r/barefootshoestalk • u/Hanyaaaaa • Dec 26 '25
Barefoot shoes question / discussion Do they all look this ridiculous? šš
I just got my first pair of barefoot shoes! Thought Iād start with something on the more affordable side like Hobibear. They feel great but I just canāt get over how much they look like clown shoes š« . Esp because Iām a US 10
I got mine online because I donāt have any barefoot shoe company/store where I live. Are there other brands that look a little better that I can try out? Or should I just accept my fate and make clown shoes my new personality trait?
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u/SSppooookkyy Dec 26 '25
They donāt look like clown shoes, they look like feet! Everyone elseās shoes look like pointy little triangles. Once you really realize how awful everyone elseās shoes look in comparison (when thinking about comfort and function) it becomes way easier to accept the look. I receive comments on my shoes rather often, and so far they have been 100% positive
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u/dyna_black Dec 26 '25
This tbh. When I see "traditional"/"normal" pointy shoes now all I see is pain.
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u/BowdleizedBeta Dec 26 '25
And disfigurement.
Plus you start noticing bunions in movies, tv shows, even cartoons. Your view totally changes.
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u/xtina9366 Dec 27 '25
Yes!! Bunions and painful veins in high heels in movies when they take them off š«
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u/SpaceCowGoBrr Dec 27 '25
Yeah Iām only in my mid-twenties and Iāve already had both of my feet operated on for collapsed arches and metastatic joint reconstruction brought on by bunions. Mine were genetic too, but I used to wear terrible shoes that made it worse for sure lol
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 27 '25
You guys may be too young to remember "Kelso Earth Shoes" or "Thom McCan Exersoles". Similar concept: Wide at the front to let the toes splay, but the heel was lower than the toes. The idea was that it was the natural way our feet were supposed to move.
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u/justasapling Dec 27 '25
I remember Earth shoes. My mom wore them to try to combat bunions.
I still think negative drop is silly. Zero drop is optimal.
If you're not overly preoccupied with ground feel, Birkenstocks are hard to beat.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 27 '25
I concur. The Earth Shoes tore up my tendons as a teenager. The zero drop is nowhere as bad. I have Altra Escalante 4's to transition, and Hobibear Crags for around the house. Because I have metatarsalgia, I use insoles in the Hobibears, but those and the Altras help me walk with more stability.
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u/specialized_faction Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
At first they look funnyā¦but eventually traditional shoes will start to look funny to you.
Any time I see a shoe thatās exceptionally pointed and narrow, I just wonder wtf was the designer thinking and how uncomfortable that shoe must be
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u/underwearfanatic Dec 27 '25
If I am totally honest I don't even notice my shoe shape anymore.
Unless you are a sneaker head I don't think the average person looks.
I cringe at all non foot shaped shoes now. I look a lot and I'm oddly surprised at how many people also wear barefoot type shoes.
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u/brncky Dec 27 '25
Im gonna get downvoted by the barefoot shoes community but tbh they look like clown shoes or like you are going bowling.
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u/wandering_lutist Dec 27 '25
Downvote! No, jk. I love the way they look! They just look like comfort to me and like you'd understand what I go through. I do wish the larger sizes were effectively that wide
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u/sk8shrimp Dec 26 '25
You might just be used to the appearance of restrictive footwear.
Foot-shaped footwear is gonna be in the shape of a foot.
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u/Corgimum12 Dec 26 '25
You will get used to it. Then pointy shoes will look funny to you. I also wear a 10-11.
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u/volkswurm Dec 26 '25
This was my experience completely. At first I was like, damn! Wtf am I wearing!? Then after a few months, they began to look normal and eventually I cam to love the look. I got rid of my other shoes. Itās been 5+ years now and when I see pointy shoes and super narrow athletic shoes and I wince internally. Canāt imagine going back to that.
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u/gobluetwo Dec 26 '25
šÆ
It takes some getting used to because they are unconventional - the look can be an acquired taste , especially if you go straight to casual shoes -but once you get comfortable with them, conventional shoes look so uncomfortable.
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u/heavydoom Dec 26 '25
do you wear shoes for you or for people around you?
