A good Minimalist sandal allows you to feel and experience your environment as if you were Barefoot. The Minimalist sandal is much freer with fewer features to get in the way, just slight and comfortable protection.
The Barefoot Movement
Barefoot sandal weather for running, exploring, or just for comfort is a trend that has exploded next to barefoot running. This happened after the release of the bestseller book by Christopher McDougall in 2009, called Born to Run.
After observing the running cultures of the Tarahumara people in Mexico McDougall concluded that humans evolved by running barefoot, and argued that the advancements of most running shoes are doing much more harm than good to our feet and health in general.
The result of this is to run Barefoot or opt for minimalist sandals, which are very close and similar.
Minimalist Sandals and What To Look For
Running barefoot causes less impact and gives you better balance because, with shoes, the heel hits the ground first, and then the team and the midstroke hit the ground flat, which can cause overstriding and other issues.
Since your feet are forced to cope and engage with the contours and imperfections of the ground when you wear minimalist shoes or run barefoot, they are more balanced, and there are less strain and impact.
- Zero Drop – This means that the sole is even, and the heel and front are exactly the same height. Zero drop shoes have proven to provide excellent knee pain relief, as well as improving muscle strength, agility, and balance.
- Thin Sole – Anything thicker than 12mm and there is no more Barefoot feeling, preferable 5-8mmare best. The Thinner the sole, the more flexible the sandal will be, and the better the Barfoot feel will be.
- Lightweight – Any Minimalist sandal need to be very lightweight, almost featherlike on your feet. Though keep in mind, genuine leather and materials tend to be heavier than most synthetic leather and materials.
- Thong Straps – Many Minimalist brands use specially designed laces and straps that are lightweight and comfortable, weather-resistant, as well as adjustable in fit. However, straps may cause hotspots and squeeze your toes after a while. Here is where the Thong strap comes in. The thong strap is less confining, and most of your foot is left open and untouched by any materials.
Features of a Good Minimalist Sandal
- Uppers – The Uppers on a minimalist sandal will usually be a thong design or very open straps. Textile, fabric, and leathers can be used for the upper, with or without a lining.
- Sole – The sole is usually made out of rubber or EVA and is very minimalistic, offering protection against sharp and protruding objects without impeding the feel of the earth under your feet. The tread usually lugs or patterned for better traction.
- Cushioning – Most Minimalist sandals will not have cushioning, somewhat slight padding, a lining on the footbed or just the EVA from which the sole is made.
- Designs – The Minimalist sandal usually exists in Yoga designs and styles and some sports styles and designs. There are likewise color options in some of the models.
Reviews: The Best Minimalist Sandals
Here are our top choices in comfortable and liberating Minimalist sandals;
1
Minimalist Trail Running Sandal
Score: 98.3
The Z-Trek from Xero Shoes is popular among runners and those who have a minimalist approach in outdoor sports and running.
- The Z-Trek is a Trail running minimalist sandal.
- It is an extra, lightweight, and comfortable design sandal with a Zero Heel drop designed for that barefoot feeling.
- The outsole is made from a lightweight and high grip durable rubber.
- You will also enjoy the extreme flexibility of this sandal and the fact that it can be easily rolled up and stored in a small bag or pocket.
- Some color options are available for you to choose from for your own personal style.
2
Minimalist Flip Flop Sandal
The Sanuk Beer Cozy is preferred among many minimalists and those who practice Yoga.
- The sandal has a durable and slip-resistant rubber sole that has a slight heel.
- The Footbed is a Yoga Mat design and slightly padded.
- For the uppers, a Comfortable polyester is used, and the uppers are available in many different colors.
- The Sanuk sandal is very lightweight but still offers some underfoot protection and comfort.
3
Minimalist Sandal
The Teva Original is one of the most favored sandals for sports, water sports, and for casual wearing. It has a minimalist and lightweight design with some comfort and protection features.
- One of my personal favorites for running and all sorts of sports and activities are the Teva Original sandal.
- The Teva original has textile uppers that dry quickly and can be washed easily.
- The straps on the top and at the back are adjustable with a hook and loop Velcro closure for a comfortable fit.
- You can look forward to a Footbed that is cushioned with EVA and has a Micro Ban Zinc based antibacterial treatment to resist odors.
- For the outsole on this sandal high abrasion resistant, Durbrasion Rubber is used for excellent grip and durability.
