Do you prefer barefoot trail running shoes over regular shoes? You came to right place.
In this article we will cover the best barefoot trail running shoes, providing a solution for every type of trail runner.
Let’s start with a quick overview:
Overview
Note that these are all barefoot shoes according to the manufacturer’s own definition, if you want to learn more about the difference between minimalist and barefoot shoes, I would recommend this article: Barefoot vs minimalist shoes.
If you are more interested in minimalist trail running shoes, I also wrote an entire post about that subject, feel free to check it out!
List of best barefoot trail running shoes
Let’s take a more detailed look at each of our picks.
Xero Shoes Mesa Trail
Xero shoes are one of the most praised shoes in the barefoot community, and with good reason.
These shoes are durable, comfortable, have good traction and give you the true barefoot feeling (= high sensitivity).
It’s pretty rare that a barefoot trail running shoe has the combination of all these characteristics. Although I must say that the grip isn’t as grippy as some alternatives in wet conditions and on difficult terrain. But it’s still a pretty decent grip.
The shoes are protective and are trail-ready without sacrificing the barefoot and natural feeling that is typical for barefoot trail running shoes.
They seem to run a bit small and not ideal for people with narrow feet.
In terms of weight, the shoes perform relatively mediocre. Coming in at 215g, they perform great for a minimalist shoe, but average for a barefoot shoe.
It’s good for the beginner, but also for the avid trail runner. The shoe can also be used for hiking, but is not optimal for road running. The design is made towards hitting trails, not roads.
Long story short, these shoes would be my main recommendation. They don’t really have big flaws, making them the best overall barefoot trail running shoe. However, they are not really suitable for other usage than trail running or hiking, meaning that they are not very versatile.
Also, these shoes are not extremely expensive, but they are also not really budget friendly.
If these things don’t really bother you, you will be very pleased with the Xero mesa trail shoes.
Pros
- Durable
- Breathable
- High overall quality
Cons
- Less suitable for narrow feet
The lowest price can usually be found here:
For men: Xero shoes mesa trail
For women: Xero shoes mesa trail
Vibram V-Trail 2.0
Many of you have probably heard of the FiveFinger design. A simple summary for the Vibram V-Trail would be that this is the upgraded version of the classic FiveFinger design, optimized for trail running.
This is a true barefoot trail running shoe. However, it has to be said that in order to make this shoe trail-proof, it will feel more stiff and restrictive than the other barefoot Vibram shoes.
It’s a non-surprising trade-off. However, many runners still didn’t expect this. It’s often said that this shoe is less comfortable than other models of Vibram.
The Vibram V-Trail does not perform that great on the road, they feel a bit clunky and out of their element. These shoes are water-resistant, but this means that they are less breathable. Especially on sun heated paved roads, this results in hot, sweaty and even swollen feet.
We have to conclude that the V-Trail 2.0 is a great all round shoe, very durable and with great traction. However, it’s not the best option when it comes to barefoot accuracy and sensitivity.
That said, if you are looking for a barefoot running shoe that is protective enough to be used on the trail, the Vibram V-Trail 2.0 really is one of the best options out there. Keep in mind, optimizing a barefoot shoe for the trail will add weight to the final product.
In terms of weight, the Vibram V-Trail, coming in at 196g, seems to be mediocre at first sight. However, considering this truly is a trail optimized barefoot shoe, I would say the weight is actually pretty good.
These shoes are not very budget-friendly, but they are also not ridiculously expensive considering how long they last.
Pros
- Durable
- Great traction
- Great all round trail running
Cons
- Not the best sensitivity
- Not always true to size
- Not good for road running
It also has to be said that there are a relatively high amount of issues with sizing reported. Mainly for the women’s version of the shoe. Be sure to double-check sizing information before ordering.
The lowest price can usually be found here:
For men: Vibram V-Trail 2.0
For women: Vibram V-Trail 2.0
Merrell trail glove 6 Eco
The Merrell trail glove 6 Eco’s are another pair of great barefoot trail running shoes. These shoes are considered barefoot shoes, however, they have more arch support than your typical barefoot shoe, which is why some people consider these semi-barefoot shoes.
The trail glove is loved by many, but there are also a lot of people who are somewhat disappointed when first trying out these trail running shoes.
It has a great fit and feels when first trying them on. However, there are some complaints about the uncomfortable midsole and about the fact that they may not be real barefoot shoes. I guess it really comes down to what you are looking for in a shoe.
On the positive side of things, the Merrel trail glove has good grip, is breathable and has a nice glove-like fit. It’s also not a trail exclusive shoe. These can be worn for hiking, road running and even everyday use if you would want to.
On top of that, these shoes are more budget-friendly than most barefoot trail running shoes. However, it should also be noted that these are not as durable as I had hoped. So, if you are planing to run many miles in your next trail running shoes, I would probably recommend a different pair.
In terms of weight, the Merrell Trail Glove is considered mediocre. 218g definitely isn’t bad, but if you are specifically looking for a lightweight option, there are more interesting alternatives.
