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- Wide toe box for optimum toe space, foot returns to natural shape.
- Zero-drop, non-elevated sole for proper posture and balance.
- Flexible, non-slip, abrasion resistant rubber sole for extraordinary barefoot fee
- Minimalist casual style meets natural way of walking.
- Knitted upper is engineered for perfect fit and natural movement freedom, machine washable. Suitable for work, walking, gym, travel, driving, workout or even daily wear.
| Package Dimensions | 11.22 x 5.79 x 4.06 inches, 1.32 Pounds |
|---|---|
| Department | unisex-adult |
| Date First Available | July 20, 2023 |
Melisa C. –
Good quality
cpratt –
Very comfortable, perfect for wide feet
Old House Parents –
I love these shoes! They are true to size. I like the wide toe box, my toes don’t feel scrunched. They are stylish and comfortable for everyday wear. They don’t have a lot of added cushion or support like athletic shoes and I would not wear them if I was standing on my feet all day in a profession such as nursing, but they are great for casual, everyday wear. I liked them enough that I bought a second pair in a different color.
DebO –
These are my everyday sneakers now. I work in healthcare and wanted a more ergonomic shoe. I like the flexibility that this shoe gives me. The wide toe box allows my feet to spread and gives a more natural support and stability – like being barefoot without getting your feet dirty. Great quality! Highly recommend.
Mike –
Finally – this is my 3rd try with a barefoot shoe, and this one is great. My issue is placement of the lacing holders, which, on other brands, has landed squarely on top of my bunion, causing more pain than the rest of the comfort of the shoe is worth. These Hobibear uppers are much better designed, with the lacing holders landing about 3/4″ above the bunion, giving some stretch potential. Even brand new, these are really gentle on that area, so letting them get more worn in only increases their potential. The arch support is minimal, but definitely better than the comparison brands – and I have a really high arch, so that’s hard to solve anyway. Another thing I really like about these is the shape of the toe box – the other brands have a more pronounced big toe area, which makes me look like I’m walking pigeon toed, or with swim fins. The toe box on these are more gently rounded, giving me just as much toe room without looking like Bozo the Clown. I selected the orange color, which is muted, not in-your-face, and it’s perfect for Orioles games. I don’t usually wear bright colors on my feet, but now I don’t care – orange it is, and orange it will be. Too bad I can’t get away with that for work, so I’m looking for another variety that looks less like a sneaker but feels just as good.
Angela –
Looks good, and seems to be well made. Wide toe box is very comfortable. Price is reasonable; BUT; I bought athletic insoles $$$ because there is zero arch support. Increased walking stability. So, plan on spending almost as much on good insoles if you purchase these shoes.
MHoff –
I am new to minimalist shoes, and this pair is the first that I am trying. I have had them for 2 days now, and I feel like I can write a decent initial review.
I think these shoes are very comfortable; and I’m surprised by that because I’ve always been a cushy shoe type of person because my feet are quick to start hurting. Granted, I haven’t walked for miles at a time in the Hobibear shoes yet, but I have worn them all day (office job, but walk between multiple buildings frequently) for the past two days and I’ve worked out in them both days and I’ve had almost no foot pain.
I will say, when working out (cardio, usually interval training), I have noticed that my right foot wants to cramp up on me. I am going to try not wearing socks during my workout tonight to see if that helps. I think that my feet slide around in the shoes with the wide toe box, which makes my toes work overtime to try to grip the shoes.
Which brings me to my biggest grip about the shoes… the tongue. It is terribly uncomfortable. I have adjusted the snugness of the shoe several times since having them, and no matter how I adjust or loosen the shoes, the tongue wrinkles and digs into the top of my feet. The tag on the tongue is especially uncomfortable for this reason. I may just need to find different no-show socks that provide more coverage so that my skin isn’t rubbing up right against the tag, but I don’t think that will help how the tongue bunches up throughout the day and digs into my skin. And, again, because they have the super wide toe box (which I LOVE, by the way, don’t get me wrong) I feel like the mid-foot need to be a little more snug so that my foot doesn’t slide around. But if I tighten it to the snugness I would prefer to help with the sliding, it hurts!
I hope to come back and edit my review after I’ve worn them longer as maybe I will figure some of this out, but right now I’m undecided if I would order these again. I do think that I want to move toward a more minimalist shoe, I’m just not sure that this brand or style will be the ones.
As a final note, I will also add that I have terrible knees due to several sports injuries over the years and I do notice that my knees hurt a little more since I’ve been wearing these. But in my research I did see that there was an adjustment period and that you have to learn to adjust your gait to a minimalist shoe so I am working on that as well. But I wanted to include that for others who may have joint issues- these may not be the shoe for you if you’re not willing to wait out the adjustment period.
TK –
This is my 3rd hobibear / Whitton shoe. Great toe box room, good quality. Very impressed.
emil991 –
Nice shoes. Wide front. The insole quality is bad. I had to purchase a new insole. The tongue of the shoes is difficult to adjust. Overall shoe quality is reasonable.
Stella –
I am in the process of switching all my shoes to wide toe box style and that can get expensive. These shoes are comfortable, durable, and quite inexpensive.
Mike –
Very lightweight and flexible barefoot shoe with lots of toe room. I have wide feet, and the toe box has plenty of room for me, with more to spare as my toes continue to relax and spread. From the first time I tried these on I noticed subtle changes in my posture and the way that I walk while wearing shoes; leaning more forward on the balls of my feet and with a less pronounced heel-to-toe roll with each step. My calves are noticeably more involved in my stride with these shoes.
The base of the shoe is thin and flexible, but seems durable. The foam inserts are very comfortable, though I don’t expect them to last very long and will probably have to get some replacements in the near future. You can definitely feel the ground through these shoes, including the temperature of the pavement you’re walking on, but this is to be expected and not meant as a negative. The overall construction seems to be quite good, though you may want to get an extra pair if you plan to use them regularly for activities like hiking, climbing, running, or other intensive activities.
I was a little concerned about what size to order, as I can range from a 10.5 to a 12 depending on the brand/manufacturer, but I went with my usual size of 11 and perfectly hit the mark. They fit like a glove. It’s also worth mentioning that while they are noticeably wider than normal shoes, they don’t look goofy or give off a “clown shoes” vibe. They just look like comfortable and simplistic footwear. While you probably won’t get compliments for them from normies, you also aren’t going to get noticed they way that the toe-shoe people do.
Super satisfied. Will probably be getting another pair soon.