As a family we’ve tested hundreds of barefoot shoes for kids to bring you the best for every season. Whether you’re looking for barefoot shoes to fit your infants, toddlers, small children, or big kids, this article shows you the all-time best barefoot shoes for kids that we love and keep coming back to!
But that’s not all. We also cover the best budget options, sizing & fit, and all the resources you need to answer your questions about kids barefoot shoes and feet. Let’s dive in.
Why Should Kids Wear Barefoot Shoes?
After my run-in with a chronic foot issue, I learned that the shoes we wear have a big impact on how our bodies feel. I’d like my children to avoid the issues I had, so we choose shoes that allow their feet to develop normally. That means they only wear barefoot kids shoes.
What Are Barefoot Kids Shoes?
“Barefoot” shoes are so-called because they let your feet move as if barefoot. Most shoes, even kids shoes, inhibit foot function with stiff soles, cramped toe-boxes, and heels that push your body into an unnatural position.
By contrast, barefoot kids shoes let their feet move naturally! This is especially important while their bodies are growing and developing. And don’t worry if your child has flat feet – this is normal and usually corrects itself over time if they continue using their foot muscles!
As a general rule, kids barefoot shoes are:
- Foot shaped, with a wide toe box (won’t squish their toes)
- Zero drop, or completely flat (for natural alignment)
- Flexible enough to roll into a ball (so foot muscles stay strong and supple).
Learn more about the benefits of barefoot shoes for kids AND adults in this article.
Unfortunately most shoes you find in stores do not meet this criteria. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist! There are dozens of kids barefoot shoe brands that offer options for every season and price range.
The All Time Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids
The following are my top picks for the best kids barefoot shoe brands. There are healthy footwear options for everyday, school, winter, summer, and even dressy occasions. Because kids shoes shouldn’t be slowing them down!
And if you need a little help deciding on a size, here is my guide to measuring your child’s feet.
Vivobarefoot
Vegan & Leather Options | Sizes US 3C-6Y | Retailers Around the World
Use code ARVIVO20 for 20% off. Click here to find a Vivobarefoot retailer near you.
Pros:
- Offers shoes in all sizes (first walker to big kis)
- Has the most practical options for active kids: waterproof, sports, hiking, water shoes, etc
- Uniform options
- 100 day guarantee
Cons:
- Seasonal items aren’t available year round
- Can get stinky
- Laces don’t last as long as shoes
Vivobarefoot offers the most comprehensive and practical selection of barefoot kids shoes. They are practical, but still very thin and flexible – my preference for growing feet. They come in the full range of sizes – from infant to big kids – and they offer every type of style (vegan options too). As an added bonus, they have a 100 day money back guarantee even if you’ve worn them outside. We get Vivobarefoot Primus sneakers and Lumi boots annually for my oldest son. He just doesn’t like to wear anything else if he can help it! This brand is a little more pricey than others, but my children are hard on their shoes so we appreciate the durability.
We do have a consistent stinkiness issue with our Vivo sneakers. This is best avoided by wearing socks, but my kids like to go barefoot in their shoes so we end up hand washing them occasionally with baking soda and vinegar. Scrub the insoles for the best results! For the lace issue, we tie new knots if the laces break or we replace them ourselves with thin elastic laces from Amazon (Vivo knows this is an issue! I hope they rectify it soon).
Sizing & Fit Type:
- True to size
- Toddlers/Kids fit wide
- Juniors Fit medium width (best for slimmer feet)
- Low to medium volume
If your child has an extra wide or thick foot, check out Be Lenka kids barefoot shoes below.
Be Lenka Barefoot
Vegan & Leather Options | Sizes EU 20-40 | Ships from EU
Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off Be Lenka purchases.
Pros:
- Extra wide toe box
- Lots of colorful & stylish options
- Uniform options
- Practical boots for winter & cold weather
Cons:
- Returns only accepted on EU or US purchases
- Limited sport & dressy options
Be Lenka is where you can find the best colorful kids barefoot shoes! They also have an extra wide toe box and durable outsoles, while still retaining a lot of flexibility – these are shoes that kids and parents can get excited about. While Be Lenka lacks some of the practical outdoor options that you get from Vivobarefoot, they make up for it with their pizazz and high quality shoes.
