Buying comfortable, healthy barefoot shoescan be expensive – especially if you’re new to barefoot shoes and try to switch out all the different types of shoes in your closet. Here’s my list of affordable barefoot shoes, plus when and where to shop to find great deals.
Barefoot shoes are great for your feet, but as anyone who’s done some shopping for barefoot shoes knows, they’re tough on your bank account. It’s difficult to find affordable barefoot shoes. And this problems compounds as many of us are not just buying one pair of shoes. If you’re like me, you probably got hooked once you tried your first pair, and realized you now wanted to replace all the shoes in your closet.
After trying to find affordable barefoot shoes for me, my family,and all of you, I’ve got a short list, plus a few different ways to find better deals.
This post isn’t just a list of cheap barefoot shoes, because to be honest, there aren’t that many. I’ve listed the few affordable barefoot shoe brands, but also provided a guide on where to find sales throughout the year, when most sales take place, and where to buy gently used barefoot shoes.
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Shopping for kids? Check this post on affordable barefoot shoes for kids
For all of mydiscount and coupon codes, check out this post here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why are barefoot shoes so expensive?
- Affordable Barefoot Shoes
- Affordable Barefoot Sandals
- Where to buy discounted, factory seconds, or used barefoot shoes
- Barefoot shoe brands with sale sections
- Large, seasonal sales for barefoot shoes
- Other tips for buying barefoot shoes
Why are barefoot shoes so expensive?
There are a number of reasons barefoot shoes carry a high price tag. One of the biggest contributors to the higher prices is usually volume. Most barefoot shoe brands are newer, smaller companies that are nowhere near the level of production to reach economies of scale. Especially compared to much larger, more established traditional shoe companies. There is also the fact that many barefoot brands use high-quality, sustainable materials. Many European brands also manufacture in places like Portugal, which has a higher wage rate than common manufacturing locations like China and Vietnam.
The barefoot or minimalist shoe market is still fairly niche. It’s grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years, but it’s still nowhere near the size ofthe traditional shoe market. Just to give you a little bit of context, Nike sellsover 780 millionpairs a year. And to be fair, a lot of Nike’s shoes are still $100+, manufactured in Vietnam and Indonesia, and made from synthetic materials. For a small barefoot shoe brand that’s paying more for materials and labor and often times charging similar prices to these footwear behemoths, I doubt they’re really killing it on the margins.
Affordable Barefoot Shoes
The first shoes on this list are the most affordable barefoot shoe options from Amazon, which run around $40. I also included a few of the lowest cost options from more well-known barefoot shoe brands, which are around $50-$80. I understand that $80 isn’t affordable for many people, but wanted to include a bit of a range if your budget does have some flexibility.
Whitin Shoes — $40
Synthetic Uppers | Sizes Women’s US 6 – Men’s US 13
Amazon has several different cheap barefoot shoe brands. I think Whitin shoes are some of the best in terms of looks, fit and durability for the price. The toe box on Whitin Wide Barefoot Shoes are pretty roomy and the sole is flexible. They have a sporty tennis shoe and a casual shoe option. At around $40, Whitins are a really affordable barefoot shoe option that look good and are reasonably durable. Most people are concerned about quality given the price compared to other barefoot shoe brands. While I don’t find the quality to be on par with some of the other barefoot shoe brands, those are often 3x the price, so I think that’s fair. That said, I’ve still found them to hold up well to regular use.
When you’re shopping Whitin shoes, make sure you’re on their “Wide Barefoot” tab. They also have “Barefoot” tab, but most of these shoes look like conventionally narrow shoes. The only style I would consider on the regular “barefoot” tab is their trail runner.
See more styles and info on fit, sizing and durability in this WHITIN Shoes brand review.
Saguaro Shoes — $35to $70
Synthetic Uppers | Sizes US Toddler 7.5 – US Men’s 14 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off on Saguaro.com
Saguaro is another brand with cheap barefoot shoes for both kids and adults. Many barefoot styles from Saguaro shoes are available on Amazon as well as on the Saguaro website. Initially, their styles were limited to mesh trail runners/water shoes. These retail for around $35. My son has really loved these, and they’ve worked great for running, sports, and warm weather. The soles are foot shaped, flexible and grippy and the uppers are breathable mesh. They also have a rubberized sock version that’s really similar to Skinners.
