Do you have a wider foot shape, like I do? In this post I share incredibly versatile and stylish barefoot boots that are particularly well suited for wide feet!
Introduction
Where I live, the period of time when I need to make sure my feet don't get cold or wet lasts a good six months. Here, cold days don't last for just a day or two, I need warm footwear from October to March.
After happily wearing my winter combat boots for a while, I started looking for another versatile boot that would be easy to get into and out of, preferably waterproof and beautiful.
If you read two or three posts of mine you will find that practicality is a common denominator. I like shoes that make it super easy to get out of the door in the morning. The second common denominator... I have wide feet, and it is usually not easy (at all) to find the right shoe for me. As you may have read in this post, when I got my first Shapen boots it was love at first sight and when I stepped into them and zipped them up, it was done! Signed, sealed, delivered, I was theirs.
Shapen's Sizing
If you need help figuring out how to measure your feet as accurately as possible to find the most suitable shoes for you, check out this article I wrote recently. It goes over all you need to know about foot type, measurements and shoe fit.
The barefoot shoe company SHAPEN has possibly my favorite size guides. They provide more details than most shoe brands, making it easy to find your size. Their size guides are shoe specific. Take a look:
Shapen's size guides for the COZY and IVY models
COZY - Warmth and Coziness
This boot's name suits it really well - the COZY boot is indeed, extremelly cozy. These were my first everyday barefoot boots so it was encouraging to see that they really are warm enough and able to keep my feet warm for a long time, despite having a thin sole. This is also because I added warm insoles. Winter insoles have definitely ensured my feet get warm quickly and stay warm for a long time.
To find out how and why I selected the COZY boot as my winter combat boot, see this article.
Where can you take these?
My experience has been - pretty much everywhere, even into the wild: cycling in the winter my ankles are cozy and warm, and the same happens on Autumn / Winter walks, or going out for dinner.
I have worn these boots on snowy walks in the woods for more than an hour at a time and even in the snow, I felt very comfortable and warm enough. It was really cool to feel the fluffy snow, to feel it compress under my feet, and to walk on icy surfaces - it feels playful, its super cool. Barefoot shoes really give you extra sensory input which other shoes don't, I had never experienced snow this way before!
I have a short commute to work (20 min. by bycicle or less by car) and by the time I've arrived at the office, my feet are toasty. At the office, I often take my winter boots off after I've been there for an hour or two, as my feet are warm enough and want to breathe a little bit outside the boots. This never used to be the case for me at all, quite the opposite. I have historically hard-to-warm-up feet and I've seen a significant improvement in circulation, especially noticeable wearing barefoot winter boots. Before, I'd have perpetually cold feet day and night but with these boots, my feet and akles warm up quickly and and stay warm. Major life improvement! :)
IVY - Beauty, Style and Comfort | A truly stylish barefoot boot
After enjoying my COZY boots for a while, I researched barefoot Chelsea boots because Chelsea boots are versatile and stylish, yet practical. I saw many interesting options but in the end what won me over was knowing that Shapen has my small size and foot shape (square). So I went with their IVY boots.
The rundown
Style - I think the IVY is beautiful. The overall design and its lines are stylish and the details are delicate and pretty. But a picture is worth a thousand words, so check out the photos. :)
Special features - Fully functional zipper (not just for decoration), which was important for me and makes it super practical to put the boots on and take them off.
Comfort, flexibility, warmth - Zero-drop, very comfortable and flexible. Warm and cozy.
Material, durability, water resistance - Water resistant (yay!). Made in smooth leather, nice and shiny if well taken care of. This boot is well made and durable, I've used mine almost every day, all winter long, with no issues.
Sole material, thickness & inner lining - The sole is made of 3.5 mm thick rubber (plus 2 mm of inner lining) and is very flexible in all directions. The sole is stitched and the boot is insulated with felt.
Ground feel - Awesome. Like the COZY, the IVY model comes without an insole, so you are very very close to the ground. The thin and flexible sole is good in rainy weather. I wear these as Autumn / Winter shoes. The IVY also provides excellent ground feel even with an added winter insole (eg. 4 mm thick): you can still be very close to the ground, yet warm.
Weight - Very lightweight.
Sizing & fit - Versatile, suits wide feet very well. Shapen's size guide lists this model's insole length and width, plus ankle circumference.
Where can you take these?
A better question would be, "where have I not taken my Ivy boots since I got them"? I've worn them everywhere, I am obsessed. They are incredibly cozy and practical, I am such a fan I bought a pair for my grandma. I love my grandma so you know I mean business. I want her to have the best to give her feet more freedom. But that's a story for another time.
The IVY boot is absolutely beautiful. When you wear this boot you are not compromising on style, it is perfect for everyday urban life, work meetings, fancy dinners, it looks good no matter what. Much like the COZY boot, I have also taken the IVY anywhere from the office to rainy walks, air travel, driving, a waterfall hike... Last Christmas I was visiting my family abroad, I didn't pack much so I took the IVY boots with me as I thought they're be the most versatile shoe to take with me. I ended up wearing them for a walk in Nature, on a trail leading to a waterfall. That means I walked with these boots on dry clay like soil, wet soil, slippery rocks and loose stones. Yes, even in this slippery escapade, the boots did not disappoint.
Photos of my IVY boots in the wild :D
I think the IVY boot has a huge advantage over non-barefoot Chelsea boots because in the IVY, you will not feel uncomfortable after any amount of time. I can only speak for myself, of course, but that has been my experience.
Shapen's winter insoles
Just as with the COZY boots, with the IVY model I also experienced that my feet get warm quickly. I am impressed by the quality and warmth provided by Shapen's extra warm insoles. Their bottom, rubbery surface is not the easiest to place inside the shoe due to high friction with the inner lining material but it is worth the trouble, as it will never move inside the shoe, and is very comfortable and warm.
Conclusion
Short and sweet, ok? Ok.
If you are looking for barefoot boots, whether you're just beginning to try barefoot shoes or if you are more experienced but are struggling to find boots that are wide enough for your wide feet, Shapen boots are for you.
If you want to give your toes plenty of comfort and freedom, as well as a warm, cozy winter, Shapen boots and their winter insoles are for you.
If you are looking for barefoot boots that are really stylish and beautiful, and if you want practical, water resistant options, Shapen boots are for you!
I hope you enjoyed this article, feel free to ask any questions or share your own experiences. Until the next one!
Please note: this article is not sponsored in any way, it is simply based on my opinion.
Resources
What are barefoot or minimalist shoes? - see my take on it
Barefoot Glossary - I created this glossary to help you navigate the terms of the barefoot world!
Which type of foot do you have? - by SHAPEN
How to measure your foot correctly? - by SHAPEN
See more interesting links in the Barefoot Shoes Resources page
If my blog has helped you in any way, consider using my links for your purchases. When you use my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For details, see the Disclaimer.
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