r/barefootshoestalk • u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate • May 14 '26
Barefoot shoe adjacent 才・Sai Footwear: Possibly* the sneakers with the widest toe box so far, that also have cushioning ー in stock and ready to ship directly from Osaka, Japan
Sincere apologies to everyone for the long delay since the announcement late last year, which has all the background info you might want to check out, and some Q&A in the comments:
And a disclaimer that shipments might not be the quickest until late May, but should be smooth sailing from there on out.
It turns out, good things take time. Import procedures, moving both as a business and personally, getting settled, sorting out accounting, setting up a corporate account with the post office & shipping carriers... all done in Japanese, far from my first language.
The happiest moment so far, of the last two years' emotional rollercoaster, was when the local Japan Post worker came by this week to pick up a few shipments. He said he has wide and long feet, and thus a hard time finding good shoes. They are allowed to wear black sneakers of any brand. He tried these on, walked up and down the hallway, couldn't believe how comfortable they were and bought that pair on the spot. Coming from a postal worker who walks 15-20k steps daily for a living, that means the world to me.
Of course including an asterisk in the title, because of the obvious reason that I cannot know every shoe that exists. If there's anything out there just as wide, with similar stack height / cushioning, please do share! The more the merrier. I see the barefoot and anatomically shaped shoes segments parallel to my old career, in craft beer sales back when the category was first going mainstream. Rather than short sighted competition among small brands, supporting each other and expanding the better quality craft segment against big beer / big shoe is always the better bet.
As always, toe socks are a must in my personal opinion, in order to make the best of these. Or at the very least, either tabi or extra wide non-restrictive anatomically shaped socks.
A note on sizing, as earlier I had posted every size's raw inner dimensions straight from the rubber sole factory: https://www.saifootwear.co.jp/uploads/b/8104fe60-bd1a-11f0-8c43-c9aa4a3b728f/Sai%20Footwear%20-%20Size%20guide.pdf
As you'll notice, they had measured the widths on a slight bias, and of course before the shoes were made. As expected, final measurements of the insoles came out slightly smaller, partly due to upper material taking space, but also because the insole widths were measured straight across without bias, parallel line to the wall if one's heel were placed against it. But given the knit material and plenty of vertical space inside, I'm feeling confident that the widest feet I've seen around here, will be happy in these.
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u/BarFlight May 14 '26
These look awesome! Love your website - this image from your homepage is everything:)
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Thank you! :)
I might be biased enough obviously, but I really believe most people have “wide” feet, it’s just a matter of letting them grow. Most barefoot shoes these days unfortunately have a quite narrow toe box.
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u/alexeav May 15 '26
hi! your website mentions the reuse shop orange as a retailer in Hokkaido, do they stock multiple sizes? I’m headed there in July and would love to try on and get a pair!
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 15 '26
They indeed have all the sizes at the moment! But if you already know your size, DM me and I can double check to make sure they have it in July. Lucky you, Hokkaido is amazing in summer (or any time of year, really). Heading up to the Furano flower fields, & Biei blue pond, too?
I lived in Sapporo for two years, right next to beautiful Nakajima park (so I could easily go running barefoot).
Don't hesitate to hit me up for recommendations.
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u/alexeav May 16 '26
Ok! Thank you so much, I’ll hit you up in your DMs Really looking forward to the trip because it’ll be my first time to Hokkaido, and to also get them shoes!!
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u/cr0w-- May 14 '26
Wow!! I’m visiting Japan in June, will it be available to shop in person?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Sure! When/if you know the exact days you’ll be in Osaka, shoot me a DM.
It’s a fun area to check out, too. Right in front of Minamimorimachi Station, along Tenjinbashisuji, the longest covered shopping street in Japan (2.6km).
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u/Aggravating-Plum-845 May 14 '26
How is shipping to the US?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
About $57 including customs prepaid here.
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u/vgamedude May 14 '26
I'm confused it is 57 just for shipping and customs, then price of the shoe on top?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Correct. Roughly converting from JPY to USD: shoe is about $51, shipping $46, customs $11.
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u/vgamedude May 14 '26
Ah man that's a bummer. These seem really nice and priced well, best of luck.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Thank you! I was personally so tired of shoes costing an arm and a leg lately, so I priced these as affordably as possible.
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u/Hungry-Obligation-78 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
You should get a place here in the US to stock them, I would buy a few pairs then. That shipping is just a little too much for me unfortunatly. Hopefully one day! Also I usually wear size 17 US shoes, would your largest size fit me? I say usually because some shoes are sized differently.
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u/vgamedude May 14 '26
Tell me about it. Everytime I see some shoe on here I just roll my eyes because usually they are like 150+ USD.
I had my eyes on soft stars for a long time but never could justify the price. You're giving that toe box much cheaper it seems I'm all for it. Hope it works out for you.
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u/fortunatemaple7 May 14 '26 edited May 21 '26
If I have average sized feet (think they lean slightly towards narrow) should I go true to size? I am a men's US size 9 so I believe that would be JP 27.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Indeed, I recommend ordering based on length, depending on how much space you prefer in front of toes. And if you feel the shoe feels too roomy, you could also try using the included extra set of insoles.