Recently (Spring 2023), Saguaro released two casual barefoot shoe styles that look great! They are more expensive (retail around $70), but they’re still significantly less than most other barefoot shoe brands. I’ve only seen these on Saguaro.com, where you can use code KELLY10 for 10% off.
Keep in mind that Saguaro does seem conventional shoes, so make sure you’re checking out their barefoot shoe section.
Joomra Shoes — $40
Synthetic uppers | Sizes Women’s US5.5 – Men’s US 12.5
Joomra makes a pair of wide toe box sneakers very similar to the Whitin ones. They’re usually around $40, but I’ve recently seen them discounted to $20.
Splay Shoes— $40 to $66
Cotton canvas uppers | US Child 8 – US Men’s 13 | Code KELLY10 for 10% off
Splay Shoes is a US-based barefoot shoe brand that has several styles including casual lace-up shoes, slip-ons, and a Velcro option for kids. Depending on the size and style, Splay shoes run from $40 to $66 using the discount code KELLY10 for 10% off. Splay shoes do tend to fit lower volume feet best. See a full review on Splay Shoes here.
Anatomic Shoes— $53
Cotton canvas uppers | US Child 8 – US Men’s 13 | Code KELLY for 10% off
Anatomic are affordable foot-shaped shoes with a wide toe box. They have a thicker sole than the most barefoot shoes, but they’re still flat and pretty flexible. Styles include casual lace ups, slip-ons, and high tops. They’re availabe in the US from the online minimalist shoe retailer PedTerra, which offers free shipping and free returns. Take 10%off your order with code KELLY.
Xero Shoes Aptos— $65
Cotton canvas uppers | US Women’s 5 – US Men’s 15
Xero Shoes is one of the most popular US-based barefoot shoe brands. Their cheapest barefoot shoe option is the Aptos, a simple, casual slip-on.
Unshoes Terra Vida slip ons— $74
Hemp canvas uppers | US Women’s 5 – US Men’s 13 | Code nomanbefore10 for 10% off
Unshoes has an affordable barefoot slip-on shoe made from hemp canvas. Use code nomanbefore10 to get an extra 10% off at Unshoes.
Origo Shoes Canvas Sneakers— $78
Hemp canvas uppers | US Women’s 5 – US Men’s 13 | Code KELLY for 10% off
Origo focuses on using sustainable materials in its barefoot shoes, including in the cotton canvas sneakers that cost $78 using the coupon code KELLY. They have men’s, women’s and kid’s sizes. The canvas kid’s barefoot shoes are $54 with the discount code. If they are having a sale, often times this code will stack, so you can get 20% or 30% off the retail price.
Origo’s everyday sneakers have a 6mm stack height, plus they come with an extra insole. Sometimes this little extra cushion can be helpful for those new to barefoot shoes. Overall, these shoes fit narrow to medium wide feet best.
Lems Shoes— $70 to $85 during sales
Canvas and Mesh uppers | US Women’s 4.5 – US Men’s 14
Lems are a bit pricier, but they do tend to have really good sales around the holidays and I think they’re a great brand for those new to barefoot shoes. Lems have a wide toe box , but slightly thicker soles, which can be easier for those that are adjusting to the thinner soles of barefoot shoes. I’ve seen Lems go on sale for up to 25% off for Black Friday, and they’ve had other 20% off sales throughout the year, like President’s Day in February, Memorial Day in May or Labor Day in September. At 25% off, some of the most popular styles like the Primal 2s, Primal Zen, Drifter and Chillums are $70 to $85. Just a note, if a style is brand new, it likely won’t be included in the sale. So, if it’s a new shoe you really want, I wouldn’t wait for them to go on sale as they may not be included or they may be sold out.
Other options
- AliExpress: I’ll caveat this by saying I haven’t tried any of the options off AliExpress, but there are what look like cheap barefoot shoe options for about $20. I don’t know the quality, but they are probably very similar to some of the Amazon brands like Whitin or Saguaro. AliExpress items can take awhile to ship since they’re usually coming straight from China. If you try any, let me know how you like them.
- More options on Amazon: A lot of different brands that all look pretty similar often pop up on Amazon. Many of them may be manufactured at the same place, and simply branded differently. I haven’t kept up with all the different Amazon brands, so if there’s a new one you’ve tried that you like, please share in the comments below.
Affordable Barefoot Sandals
If you live where the weather is warm at least part of the year, opting for sandals is a great way to add another pair of affordable barefoot shoes to your closet. I love how light and free my feet feel in sandals, so opt for them pretty often when the weather is warm enough.