This is another brand we purchase at least one pair of annually! We also carry a selection of kids Be Lenka shoes at Anya’s Shop!
Sizing & Fit Type:
- True to size
- Wide toe box
- Medium to high volume
Wildling Shoes
Vegan Options | Waterproof Options | Sizes EU 18-35 | Ships from EU
Use code AWN_ANYA_S for a one-time free shipping offer
Pros:
- Most genuine barefoot feel
- Extremely light & comfortable
- Water resistant options
- Sustainably made
Cons:
- Less durable
- No sport shoes
- Winter models are difficult to dry when wet
Wildling Shoes are the most unique barefoot shoe for kids that I have come across, and they really feel like being barefoot because of the uniquely flexibly sole. We particularly love the Nittugo with a wool insole as a breathable non-stinky option – perfect for kiddos who won’t wear socks. The winter models are made with wool and are surprisingly warm for how light and thin they are (get an additional felt insole for max warmth).
But there are limits to the water resistance – they will get soaked if you stay in water long enough and then can be difficult to dry (I swear by my vent dryer!). And if used for rough play the sole can start to come undone and develop holes in the fabric upper over time – but they last much long than you would think for how light and flexible they are.
We love Wildling best for comfort and casual use, in that domain they are hard to beat.
Sizing & Fit Type:
- Fits long (on purpose)
- Width varies by model
- Typically fits high volume
Wildling works for a variety of foot types because the sole flattens out and molds to your foot shape. They’re also designed to leave plenty of space in front of the foot so your toes never touch. Wildling makes some of the best barefoot shoes for infants and toddlers.
Keep in mind that the fit varies by model, and models change seasonally so always read the sizing & fit description on Wildling’s website before purchasing. In general this brand fits medium width and high volume, so we usually get the extra insole for my son with low volume feet.
Read all the Wildling reviews I’ve written here.
Shapen Barefoot
Leather | Winter options | Sizes EU 25-35 | Ships from EU
Use code ANYA5 for 5% off.
Pros:
- Adorable
- Sturdy
- Universal fit (wide at the toes, secure in the midfoot & heel)
Cons:
- Pricey
- Not super flexible
- No returns from outside the EU
Shapen’s barefoot kids shoes are adorable, sturdy, and have lots of toe room. They also come with removable insoles, and we’ve found that they have a solid fit that works well on many kids’ feet. They’re also freaking cute, and the color and even the glitter have held up well for our testers (I had a bunch of samples I shared with neighbors and friends to test for me).
Besides being on the pricier end, my only real complaint is that the sole isn’t as flexible as I prefer for young children (6 and below) whose bones are still developing. They’re great as a durable school shoe, but I prefer them for older kids.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Wide to extra wide toe box, but secure elsewhere so can fit a lot of foot shapes
- Fits all foot volumes because of velcro and removable insole.
Mukishoes
Vegan Options | Waterproof Options | Sizes EU 24-35 | Ships from EU
Use code ANYAMUKI for 10% off.
Pros:
- Adorable
- Sustainably made
- Extremely flexible
- Extra wide toe box
- Colorful options
Cons:
- Seasonal items aren’t available year-round
- Less durable than Vivobarefoot/Be Lenka
Mukishoes is a slow fashion barefoot shoe brand that makes adorable kids barefoot shoes with extremely flexible outsoles – and bonus they are sustainably made. They have lots of vegan options and some lined boots in the fall & winter. We’ve never had them fall completely apart, but the thinner uppers take more of a beating than the more durable barefoot kids brands listed here. My kids still love them because they’re so comfy!
Another challenge with Mukishoes is that inventory changes seasonally and it can be hard to plan ahead. They do small batch production, often using limited quantity of materials, so you never know exactly what they’ll have available. Mini Moss is a perennial model and boots come back every fall, otherwise things change each season.
Sizing & Fit Type:
- True to size
- Extra wide
- High Volume
If your child has low volume feet I would consider adding an additional insole and opting for models with velcro or laces.
Read my in-depth Mukishoes reviews here.
