Barefoot/minimalist rubber boots?

Sonja Draven wrote:These look promising:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RKP848L/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

I ordered a pair and will report back.

I'm reporting back!

These boots don't have a wide toe box. Sadly, my feet are too big to order anything bigger to get that toe space and after trying to wear them snug, my feet hurt. So they won't work for me.

I don't think someone with wide calves could get them on. And they have a strong rubber smell. But they seem fairly well made and I think they'd hold up pretty well. I wish I could test that myself...

Sonja Draven wrote:I'm reporting back!

These boots don't have a wide toe box. Sadly, my feet are too big to order anything bigger to get that toe space and after trying to wear them snug, my feet hurt. So they won't work for me.

I don't think someone with wide calves could get them on. And they have a strong rubber smell. But they seem fairly well made and I think they'd hold up pretty well. I wish I could test that myself...

Thank you for taking the time to report back. I was on the fence about the boots you posted about. Both the toe box as well as the calves looked a bit narrow, but I know pictures can be deceiving. Now I know that the pics are telling a true story for these. I have pledged for the other boots I posted about a post back, meanwhile. I just couldn't resist the zero drop, the ethos of the company, and the felted wool. Oh, the felted wool... I have had slippers in felted wool and they feel soooo good. To get a pair of boots that are made of it that I can wear year-round - well, my feet will be heaven!

Sonja Draven wrote:

Sonja Draven wrote:These look promising:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RKP848L/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

I ordered a pair and will report back.

I'm reporting back!

These boots don't have a wide toe box. Sadly, my feet are too big to order anything bigger to get that toe space and after trying to wear them snug, my feet hurt. So they won't work for me.

I don't think someone with wide calves could get them on. And they have a strong rubber smell. But they seem fairly well made and I think they'd hold up pretty well. I wish I could test that myself...

Ah man, that's a bummer! Did anyone else order anything and find out if it was good?

Yes, thank you Sonja, I was considering those boots too. You saved me some trouble.

Annie Collins wrote: Oh, the felted wool...

Oh yeah! I have a pair of wool Merry Jane's. They're my favorite.

Heather Sharpe wrote:I ended up ordering these Bisgaard boots since they specifically mention having a wide toe box, along with being zero drop, flexible soled and everything else on my list. Plus being cotton lined! I will report back when I get them. Thank you all for the help! Hope all in search of such boots can find something that makes their feet happy!

I got these and have tried them on and walked about the house in them, but haven't had the chance to wear them to work in yet. I will say that they are definitely more comfy than any other rubber boots I've tried. The toe box is wider than most, but not as wide and roomy as my Lems. So I wish they were a bit bigger there. I suspect if I got the next size up, the toes would be fine, but then I'd have too much heel slip. Overall, I feel like they're pretty nice boots. They are zero drop and flexible soled. They have that weird little upward curve at the toe that most shoes have for some reason I don't understand. They seem very well made and have almost no smell, which is great since I am very sensitive to such things.

Hi all, I have really enjoyed reading this thread! How wonderful that instead of doing research and reading hundreds of reviews alone, we have permies peeps to share our research and experiences with! I had read these posts awhile back but Nicole reminded me of them once again (thanks Nicole!) I have been looking for some minimalist, no heel, waterproof, non-slip work-boots for my upcoming trip to visit Wheaton Labs.

I looked online for about 3 hours (OfferUp, Craigslist, Amazon, individual shops) and then went to BootBarn & Dick’s Sporting goods to try things on. Everything I tried was super heavy, small toe box compared to what I’m used to now, and definitely too much heel. My trip to REÍ will happen Sunday or Monday... maybe they have what I’m looking for there.

These Lems waterproof boots are what I’m thinking most about but many reviews say that the tread isn’t great and can be slippery in mud. Some reviews also say that they need to be oiled frequently to maintain their waterproofing and one review said they trap moisture in and make feet sweaty inside. (Unlike the other stores online they actually have my size in stock.)

https://www.lemsshoes.com/products/womens-waterproof-boulder-boot?variant=32088926453818

(I LOVE my women’s Primal 2 sneakers from Lems in black (and brown.) The injinji socks are pretty cool too but wish I got wool ones and when the dryer hides one of them, it’s pretty annoying!)

