Why Barefoot Shoes? Benefits, Science & How to Start

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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

Using the flow 2 for weight training and it has been an absolute dream to wear

Using the flow 2 for weight training and it has been an absolute dream to wear. I’ve previously worn vivo for the gym but no turning back now.

No rubbing on ankle, plenty of toe box space, accommodates my foot width, grippy as hell, comfortable - my new go to shoe!

Bonne qualité

Produit de qualite et livraison assez rapide

Overall I really like theses shoes

Overall I really like theses shoes. They are well made and comfortable with no breaking needed to hit the trail. If you are new to barefoot type shoes, there might be an adjustment period as they are different than regular shoes/boots..
Two things that I feel need to be improved, 1. The tongue needs to be longer. 2. The tongue needs a hole to pass the laces through so the tongue stays in place. The fit was spot on. Bulky socks are not needed and light weight hiking socks work nicely.

Great

Great

Excellent approach shoes

Bought a pair of these shoes last year, very comfortable but not weather resistant as advertised, feet got soaked whenever it rained. This pair feels more substantial and definitely weather resistant. Tested during recent winter climbing, camping trip. Excellent grip on wet rock.

Love these shoes.
Great for transitioning in barefoot running

Super comfortable and fantastic grip

Super comfortable and fantastic grip. Loving them so far!

So comfortable and great grip!

So comfortable and great grip, wore them throughout my 2 week holiday and couldn't get enough! So glad I found these shoes!

Good fit

Good fit, really comfy, love the aesthetic

I'm choose the right one.

Comfortable, simple, and reliable sole

I love these shoes!

I love these shoes, they are really well made, at a sensible price, true to size and allow my feet to spread out very well.

Top

Top. I’ve had countless number of barefoot shoes over the years and those are one of the best ones ever.
2 small improvements -
- the sole can be a bit more grippy, when it rains in the city, the dust makes a slushy worse that bobsleigh line
- maybe add also 1/2 numbers, for me would have been better with 35.5

Love this shoe. So incredibly comfortable.

Love the shoes

I've warn them on daily dog walks and so far so good! Comfortable out of the box and my daughter

I've warn them on daily dog walks and so far so good!
Comfortable out of the box and my daughter thinks they look cool.

Love these shoes! So lightweight, great trail grip. I feel so much more secure on technical, rocky trails now that i actually feel the ground.

I like the natural materials. The shoe laces have an interesting wavy pattern than seems to keep them from coming untied, even after 15+ miles on technical, scrabbly, rocky, and forested trails the first weekend i tested them out.

These were a bit of an impulse buy since i always did AllBirds, but they went ins-AI-ne so i needed to find a new trail shoe. This will be my regular.

I would rather change all my shoes to your shoes

I would rather change all my shoes to your shoes. FUCK NIKE. That what I want to say!!!!!

These shoes did not require any breaking in or getting used to

These shoes did not require any breaking in or getting used to....I was very pleased. We did a somewhat strenuous hike, but only around four and a half miles, through forested land with lots of hills.

WILD Lite

Measured my feet and used the sizing guide and they fit great. Feel well built and comfortable.

Perfect gift for animal loving

The perfect gift for animal loving friends who also like to lead an active lifestyle and adventure outdoors

Great wide

Great wide fit

Love

Love them!

Comfortable

Comfortable, keeps feet’s warm👍🏻

These are the Most comfortable shoes ever!

These are the Most comfortable shoes ever and they are wide! Comfortably wide! I have a high arch, jacked up feet from years of outdoor sports, ski boots. climbing shoes, you name it.......bought a pair of Topo's last week and was told I have Barney Rubble feet, LOL! LONO WILD-Comfort at it's best! Also, I'd rather support a company from China not hiding behind the usual Brand names that we all know in the (USA) that charge an arm and a leg for their logos But made in China! You get the idea....If your feet need space, this is the shoe! THANKS

Retail Locations

Select each drop down to see detailed retail addresses.

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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