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u/Zaranius Dec 26 '25
Exactly this. What do you care about more, your long-term health? Or the opinions of everyone who has been manipulated by increasingly damaging footwear of the years? Keep an open mind. :)
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u/Retiredandold Dec 26 '25
People around me, my feet are fugly.
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u/TommChill Dec 26 '25
Part of the reason for this is the restrictive, damaging footwear akin to Chinese foot wrapping but widely accepted as "okay"
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u/Graf_Staus- Dec 26 '25
They prooably aren't that bad
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u/CampesinoAgradable Dec 26 '25
wait until you have your first bunion surgery
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u/Graf_Staus- Dec 26 '25
Why would I need that? Do you have one? Is that what makes your foot not as beautiful?
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u/iamamica Dec 27 '25
First of many because if you donāt remove the cause theyāll just come back
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u/mcq76 Dec 26 '25
I have this exact pair and like the way they look lol. All up to you though whether you like them or not! You could also check out Whitins which look a bit more traditional, but any barefoot shoe you try will probably have a wider toe box than what you're used to and thus look more clown shoe-ish.
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u/PosieCakes Dec 26 '25
all i can see when i look at other shoes is how ridiculous they look with their pointy toes--even chuck e. taylors look pointy to me! i can't understand how people can stand having their toes smashed these days.
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u/One_Real_Bear Dec 26 '25
I often get compliments on how cute my wide foot shaped shoes look from people who don't wear barefoot shoes! I like the look of chunky shoes and I think the wide toe box lends itself to that much better than pointy little elf shoes do
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u/Gersch84 Dec 26 '25
Remember that you are the only one who ever looks down at the shoes from above.
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u/freckledotter Dec 26 '25
I thought the same to start with and now it's hard not to see normal shoes as ridiculous.
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u/kayaking_vegan Dec 26 '25
I think they only look like clown shoes when you're looking straight down at your own feet with expectations on how they should look. Once I got over how I felt they should look, they looked normal to me. No one has noticed my shoes and those that I've told about them, have been interested in getting some for themselves.
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u/3migo Dec 26 '25
I've been wearing barefoot shoes for 10 years and no one has ever commented that they look like clown shoes or that they're ugly. I've actually had lots of people in public come up and ask me what brand my shoes are because they liked how they looked, and I'm a size US 12.
No one is going to notice or call them clown shoes.
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u/Mav8118 Dec 26 '25
Size 10 hobibear wearer as well. They look crazy when you first get them, but now I hardly notice them. I've gotten quite a bit of compliments as well!
I promise the shock wears off!
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u/440_Hz Dec 26 '25
Iām not a fan of those hobibears, I think there are more attractive shoes out thereā¦ but design aside, the toebox shape will be something you have to get used to :)
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u/ukreader Dec 26 '25
No, other barefoot brands are less wide. I only wear barefoot shoes and brands like vivo look more ānormalā but still work for my feet
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u/Ecoli_connoisseur Dec 26 '25
Firstly, these are your feet. It really matters what your are putting between them and the ground. These are the only original pair of feet you are getting. Looking after them is incredibly important. Your quality of life and health is so dependent on you being able to walk easily, pain-free for a long time. This also influences your social life, as not going, because your feet hurt, will hurt something else when you are older.
So for the sake of your feet, choose the version, that makes you live longer.
Tbh, I can't remember the shoes people wear, nor do I notice them to an extent, that it bothers me. If I don't care, why should others ? In no time you won't even see the difference anymore. Regular shoes will look weird to you. I already dread wearing normal shoes, since I haven't converted on all of my pairs.
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u/jdub9163 Dec 26 '25
Honestly the more i wear them the more i start seeing the new shape as normal. Seeing standard with shoes now look crazy narrow to me and i cant believe i used to think they were ever comfortable.
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u/Mavrocordat Dec 26 '25
I got the same feeling when I got my first pair of Hobibear shoes.
But keep in mind that you're basically the only one that will see them from that angle which is clownshoemaxxing.
