WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Review | Great Shoes for Under $60?

The WHITIN men’s barefoot sneaker has been one of the most surprising minimalist shoes that I’ve reviewed this year. For context and for the why behind my surprise I’m always hesitant when purchasing super cheap shoes from Amazon.

For a price point that sits below $45 USD, my main concern was around quality. For example, “How does something like the WHITIN Barefoot Sneaker really stack up to a more costly barefoot shore like a Primus Asana from Vivobarefoot?”

Across the board, the WHITIN Barefoot Sneaker has been a really strong-performing barefoot shoe and I’ve been impressed with their overall quality for the price. However, I have a couple of knocks on this shoe, and I’ll discuss those below.

WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers

$49.99

4.6

Stability

4.5

Versatility

4.7

Durability

4.5

Quality

4.6

Pros

• Surprisingly well-rouned performance
• Awesome price point
• Great for wide feet and beginners

Cons

• Not the best upper security for serious training
• Durability can be variable
• Can feel too loose for narrow feet

Best For

• Barefoot Shoe Beginners
• Walking and Standing
• Budget Conscious Shoppers
• Medium to Wide Feet

Specs

Heel-to-Toe Drop	0mm
Weight	9.6 oz
Width	Wide
Lifting Threshold	~435 lbs
Mileage Threshold	<1 mile

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Who Should Invest In the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers?

The WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers can be a great barefoot shoe option for three key needs and performance asks. For starters, if you’re wanting to spend comfortably less than $100 USD on barefoot shoes, these can be a good pick.

I spent around $42 USD for my model and this is about a third to a fourth of what the standard barefoot shoes costs, especially some of the more premium barefoot shoe options from companies like Vivobarefoot.

Another reason why you might want to invest in the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers is that they can serve as a really good transitional minimalist shoe. This shoe’s sole isn’t crazy minimal like some barefoot shoes so you will get a little cushion in them.

I think if you want to explore barefoot shoes for more regular use and want a model to replicate their feeling without going crazy minimalist, then this shoe can be a really good cost-efficient option to look into.

Third and lastly, if you’re wanting a minimalist shoe with a good amount of width through the midfoot and toe box, the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers should work well. I have a medium/neutral-width to wide foot and I have ample room in this model.

Who Shouldn’t Invest In the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers?

While I do like the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers for the most part, they’re going to be a miss for certain individuals. If you want a super minimalist feeling shoe you’ll want to pass on this model.

The sole of the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers can be great for being and feeling fairly minimalist and serving as a transitional shoe, but it’s going to fall short for those that want to be as close to the ground as possible.

Another drawback with the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers is that you somewhat get what you pay for with this shoe. This model’s long-term durability can be a little or miss and inconsistent compared to some of the premium options on the market.

If you’re planning to rotate this model with other shoes, then you’ll get a lot more out of this shoe’s durability. However, for anyone wearing them every day for high-volume use, you may find that the sole starts to break down after a good 5-6 months of use (which is not bad for the price, though, to be honest).

WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Pros

Across my wear testing with the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, I’ve found a few things to really enjoy with this barefoot shoe.

1. Comfortable for Daily Wear
2. Really Fair Price Point
3. Ample Width and Good Breathability

The first thing to like about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers is their overall comfort for daily wear contexts. If you’re buying this shoe, then it’s likely because you want a barefoot shoe for walking, standing, and wearing more casually.

From a day-to-day comfort standpoint, this shoe has been exceptional and I really like how comfortable this shoe’s sole is. As mentioned above, this shoe has a bit more “cushion” through its sole compared to other barefoot shoes.

In addition, this shoe also has a foam removable insole that provides a bit of cushion but can be removed to get you closer to the ground. This is why I see the WHITIN Barefoot Sneaker as a good transitional option when going from traditional to minimalist shoes.

I think if you’re concerned about this shoe’s comfort for longer walks, standing, and being on your feet all day for work, then you should be okay with this shoe and they’ll hold their own for what they are.

The second thing to like about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, and this piggybacks off my point above, is their budget-friendly price point. When buying barefoot shoes from Amazon, and Amazon-owned brands nonetheless, I’m always skeptical.

My main concern is, “Can a shoe really be that good for a price point that’s comfortably below $50-60 USD?” Overall, I’m impressed with this shoe and what it offers for its extremely cost-efficient price.

Plus, I like that this is a barefoot shoe that you can beat up with daily wear without stressing about the financial investment you made in them. For example, I’m planning on making this shoe my go-to summer shoe for occasions where I know there’s a chance of my shoe’s taking a beating (yard parties, long dog walks, etc.).

The final two things that I like about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers are how much they have through the forefoot and their breathability. I have a medium to wide foot width that typically categorizes as an E-width. For my foot width, this shoe offers plenty of room.

I think if you’re around an E-width or even an EE-width, then you should be fine in this model regarding how wide it fits. Note, for EE widths and wider, you may want to size up a half-size.

The breathability in this shoe is also pretty good. This shoe is built with a lightweight mesh upper and I find it to breathe pretty well even on warmer days when wearing socks and when going sockless. Hence, why I bought this shoe primarily for summer wear.

WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Cons

For their price, the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers do a good job, but there are a couple of cons to note about these shoes.

1. Can Be Inconsistent With Sizing
2. Not the Most Minimalist
3. Long-Term Durability Is Hit Or Miss

The first drawback that I have with the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers is that they can inconsistent. More specifically, I find that the WHITIN models can vary a lot even when listed under the same product page.

