15 Best Barefoot Winter Boots for Everyday 

Keep your feet warm and comfortable this winter with this round-up of the best everyday barefoot winter boots. This list focuses on casual, stylish options for colder weather. 

Winter is here (or it’s coming shortly) and you need some winter boots. Barefoot winter boots, to be a little more specific. Colder weather doesn’t mean you have to revert to overly thick, clunky and pointy boots. There are plenty of barefoot boots that look great, keep your feet warm, and are made for natural function.

Depending on where you live, winter can mean anything from a sunny day in the mid-60s (hello Southern California) to putting on every layer you own to face the blizzard outside your door. Since it can be hard to cover all scenarios in one post, I decided to break them out into a few different ones. This post is focused on the best everyday barefoot winter boots, which means casual and stylish options that are warm and water-resistant. So, you could wear them on that 60Fs day, but equally be prepped for something much colder when you pair them with thick wool socks and an extra warm woolly insole. 

I’m here to be your guide as you navigate your foot health journey and the process of finding the best barefoot boots for you. This curated list features the best options I’ve found over the years of wearing barefoot shoes.

The first half includes the the boots I reach for again and again. The second half of the list has great options too, but I don’t find myself reaching for them quite as often. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t

Most of these boots are unisex, so hopefully you’ll find something you like whether you’re looking for men’s or women’s barefoot winter boots. 

What I look for in barefoot winter boots 

My reviews on barefoot shoes are focused on these main criteria: 

Adding warmth to your barefoot winter boots 

The two best things you can do to add more warmth to your winter boots is to wear wool socks and add thermal or sheepskin insoles.  

Waterproofing your boots 

Many of these boots are made with waterproof or water-resistant materials, or may have a water-resistant treatment pre-applied. To maintain the water-resistance or waterproofness of your boots, you’ll likely need to periodically reapply the treatment. For canvas, use this waterproof spray for canvas. For leather, use Otter Wax or NikWax. 

Sizing reference

For most of these shoes, I’ll provide a sizing reference based on my experience with the fit. Read more on measuring your feet for barefoot shoes here.

I’m most often a US7.5/EU38 in my barefoot shoes, but sometimes size up in barefoot boots to accommodate for thicker socks. My feet are medium width and measure 23.3cm long. I typically look for shoes with an extra 1.2cm of space.

My husband Aaron also tested out some of these boots. His feet measure 26.8cm and he is most often a US10.5/EU43.

Best Everyday Barefoot Boots for Winter

---

---

2 Be Lenka

Price: $149 – $199 | Code: KELLY5 for 5% off on BeLenka

Sizes: Kids to EU47

Best For: medium to wide feet, medium to high volume

Discount Code: KELLY5

Uppers: Leather | Models: Slip-on, Lace-up, Knee-high boots

Location + Shipping: Offer worldwide shipping | Manufacturing location: EU countries of Slovakia, Czechia and Portugal

Be Lenka has one of the most extensive collections of barefoot winter boots and continues to add more. If warmth is your priority, opt for the wool-lined Winter Boots 2.0 or the sheepskin lined Polaris slip-on boots. There are several lace-up boots that don’t feature an additional lining, so they’re best for mild to moderate winters (like the Nevada and Ranger). Be Lenka also has a snow boot for women.  

Be Lenka’s boots are more structured, so they can feel on the bulkier and stiffer end of the barefoot shoes spectrum. Most of the soles have a deeper lug pattern which is good for slippery conditions.  

Fit & Sizing: After some trial and error, I generally recommend people size up in Be Lenka’s winter boots. I have plenty of space in my Be Lenka EU38 sneakers but find the boots running a little shorter. This is especially true for models like the fully lined Winter Boots 2.0. The boots are wide and roomy overall, so they’re a great option for wider, higher volume feet.  Most BeLenka boots are unisex, but there are some women’s specific styles.

---

3 Lems

Price: $150 – $185 | Sizes: Women’s US5 – Men’s US15

Best For: medium to wide feet, medium to high volume

Uppers: Leather, Nylon 

Location + Shipping: Based in the US, flat rate $5.95 US Shipping and free returns. See shipping info for international countries here .

Lems is headquartered in Boulder, CO, and most of their styles fit that outdoorsy vibe. I like that they work for a day out hiking just as much as a day walking around town.  

A lot of the same features that landed Lems Shoes at the top of my best barefoot shoes for beginners list makes them an excellent winter option. Lems boots have around a 10mm sole which is thicker than most minimalist option. But, the shoes use air-injection rubber, so it’s still super lightweight. This extra separation from the ground can be helpful in colder conditions. Plus, they have a few grippy options, including the Boulder Summit and the new Boulder Grip. 

