Trending Fall Boots, But Make it Wide Toe Box

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A side by side of two different boots on a woman, visible from the front knees down, with tall grass in the background. On the left is the Peerko Empire barefoot boots in Brandy brown leather with a wide toe box and the text "wear this". On the right is someone wearing a pair of similar style tall lace up brown boots from Frye but they have a narrow pointy toe box and tall heel.
Find here wide toe box barefoot boots to replace the cute shoes that hurt your feet.

I love a perennial boot look that never goes out of style – those models you can rely on year after year for effortless fall fashion! What I don’t love is having squished toes and hurting feet. So I’ve swapped all my old boots for wide toe box barefoot alternatives. And thank goodness there are pretty ones out there!

This is my barefoot style series where we find comfier alternatives to cute and trendy shoes. Today we’re featuring new barefoot versions of the classic boot styles that are trending for fall 2024 and really every year! Enjoy!

A collage of a woman wearing 4 different outfits and 4 different stylish barefoot boots - Shapen Maverick, Peerko Empire, Xero Chelsea Ridgeway, Origo Nomad Adventurer

And before we get into it, I just want to remind you that you can add your own insoles to many barefoot shoes! This lets you customize the thickness, cushioning, and support in your wide toe box boots.

Peerko Empire

A close up top down view of a person's feet wearing tall brown leather lace up boots and a floral skirt. On the left is a Peerko Empire barefoot wide toe box boot in Brandy with the text "wear this", on the right is Freebird Grany boot with a narrow toe box with the text "not that"

Leather | Sizes EU 37-45

A rustic tall leather lace up boot is a bold statement, and the new Peerko Empire Brandy color is the perfect warm fall hue. I like to pair them with skirts and dresses of all lengths (they’re particularly sexy with a mini skirt). Combine the great style with a roomy toe box, side zipper, and thin fleece lining and it’s love all around.

I have a deep love for Peerko boots because they look really clean and sophisticated and have a generous toe box. It’s not ultra wide, but wide enough to fit most foot types without looking excessively big.

A woman standing outside in front of tall grass wearing a plaid skirt and sweater, smiling and walking toward the camera. On her feet are the Peerko Empire Brandy Peerko tall lace up barefoot boots in brown leather with a wide toe box

With this warm Brandy color I like to pair cream or beige socks, such as:

  • Injinji boot toe socks in Coyote
  • Cuddl Duds over the knee socks – these are very soft and stretchy so fit much roomier than most socks (shown on me at the beginning of this article)
  • Or instead of socks, fleece lined stirrup tights – this is just one example – you can find them in different thicknesses and shades. I have a brown translucent pair that works well.

You can find even more boot socks and tights I like in my foot friendly sock article! And you can read more details about the fit and feel of the Empire in my Peerko boot review.

Origo Adventurer

A top down close up view of a person's feet standing on concrete wearing brown leather rustic lace up boots. On the left is a wide toe box barefoot boot Origo Nomad Adventurer with the text "Wear this" on the right is a Frye lace up with a pointy tapered narrow toe box and the text "not that"

Leather | Sizes US Women’s 6-11 & Men’s 8-13 | Handmade in Mexico

Use code ANYA for 10% off

Ankle height lace up boots are even more versatile than their taller counterparts, and this rustic heritage-inspired look is very much trending. The Origo Adventurer is a new boot for 2024 with different DNA than you typically find in barefoot shoes.

They are made using traditional shoemaking techniques with a top-stitched upper and the softest breathable leather. The Vintage Brown colorway is shown here. It creases and scuffs, the way natural uncoated leather tends to, but I love that in this style of boot. It’s giving earthy and natural. And if you’ve ever lamented the stiffness of a quality leather boot you will love how light and flexible the Origo Adventurer is.

A woman standing outside in nature wearing denim and Origo Nomad Adventurer wide toe box barefoot boots in vintage brown, smiling and looking off in the distance

I do think you lose some durability with a barefoot construction, but these boots can easily be resoled and repaired at a cobbler many times over. The toe box is also quite generous and should fit even extra wide toes, while still being cinchable though the rest of the shoe for a secure streamlined fit.

I am wearing a size women’s 7.5 and have room for socks and plenty of toe splay. They come in men’s sizes too and seem to run generally true to size while being on the roomy side.

