The Lono Flow is a versatile and lightweight barefoot shoe that rivals more expensive brands. I am loving the fit, feel, and quality, both for everyday and exercise.
Key Takeaways
- The Lono Flow has a true barefoot feel with a 6 mm outsole, breathable knit upper, plenty of toe space.
- An adjustable lacing system ensures a secure fit with lateral stability.
- Durable, stretchy, and easy to pull on, maintaining shape with frequent wear.
- Machine washable!
- Versatile for gym workouts, sports, and everyday wear
- Biodegradable and ecofriendly.
TLDR: The Lono Flow is a standout barefoot shoe that combines eco-friendly materials, thoughtful design, and exceptional versatility. With its breathable knit upper, grippy outsole, and spacious toe box, it’s perfect for gym workouts, everyday wear, and fast-paced activities. The shoe’s durable, biodegradable construction and vibrant color options further enhance its appeal. While the fit may not suit high-volume feet, the adjustable lacing system and true-to-size options make it accessible to most wearers. Priced affordably and easy to maintain, the Lono Flow offers an excellent entry point into the world of barefoot shoes that rivals more expensive options in fit and quality
Meet Lono
Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off.
Lono is a new brand in the barefoot shoe space, with just two models. Lono’s mission is to offer shoes both good for the health of the planet as well as the health of our bodies. They focus on sustainability with biodegradable natural materials, and reasonable pricing.
Lono Flow Review
I have really been enjoying the Lono Flow, and consider them to pack a serious punch for their price point. I’ve tested and reviewed so many barefoot sneakers, and these stand out for their quality and feel without costing $150+ (Flow is $98 before my code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off). If you are looking for that flexible, soft, light-as-air-but-still-functional feel, Lono Flow is the one.
They have a flexible 6 mm outsole with removable insole and super breathable knit upper with reinforced edges. They are vegan friendly too. I have been slipping mine on and off without doing the laces (upper is stretchy, laces are not, so it means I can’t tie them super tight), and have not seen any deforming or stretching out of the materials so far.
Lono offers your basic neutral color options as well as some bright pops of color. Style-wise, they definitely look sporty but I am a fan of the fun colors.
The laces go fully side-to-side across the top of the shoe, which offers good adjustability and a secure fit. If you plan to use these in the gym or for sport, this is an important feature. The lateral stability of the laces will keep your foot secure and not sliding around.
What I Love About Them
Lono Flows have a pretty generous toe box, with more space than comparable sport shoes from Vivobarefoot. But they still have that secure fit through the heel and midfoot, which is so needed in sport shoes. It’s a fit that is hard to nail, but tends to fit a wide range of people well. It’s really the best of both worlds!
Something else I really love about these shoes is that although I have worn the shoes often, and in some inclement weather, they have held their shape well and the collar still looks good.
Sizing & Fit
Lono Flow shoes are:
- True to size
- Fan-shaped with a wide to extra wide toe box.
- Medium volume (high volume friends might not fit well)
- Removable insole gives you a bit more adjustability
It is true that the Flow S (for sport) has a tighter fit so you have more security in the shoe – and this made the toe box feel a little narrower than on the original Flow. So if you want all that room, go for original Flow.
And keep in mind that the soles are pretty thin on Lono shoes, so not the best if you need some extra cushion.
Here is a comparison of Flow (left) to Flow S (right). You can see that Flow S is cinched in more, and it has some extra grippy tread on the outsole.
How I Wear Lono
These definitely look like a sport shoe, but they function really well as an everyday shoe. The outsoles are pretty grippy and versatile for use in the gym and on the road. They work well for running, HIIT, CrossFit, and strength training (I would choose Flow S for HIIT and CrossFit). I’ve even wore mine hiking and then machine-washed them after.
I’d love to hear your experiences, if you also try Lono. Let me know what you think of them!
5 thoughts on “Lono Wear – New Barefoot Shoe Brand with an Excellent Fit”
Are these prices in Canadian funds or American?
It is in USD
Are you wearing your typical size? According to their chart I should go up a size…
Yes, size 37 is what I have, which is my typical size.
I just got my pair today. The size chart seems to be very wrong. I usually wear a 39, but the size chart said I should go with 40. My foot is 24.6 cm long, so just
0.1 cm too long for the Lonowear size 39. I emailed to ask if they had any tips for sizing because I really don’t like sneakers that feel too long, but they said to just get the 40. Well, it is far too long. It’s almost a whole inch too long for my foot. Just a few steps around my house, and it was clear that I would be tripping over the toes all the time if I tried to make these work. It didn’t occur to me until too late to check the reviews on their website or I would have seen many other people say that the shoes run long.
I don’t think I will be exchanging these shoes. They do seem comfortable and lightweight except that the outsole under the arch is thicker than the rest of the sole, and I prefer as minimal a sole as possible. I haven’t started the return process yet, but the reviews on their website make it sound like an exchange won’t be worth my time or money.