Colorways and designs can vary pretty greatly and sizing for models can also vary which can be frustrating. If I had to guess, this is because WHITIN is owned by Amazon and there likely isn’t a ton of quality control going into these shoes on the backend.

While I’m happy with the colorway I went with in this shoe, I’d suggest treading lightly when opting for different models and really making sure the pictures line up with what you’re expecting to get.

The second drawback that I could see some having with the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, and I touched on this above, is that this shoe isn’t crazy minimalist. If you solely select barefoot shoes on ground feel and low stack heights, I’d suggest not going with this model.

This model’s sole reminds me of the sole used in the Flux Footwear Adapt training shoes. Sure, it’s a minimalist shoe with a high level of flexibility, but its stack height sits around 12-15mm from what I measured, and the cushion amount will be higher than shoes like the Feelgrounds Highrise Knit.

Another drawback that may be an issue with some users is that the durability of the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers can be pretty variable. I credit a lot of this due to their price and inconsistency.

While I haven’t experienced any breakdown issues yet with my model, the sole construction is one area that I’m keeping an eye on. The rubber tread in this shoe doesn’t seem to the dense regarding its density which is why I’m also opting to rotate this shoe with other models.

WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Performance

To break down the performance of the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, I’ll cover how this shoe performs for walking, and standing, and discuss some thoughts about their performance for multi-season use.

Testing the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers for Walking and Standing

When it comes to walking, the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers provide a nice level of comfort. Personally, I like the slightly higher stack height in this shoe’s sole for long-distance walks, especially on concrete.

I think if you’re wanting a no-frills-style barefoot shoe for daily use for things like commuting in urban settings where you’re a lot on concrete, then this model should tick that box well for you. Plus, their price makes them easy to beat up.

The removable insole is also a perk here because it can give you a slightly more cushioned ride or you can remove it to get even closer to the ground. I like this because the cushioning variance is helpful for different wear settings.

My only gripe with this model for walking is that they can squeak pretty badly when breaking them in. I always expect some squeak with newer shoes, but these were pretty aggressive with how loud and easy it was to create a squeak noise in them.

In the context of standing and comfort, this model does a very tiny amount of arch to it, so if even a little arch bothers you in your shoe’s soles, then you may want to consider that before investing in this shoe.

Testing the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers for Multi-Season Use

When it comes to multi-season functionality, the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers will do an okay job in most seasons. On colder days, they can run a little cool due to their mesh upper so I’d suggest thicker socks in these contexts.

For example, when walking the dogs with these shoes in 25-degree Fahrenheit weather, I found my feet getting a little cool when wearing thinner no-show socks. When I changed into thicker socks for my evening walk I was much more comfortable.

On warmer days, the breathability of these shoes is pretty good. They’re not the wispiest shoes on the market regarding their mesh upper, but they do a good enough job, in my opinion.

I also like that you can wear them sockless and get a little more breathability out of them. On warm days, you should be okay rocking them sockless, I’d just suggest taking out the insole and letting the shoes breathe after wearing them to prevent smell.

WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Sizing

For the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, most should be safe going true to size in these shoes. I find the length of this shoe to fit true and their width should be adequate enough to accommodate E-width feet comfortably.

One sizing-related complaint that I do have about this shoe is that they don’t come in half-sizes. That said, I think if you’re in-between sizes, then sizing up will be safe the call to ensure you’re not hitting the end of your toe box.

Also, the sizing of WHITIN shoes can vary pretty greatly. For example, my size 10 WHITIN Minimalist Trail Runner feels a lot snugger than my Barefoot Sneakers, so I’d highly suggest also checking out what other users have said about each shoe before you invest.

• WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers Sizing Thoughts: True to size for most. Size up if you’re in-between sizes.
• Break-In Period: <2 Wears

If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, drop a comment below and I can help you out.

Price Breakdown

For the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, you can expect to pay $59.99 USD, but this model is often on sale for less. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this model listed at full price and I bought my pair for $41.99 USD.

When comparing the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers to other barefoot shoes, I’d most closely compare them to models like the Splay Freestyle and Feelgrounds Original Mesh which both have higher price points.

Despite costing less, honestly, I really think the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers can hold their own against those models. So, if you are pressed on your budget, you shouldn’t stress about losing out on too much if you decide to opt for the WHITIN model.

Will this shoe last as long as more premium models or have the best features? Not necessarily, but I think that is fairly normal for super budget-conscious shoes. Overall, I like the price point for the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers and think it’s fair.

Construction Details

The construction of the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers is relatively simple in nature and there’s not a lot to this shoe. Below are some of the key features to note in this model.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Weight: 10.15 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Layered Mesh Upper
• Full Rubber Sole
• Hexagon Lug Tread Pattern
• WHITIN Branding On Lateral Midfoot
• Sole Is Said to Be Non-Slip
• Non-Gussetted Tongue
• 5 Core Eyelets

If you have additional questions about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers’ construction, drop a comment below and I can try to help you out. The product page doesn’t do the best job of highlighting everything about this shoe, in my opinion.

Takeaway Thoughts

Overall, I’ve enjoyed the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers and their performance for daily wear. This budget-friendly shoe costs 2-3x less than some of its comparable peers and it can hold its own.

I think if you’re wanting to spend comfortably less than $50-60 USD and you want a minimalist shoe for daily use or to serve as a transitional shoe to barefoot shoes, then the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers make sense.

There is a little “you get what you pay for” with this model, but overall, I’ve been happy with my purchase of the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers.

If you have additional questions about the WHITIN Barefoot Sneakers, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).