to high volume
What I love:
- High-quality materials
- Wider, bean-shaped toe box for wide splay
- Lots of styles with bright, fun colors for kids
What I don’t:
- Soles can be stiffer than other brands
- More expensive options, so watch out for sales
Uppers: Leather or mesh uppers | Models: Velcro, Elastic Laces and Slip-ons
Location + Shipping: Offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: EU countries of Slovakia, Czechia and Portugal
BeLenka’s barefoot kids line is a rainbow of brightly colored, casual velcro styles with leather uppers. If your child is bored with the more standard muted colors, scroll through the BeLenka kid’s shoes to see pops of red, pink, and mango. They more recently added a mesh slip-on and the rugged and sporty Xplorer with elastic laces and a more durable rubber sole. BeLenka’s shoes can be on the more expensive end, but they do occasionally offer sales with 20 to 30% off.
The soles on BeLenka’s barefoot shoes for kids are 6mm. The flexibility is decent, though I do find them stiffer compared to many of the other barefoot shoe brands.
BeLenka offers free returns in the EU and the US. The US online retailer PedTerra also sells BeLenka kids shoes, and offers free shipping and free returns.
Durability
BeLenka shoes feel well made with high quality materials. Many of the kid’s shoes are leather and nubuck leather, which have held up well to outdoor play. A few of the newer styles, like the Xplorer and the Seasider both use a high-quality TR rubber made to be both flexible and durable. So far we’ve had a great experience with this.
5 Wildling Shoes
Price: From $69 | Free Shipping codes: WN_KellyUS (US website) and WN_Kelly (International website)
Sizes: US2.5/EU18 to Adult
Best For: narrow to medium width, medium to high volume
What I love:
- As close to barefoot as possible
- Sustainable, innovative materials
- Unique style
What I don’t:
- Winter shoes can be hard to waterproof and keep the inside clean
- Edges of sole can separate
Uppers: Natural, sustainable materials like wool, cotton, hemp (no leather) | Models: Laces or Elastic Laces
Location + Shipping: Based in Germany, offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: Portugal
Wildling is a German company that creates some of the most minimal shoes on the market. If your goal is to feel as barefoot as possible, Wildling shoes are the way to go. The soles are 2.5mm and super flexible. They start at toddler size EU18, so they’re good for new walkers through adults.
Wildling uses mostly soft natural materials for the uppers, like wool, organic cotton, hemp. Some of their most popular styles use unique, innovate materials like the Tanuki made from Japanese Washi paper and the Nebula from a stretchy wool knit, both of which make super lightweight and breathable warm weather shoes. While we’ve really enjoyed the wool models for winter, they aren’t the best choice for wet weather.
Durability
My son has been consistently wearing Wildlings for about four years, and they’ve been one of his favorite shoes. Almost all of them have proved very durable. The only recurring issue we’ve had is that the front portion of the sole separates slightly from the uppers, but it hasn’t impacted the functionality. Some people choose to reglue it, but we left as is and haven’t had issues. Most of his shoes are in decent condition to resell after growing out of them, and Wildlings do tend to have good resale value (something to consider when you’re calculating affordability). Overall, I’d say these do well for regular, everyday use.
6 Xero Shoes Kid’s Prio
Price: $70
Sizes: US12 to Adult
Best For: medium width feet, medium volume
What I love:
- Lugs on the sole for sports and hiking
- 5,000 miles sole warranty
What I don’t:
- Only one sneaker style
- Durability on uppers could be better
Uppers: Synthetic mesh/polyurethane | Models: Laced sneakers
Location + Shipping: US and EU websites, offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: China
Xero Shoes offers one of its most popular barefoot shoes in kid’s sizes: the Prio Running and Fitness Shoe. My son has used this shoe for hiking and sports, including soccer and baseball. Since cleats are so narrow, we’ve been putting them off, and the Xero Shoes Prio has served as a good replacement throughout my child’s younger years. This shoe has lugs to help with traction and a good toe cap to help with durability.
The kid’s options from Xero Shoes are pretty limited. They only offer the Prio and the Z-Trail sandal (which we really like too), and both start in kid’s size 12.
Durability
These still had a lot of life left in them even after my son had outgrown them, so for us the durability has been good. But I’ve seen a number of comments about other kid’s wearing through the mesh. If your child tends to be hard on the uppers, there may be better options for you. Xero Shoes does offer a 5,000 miles sole warranty, so if you have issues wearing through the sole, follow up on the warranty.
