A review of GEA Waldviertler zero drop shoes
For those who want a barefoot-style shoe with more padding
(Note: I paid for these boots out of pocket and am not receiving any form of compensation for this review.)
GEA Waldviertler (valdt-feert-lar) has been making high-quality footwear in Austria since the 1980’s. When I first learned about them, I instantly knew I had to try a pair. As someone who can no longer wear thin-soled barefoot shoes, I’m always on the lookout for brands that make shoes with a wide toe box, while also offering sufficiently thick soles that are completely flat. Being well-made is also a huge plus. So if you can imagine, I was pretty darn excited to see that Waldviertler checks all these boxes.
The only problem is, unless you live in Europe, it can be a little tricky to buy their shoes. Waldviertler’s website doesn’t currently have an option to ship to the US, so to place an order, you have to email the company with the model, size, and color you want, and then pay by wire transfer. There are a few retailers that have more shipping options, but their shoe selections are limited.
Since I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of paying hundreds of dollars for something that might not work out, I scoured the internet looking for an easier way to try them first. I ended up finding a used pair of the discontinued Aufwind sneakers in my size and I gotta say, I absolutely love them! If you’ve tried barefoot shoes in the past but want something with thicker soles, I’d highly recommend giving Waldviertler a try.
So far, they’re the closest thing I’ve found to my ideal shoe. They’re very comfortable and feel sturdy. I haven’t experienced any problems walking in them other than a bit of rubbing at the back of my ankle the first time I wore them, but that’s easily solved by wearing longer socks.
Sizing
Waldviertler offers multiple widths on many of their shoes, ranging from F to H (equivalent to US 2E-4E widths). My feet are 240mm long and I typically wear size 38/39 in most brands. I got these in 39F, and while I could probably wear size 38G, they don’t seem to make that size/width combination. 39F works fine for me, and my toes have sufficient room. You can view Waldviertler’s size chart here (scroll to the bottom). The measurements listed are shoe lengths, not foot length.
I have about 20mm extra space at the end of my big toe, so I’d say their size chart is accurate. If having that much extra space seems excessive to you, please read this article where I addressed that topic. I’ve had no instances of tripping in these sneakers, despite the length.
Zero drop aspect
While most Waldviertler footwear is constructed to be completely flat, the insoles do have about 5mm heel lift. In some models, the insoles are replaceable and can be easily swapped out for something flat, but other models have the insoles glued in, so the process of taking them out is a bit more involved. When browsing Waldviertler’s website, look for the boots and shoes that specify having a “Wechselfußbett,” which translates to “removable footbed.”
My sneakers came with removable insoles, so I was able to replace them with this insole material I got from MaestroShoeSupplies on Etsy that provides excellent shock absorption. I simply traced the insoles that came with the shoes and then cut them out. I should probably glue a thin piece of veg tan leather to them to help wick away moisture, but I’ll get to that one day.
Construction
The sneaker upper is made of nubuck leather, and like many Waldviertler shoes, they’re fully lined with vegetable tanned leather, which helps with breathability and moisture control. Underneath the removeable insole is a layer of hard veg tan leather, so I would recommend wearing an insole for added comfort.
Waldviertler shoes are built to last for many years, and a lot of their models are resoleable. That’s pretty important to me, personally. A common issue I experienced with barefoot shoes was a serious lack of sole durability. Because they were so thin and lightweight, sometimes they didn’t last longer than 6-12 months. And since the shoes weren’t constructed to be resoleable, the only option was to throw them away and buy a new pair. Such a waste.
The cupsoles on my Waldviertler sneakers are stitched all the way around to the shoe upper, and I think it might be possible to have them resoled by a local cobbler if they have access to this type of rubber sneaker rand material.
Toe spring & flexibility
These sneakers have a very low amount of toe spring, but it’s subtle enough that I don’t notice it. The toe spring is much less pronounced than on Lems shoes, for reference.
Because there’s some substance to the soles, it’s fair to say these shoes probably aren’t going to roll up into a ball like barefoot shoe companies love to show in their promotional materials (spoiler alert: your feet don’t roll into a ball either), but they do have the flexibility required for allowing the foot to bend as needed while walking.
Aesthetics
I don’t usually go for Chukka style shoes, but I unexpectedly really like the look of this particular model.
One minor change I’d make would be to slightly modify the shape of the toe box. It’s pretty squared off at the big toe, which reminds me of the toe box on a Munson last. While it’s great to have shoes with adequate toe room, the toe box on these could have been a little rounder on the medial side without pushing the big toe in. Even if you had to go up a size to accommodate a rounder shape, it’s really not a big deal in most cases.
I suppose Waldviertler shoes might look a little on the orthopedic side to some people (mostly due to the toe box shape), but I do appreciate that their shoes look like shoes, unlike the floppy sacks of leather you sometimes see with barefoot shoes.
How to buy
Although the Aufwind sneakers seem to be discontinued, most of what I’ve said should apply to a lot of their other shoes as well, and Waldviertler does offer a few other sneaker models and a Chukka boot.
The buying options I’m currently aware of are:
Waldviertler’s official website (Europe only)
Email Waldviertler with your order details and pay by wire transfer
Online retailer Mbaetz (list of shipping rates by country)
Check sites like eBay or Poshmark for used shoes
If you’re aware of any other retailers that sell Waldviertler shoes, please let me know! I’d also really love if someone was inspired to become a distributor in the US. 😉
