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

best traill and training shoes

best traill and training shoes ever

Great barefoot shoe

I love the wide toe box. These are wider than the Vivo barefoot shoes I have. They are supportive around the arch. I’m a personal trainer, on my feet all day, teach group fitness classes, and they’re very comfortable.

Great for rocky hikes

Great for rocky hikes.

Highly Recommend!

Great shoes and service! I did the Green Return too.

Nice comfortable shoes

Nice comfortable shoes, that fit my initial purpose of running a few kms per week in barefoot shoes to strength my legs. I hope to run longer and longer in them.

The only thing I'm not a big fan of is the large tab but it's not a serious problem.

Comfy, Stylish, Trail-Ready Hiking Shoes

Excellent fit with a nice wide toe box. Super comfortable even after long hours of walking. I wore these on my recent Sri Lanka trip, including safari adventures and rainforest hikes, and my feet stayed comfy throughout. I also really like the shoelaces and the overall design — practical, but still looks good. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a comfortable, well-designed pair of hiking shoes.

Best pair of shoes I have ever owned

Best pair of shoes I have ever owned.

Great foot wear

Great foot wear. They answered immediately when I asked for a change and got my new pair in less then 15 days.
Highly recommend them, your feet are going to appreciate it!

So far so good

So far so good.

Love the shoes!!! The fitting is amazing

Love the shoes!!! The fitting is amazing, really comfortable for a flat, wide feet 2E like me! I highly recommend the shoes to everyone who is interested in barefoot shoes for training and daily life

Brilliant

Excellent grip and comfortable

Great products. The shoes are exactly as they say they are. Good quality, does what it is built to do. Its snug at first but after a few days its fits to the size u orderd. The socks very good quilty. This is my thurd order from thai company, definitely will be irdering more.

Unbelievably good

Unbelievably good. So impressed that i have ordered 2 pairs for my children now as well.

Fantastic shoes

Fantastic shoes, worth the wait.

Been hiking in these shoes for about 150km now

Been hiking in these shoes for about 150km now in hot environment. Great barefoot shoes built with good materials and details. Very durable and with good grippy sole on dry surfaces. Only downside is the grip on wet conditions it is not so great.

Durable

Durable,aesthetic,confortable and prepare for Rocky,Sandy or leavy ways, good gripe and nice design, the perfect barefoot shoe for Rocky mountain lovers

Parfaite pour mes randos et balades

Parfaite pour mes randos et balades quotidiennes

Great shoe

Amazing shoes

Love these shoes - so comfy and work amazingly for both training and being in and around the gym. Feet feel comfortable and lots of space for my toes

Lono is perfect as always, but we’d appreciate less use of AI in their customer service. We miss the staff.

Rugged, comfortable with perfect design & fit

I've been designing this exact shoe in my head for >10 yrs. Bought online unseen but dont regret anything. its exactly as advertised, size is true, construction better than expected and seems very durable. I'm ordering at least 1 more pair despite the cost of shipping. Surprisingly lightweight - so can be a second pr of approach shoes or double up on any hike

These are nifty shoes

These are nifty shoes. Comfy from the start they are my third pair of Lono shoes. I've graduated to wearing them without insoles which make them even more practical.

These shoes are amazing! They are so comfortable and the fit is amazing

These shoes are amazing! They are so comfortable and the fit is amazing. Note: im typically size 7 womans and i did go down a whole size to find the perfect fit.

EXCELLENT BAREFOOT SHOES!

This is my first time wearing barefoot shoes but the Lono Flow 2 made it easy to transition into! I love the stability n flexibility it offers and am thinking of getting another pair and trying the Wild Hiking shoes too!

Great

Great

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