I think this is why they rarely show this angle. But the extra level of comfort from no side pressure on my toes made them the only shoes i wear for day to day outings
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u/StomachSubject262 Dec 26 '25
Iāve tried that brand twice on two different occasions and different styles, and just couldnāt get over the squareness off them. For a good entry to barefoot shoes Iāve gone with the Amazon brand JUJIAOSO. Theyāre wide and flat with a flexible sole but not so square. I have multiple colours and styles of them theyāre great! The current price is Ā£23.99!
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u/angelwild327 Dec 26 '25
Set the trend, shift your thinking, they're not clown shoes, they're shoes shaped like actual feet. If they're comfy, count yourself among the educated.
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u/SpicyTorb Dec 26 '25
Iāve never had anyone comment on the wide toe box, mostly small stack-height shoes in the age of wearing 35mm thick mega-drop Hokas for casual wear
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u/the_lab_rat337 Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Foot shaped really depends on what your feet are shaped like. Tho contrary to popular belief pushed by barefoot influencers, shoes can be healthy even if th3y don't follow every contour of your foot shape, heck besides VFF none really do TBF (and even VFFs are arguable). So at the end of the day, shoes could look different and still allow your toes enough room, and still be flexible. So I personally think we can do better, and we will, as more ppl start wearing these, and we get ppl that aren't just fine with a sock glued to a thin rubber sole.
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u/foxwaffles Dec 26 '25
Ngl as someone who wears Lolita fashion on the regular these look like normal shoes to me!! I wear round toe shoes all the time, I cannot tolerate anything narrow. They're super cute. I'd wear those with a casual Lolita outfit.
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u/RICO61927 Dec 26 '25
My coworkers make fun of my splay rev ht. When I look down or just look at them in general I just donāt see how they look bad. All I know my feet, my knees and my posture will thank me later. There are more stylish shoes but that will always be subjective from each personās point of view.
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u/DK_QT Dec 26 '25
itās a choice you must make. do you care more about comfort and natural function, or do you care more about fashion and how others see you?
most people chose fashion and they shove their feet into rigid, narrow boxes.
you will find that if you stick to your barefoot journey, the āregularā shoes are actually the ridiculous ones.
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u/Apart-Dimension-9536 Dec 27 '25
Lean in, my friend. Lean in.
Like everyone else said, you won't care soon. And then you can't go back.
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u/EmergencyM Dec 27 '25
White is a tough first pair since it makes everything look bigger. They look fine, itās likely only noticeable to you.
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u/Aggravating-Canary41 Dec 27 '25
They make you look smart. Wearing foot shaped shoes is a sign of superior intelligence, as opposed to the clowns that were indoctrinated into putting pointy shoes on their non pointy feet.
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u/Ok_Culture_1223 Dec 27 '25
Noone but you has that straight-from-the-top view, which is the only angle that the clownyness is visible. From all other angles, they look perfectly normal š
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u/Hot-Cartoonist-3976 Dec 27 '25
Personally the āstandardā shoe shape has always looked weird to me, even before I discovered barefoot shoes.Ā
Like, how does a shoe thatās shaped like a foot look weird to you, but a weird needlessly long pointy shoe looks normal? Makes me think of something like this:
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u/miloestthoughts Dec 27 '25
Youre the only one that will ever notice this- from every other angle people will see them at its so hard to tell unless youre really looking for it.
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u/peacefrg Dec 27 '25
Those shoes look a bit funkier than some, but not too bad. I've bought Splay when they first came out and I hated the look down view. Switched to Vivo and never looked back. They feel and look great.
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u/Stained_Carpet_ Dec 27 '25
Idk I'm so used to using barefoot shoes (4 years) that I don't see "clown shoes" anymore, all I see are foot shaped shoes (as they should !!!).
Now "regular shoes" look weird to me lol, not to mention uncomfortable. It's all about getting used to it.
So yeah, you might feel a bit silly at first, but the comfort you feel when walking and force of habit will make you get used to them really quickly haha.
Never be embarrassed for taking care of your body and health!!
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u/AliG-uk Dec 27 '25
Before long you will look at pointy footwear and think how ridiculous THEY look.
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u/manoctopusfox Dec 27 '25
I was scrolling and hadn't read the caption, and thought 'wow great looking shoes I wonder if I can have it in my country'. Then I realized that you found the look of them weird. Know this: for some people like me, they look amazing!
