I Tested the New Zara Barefoot Shoes — Here’s What You Need to Know
Zara is the latest big retailer to launch barefoot-style sneakers — and I’ve tested them. Let’s review the Zara barefoot shoes, and chat about what this means for foot health & accessibility.
When I first started wearing barefoot shoes, I had to hunt for them — niche brands, online-only stores, and price tags that made me wince.
And honestly, almost six years later, it’s still a lot of the same, but there are some glimmers of hope. Those niche brands have grown to bigger brands, and more smaller brands have popped up. It’s still mostly online stores, but I learn about more barefoot shoe stores opening, or at least some retailers stocking barefoot styles, more and more often now. And there are a growing number of affordable options.
And now, in the year 2025, and can walk into Zara and find shoes with a wide toe box, flexible sole, and minimalist design. At least in the kid’s section…but that’s still a huge deal!
Yes, some large retailers are finally starting to make barefoot-style shoes. Whether they truly believe in the concept and its health benefits, or they just know there’s money to be made, the outcome is the same: more options, more accessibility, and lower price points. And for barefoot shoe wearers everywhere, that’s something to celebrate. Let’s get started with this Zara barefoot shoes review.
The Barefoot Shoe Movement: From Fringe to Featured
Barefoot shoes are designed to let your feet move the way they were meant to — with natural flexibility, zero drop (no raised heel), and a wide toe box that doesn’t squish your toes together. This may have started as more of a fringe trend with things like toe shoes (aka Vibram FiveFingers), but now, there are dozens of companies across the world that make almost every style of shoe in a barefoot version.
Now, barefoot design elements — wide toe boxes, flexible soles, minimalist construction — are popping up in the mainstream. Even luxury brands are leaning in. Take Loewe, one of fashion’s buzziest houses right now. While their shoes don’t tick every barefoot box, they frequently showcase what they call the “LOEWE signature asymmetric round toe shape” — which, put simply, is a foot-shaped toe box. You’ll see it in their $1,200 Mary Janes and $950 sneakers.
And when it comes to the mainstream, few names are bigger than Zara. I hoped there would be a day when I could walk into a large retailer and pick out a pair of barefoot shoes, and it even came sooner than I thought.
Why Big Retailers Are Paying Attention Now
It’s not hard to see why. People are tired of shoes that hurt their feet. The popularity of wide shoes, comfort-focused fashion, and minimalist living is on the rise. The concept of “foot-shaped” footwear is making its way into the mainstream, and brands are noticing.
Retailers like Zara are jumping in because they know there’s demand — and where there’s demand, there’s profit. In a world where trends spread quickly on social media and consumers are more educated than ever, brands are under pressure to stay up on the trends and give people what they want.
Does Motive Matter? (Health vs. Hype)
Are these brands truly on board with the barefoot movement, or just hopping on a trend? Maybe a bit of both. Some retailers may not fully understand (or even care about) the science behind barefoot shoes. But they do understand that people are looking for wider, more flexible, and more natural footwear.
The purist in me wants brands to be motivated by foot health and biomechanical freedom (mostly because if they understand the reason why we need these things, they’re more likely to get it right). But the realist in me is just happy that more people are getting access to shoes that won’t wreck their feet — even if the company making them doesn’t fully get it or fully commit.
Increased Accessibility Is a Win
No matter the motive, this shift means more people — especially kids — can try barefoot-style shoes without breaking the bank. That’s huge. Until now, most barefoot shoes came with a high price tag and limited availability. For families with growing kids or people just curious about trying them out, that’s been a major barrier.
Now, with brands like Zara entering the space, barefoot shoes are more available and more affordable. And as more mainstream retailers offer barefoot shoes, it will help normalize the idea that shoes should be shaped like feet — not the other way around. And when healthy shoes are more accessible, everyone wins.
Zara Barefoot Sneakers Review (Toddler Sizes through EU39)
Zara recently released several barefoot sneakers for kids — at least that’s how they labeled them on the website. It’s a a surprising but welcomed move from a brand known for making shoes that are distinctly not barefoot. Naturally, I had to try these new sneakers myself to see if they truly deliver on the barefoot promise.
