Why Barefoot Shoes? Benefits, Science & How to Start

🔊 TAP FOR SOUND

Barefoot vs. Traditional shoes?

Here is how typical barefoot shoes stack up against other shoe types

Why are barefoot shoe features healthy?

Barefoot footwear or barefoot shoes offers a healthier, more natural option compared to typical shoes through the following features:

Wide Toe Box: allowing your toes to splay and avoid being cramped, thus giving you increased stability
Zero Drop: placing your toes and heels on a flat level and avoiding an angled unnatural stance
Flexible Sole: providing a highly mobile sole and shoe materials that enhance flexibility and build up stabilising muscles

Our feet are complex, with 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 20 muscles in each. These work together to support movement and absorb shocks, but standard shoes limit the natural movement of the foot, particularly the arch, which can result in injuries or impaired function over time.

Issues with Traditional shoes

Damages to your foot structure: Traditional shoes often change how our feet interact with the ground, leading to weaker muscles and decreased foot sensitivity over time. This can cause foot health issues such as bunions (hallux valgus), hammer toes and increase the risk of injury, particularly as we age.
Sub-optimal materials: Historically, early footwear was simple, made from materials like animal skins that allowed for more natural foot movement. However, modern shoes often include thick heels and rigid soles that dull sensory input, affecting the way we move and causing a loss of foot strength, flexibility and breathability.

What we're doing at LONO to take care of your feet

At LONO, we believe in the power of minimalist footwear to enhance foot health and overall well-being.

Our shoes are designed to allow your feet to move as nature intended: helping you rediscover the strength and flexibility you've lost over time.
Optimal materials: crafted from flexible, breathable and biodegradable materials, our shoes will be there every step you make into a healthier and more natural future. Check out the Nature Benefits and Product pages for more info.

For new barefooters

3 tips to get started

If you are new to the barefoot game, there are some things to prepare yourself for. Here are 3 tips to get started on your barefoot journey.

How intensive should my training be to get used to barefoot shoes?

While the answer may vary depending on your experience, what we found helpful was to gradually build up strength over a few weeks.

For those brand new to barefoot shoes and with more sensitive foot conditions you may consider to start by doing some light walking around your neighbourhood, stopping prior to any pain.

While for those more confident in their abilities, you may consider to do light jogs and build out a routine at a pace that ensures your feet feel well-exercised but not aching. Time for recovery will also be key for everyone.

Are there ways to adjust the shoes to achieve different levels of the barefoot feeling?

Absolutely! Our shoes have been designed in a way that you can wear the original inserts to give you a moderate barefoot experience.

If you find that you still need more cushion to help you transition to barefoot shoes, then we offer thicker add-on Earth InSoles. You can also consider to wear thicker socks to help with the cushioning.

And finally if you are seeking a more raw barefoot feeling with a harder sole, then taking out the original insole will reveal a bare minimum 6mm sole that is still designed to have grip but feel more rugged. Ideal for those looking to take their strength-building to the next level!

Are there any other exercises that can help me strengthen my feet muscles?

Maintaining a good stretching routine is imperative to reduce the risk of injury.

Muscle massaging techniques such as foot rolling with a mobility ball can also help loosen up the muscles in tandem with your barefoot training.

What do the experts think of our product?

Anya's Review

Anyasreviews

The Lono Flow is a true barefoot shoe that I really like! The stretchy uppers are soft and comfortable, and the outsole is really thin and flexible – everything I look for in a shoe!

Foltsy

AndrewFolts

Overall the Lono Flow is a rare example of an affordable barefoot shoe that not only competes with more premium brands at twice the price but actually improves on them with some clever features.

That Fit Friend

Thatfitfriend

The FLOW works well for cross-training, and if you want a budget-friendly option and routinely do athletic, circuit, and mobility-focused sessions, then you’ll like this shoe.

Barefoot Strength Project

TheBarefootStrengthProject

The absolute thing I love is that lono has been listening to barefoot consumers and fixing existing problems, I think that’s hugely commendable!

See some of our video reviews

View all here

FLOW S vs 2 comparison

Jun 3, 2026

LONO VERVE REVIEW | Interesting Barefoot Option for Trails

May 31, 2026

Perfect for a light hike

Perfect for a light hike. Now my favorite hiking shoes for local hikes. Live that they are washable.

Super confortable

Super confortable. My go to walking shoes. Love the ankle anchor. Need to buy anither pair.

I LOVE THESE SHOES! So comfortable and flexible

I LOVE THESE SHOES! So comfortable and flexible. Feels great and I'm not a big fan of shoes in general. They would be perfect if they didn't have laces. But I think they're a part of the structure of the shoe. And now that they are adjusted the way I want them, I just slide the shoes on and off and pretend the laces aren't there.

