I love the Chelsea boot look, but I’m tired of cute shoes that are uncomfortable. That’s why I wear barefoot Chelsea boots instead! They don’t squish my toes or aggravate my back, like most stylish shoes do. Want the Chelsea boot look without hurting your feet? You’re in the right place.
Find here my all-time favorite wide toe box Chelsea boots, including barefoot, cushioned, and budget options.
Why I Wear Barefoot Chelsea Boots
Most fashion footwear, like the Chelsea boots on me above right, have a pointy narrow shape that can really hurt! By contrast, barefoot Chelsea boots have a natural foot shape with space for the toes to lay flat. Unlike shoes that claim to be good for wide feet but still come to a point at the end, barefoot boots actually give you the space you need where you need it.
And barefoot Chelsea boots also don’t have a heel, which can be a real back saver. Same style essence, but so much more comfortable!
So I wear barefoot Chelsea boots because:
- They have a wide anatomical toe box that doesn’t squish my toes
- They are flat (zero drop) and don’t push my weight forward
- They style the same as regular Chelsea boots!
- And you can choose more cushioned options or add insoles if you don’t want a thin sole!
I also make use of a few easy fit hacks to ensure I get a perfect fit, since Chelsea boots don’t have laces. Now let’s talk about my personal favorite barefoot Chelsea boots that have space for your toes to wiggle AND are stylish and trendy.
The Best Barefoot Chelsea Boots
I love a Chelsea boot moment. The understated design is both easy to style and easy to wear (love me a pull-on shoe). And they will basically never go out of style, so you can be sure to get lots of use out of them! Here are my all time top picks for the best barefoot Chelsea boots.
Lila by Anya
Leather Upper | Leather Lining | Sizes EU 34-45
When it comes to Chelsea boot styling, the Lila is my go-to. I wanted something that looked more like a classic Chelsea boot than other barefoot options, so I went out and designed one! The leather paneling over the elastic makes for a more sophisticated look, so these dress up really well too. I reach for them and the Rosa boot (similar but with side zipper) all fall and winter when I really want to look good!
Lila Chelsea boots have a quality leather upper, leather lining, and leather insole – all chrome free and vegetable tanned without the use of harsh chemicals. It takes significantly longer and is more expensive to tan leather in this way, but it’s safer for skin and is softer/more breathable than chrome tanned leather.
The outsole has a rubber bottom for a bit of grip, but they are not intended for rugged use. And it is a bit thicker and stiffer sole than some barefoot Chelsea boots, so if you want a real flexible feel you’ll probably like the others here better!
Me at the leather production facility in Gaziantep, Turkey during the tanning process!
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size, but slightly short for some. I wear my usual size still.
- Medium wide – suitable for average and wide feet, but not best for extra wide feet.
- High volume above the arch, so I added tongue pads to mine to get a secure fit (just be aware that tongue pads are semi permanent and don’t come off easily).
Mukishoes Chelsea
Leather | Wool Lining | Sizes EU 36-45
Use code ANYAMUKI for 10% off directly from Mukishoes in the EU
I love that the Mukishoes Chelsea is a lower cut than most other wide toe box options, which gives you different styling options – easier to wear with jeans than taller Chelsea boots! They are also very light, flexible, and come with a real wool lining – not too thick, but nice for cold days.
They can get a little wrinkly/frumpy because they are so soft and unstructured, but it doesn’t stop me from styling them with lots of outfits. I reach for them often when I want a quick and easy look that’s still stylish. Mukishoes Chelsea is unisex.
Sizing & Fit:
- Slightly small – I have a pair in both my regular size and a size up and wear the bigger size with socks.
- Medium wide – best for average and some wide feet. The outsole is very soft and can flatten out a bit under wider feet as they break in, but don’t feel super wide when brand new.
- Medium volume – the ankle opening is slim and lower cut, so some people say the front edge cuts into their ankle a bit. But it helps keep the shoe from being floppy even on different instep heights.
Xero Ridgeway
Leather | Mesh Lining | Sizes US W5 – M15
The Xero Ridgeway is a new style for fall 2024, and they’ve been very popular with both men and women. They have that rugged Chelsea boot look that’s so trendy right now, and an actual rugged outsole to go with it! So they look cool and are practical for hiking, light work, and a bit of weather.
The outsole on the thicker side with tread, but still flexible. The leather upper is thick and stiff when new, but break in.
I personally found them too stiff in the back heel area for my liking, but I am sensitive there and go for softer over more durable most of the time. The Lems Chelsea (in the Cushioned section of this article) is a better option in this style for me.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size for most people, but ran small for Justin (he wears a 13 but needed 14 in Ridgeway Chelsea)
- Medium to wide width – Men’s models are wider than women’s
- Medium to high volume with removable insole
Vivobarefoot Geo Chelsea
Leather Upper | Leather Lining | Sizes EU 35-43
Use code VIVOANYA20 for 20% off. Not yet restocked for fall 2024, but coming!
The Vivobarefoot Geo Chelsea is a long time favorite for me – these boots have an excellent silhouette that makes for easy styling, both with casual and dressy outfits. The leather is really high quality and the elastic keeps its shape so they continue to look sleek even after breaking in.
Geo Chelsea boots come with a removable cork insole for a bit of extra fit adjustability, but tend to fit medium to lower volume best and not high volume. Probably not best suited for extra thick, high volume feet and ankles. Personally I really enjoy the slimmer fit through the ankle because I tend to slide around in barefoot boots.
Vivobarefoot also has the Gobi Chelsea, already in stock in black. They have a more urban vibe to them and I’m not gonna lie – they’re not my favorite. I find them too stiff and tight across the toe box and too loose in the ankle. But that’s another option too.
Vivobarefoot boots come in stock seasonally, so the Geo Chelsea should become available over the next few weeks for the fall 2024 season.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size – fits longer than the first to boots listed here, and I don’t size up!
- Medium wide – best for average and wide feet, but not extra wide.
- Medium volume but slim through the ankle
Angles Nyx
Leather | Leather or Wool lined | Sizes EU 37-45
Restock and additional variations coming early October, 2024!
If the Vivobarefoot Geo Chelsea isn’t a good fit for you or doesn’t go big enough for you, I recommend the Angles Nyx next. It has a similar sleek shape and extra sheen that looks dressy, and they are a little bit wider and higher volume if you need some more space. They are also designed to be unisex.
While I love a super soft, flexible shoe (like Mukishoes Chelsea) I also like my stylish boots to have a bit of structure so they stay classy. A sophisticated but straight forward black Chelsea is one of my closet work horses and these fit the bill perfectly.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Medium to wide width – will work for wider than average feet!
- Medium to high volume
The Best Extra Wide Chelsea Boots
For when even barefoot boots aren’t wide enough! These are the widest of the wide barefoot Chelsea boots.
Groundies Camden
Leather | Velvet lining | Two Width Options | Sizes EU 36-43
The Camden Chelsea in Barefoot+ fit has an extra wide toe box with room for toes to splay for days. This boot also comes in their regular Barefoot width, which is best for average width feet. So if you want the extra wide option make sure you choose Barefoot+!
They are really nice quality, have a slip-resistant outsole, plus a thin velvety lining for a little bit of extra warmth. They feel great on foot! I love them in both widths myself since I don’t have an extra wide foot.
Be Lenka Entice
Leather | Fleece lined | Sizes EU 36-43
The Be Lenka Entice is a little more rugged of a Chelsea boot style with a durable outsole. They have an extra wide, fan-shaped fit for those of you who really need all the toe space while still styling like other Chelsea boots.
They are heavier than the Groundies Camden and other barefoot Chelsea boots – some people love that extra durability and traction though. They certainly are good quality!
Be Lenka also has the Mojo chelsea boot that we really like. It’s not quite as wide as as Entice, but is still plenty wide for me and features a comfortable knit ankle opening.
Sizing & Fit:
- Runs small – I size up one
- Extra wide
- Medium volume – they do not have a removable insole, and people with high volume feet often find them tight over the top of the foot. They can loosen with wear though!
The Best Chelsea Boots with Cushion
Lems Chelsea
Leather | Waterproof Options | Sizes US W6 – M15
Hands down my favorite wide toe box Chelsea boot with some extra cushion is the Lems Chelsea. They are really lightweight, have a very spacious toe box shape that can fit most foot shapes and widths, and they are soft and cushioned. Justin and I both have had great luck with ours – the quality, fit, and feel are all on point.
Aaaand a little bird told me that in mid October Chelsea Tuff will be coming out from Lems – this boot will be the same width and design as the original Chelsea for the upper, but on a winter ready outsole with more traction and grip! So if you like Blundstones but need the wide toe box, this will be the best alternative.
Chelsea Tuff isn’t replacing the original Chelsea but will be another option, and it will come in a waterproof fur-lined option and an unlined option.
Best Budget
For when you want the comfort of a wide toe box barefoot Chelsea boot, but can’t swing the price.
Whitin Chelsea
Faux Leather | Sock Opening | Sizes US Women’s 5.5-10.5
At $40, this is about as cheap as it gets for wide toe box barefoot Chelsea boots! They have a decently wide toe box and a soft sock opening. Not as high quality as the others listed here and made of a pleather type of material (as expected at this price). But they are pretty comfy and have a little bit of extra cushion.
The sock opening is more casual, but still you can style them the same way you would other Chelsea boots. Whitin shoes tend to have a little bit of toe spring, which I don’t love. But it’s not excessive and I am not feeling it too strongly in these.
More Barefoot Chelsea Boots
If you’re looking for even barefoot Chelsea boots options, you can find a full alphabetical list below in different price ranges and locations around the world. I also have a full list of barefoot boots available for tons of other options in different boot styles.
Angles Fashion (EU) – Sizes EU 37-46. Available lined or unlined. Use code ANYA for 5% off. This shop does not ship to the US or Canada, but you can also find them at Anya’s Shop!
Lila by Anya (US) – Sizes EU 34-45. Chelsea boots designed by me only available at Anya’s Shop! These boots are hand crafted in Turkey using naturally tanned leather uppers and footbed, cotton thread, and a pure rubber outsole. Available in a side zip style or leather covered elastic.
Be Lenka Entice & Mojo (EU) – Sizes EU 36-43. Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off from Be Lenka (returns are only accepted from within the EU and USA). Be Lenka is also available at Anya’s Shop!
Conker Shoes (UK) – Sizes UK 1-13 with 3 different width options and different sole options.
Drifter Leather (EU) – Sizes EU 34-49 with custom fit available. See my reviews of the Drifter Leather here.
Aintap FeelBarefoot (EU) – Sizes US Women’s 3.5 – Men’s 15. Read my Review here. You can use code ANYA50 for a discount!
Gaucho Ninja Chelsea (UK) – Sizes EU 36-45. Read my Gaucho Ninja Review here. Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off!
Groundies (EU) – Sizes EU 36-43. My personal fave is the sleek Camden! It now comes in two widths as well. You can find this style at Anya’s Shop in the US.
Koel Fila (EU) – Sizes 36-45. These come in a few colors you don’t often see in Chelsea boots. I like them for average width, average volume feet.
Also available at retailer Mugavik Barefoot with worldwide shipping. Code ANYASREVIEWS gets you 5% off from Mugavik.
Lems Chelsea (US) – Sizes W 6.5-12 and M 5-15. Note that these have a thicker sole than most barefoot shoes, but still zero drop and foot shaped. Read the Lems Chelsea review here!