These Zara barefoot shoes come in sizes ranging from toddler to big kids — up to a Kid’s size 6 (EU39), which means some adults with smaller feet can also give them a go. Here’s how they stack up from a barefoot shoe perspective:
✅ The Pros:
- Wide toe box: These shoes are shaped like feet, which is rare in kids’ mainstream footwear. The toe area is nice and roomy, allowing for natural toe splay. Both me and my son tested these out, and we had no complaints with the toe space and shape. I’d say these fit up to medium width feet fit well.
- Flexible soles: They bend and move easily enough in hand and underfoot. These are not the thinnest and most flexible shoes out there, but I didn’t feel like I was losing out on natural foot function.
- Zero drop: No raised heel here! This keeps posture aligned and supports a more natural gait.
- Affordable: The kids’ sneakers are $42.90, and the toddlers are $25.90. This is significantly cheaper than most barefoot shoe brands, making them a great option for growing kids or budget-conscious shoppers.
- Stylish & modern: They’re a casual sneaker that doesn’t look too far off from some of Zara’s other simple sneakers.
⚠️ The Cons:
- Insoles: The included insoles are noticeably squishy, which felt a little odd after wearing barefoot shoes for so long. Some may like this, but if you don’t, you can buy a replacement pair from a barefoot shoe brand with a similar shape (or buy a few sizes up and cut them down). The insoles from brands like Fleeters and Feelgrounds were a good swap.
- Heavier feel: This wasn’t a biggy, but these do weigh a little bit more than many of my barefoot shoes. They’re not super heavy, and I wouldn’t think it would bother most people.
- Fast-fashion: Zara is a big fast-fashion chain, which is often criticized for unsustainable materials, overproduction and waste, and lack of transparency regarding working conditions.
- Limited sizes: These are available in the kid’s section only right now, so they have toddler sizes through EU39.
Sizing and Fit
I went with a US Kids’ size 5.5, which corresponds to an EU38 (typically a women’s US7.5). The length feels just right, so I’d say they run true to size. Each size listing includes an insole length, and when I compared those measurements to the two pairs I ordered, they matched perfectly.
In terms of width, the toe box is a great fit for my medium-width feet, with a bit of extra room that could accommodate slightly wider feet. I have a high instep, and even with the thicker insole, these feel quite spacious in volume. If you have very high volume feet, you could remove the insole or swap it for a thinner one for a better fit. On the flip side, those with lower volume feet might find these a little too roomy and may want to use a thicker insole to dial in the fit.
Verdict
Zara’s barefoot shoes are a big step in the right direction. While they’re not perfect, they hit the major barefoot criteria and make foot-healthy shoes available to a broader audience at an affordable price point.
The sneakers can be a little hard to find just buy searching the term ‘barefoot’ on the Zara site, so here’s a link to each style:
- Toddler Barefoot Sneakers
- Little Kid Barefoot Sneakers with Velcro
- Big Kid Barefoot Sneakers with Laces
Fingers crossed Zara sees how well these kids’ barefoot shoes perform—and brings adult sizes next!
Final Thoughts: We’re Moving in the Right Direction
I hope this Zara barefoot shoes review helped you better understand whether they’re a good fit for you. Even if they’re not your perfect pair, their affordability and easy availability make them a great option for many, and the more accessible barefoot shoes become, the better. Whether they come from a small, foot-health-focused brand or a major retailer testing a trend, it means more people will experience how good truly comfortable shoes can feel.
And who knows? Maybe Zara and brands like it will dig deeper into the barefoot philosophy over time. In the meantime, I’m just happy to see foot-shaped shoes becoming part of the mainstream conversation.
Have You Been Spotting More Barefoot Shoes Around?
I’d love to hear from you! Have you come across barefoot-style shoes at any big-box stores or mainstream retailers? Would you consider buying them from a brand like Zara?
