Barefoot Shoes and Natural foot health

When I had Mai in 2012, I didnt know anything about Barefoot shoes, I didnt know they existed.

I was fortunate enough to meet my friend Kate, at an EC meeting. As we were holding our babies over pottys, we started talking about all the other interests we had. As we chatted I began to notice Kates shoes and thats where it all began!

Kate then created a Barefoot shoe resale page on Facebook, which grew into 3 groups, the other two for discussion and barefoot “friendly” shoes. Here are the links to join our groups:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKBarefootSales/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/364162310441145/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1609805039305686/

I’ve helped Kate admin these groups for the years since and we now have thousands of members. We have created an amazing community.

Its all done on a volunteer basis, but ive kept myself busy creating documents and focusing on wellies, and vegan options as these are the two areas which are trickier. The only benefit’s we get are first dibs on shoes and obtaining new shoes for reviewing. I have done quite a few reviews for the discussion group now.

I am going to share my reviews on this page going forward. I would like to expand the reviewing aspect. I work alongside some of the brands now and I would love people to learn the benefits of barefoot shoes, especially for young new walker children. In my opinion, they are vital to Holistic health and wellbeing.

The Benefits of Barefoot shoes

Barefoot shoes are designed so that the foot can function naturally within the shoe, as if walking barefoot. Traditional shoes sadly affect our feet, bodies and health in a negative way. They are designed with thicksoles, often with a heel of varying heights. They are narrow and the toebox area tapers in, which squashes and malforms the toes and feet.

Barefoot shoes have thin flexible soles, are zero drop (no heel/same height from front to back), have a nice wide foot shaped toebox with no tapering and the sole and insole has no arch support or padding. They attach well to the foot, which prevents toe’s gripping. No slip on or backless shoe would ever be Barefoot.

A barefoot shoe allows the toes to wiggle. The flexible sole allows for flexibility of the sole and helps develop the muscles in the foot, so a healthy arch should develop. This is especially important for young children’s feet as their bones are soft and to develop correctly, they should not be restricted.

The thin sole allows for feedback from the ground. This also means there is less need to look down, which can put children off balance and cause them to fall. Walking barefoot, improves proprioception (our awareness of where we are in relation to the space around us) and contributes to good posture.

To me, the best thing about Barefoot shoes is feeling light footed. I love feeling the differing ground surfaces and the shoes help you feel connected with the earth.

I do feel they are vital for our health and wellbeing. Nothing beats being barefoot, but barefoot shoes are the next best thing. Many a bodily complaint can be remedied by a smooth transition to barefoot shoes, including conditions like Plantar Fasciitis. They assist because they strengthen the weakened muscles in the feet and re-align the body, bringing it into balance. It is wise to gradually transition to Barefoot shoes, as its important not to rush the process and allow the feet, legs and whole body to adjust gradually. We literally shouldn’t run before we can walk.

Many of the pictures above feature Vivobarefoot-they are an easily accessible brand in the UK, and great to start with. If you wish to check their website out and purchase, you will find it here. Enjoy the transition to Barefoot shoes!

REVIEWS

Ahinsa are a brand based in the Czech Republic. The brand was developed by their physiotherapist founder Lukáš Klimpera in response to a need in his patients.

Ahinsa is an old Vedic expression that can be translated as “non-violence”. It means an honourable and responsible way of living and thinking.

This ethos is the foundation of Ahinsa shoes.

“The shoes are made in cooperation with physiotherapists in order to restrict your movement and your nature as little as possible – wearing them is almost like being barefoot 🙂
without violence to animals – the shoes are 100% vegetarian/vegan, they do not contain any parts from killed animals without violence to other people – we strive to achieve “fair trade” ethical production, without exploiting or abusing production workers” Ahinsa (our story)

I have the pleasure of reviewing-

Ahinsa Jaya Barefoot boots. 2nd March 2022

Ahinsa Jaya barefoot boots, in beautiful blue 🙏❤️

These are perfect boots for late winter/spring 🌱
For winter, a winter insole can be purchased.

