I am delighted by all the lovely Shapen barefoot boots new this fall! They are bringing style and comfort to the barefoot shoe world, where it hasn’t always been easy to find classy options that fit wide feet. We have reviewed each of their new barefoot boot models so you can see if they’d be a good fit for you.
And you can use code ANYA5 for 5% off your purchase.
Shapen Barefoot Boots Review
Shapen has quickly become one of the best barefoot shoe brands out there. I’ve loved their women’s barefoot dress shoes for years, but now they have something for everyone and every season.
Their fall/winter 2023 line up includes stylish and dressy boot options for us barefoot fashionistas, as well as warm and practical options in the full size range (fits both men and women). And all fit wide to extra wide feet with a soft, flexible feel!
I have been dying to share them with you since I saw the lineup earlier this year (perks of being a barefoot shoe store owner muahaha), so without further ado let’s dig in!
Ordering Shapen
Shapen is located in the EU, and you can shop their extensive lineup with code ANYA5 for 5% off. But please note that Shapen does not accept returns outside the EU. In order to help non-EU customers, we are carrying many Shapen models in the US at Anya’s Shop (discount code only works directly with Shapen).
At this time we have several models already in stock, but will be getting more throughout the next few weeks! I will note in this review which models/colors you’ll be able to find at Anya’s shop.
Shapen Boot Sizing & Fit
Shapen Barefoot’s boots are as follows:
- Run on the bigger side – in some we suggest sizing down, in others we suggest your normal size
- Fits wide to extra wide feet
- Best for medium to high volume feet – but can fit low volume feet with extra insoles
- Fits a wide variety of foot shapes with a square shaped toe box
- Real barefoot feel due to the thin flexible outsole (only 5.5mm thick including tread)
In general Shapen’s boots fit very spacious. I normally wear a 38 in my boots to fit socks, but in Shapen I sometimes wear a size 37 and still have plenty of room. I also use an additional insole in almost all models because I have low volume feet. Shapen even fits Samantha’s extra wide, high volume feet feet comfortably!
That means that if you have thin, narrow feet you might be most comfortable in a different brand (but you never know for sure until you try them!).
Are They Winterproof?
Each of the Shapen boot models comes on the same outsole, which is moderately grippy but not especially functional for serious winter weather. I consider my Shapen boots to be best for warmth and comfort with everyday lifestyle use – including city and light trail walking in some rain and snow. If flexibility and softness in boots is really important to you, Shapen is your brand.
But for the most functional outdoor options, check out my guide to barefoot winter boots here.
Now on to the shoes! Samantha and I both tried all these models, so you are getting our combined experience here. She has extra wide, high volume feet. I have wide feet but low volume/narrow heels.
Divine
Leather | Sizes 35-44
The Divine is a chic ankle boot with a functional buckle detail. They come in black, brown, and cream and are so stylish. I have been loving on the similar Zaqq Riquet boots for 4 years now, but the Divine is a better option for extra wide, high volume feet. Now more people can enjoy this great look!
Fit: Divine boots are microfiber lined and feel very roomy. They will be best for medium to high volume feet. The ankle opening is average width.
We have all 3 colors of the Divine at Anya’s Shop!
Glam
Comes in Vegan & Leather | Sizes 35-44
The Glam is a riding style boot with buckles (the one around the ankle is removable) and a side zipper. It comes in both leather and vegan leather, but I personally prefer the leather. They are classic and refined looking!
One thing to note – the buckle around the ankle does have to be removed every time you put them on. It’s really cute, but it makes them less speedy to put on. And both the top and ankle buckle have 3 notches, so you get a small amount of adjustability there.
Fit: There is a thin faux fur lining for a bit of extra warmth, but it doesn’t affect the fit – they still run on the big side like most of Shapen’s boots. The calf is on the wider side (there is only a small piece of elastic paneling in the top of the shaft), so it gapes on my thin calves. They should fit most average and some thicker calves.
We have leather Glams in both colors at Anya’s Shop this fall.