7 Mukishoes
Price: From €69 | Code: KELLYMUKI for 10% off
Sizes: US8/EU24 to Adult
Best For: medium to wide feet, average to high volume
What I love:
- Sustainable fabrics and manufacturing processes
- Very soft and flexible
- Nice wide toe box
- Fun colors for kids
What I don’t:
- Can run out of stock and don’t restock to following season/year
- Not as durable as some other brands
Uppers: Cotton Canvas, wool, or leather uppers| Models: Velcro or Elastic laces
Location + Shipping: Portugal, ship to most countries
Mukishoes is another brand that focuses on the sustainability of their materials and manufacturing practices. They often use deadstock fabrics for its designs, which is a great move to reduce waste, but can also mean that they run out of stock and can’t restock the style. Most of the barefoot casual kid’s shoes are made with organic cotton or leather.
Mukishoes promotes healthy foot development by allowing the feet to move naturally without any restrictive elements; the toe box is nice and wide and the soles are super flexible!
Durability
We’ve mostly used the cotton uppers, which have lasted well, but do start to show some wear. For kid’s that are tougher on shoes, I’d opt for one of their leather styles, like the Nimbus Play. The soles also get worn down, but we haven’t had any get holes.
8 Feelgrounds
Price: From $79
Sizes: US8/EU24 to Adult
Best For: medium to wide width, medium to high volume
What I love:
- Clean and simple styling
- Lightweight and breathable upper
- Roomy in both width and volume
- Easy on/off with velcro
What I don’t:
- Not as durable materials
- Could be more affordable (given the materials)
Uppers: Mesh uppers with reinforced toe box and heels| Models: Velcro
Location + Shipping: EU-based, offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: Vietnam
I really love the fit and feel of my Feelgrounds barefoot shoes, so I was glad to see the brand launch children’s sizes. The original mesh sneakers were redesigned to add more kid-friendly features, including velcro straps to replace the traditional laces, and a protective coating around the toe and heel to help with durability.
The uppers are mesh, so they’re lightweight and breathable. The sole is zero-drop and flexible. Feelgrounds doesn’t offer any discount codes, but they do (very) occasionally have sales.
Feelgrounds currently only offers this one style for kids (as of summer 2023), but they’ve shared some new children’s designs for the future, including their Chelsea Boots.
Durability
My son has been wearing these for a few months and they show normal signs of wear. He tends to wear these as everyday shoes, not something for hiking or a lot of rough play. Mesh has the pros of being really lightweight and breathable, but I could see a child wearing through the mesh if they tend to be rougher on shoes.
One thing I love about my Feelgrounds is how soft and flexible the soles are. With that, they can wear out more quickly than a harder sole material. I do se some of the whole wearing down on his as he runs around a lot, but so far he hasn’t worn through them.
9 Softstar Shoes
Price: From $65
Sizes: US2/0-6 months to Adult
Best For: medium to extra wide feet, medium to high volume
What I love:
- Handmade in US
- High quality leather uppers with durable Vibram soles
- Wide and Extra wide options
What I don’t:
- Expensive
Uppers: leather | Models: slip on moccasins, laced shoes
Location + Shipping: USA-based, offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: Oregon, USA
Softstar makes super soft leather shoes with leather soles for babies and toddlers or flexible Vibram soles for kids and adults. Styles include slip-on moccasins, leather sandals, the Primal RUnAmoc (a leather lace-up tennis shoe), Mary Janes, and a sheepskin-lined winter boot.
All shoes are handcrafted in Softstar’s Oregon workshop, and many can be customized with different colors. The shoes can also be customized regarding width, including wide and extra wide, making them a great option for children or toddlers with high volume, wide feet.
Durability
The sole and leather are both durable. The leather can be conditioned, so I was able to shine them up to look almost new after a lot of wear.
10 Origo Shoes
Price: $48 | Code: KELLY for 10% off
Sizes: US8 to Adult
Best For: narrow to medium width feet, low to medium volume
What I love:
- More affordable
- Update for customer feedback
- Clean, simple styling
What I don’t:
- Narrower option, though newer Gen3 are wider
Uppers: Cotton canvas in kid’s sizes | Models: velcro
Location + Shipping: USA-based, offer shipping to US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australia | Manufacturing location: Mexico
is a US-based brand that makes classic and simple barefoot shoes with a focus on sustainability. The kid’s sizes (from kid’s US8 – Youth 4) currently only come in a cotton canvas velcro style. The adult sizes (women’s US6 and up) come in both canvas and leather uppers that are certified by the Leather Working Group with laces.
The 6mm zero-drop soles are made from plant-based biopolymer and thermoplastic rubber in order to lower carbon emissions and make the shoes more biodegradable.
Since Origo’s launch a few years ago, the company has continued to update and improve their barefoot shoes. The new Gen3 kid’s barefoot sneakers have a wider toe box and a more flexible sole than previous versions.
Durability
Among the improvements for the new Gen3 sneakers, the soles are both glued and stitched to the uppers. The cotton canvas kid’s shoes also feature a larger toe bumper made from the sole material to improve the durability.
