Barefoot shoes tested

The Guardian has published a barefoot-shoe shortlist after testing 15 pairs over three months for comfort on runs, hikes and mixed terrain. (theguardian.com) Barefoot shoes are minimalist shoes built to mimic being unshod: they use thin soles, wide toe boxes, flexible uppers and a zero-drop platform with no height difference between heel and forefoot. (article.wn.com) The Guardian review ran on April 12, 2026 in The Filter, the paper’s product-review section, and framed the test around a practical question: which models stay comfortable long enough for both running and hiking. (theguardian.com) That question lands in a market that has moved beyond niche running circles. Recent buying guides from RunRepeat, Forbes Vetted and Outdoor Gear Lab all rank current barefoot models across categories like trail use, daily wear and durability, with brands such as Xero, Merrell and Vivobarefoot appearing repeatedly. (runrepeat.com) (forbes.com) (outdoorgearlab.com) The health case remains unsettled. A 2014 systematic review found moderate evidence that barefoot or minimalist running changes mechanics such as stride length, cadence and knee loading, but said the evidence was too limited to draw firm conclusions about overall risks or benefits. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Podiatry guidance is more cautious than the marketing. The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine has a formal position statement on barefoot running, and National Health Service footwear advice in Britain still emphasizes fit, toe room and matching the shoe to the person’s condition rather than chasing one format for everyone. (aapsm.org) (oxfordhealth.nhs.uk) (guysandstthomas.nhs.uk) That caution shows up most clearly in transition advice. Ohio State Health says people trying barefoot shoes should ease in gradually to avoid foot pain, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ National Health Service trust says hard pavements often call for thicker, softer soles to absorb shock. (health.osu.edu) (guysandstthomas.nhs.uk) So the Guardian’s test sits between consumer demand and unresolved evidence: not a verdict on whether everyone should switch, but a narrower report on which minimalist pairs held up best over three months of real use. (theguardian.com) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)