the bipedalist
Barefoot shoes, zero-drop walking science, minimalist reviews — plus tales of history's foot fetish horrors and the eccentrics who marched back to foot freedom.
WE WALK UPRIGHT. LET'S ACT LIKE IT.
SHINE A LIGHT ON
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Saguaro Retro-1
Made with breathable, water-repellent “umbrella fabric”
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Xero Glenn Leather Barefoot Dress Casual Shoe
Full-grain leather upper, 5,000-Mile sole guarantee
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Vivobarefoot Tracker II FG Leather Hiking Boot
Hardwearing, waterproof hiking boots; Soft leather and textile lining
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Softstar Adult Hawthorne Chukka
Handmade in Oregon!
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Shapen sheen barefoot loafers
Patent leather look. Leopard print option!
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Whitin Genuine Leather Oxford
Casual dress shoe
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Hobibear Minimalist Trail Runner
Soft foldable knitted upper
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Hike Footwear Lazuli Pro
Minimalist Lightweight Flexible Sneakers
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Weweya Barefoot Minimalist Running Cross Training Shoe
Foot fits through a collar-like opening to slide
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Asitvo Walking Shoe
No-Sew Upper
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Relxfeet Cross-Trainer
Mesh uppers with rubber soles
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Merrell Men's Vapor Glove Sneaker
Bellows tongue keeps out debris
FOOT NOTE
MAJOR PLAYERS
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Xero Shoes
The most popular zero-drop brand in 2025
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Vivobarefoot
Premium, ultra-minimal, recycled materials
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Saguaro
Named for the cactus species; worldwide online sales
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Lems Shoes
Widest toe boxes on the market
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Softstar
Designed and handcrafted in Philomath, Oregon.
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Wildling
German company with U.S. shipping
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Bearefoot
Offers free size swaps worldwide
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Freet
Focus on performance barefoot shoes.
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Shapen
German company with worldwide shipping
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Whitin
Innovative and value-priced shoes
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Hobibear
Well-made Chinese brand
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Merrell
Well-known brand with barefoot line
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Relxfeet
Designs cater to all ages
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Asitvo
Combining fashion with barefoot design
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Weweya
Minimalist running shoes
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Hike Footwear
Non-Slip Breathable Barefoot Shoes
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Common Treads
Handcrafted in South Africa with sustainably sourced leather.
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Rutsu Barefoot
Combines elegance and stage-ready flair
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Splay Shoes
Connect to your skateboard like never before. Hip. Hop.
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Birchbury
Innovative zero-drop faux heel design
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Groundies
Soles are thin, light, flexible, robust, durable
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Bahé
Unique grounding technology
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Feelgrounds
Barefoot shoes without sacrificing style
HISTORY HORRORS
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The 50 Ugliest Shoes in History
Vibram FiveFingers and Birkenstocks make the cut!
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High Heels Were Invented for Men
Persian cavalry → French aristocracy
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Why Footbinding Persisted in China for a Millennium
From the Smithsonian Magazine
SCIENCE VAULT
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PubMed Study: Barefoot vs Shod
Natural gait is radically different
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How to Transition Safely (video)
Your legs will thank you.