The popular childrenswear brand Reima recently added several barefoot shoe styles to their line-up. Reima kid’s barefoot shoes are well-made, reasonably priced, and have all the features I look for in a healthy shoe for kids. Check out this review for all the details including fit and sizing.
I was first introduced to Reima a few years ago when I was looking for quality wool layers and outerwear for my kids. Reima is a Finnish brand that makes sustainably designed apparel for kids ages 0-12. Reima clothing and gear is made to help kids enjoy outdoor play in any weather. From rain paints to snowsuits to swimsuits, Reima will have your kid covered for all four seasons.
I quickly became a fan of the brand for their high-quality materials, bright, bold colors, and how their clothes made it easier to get out and explore with my kids.
Since one of Reima’s goals is to help kids “discover the joy of movement,” it was exciting to see them apply this principle to their shoe designs. It’s a lot easier to experience the joy of moving your feet and body with foot-shaped, barefoot shoes.
Reima currently offers three barefoot shoe styles for kids: the Astelu knit sneaker, the Tallustelu waterproof sneaker, and the Rantaan sandal.
You can get 20% off Reima barefoot shoes and clothes with the code BAREFOOT20.
Note: This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by Reima. I do my best to provide an informative, honest review to help you make a purchasing decision. My goal is to help you find the best shoe for you. Using affiliate programs and collaborating with brands is a way I can continue creating this content. For more information, see my Sponsored Content policy.Thank you for your support!
What are barefoot shoes?
If you’re new here, I like to do a quick recap of what barefoot shoes are (sometimes called minimalist shoes) Here are the main qualities I’m looking for in a barefoot shoe:
- Wide, foot-shaped toe box — A shoe shouldn’t force a foot into an unnatural shape by squishing the toes together. The toe box should not taper! Feet are widest at the toes, and shoes should reflect that. A kid’s barefoot shoe should allow for plenty of room for those toes to wiggle.
- 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.
- Thin — This helps keep shoes light and flexible and allows a child to walk naturally
- Flexible — Again, the focus here is allowing the foot to function naturally, so a shoe should allow the foot to easily bend.
Reima Astelu: Kid’s Barefoot Sneakers
US Sizes Toddler 11 – Kids 6.5 | EU Sizes 22 – 40 | Price: $60 | Code BAREFOOT20 for 20% off
You can tell people are excited about the Reima kid’s barefoot shoes when it sells out almost immediately. By the time I was able to test the shoes (or have my kids test them) and get this review up, many of the Astelu sneaker sold out. Fortunately, they are restocking for 2024 spring and summer. Plus, they have new colors! These barefoot sneakers are available on both the US Reima website and the International Reima website. The colors and the size offerings vary between the websites.
The Astelu kids sneakers have a knit, breathable upper, making them a great option for warmer weather. Let’s get into the review!
What I Loved:
- Sole is thin, flexible and zero-drop
- They look great! Older kids can start getting pickier about how their shoes look, and these have a simple, yet on-trend design.
- Elastic laces— look of laces and can be somewhat adjusted based on shortening or lengthening the laces and retying the ends, but still very easy to get on and off. Plus, you don’t have to worry about untied shoes.
- They go up to size EU40 (about a US women’s 8/9, so these can work both for older kid’s and some adults. I’m tempted to get a pair!
Room For Improvement:
- Lower volume over the toes. Ideally, I’d love to see more space here
- These would best for narrow to medium width feet. I’d love to see a wider option from Reima too.
- The knit upper is great for breathability, but I could see them getting snagged or ripped on something like tree branches. We’ve used them mostly for school, the playground, and walking around town. In 2024 they added a reinforcement layer over the toe area, so this really helps with durability!
Construction and Materials
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
- Sole Material: Rubber
- Removeable insole? Yes
- Laces or Velcro? Elastic Laces
- Upper material: Elastic knitted up with water repellant finish
- Reinforced toe cap (new for 2024)
- Colors: Pink, Navy Blue, Greyish Green, Black, Dark Mango
- Made in: China
Fit & Sizing
Overall, these seem to be a good fit for narrow to medium width feet. They are also somewhat low volume over the toes.
The size chart for this style provides insole length; we found it to fit the shorter end of the length range provided. For example the insole on the US13/13.5 (EU31) we tested was about 19cm.
These are available in toddler to big kid sizes. The sizing availability differed from the US and EU website, but this is what is currently listed:
- US Sizes Toddler 11 – Kids 6.5
- EU Sizes 22 – 40
Reima Rantaan: Kid’s Barefoot Sandals
US Sizes Toddler 11 – Kids 6.5 | EU Sizes 22 – 40 | Price: $40 | Code BAREFOOT20 for 20% off
What I Loved:
- Sole is thin, flexible and zero-drop
- Polka dot mesh is breathable and dries quickly, which is great for summer
- Colors are fun and bright
- Easy off with the Velcro—my two year old can take these off on his own
- More affordable option. I know affordability is all relative and very subjective, but these represent a more affordable price point compared to most other barefoot shoes.
Room for improvement:
- Pretty easy to put on, except for the fact that sometimes the pinky toe gets caught in the cut out when putting them on. Not a deal breaker, I just need to be aware when putting them on
- Similar to the sneakers, these are lower volume over the toes. I’d love to see something a little wider and higher volume, especially in the toddler sizes as they tend to have thicker feet.
- The removeable insole seems thicker than necessary. I’d love to see a thinner insole on this (it’s thicker than the insole for the sneaker)
Construction and Materials
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
- Sole Material: Rubber
- Removeable insole? Yes
- Laces or Velcro? Velcro
- Upper material: Mesh and fabric with a foam-like polka dot material sandwiched in between
- Colors: Navy Blue, Misty Red, Red Orange,
- Made in: China
Fit & Sizing
Like I mentioned for the sneakers, these too are lower volume over the toes. I’d love to see something a little wider and higher volume, especially in the toddler sizes as they tend to have thicker feet.
Both toddler and big kids sizing is available in Reima’a barefoot sandals. The sizing availability differed from the US and EU website, but this is what is currently listed:
- US Sizes Toddler 11 – Kids 6.5
- EU Sizes 22 – 40
I did find these to run a few centimeters longer than what is listed on the size chart. For example, per the size chart, a US6/6.5 should have an insole length of 12.7 – 13.2cm. The actual insole of my sandal was about 13.6cm.
Reima Tallustelu: Kid’s Waterproof Barefoot Shoes
US Sizes Toddler 11 – Kids 6.5 | EU Sizes 22 – 40 | Price: $80 | Code BAREFOOT20 for 20% off
The Tallustelu is another great addition to Reima’s barefoot shoes. These barefoot waterproof sneakers have been perfect for exploring in cold, wet weather.
These are similar in fit and sizing to the Astelu sneakers, but have more overlays to improve durability. They’re obviously not as breathable, so are better suited to cooler weather. The elastic laces are easy to tighten, so a child can get a secure fit.
Durability
Our Reima clothes have been high quality and hard wearing, and so far, these shoes have proved to be the same. Based on the mesh and the knit, they could be more prone to holes or snagging. The sandal also has toe bumper, which should help with the durability on the mesh. The 2024 version of the Astelu sneakers now has a reinforced toe area as well.
We’ve used them for school, around town, down by the creek, to the beach, to the lake, etc. Also, if your child tends to be pretty tough on shoes, then these may not be the best option for them. Overall, I think it’s a good balance of affordability and breathability when looking for a kid’s barefoot shoe for summer.
Conclusion
Reima kid’s barefoot shoes are check all the boxes for a healthy barefoot shoe for kids. They’re better for those with narrower and lower volume feet. I love that they’re easy to get on and off, breathable for summer, and represent an affordable barefoot shoe option for kids.
Use code BAREFOOT20 for 20% off the Reima website.
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[…] See a full review of Reima’s barefoot kid’s shoes here. […]
[…] These have a thin, flat and flexible sole and a foot-shaped toe box. They generally fit kids with narrow to medium width feet best, and are lower volume over the toes. See a full review of the Reima barefoot shoes here. […]
[…] Reima: Large kids wear brand added barefoot shoe style and sandal style. Retail $60 for knit barefoot sneakers and $40 for sandals. See Reima review post here. […]