

Got these cheap sandals off Taobao
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes now for about 1.5 years and have been lurking here the whole time. Got some Panta sandals before the summer which I loved, but was intrigued to see if there were cheaper options so started looking. Ordered these no-name sandals from Taobao for $8.90 (plus shipping) out of curiosity to see whether cheap no-name sandals can actually compete with the established brands.
First impressions after unboxing:
- Fairly light: the pair weighs 370 g
- Thin, flexible sole, feels sturdy so far, need to see if they mold to feet
- Comfortable on my feet, though the sole runs a bit narrow (ok for my size EU46 female shaped feet :D)
- One quality issue: the velcro on one strap is slightly frayed and not stitched on well at one side
I'll wear them over the next week or two and post an honest update on comfort, fit and how they hold up.
Maybe this could help someone out here.
Would you buy something like this over Shamma, Xero & co.? The cheaper sandals are also made in china or overseas mostly and probably have the same quality I feel like. Or would you never buy a no-name sandal from the start?