Love

Love these for my first pair of barefoot shoes! Look cool, super comfortable, lightweight, feel the earth but not too much. Pretty slippy on wet rocks/surfaces tho, watch out!

Awesome barefoot shoe! Great fit, tons of cool design details. Really comfortable and great for outdoor adventures.

Very comfortable and great protection!

Very comfortable, nice wide toe box. More protection with the soles than other barefoot shoes. I've taken them on a few hikes in Volcanoes NP and they've felt great. My feet weren't tired during or after the hikes. There's been no break in period. Very happy with the shoes. Not really sure about the looks, not ugly but maybe too much going on with the shoe.

Comfortable

Comfortable, well made shoes. Love the slight bit of cushion where my feet aren’t dead when walking on both asphalt and on a hike.

Best office/day-to-day shoe investment I’ve ever made

I work in an office 9 hours a day, and honestly, one of the hardest parts of going back to the office after working from home was being stuck in tight shoes all day. At home, I was always barefoot, and over time I could literally feel my feet and toes getting squeezed and deformed by regular shoes. My feet would hurt, and I constantly wished I could just wear sandals or be barefoot at work.

My podiatrist recommended either orthopedic shoes or barefoot shoes. To be honest, I never gave it much thought because, in my head, those types of shoes were always ugly and not worth the shot.

Then I came across the Lono Nomad from an ad. I couldn’t believe they actually looked like normal, stylish shoes. In fact, I genuinely think they’re cute.

I’ve been wearing them for about a month now, and I can’t believe I’ve been doing office life without them. They are by far the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. They’re incredibly lightweight, and the wide toe box lets my toes spread naturally. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to being barefoot while still looking office-appropriate.

I’m honestly obsessed. It feels like I’m finally starting the process of letting my feet return to the way they were meant to function instead of being crammed into narrow shoes all day.

Best barefoot hikers on the market!

Incredibly comfortable shoes and unlike most barefoot shoes on the market, these look good too. Truly love these shoes and will definitely pick up another pair in the future!

Love them

Love them, ordering another pair.

So comfortable that I'd say they're right up there next to my Salomons

So comfortable that I'd say they're right up there next to my Salomons, which is saying a lot! No blisters or pinched toes. Love 'em!

Amazing shoes

Amazing barefoot shoes. I wore them to go hiking 7 days on the alps

Lovely pair of shoes

Lovely pair of shoes. Not too wide, very comfy.

I love these shoes!

I love these shoes! They feel great, I get so many compliments. Also I’ve worn them in wet grass and on drizzly days and my feet have been dry! Honestly I want another pair in a different color. Probably my favorite pair of barefoot shoes to date

These slip-on sneakers are great

These slip-on sneakers are great. I need 2 insoles in them because of of the arthritis in my feet. It took me a little while to get the ties exactly right so that I could, indeed, slip my feet in them but now they are working well. Easily laundered after stepping in some mud.

Amazing design and confort !

Amazing design and comfort ! My size is between 39 and 40, so I took 40 and it’s a perfect fit.
I ordered a shipment to Paris (France) and the delivery took only 10 days after I placed my order. I am very satisfied of my first ever barefoot shoes

One of the best barefoot hiking shoes.

An elevated barefoot hiking shoe that fit beautifully.

13 day delivery to US.

Love the wide toe box and overall fit and

Love the wide toe box and overall fit and quality

THESE SHOES ARE EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE DESCRIBED AND WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING It was really worried

THESE SHOES ARE EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE DESCRIBED AND WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING
It was really worried after I bought them because of how long they took to get here that this was just another "crappy, take your money, social media construct," company and the product was going to be cheap. They're not. The company is legit the shoes are more than expected the seams are very well done. I'm Extremely happy with the shoes

My wife got these loves the fit

My wife got these loves the fit, comfort and style. Fits a wide foot without being large at the from

Recomendadas

Super comodas son barefoot de verdad. Parecen de buena calidad, las recibí hace 2 semanas. El talle es como dice en la guia .

Awesome shoes!

Awesome shoes! So far I've used these for weight training and light trail running. They preformed great for both. Looking forward to trying them out on some longer trail days soon.

Very comfortable shoes

Very comfortable shoes, great grip and flexibility, and looks nice too. Highly reccomend.

Lovely! Comfy and the grip on bottom of each

Lovely! Comfy and the grip on bottom of each sock is great around the house

I’m a big barefoot shoe person

I’m a big barefoot shoe person. I normally wear vivos but I’ve just been ripping through them so fast so I tried these since they look a little more sturdy and I absolutely love them so comfy you can feel everything but they’re a little stronger.

Retail Locations

Select each drop down to see detailed retail addresses.

____________

Business address (not a retail location):
Lonowear Limited Unit A69, LG/F, Valiant Industrial Centre, 2-8 Au Pui Wan Street, Fo Tan, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

HONG KONG

LONO Lab