Earth Runners Elemental Lifestyle Sandals — $66
I really love my Earth Runners sandals and wear them often, even for hiking. I highly recommend getting the softer lifestyle laces; I found the performance laces too thick and uncomfortable. Use code KELLY10 for 10% off.
Xero Shoes Sandals — $20 to $50
Xero Shoes has a few cheap barefoot sandal options, including the Genesis sandal for $43 and the Jessie women’s sandals for $50. They also have a DIY sandal kit for $20 that is a rubber sole and some laces. My personal favorite Xero Shoes sandal is the Z-Trail, which costs $80.
Shamma Sandals Cruzers — $54
Shamma makes some of my favorite sandals due to the simple, comfortable strap systems. They have different sole thicknesses and customization options, but the Cruzers are the lowest cost option. Use code BAREFOOTSHOEGUIDE for 10% off.
Unshoes Wakova Feather — $57
Unshoes makes a simple, lightweight sandals that works for light hiking or casual wear. Use code nomanbefore10 for 10% off.
Where to buy discounted or used barefoot shoes
Buying used is another way to buy barefoot shoes on a budget. If you’re willing to shop around, you may be able to find a practically new or gently used pair for a pretty steep discount. Here are different places to shop for discounted or used barefoot shoes.
Evergreen discount codes
To start off, I have a list of evergreen barefoot shoe discount codes here. These usually give you 5% to 15% off barefoot shoes, depending on the brand. I also list some of the best current barefoot shoe sales at the top of the post, so it’s a good resource to check whenever you’re ready to make a purchase.
Facebook Groups
One of the best places to find used barefoot shoes are the buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook. The groups listed below are pretty active, so they’re worth keeping an eye on or putting out a request to see if someone is willing to sell.
Minimalist Shoe Buy/Sell/Trade (USA)
KIDS Minimalist/Barefoot Shoes BUY/SELL/TRADE (USA)
Europe Buy/Sell/Trade Minimalist, Barefoot Shoes
eBay
eBay can be a good place to hunt for used barefoot shoes from individual resellers, but Splay also has an outlet on eBay. The Splay Outlet is for factory seconds, which they describe as like new shoes, but with minor cosmetic defects. The shoes ship without a shoe box and there are no returns, refunds, or exchanges. Prices range from $30 to $45, and standard shipping is free.
REI Outlet
REI sells a few barefoot or minimalist shoe brands, so discounted options can pop up on REI Outlet from time to time. They carry brands like Altras, Lems and Xero Shoes. Used options are typically around 50% off. For a few examples, at the time of this writing, I saw Xero Shoes Tari Boots for $72 (new $135), Xoer Shoes Oswego sneakers for $42 (new $100), and Altra Lone Peaks for $68 (new $140).
Sierra.com
Sierra is an online outdoor retailer that shares a parent company with TJMaxx, and operates with a similar model. So similar to TJMaxx (and Marshalls and Ross, etc), they get a lot of their inventory from liquidations or other retailers getting rid of prior season items. I’ve ordered Altras from here for around $60, and also seen a large selection of Vivobarefoot shoes for around $70 (which is over 50% off full retail). You never know what they’re going to have in stock and in may not last long, but it’s definitely worth checking!
Revivo – Vivobarefoot
Vivobarefoot runs a platform for its own barefoot shoes called revivo.com. People can sell their used Vivobarefoot shoes back to the company where they’ll clean, repair, and prep them for resale. Shoes are usually priced according to condition.
ReEarth Runners
Earth Runners has a separate website called reearthrunners.com where it sells sandals that may be discontinued model, a lightly used return, or feature a cosmetic factory defect. There is a limited selection and availability varies, but you could find some of the most affordable barefoot sandals here. Most people I’ve seen that have purchased from ReEarth Runners have received sandals in really good condition without any significant or noticeable issues. Sandals start at $48 on this site compared to $74 at full price.
Other resale platforms
Check out other popular resale apps for cheap barefoot shoes, like Poshmark and Mercari. The brands I see most often on these apps are Altra, Vivobarefoot, Vibram Five Finger, and Merrell’s minimalist Vapor Gloves line.
Barefoot shoes brands with sale sections
I typically put out a blog post or an Instagram post when large, seasonal sales happen, but a few brands consistently have a sale or discounted section.