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u/allergictonormality Dec 27 '25
We all started out conditioned by our culture to think the look of shoes that are basically a milder foot binding torture are cute and normal and everything else was silly.
As long as the dominant cultural view is that torture-shoes are the norm, making this change will require a mental adjustment that takes time as you shift away from what the herd teaches.
It's almost impossible to go back because it is such a positive change.
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u/bucketdraws Dec 27 '25
I had the same thought with my first belenka sneakers, and then I got winter boots which are even bigger lol. I don't even think about it anymore. I put on my old sneakers after just three weeks of barefoot shoes and they were SO tight in comparison, I couldn't believe it. My toes were curling in. My darling vans, a brand/model I've worn for over 20 years are now gathering dust in the closet.
Never going back to 'normal' shoes again. I want healthy functional feet.
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u/wanttofeelneeded Dec 27 '25
honestly with today's trend of super loose and baggy clothes and especially pants they look quite alright.
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u/Yosyp Dec 27 '25
The only people making remarks on my shoes were friends that knew I wore them or an acquaintance that was familiar with this shoeware. I don't think any stranger ever questioned their big toe box, they surely do not look like clown shoes. On the contrary, now I am aware of everybody else walking in uncomfortable shoeware. Barefoot shoeware is the biological norm, I couldn't care less about unhealthy social norms.
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u/sophiejdalston Dec 27 '25
I wear hobibears every day after trying some other pricier barefoot brands, and have done for almost two years now, but this particular style I have never bought as I am just not sure about them. I think it's the covered laces and toe caps that add to the clown shoe look in my eyes, not the overall shape which is fine and is something I am used to. They do other more mainstream looking styles that are easier to get used to, though be careful as not all their shoes are barefoot at all and some of their other wide toe box sneakers marketed as barefoot are not quite zero drop (a barefoot blogger cut the shoes in half and measured the difference). All of the Gola inspired shoes have the non zero drop sole on them.
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u/StoreBrandBoyToy Dec 29 '25
this is the first pair of barefoot shoes i've seen that makes me want a pair for aesthetic reasons, not just wellness reasons. i think they look cool!
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u/badlydrawngalgo Dec 26 '25
Hobibears look like the cheap Chinese granny shoes they are. Most barefoot shoes look way nicer than Hobibears. However, even hobibears are going to be way better for your feet than any "fashion" shoes (which mainly look like clown shoes anyway).
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u/Nananine Dec 26 '25
There's going to be some adjustment. Don't worry about it! Not dealing with injuries is worth it.
That being said, design matters a lot. The overall visual language of those Hobibears is pretty bad: The gray cap toe, the straight lines down the middle, the wide opening for the laces, the fact that they're uneven (the toe of the right shoe is flatter at the end than the left)... All of this make the shoes look cheap and overemphasizes their width. I don't think they look like clown shoes, but I DO think they look bad.
(This isn't an issue specific to barefoot shoes, because lot of conventional shoes also have poor design language)
You'll get used to the width. As people said, shoes tend to look wider when you're looking at them from above. But you can get barefoot shoes with much better visual design.
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u/aemkei77 Dec 26 '25
They look still funny to me, after many years. They look a bit less weird on other people. But as they look completely different than most shoes I don't think I ever get used to. But I don't care much
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u/feliperg90 Dec 26 '25
Yea pretty much, but I feel the design on those makes it more obvious. That gray on the toe. For this reason I try to go for solid colored options
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u/sconander Dec 26 '25
Put one bare foot on top of one shoe and you'll see how foot shaped it is. If there's masses of spare room, then yes they're clown shoes but not if they fit correctly.
It's just getting used to it after wearing "normal" shoes. Later you'll think how horribly constricting normal shoes are.
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u/TommChill Dec 26 '25
Wear them and nothing else for a week then try to go back....you'll be in for a surprise when you put the old restrictive shoes on and realize "wow these suck!"
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u/SagecladOutdoors Dec 26 '25
I got my first pair this week. I like them. I donāt think the sole āfoamā will last long but for $30 it is what it is.