Xeroshoes also make a waterproof boot, Alpine - Women's Snow Boot. It looks like the tread would be less slippery on them than the Lems. (They are out of stock in my size.)

https://xeroshoes.com/shop/boots/alpine-women/

I do love my Xeroshoes boots in the Mika style. I may just have to use those for now.

I clicked on the several links that you all shared so my list of possible options has definitely expanded!

I love my Hunter rain boots for shoveling manure, gardening and walking in the mud/rain but I don’t need to use them daily or for more than a few hours at a time, so I don’t know how the heel and lack of minimalness would effect me over time.

(I was trying to research how I could put a toe protector in my current boots... I found some pretty funny outside of shoe solutions...  OSHATOES Steel Toe Cap Overshoes for Women and Men in Natural Rubber with Back Strap. Large, US Shoe Size : Men's 11-14, Women's 13-15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NRSY339/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WD6GDY3SXW2TTMWC6YCY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)

(On a side note, Crocs Sexi-flip sandals have been my favorite ‘pretty’ minimal-ish sandal for many years now, so the crocs boots might be a good lightweight option for me. I still find it humorous that anyone would ever consider a Croc shoe/sandal ‘sexy.’

Happy minimal shoe hunting!

Casey Pfeifer wrote:Do you have the water proof LEMs? I didn’t know about them until recently - my business partner purchased a pair and they work great for keeping dry. Not a typical shin-high muck boot, but you already have leather LEMs so you know their profile

https://www.lemsshoes.com/collections/waterproof-boulder-boot/products/womens-waterproof-boulder-boot?variant=32088926421050

Lems is having a 20% off sale today. I'm gonna give these waterproof boots a try.

Heather Sharpe wrote:

Heather Sharpe wrote:I ended up ordering these Bisgaard boots since they specifically mention having a wide toe box, along with being zero drop, flexible soled and everything else on my list. Plus being cotton lined! I will report back when I get them. Thank you all for the help! Hope all in search of such boots can find something that makes their feet happy!

I got these and have tried them on and walked about the house in them, but haven't had the chance to wear them to work in yet. I will say that they are definitely more comfy than any other rubber boots I've tried. The toe box is wider than most, but not as wide and roomy as my Lems. So I wish they were a bit bigger there. I suspect if I got the next size up, the toes would be fine, but then I'd have too much heel slip. Overall, I feel like they're pretty nice boots. They are zero drop and flexible soled. They have that weird little upward curve at the toe that most shoes have for some reason I don't understand. They seem very well made and have almost no smell, which is great since I am very sensitive to such things.

I also ordered these, too. They're a bit tighter than I like, and not as minimalist as I like. But, they are nice and water proof and seem to have molded to my feet a bit better in the past months. When I wear thick-soled/structured shoes, I usually have to wear my old orthotics. But, I don't need to when wearing these boots. I consider these a good choice for those that need a waterproof, relatively wide, relatively barefoot boot.

Asgard Rubber Rain Boot
Got mine on Amazon they have worked well for me the little insert came out pretty quickly but it works without. I also have a bunion and these work for me! Hope this helps! I am on the hunt for winter (-20) farm boots .. it’s proving difficult

Rockelle Peters wrote:I am on the hunt for winter (-20) farm boots .. it’s proving difficult

That does seem tricky, indeed. I am definitely noticing my feet getting super cold in the boots I got. I picked up these thermal insoles the other day and they seem to help quite a bit with the cold so far. Though I notice that they take up some of my toe wiggle room, especially when paired with thick socks. I wonder if it might work to order a much bigger size of the boots you already got, adding a thermal insole and lots of warm socks, possibly multiple layers?

I know for me, having flexible soles and a wide toe box is even more crucial in winter, as not being able to move my feet freely makes them get cold. A few years back, I got a pair of insulated hiking boots. Basically the total opposite of minimal, narrow toe box and super thick, structured sole. No bend at all. Despite being rated for much colder weather than I experienced in them, my feet felt frozen and did much better in barefoot shoes with extra socks. I hope you find something that works for you!

