Feelgrounds Barefoot Shoes Review: Casual, Versatile, On-Trend Shoes 

Feelgrounds makes casual barefoot sneakers that are so comfortable and versatile, they may just become your new favorite pair of shoes. Learn more in this Feelgrounds barefoot shoes review.

When I first learned about barefoot shoes, I was looking for a casual sneaker to swap for my beloved Van Old Skools that were feeling too tight on the toes and clunky under foot. After slipping on a pair of Feelgrounds Original Sneakers, I knew I’d found the perfect replacement.  

About the Brand: Feelgrounds Shoes 

Since the brand originally launched their first pair of mesh sneakers in 2019, they’ve added knit fabric and faux leather uppers, plus a range of styles including trendier sneaker designs, high tops, sandals, boots and children’s barefoot shoes. In 2024, they are planning on expanding into barefoot athletic shoes.  

Feelgrounds has remained one of my favorite barefoot shoe brands to wear and recommend as they strike a great balance of style, comfort, width and flexibility. They continually improve their barefoot shoes based on customer feedback. Let’s find out more about the brand that is on a mission to “make barefoot shoes cool! in this Feelgrounds Barefoot Shoes Review.

How barefoot are Feelgrounds? 

There are a few key characteristics that differentiate a barefoot shoe from a conventional shoe. These qualities are what allow us to maintain a natural posturing and walking gait, even when wearing shoes.  

On a spectrum, Feelgrounds sneakers are on the “very barefoot” end of things due to the thin and flexible soles and wide toe box.

Materials and Sustainability 

Feelgrounds shoes are 100% animal free, and they use recycled materials when possible. They also note that their shoes are manufactured under fair conditions in Vietnam. 

These are the upper materials used in Feelgrounds Shoes: 

Mesh: Lightweight, breathable mesh made from recycled materials.  

Knit: Tightly knit material made from recycled materials. Breathable, but also includes a water-repellant treatment to wear in a range of conditions. 

Faux Leather: Water-repellant faux leather. It looks and feels high-quality. 

Durability 

I’ve been wearing Feelgrounds for several years, and with the improved rubber soles, I find Feelgrounds appropriately durable for casual use. My son also wore the new kid’s mesh sneakers for about 5 months until he outgrew them, and they withstood typcial child’s play. Mesh has the pros of being lightweight and breathable, but I could see a child wearing through the mesh if they tend to be rougher on shoes.  

Fit and Sizing 

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

All of Feelgrounds barefoot shoes are unisex. 

I used the sizing template on the Feelgrounds website, and opted for a size 38 in the sneakers. All of the sneakers use the same outsole, so you can generally expect to be the same size among the different styles.  

I double checked my size by measuring both of my feet and comparing to the Feelgrounds size chart. To find the best fit for barefoot shoes, the best practice is to take your longest foot measurement and add 1.2cm for space. When I do this with my 23.3cm foot measurement, it puts me  between an EU37 and EU38. I find I have enough room in the EU38 sneakers without them feeling too big.  

I have more space in the mesh and knit versions as there isn’t an extra internal lining. The luxe faux leather versions fit slightly tighter due to the additional tencel lining.  

The sizing for the boots may differ depending on whether you plan on wearing thick socks or not. Some may want to size up depending on how much room they’ll have.

> See a full guide on measuring your feet for barefoot shoes here.  

Shipping and Returns 

Feelgrounds is located in Germany and ships worldwide. Standard shipping throughout Europe is 3 to 5 business days via DHL, and costs €5 to €15 depending on location.  

Shipping to most countries outside of Europe is via UPS/FedEx. Shipping to the US costs about $22 

You can return unworn shoes within 30 days or receiving your order. Returns using a prepaid label cost $15, or you can ship back to the warehouse in Germany at your own cost. 

See the Feelgrounds website for full details on shipping and returns. 

Feelgrounds Shoe Reviews – Casual Shoes

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Original Sneakers 

The Feelgrounds Original are a casual lace-up barefoot shoe. You can get them in the mesh, knit or luxe faux leather uppers. 