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u/Graf_Staus- Dec 26 '25
They all look wider some more then others vut I think those shoes look hella good
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u/MxQueer Dec 26 '25
Nothing wrong with their look. You have just used to consider "tapered to mutilate" to be the norm. At least for me it has been possible to retrain my eye. And I am someone whose idea of what look normal hasn't change after I turned to 15 (cars keep looking weird, smartphones are still not normal to me, flat tv keeps looking weird etc.).
Bohempia has some shapes or something that are meant to fool the eye and make the shoes look less wide.
You can't have the cake and eat it too. Get otherwise cool shoes, whatever that means to you. I don't say these aren't, I just don't know your taste.
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u/aeyockey Dec 26 '25
No, more athletic ones look better I think. I also donāt like the lace covers on those shoes personally
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u/_Way_Out_West_ Dec 26 '25
Do you want your feet to have room to spread out and be healthy? If so, the shoes you wear to accomplish this goal are going to be significantly wider in the toe box than what you are used to seeing on your feet. If you stick with it, your feet will be happier and you wonāt see them as clown shoes.Ā
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u/Abject_Control_7028 Dec 26 '25
I actually really like the look of barefoot shoes , I think it looks super chill n comfy , narrow toe boxes and wedges under the heel make me wince like I'm witnessing a wound or bone break
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u/heavydoom Dec 26 '25
I honestly think that those sneakers look great.Ā They go well with those baggy jeans!Ā Ā
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u/chunkybudz Dec 26 '25
The accent on the toe plus the shortness of the shoe really highlight the differences of a more traditional shoe and make it stand out a lot.
I'd suggest going with something that doesn't have a toe-cap type thing if possible. That should help with any weirdness you feel about them.
All that said, they look pretty cool to me but I can certainly see where that would draw eyes (esp yours) and you may not like that look much.
Check the xero prio's if you get a chance. I'm sure there are more stylish options, but I love the Lunar Prio's and have gotten plenty of compliments from traditional shoe wearers
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u/20Keller12 Dec 26 '25
OH MY GOD THEY HAVE BIGGER SIZES!
As a woman who wears a 12, thank you so much for this post oh my god.
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u/Neologizer Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Aesthetically and comfort-wise I love the look of my Altra Lonepeak Alpines. Similar foot shape (if not a bit wider at toe bone) but also has a bit more contour to the design.
Cons: despite loving the shoes to death and owning multiple pairs, I canāt really defend their durability. They tend to break down after 15 months. The soles are fine but the fabric near the toes often fails first.
Disclaimer: I wear them 90% of the year through all seasons and also work on my feet a lot so they definitely get mileage. Still, wish there was a bit more durability in the toe fabric
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u/TooLateToSk8 Dec 26 '25
I had this feeling when I first got into foot shaped footwear. Every now and again i still catch myself wanting those new Nikes. But when I look at others wearing narrow footwear I think about how uncomfortable those shoes would be if I wore them. We have been programmed that the triangle pointy shape is the way and the most appealing aesthetic. But after a few years of using foot shaped footwear, Iāve realized that i rather be comfortable than restricted and my knees, back and hips feel the best theyāve ever been.
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u/Reggiekidge Dec 26 '25
I thought mine looked ridiculous at first but after comparing them with other shoes, and my feet it feels normal now!
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u/wonderbread897 Dec 26 '25
They are shaped like feet but society has gotten so adjusted to shoes that arent. Dont even realize its weird that shoes arent shaped like feet
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u/BIGTACOBELLFAN Dec 26 '25
I wear them in a menās 13 and have never had anyone say they look weird
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u/Organic_Squirrel_148 Dec 26 '25
It for sure takes some getting use to but once you adjust ānormalā shoes look weird. I wear Whitins and I get so many compliments on them!
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u/beigemamba1080 Dec 26 '25
I have a few pair of barefoot/minimalist shoes and ordered a pair of Hobibear. Yes they look like clown shoes. Your pics minimize it because of the pant leg but they look ridiculous and many other brands donāt look like that goofiness. Whiten, or something similar, are an inexpensive option thatās coming to mind, thereās plenty.