Zeazoo
Leather & Vegan | Sizes EU 16-46 | Ships from Bulgaria
Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off the EU shop. We also carry select Zeazoo models in the US at Anya’s Shop.
Pros:
- Chrome-free, vegetable tanned leather
- Styles for all seasons
- Customized options – lots of fun colors
- Vegan options
Cons:
- Shipping to the USA is expensive
Zeazoo has a great selection of styles for kids of all ages. Everything from super minimal moccasin style indoor shoes, to functional winter boots can be found at Zeazoo. They primarily use vegetable tanned leather, but in 2023 started offering a vegan option made from microfiber. Unlike most kids brands, Zeazoo offers a lot of customizations! Choose your own colors, cut outs, appliques, and even send some measurements to help get the best fit with straps.
The Dingo Boots & the sandals are both favorites and we stock them at Anya’s Shop seasonally!
Sizing & Fit Type:
- True to size
- Wide straight fit
- All volumes – can customize volume
Best Budget Kids Barefoot Shoes
One of the challenges of choosing better footwear for your family is the cost. Here are our favorite barefoot kids shoes at affordable prices.
Splay Shoes
Vegan | Sizes US 8C-US Men’s 13 | Ships from USA
Code ANYASREVIEWS for an additional 10% off!
Pros:
- Trendy design
- Lots of color options
- Choose from cheaper canvas or more durable knit
- Accessibility friendly
Cons:
- Color on Explore can fade
- Explore can shrink/fade after washing (cold water only!)
We love Splay because they meet all barefoot shoe requirements, are affordable, easy to get on and off, and lightweight. Our kids’ favorite is the Dash model, which has a cool look, good fit, and is durable. Splay also sells the Explore model which has a cheaper price point, but the canvas doesn’t hold up as well.
When my kids were younger the Explore was our go to, because their feet were growing and they trashed their shoes anyways, so we didn’t mind! But now that they’re a little pickier about style, the Dash is what they prefer.
Sizing & Fit Type:
- Runs slightly small, but true to the size chart.
- Wide toe box, but slim through the midfoot.
- Medium volume fit, but has adjustable velcro and a removable insole for different volumes.
They have a generous toe box shape that should work for most average to wide toes, but they do narrow at the arch a little (they are shaped like a V). That means this brand could be problematic if your child has extra thick, high volume feet.
Read my Splay Freestyle review for more detailed information on this brand.
Saguaro
Vegan | Sizes US 7.5 toddler – W15/M13.5 | Ships from China, or other locations via Amazon
Code ANYASREVIEWS for 15% off
Pros:
- Best shoe for the price
- Wide toe box
- Comes in all kids sizes
- Washable
- Retailers around the world
Cons:
- Not all shoes are the same width
- Sneaker material is very thin
Over time Saguaro has become one of my kids’ favorite brands. The knit sneakers (above right) are really soft, comfortable, breathable, and have a generous toe box. For the price, we get a lot out of these shoes. They’ve also been adding more “cool” sneaker options over time that we’ve had pretty good luck with, but the velcro straps tend to fail while the rest of the shoe still has a lot of life left in them.
The materials are not as high quality as other brands’ listed here, but they’ve worked well for our needs and are a good balance between function and affordable.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size.
- Wide fit.
- Work for most foot volumes because of removable insole and adjustable straps/laces.
Origo Shoes
Vegan Options | Sizes US 8K-4Y | Ships from USA
Code ANYA for 10% off
Pros:
- Toe guard for extra durability
- Mainstream style
- Universal fit
Cons:
- Canvas models are slightly stiff at first
Origo kids shoes have an on-trend design and a rubber toe guard to keep shoes looking nice. Really the only drawback to them is that the upper feels stiff on the canvas models when brand new and can take a little breaking in to get soft. Otherwise, they fit and functional well and hold up too!
Sizing & Fit Type:
- True to size.
- Medium to wide width.
- High volume (but velcro is adjustable, so we have good luck with them on all foot volumes).