I was looking for a vegan alternative to my Vivo gobi boots. Even though I love my gobi and they are lined, they feel a bit heavy and hot as spring arrives.

My first overall impression with these was how beautiful they are, a slightly shimmery blue.
Id not seen this colour before for these boots and I think its perfect.
My second impression was how light they are, I hazard a guess at half the weight of my gobi.
They make you feel light-footed, even though you are wearing boots.
Third impression was the softness of the fabric lining, super soft. They feel luxurious.

I first promoted Ahinsa on our Facebook groups in 2016, its taken me this long to get my hands on a pair!
At the time, and still now, having waterproof vegan boots was a rarity….I do feel Ahinsa have filled that gap in the market perfectly.

Material:
Fabric-They are made from the high quality European material CF+ (Cruelty Free High Performance material). The outside stays dry while the inside absorbs and reduces moisture.
Which is sctratch resistant, no easy scuffing with these boots…

Outsole-The sole is made from Lifo+.
It is slip-proof, even on wet surfaces.
It is a thin, lightweight sole with maximum flexibility
It Resists wear (non-slip)

Handmade-In Czech Republic and Croatia 🙏❤️🙏

Fit and sizing

Toebox-The toebox is wide, plenty of room for splayed toes.

Instep-I would say these have a medium instep. I have quite a high instep, so i adjust the laces and loosen them so they feel comfortable. I would say the instep is shallower than my Gobi.

I sized up to an EU40, when my usual size with Vivo is EU39. There is about 7mm of space at the front of my toes, im quite happy with that.

Sizing-
These boots go up to an amazing EU45 which is super amazing too. They start at an EU36, so they cover a fair range of foot sizes from small to large 🙏

Overall i think they are great boots. There is also a transition option in the “comfort” version. The only difference is the insole, so even folks new to barefoot can start with these and they can transition to the BF insole in time. That makes these boots super accomodating.

They are a perfect bridge between ethical vegan and barefoot, covering all bases.

These retail at €169-shipping is currently €9
I wasnt aware of import costs applied to mine but have heard there can be high charges currently to the UK.

If you wish to purchase, head over to Ahinsa website here

There are currently no UK suppliers of Ahinsa, hopefully that will change in future.

Saguaro Trainers May 12th 2022

I recently purchased these for my daughter pre-loved but tbh, i dont think they have been worn, off our Barefoot “friendly” sales group.

These are a brand made in China, they sell cheaply via Amazon. They are potentially the least ethical shoe we have ever bought, but for people that really struggle to afford bf shoes, i feel there need to be some cheaper options. I wouldnt like parents to give up on Bf for their children due to cost. I would rather a child wears Saguaro than non-bf unethical shoes from shoezone.

I would rather a child wears Saguaro than non-bf unethical shoes from shoezone.

To me its the lesser of the potential 2 evils. As i cant research the brand, its impossible to know what the production situation is.

Overall Impressions

These are really nice, bright and cheerful trainers, extremely light and flexible. They are fabric, so will not stand getting wet, but i see them as great trainers for indoor environments or drier times of year.

Fit

I would say they are medium width by Barefoot shoe standards, so will not be good for very wide feet or very splayed toes. The elastic laces work well and help the shoes stay well on the feet, preventing toe gripping.

They have a good wide toebox.

Sizing

These come up small, its a case of trial and error, i would suggest they are around 2 sizes smaller than average UK or EU sizes. I would order a few different sizes larger and try them all, and return the others.

Sole and insole

The insole they come with is very thick and is not Barefoot, it needs to be removed. They can easily be worn without any insole. The tread on them is good, and has good grip.

Overall impressions

They are great budget, fair weather trainers, which i feel are created as water shoes, as will dry quickly. Dont expect them to be too long lasting, but enjoy them while you can.

BGreater review. 21st November 2022

Levison Trainer
White/Black

Initial impressions
-What a lovely pair of trainers, the colour/style chosen by my daughter. She is 10, growing up, and in her eyes, wanted more “normal” looking trainers. She loved them instantly! BGreaterShoes added in a few little gifts too, of a foot measurer and a bag, which i felt was a nice touch.