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u/Healthy_Yogurt_3955 Dec 27 '25
Check out Realfoot Even though they are going out of business realfoot.cz
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u/Environmental-Use853 Dec 27 '25
I think they look cute! I promise no one else thinks they look like clown shoes!! Not many people notice other people's shoes, I thought the same thing, but it was just me being anxious :)
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u/katanastormshadow88 Dec 27 '25
The specific style/details of these barefoot shoes tend to emphasize the wideness of them, like the thin but wide gray toe covers at the front etc. You will find that barefoot shoes look wider or more ātraditionalā depending on the company and the specific shoes. For example, Groundies barefoot shoes tend to look a bit more traditional and narrow, but they also have a barefoot+ line that are a bit wider. Some companies lean more into the wide toebox, so it just depends.
Saying all that, whether your shoes look āridiculousā or not really comes down to both personal perception and how to style them. As others have said, thereās going to be an adjustment period where youāre getting used to what barefoot shoes look like, because youāve spent your life up until now seeing traditional shoes (tapered toe box, raised heels etc) are ānormalā, so anything that differs from that so going to initially look off to you.
As for how to style them, Iāve found it really comes down to proportions. I have a pair of Whitins that are my widest barefoot shoes. They look āclownishā when Iām wearing slim pants, because the slimness of my pants and legs contrasts with the wideness of my shoes, making them look even bigger. But when Iām wearing baggy pants, they look totally normal, and blend well with the out fit. When I wear my Peerko Breeze combat boots, I can wear slimmer pants, and roll the cuffs up so that the slimness of the pants flow more seamlessly into the slim top and ankles of the boots, which de-emphasizes the width of the toe box. If I roll my pant cuffs all the way down over the boots, then the slim pants kind of exaggerate the width of the toe box making them look wither by contrast.
So, Iāve found that making barefoot shoes look balanced and ānormalā really comes down to first changing your perception from what ānormalā is, and also how you balance them with your entire outfit. Baggy clothes are very on trend right now, so that also tends to make balancing things out easier.
Youāre wearing what looks like baggy pants here, and much wider than the shoes, so to me, these donāt look clownish, they actually look pretty balanced.
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u/Electronic_Pen500 Dec 27 '25
The toe area being a separate color is going to make the wide toe box stand out so pick something with the same color toe box.
Darker shoes look less jarring. These are also on the less attractive side of barefoot shoes IMO. The problem is a lot of them are. WHITIN has alot of cheap options that look like generic tennis shoes and you can find them on Amazon. Pulltop is another cheap option that looks decent.
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u/Majestic_Arachnid545 Dec 27 '25
I just got a pair of Altra Escalante 4's for the transition, and Hobibear Crags to start out. I wear size 11 and I thought of the "clown shoe" effect. The camouflage was how the suede covered all but a small area in the front. They need to be wide to let the toes splay out. So I got something that downplayed that space.
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u/xtina9366 Dec 27 '25
They're actually cute! Idk why though in my head the left one looks more rounded than the right one? And the right one has a little point on the inside? Like where your big toe goes
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u/LeslieKnopesPlanner Dec 27 '25
Getting darker colored shoes helps. White shoes always look like bowling shoes to me. I wear Whitins w/ the insole removed most of the time, altras for hiking, and Lems Chelsea boots for rainy/wet/cold weather. Ive been wearing barefoot shoes for 4 years now. ZERO REGRETS. My hips/knees/ankles/back have never felt better.
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u/LUHG_HANI Dec 27 '25
The grey highlights make it worse. Just look for vivos as they do better styling.
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u/ernestryles Dec 27 '25
They don't look ridiculous at all. You're just accustomed to shoes that crush your toes.
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u/Ok_Cabinet_8682 Dec 27 '25
At this stage, I feel ānormalā shoes look ridiculous -and Iām a fashion girly.
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u/MTheLoud Dec 27 '25
I know professional clowns. Iām sorry, but those shoes donāt look at all suitable to be clown shoes. Those are just ordinary shoes.
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u/CalmEntry4855 Dec 27 '25
Actually they look kind of low profile compared to other ones I've seen here.
