Trending Fall Boots, But Make it Wide Toe Box

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! Enjoy!

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

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.

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

• Injinji boot toe socks in Coyote (I use a seamripper to get rid of the red tag)
• 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

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.

I do think you lose some durability with a barefoot construction, but these boots can be repaired at a cobbler many times over. The outsole is stitched on, so can’t easily be removed and replaced – but you can glue an addition rubber outsole over the top of it.

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

Leather | Sizes EU 35 – 47 | Ships from EU

If shopping in the EU, use code ANYA5 for 5% off. But note that they do not accept returns outside the EU.

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.

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.

Another new barefoot combat boot for fallb is the Xero Shoes Breckenridge (shown on my feet above), which 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

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!

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. if you’re outside the US, shop Lems EU here.