Whitin
Mesh | Sizes US 11-5 | Ships from USA via Amazon
Pros:
- Available on Amazon for easy shipping/returns
- Easy on/off with velcro
- Up to size EU 37/US 5Y
- Lightly reinforced toe
Cons:
- Toe spring
- Velcro only, no tie option
Whitin, a really popular affordable adult option, now has a great inexpensive option in kids sizes! They are very roomy, have a nice grippy outsole, and a soft mesh upper. The heel collar is padded for comfort and the double velcro closures provides a secure fit. The only downside to these and that they do have a bit of toe spring.
Sizing & Fit Type:
- Wide to extra wide width.
- Medium to high volume.
- Slope, but it’s gradual so most foot types will fit.
Reima
Vegan Options | Waterproof Options | Sizes EU 18-41 | Ships from US
Use code ANYA20 for 20% off your first Reima purchase
Pros:
- Thin & Flexible, but durable
- Soft and stretchy knit
- Sustainably made
- Affordable
Cons:
- Stock varies frequently
- Not suitable for extra wide feet
- Limited styles (nothing for winter)
Reima sneakers and sandals are excellent for the price. They have a good fit and feel, they’re durable, and my kids love them. All while still being quite a bit cheaper than many brands! Just note that they are on the slimmer side, so best for long thin feet and not wide feet.
If that’s your kid’s foto type, the Astelu is the perfect everyday shoe. They are soft and breathable (no stinky feet issues even when worn without socks), they pull on with elastic laces, and they have held up really well for us. We adjusted the knot on the elastic lace to tighten them a bit, and they’ve been perfect for my younger son who is constantly on the go.
Sizing & Fit Type:
- Average width
- Low volume
- Runs slightly long
We found our Reima shoes to run on the longer side and to be most suited for average to slightly wide feet. The Astelu sneakers have a wider fit than the Rantaan sandals – the sandals are average to slim in width.
Find even more affordable kids barefoot shoe options for families on a budget at the link below:
Which Barefoot Kids Shoes Are The Widest?
You can be confident that all of the kids barefoot shoe brands listed in this post meet my requirements for healthy footwear, but here you can see a loose organization of them from narrowest to widest (emphasis on loose, because width can be interpreted different ways and varies between models).
In my experience, the brands with the widest toe box are:
- Shapen Barefoot
- Be Lenka Barefoot
- Mukishoes
- Magical Shoes
- Softstar Shoes
- Saguaro Shoes
- Freet Barefoot
- Whitin Shoes
More Options We Like
PaperKrane (AU) – The funnest and funkiest barefoot shoes around! These fit average to slightly wide feet best, and are typically high volume.
Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
Zuna (US) – These are a good option for older kids (size 12-4Y) that we found work for a wide variety of foot types. They also hold up well!
Freet Barefoot – Freet shoes have a great extra wide toe box, with a slimmer heel for kids with “fan shaped feet”. The uppers haven’t been as durable as other brands, but otherwise they fit and functional really well.
Use code AnyaFreet for 10% off
If you live outside the US, shop Freet here.
Feelgrounds – These kids shoes have a pretty generous fit with a wide toe box. They’ve been a little too roomy in the midfoot and heel for my own kiddos, but are good for thick-footed littles. Some cute colors and styles too.
Use code ANYA5 for 5% off your first order
Lang S. by Tikki Shoes (EU) – High quality, chrome-free leather sandals, sneakers, and boots
Use ANYALANG for 10% off
Magical Shoes (EU) – Magical shoes are light, soft, and seriously flexible with no break-in time required. Best for wide, straight, high volume feet.
Use code ANYA for 10% off
Softstar Shoes (US) – Softstar shoes are all handmade in the US, and you can customize them with tons of different colors.
All Your Kids Barefoot Shoe Questions Answered!
While these are our all time favorite barefoot shoes for kids, there are lots more questions you might have!
If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for in the resources here or you have a specific requirement, you can find everything else you need to know about kids barefoot shoes in the links below. These tools are especially useful if you’re outside the US:
- The Barefoot Shoe Finder – take the quiz or use the many filters to find exactly what you’re looking for (including region specific brands)!
- All the kids barefoot shoe reviews we’ve written over the years! Also filterable by shoe type.
- The Barefoot Kids Shoe FAQ – find all the common questions about kids’ feet and shoes in one place.
