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

Great!

Quick and helpful response as usual

Quick and helpful response as usual. Thank you.

Great little shoe

Super cute nice and wide not restricted

Most comfortable shoes EVER!!!

Most comfortable shoes EVER!!! Love how they look too, they are very cute.

Very convenient and comfortable

Very convenient and comfortable. Legs felt tired in the first two weeks of wearing but were fine after. Today, it feels like my calves have strengthened and I am better able to feel the muscles, which is awesome since I had weak calf muscles. I am looking to purchase another pair. Would be perfect if Lono could consider making ladies’ pumps for workwear!

Different laces but feel like a glove!

Just got these in and they feel better than I ever could have imagined. Make sure to measure your feet and order what’s recommended! I followed exactly and they fit perfectly. They came with different laces so I was bummed about not getting the black and white laces but still amazing

The non-slip soles, wide toe box, and lace deaign. Oberall high quality product with amazing colours!

Excellent

very comfortable

Great Hiking Shoe

Feels amazing and very well built!

Very happy on my first outing wearing these shoes

Very happy on my first outing wearing these shoes...did almost 10miles and they remained comfortable.

Pleasantly Surprised

Pleasantly Surprised! Great ground feel but substantially protected underfoot. Shipping was slightly faster than expected, about a week or so. Impressed by the quality of the shoe- heavy duty rubber, materials, and leather. I’ve really enjoyed this shoe.

These quickly became my favorite footwear

These quickly became my favorite footwear .The Wild is a perfect blend of perfect comfort and tactile responsiveness. No going back to traditional foot wear I have found my dream pair of shoes.

I love these kicks

I love these kicks. Perfect fit, loosely controlled through the midfoot without reducing foot motion. Flexible - feels like a part of my feet. Really superb. Oh - and the colour is fabulous!

comme marcher pied nu dans les

comme marcher pied nu dans les bois!

These look awesome, should make them for Adults

These look awesome, should make them for Adults.

Great!

Great!

Fit true to size, soft and comfy.

Fit true to size. I'm female, usually 8.5 shoe size and I got a 39. Sneakers are very soft, flexible, and comfortable. Quality seems great. If I had any constructive feedback, I'd love the laces to be shorter... they're very long and flap around a lot! I also read that the women's sizing would come with the gold/metallic sides, and men's have just the cream, but mine came the cream. I would've preferred the metallic design on the side.

Very

Very comfy!

I am really pleased with the purchase

I am really pleased with the purchase. The fit is perfect and I like the design as well. For sure I will get another one for next summer.

Designed with attention to detail

Designed with attention to detail, good quality, looks like advertised 👍🏻👍🏻

Very comfortable and natural feeling

Very comfortable and natural feeling. Very good grip

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.

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