Heather Sharpe wrote:

Heather Sharpe wrote:I ended up ordering these Bisgaard boots since they specifically mention having a wide toe box, along with being zero drop, flexible soled and everything else on my list. Plus being cotton lined! I will report back when I get them. Thank you all for the help! Hope all in search of such boots can find something that makes their feet happy!

I got these and have tried them on and walked about the house in them, but haven't had the chance to wear them to work in yet. I will say that they are definitely more comfy than any other rubber boots I've tried. The toe box is wider than most, but not as wide and roomy as my Lems. So I wish they were a bit bigger there. I suspect if I got the next size up, the toes would be fine, but then I'd have too much heel slip. Overall, I feel like they're pretty nice boots. They are zero drop and flexible soled. They have that weird little upward curve at the toe that most shoes have for some reason I don't understand. They seem very well made and have almost no smell, which is great since I am very sensitive to such things.

Wanted to give an update on these, since when I reported back about them before, I hadn't worn them much. I have been wearing them all the time and am surprised how much I like them, given that they didn't seem as barefoot as I would prefer. I've actually ended up choosing them over my Lems for working outside most of the time. Having had time to break them in, they're nearly as comfy as those. My only regret is that they aren't roomy enough for multiple sock layers. But if they were, they'd probably drive me nuts in the warm times.

Sonja Draven wrote:

Sonja Draven wrote:These look promising:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RKP848L/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

I ordered a pair and will report back.

I'm reporting back!

These boots don't have a wide toe box. Sadly, my feet are too big to order anything bigger to get that toe space and after trying to wear them snug, my feet hurt. So they won't work for me.

I don't think someone with wide calves could get them on. And they have a strong rubber smell. But they seem fairly well made and I think they'd hold up pretty well. I wish I could test that myself...

I wanted to update my update:

I ended up using these boots for a crawling around under the house situation where I needed them to be snug around my calves and not fall off or get anything icky up my pants. They worked great for that and using them for that led to wearing them for something else similar (short projects that increased over time) and eventually they became my normal outside work boots. (The shoe covers I linked to earlier in the thread also became increasingly annoying as they were constantly falling down my calves (tug o'war or tripping over them when they sunk too low) and/or ripping them on something and then no longer being waterproof. The use and toss nature of them got to me too. I really wanted something that would last well.) As I wore these boots, they stretched out some (still not super roomy in the toe box but good enough that my feet don't hurt) and the rubber smell is long gone. They are still snug in the calves which is a good thing for me as it helps protect from ticks in the summer.

I wear them most days when working and I ordered a second "just in case" pair recently to sit on my shelf, but I'm still wearing the pair I wore last summer. In the winter they help keep my feet dry and warm enough with thicker socks. So I *would* recommend trying them if you don't have serious duck feet and/or really large calves. (If so, I really hope you all can find something great!)

I am perpetually on this same hunt.  I have not found a perfect solution.  I have found some good options that check most of the boxes besides waterproofing - somewhat like your Lems.

my current compromises:
xtratuff
I have some xtratuff deck boots that have zero drop, but I have to size up to get enough room in the toe box, which resuls in a reduction of stability.  They also get perforated by thorn and fencing as quickly as cheep boots, causing moisture infiltration and collection of debris in the space between the neoprene and rubber.  They are also expensive.  they might be an adequate solution for someone who is not as hard on boots as I am.  In the end, I continue to use them because it is more important to me to have zero drop than to have dry feet, except on the coldest of days.  My go-to snowy-day work boot currently is a pair of not-yet-perforated oversized xtratuff deckboots with a double-layer of good wool socks.  Otherwise, I wear my power ace (up next), and dry them out on a wood stove between jobs.

another canvas option:
Power Ace
My favorite are Japanese PowerAce tabi work boots.  They also are imported under different names, but they usually look the same.  Sometimes they send the wrong size and I have to return or exchange.  Although I hate playing the amazon game, I need good foot protection, and these work so well that I compromise on my ideals.  These do not have the toe separation of tradtional tabi shoes.  They have a steel toe option, which I use for construction and logging.  A steel toe with a very thin sole seemed incongruous at first, but I have become convinced.  If I could make the toe box slightly more square, I would, but they work.  Long days in the garden, long foraging and logging treks through the woods, good enough to wear to the farmers' market in a pinch, and I can usually find them on sale for $45 on amazon.  I almost always do serious work in these boots or my earthrunners sandals.  Thorns and heavy lifting always get the boots.  Waxing them makes them reasonably water resistant.  Until they get well-worm, I am able to gently spray off the exterior with the garden hose.   These seem to be hard-to-find right now, but they come and go from amazon and can also be purchased from samuraimarket.net.



another i've tried:
vivobarefoot gobi high.  I have had vivos that work, but these cause intense leg and back pain.  Not sure why.  
things with any heal or rise, at all: universal fail.  All my back problems ceased when I removed the inclined plane from under my feet.

others I have considered trying:
hand-made stuff:
There's some shoe makers bopping around here on permies and on Etsy.  If I was convinced I wouldn't wreck them and they would actually be a lifetime investment, I might fork over the coin.  But I'm probably more likely to take the Laughing Crow class and learn to make my own.  Maybe one winter after the kids get a little older . . .

tactical mini-mil boots:
They can be hard to find, and I haven't tried them because I haven't found them for less than $100, and I never have been able to order shoes sight-unseen and get something that doesn't cause pain or fail catastrophically in some other way (except for the PowerAce).  These look too narrow to me, and have an up-turned toe, so I am skeptical.  At least there's no heal . . .

I’d love to know about pull overs. Size 11 US.

I wonder if we could make silicone shoes somehow - then they would be suited 100 percent for our feet and waterproof. Not sure about durability, but maybe we could glue on mountain bike inner tube for that?

Annie Collins wrote:Speaking of minimalist boots... these look amazing! They sound like they're for all kinds of weather, and the low ones, the clogs, can even be turned into slippers! (Maybe the next height up as well? I'm not sure, will need to reread about that height.) From what I read they will ship to anywhere in the world, too! I think I may just go and put in for a pair.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1648913999/voylok-boots-sustainable-warmth-for-any-season-and-weather?ref=ksr_email_backer_project_update_registered_users_discover_project_similar_4

I am going to email them, as you can buy the overboot separately and I already have an indoor pair of Russian felt boots (from ecominded.net, Yury is a fellow Permies.com friend from Russia)

Good ideas on the boots...

I have a question: I am seeing 100.00 plus for shoes at the sites posted; so. now, what are the life expectancy of shoes that are at that price point?

Part of being a Permie is also being frugal; and that means getting the best mileage one can for the price put out.  So, instead of buying cheap 25.00 shoes every 3 months that don't support my feet, etc, etc..., how do these  shoes, from all of these higher price point suppliers, hold up to being used and abused?

Reading through this thread I was sure I'd recently seen a minimalist waterproof welly-type boot. In addition to wearing minimalist shoes, I'm a running technique teacher and always working on getting my clients into minimalist footwear, so I get a lot of info about shoes.

I finally found them right under all our noses. Xero just came out with this: https://xeroshoes.com/shop/boots/gracie/

I used to wear Vivobarefoot wellies, but they stopped making them at some point and I wondered if it was because the minimalist sole wore through and sprang leaks very fast. I went through them in just a couple of months. So this is a pretty exciting development.

I also have the Xero alpine boots for winter and they keep my feet perfectly dry.

A German client of mine recently bought a pair of shoes from Zaqq, a German company with a huge line, including a large number of waterproof styles: https://www.zaqq.com/barefoot-shoes-women/?p=1&o=5&n=110&f=89%7C143. The price point, obviously, is a bit high so these boots might not be the ones you buy to feed the chickens.

Someone above recommended anyasreviews.com, and I'd like to second that recommendation. Very comprehensive!

One more tip: Warm winter boots, even fully minimalist ones, can be a bit heavy, and if you're used to being barefoot or just in light shoes they can literally be a drag. I've become a huge fan of Naboso insoles, which allow you to add texture (not support!) inside your shoes. My whole family wears them, and I have them in all my shoes. My feet and legs get much less tired and I feel much less miserable when I do have to wear shoes. I've been trying them with clients for a few years now and I've gotten to the point of recommending them to absolutely everybody. There's no one who won't feel better in them. https://naboso.com.

