5 Best Barefoot Shoes for Beginners (2024 Update)

Top Overall Pick: WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers

The WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers are taking my top pick as the best beginner-friendly barefoot shoe. There’s a lot to like about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers and I was honestly shocked at how well these shoes performed for my needs.

At a price of $43-60 USD, I was a little skeptical about how good these shoes were going to be. However, over the last three months of wearing these shoes, I’ve been really with their comfort and construction.

This shoe features a slightly higher stack height and level of cushion compared to true minimalist shoes, so for beginners, I see these as a really good option for acclimating to this footwear for a budget-friendly price.

The sole of this shoe is flexible and the rubber tread has a decent amount of grip for this shoe’s price point. I also like the knit upper and how clean it looks when dressed up when different outfits. These shoes don’t necessarily shout “cheap” despite their price.

• Best For: Beginners, Casual Use, and Budget Shoppers
• Miles Used: 80+ and counting
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 10.15 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size, but there are no half sizes. Size up if you’re between sizes.
• For More Info: Read My Review

Top Pick for Utility: Lems Primal Zen

The Lems Primal Zen is taking my top pick as the best beginner-friendly barefoot shoe for utility purposes. There’s a lot to like about the Lems Primal Zen and this include their overall construction, comfort, and appearance.

The first thing to like about the Lems Primal Zen is how comfortable it is for walking and casual use. The sole of this model bends really really and has a nice level of protection, especially for beginners.

The LemsRubber outsole has a good level of thickness and this shoe’s removable insole, I think most beginners will enjoy how “minimalist” this shoe feels while still providing some comfort to help ease them into this footwear style.

This model also works exceptionally well for warm weather and I’ve enjoyed their performance on warmer days when I feel like going barefoot in my shoes. You can also use this shoe for casual hikes, which is a perk of this shoe’s versatility.

• Best For: Beginners, Summer Wear, Casual Hikes
• Miles Used: 50+ on concrete, 12+ on trails
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 8.80 (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• For More Info: Read My Review

Top Pick for Formal Wear: Icarus Ascent

The Icarus Ascent is bringing home the win for the best beginner-friendly barefoot shoe for formal wear. If you’re a fan of white leather shoes then I think you’ll enjoy the Icarus Ascent’s construction and performance. This shoe features a white full-grain leather upper.

I regularly wear the Icarus Ascent for nights out and for settings where I want to be a little more business casual. This shoe’s leather upper looks clean and it does a pretty good job with weather resistance which I’m a fan of for all-season and urban wear.

Another thing to like about this shoe in the context of beginners is that it comes with three different insoles which vary in thickness. There’s a super minimalist insole, a medium cushioned insole, and a thicker insole.

The ability to rotate insoles is great because it gives you the opportunity to quickly go from a bit more cushion to a lower stack height with a more minimal feel. I found this to be awesome for commuting, then office wear contexts.

• Best For: Casual Wear, Formal Wear, and Light Workouts
• Miles Used: 70+ on concrete
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 12.05 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• For More Info: Read My Review

Top Pick for the Price: WHITIN Casual Barefoot Sneakers

The WHITIN Casual Barefoot Sneakers are bringing home my top pick as the best beginner-friendly barefoot shoes for the price. Like the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, the Casual Barefoot Sneakers deliver a well-rounded performance for casual use.

The WHITIN Casual Carefoot Sneakers deliver a simplistic construction and budget-friendly price point. These shoes cost $40 USD which makes them one of the most affordable barefoot shoes on the market that look decent.

This barefoot shoe can be great for beginners because its sole has a slightly thicker stack height and feels a bit more cushioned compared to other minimalist shoes. For the acclimating beginner, I see this as a big perk of this shoe.

I also like that this shoe is comfortable for both sock and sockless use and it’s good for warmer seasons. If you want a no-frills barefoot shoe for warm weather wear, then the WHITIN Casual Barefoot Sneakers can be a great option.

• Best For: Casual Wear, Walking, and Budget Shoppers
• Miles Used: 40+ on concrete
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 8.10 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size, go up if you’re in-between sizes.
• For More Info: Read My Review

Top Pick for Light Workouts: Lems Primal 2

The Lems Primal 2 is taking my top pick as the best beginner-friendly minimalist shoe for light workouts. Note, if you’re a beginner and you want a more minimalist-feeling barefoot shoe without breaking the bank then look into the Tolos Archetype 1.0.

The Lems Primal 2 is taking my top pick in this performance category due to its slightly thicker and heavier LemsRubber Outsole construction. This shoe’s stack height gives the foot a little more protection.

If you’re a beginner wanting a shoe for daily wear and light workouts, then opting for a shoe with a bit of thickness to its sole construction can be useful for preventing a ton of excessive foot fatigue.

One thing to note with the Lems Primal 2 is that its sole is rounded so it can take a little getting used to. This shoe took me about two weeks to acclimate to regarding how its sole feels when walking and training.

• Best For: Beginners, Daily Wear, Light Workouts
• Miles Used: 35+ on concrete, 5+ on trails
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 9.05 (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• For More Info: Read My Review

What Barefoot Shoes Are Best for Beginners?

The best barefoot shoes for beginners will be options that account for one’s experience with minimalist shoes and being barefoot. To elaborate on this, a barefoot shoe’s stack height and cushion should be considered for beginners, in my opinion.

For example, if you’re used to wearing thicker midsole shoes and you’ve never worn barefoot shoes and you’re not often barefoot, then you’ll want to acclimate to barefoot shoes slower than someone who’s regularly walking or working out barefoot.

Acclimating to barefoot shoes slowly at your own rate with shoes that make sense for your needs can help prevent excessive foot and ankle fatigue and soreness, and it can make the transition process a lot more comfortable.

All of the shoes included in this list have slightly thicker soles and removable insoles to give them a bit more cushion and comfort for different needs. I picked these models because, typically, they’re shoes that I get good feedback with from beginners.

Takeaway Thoughts

If you’re a beginner looking into barefoot shoes, then you’ll want to be selective with the models you choose to invest in first. More specifically, I think it can be productive to invest in barefoot shoes that have a bit more comfort to them.

These are typically models that have soles that walk that fine line between being traditionally thicker shoes and true barefoot shoes with stack heights of 6mm and below.

The more strategic you are with your barefoot shoe selection as a beginner the faster you can acclimate to this style of footwear while doing it in a comfortable means.

If you have additional questions about the barefoot shoes for beginners featured in this list, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram.