Cheap Barefoot Shoes That Look Awesome

Here are our top picks for budget-friendly barefoot shoes, each thoroughly tested by our team. Below, you'll find concise reviews explaining why these models made our list of favorites.

We’ve also included four additional shoe models that offer the best value for money, based on our value-for-money equation.

$90-99 Range

Xero – Prio Neo: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

An upgrade of Xero’s bestsellers, the Prio Neos are lighter, making them ideal for training.

Xero – Dillon: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

Xero's take on the classic sneaker. They’ve done a great job!

FiveFingers – KSO: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

These are a hybrid of a toe spacer and a shoe.

If you can embrace their unique style, they offer unmatched functionality.

Wildling – Feder: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s | Kid’s | Toddler’s

If you’re after an uber flexible sole with tons of ground feel, this shoe ticks both boxes.

As an added bonus, they come in men’s, women’s and kid’s sizes.  

Saguaro – Dream I: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

A smart-casual shoe that's surprisingly affordable - a rare find in the barefoot world.

$80-89 Range

Xero Hana: 🔗 Men’s

A standard slip-on but with laces for a custom fit and an inbuilt heel-strap for additional stability. They also feature a breathable Hemp upper with a water-resistant finish.

All of this makes the Hana a versatile option

Xero Prio: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

The Prio is the best all-rounder from Xero Shoes. It’s smart enough for pairing with jeans and durable enough for trail runs.

It also features a reflective, inbuilt heel-strap for added support and safety on you night runs.

Forestep l – Saguaro: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

This shoe is a competitor to Xero’s Prio model.

While the Prio’s offer better sole grip and reflective features, the Forestep is more wallet-friendly and provides a roomier toe box.

Origo - Everyday Cotton Canvas: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

A casual shoe made from natural materials — great for breathability and odor control.

$70-79 Range

Saguaro – Wish I: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

If you prefer the more sleek and subtle design of traditional footwear, this is probably one of the closest you’ll find in the barefoot shoe space.

Saguaro – Forestep III: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

The Forestep III is a straightforward fitness shoe, without any gimmicks.

Splay – Freestyle 2.0: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

This is the barefoot world's answer to Vans.

For former Vans enthusiasts like myself, these are an ideal upgrade.

And they come in kids' sizes too!

Lonowear – Flow: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

Made from biodegradable materials that are breathable and comfortable for fitness activities.

$60-69 Range

Xero – Aptos: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

Made from hemp, the Aptos are eco-friendly, odor-resistant, and also very comfortable

Xero – Sunrise Slip-ons: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

With a unique collapsible heel, these shoes can conveniently transform into slip-ons.

Saguaro – Smart I: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

The upper of this training shoe is 11% spandex, making it extremely comfortable for workouts.

$50-59 Range

Whitten – W85:🔗 Men’s | Women’s

A premium feel at an affordable price.

Saguaro – Vitality III: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

The best all-round, budget gym shoe.

Under $50 Range

Baresocks: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

A shoe-sock hybrid that is a must-have for traveling.

Shoe Value for Money Equation

But from experience, we’ve found that price does not necessarily equate with value.

That’s why we’ve also developed a formula to identify the barefoot shoes that offer the best value for money.

This next list of 4 pairs scored highly according to our formula.

If you’re after the shoe with the best value, price might not offer the full picture.

There are some other factors to consider.

We've devised a simple, yet effective formula to assess the true value of footwear.

Shoe Value  = (Durability + Multi-Use) x Satisfaction

1. Durability: It's all about cost per wear.

   Say you buy shoes for $100 and wear them for 100 days—that's a cost of $1 a day.

   Compare this to a $150 pair lasting 300 days, dropping the cost to 50 cents per wear.

   More wear for your buck means better value, regardless of the initial price.

2. Multi-Functionality: Specialty shoes that offer limited use don't always justify their cost.

   Opt for a multi-functional shoe that can replace several others, offering more value.

3. Personal Satisfaction: This is the emotional enjoyment that you get from the product based on fit, comfort, style and status.

Top 4 Picks for Best Value Barefoot Shoes

Based on the equation above, we've compiled a list of the top 6 barefoot shoes that truly give you the best bang for your buck.

Xero Prio All-Day SR: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

While more expensive than the original Prio model, Xero’s All-Day variant has a more durable leather upper, is water resistant, and has a more versatile all-terrain sole.

Primus Trail III All-Weather: 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

This model has it all: all-terrain soles, water-repellent uppers, a quick-lacing system (great for runners), and versatile styling options.

Saguaro Dream III 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

A strong choice in the smart-casual barefoot shoe category.

The fact that it's priced at just over $100, while maintaining high quality and comfort, makes it a good competitor to pricier alternatives like the Vivobarefoot RA III.

Lems Boulder Boot 🔗 Men’s | Women’s

These boots are extremely versatile: the added sole thickness makes them practical for various outdoor activities, their water-repellent material can withstand different weather conditions, and their simple design makes them easy to match across outfits and occasions.

Authors

Christopher Ioannou

BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science

Founder of Barefoot Strength