I'm delighted to see so many folks here are barefoot or minimalist! It makes my heart sing.

Hands down, Sloggers are my favorite rainy day boot. I can’t abide a heel on any footwear, and Sloggers are flat. I have wide feet and so I buy size 9 when I wear a size 8. Perfect fit. Easy on and off. Cute patterns - my current ones are barn red with chickens 🐓 on them. They will slide on ice! I just slip my YakTrax on them for sure footing in snow & ice. They are not insulated though so if I’m out for a length of time in winter, I have to wear Mukluks and store Sloggers until spring. Made in USA.

Hi Kim,

I used to accept that I would go through a cheap pair of shoes every three months.   I doubled my price, and my current pair has lasted 9 months …so far.   I still keep a cheap pair around for situations that will increase the wear on them.  I also have boots for when I get in wet areas.

I prefer barefeet.. but in the chicken coop and moving compost and mulch need some protection. 😏 The minamalist leather boots and shoes are beautiful!! I will dream. On my current homesteading permaculture budget - I have found Mud Boots to be amazing for my size 6 feet and petite body. They are lightweight and super durable. I wear without socks, and an insert... unless its cold, then I wear my favorite darn tough wool socks. Equally amazing and comfortable. I have worn crocs and TS garden shoes... but they only last 6 months in FL heat.

🌈Happy Gardening with warm happy feet! 🌻

Hey Permies, I bought several pair of these boots for working outside in the chicken & duck yards. I had one pair for about ten years, then a second pair that I've had for at least 10 years. These boots are made in USA and the company is women owned. I wear the boots in winter with extra socks and they work very well, even in the snow. I have found them at the grain store I traded at and online. I gave a pair to my friend who has horses and she loves them. Here's the link for you to view. They are not expensive and wear very well. I have the ones with the chickens on them. Easiest flock I've ever had!

https://www.sloggers.com/

Good luck!

L L Bean Duck Boots

Back when I had to deal with working outside in the winter these were what worked best for me.

Not inexpensive but last forever.

These are what Bean first made their reputation on early 20th century.  L L Bean designed and built the originals himself.

They're not that well known outside New England and the east coast.

Lots of imitations of these out there, none that are anywhere near as good.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/518296?page=built-to-last-the-story-of-the-original-llbean-boot

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/506697?

I think I checked out almost every link in this thread looking for something a little more versatile than my Mukluks for near freezing weather.

Not sure if I'm missing something, but are sloggers or LLBeans available in zero drop or without scrunchy toe boxes? There doesn't seem to be anything minimalist about them. The same with the mention of Mud boots , I don't know if those are supposed to be Mudd, Muds, or Muck, but they all have heels and 'pointy' toes that I'm seeing.

Looking for natural materials narrowed down the selection to very few. Lems Chelseas didn't have very durable soles. Xero had a nice pair for a reasonable price, I think Zaqq did too, but I ended up springing extra for the PedTerra Peerko Go boots as they had full laces for a solid fit but also a side zipper for quicker changes, so these can fill the niche of short trip gear also. Will report back.

Coydon Wallham wrote:I ended up springing extra for the PedTerra Peerko Go boots as they had full laces for a solid fit but also a side zipper for quicker changes, so these can fill the niche of short trip gear also. Will report back.

Feeling a bit on the fence about these. Out of the box they were very nice and comfortable. Unfortunately I am between EU sizes 45 and 46, bought 45s- they fit great with normal socks, but I put in wool insoles and if I wear thick socks the toe room is a bit squeezed. The toe box is larger than normal, but I guess not quite "primal", which I would expect to leave plenty of room for me in 45s. On the other hand they are the perfect size for more 'urban' functionality where extra material around the toes might get in the way.