Magical Shoes Lupino (EU) – Sizes EU 36-47. Get 10% off with code ANYA. These run small, I recommend sizing up one. Love how soft and flexible they are. Also available in a vegan version.
Mukishoes Chelsea (EU) – Sizes EU 36-48. Comes in vegan and leather options. ANYAMUKI for 10% off. These are one of my all time faves – the short height makes them easy to style with pants. Read my review for more details here.
Also available at Anya’s Shop.
PaperKrane Chelsea boot (AU) – Sizes EU 19-42. PK is a great brand for a pop of color! Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off.
Shapen Barefoot (EU) – Sizes EU 36-43. The Ivy is an extra wide barefoot Chelsea boot! See my Shapen review for more details. Use code ANYA5 for 5% off.
You can find Shapen at Anya’s Shop!
Vivobarefoot Chelsea – Sizes US W5.5-11.5/EU35-43. Use code VIVOANYA20 for 20% off. You can find two Chelsea boots seasonally from Vivo – the Gobi and the Geo. My personal fave is the Geo! Read my more about these boots here.
Xero Shoes Ridgeway & Tari – The Ridgeway comes in both men’s and women’s sizes, and Tari is just a women’s Chelsea. Both have a firm heel and durable outsole, but can still be dressed up if you choose.
Zkama (EU) – I have yet to try this brand myself, but I’ve been watching them for years and they seem like a good option.
Zaqq (EU) – Sizes EU 36-50. Lots of Chelsea boot options from Zaqq! See my Zaqq brand review here.
We also have select Zaqq styles available at Anya’s Shop.
Vegan Options
Ahinsa (EU) – Sizes EU 37-46. Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
Bohempia Rola (EU) – Sizes EU 36-43. Regular and Wide width available. Use ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. This is an excellent extra wide vegan barefoot Chelsea boot.
Feelgrounds Chelsea (EU) – Sizes EU 35-49. Available in black, cream, and brown!
Magical Shoes Lupino (EU) – Sizes EU 36-47. Vegan option in smooth black and gray. These run small – I recommend sizing up one.
Get 10% off with code ANYA
Mukishoes Chelsea (EU) – Sizes EU 36-48. The black cork option from Mukishoes is vegan. I love these boots and have worn them for years now. They are so light and comfy!
Use ANYAMUKI for 10% off. You can read my review of the Mukishoes Cork Chelsea here.
Barefoot Chelsea Boot Width Comparison
Here I’ve organized some of the barefoot Chelsea boot styles in this article from widest (left) to narrowest (right). This hopefully will help you find a good fit.
Check out my 10 All Time Favorite Barefoot Boots for more info on the shape and width of these brands!
81 thoughts on “The Best Barefoot Chelsea Boots That Don’t Squish Your Toes!”
Hi Anya how did you measure the feet for such in depth info.
I measure my feet two different ways. You can find detailed instructions in this guide to measuring your feet.
Hi, thank you for such an in-depth blog, it’s really useful. Have you come across/can you recommend brands that offer stylish options with a wide toe box that aren’t so narrow depth wise or that offer some arch support (UK based ideally)? I understand arch support goes against bare foot principles but I have a tendon injury so need to have this or have room to insert insoles. I believe my foot issues stem from feet imbalance from squished toes though, so I am trying to transition part way!
Hi there! Have you checked out this list of cushioned/thicker barefoot shoe options? A couple of them have mild support, but you may want to use your own orthotic in them (for the most part they all have removable insoles you can swap out). I personally used SuperFeet arch support when I was dealing with a foot injury. I since transitioned out of it, but at the time it was helpful to be able to use it inside a wide toe box shoe.
Check out hobibear on Amazon. I have extra wide and deep feet and have invested significant money in brand but these beauties are by far the most comfortable and only 30% of the cost! I’m very happy!
Hi Anya,
Which of these are good for big ankles? It’ll be nice to wear shoes without squishy ankles.
Thanks.
Hi Amna, I’d suggest the magical Shoes Lupino, Xero Shoes, or the Lems Chelsea.