I felt it important to mention how my daughter felt, as we know how much of a struggle it can get, keeping your child in BF, as they begin to make their own choices, become interested in fashion, and above all, want to fit in.
In my eyes, she chose the most impractical colour, but they are wipe clean and are turning out quite easy to keep white!
They come in 3 different white colour ways and pink and blue.

Fit

These trainers are on the narrower side. I would say a similar width to traditional Bobux, and suitable for medium to narrow width feet. So they are perfect for the children with narrower feet, which can be harder to find in the BF shoe world.
I measured them up against Froddo and they came up 5mm narrower. The Froddo were also slightly smaller in size.

Sole

The outsole is zero drop and thin, (no info on mm) with positioned flex grooves to aid flexibility. It has good grip and good ground feel.
The insole has very slight padding, so these would work well for a child transitioning from conventional shoes.
I dont feel the padding is enough to influence natural foot development.
It is not removable.

Sizing

The sizing i would say is similar to Froddo, and they are not unusually shorter or longer than average sizing.
The sizes available are from UK Child 8 to UK Junior 4.

Waterproofness

We havent tried them in very wet conditions, and i doubt they would cope with getting soaked, but my daughter said they make her feet feel warm and secure. I would say they would stand up better than trainers that contain fabric mesh.

Value for money/ethos

BGreater’s ethos is all about lessening the impact on the earth and humanity. They are very good value, being the cheapest ethical Barefoot brand on the market.
The shoes are made from post-consumer waste and PU coated leather from a gold rated tannery.
These shoes retail at £35
They truly are the budget, without sacrificing ethics, brand that everyone has been waiting for.
I commend them for all the hard work and thought that has been put into their creation.
Being UK based, there is no major shipping challenges either.

Final impressions

I thoroughly recommend these trainers for children with feet in the narrower range.
But i do feel they are worth a try for all feet shapes, as without trying it is difficult to know-but if your child has very splayed toes, these would not suit.
They are so accessible in the UK and as i said previously, such great value. They are designed with fashion in mind and i feel will be attractive to many children who may not like the look of the wider styled BF shoes as they get older.

Here is a link to order:

https://www.bgreatershoes.com/

REVIEW

Bundgaard Chase Il Tex boots 1st Feb 2023

Bundgaard, although not a barefoot brand, first came to my attention many years back when i found their wellies in TK Maxx and was super impressed by the toebox.

I then began promoting the classic wellies, and some baby shoes and Happy Little Soles began to stock them. Over the years Bundgaard have recognised the demand and need for Barefoot shoes and they are now producing more boots and shoes with the BF credentials and their amazing toebox. They are called their “No heel” range. So they may vary on toebox width, so always check.
Liasing with originally myself, and now HLS, the BF range is now stocked by HLS. Its taking a bit of time, but they are getting there 🙏

Bundgaard Chase Il Tex boots EU37

First impressions

I was very keen to check out the width on these, as some of the other more bff models are not as wide, but they’ve gone full BF with the width on these boots (and i imagine the newer models) and we were happy!

Materials

Premium leather upper, soft lambswool internal

Sole/insole

The boots are zero drop, with a good non-slip rubber crepe sole, which appear to be quite robust at approx 8mm thickness. (Rubber part 5/6mm) They are stitched. I cant see that these would ever split away, like bf glued soles do.
This is thicker than a lot of brands, but i do feel its acceptable for a winter boot, that is also durable. There is good ground feel.
They are lined with a wool insole, which can be removed.

Fit

These are wide. They are not suitable for narrow feet. They have a very wide toebox.
Narrow ankles-I was a bit worried due to the style of these boots that they might slip at the heel, as my daughter has narrow ankles. But due to the wool lining, and design, they are nice and snug, with no slipping.
Instep-Due to the style, i do not feel they would be suitable for very shallow feet.

Weight

These boots are not the lightest, but this is due to them being wool lined and having a waterproof tex membrane.

Sizing

EU27-42 (not sure if larger sizes available from HLS, appears to be EU38, but worth asking)

Overall impression

We love these boots, my daughter keeps saying how much she loves them. They met all my BF expectations after many years of looking at Bundgaard. Im so happy they are offering the new “No Heel” range. It just proves what can happen when we communicate with brands, especially when they are missing a mark, or literally a market!