Shapen Maverick

A top down close up of a person's feet wearing black lace up combat boots. On the left is a Shapen Barefoot wide toe box Maverick boot with the text "Wear This" and on the right is a Doc Marten with the text "Not That" because it has a narrow tapered toe box

Leather | Sizes EU 35 – 47 | Ships from EU

Use code ANYA5 for 5% off

Keep in mind when shopping at their EU store they do not accept returns outside the EU. We will be carrying many Shapen styles in the US this year, but not the Maverick.

The black combat boot look is another classic that can be styled many ways – whether it’s more edgy and grungy, neutral, or even a little bit dressy. And two new barefoot alternatives to the ever-popular Doc Marten or combat boot style are coming to market this year. First up we’ve got the Shapen Maverick which is the closest to Doc Martens with yellow stitching (on the black colorway) and a glossy finish.

A woman standing on grass smiling at the camera wearing all black and red doc marten style barefoot boots the Shapen Maverick

They are light, flexible, and have an extra wide toe box for max comfort. But even with that toe box width the shaft skims the leg for a sexy fit. I love them! They also come in a burgundy red that I am almost in love with more than the black.

Shapen boots fit roomy over all, with a lot of volume. So I always wear an extra insole with mine! Read last season’s Shapen boot review for specifics.

A row of black barefoot combat boots with a wide toe box lined up against a wall, one pair is on a person's feet. Brands shown are Shapen Maverick, Mukishoes Igneous, Xero Shoes Breckenridge, & Peerko Go

The second new barefoot combat boot for fall 2024 is the Xero Shoes Breckenridge (shown on my feet above), which is already available and is a little more subtly detailed.

They are a great perennial style that can be dressed up or worn casually. They fit the best of any Xero shoes I’ve tried so far, with more room in the toe box and a closer fit through the heel and ankle. And they’re versatile too with a functional outsole that can be used for light hiking and outdoor use as well as casual wear. Find more fit details in my Breckenridge review.

A couple other Doc Martens alternatives I love:

  • Peerko Go – I don’t know what else to say about these except that I adore them.
  • Mukishoes Igneous – light and flexible with a wool lining (so more winter friendly than the other options).

Hard to go wrong with any of them! Find more details and options on barefoot combat boots in this article.

Xero Ridgeway Chelsea

a top down view of a person's feet standing on concrete wearing chelsea boots. On the left foot is a wide toe box Xero Ridgeway barefoot chelsea boot in brown leather with the text "Wear this" and on the right is a Blundstone boot with a narrower tapered toe box with the text "not that."

Leather | Sizes US Women’s 5-12

The rugged Chelsea boot, like Blundstones, is a chunkier look than other low profile dressy Chelseas. They lend themselves to more casual wear, but can also be stylish since the platform look is very much in right now.

The Xero Ridgeway Chelsea is new this year and captures that aesthetic well – they are built on a sturdy outsole with tread and have that unpolished leather finish. They lend themselves well for those seeking the Blundstone style, and for those who want a functional outdoor pull-on boot!

A woman sitting on grass wearing a burnt orange sweater, jeans, and Xero Ridgeway Chelsea rugged barefoot boots with a wide toe box in brown leather

You can read more details about them in my Xero Ridgeway Chelsea review. Another alternative to Blundstones that we also love is the Lems Chelsea! And Lems is coming out with a more rugged version called the Chelsea Tuff this fall.

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Comments

13 thoughts on “Trending Fall Boots, But Make it Wide Toe Box”

  1. Anya, the link to the stirrup lined tights takes me to just regular (footed) tights~~just fyi! I would love to have some stirrup lined tights, though! You look so fabulous in that miniskirt with the Peerko boots!

  2. What size do you recommend for the Shapen Maverick? I wear 40 in Shapen Poppy but I’d like to have room for socks when it comes to boots

    1. I wear my normal size in the Shapen Maverick – a 37 – and have plenty of room for socks and an insole. Normally I need to size up to a 38 in order to fit all that in the shoe. So they do run on the roomy side. But the Poppy fits differently, and being a flat most people need to size down even more. So my guess is that you would need 1 or possibly 2 sizes larger than your Poppy’s.

        1. Yes, their size charts are correct! For a size 37 that is a long internal length. But the size chart doesn’t show width and volume, which also contributes to Shapens feeling generally roomy.

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Picture of Hi. I'm Anya.

Hi. I'm Anya.

I first discovered barefoot shoes after a long history of foot issues. By changing my footwear and strengthening my body I was able to completely transform my life. Anya’s Reviews is my way of sharing with the world that healthy feet are happy feet!

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