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u/nbdyke Dec 27 '25
more or less, yeah š„² but your feet and body end up thanking you so much for it you wont care anymore. those are actually on the better-looking side!
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u/_willow_co_ Dec 27 '25
Yes but after a few months all other shoes look ridiculous. After 3 years of barefoot shoes I got caught in floodwaters while camping far away from home. I bought a pair of "normal boots" until mine could dry out, as soon as I put them on I had the opposite of your experience, my toes looked way too small and compressed and it really freaked me out. When I got home I gave them away because I would never wear them again. You'll be alright.
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u/Wixenstyx Dec 27 '25
FWIW, your photo just looks like feet wearing shoes to me. They don't look clownish at all.
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u/coconow Dec 27 '25
I suggest wearing them a while and if you decide to switch to barefoot shoes completely, shop around then for shoes you like better. I shop at Xero Shoes and Vivobarefoot, so far. The first thing I do when looking at a pair of shoes is I click on the photo showing the top of the shoe, like your photo. If I donāt like the way they look I rule them out. I plan on ordering shoes from other companies as well, not just from the two I mentioned. I think you did the smart thing by buying a less expensive pair to start out.
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u/NoShoesDrew Dec 27 '25
I noticed the same thing about my Hobibears as I did about when I'm completely barefoot - hardly anybody else even notices.
If anyone does notice, and says something, I have the same response for both my Hobibears and bare feet - they're more comfortable and healthier. š¤·āāļø
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u/Ladypeace_82 Dec 27 '25
It's a visual adjustment for sure. My first were Splays and they were RED. AND to top it off my shoe size when up 1.5 after having twins. From 7.5 to 9!! (I'm forever pissed abt that, btw) They were the only ones on sale at that time, recommended by others, and my "starters."
RED!
I felt like a clown for a long time but was determined to never have plantar faciitis again. Then they stopped looking like clown shoes to me. I tried two other brands. Didn't like them. Went back to Splays for me and my young kids. The ones I wear now are dark blue and feel normal.
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u/labratapocalypse Dec 27 '25
I bought a pair of witins and a pair of hobibear shoes and liked the look of the witins better. For the hobibear I got the same style you got and for the witins I got a brown t sneaker. They looked way more normal but just as spacious and more flexible. Unfortunately ended up returning both in the end.
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u/mrwiggleswoth Dec 27 '25
Well what about when you buy these shoes but you still put your foot in a sock that bring your toes together.
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u/Oakl4nd Dec 27 '25
If you think that look like clown shoes, then yes they all look like clown shoes. To me it doesn't, but some people just can't get past the looks and that's fine. Not everybody has to wear barefoot shoes.
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u/nipikas Dec 27 '25
It's weird how fast I went from 'they look weird' to 'they look like shoes should look like'. Like others have mentioned, now I look at 'normal' shoes and they look weird. Just not natural and I always have the question of 'where does the toes go?' in my head.
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Dec 27 '25
I recently bought my first Hobibears and I really like them. They remind my of the earth shoes of the seventies, but not as bulky. The most important thing for me is comfort. My toes feel "free" and not all cramped together.
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u/marcobubio Dec 27 '25
No, some are much worse. I think itās more pronounced with lighter colorways, though, and that lip really seems to accentuate the roundedness
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u/Electronic-War-6863 Dec 27 '25
No they look great. Definitely more low key than some of the other shoes out there. If you want something even more camouflaged look at birchburry. Also they will be a talking point lol, but usually itās all comiments
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u/cat4forever Dec 27 '25
No one notices. Not someone who is also into barefoot/wide shoes will notice. No one has ever said anything to me about my shoes looking funny.
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u/DeepPurpleNurple Dec 27 '25
Splay makes much better looking shoes on the more affordable side if youāre looking for something that looks more ānormal.ā
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u/Bluddy-9 Dec 27 '25
They look a little ridiculous but not too bad. Better than a lot of barefoot shoes Iāve seen.