Xero Shoes has steep discounts when they are trying to clearance out an old model. Xero Shoes are also available on REI and Zappos, so keep an eye out there for any clearance prices.
Large, seasonal barefoot shoe sales
Black Friday/Cyber Monday
One of the biggest sales throughout the year for many barefoot shoe brands is around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This last year, brands like Lems had 25% off sitewide, while other brands will discount select models. You can see my 2022 Black Friday Sales post to get an idea of the sales that took place.
I did want to note that if you’re in the US andpurchasing from some European brands, sometimes an offer of free shipping can be a better option than a 20% or 30% discount around the holidays. I noticed this when a brand offered free shipping earlier in November, and then later offered a percentage discount. However, the shipping was now around €30 due to increased holiday shipping prices. In this example, the free shipping option earlier in the month was a better deal than the discount offered later on. Just something to keep in mind.
A few popular brands did not have Black Friday sales, which is worth noting so you don’t wait thinking they’ll go on sale. They are Vivobarefoot, Mukishoes and Wildling.
Preseason/End of Season Sales
Some brands have preseason or end of season sales. Preseason typically has smaller discounts (like 5 to 10%) for new styles at the start of the season. End of season is typically end of summer or end of winter to clearance out sandals or boots. I share shoe sales here.
Other tips for finding affordable barefoot shoes
1 Keep an eye out when you’re shopping
Occasionally, a traditional shoe company does make a shoe that has all the healthy features we’re looking for, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out. An “accidentally barefoot” shoe can be a really affordable option if you find one. Here’s what to look for in healthy shoes:
Wide toe box— The toe box should be wide, allowing your toes to naturally splay. This means that your big toe can lie straight, so the toe box is either straight or splay out at the big toe. This is one of the most noticeable differences between a barefoot shoe and a conventional shoe, which has a tapered and almost symmetrical toe box.
Flat— There shouldn’t be any heel drop, which can sometimes be hidden in the inner sole. If it’s just the inner lining that’s creating the heel drop, you can always remove it.
Thin— This helps keep shoes light and flexible and allows natural movement.
Flexible— Again, the focus here is allowing the foot to function naturally, so a shoe should allow the foot to easily bend.
2 If you have smaller feet, checkthechildren’s sizes
If you have smaller feet, consider taking a look at the children’s sizes.When I was looking up Altras, I realized that the largest child size goes up to EU39, or about a women’s US 7.5/8. The retail price for the child’s size was about half the price of the adult version. Kid’s shoes (even barefoot or foot-shaped options) can still be narrower overall, so this works best for this with smaller, narrower feet. But, something to look into if that’s you!
3 Buy one type of shoe at a time
If you’re brand new to barefoot shoes, keep in mind that your feet may grow and spread out now that they regularly have more space and you may be utilizing your muscles more. Many people see changes in their feet as they switch to barefoot shoes, and may actually end up needing a larger shoe size later on. So if you keep in mind that a year or so after you switch to barefoot shoes, the first pairs you bought may be too small. While it’s great to go for quality in your shoe purchases, I wouldn’t recommend buying the most expensive barefoot shoes as your initial barefoot shoe purchases. I recommend taking it a season at a time and replacing one or two of your most worn shoes for the period. And remember to remeasure your feet with every shoe purchase, especially at the beginning.
4 Buy what you like and need
Lastly, I just want to encourage you to buy a pair of shoes that you like and that fits your current needs. Even if that means waiting and saving awhile for it.
I’ve been guilty far too often of buying something close to what I wanted, but it wasn’t quite it, only because it was a lot less. If that was all I purchased and it filled my need, then I would’ve saved money. But usually what ended up happening was that I would buy two or three things that were adjacent/similar to what I actually wanted over the months or years….and if I added up the total amount I spent, it was usually around what I would’ve spent if I’d just bought the exact thing I had wanted in the first place.
I know $100+ for shoes are not in many people’s budgets, period. But, if it’s something you can save up for, it may end up saving you in the long run. This is mostly a reminder for me, but hope it helps if you needed to hear it too. 🙂
In closing, I hope that as barefoot shoes become more popular, more affordable options become available. I see this as one the pieces to a healthier life, and would love for it to be more accessible to more people, both in price and buying options. I’m still waiting for stores in the US to carry them so we can try them on in person!
If you have any other tips on finding affordable barefoot shoes, please share below!
AdultsAffordable ShoesCasual ShoesSandalsSneakers