The Original mesh and knits are the casual barefoot shoes I reach for most often. I love how lightweight and breathable they are, especially in the warmer months. It also makes them comfortable to wear without socks (quick side bar, whether you wear socks or not with your barefoot shoes is totally up to you. I can that question a lot. Just make sure that your socks are restricting your toes by opting for toe socks or ones with a wider toe box.  

I have a pair in white and one in black, and they go with just about everything. If you prefer more color in your wardrobe, they do have a range of neutrals along with some vibrant colors.  

Highrise Sneakers 

The Highrise use the same base design as the original design, just in a high top version.  

Droptop Slip ons 

I previously mentioned that I replaced my Old Skools with the Feelgrounds Original Sneakers; the Droptops are a great barefoot replacement for the Vans Classic Slip-on Shoe.  

The drop top slip ons are better for higher volume feet and wider ankles. I have narrower ankles, and without laces to tighten the shoe, these are a little harder for me to get a good fit. If you need to take up some of the volume for a better fit, add in the Feelgrounds cork insole.  

Docks Slip-ons

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.

Snap Sneakers 

These are Feelgrounds classic sneakers, but a swap for three velcro straps instead of laces. They’re available in faux leather uppers. 

Feelgrounds Shoe Reviews – Athletic Sneakers

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Feelgrounds Move Sneakers

The Feelgrounds Move are athletic sneakers that are ideal for those who want a lot of flexibility, movement and ground feel from their gym shoes. I’ve been mainly wearing them at the gym for lifting weights and on the treadmill or bike.

The uppers are made with Tencel that is breathable and really stretchy. This means it has a lot of give and movement, so I don’t have any hot spots or rubbing, but it also means they aren’t for someone that is looking for their shoes to provide them with a lot of stability. This material can also be on the more delicate side, so I wouldn’t use them if you do a lot of exercises that would cause them to rub against a lot of abrasive surfaces. I’m keeping them to be used at the gym.

This heel collar has extra padding for comfort.

The soles are 4mm, flat from heel to toe, and very flexible with great ground feel. The included insoles add another 4mm of cushion.

These athletic sneakers have a similar width to the casual shoes above through the toe box. I compared the insoles and they were virtually the same width. They differ in that they can tighten down more to get a secure fit, which I appreciate in a gym shoe. If I’m not doing a lot of jumping or running, I’ll wear these without the insole as I have a higher instep. But if I am, I’ll put the insole back in for more cushion, and to get a tighter fit. You can adjust the volume quite a bit with the lacing as they have a detached tongue and stretch in the uppers.

I tried them out on a lot of different surfaces, and they had good traction on the flooring you’d find at the gym, like cement or wood.  I did wear them outside after it rained, and they were a little slippery on a downhill.  The outsole is pretty smooth, so I don’t plan to wear them in situations where I’d want lugs for more grip. For casual wear outdoors they’ve been great.

Sizing: These are available in EU35 – 49. I’m wearing them in an EU38 based on my 23.3cm foot measurement. The length looks and feels very similar between these and the casual Feelgrounds shoes. The brand has done a very good job with keeping consistency in sizing between the different styles.

Feelgrounds Shoe Reviews – Winter Boots

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Patrol Winter and Patrol Lite Boots 

The Patrol boots Winter and Lite Boots are the same boot style, but the Winter features a waterproof membrane, gusseted tongue and warmer fleece lining. The Lites are better for spring and fall with a soft microsuede lining. They are water-resistant thanks to the faux leather uppers, but do not have a separate membrane.  

The soles are 10mm, so thicker and stiffer than the sneakers. This offers some additional protection and warmth during the winter. The boots also come with an additional 3mm insole for added warmth and comfort.  

Chelsea Boots 

The Feelgrounds Chelsea boots use the same outsole as the Patrol boots. They have clean, simple styling and come in black, cream, dark brown, and a burnt sienna brown.  

The faux leather is water resistant, but there isn’t an additional membrane. I’ve worn them in light rain and haven’t had issues keeping my feet dry. You may eventually get water seeping in through the ankle elastic or at the seams if you walked through deeper puddles.  

I find that if I want to wear these with midweight wool socks, it’s best to size up.  