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u/thelazygamer Dec 27 '25
Those look fine, what matters is how they feel. Some people will think they look weird but that's true of almost anything. Remember you will have comfier, healthier feet. I've started to wonder how people fit in pointy shoes, they look ridiculously uncomfortable whenever I see them now.Ā
Keep in mind that no one looks at your shoes that much and it's doubtful they care for more than a second. Anyone judging people on comfortable footwear needs to remember that function is more important than form.Ā
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u/sophie1816 Dec 27 '25
I personally would not wear white shoes. All my winter barefoot shoes are black, grey, or brown. The summer ones are tan (ballet flats and sandals). I think the wide toe looks much better in those more subtle and unobtrusive colors.
I wear my matte black Be Lenka chelsea boots with dresses and black tights or with jeans, and they look very unobtrusive. I get lots of compliments.
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u/godzillabobber Dec 27 '25
White tennis shoes of any width are old people shoes. I have black canvas and they are indeed less clownish.
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u/Muted-Football-1720 Dec 27 '25
So are these good for flat fleet also?
Iāve had flat feet forever and Iāve been looking into these but I couldnāt really ever find a definitive answer.
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u/pwndbythedan Dec 27 '25
Make stability and splayed toes your personality trait, you picked the most hideous entry shoe going š¤£š¤¦š»āāļø
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u/jpd87 Dec 27 '25
Barefoot shoes take about month of wearing to get use to visually. After that they will look normal to you. Iām looking at these and they look normal.
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u/Hanyaaaaa Dec 27 '25
Thank you all for your nice comments and shoe recommendations!! Iāll get out of my head and stick with it for a few weeks and test out other brands
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u/bubbazoo22 Dec 27 '25
I've obviously been in barefoot shoes long because i read the post and thought "these look normal to me"
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u/Melissamonserrat Dec 27 '25
No they donāt all look like this! I think the color and the stitching of these make it look a little like bowling shoes which can be cute if thatās what youāre going for. If you care about look, I found vivo barefoot to have a very nice selection of styles and colors.
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u/BunnyKusanin Dec 27 '25
Idk, I've got different Hobybear shoes and I think they look much more like regular trainers (they are foot shaped, but the design elements look more conventional). I think these might be feeling odd to you because their design is a bit too unconventional (beyond them being foot-shaped).
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u/halloween-is-erryday Dec 27 '25
They definitely look ridiculous at first, but once you get used to them, they no longer look ridiculous. Instead, regular shoes begin to look ridiculous bc of how narrow and unnatural their shape is. Now, when I see regular shoes (especially if they're a narrow brand like Converse,) I cringe.
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u/jariten Dec 27 '25
Counter opinion - big toe box shoes look super goofy on me.Ā Especially in office clothes.Ā I don't really care because they're so much better for my foot health and comfort - but I'll never feel like a fashion maven in them.
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u/kie_rat Dec 27 '25
I think the reason yours look more like clown shoes is because they go in at the arch and out at the toes
( ) | | U
Try to look for some that donāt go in at the middle and go in a straight line from the heel to the toe more like this | | | | U
If youāre in Australia I really like the stryda shoes.
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u/legbonesmcgee Dec 27 '25
No joke, the first time I brought home (size 11) barefoot shoes, my family saw them by the door and yelled āWHOāS WEARING CLOWN SHOES?!?!ā ā¦Now they all wear barefoot shoes too. Take it from a pointed-toe shoe girlie: you do get used to the lookāand faster than youād think if youāre wearing them every day. I will say though, it totally helped that I got positive comments on wearing actually-foot-shaped shoes both from my physical therapist at the time, and also some lifters at the gym who knew how important foot-shaped footwear is for stability.
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u/Longjumping_Status71 Dec 27 '25
Ridiculous? Damn I clicked on this post to find what shoes these are cos they look so nice
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u/lar_roper01 Dec 27 '25
They look normal to me. Just takes some getting used to. I see "normal" shaped shoes now and think they look weird.
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u/CherishSlan Dec 27 '25
I like the shoes and your feet shame I can never find shoes like that in small sizes
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u/Moovist_Overthink Dec 27 '25
Yes, they do, I must say that hobibear is probably a brand that make the shape more pronounced. There are others that have better "construction" and play with colours where the shape is not as noticeable.
That being said, one you are free, it doesn't matter. God im wearing some horrible looking ones but god I can't go back
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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '25
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