If you need a rugged Chelsea boot, there’s no better option than the Lems Chelsea (similar to Blundstones, but you can keep all of your toes intact).  

Note that Lems does not offer coupon codes, but does occasionally hold sales around holidays. 

Find a full brand review of Lems here, including a mini review of each boot style.

Fit & Sizing: Lems previously had quite a bit of variation in their sizing among their different styles, but thankfully it’s become much more true to size with these newer 2023 styles. I generally find that I’m a half size up in the boots to leave a little extra room for thicker socks. I’m a size US7.5 in most Lems shoes and a US8 in the new Lems boot sizing (so that goes for the Lems Boulder Boot Waterproof Grip). The boots are unisex, and there is no difference in the size or width of the boots listed on the men’s or women’s pages. 

Read a full Lems brand review.

---

4 Wildling Shoes

Price: From $100 – 150 | Sizes: Toddler through EU48/US Men’s 13.5 

Best For: narrow to medium width feet, medium to high volume 

Uppers: Most winter styles are water-resistant cotton canvas or wool 

Location + Shipping: Based in Germany with worldwide shipping. Use code AWN_ BAREFOOTSHOEGUIDE for first-time customers. Returns for first-time customers are free. 

Wildling shoes are designed with these three requirements in mind: freedom of movement, sustainable materials, and fair production. With freedom of movement a key focus, these are not going to be your heavy-duty winter boots. But even so, they do an impressive job of protecting your feet from the cold and wet weather given just how lightweight and flexible they are.  

The winter line uses warm, natural materials like wool or tightly woven cotton canvas for the uppers.  All winter models feature an integrated polyester membrane that helps protect against moisture. The transitional weather models typically have a cotton lining, while the warmest models have a felted wool lining. 

Some Wildling shoes have a waterproofing treatment pre-applied, while others do not. This information is included in the Care section for each style. 

Fit & Sizing: Wildling shoes tend to fit those best with narrow to medium width feet and more of a square toe shape. They are typically too narrow to fit those with extra wide feet, though some people do size up for more room. The printable FitKits are very helpful for determining your correct size, though actual size can vary slightly among styles. I typically opt for my usual size EU38. Aaron wears a US10.5/EU44 in his Wildling shoes.

Read a full Wildling Shoes brand review.

---

5 Mukishoes

Price:  €120 – 170  | Sizes: EU 36 – 48 | Code KELLYMUKI for 10% off

Best For: narrow to medium width feet, medium to high volume 

Code: KELLYMUKI for 10% off

Uppers: Most winter styles are leather or felted wool (in prior years, cork leather was also used) 

Location + Shipping: Based in Portugal with worldwide shipping. Shipping is €7.72 in the EU and €26 to the US.  Use code KELLYMUKI for 10% off. 

A classic Chelsea boot and a combat boot head the line-up to Mukishoes’ barefoot winter boots. Both of these currently come in leather (black and caramel) with a burel warm lining to make them extra toasty. In previous years these styles came in cork leather (shown in photos).  

Mukishoes also has a few high-top sneakers geared towards winter, which usually utilize deadstock fabrics as part of their mission of sustainability and fair fashion. This year, the Faro high-top uses a deadstock felted wool in a punchy orangey-red. 

While you’ll get natural water-resistance from the leather uppers, these boots do not have a membrane or waterproofing. They’re best for moderate winters without a lot of moisture.  

Fit & Sizing: The Mukishoes winter boots for adults run narrow and a little short. I have both the Chelsea boots and the combat boots (Igneous) in an EU38. This works for the combat boots, but as the foot can slide around a little bit more in Chelsea boots, they feel a little short in front. If I were to order these again, I’d likely opt for a size up. I’ve compared the Chelsea boots to several other brands in the same size and they run short in comparison as well.  

Sizing starts at EU36 for adults, but the Chelsea boots come in kid’s sizing as well, which starts at EU24. These can be a great option for adults with smaller feet who don’t want to be stuck with kid’s styles! 

These fit those with narrow feet best. They can work for those with medium width feet, but you may need to size up.  

---

6 Shapen

Price:  €129 – 159  | Sizes: EU35 – 47 | Code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off 

Best For: medium to wide feet, medium to high volume 

Code: BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off 

Uppers: Water-resistant, but not waterproof. Most uppers are hydrophobic leather or suede. 

Location + Shipping: Based in Slovakia. Shoes made in the EU. Shoes shipped to most EU countries is €6 – 14. UK and US shipping is €25. No returns accepted outside of the EU. Use code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off. 

If you’ve already heard about Shapen, it was likely for the brand’s popular line of women’s barefoot dress shoes and sandals like the Poppy or Lily. Last year they released a winter boot that turned out to be one of my most worn all season.  

