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

so very comfortable - no need to break them in -

so very comfortable - no need to break them in - a really great pair of shoes to wear all day

The shoes are very comfortable to wear

The shoes are very comfortable to wear. I am accustomed to barefoot shoes so I didn't need any adjustment to my walking. They seem well made

Great 👍🏼

Very flexible, versitile, well rounded shoe!

Fit Like a Second Skin

Love the fit. my favorite training shoe to date

Love these

Love these shoes!

best shoes of all time

best shoes of all time. so comfortable for daily wear also in the gym. you can even use them as slip ons. would recommend to anyone.

I love these shoes! They actually look better in hand than they do in the ads! They are very well

I love these shoes! They actually look better in hand than they do in the ads!
They are very well made, and comfortable right out of the box.

In LOVE

The best investment so far in shoes. Thank you!

The shoes are well made and fit comfortably

The shoes are well made and fit comfortably. They’re my first pair of barefoot shoes and very happy with them.

he Hype shoes offer a firmer structure with a much more stable base

The Hype shoes offer a firmer structure with a much more stable base and sidewall. If you need to push hard and want a secure, locked-in fit, this is the right choice. Compared to the Flow model, which is more comfortable for all-day wear thanks to its knit structure, the Hype is built for heavy lifting.

It's mt 2nd lono shoes

It's mt 2nd lono shoes. It is breathable comfy and fitting my feet well. Love it a lot.

Fantastic hiking shoes

Fantastic hiking shoes, light, comfortable, flexible but rugged and very very cool looking. I went to an outdoors shop yesterday and two separate people asked where I got them

They were out of stock for quite a while before I got mine but they were worth the wait

Amazing barefoot trail shoe that’s vegan

Amazing barefoot trail shoe that’s vegan.
Hiked the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan in these shoes with a loaded pack and my feet were comfortable the entire time. No blisters or wear in since the foot movement is natural. There’s extra grip around the heal which helped with my heavy pack. The tread still looks very new, despite putting these shoes under a week of heavy concrete walking (Kyoto and Osaka streets) and then 4 days on muddy, rocky and uneven trails on the hike.

I really hope Lonowear makes a vegan boot that is waterproof. This would rival Xero shoes and Vivo. I’ve worn both other brands and Lonowear is better in terms of comfort, look (this is a big deal) and price.

Hiked the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in these shoes!

Just trekked the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in my vegan lonowear hiking shoes with a 15kg (35lbs) pack on with all my gear. These shoes were comfortable the entire time. Many hikers wanted to know what shoes we were wearing, for many of them had regular boots or Vivos.
I’ve worn barefoot shoes from vivo and xero, and Lonowears are the best by a long shot so far.

I still wear my vegan bluntstones from time to time, but the comfort you get from these barefoot shoes is unparalleled. If Lonowear makes a vegan boot, then I’ll never buy shoes elsewhere again.

They are awesome

They are awesome. I'll be looking to try a other model wishing I'll get the same dynamic comfort.

I love them

I love them. They felt great right out of the box on my feet. Lots of people are asking about them. Great product

Absolutely love them.
Exceeded expectations.

My 5-year-old loves the little wild barefoot

My 5-year-old loves the little wild barefoot shoes

Superb

Great shoes!

calisthenics training and walking

Very comfortable great for my calisthenics training and walking. I want to get the hiking pair next!

fits perfectly

fits perfectly. I use it for workout. Not for prolong walking.

make walk super better on my

make walk super better on my knees

Thailand

Super comtable and ez effortlessly

These are great barefoot shoes

These are great barefoot shoes and very comfortable for my wide foot.

Very

Very comfortable

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