Ivy
Leather & Felt | Sizes EU 35-44
The Ivy is a low cut ankle boot with a side zip. They are great for dressing up, and I love that they are a low height for easy styling. The cut of the ankle opening can be a little stiff if you have sensitive skin but it will get softer with wear. The height is perfect for wearing with every kind of outfit!
Fit: Ivy’s fit more true to size than most Shapen boots, so we don’t recommend sizing down. They have a felt lining which adds some warmth, but also makes them snugger around the foot than other Shapen models. They should still fit high volume feet too, but you might need to size up for that extra space!
If you’ve worn the Ivy in the past, these fit close around the ankle and arch and snugger overall.
We have Ivy’s in black and brown at Anya’s Shop this season.
Cozy
Leather & Wool | Sizes EU 35-47
The Cozy is one of my all time favorite warm barefoot boots, because they are so soft and, well, cozy. The side zip really makes getting out the door easy – they feel like a house slipper but look a lot nicer.
Fit: The Cozy fits true to size for a lined boot. I am wearing size 38 and they are perfectly roomy. The Cozy also is the best Shapen boot model for low volume feet, because the laces cinch up well. That makes these very versatile!
The Cozy is available in black and brown at Anya’s Shop!
Urbaneer
Water Resistant Leather & Wool | Sizes EU 35-47
The Urbaneer is a combat style boot with a wool lining and brushed nubuck upper. They are a little more structured than the Cozy and have a more masculine/edgy look to them. There is no side zipper and the leather is water resistant, so these are more practical for wet weather than some of the other Shapen boots. The back of the boot shaft is elasticized which makes them really comfortable for walking (no stiff edge digging into your ankle!).
Fit: The wool lining is thick like in the Cozy, so I am wearing a size 38 in these as well. The laces are adjustable, so they fit more foot volumes than slip-ons. But they don’t cinch as tightly as the Cozy and they feet a little higher volume.
The Urbaneer is available in black and brown at Anya’s Shop!
Frosty
Leather & Nylon Lining | Sizes EU 35-47
The Frosty is made of a nylon upper with leather edging. The boot shaft is nylon inside until about the ankle and then a soft faux fur where your foot sits. While they look like a snow boot, I don’t consider them a great option for a lot of winter weather because they aren’t waterproof and you aren’t able to cinch the top closed to prevent moisture coming in. Even still, they are warm and easy to wear because they pull on, so for some milder dry climates they will be a great everyday winter shoe.
Fit: High volume. The webbing is adjustable but only by a few inches, so they won’t cinch well for low volume feet.
We will not be carrying the Frosty this season at Anya’s Shop.
Fluffy
Suede Leather & Faux Fur | Sizes EU 35-44
Fluffy is a chic ankle boot lined with soft faux fur. If you’re looking for a no fuss boot that still looks stylish, this is a great option! The asymmetrical ankle with fluffy collar adds a nice touch.
Because there is no adjustability in these they are not a great fit on my low volume feet – but Samantha has been wearing them often for chilly morning walks. We used a spray protectant on these before taking them out of the house so they wouldn’t get dirty! They’re too cute for that 😉
The faux fur lining is very soft, but I have found that it makes my feet sweat if I don’t wear socks.
Fit: High volume. Because these don’t have any adjustability, if you have low volume feet expect to need additional insoles and/or to wear thick socks.
We will not be carrying the Fluffy this season at Anya’s Shop.
Lynx
Water Resistant Leather & Wool Lining | Sizes 35-47
I love this new style, it takes things up a notch from your basic lace up boot with the turned down wool collar and shiny metal lace holders. They are neutral, but interesting! And the water resistant leather and rubber toe guard make these practical for some rain and snow (you don’t have to worry about scuffing around the bottom either).
Fit: These run quite roomy and I sized down in them along with our other AR team members who tried them on. Despite the thick wool lining, they felt very roomy in a size down.
We have the dark grey available at Anya’s Shop!
Berry
Suede & Textile Lining | Sizes EU 35-47
Berry is an all-year lace up ankle boot with leather laces. It comes in colors you don’t typically see in this style – burgundy, pale pink, vanilla, and grey. I highly recommend protecting these cute desert boots with a spray shoe protectant so that the color is preserved. But if they do get dirty, a suede brush can work wonders! These are really comfortable barefoot thanks to the breathable and soft microfiber lining.