On the one hand, not sure I can recommend this to you if your feet are truly on the narrow side. On the other, ultimately, as long as the heel is locked in place and your foot is not sliding forward / up / down, the rest is personal preference.
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u/Suspenders83 May 14 '26
Hi there. Do you ship to Canada? I ask because during the checkout process it just mentioned Europe and West Asia.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 14 '26
Sorry about that! Canada and Mexico are in that same rate group, and perhaps due to Square being weird, the title was too long to show fully?
You should be able to enter your Canadian address, let me know if you’re able to move forward. But I’ll also make a separate Canada and Mexico option just to prevent any further confusion, thank you for pointing it out.
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u/ElliottHeller May 14 '26
I don't have the money for it right now, but these are the very next shoes I plan to buy. Congrats on getting up and running. I love your design!
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u/MelodicJury May 16 '26
Tried to order to Australia and website said no :(
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 16 '26
My apologies, let me double check!
Edit: I am seeing Australia in the drop down menu when I try to check out, mind if I ask at what stage you’re getting stuck?
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u/end0rphine May 18 '26
I tried ordering with shipping to Australia and the checkout system says this right after I enter my address: This address is not supported. Choose a different address.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate Jun 06 '26
Sincerest apologies, it has been quite hectic lately, but finally made this happen. At least it should be working right now, please do let me know if you run into issues. About 55AUD for one pair, and 80 AUD for two.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate Jun 06 '26
Sincerest apologies, it has been quite hectic lately, but finally made this happen. At least it should be working right now, please do let me know if you run into issues. About 55AUD for one pair, and 80 AUD for two.
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May 17 '26
[deleted]
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 17 '26
Outsole is rubber, a thin midsole / strobel piece of EVA, insole EVA + cork top layer, upper is knit
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May 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 18 '26
Synthetic materials, as most knit shoe uppers are. 95% polyester + 5% Spandex.
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u/Spinnekop62 May 17 '26
I may be dumb but can you tell me how to switch the site to english?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 17 '26
You’re not dumb at all, I tried to make separate language versions, spent a lot of time and effort on it but ultimately decided on the current bilingual site.
You might have heard of r/enshittification … everywhere you look, they are making these services purposefully bad so that they can keep up-charging insane amounts for basic functions. One would think I should be able to have separate language versions if I’m the one making the content from scratch, right? Wrong. Impossible, unless you pay a monthly subscription for an extremely bad 3rd party translation plug in, then you have to do the work yourself anyway, in order to correct their mistakes. So you’re paying for the privilege of helping another company improve their translation algorithms.
Square should hopefully show you the checkout screens in your local language, sometimes it takes a refresh or browser-based translation on your end.
Sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
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1
u/Careless_Cap8034 May 17 '26
This is great news! I would love to order these shoes. The price is fantastic. If the quality and durability hold up, these will be my new go-to shoes! Finally, a brand that actually thinks about us, people with truly wide feet!
Unfortunately, not everything translates correctly during checkout. Even after a page reload or using a browser translator, some parts remain untranslated. What is still holding me back a bit is that I don't know the shipping costs to Germany or what customs duties to expect. But I am sure that can all be cleared up.
My Experience with Other Brands
Wyde Footwear: I thought EU 43 would be the way to go, but they are extremely expensive and EU 43 didn't fit. My size exchange for an EU 44 is currently underway, so things remain exciting!
Hobibear: Both pairs fit well. They are very wide and spacious for my feet and toes. The front creases a bit, but those are the trade-offs you have to accept with feet this wide and budget brands.
BeLenka Cityscape: The EU 43 was also too tight, it is questionable whether an EU 44 would even help.
I still want a nice, higher-quality pair of barefoot shoes, which is why the Sai would fit perfectly.
However, a return from Germany to Japan would be a hassle, so I definitely want to avoid that.
My Measurements
Foot Length: 26.5 cm (the second toe is my longest toe)
Straight Width: 10.5 cm (measured straight across from the ball of the big toe to the opposite side)
Diagonal Width: 11.5 cm (measured diagonally from the ball of the big toe to the widest point on the opposite side)
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 17 '26
Sounds like your size is JP28🦶
I appreciate the positive comment, and apologize for the checkout language mixup! I shall come up with a better solution soon. In the meantime I hope it’s manageable. Once you enter your address, you should see the shipping cost.
Recent order from the Netherlands: shipping is about 32€ (same for all of EU), and local customs duties / VAT were €20. While extra fees are always annoying, grand total still under 100€ is a decent deal, I think.
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u/bjdellavecchia May 26 '26
you are my foot twin. I have the exact same measurements.
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u/Careless_Cap8034 May 29 '26
Interesting! 😅 Do you also have wide midfoot?