Pricing and obtaining

£79.99

From Happy Little Soles
https://www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/products/brand-1/bundgaard.html

🔆 REVIEW 🔆 FREET ZENNOR SANDALS EU38

So hopefully soon here in the UK we will get sandal worthy weather!
Although its good to plan in advance! so here is my review of the new Freet Zennor sandals.
I will provide more details later, when weather improves, so this is currently an overview of the sandals before we have the chance to properly test them out.

The Freet Zennor is an open shoe/sandal hybrid.
It is created as a multi-activity trail shoe.
This means it can be used for everyday, trail or in water.

First Impressions

When i first took them out of the box, i was impressed with the quality. They are tough, as well as being barefoot, so perfect for really active older children and adults.

Materials

Upper-Vegan friendly synthetic nubuck and neoprene lining
Sole-Gripmax outsole

They are lightweight.

Style and fit

Freet 5 in 1 toestyle.
They are similar to other water sandals like Pediped Sahara, but far more adjustable, zero drop and wider.
The pull chord allows them to be pulled in as tight as needed, for a great fit, even on a shallower or narrower foot. They also have an adjustable heel strap to help adjust fit too.
However these are on the wider spectrum, so i wouldnt recommend for narrow or shallow feet. They are ok for medium to wide width or depth.

They have a removable insole, that makes them more accessible for shallower wider feet.
The insole can be removed for the deeper foot and for an even more barefoot experience, as it is slightly padded.

Flexibility

These are lovely and flexible, even more so with the insole removed.
The sole is 5mm thick and 7.5mm stack height with the insole.
Connect max 2mm midsole

Sizing

These currently run from EU30-EU48
There is potential for smaller sizes and more colours if they prove successful.
Please bare in mind that freet come up on the smaller side.
With sandals you may need to size down though, so its worth trying 2 sizes.

Pricing

£60 Junior
£85 Adult

Outdoor testing and durability

Yet to find out – I will update the review when my daughter has had a chance to wear outside!

Overall impression

Being vegan and water friendly, i feel these are a better more barefoot alternative to Pediped Sahara and similar in the larger sizes. The feet are also less likely to slip around in the shoes, as they fit so well to the feet. Hopefully smaller sizes will be available soon. These will be so cute in brighter colours for little feet!

Available from Happy Little Soles

https://www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/products/brand-1/freet.html?product_list_limit=24

Wildsole sandals review 🙂 July 11th 2023

Please scroll through photos to see different soles and colours 🙏

10% off code below 🙏

I have been liasing with Wildsole since the spring, with the offer of sandals to review and my feedback.

So its taken a little while to get to the point of writing, as so much has developed at Wildsoles since we began talking, Faye so quickly took on feedback from me and others and the brand has grown so much in just a month or so.
They are so kind and appreciative of the needs of customers in the BF community and i am so grateful for their patience with me and my fussiness!

I have now tried 2 colours and sole types and i have just received a childrens pair in purple. These will be tested by my grandson, but i will present them here and update it later when i have given to him 🙏
This will be a different story style review. If i miss anything, im here for questions.

Initially i chose the Hare sole. With it being the thinnest sole. However, i encountered a problem with the width due to my wierd mis-shapen foot shape! These were the standard fit.

So i requested a wider fit, i dont think they had one yet, so later i received the wider pair after i tried out the template.
We decided i would try a different sole type, so i could do a comparison review.
By this time they had the new red straps, so yay! Wildsoles commitment to customer satisfaction was clear, when they listened to my needs and we worked together so i could bring a wide scoped review.

So
Heres my verdict of the sandals and my journey

The Hare

When i first received them it turned out they were a little too narrow for me, but after a wee while i decided to try them anyway.
I dont usually like toeposts, so this also made me cautious, but i was happily surprised that i didn’t find them uncomfortable.