4
Minimalist Sports Sandal
The Skechers Cali and Flex Advantage are lightweight running and outdoor sandals, not quite minimalist but extraordinarily lightweight and flexible, so I have added them if you are looking for something in between.
- They have synthetic Jersey knit upper straps made from durable and quick-drying Nylon.
- The uppers are adjustable for a more comfortable fit.
- The Yoga Foam cushioned footbed is exceptionally lightweight and flexible, allowing more natural movement and still some cushioning.
- The outsole is made from durable rubber and also quite flexible, with a tread for outdoor terrains and slip resistance.
5
Unisex Minimalist Sandal
The Mono Winged sandal from Luna is a flexible and lightweight Minimalist Trail walking sandal.
- These sandals are adventure sandal designed and created to be durable and ideal for all terrains and environments.
- There is a durable Vibram Morflex outsole for superior grip and durability.
- An MGT footbed with Monkey grip technology ensures a base that will not become slippery under your feet.
- You can also easily customize the fit with the one continuous strap made from climbing grade tubular rope webbing with adjustable buckles.
6
Minimalist Sandal
Another excellent addition from Xero shoes is the genesis and Jessie for men and women.
- A very flexible and lightweight Minimalist THONG style sandal for men and women.
- Better than flip flops offering much better grip and durability with a much lighter weight.
- The Zero Drop flat sole is flexible and durable, allowing for proper balance and posture.
- There are soft woven upper with a secure toe loop and open design.
- There are likewise a few colors that you may select.
7
Minimalist Design Sandals
From Xero Shoes, we have the minimalist barefoot trail walking shoes the Jessie and the Z-Trail.
- The Z-Trail has an open toe design while the Jessie has a toe loop.
- Both sandal have adjustable textile uppers.
- The sole is minimalist in design and offers a more barefoot feel.
- The sole is a durable rubber that also ensures a good grip.
- The sandal is very flexible and easy to walk with.
8
Minimalist Sandals
The Crocs Swiftwater is a lightweight minimalist hiking and outdoor sandal.
- The sandal consists of the lightweight Croslite material.
- The footbed offers comfortable cushioning.
- The outsole is durable and ensures excellent slip resistance.
- There are a few color options from which you can select.
- The uppers are adjustable for a perfect fit.
9
Minimalist Flip Flop Sandals
The Havaianas range offers a very lightweight minimalist design Flip Flop for everyday wear.
- The Flip Flop consists of a rubber with a light rubber sole.
- There are many color options available from which you can choose.
- The flip flop sandal is very light yet still durable.
- The footbed offers light cushioning and protection.
10
Minimalist Design Flip Flop Sandals
The Reef Fanning is the perfect outdoor Minimalist Hiking Flip Flop sandal.
- The uppers are synthetic Nubuck leather.
- There is a Herringbone patterned rubber outsole for better traction and grip.
- There is also an additional bottle opener in the sole.
- You can choose from a few color selection in the Reef Fanning.
Index Table: Top Rated Minimalist Sandals
| No. | Product | Men ♂ | Women ♀ | Features | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xero Shoes® - Minimalist Trail Running Sandal | 
| 
|
| Xero Shoes | 98.3 |
| 2 | Sanuk® - Minimalist Flip Flop Sandal | 
| 
|
| Sanuk | 96 |
| 3 | Teva® - Minimalist Sandal | 
| 
|
| Teva | 97.3 |
| 4 | Skechers® - Minimalist Sports Sandal | 
| 
|
| Skechers | 96 |
| 5 | Luna® - Unisex Minimalist Sandal | 
|
|
| Luna | 95 |
| 6 | Xero Shoes® - Minimalist Sandal | 
| 
|
| Xero Shoes | 98 |
| 7 | Xero Shoes® - Minimalist Design Sandals | 
| 
|
| Xero Shoes | 96 |
| 8 | Crocs® - Minimalist Sandals | 
| 
|
| Crocs | 97 |
| 9 | Havaianas® - Minimalist Flip Flop Sandals | 
| 
|
| Havaianas | 97 |
| 10 | Reef® - Minimalist Design Flip Flop Sandals | 
| 
|
| Reef | 97 |
Table of Contents
- The Barefoot Movement
- Minimalist Sandals and What To Look For
- Features of a Good Minimalist Sandal
- Reviews: The Best Minimalist Sandals
- Index Table: Top Rated Minimalist Sandals
