Feelgrounds Move Review | Super Breathable But Lacking Security?

These are some of the most comfortable barefoot shoes I’ve worn over the last year and that’s saying something because I have worn and reviewed a ton. The Move is positioned as a comfortable barefoot shoe built for most gym tasks, which immediately intrigued me.

Whenever I see a barefoot shoe marketed for being solid for everything in the gym, I try to immediately narrow the scope and find where their thresholds may lie. For example, under the umbrella of “every move”, there’s a big difference between a 500 lb deadlift and a bodyweight lunge.

The good is that the upper in the Move is wicked soft and the padded boot is so nice. I’ve been wearing these for traveling, running around different cities, and for my daily life almost non-stop. And for a barefoot shoe, the insole has a decent amount of cushion.

I’ll get into it a bit more in the daily wear section, but these can easily be dressed up or down with jeans or gym shorts and fit right in. There are some performance limitations, though, which is a bummer considering the price point, and I’ll dive into those below.

Who Should Buy the Feelgrounds Move?

• You like more upper volume: If you’re looking for a barefoot shoe with more boot padding and upper volume, these can work great.
• You need max ventilation: If you live in a warmer climate, then the Move can be an awesome option due to its breathability.
• You want a cross-over for casual wear and “casual” training: If you need a shoe for daily wear and some casual training, these can be great. If you need something that’s a little more serious for training, go Tolos Archetype 3, AIRHAS Knit (if on a budget), or Vivobarefoot Primus Lite Knit.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Feelground Move?

• If you’re a powerlifter or CrossFit athlete: You’ll want something more dialed for your needs. Powerlifters, grab the AVANCUS Apex Power or Notorious Lift Radix. CrossFit athletes, look into the Vivobarefoot Motus Strength.
• If you live in a damp or wet climate: If you’re navigating humid climates or damp cities, you may want to look into more weather-friendly options like the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite IV AW.

Sizing and Fit Suggestions

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts. 

Fit Breakdown:

• Narrow (<D) feet: True to size. 
• Medium (D) width: True to size.
• E and EE: True to size.
• 3E+: True to size.

For reference, I wear a size 10 in XERO, TOLOS, and most Vivobarefoot (the Primus line is a bit of an odd ball considering they run long). I went with my normal size 10 in the MOVE and they fit perfectly. Just the right amount of length and width for my E/EE feet.

FEELGROUND doesn’t work in half sizes. So if you’re in-between sizes, I recommend sizing up instead of down. It’ll give you a bit more room in the toebox to let your toes and feet do what they want.

Everyone else should go true to size in the MOVE. There’s plenty of upper volume so if you have a thicker foot or wear custom insoles or orthotics, there’ll be plenty of room.

Performance Breakdown

Lifting: 7.5/10

These work really well for certain workouts. Split squats, conventional deadlifts, back squats, anything upper body, machine work, the MOVE is perfect for all of them. The knit upper and padded boot make these incredibly comfortable. And despite not having the most aggressive outsole, they do a decent job of grip on most surfaces.

Where they start to fall short is when you dial up intensity or start to push into the edges of the shoe. Think sumo deadlifts, lateral lunges, cossack squats, walking lunges. Basically anything where lateral security or lockdown is important, the knit upper is too stretchy and offers very little in terms of structure. I definitely wouldn’t use these for clean and jerks or snatches. Anything dynamic, where you’re really moving weight is a no-go in these.

Cross-Training & CrossFit: 7/10

Again, like with lifting, these can work with some limitations. If you’re doing moves that aren’t crazy demanding on the upper like box jumps or jump rope, you’ll be fine. It’s also worth noting here that you can get a bit more lockdown if you crank down the laces around the midfoot. It’s not much but it can help.

Even with cranking down the laces, the more dynamic moves like heavy sled work, lateral jumps and cuts, or anything more athletic like plyos are going to be a problem. You’ll constantly be spilling over the sides or front of these.

Short Runs: 6/10

Okay, so I tested these out for a single run. It was on a treadmill and I ran for about a mile. I’m not against running in barefoot shoes; they just have to be dialed for running for me to really want to use them. There are plenty of good barefoot running options out there. These aren’t one of them, at least for me.

Despite how comfortable they are, the forefoot was too loose for my running needs. If you have a thicker or wider foot than I do, you may be okay. Just tread lightly to start with while you’re getting a feel for your own limitations in these.

Daily Wear: 8/10

This is where the MOVE really shine. They are wicked comfortable and are perfect for slipping on to go out-and-about. I wore them with and without socks and they were equally as comfortable. The TENCEL Lyocell liner in them really helps cut down the smell, especially if your feet tend to get a bit sweaty like mine do. They even have a 4 mm stack height with a removable insole for additional comfort.

The knit upper is incredibly breathable, perfect for hotter climates, but a definite no-go in colder climates. I’d also urge caution for wetter or damp climates. They tend to absorb water and get dirty really easily. The dirt won’t be as much of an issue in a darker color way. But if you do go with the white like I did, FEELGROUNDS claims you can throw them in the washing machine to clean them up.

Construction Details

My size 10 weigh 10.25 oz and, unlike traditional barefoot shoes, have a 4 mm stack height. They sit between a barefoot and a transition shoe. There is a thin foam removable insole with a fully finished internal construction.

There is a bit of an extended outsole layer coming up the toebox which gives it a bit of structure, but the upper knit is very stretchy and there’s no internal toe guard. They almost fit more like a pair of socks than a pair of shoes.

There are 5 core eyelets running up the midsole. The lacing system on these is incredible. There’s a good amount of stretch allowing for moving the laces around to get as comfortable as possible. The tongue is a padded mesh but isn’t gusseted.

The upper is a knit upper that runs from the forefoot through to the heel. The boot is a padded mesh with a knit layer on the heel. There is a TENCEL Lyocell liner on the knit upper to help with smell and grime.

The outsole is a full rubber tread. The tread isn’t super aggressive but it’s plenty grippy for most of my needs in and out of the gym.

Final Thoughts: Would I Buy Again?

The biggest question is whether or not I would buy these again.

I absolutely would. Just not for training.

Don’t get me wrong, for the casual lifter who isn’t pushing intensity or doing a lot of athletic-style work, they’re a perfectly fine training shoe.

For me, it comes down to the comfort of these shoes. They’re so dang comfortable.

I just don’t love the performance limitations. If you’re looking at these with more performance in mind, there are better performing shoes out there at a lower price point that are worth looking at.

If you’re looking for a do-it-all barefoot shoe that’s supremely comfortable, though, these can be absolutely worth the price.