All in all, we have mixed feelings about the Merrell trail glove 6, but there is a good reason why we included it on the list of best barefoot trail running shoes. It’s a great recommendation for trail runners who want to try out a barefoot running shoe. They can also be used as a hybrid shoe, are not that expensive and provide more arch support than other barefoot shoes.
However, for the true barefoot runners who are looking for a durable trail running shoe, this is probably not the right choice.
Pros
- Can be used for hiking and road running as well
- Great traction
Cons
- Not very durable
- Not 100% barefoot
The lowest price can usually be found here:
For men: Merrell trail glove 6 Eco
For women: Merrell trail glove 6 Eco
Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG
The Vivobarefoot Primus Trail is an innovative barefoot trail running shoe. First of all, these are completely vegan and the outer shoe is completely made out of recycled plastic waste.
We like the idea behind these shoes and can appreciate the ecological effect. However, the downside of this story is that the shoe is very expensive.
Luckily, the Vibobarefoot Primus trail shoes are durable and high quality. However, they are still not for every barefoot trail running enthusiast.
The good thing about these shoes is that they have great traction, are durable and they are pretty versatile. They can be sued for trail running, road running, but they can also perfectly be used in a gym for example. If you are looking for a high quality hybrid solution, these might be the right option for you.
However, if you are looking for the barefoot trail runner that provides the most natural feel, these shoes are not for you. It simply doesn’t provide the amount of sensitivity of some other barefoot shoes. I know that this is something that many people who are looking for barefoot shoes highly value.
Pros
- Can be used for hiking and road running as well
- Great traction
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
- Poor sensitivity
The lowest price can usually be found here:
For men: Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG
For women: Vivobarefoot Primus Trail II FG
WHITIN Trail Runner
The WHITIN trail runners cannot be compared to any other option on the list. These are true budget shoes and are in a completely different price range.
In terms of performance, these shoes perform great when keeping in mind how cheap they are. However, when comparing these to other, more expensive options, they will underperform.
Long story short, these are great for trying out trail running. They are pretty solid all round and very budget-friendly. However, don’t run into the mountains and start performing the most technical trails.
Start out with some easy/semi-difficult trails and see how these shoes work out. If you truly want to move on to more difficult trails, it’s probably time to invest in some higher quality shoes.
The grip is good, but not great, and the durability is also not outstanding. However, once again, considering the price point, they still perform pretty good.
These shoes are also pretty heavy for barefoot shoes, around 330g. Once again, on this budget, we can’t really complain about that.
Pros
- Amazing price
- Good all round value shoe
Cons
- Not for difficult/technical trails
- Mediocre grip
- Mediocre durability
The lowest price can usually be found here:
For men: Within trail runner
For women: Within trail runner
How do we pick the best barefoot trail running shoes?
It’s one thing to simply create a list of the best barefoot trail running shoes, but how did we actually make our picks?
Well, there are a couple of factors that we take into consideration.
Take note, it’s obviously impossible to be 100% neutral, so personal preference does come into play a little bit when selecting our top picks.
Durability
As always, durability is important. Not only does a durable shoe give us confidence to go on a longer trail run (definitely important on multiday trips). It also makes our purchase less expensive in the long run.
Weight
Weight is important for every type of running shoe, it’s even more important for barefoot running. The lighter the shoe, the more it will feel “barefoot”.
However, it’s usually a tradeoff between how protective the shoe is, how good the grip is, how durable it is and the weight.
Grip
Grip is another obvious factor. It’s pretty important for road running, but it’s extremely important for trail running.
When looking for a barefoot trail running shoe, we really don’t want to compromise on grip/traction.
Price
Price is always important and is always taken into account. Sometimes a more expensive item can be worth it, but often there is a good budget option as well.
Sensitivity
Especially for barefoot running, sensitivity is important. Sensitivity is what causes the natural feel, giving you the feeling that you are actually running barefoot.
Comfort
Obviously, comfort is important. However, for a barefoot running shoe, comfort is different than for a regular shoe, but we still want a good fit and a glove-like feeling when we put on those shoes.
Protectiveness
Having the feeling that we are running barefoot is important. However, it’s also super important to protect your feet from the elements, that’s, after all, the reason why we wear shoes.
Often, protectiveness is sacrificed so that a shoe feels more barefoot, it’s a very important tradeoff to be aware off.
Conclusion – Best barefoot trail running shoes
In this article we attempted to provide the best barefoot solution for every type of trail runner.
We have suggestions for the budget runner, the runner who values sensitivity, the runner who cares more about protection, etc.
If you did not find the right solution for you, feel free to let us know.
For creating the list we took into account multiple factors, the main ones being weight, grip, price, sensitivity, comfort and protectiveness.
We write lot’s of content about trail running shoes and clothes, so feel free to take a look at some of our other articles.
Best trail running pants, best ultra trail running shoes or best cheap trail running shoes for example might be very helpful for some of you.