Inititally i felt they weren’t thin enough, but in time i started to realise they were ok, and i had plenty of groundfeel.
Groundfeel is very important to me.
They didnt slap, like i found with Zero’s (that i couldnt actually wear) so i was pleased about this. They were growing on me already!

Thickness with footbed-6mm

Here are the specs from their website:

“SPECS
Sole: 4mm Non-Marking Vibram Lisk Newflex Outsole.

Footbed: 2mm Slip Resistant wildgrip™ Footbed, Animal friendly Vegan suede backing & fully Oeko-Tex Certified.

Straps: The UK made straps are constructed from twin stitched tubular webbing and are designed to be supple and comfortable to wear.

Easily adjustable: Our simple strap design uses minimal materials to provide excellent comfort and security and is easily adjustable.

Barefoot / Minimal: Thin, flexible, flat, zero drop and with no toe box so toes are allowed to spread naturally when weight bearing.

Vegan Friendly: No animal products have been used in any part of these sandals.

Handmade in Yorkshire, England.”

I actually really like the vibram sole on these. I live in fields and off-road. So grip is very important to me. They were plenty grippy.
They feel protective too, although i do have the tiny bit of my foot over the edge, it was actually ok-unless i hit a thistle on the edge!

I started to wear them a lot!
After initially feeling i wasnt sure-i didnt care that they werent a perfect fit, so by the time the Lynx mini came, i wasnt sure if i’d like them.
Yes, im hard to please…🤣
I’m very fussy and Faye at wildsoles has been very patient with me!

So i opened the Lynx mini
-i loved the new colour, and it felt nice to try a different sole type, once i got over my…”im not sures”

This is the spec of the Lynx Mini (not repeating the same spec from the Hare)

Lynx mini is the thinnest of the Lynx sandals available. At 6mm with 1.2mm footbed.
Even thinner than the Lynx bare which comes in at 8mm. I was literally looking for the next thinnest after the Hare.
There are 3 sole thickness options

SPECS
Sole: MINI 6mm, MIDI 8mm and MAXI 12mm Vibram Clivia Morflex Sole.

Footbed: 1.2mm Slip Resistant wildgrip™ Footbed. Animal friendly Vegan suede backing & fully Oeko-Tex Certified.

So the mini works out 1.2mm thicker than the Hare at 7.2mm. Amazingly, because of the different sole type. They do feel different. They are softer/comfier.
I wasnt sure if this would be at the expense of groundfeel, but although there is not as much groundfeel as the Hare, there is enough.

So if you need a bit more comfort-without loosing too much groundfeel these are perfect.

As i live off road, in fields, its always interesting to see how my shoes feel in town.

The Hare is amazing off road, you get that real connection with the ground surface and they assist tuning in to your environment.
However, as i struggle in town environments, with the flat hard unforgiving ground-i found the Hare not as comfortable as say, my Ahinsa boots.

However with the Lynx Mini, i found it easier to cope, without compromising my gait or ground feel. My feet just felt more secure and the harshness of the ground was not jutting through my skeletal system! They are really comfy with a slight spring, just enough to off-set the harshness of concrete.

As these are on the wider sole, they also fit me better-still not perfect, i realise now i should have requested custom. I didnt realise they offered this at the time.
So if you have mis-shapen feet that aren’t straight-i would recommend getting custom.
As these soles are extra wide, i can even slide my correct toes on top!

I love the fact that Wildsoles are in Yorkshire. We now have a Barefoot sandal company in the UK.

All the sandals are vegan and are ethically handmade here, with ecological awareness taken into account as well. I think they tick all of the boxes, tbh.

Most customers will be way easier to please than me, and im actually in the end, really happy with them.

Both pairs, for different reasons.
Ive not managed to wear the Lynx mini in rain yet-but im sure they are grippy enough by the look of the sole.
However, i do love the Hare vibram sole pattern more.

Colours-

When i first spoke to Faye, they only had the sandals in black, i mentioned that some more colours would be nice. I guess it was always their intention to bring in more colours-but before i realised, they had brought in 4 more colours
Red, Orange, Navy and Purple.
Purple wasn’t in yet when i ordered, so hence why i got the red. My grandson is the lucky one the get the purple!