The laces can be a little difficult to tight/loosen but they get softer with use.
Fit: The lining is a thin Microline textile, they fit wide and high volume!
We will not be carrying the Berry this season at Anya’s Shop.
I’m just so happy to see how Shapen is progressing! And don’t forget, that if you want more tips on barefoot boots for winter, check out my other articles!
36 thoughts on “New Shapen Barefoot Boots for Fall 2023”
I’m wondering if you can wear custom made orthotics with the barefoot shoe styles.
You can, I did myself when I first started wearing barefoot shoes. You just want to make sure that the shoe can hold the orthotic in place. I prefer the brands from this list of cushioned barefoot shoes for orthotics and rigid insoles because the soles are a little more robust. But ultimately it comes down to your particular orthotic and how well it works with specific shoes (as you’ve probably already experienced, if you’ve been using it for a while).
Where do I order the barn boots and what is the price?
There are links in the article to the e-shop where you can order Shapen boots.
I live in Winnipeg, Canada.
Can I buy barefoot shoes anywhere here?
Hi Irene, take a look at this list of Brands by Region. There aren’t a lot of brick & mortar stores yet, but we do have some listed there.
Have just got the Divine boots in black and this review is spot on. Wide fit, so with my low volume feet I use a NorthSole insole and they now fit well. Soft and comfortable right out of the box except that the very top of the leather needed to soften a bit where it meets the leg. (I just wore higher socks for a few days.) Beautiful classic styling with fine leather. With the ankle strap they have a nice casual vibe. Now thinking about whether to get the Ivy for a truly dressy ankle boot. Well done Shapen!
Hi,
Would you say urbaneer are typically winter shoes? I’m looking for boots good for autumn and mild winter. Will these be ok?
Thank you
Yes, they would be appropriate for autumn and mild winter! If it’s very icy and snowy the outsoles can be a little slippery, but if your winter is mild then I think they’re a great option because the leather is water resistant and the wool lining is warm.
Hi, where can I find how long is your feet? Thank you.
My feet measure 23.3 cm from a foot tracing.
Hmm, if you took size 38 of Cozy with 23.3, I am wondering whether the same is enough for my 23.8 feet (with thin socks) or whould I need size 39? I am going to measure my feet with wool socks tomorrow. But still plus 1.7 seems too much to me. (Don’t have much experience yet, I am going to measure my chinese shoe too.) Tanks for your advice!
You could probably wear either depending on how much space you like.
I love that they have some that go over a 44… but gosh, not all of us that have big feet want the unisex/rugged look. We like cute things too and so many brands are missing the mark on the 29+ cm crowd.
Any chance you’ll be stocking the vegan version of Glam this fall? I’d love to try them but the shipping costs from the EU are prohibitive for an expensive shoe that I cannot return.
Hi Sarah – We stocked the vegan glam last winter and decided not to restock because it didn’t sell very well. So unfortunately all we will have this time around is the leather version.
Hello!
First, your website is so incredibly helpful. I come here often, thank you for the hard work you put into helping the barefoot community! I admit I was hoping for a little more extensive review on the fit of these Shapen shoes, especially since you mentioned the foot types of both you and Samantha. For example, in the Glam section you only mentioned the calf fit, and only on your calves, while nothing was mentioned about width, volume, or ankles. Anywho, I am mostly wondering how a narrow (fan shaped), low volume foot is going to fit in the Glam boot. Thank you!
Hey Ginny – I only added product specific details that went beyond the general fit guide at the beginning of the review. So the Glam fits like I describe there – overall roomy, wide, and on the high volume side. So if you are narrow and low volume you’ll like have some extra space. You can use a thick sock or leg warmer to fill that in though!
Hi Anya,
Is there any insole already inside the shoes or should I buy extra one from Shapen Website ?
Thanks for your answer !
William
Hi William, they have an integrated insole that is not removable.
Hi, which size do you wear in Divine?
Size 37