List of More Barefoot Kid’s Shoes
If you didn’t find quite what you’re looking in the recommendations above, then check out this more extensive list of barefoot shoes for kids.
Kid’s Barefoot Shoe Retailers
PedTerra – This online retailer is based in the US, and stocks lots of European barefoot shoe brands. They have a heavy emphasis on kid’s shoes, and offer free shipping and free returns. While you can order directly from many of these brands, it can be more convenient to order from PedTerra if you end up needing to return or exchange for a different size. You can use code KELLY for 10% off your purchase at PedTerra. They stock brands like BeLenka, Bisgaard, Bar3foot, Froddo, and koel.
Footic Europe – Footic offers fast delivery within the EU and 21 days extended returns. They carry a range of more affordable kid’s barefoot brands like Tikki, Protetika, Pegres, EF, and Fare.
ZaMi – Spanish online retailer that ships worldwide. Sell barefoot brands like Bar3foot, BeLenka, and Vivobarefoot.
Happy Little Soles – Barefoot shoe retailer based in the UK. Offer worldwide shipping and free returns within the UK. Sell a wide range of kid’s minimalist and barefoot shoes including BeLenka, Bobux, PaperKrane, Tikki, and Zeazoo.
Cool East Market – Canadian-based barefoot shoe retailer with a limited selection of kid’s shoes. Find brands like Xero Shoes, Magical Shoes and Vivobarefoot.
Kid’s Barefoot Shoe Brands
Anatomic Shoes – Anatomic is an affordable barefoot shoe brand that has kid’s styles. Use Code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
BGreater – newer British brand offering affordable, minimalist kid’s shoes. Founder is focused on making healthy shoes accessible for more kids. Best fit for narrow width feet.
Bobux – This brand makes styles from soft sole moccasins for young babies to big kid shoes. Bobux are more of a minimal shoes\ vs a barefoot shoe, meaning they’re wider and more flexible than most traditional shoes, but not as much as most of the barefoot shoes on this list.
Baby Bare – Uses high quality Italian leather for their sneakers, sandals, and boots. Despite baby in the name, these wide, minimalist shoes go up to US Big Kid 2/EU33. Use code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
Bar3foot – Cotton canvas velcro barefoot sneakers and sandals for kids. Use code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
Bisgaard – Cute and functional barefoot shoes for babies and kids. The uppers are made from cotton or wool, and feature a large velcro strap to secure the feet. The bottom has a rubber sole inlay, making these very minimal and flexible toddler shoes. These kids barefoot shoes are available from online retailer PedTerra, which offers free shipping and free returns in the US. Use code KELLY for 10% off at PedTerra.
Cat & Jack Toddler Parker Sneakers – This is a very affordable compromise option from Target. These canvas velcro sneakers are reasonably wide though the toe box does taper. The have a flat sole once you take out the insole.
Etsy – There are a number of Etsy retailers that hand make minimalist leather shoes for kids. While some only go to toddler sizes, others go up to bigger kids sizes (Ebooba’s largest is for 7-8 year olds). When you’re searching Etsy, look for shoes that are thin, flat and flexible with a foot-shaped toe box. Here are a few Etsy Shops to check out:
Feelmax – Finnish brand with kid’s shoes start at size EU24. Shoes are reasonably priced (under €40), but shipping to US is around €30.
Foot Buddy Kid’s Shoes – Children’s barefoot shoes in Toddler sizes 8-12. Prioritize durability with large toe bumper and slightly thicker soles. Retail is $39.
Freet – This British brand has several kid’s styles that fit wide feet. Sizes start at EU 30. Use Code KELLY-10 for 10% off.
Froddo – Shoes start at baby US 1 and go up through big kids. Froddo has a full line of cute leather sneakers, sandals and boots. Use code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
Jack & Lily – affordable baby, toddler and kids barefoot shoes.
PaperKrane – Kids barefoot shoe company from Australia known for their funky, colorful designs. Code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
Saguaro – Wide water shoes (they make overall great summer shoes) that start at size US7.5. Also available on Amazon.
Skinners – Skinners are more like durable socks than shoes, but they are a great option for a kid that needs no fuss footwear. They’re machine washable and have a 500 mile life span.
Ten Little Sneakers – Affordable barefoot shoes for kids that have simple, classic styling. These are more of a minimalist shoe with somewhat thicker, stiffer soles. They have vegan leather and canvas sneakers as well as sandals and rain boots.
Tikki Shoes – Leather and vegan leather wide kids shoes and sandals made in Romania.
Tough Little Piggies – Flexible moccasins with reinforced toe boxes for durability.
Zeazoo – Girl’s barefoot shoes, sandals and boots in bright, bold colors. Use code KELLY for 10% off on PedTerra.
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