The straps overall-the straps are actually really pretty and they have a shine about them. They are extremely robust and very comfortable.
Adjusting them to fit is easy, and they include instructions on this in the box with the sandals.

Any concerns about the straps wearing down over time (as they are partially underneath) need not be a concern, as wildsole sell new straps for £15. This also means, you can buy more or the full range of colours for when you feel like a change.

They also have a clear fitting guide on the website, and a clear size guide

Ease of use

Once the sandals are adjusted, you only need to slip them on and pull up the back strap. This is so handy. I have noticed if worn a lot, i do sometimes need to tighten, but this is normal, and they have to give a little or would be uncomfortable.

Now onto the Kiddies sandals-

When i first spoke to Faye about the kids sandals they were only available in Mam Tor, which is the thicker sole type.
8mm with a footbed (maybe a mm, not sure in this) unless the bare which is 8mm sole only. I initially requested the Mam Tor bare, but i did point out that i felt they needed to have a thinner sole option. I explained that my kids have never worn thicker than 6mm and i wasnt sure and was worried about children tripping that were used to thinner soles.
By the time she crafted the sandals for him, they were on the Lynx Mini sole, i am sooo happy. They appear to be even thinner than my Lynx mini, they measured in at around 6mm, but this may not be the official measurement.

Initial Kiddie Sandal verdict
-They are soooo cute. I love them. I am extremely happy they are purple, im so happy that they have the Lynx mini sole and not the Mam Tor.
They Lynx mini kids has literally gone live today!

They are very flexible and i know he will have good groundfeel, and he’ll be able to jump on concrete without getting that sting that sometimes happens with thin sandals on hard surfaces.
Although i still feel offering the Hare for kids will be great as well.
As much variety as possible in my mind.

Mam Tor however, will be good for those kids used to a slightly thicker sole and kids that are transitioning.

I will update the kids review when he has worn them 🙂

OVERALL VERDICT

I am so happy with Wildsole.
I think the variety of sole thickness/types is valuable, although to me, the 12mm would be even moving out of BFF’ness, they will be helpful for those transitioning. Especially those used to conventional flip flops etc

My favourite sole is the Hare for off road walking/running, but i favour the Lynx mini for town environments for the reasons i stated above.
However, these are my personal reasons. For those used to walking in an urban environment, they will probably get on fine with the Hare.

Thats why the flexibility of Wildsole options inc the colours is so great.
They are here to meet everyones needs, they are so receptive to feedback, its truly wonderful.

I was so impressed by the rapidity of my requests being fulfilled.

Sizes-Child 10 to Adult 14

Prices-
Child- Lynx Mini £35 Mam Tor £50
Adult- Hare from £80 Lynx Mini from £65
Other styles between £45 and £85
All great value imo

So if you’d like to purchase Wildsoles here is my 10% off code- annafoxhealing

Head over to Wildsoles here

https://www.wildsolesandals.com/

And support this wonderful ecological, ethical new UK brand.

REVIEW 4th November 2023.

Xero Gracie Rainboots.

It is a while since any Barefoot brand has produced a Rainboot. This is a fantastic move by Xero, and well appreciated by the Barefoot shoe community.

Xero have gone from strength to strength over the years. Starting with some of the original Barefoot sandals, they saw the need for boots and shoes, and did this with great success without sacrificing their unique style. Although based in the USA, this isnt a problem, as Happy Little Soles are stocking them, and bringing Xero to the UK community.

Although i wish they had also created a longer boot, I hope the success of this boot will encourage them for next winter.

Xero Gracie Rainboot USA8, 24.8cm-UK5.5

First impressions

Out of the box, these actually look quite flash and smart. They look good quality and appear more like short riding boot than a welly.

Materials

Waterproof rubber with elasticated side panels, with a plush polyester interior.

Sole/insole

The boots are zero drop, with a thin really flexible sole. I measured them thinner than HLS, and from wearing them, they had great flexibilty and groundfeel, so i dont feel they have a stack height of 11mm. More like 7mm, including the insole and a tread of 2mm. They are hard to measure, as the lines on the outside do not line up with the top of the sole. The sole is very thin in my opinion. The insole is around 2mm, but it squashes down to about 1mm. I think they are a perfect thickness for a rainboot.