The Shapen Cozy boot was one of those shoes that felt like a perfect fit from first wear. It’s really lightweight, really flexible, and really warm. The uppers are oiled nubuck with water-resistant properties, and the inside is lined with wool. I was comfortable wearing them in temperatures down to 20F with a pair of mid weight wool socks. 

The outsole has a dot pattern to give it some grip, but these don’t have deep lugs specifically designed for traction, so they’re not the best option in icy conditions.  

The Cozy boots also come in smooth leather. Shapen has expanded their barefoot winter boot collection for 2023, so there are now a few more styles to choose from. The Urbaneer is a stylish, high-top combat boot that would be great for both men or women. The fluffy is a good replacement for an Ugg-type boot, the divine is a dressy Chelsea boot, and the Frosty looks more like a utilitarian snow boot. 

Fit & Sizing: With my foot length of 23.3cm, I opted for an EU38 in Shapen’s lined winter boots. According to the size guide, this gives me 1.7cm of extra length, which is about what I need for a lined boot. For unlined shoes, I aim for about 1.2cm of extra space. In the Shapen sneakers (unlined), I wear an EU37. 

---

7 Feelgrounds

Price:  $139 – 159 | Sizes: EU35 – 49

Best For: medium to wide feet, medium to high volume 

Uppers: Faux leather uppers. Patrol winter is waterproof. 

Location + Shipping: Based in Germany. Shipping via UPS or FedEx to most countries and calculated at checkout. Current shipping to US is about $22. Returns are available using $15 pre-paid return shipping label, or use the shipping provider of your choice. 

When you need a true winter boot that is fully waterproof with a membrane, gusseted tongue, lined with fleece and vegan to boot, look no further than Feelgrounds. Since they released the Patrol winter boots several years ago, they’ve continued to make improvements that have resulted in a serious barefoot winter boot.  

My Feelgrounds sneakers are some of the most flexible ones I own, but in contrast the boots are a bit stiffer. This isn’t all bad as it’s from a few more centimeters of thickness in the sole that provides extra insulation from the cold ground. The outsoles have sufficient tread to provide grip during wintery conditions. 

If your winters are milder, the Patrol also comes in an unlined version. Feelgrounds also offers a cute Chelsea boot in several colors, including a trendy cream hue.  

---

8 Groundies

Price:  €140 – €210 | Sizes: EU 36 – 47 

Best For: narrow to extra wide feet, medium volume 

Uppers: leather and suede 

Location + Shipping: Based in Germany. Ship is €9.95 or less within Europe, and €19.95 to USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Free returns within the US. 

Whether your feet range from medium width to extra wide, you’ll be able to find a stylish barefoot winter boot at Groundies. This brand has three different fits: 

• regular fit: a traditionally tapered toe box, so I don’t recommend these 
• Barefoot fit: a foot-shaped shoe that fits narrow to medium width feet 
• Barefoot+ fit: a foot-shaped shoe that fits wide to extra wide feet 

When you shop on the Groundies website, make sure you filter for the barefoot and barefoot+ styles. Groundies Barefoot+ fit is one of the best options for extra wide barefoot shoes, so those with wider feet can still pull on a pair of their cute Camden Chelsea boots.  

The Groundies original barefoot line has more options for barefoot winter boots, includingg slip-on boots like the thickly lined Cozy boots, lace-up boots, and several more rugged, all-terrain pairs. You can opt for a more casual look with a pair of faux-wool lined tennis shoes (I love the Chuck-Taylor styling of the Manhattan), or go for something a little more dressy with a pair of the Derby tall boots. 

Fit & Sizing: The fit and sizing of your Groundies boot will depending on 1) barefoot or barefoot+ fit and 2) the outsole type. The barefoot+ line runs 7-10mm wider than the original barefoot line, and a few millimeters wider. Most outsoles I find run true to size, though the GS1 sole runs a little long. I wear an EU37 in tennis shoes for these, but stick with my regular EU size 38 in winter to account for thicker socks.  

Also note that Groundies boots do come in separate men’s and women’s sizing.  

More Barefoot Winter Boots for Everyday 

---

If you’ve made it to this part of the post and didn’t quite find what you’re looking for yet, hopefully you’ll find a better fit among these additional options . We all value something a little different in our shoes, and the great thing about more brands entering the barefoot shoe space is that there is now more to choose from. 