In the meantime, here are my resources for some of the most common questions regarding barefoot kids shoes.
- Barefoot School Uniform Shoes
- The Best Kids Barefoot Sandals
- The Best Kids Barefoot Winter Boots
- Baby & Toddler Shoes
- How To Measure Your Child’s Feet
There are so many good barefoot kids shoes out there today, all around the world and in all price ranges. So if you need to buy your kids shoes anyways, consider the lifelong benefit they’ll get from wearing natural footwear instead of the restrictive shoes you usually find at the store. Barefoot shoes are often the best option for kids!
139 thoughts on “The Best Barefoot Shoes for Kids – Every Season & Budget”
Hello, do Bobux have a wide toebox?
Hello there! I actually have a review of the Bobux Aspen here! It is a medium width shoe, wide enough for my kids but not extra wide.
Thank you!
Plae are our favorite, hands down!! Most days I look down & see my kids are ALL wearing a pair of some variety of plae shoes.
Is Plae barefoot shoes brand??
They are on the spectrum of minimalist shoes, but not really a true barefoot shoe brand. Read our review of them here:
https://anyasreviews.com/plae-review-minimalist-shoes-for-kids/
Hi, both of my kids have flat feet. I have a 4 year old with slight pronation, and a 2 year old that has such bad pronation, she was delayed walking. I kept both my kids barefoot 100% of the time until they began walking, and then I put them in soft soled shoes. My 2 year old ended up with a script for SMO’s, and I’ve waffled back and forth on whether or not this is best as I know she needs to use the muscles to strengthen them. I’ve settled for orthotics when we are indoors on flat floors, and barefoot when outdoors. Curious if you’ve had any experience with orthotics or know anyone who has forgone orthotics and focused on minimalist shoes. Very difficult to find any information about this out there. Thank you.
I was prescribed orthotics at 9 years and successfully weaned off of them at 30 years after strengthening (I didn’t know it was an option before). I wore them because of hypermobility in my feet and ankles that caused me issues. For a two year old I would be asking my doc why they need the SMO because kids naturally have flat feet and usually do until 5-7 years of age, so I am assuming your doc has noticed something out of the ordinary that would merit extra support. I am in no position to give medical advice, but if it were my child (after knowing what I do now) I would be digging a little deeper and if needed seek out a pediatric physical therapist to go along with the orthotics.
What do you think of Stride Rite Soft Motion for babies/toddlers beginning to walk?
Hi! I think I answered this question on another post, but they look good to me! As long as they’re flat, thin, and flexible 🙂
Hi, Anya,
The Young Sole Shoes discount didn’t work for me – either that or it didn’t work because I had to order women’s shoes for my big kid.
Thanks for the heads up! I checked up with her on it and you can use the code HAPPY10 to get the discount!
Which shoe is picture under “what makes a healthy shoe”? Thanks!
I’m curious as well!
It is the Be Lenka Play shoe 🙂
OH!! And for rain boots, Cat & Jack (target brand) works suprisingly well!! They are flexible, zero drop heel, with a good sized toe bed. And pretty easy to find!
Did anyone ever get a reply to this? I’m curious about the shoes too!
Sorry, somehow I missed those comments. They are the Be Lenka Play shoes 🙂
It’s the Be Lenka Play shoe! It has a section on it in the post, we also have them in blue and grey.
Hi, I’m wondering why you do not have Plae on your list? I value your opinion.
Thanks
Thanks for reminding me about Plae! I actually just updated the list to include them. I think I didn’t think of them initially because they have a more tapered toe box than I prefer, and some of their models are quite stiff. But they are zero drop and flexible.
Do you think that the vivobarefoot ultra would be too wide for a narrow toddler foot? It looks really wide in photos
It’s hard to say! My kids have quite shallow feet and thin ankles, and they were able to tighten the velcro enough. They also got a size that I expected them to grow into.