They were listed as "thermoplastic soles", so I new it wasn't natural rubber, but it seems like there is nothing that meets all of my criteria with this so I was prepared for that. (I could use clarification on whether synthetic rubber has longer wear life than natural, which would make its use more of a trade-off.) The troubling part is that they list the lining as "thin, soft flannel". Based on experience with shirts, I had assumed flannel was cotton. I looked it up on Wikipedia and it appears it is traditionally wool. Cotton and silk started to get mixed in over time and, like the bulk of the contemporary textile industry, now they just throw synthetics in there without clarification. These feel more like micro fleece than cotton flannel by touch. I also find synthetic fabrics don't regulate temperature as well as natural, but that might depend on more specific materials than I've had been able to keep track of. Whatever the case, these boots don't seem to regulate excess heat away as well as my mukluks with 100% wool liners, which are also much warmer in cold conditions.

Overall, I'm happy with them. I sat with one sole pretty close to the heater without noticing and the "thermoplastic" seemed to deform a little, but the glue held on and it shows no signs of damage after the fact. They look nice and feel great apart from slight pressure on the edge of my toes when bulked up for extreme cold. They work great when I need them, +/- 15* from freezing. If they last a few years I would strongly consider another pair, but would be looking for other options that might address these points...

Asgard brand, zero drop, rubber, size up and they are soft so give more toe freedom than others. Not a foot shape but almost.

Coydon Wallham wrote:Feeling a bit on the fence about these. Out of the box they were very nice and comfortable. Unfortunately I am between EU sizes 45 and 46, bought 45s- they fit great with normal socks, but I put in wool insoles and if I wear thick socks the toe room is a bit squeezed. The toe box is larger than normal, but I guess not quite "primal", which I would expect to leave plenty of room for me in 45s. On the other hand they are the perfect size for more 'urban' functionality where extra material around the toes might get in the way.

They were listed as "thermoplastic soles", so I new it wasn't natural rubber, but it seems like there is nothing that meets all of my criteria with this so I was prepared for that. (I could use clarification on whether synthetic rubber has longer wear life than natural, which would make its use more of a trade-off.) The troubling part is that they list the lining as "thin, soft flannel". Based on experience with shirts, I had assumed flannel was cotton. I looked it up on Wikipedia and it appears it is traditionally wool. Cotton and silk started to get mixed in over time and, like the bulk of the contemporary textile industry, now they just throw synthetics in there without clarification. These feel more like micro fleece than cotton flannel by touch. I also find synthetic fabrics don't regulate temperature as well as natural, but that might depend on more specific materials than I've had been able to keep track of. Whatever the case, these boots don't seem to regulate excess heat away as well as my mukluks with 100% wool liners, which are also much warmer in cold conditions.

Overall, I'm happy with them. I sat with one sole pretty close to the heater without noticing and the "thermoplastic" seemed to deform a little, but the glue held on and it shows no signs of damage after the fact. They look nice and feel great apart from slight pressure on the edge of my toes when bulked up for extreme cold. They work great when I need them, +/- 15* from freezing. If they last a few years I would strongly consider another pair, but would be looking for other options that might address these points...

After further experience, I figured out the tight toe box was because I had put some wool felt insoles in and they were bunching up in the toe box, so size is okay on there. After wearing the Peerko Gos in warmer weather though, the synthetic fleece had developed a noticeable stink.

I bought some on sale Mukishoes "Igneous' boots that were similar in design, only had natural rubber soles and real wool lining. I wore these over the last half year almost any time I wasn't going barefoot. Even rarely wearing socks, the wool liner felt comfortable and has yet to give an offensive odor like the synthetic stuff did in the others. The natural rubber also seems to be wearing very durably. The only down side is the makers for some reason seem to have left the stitching between the upper and the sole poorly finished- there was a gap on the side and dirt was accumulating, though half a year of wear didn't show them separating beyond this. $17 and a week at a local cobbler and they are in tip top shape. Another shortcoming is lack of waterproofness out of the box, so not meeting the intent of this thread, sorry. But they are natural leather and I am deciding which of the various treatments out there would best make them waterproof without ruining breathability or deteriorating the structure.

Overall these are probably the best shoes anywhere near this design I've ever owned, highly recommemded. A new version of the Igneous is available at: https://mukishoes.com/product/igneous/