Hi Anya,
What might be some situations in which one might want to wear a more cushioned boot rather than a more barefoot boot?
It might be for more warmth (being farther from the cold ground), if you’re doing long mileage on hard smooth ground, or if you have some foot pain or discomfort with thin soles. I switch it up regularly because I don’t have much fat on my feet anymore and I get heel pain sometimes. So I feel best rotating between a bit more cushion and really thin barefoot soles.
What would you say are the most cushioned pair (i.e. thickest sole?) I am recovering from a foot injury and though I think barefoot shoes are the way to go, I need a bit of protection for city walking.
The Lems Chelsea has the thickest sole. You can read our review here!
Hi Anya
Are the Belenka Entice Neo soles different to the ones in your picture? The one in your picture seems to be the deep grip, but on the website they have a unigrip. Do you know then if the traction might be different in the newer version of the entice? Thanks in advance!
The current Entice models are made on the Unigrip, which has slightly less prominent lugs than the DeepGrip, making them best for urban winter environments.
Hi Anya,
I am looking for Chelsea boots that accommodate wide ankles ( I have small feet size 35/36 and every pair I’ve tried is too tight around my ankle) which would you recommend ? Thanks
Hmm, most chelsea boots cater to an average width, so one idea is to choose one with a side zip. The Koel and Magical Shoes chelsea boots both have the elastic panel on the outside but a zip on the inside. You could keep them partially unzipped and they would still look just like a chelsea.
Any idea which ones would be best for super high volume feet and ankles, but average width feet? Thank you!! 😊
Hi Jess – Aintap, Magical Shoes, or Lems might work for you!
Hi – I tried the Magical Lupino after reading your reviews, and love everything about them except that they don’t fit my feet. I tried one size and found the length good, but my heel slipping all over and just generally a feel of way too much space around my foot. I tried a size down and my toes were hitting the front of the shoe. I am also now facing high costs to return. Do you have a recommendation of an alternative that is similarly light and flexible but a little less wide? Also, do you have anything that works for you to snug up a shoe that your foot is swimming in, even if the right length? Thanks so much.
Hi Loren! There are some fit hacks you can use if a shoe is too loose in your heel or has too much volume above your foot.
Some brands that I think would fit you better than Magical Shoes would be: Vivobarefoot, Mukishoes, Groundies, or PaperKrane.
Great post!
Which ones are best for guys with thinner ankles yet wide forefoot? I tried Lems Chelsea Waterproof Men’s 9.5 but there’s too much room in front of or behind my ankles. Thank you!
I would suggest the Angles Nyx, if you are able to get it (they don’t ship outside the EU). After that the Magical Shoes Lupino, which is not as high volume or wide in the ankle. Not as many men’s options for chelsea boots unfortunately!
Hi,
Thanks for your reviews. Im looking for some Chelsea boots, my feet are 25/10.5 and really high. Which of the boots you’ve tried you think might be a good fit for me? I’ve tried Be Lenka Mojo, or would have tried but couldnt even put them on; I’ve tried the Xero Tari, they’re a tad narrow but at least I could put them on. So height is a bigger issue for me than width but my feet are also wide and this combo makes finding thr perfect boots for me quite difficult. Thanks a lot!!!
Hello Reka, I would look at the following chelsea boot options – Lems, Shapen, and Mukishoes. Lems will likely be your best bet for wide and high volume.
Thanks for this list! I’m looking for a Chelsea boot that has the most ground feel, like a super thin sole. I love my Earth runners (primal and circadian) and wear them until it’s too cold but I want a Chelsea boot that feels equally thin and flexible! And ideally pretty to go with dresses and skirts! I LOVE the leather ones you make but it looks like the soles are firmer… but the look is perfection! Which one/s would you recommend?
The Mukishoes Chelsea has that really great barefoot feel with the super flexible thin sole. And I think they still well with dresses!