I tried out the Kiuu boots for my kiddos (4 & 7) this winter, but they didn’t survive the winter season for us (Michigan). At first they were awesome, they have a really thin, flexible sole. They were a bit narrow, which I knew to expect, but I ordered them a little big and my kids really loved how easy they were to slip on and how light they were. The pink pair were never waterproof and my kid loves all puddles, so we were constantly trying to dry them out, but they have a stink that is not going away. The stitching and fabric is breaking on the sides of the boot where her ball of her foot flexes. The grey boots were waterproof, but the material on the edges of the boot have disintegrated so now they’re not, and the stitching fully broke away from the sole of the boot on one side . . . My kids play outside everyday for between 1-3 hours, on average, in temps between 10-30F, but considering how expensive those boots were I’m disappointed they didn’t hold up better.
Thanks so much for this feedback! Not what I expected, but I am glad to have a firsthand account. The search for a kids barefoot snow boot continues…
We live in a snowy cold winter climate and have tried many different minimalist boots, by far our favorite have been bisgaard thermo wool rubber boots! They’ve lasted two seasons! Only reason they won’t last longer is because my kids have grown! All the other brands of boots wore out but the bisgaard still look new!
That is great to know! Thanks for the rec. We have yet to try them because we usually wear shoes with laces to make sure they don’t flop around, but I’ve had my eye on them for a few years now.
Hi Anya,
I am searching for a strapless ballerina flat shoe for my daughter who’s almost 10. She really really wants this shoe. It seems like everything in her size either has a strap or has pointy-ish toe box. I really want to find a compromise. Do you have any ideas? She wears size 2/EU 33. Thanks.
Hi Kassia! Unfortunately I cannot think of any for kids without a strap of some kind. Ballet flats are notoriously tricky to fit without a strap of some kind, especially for kids. Wildling Shoes has a slip on that isn’t a ballet flat, but maybe she’ll like it. The Drifter Leather does customs and they might go that small, but I doubt that’s a route you want to go for a child that’s still growing. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!
Our oldest child has feet too thick in the middle to make Splays work – they work great for our youngest though! Recommendations on good everyday alternatives for kids with larger mid-feet?
I have one son that can’t wear Splay for the same reason. Vivobarefoot has worked really well for him, along with Be Lenka and Wildling.
Hello Anya. I have a lil guy with thick feet + he’s always worn vivo barefoot with success but they are sold out of just about everything so I took a chance + bought the wildlings. Which I ADORE except for the fact that they are actually VERY narrow. He tried them on + said they need to be wider. Wondering if Be Lenka + Muki shoes are wider in the middle before I run into the same problem.
Oh darn about the Wildling’s! Yes, Mukishoes and Be Lenka are both wider in the midfoot. Be Lenka is the widest in both the toe box and the midfoot and my recommendation for thick feet. Mukishoes taper in at the midfoot a little but, but they’re still wider than Wildling.
Our baby is 15 th months old and his mid -feet is very thick so we are looking sandals for him do you have any advice ?
For that age, I would check out Softstar Laguna sandal, they are really generous in the midfoot.
Which of these brands have a similar sole to Wildlings? With a lot of texture and ground feel?
I would say that Mukishoes has the most groundfeel after Wildling, along with the sandals from Tikki (but not the sneakers, those are great, but the sole is a little stiffer). Wildling is unique for having an extremely flexible sole, there really isn’t anything else like it.
I ordered Ten Little shoes and found them to be very stiff. We ended up with Splay instead. A much more barefoot feel.
Splay is a great brand. I have heard mixed things about Ten Little, it seems that sometimes they are flexible and other times not (I have a guest review on this blog of them and you can see in the photos that they are pretty flexible, but I’ve seen others where they hardly bend). I have a pair on their way to me and am still trying to solve that mystery.
Hello Anya!
Thank you for your dedicated and thorough research. We are very grateful to you!
Might you have thoughts on whether these seem fairly zero-droppish…? https://bundgaard-shoes.com/winter-boots-for-babies/10854-30643-walk-tex-pull-on-5711875156680.html#/1144-size_bundgaard-22/9232-color_bundgaard-black_m
Much obliged,
A pair of barefoot walkers and runners, and now baby barefoot walker 🙂
Yes, those are zero drop! They really should label them, but Bundgaard has several zero drop options with a wide toe box and flexible sole. We are getting some Bundgaard rain boots in to Anya’s shop this spring and hopefully will be able to expand the style offerings over time.