Feelgrounds Shoe Reviews – Sandals

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Seaside Sandals 

These unisex barefoot sandals are great for those with a wide toe splay. They have a classic in-between the toe strap design, which means they won’t be squishing your toes. The strap is thin and soft, so it’s very comfortable too. 

The sole is 7 mm and features a cork footbed. They come in a faux leather upper or cotton twill upper. The new Seaside Bamboo is a more sustainable option, with vegan leather made from bamboo fibers.

Pathway Sandals 

The Pathway Sandals have a sportier look and a slightly more rugged tread. Due to the length of the straps, they’re best for those with low to medium volume feet. Some people with higher volume feet have relaced the straps so they don’t cross across the foot to get more length out of them.  

Feelgrounds Shoe Reviews – Kid’s Shoes

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Kid’s Sneakers

Feelgrounds now offers a number of their styles in kid’s sizes, in EU 24 – 37 (US Little Kid 8 – Youth 6). 

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. 

Kid’s Arcade Closed-Toe Sandals

These barefoot kid’s sandals by Feelgrounds are a great-closed toe option. They’re breathable and light, but still have good toe protection, which is very nice to have for some of their favorite outdoor activities, like riding scooters. Plus, a lot of preschools and summer camps require closed toe shoes, but sneakers can be too warm.

It can be hard to find shoes that fit all different types of feet, but with these velcro straps, they fit both my toddler’s thicker feet, and my older sons lower volume feet.

Kid’s Boots

The Patrol Winter, Chelsea boot and Highrise with velcro straps are also avialable in children’s sizes. 

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Feelgrounds Accessories 

Feelgrounds offers a few accessories to go with their shoes. Most shoes don’t come with an insole; I highly recommend getting a pair of 3mm cork insoles to go with your sneakers. I pop these in when I know it’s going to be a long day on my feet for a little more comfort. Plus, the cork feels really nice if I am going without socks in any of the mesh or knit sneakers.  

You can also get elastic laces, wide toe box socks and toe socks. 

Sales at Feelgrounds 

Feelgrounds does occasionaly have sales around the holidays. I post these on my Instagram stories. You can also check this section of the blog for a round-up of sales. 

Sole Update: Old Sole vs New Sole 

In late 2023, Feelgrounds changed the material they use for the soles of their sneakers to improve durability. 

Prior to that, they used a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a rubber-like material that processes like plastic. The benefit of this material was that it was incredibly flexible. However, they did experience durability issues. As they aged, they were prone to cracking, and those with certain gait styles may have seen spots wear down. I had my older Feelgrounds for several years, and while I did eventually notice some cracking in the sole when they were twisted, it didn’t significantly impact wear for me. 

As Feelgrounds listened to customer feedback, they switched over to true rubber soles in late 2023. This meant the soles were slightly less flexible, but much more durable, denser and abrasion-resistant. I found these newer Feelgrounds to soften up with wear and feel similar to the previous version.  

Remaining inventory with the older sole is now discounted to 50% off ( as of March 5, 2024). If you tend to be very hard wearing on the soles of your shoes, then you may be better off with the new styles. But if you are willing to trade some durability for more flexibility, then this is a chance to get a great deal on some Feelgrounds. With 50% off, many of the sneakers are around $50.

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FAQs about Feelgrounds 

Do you have a Feelgrounds discount code? 

No, Feelgrounds does not offer any personalized discount codes or coupon codes. They do occasionally have sales around holidays or at the end of a season. Check the top of the Barefoot Shoe Coupon Codes page for current sales, or the Shoe Sales section on this website for larger seasonal barefoot shoe sales.  

Are Feelgrounds shoes vegan? 

Yes, Feelgrounds shoes 100% animal-free. They use recycled materials whenever possible.  

Are Feelgrounds ethically manufactured? 

Feelgrounds are made in a factory in Vietnam that is part of the European BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) whose mission is to “enhance human prosperity, use natural resources responsibly, and drive open trade globally” (BSCI). The factory is also part of Better Work Vietnam, a program that implements practices based on core International Labour Organization labor standards.