Xero Shoes 

Leather and synthetic uppers | Women’s US 5 – Men’s US 15 | $120 – $160

For those that have narrow feet, Xero Shoes may be a good fit. This brand is foot-shaped but tends to run narrower than most other barefoot shoe brands. Find a few slip-on or Chelsea style boots plus a snow boot among Xero Shoe’s barefoot winter boots collection. I tested some of Xero’s waterproof hiking boots in the snow (pictured below) before they came out with the Alpine snow boots; they kept my feet dry but I could’ve done with some extra insulation. I’d definitely opt for the snow boots if you’re going to be in super cold and wintery conditions.

Aintap/Feelbarefoot on Etsy

Leather and suede | Children’s US 8 – Men’s US 17| $100 – $125 | Code KELLY50 for 50% of retail

Getting bored of the basic colors like black and brown? Spice your shoe closet up with a colorful boot from the Feelbarefoot Shop on Etsy. They have a wide selection of colored leather and suede to choose from on styles like Chelsea boots, combat boots and chukkas. For winter, I recommend adding the 2mm rubber bottom to the leather sole. These boots are not lined or waterproof. 

Read a full Feelbarefoot brand review.

Code KELLY50 for 50% off

Angles Fashion

Leather | winter wool-lined option | water-resistant | EU33-47 | $181 – $205 

Angles Fashion (and it’s sister brand Crave) is a barefoot shoe brand based in Czechia that mostly focuses on chic urban leather shoes. Since the uppers are leather, they are naturally water-resistant, but there is no additional membrane to make them waterproof. Some of their boots do come with additional lining. I found Angles to run small for both men’s and women’s boots and shoes, so I recommend sizing up. 

Freet 

Leather | water-resistant | EU37-48 | $165 | Code KELLY for 10% off

For a boot design that offers a more rugged look with the specs to match, check out the Freet Tundra. The deeper tread will have you crossing through mud and slush with no problem. The leather uppers are naturally water-resistant. Try NikWax to maintain the water-resistant performance.  

Code KELLY for 10% off

Ahinsa 

Faux Leather | water-resistant | EU37-46 | €199 – €260 

Ahinsa has been busy expanding its line of vegan barefoot winter boots. These boots are incredibly lightweight with a thin and flexible sole. They also have a pretty wide and roomy toe box, so these are another brand that is good for those wide and extra wide feet. For a fully-lined barefoot combat boot with a convenient side zipper, try the Jaya Winter Zip-Up boots.  

Peerko 

Leather | water-resistant | EU37-43 | €154 – €199 

Peerko has perfected the barefoot version of a classic-looking combat boot. The Peerko Go features leather or nubuck leather uppers, a side zipper. The Peerko Frost is the same boot, just with a felt lining added for more warmth. Peerko also has tall lace lace up boots that go almost to the knees in both black and brown. 

Saguaro 

Textile uppers | EU36-48 | $50 – $85 using code KELLY15 

It can be difficult to find affordable barefoot shoes, especially barefoot winter boots. Saguaro Shoes offers a few winter styles that are barefoot-friendly and budget-friendly. The Will winter shoes clock in around $50 and use water-resistant textile uppers, a faux fur lining, and feature the same grippy sole as many of their water shoes. The Ambition is a more traditional looking boot, but will cost about $85 using the code KELLY15. 

Code KELLY15 for 15% off

Tips for finding more affordable barefoot winter boots 

---

Winter boots are typically one of the most expensive types of footwear and barefoot shoes are already expensive. One expensive thing plus another leads to….an expensive barefoot boot.  

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a good deal. You can find a list of the most affordable barefoot shoe brands here. And these are some tips for finding more affordable options. 

Use these evergreen discount codes: I have a discount code for most barefoot shoe brands, so be sure to check here first before making a purchase.  

Check for sales: I have seasonal blog posts that round-up the best current sales. You can also stay in the loop about any current barefoot shoe sales in my Instagram stories. There has also been a few instances of barefoot shoes popping up at some discount online retailers. For example, Sierra.com had a large selection of Vivobarefoot shoes for 50% off, and some BeLenka boots popped up on Marshalls.com.  

Join Barefoot Shoe buy/sell/trade Facebook groups: One of the best places to find used barefoot shoes are the buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook. The groups listed below are pretty active, so they’re worth keeping an eye on or putting out a request to see if someone is willing to sell.  

• Minimalist Shoe Buy/Sell/Trade (USA)  
• KIDS Minimalist/Barefoot Shoes BUY/SELL/TRADE (USA)  
• Europe Buy/Sell/Trade Minimalist, Barefoot Shoes 

Other resale platforms: Check out other popular resale apps for cheap barefoot shoes, like Poshmark and Mercari. The brands I see most often on these apps are Altra, Vivobarefoot, Vibram Five Finger, and Merrell’s minimalist Vapor Gloves line.   

I hope this list and these tips help you find a comfortable and warm pair of barefoot boots for this winter. If you have any questions, drop a comment below!