The shoe brands I'm most excited about
Don't sleep on these wide toe box shoe brands
(Note: I’m not receiving any form of compensation for this article.)
I’ve looked at way too many shoes in my life. As someone who can pretty much only wear shoes that have a wide toe box and flat, cushioned soles, I’ve spent many hours searching for options I can wear. While there’s now plenty of thin-soled barefoot shoe brands to choose from, it can be a bit harder to find shoes that are similar but either come with thicker soles or have a bit of heel elevation. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to wear shoes that have some barefoot properties without having to commit to the whole thin-sole lifestyle, which is one of the reasons I started this blog—to highlight the shoes I’ve found to help make your own search a little easier.
You might have already seen my lists of wide toe box shoes that are either completely flat with cushioned soles or that have a bit of heel elevation, but there are a handful of brands with unique offerings that I think deserve a bit more recognition.
If the toe boxes on any of these shoes look too tapered to you, I recommend sizing up until you have enough room for your toes. In many cases, it’s perfectly fine to have 2cm or more of extra space at the end of your shoes.
GEA Waldviertler
You’ll probably tire of me constantly singing the praises of GEA Waldviertler, but there really isn’t another brand quite like them. They’re one of the few companies that make wide toe box shoes with thicker soles, while also offering a broad range of styles to choose from. Personally, I think they excel the most with their boot models. From the Filzi to the Bronca, and from the Via Andante to the Flexwind, they’re sure to have something to suit almost anyone’s style.
Waldviertler makes footwear with anatomically shaped toe boxes, similar in look to a Munson last. Many models are constructed to be completely flat, but come with an insole that has a slight heel lift (about 5mm). In some models, the insole can easily be taken out and replaced with a flat one. In others, the insole is glued in, so removing it is a bit of a process, but should still be doable. Waldviertler offers multiple widths on some models (F width is equivalent to EE, G is equivalent to EEE, etc.).
Their footwear is well-constructed and made by hand at their factory in Austria. Most of their shoes are resoleable, and with proper care, can last you for years to come.
If you live in Europe, ordering from Waldviertler’s website is fairly straightforward. However, if you live elsewhere, to place an order you must email the company directly with your order details and pay by wire transfer. Their size chart is pretty accurate, so be sure to check that first.
If you want barefoot-style footwear but prefer having thicker soles, I highly recommend giving Waldviertler a try. You can read more about them in my review of the Aufwind sneakers and the Mustang Chelsea boots.
Harlem Shoes
If you’re a swing dancer, you might already be familiar with the brand Harlem Shoes. They’ve been making shoes for swing dancers with non-standard feet since 2019, and recently started rolling out wide toe box versions of their shoes. They’re the first company to ever make barefoot-inspired dance shoes, which has been a big hole in the market until now.
Harlem Shoes plans on offering all their shoe models in a barefoot version, which is amazing, because they have so many lovely styles to choose from! Currently, their barefoot models have a bit of heel elevation, but the company has announced that they’re planning to expand their collection even more by including zero drop versions, which are still in the testing stages.
Even if you’re not a dancer but still want beautiful dress shoes, Harlem Shoes offers customization on all orders, so you have the option of adding a rubber outsole to protect the soles from wear while walking outside. Keep in mind that custom orders can take a couple months to fulfill.
To read more about the barefoot dance shoes offered by Harlem Shoes, click here.
Free Form
It’s hard enough finding barefoot-inspired shoes with thicker soles; it’s even harder to find shoes in this category that look like conventional shoes. I was so excited to see that the brand Free Form understands the principle that shoes don’t have to look like feet to be healthy.
The norm with barefoot shoes is to have foot-shaped toe boxes because there’s this notion that you should have very little extra space at the end of your shoes (I’ve seen some brands recommend no more than 5-10mm). Carets was the first barefoot brand to take the leap toward extending the length of toe box, which opens up the possibilities for more elegant-looking shoes.
Free Form uses the same general idea, but takes things a few steps further by making welted zero drop dress shoes that are resoleable, and by offering Made to Order options where you can select the shoe style, leather type and color, and method of construction (Goodyear welt or Blake stitch). There’s also the option to add a low or standard heel, if you prefer something that isn’t flat but still want more toe room. Free Form isn’t trying to be the widest, most barefoot dress shoe out there, but instead aims to be a nice middle ground between a traditional shoe and a barefoot shoe.
Currently Free Form only sells men’s shoes, but here’s to hoping they come out with a women’s line in the future.
STRIKE MVMNT
STRIKE MVMNT makes athletic shoes that can be used for things like the gym, running, skate boarding, and parkour. I was super stoked when I first came across them, because their shoes look so gosh darn cool. If you’re a fan of colorful footwear, I’d suggest checking them out.
As far as I’m aware, STRIKE MVMNT is the first company to make a wide toe box skate shoe, though I have seen mixed reviews on their durability.
Their shoes have a bit of heel elevation (2-4mm, depending on the model), cushioned soles, and wide toe boxes that aren’t quite foot shaped. I personally really dig the toe box shape, but if you’re concerned about the tapering at the big toe, I’d suggest choosing a size that’s large enough to leave enough room for the toes.
I do wish they’d come out with zero drop models, but one thing I appreciate is that their shoes appear to have a much lower amount of toe spring than many athletic footwear brands.
TRUE Linkswear
I personally am not a golfer, nor do I have any interest in golf, but I do have an interest in zero drop, cushioned golf shoes that can be worn as everyday sneakers. TRUE Linkswear has been making barefoot golf shoes for a few years now, and they recently released a zero drop model with cushioned soles (about 16mm thick, plus a 6mm insole).
The OG Cush sneakers are water-resistant and made to be worn on or off the course. Since it’s so hard to find zero drop shoes with thicker soles, I’ll happily plug any new option that comes along. The toe box is wider than average but looks a bit tapered, so be sure to choose a large enough size to avoid restricting your toes.
Other nice finds
Barefoot (flat, thin soles):
Zero drop with cushion:
Wide toe box with elevated heels: