WHITINWomen's Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe | Zero Drop Sole | Trail Runner

I think some reviewers may not realize what type of shoes these are. The Whitin Minimalist Trail Running Shoes are minimalist shoes, which means they’re designed to mimic the natural feel of walking barefoot but offer a little more cushioning than true barefoot shoes.The soles are flat and flexible with no arch support—by definition, barefoot shoes do not have arch support. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you need a different pair of shoes. I only mention this because it seems unfair that the product gets downrated for something it's not designed to do.That said, these Whitins are excellent. The soft, stretchy material allows your toes to spread out naturally, and the thin cushioned insole encourages a more natural step (no heavy heel strikes). As someone who is starting my barefoot journey, I'm hoping that by removing the insoles in the future, these shoes will allow me to transition to hiking completely without shoes!The only downside to these shoes is the sizing—they run small. If you plan to wear them with socks, definitely size up by at least half to a full size. I had to return my first pair because they were too snug, even without socks.Overall, Whitin makes a fantastic collection of shoes: affordable, comfortable, and perfect whether you’re just starting out with barefoot shoes or have been wearing them for years.

TLDR: I recommend this brand for everyday use!Using their size guide we actually got shoes that fit the first time around! If you’ve ever bought shoes online before, especially for kids AND considering European sizes, that’s a small miracle.We mostly wear them barefoot (without socks), I had a small period of adjusting my outside toe to that as expected (photographed) but now I can with ease, and if I choose a low sock the fit/wear is just as pleasant, no sliding down on the back of heel, there’s actually small cushions on the inside of the shoe I tried to picture. They’re so comfortable. I never tie or untie these, I slide on and off each wear, the sock fit is a very nice feature for me here. I included photos comparing to crocs, vivos, and hey dudes but those all have pretty wide toe boxes.My girls, ages 5&2 loved them from the get—sparkly and beautiful, and not in a ‘in your face pink glitter for a girl’ color, they can go with or without socks (never experiencing a blister) AND they can take them on and off without help. Which holds a lot of weight for most moms.Speaking of weight, they’re very light. They don’t feel blocky or sound like my kids are having a hard time wearing them, even with the wider toe box which is my favorite part and is likely why the fit is so comfortable for all of us. Most US made adult tennis shoes have tight toe boxes where these do not, without compromising look/style. I love the tannish beige, I accepted they wouldn’t stay ‘clean’ forever but I don’t regret my choice. They match with everything and I can wear them with every kind of bottom except skinny jeans as I just personally don’t like the look of tight jeans with a tennis shoe but I’ll wear leggings, sweats, joggers and shorts with them.Lastly, Kids’ tend to show the quality of a shoe/brand pretty quickly. These have held up well as being our main shoe since summer 2024—parks, outside play, coaching volleyball and still nice enough for church. Current (Dec 2024) photos showing wear included.

I only give 5 stars when I really feel like I got some bang for my buck. So, while I am happy with these shoes... I feel the price was fair when I bought them on sale (Amazon deal days), but to get the "fair" price (rather than spend way more than they were worth (in my opinion)... I was very limited in color/size choice (other colors were not on sale). So, I got stuck with purple. lol It doesn't bother me too much, because I only wear them at home - I purchased them for strength training. I am mid 50s, so I have to admit that my sense of "style" is not up-to-date (lol), so these shoes are ugly to me - make me look like a duck. lol But I knew that going into the purchase. The wider toe area is why I wanted them - for stability when lifting, without restricting the bend and movement of my feet. I also needed a good "grippy" sole. I've been using these in my carpeted workout room about twice a week for a couple of months now, and there was no break in time - they are functioning just as I'd hoped and I'm happy with my purchase. They are easy to put on. I do wear socks with my barefoot shoes (I know, I'm weird lol) and I have left the insert in it (I have high arches, so I have to have something). They are lightweight. I've worn them briefly on wood and tile floors when I've had to leave the carpet to answer a phone call - traction (at least for just walking) seems good on those surfaces too. I, personally, would not be able to wear these hiking or running, as I want more protection for hiking and more cushion for running, but as a lifting shoe, these are serving their purpose better than anything I've ever tried. They also aren't overly hot. I find them to be comfortable (shoes during lifting used to bother me so much that I'd do it in socks or barefoot). Very comfortable for someone like me that really doesn't like shoes.