I have a mild obsession with knee high boots. They’re instantly chic, but also can be very comfortable and practical – if they’re barefoot boots that is. Once you’ve experienced a cute barefoot boot, it’s hard to go back. They have a foot-shaped toe box that doesn’t squish your feet, a flat sole that’s gentler on the back, and flexibility so you can move nimbly and responsively. And did I mention they can still be stylish?
Without further ado, here is a list of the tall barefoot boots I love most that have a wide toe box and zero drop sole.
The Most Stylish Knee High Barefoot Boots
A couple notes as you head into this roundup. I have a wide toe splay, but overall slim and low volume foot. I’m 5’3′ and wear a size 37 usually. Samantha, my blog assistant and shoe tester, has an extra wide high volume foot, is 5′ and wears a size 38. The models that are extra wide friendly are identified as such! But keep in mind that if you are tall, these boots will hit at a different place on your leg. Every single boot reviewed here was true to size in our experience.
I also need to talk about socks for tall boots. Find here my recommended foot friendly knee high socks and tights, and for cuteness at the top of your boots, I love boot cuffs.
Ok, onto the boots!
Peerko Joana – Brand new this year and possibly the boot I’m most excited about! The Joana has a fully adjustable fit, with three side buckles that take the calf width from very slim to very generous. The little pull tabs can be trimmed so that your look is always clean, and they are just so beautiful!! This is the only barefoot knee high boot that fully accommodates both slim and wide calves.
*Black is made of leather and brown is a synthetic OEKO-TEX certified material. I am very picky, and both are top quality and feel great.
Find these and all of Peerko’s tall boots in the EU here, where you can use code ANYASREVIEWS10 for 10% off (they don’t accept returns outside the EU though).
Peerko Regina – A longtime favorite of mine, but slightly updated for 2026. The Regina II now comes up higher on the leg for a more flattering silhouette. These boots are made of a beautiful nubuck in that rich brown I can’t get enough of and essential black. Simple without being boring, elevated without being excessive.
They come in two calf widths – narrow (which really is more like regular width) and regular (which is more like wide calf).
Peerko Empire – Just restocked! This is an incredibly popular boot, for all of the right reasons. They are sexy and stylish (come in black too), have an excellent fit that works for most foot types, and adjustable laces (to accommodate both slimmer and wider calves) + side zipper.
Be Lenka Symphony – coming soon here! Not yet available, but wanted to put them on your radar. These boots have a soft stretchy back for an accommodating fit and an extra wide friendly toe box. Not to mention a functional outsole for wintry weather (the same outsole that is on their ArcticEdge boots).
For people outside the US, they will be coming to the Be Lenka EU store this fall as well. You can use code ANYASREVIEWS for 5% off there.
Jenon Eternal – Code JENON11 gets you 10% off full price, and ANYA5 gives you 5% off sale items. The Glam is a lovely tall boot with an extra wide fit, but they are also high volume and wide through the entire boot. That makes them less likely to fit your average foot type, so I recommend them for extra wide & high volume folks. This boot also comes in a vegan option.
Shapen Abby – A tall lace up boot for extra wide feet! These are more adjustable than the Glam, but I still recommend them for extra wide and higher volume feet. Samantha loves her pair.
Code ANYAS10 gets you 10% off full price, and ANYA5 gives you 5% off sale items.
Shapen Arizona – another beautiful style for extra wide high volume feet. Taupe suede, western details, and embroidery make for a statement boot with all the toe room.
Code ANYAS10 gets you 10% off full price, and ANYA5 gives you 5% off sale items.
Koel Flora – Got thin calves? This is the knee high lace up boot for you. The Peerko Empire does fit me, but the Flora fits my skinny legs the best. I get a fully flush fit in them that I love to pair with skirts and dresses. They are made of a matte leather, which I like but I kind of wish it was glossier. They are medium width, not quite as wide as Peerko.
No(n)s – Beautiful boots! They have an extra wide toe box, with a fitted heel. They are a show stopper for sure. Come with or without brogue, if that’s not for you. I’ve had mine for several years now, and the quality is top notch. If you pay for a custom boot (at a premium) you can customize the calf width.
Groundies (EU) – They have two new tall boots for the season. I haven’t personally tried these because they are new and not in the US right now. But historically I’ve had good luck with Groundies and expect they’ll be decent. They look wider calf to me, and Groundies has a medium width fit.
The Groundies US store is opening back up on Sept. 1, but I don’t know what they will have.
The Lookbook
Some of the ways Samantha and I have styled our knee high barefoot boots.
21 thoughts on “The Tall Boot Edit – But For People Who Love Their Toes”
I’m looking for a mid calf combat boot style barefoot boot. Any recommendations?
There are a few combat style boots with taller shafts – the Peerko Pulse, the Shapen Maverick, the Ahinsa Jaya. But the one that’s actually mid-calf (and not slightly below) is not yet released. Be Lenka Evon will be coming in a month or so to Anya’s Shop and to the EU store, and they are a true mid-calf lace up.
Will you have any of the new Peerko boots that just dropped in your shop? Eva, Joana and Pulse?
We have the Peerko Joana and Pulse in two colors already in stock and ready to go! But we are not carrying the Eve this year.
Hi Anya!
Which color of the Synphony boots you have? I see they have 2 brown options!
Mine are black. They come in black and brown, but aren’t yet available.
These all look great and yet my biggest issue with these that has stopped me from spending the money are all the rubber soles that appear to lack any traction. I’m surrounded by gravel trails where I am and need a little more than flat rubber for all the walking I do. I’ve got some Lems boots for winter weather but really hoping for more attention to this from the barefoot world!
You may like the Be Lenka Symphony when it goes live. The outsole is the most rugged of all the options here.
Sadly, none of these are suitable for extra wide feet. The only tall boots I’ve found that fit me at 24.3/10cm (11+cm splay) are FlexiNens.
Width is a bit subjective, but it sounds like you are needing an extra extra wide boot. Drifter Leather does custom, and they have some beautiful tall boots.
Hi Anya! I hope you will eventually carry more Koel boots like their filas hydro, faro, etc.
Hi Anya 🙂
How do the Koel boots feel for you width wise? I think they are on the narrow side. I love them but with my feet being 9cm wide I don’t think they’ll fit me 🙁
Thanks
They are borderline not wide enough for me, I have to wear thin socks, and even then my toes are slightly compressed (ok for a couple hours, but not something I want all the time). So they are indeed on the slimmer side. My feet are right around 9cm wide at the widest point and I have a size 37 in the Flora. So I guess it would depend on the size you’re looking at.
My foot is naturally pretty narrow, even after wearing barefoot shoes for a little over a year. Can you recommend some tall riding boots that may work?
I’d try Peerko or Koel. You can add socks or an insole to help take up some space!
Any recommendations for high foot volume but “regular” width feet in these tall boots?
Hi Scout, Shapen is the brand I would recommend for you. Yes they fit wide and some extra wide feet, but they should also work for average width feet. Peerko is not as wide as Shapen and tends to have a very “universal” fit for a lot of people.
Does the Peerko Regina and Joana have the same shaft height?
I am 5ft tall and found that most boots are too tall for me to comfortably bend my knees. So I am glad to see Samantha is the same height as well—as a great point of reference!
P.S. Love this review – just in time for the fall season.
Hi Angelina! The Peerko Joana is about 1cm taller than the Peerko Regina.
Hi. I’m looking for a tall brown boot with strings. In vivo barefoot I wear size 35…many brands stop at 37. I prefer not to wear socks. I have thick calves. If need be color is negotiable. Price is irrelevant if the product is great quality. Any brand recommendations? Thank you.
Hey Karen, I’d look into No(N)s. They make boots in your size and they have gorgeous tall lace-up boots! You can do customizations too to ensure they accommodate your calves.