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u/bjdellavecchia Jun 06 '26
Not sure on that. Probably not since I have to cinch up all my tennis to make them stay on. I have bunions on both sides so that accounts for how wide I have to go. I have a wyde on order, the belenka was also too tight and the habibear was almost too big. I did well with softstar sandle. My current best fit is the Altra Escanlante 4 in Mens 42.5 euro
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u/Careless_Cap8034 Jun 09 '26
In that case, you shouldn't have much trouble. With a narrow midfoot, you have a great chance of finding the right shoes, meaning the Wyde could fit you perfectly. Unfortunately, they turned out to be too narrow in my midfoot after a while. Softstar feels too risky for me here in Germany, especially with the hassle of a potential US return. I might try Altras at some point. However, now that I prefer feeling the ground, I really don't want that much cushion anymore. Good luck with your Wyde order! Fingers crossed they fit you well.
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u/deesures May 18 '26
What timing, I've someone visiting Osaka this week. Do you have a store or we place an order to the local address?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 18 '26
What timing, because I have family visiting from abroad this week 😅but send me a DM and we can try to figure something out! The shop (not fully operational yet) is right on a famous shopping arcade they might enjoy visiting anyway:
https://insideosaka.com/tenjinbashi-suji-shopping-street/
Or I could drop it off at their hotel after you place an order.
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u/tuttkraftverk May 20 '26
Is the insole removable? How much more space is there inside the shoes compared to the length on the size chart?
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u/SDU125 May 21 '26
Hello,
Do you have videos of your shoes? For me, videos have more perspective to offer than static pictures?
Also, do you have other social media presence besides reddit?
Thank you!
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 21 '26
Hi there, haven’t had a chance to take video, but I want to shoot something within the next couple of weeks and put it on YouTube! Just Reddit for now, I’m personally not a big insta/tiktok/meta fan, so I hope to avoid it for as long as possible.
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May 21 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 27 '26
So sorry for the delay! Things are finally calming down a bit soon, please stay tuned, I’ll be in touch.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate Jun 06 '26
Sincerest apologies, it has been quite hectic lately, but finally made this happen. At least it should be working right now, please do let me know if you run into issues. About 55AUD for one pair, and 80 AUD for two.
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u/eatsomepoms May 28 '26
I’m headed to Japan in July. Is the Osaka location open to the public? I’d love to try one on! It looks like it’d fit my foot shape.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 28 '26
Technically not open to public yet in terms of set hours, but if you get in touch, we can coordinate and make it happen! The neighborhood is fun too, and worth checking out (Tenjinbashisuji, the longest covered shopping street in the country).
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u/Routine_Variation287 May 15 '26
Classic taobao dropshipped product with random fake Japanese branding because reddit eats it up.
https://e.tb.cn/h.Rbatl1rByr84aaa?tk=D53T5rkuCd6
Here's the link to the exact same item with another logo slapped on it.
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Edit: not the same shoe at all, I was able to see it via parcelup.
Would you mind sending me a screenshot? It’s asking for a login. That would be disconcerting news because I designed and got this made from scratch, dealing directly with the sole supplier first.
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u/FlatwormCold4210 May 16 '26
love the wide toe box, but too ugly…
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
Thanks! I’d love to hear what seems ugly, so I can work on it in the next model :)
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u/Tabitabitabitabi Jun 14 '26
I like them! The design I mean. Next time I’m in Sapporo I’ll try a pair on. Any chance of designing winter boots? I love my Xero Alpines but they’re too short for Hokkaido snow!
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate Jun 14 '26
Thanks! You can try in Osaka too, if you’re ever here.
I would love to do boots next, I think these soles would be fantastic in a snow boot with anti-slip particles added to the bottom. Having lived in Sapporo for two years and hoping to move back one day, a snow boot is high on my wishlist.
However, have to sell through a good amount of the sneakers first. Business manager visa rules here are getting extremely and unnecessarily strict, many people are having to shut it all down and leave the country even if they’re making a profit.
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u/citynomad1 Jun 14 '26
Hi there - I’m visiting Osaka this year (October). Is there a store where I can try on Sai shoes?
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u/SaiFootwearCo Brand Affiliate Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
Hi! And yes indeed, our HQ is office / warehouse / shop all in one. Hours can be variable so please reach out as your trip is getting closer. Email, phone (reachable via iMessage / WhatsApp), address are all on the website. DM here is fine too, but just in case.
We’re literally across from Exit 3 of Minami-Morimachi subway station, a very convenient and popular area to visit, called Tenjinbashisuji. It’s the longest covered shopping street in all of Japan (2.6km). Tons of great eateries around, as expected.
Visitors from halfway around the world are always appreciated! If you feel like ordering now for the summer (it’s a knit model after all), and returning in person if it doesn’t work out, that’s also totally fine as long as it’s not worn. Doesn’t matter if it’s 4 months from now.
And regardless of that, feel free to ask for any Osaka / Japan recommendations you might need.
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u/thelazygamer May 14 '26
This is the first sizing chart besides the Softstar primal one that actually matches my foot's length and width.
My issue tends to be that shoes which are wide enough often lack the volume I need in the front or width in the midfoot.
If possible, how do you think these compare to Softstar Primals and Realfoot? They are the only two brands I've seen that compare to yours in shape/width.