The dual direction chevron tread is very grippy, and perfect for wet weather.

Fit

These are medium-wide. They are not suitable for narrow feet. They have a nice wide toebox. A similar shape to Bundgaard (but not as wide).

Narrow ankles-I was a bit worried due to the style of these boots that they might slip at the heel, as my daughter has narrow ankles. The elastication helps a lot with this and helps the boots stay on. As all wellies slip a bit at the ankles, i would say these fair better in this regard. It’s always best to wear thicker socks in wellies to avoid the feet slipping around.

Instep-Due to the style, i do not feel they would be suitable for very shallow feet or narrow feet.

Weight

They are lightweight, due to the thin sole and being a short boot.

Sizing

UK3 (adult)-UK9

To me this is mid-range sizing. Suitable for older children towards men with smaller feet.

Overall impression

I think they are fantastic rainboots and it is clear they are designed by a barefoot company, as opposed to a Barefoot “friendly” alternative. I didn’t manage to get any photo’s of my daughter wearing them, as the bad weather hit and they have been constantly worn and she didn’t want to show them muddy.

We live in a field and she has not complained of any water getting in, even when the mud splashed onto the elastic. She seems to really like them. I tried them on (we have pretty much the same size feet now) and they felt comfortable and have better groundfeel than my Viking bff Wellies. I wish more Barefoot companies would make rainboots, lets hope there are more to come.

Pricing and obtaining

£89.99

From Happy Little Soles

https://www.happylittlesoles.co.uk/xero-adults-gracie-rain-boots-black.html

🎄🍄REVIEW FOR YULE 🍄🎄

BOHEMPIA OLEN PLUS 2
Standard and wide fit.

These are the autumn/winter version of their classic Orik hightop.

Initial impression

I love the colour and the rubber cupping looks good for more weather protection, really lightweight and soft to the touch, unique in look, perfect for yuletide fun i felt 🎄

Materials

Fully vegan, these are an interesting composition.
The upper is made from Japanese suede Ultrasuede® of recycled polyester.
Internally they have a cosy thermal fleece lining.
They are a PETA-certified vegan product.
They have a side zip with lace up fastener-
The side zip, im a little unsure of its strength, so i would attempt to not use it much, they are easy to get on and off without it being used. The zip is my only concen that i can find so far.
The sole is composed of rubber with a 3mm insole.

Sole/lnsole

They are zero drop and very flexible, although they look like they have great grip.
The cupping does not affect flexibility and when i twisted them, it was very easy.
They are very lightweight and have great groundfeel.
Although technically they are said to have a stack height of 7.5mm, i would say they feel thinner than that, but all the same, the 3mm insole can always be removed-but this would result in less insulating properties.

Width

I was lucky enough to test both the standard width and the wide fit.
Wide measured in at just under 10cm
Standard at just under 9cm.
The standard width were still ok for me, and they do look quite conventional in shape, but i opted for the wider pair for myself, as i could feel the edge a little close to my little toe.
Happy Little Soles, say the wide fit, are the widest boots they have on their website.

Fit

The standard width will suit narrow to medium feet, the wider fit is more suited to wider feet, especially those with splayed toes.
They have a good attachment to the feet and they hold on well to skinny ankles. They are also good for high insteps as the laces are very adjustable, with lots of room.

Weight

These are lightweight, they feel like you’ll have a spring in your step!

Sizing

I went for the EU39
Which is a standard size for me, so they have pretty standard sizing.
The sizes range from UK 3-UK 11.5
So its quite a range, from older children to longer footed adults!

Weatherproofness

They say they are suitable for light rain and snow, but suggest impregnation before wearing for full weather protection.

Overall Impression

I love them and recommend them for the Yule season and beyond! They are fun, but also practical.
They are super cosy on the feet and will stand out in a crowd. Bohempia are a great brand for crossing the divide between a conventional shoe and a barefoot one.
These are party shoes! They will look great with anything you wear….especially sparkly numbers!