Initial impressions

• The TrailFly Zero Wide has a very anatomically designed toebox, with an even wider toebox than Lone Peak's.
• The TrailFly Zero Wide has a bit of an aggressive tapering at the outer toes, similar to the tapering of Vivo shoes. Still, compared to the insoles against the Altra's, the Inov8's insoles are actually wider than Altra's, which was a pleasant surprise.
• The TrailFly Zero's cushioning feel a bit stiffer than the Lone Peak's, but I have not broken them in yet.
• I prefer the outsole design of the Lone Peak's on paper, but I haven't actually tested them out.
• I love that the Inov8s are 23g lighter than the Altras.

Inov8 TrailFly Zero V2 Wide vs. Altra Lone Peak 9+ (size 44) comparison table

Context

I ran a 128K ultra in Altra Lone Peak 9+s (link) two weeks ago, where I was able to finish the ultra but ended up with huge blisters on my big toes. Despite really liking the shoes otherwise, I decided I needed to find an alternative ultra shoe that hopefully won't give me the blistering issues I faced with the Lone Peaks.

To find alternative ultra shoes, I tried to find trail running shoes that:

• Are zero drop
• Have anatomical toe boxes
• Have enough support (around 20mm) to last ultra-distance runs past 100K

Excluding Altras, there actually weren't that many, and I only found two other brands that made shoes that fit the bill:

• Topo Athletics, Pursuit 3
• Inov8
  • TrailFly Zero V2 Wide
  • MudTalon Zero V2 Wide
  • TrailTalon Zero

I tried out the Topo Pursuit 3 in person at a local running store, but I didn't like the arch support and how tight they felt at the midfoot, presumably due to the arch support. I also didn't like the rounded & elevated design of the front, instead of the shoes sitting flatter on the ground like a neutral shoe should. The toebox also felt much more narrower than I liked, and it didn't feel like my toes had enough room to splay out naturally.

On the other hand, I used to really enjoy trail running in Inov8 shoes back in 2016 (previously used Terraclaw 220 and Trailroc 245), so I wanted to give Inov8 another shot, especially with their move back into natural running-inspired design philosophy called NATURALFIT:

>Our new design and fit ensures the foot controls the shoe, not the other way round. It's as nature intended.

The Talon shoes seemed to be a bit more niche and specialized, while the TrailFly shoes seemed to cover a wider range of terrain variety, so I decided on the TrailFly shoes.

While I haven't taken them out for a test run yet, I love how they feel on my feet. I am especially impressed at the anatomical design of the toeboxes, and I did not expect them to actually be wider than the Lone Peak 9+s. I just hope that I won't have similar blistering issues with them.

Side note, the shoes were strangely quite difficult to find, and I only found 2 pairs left in stock in my local running store, 1 of which miraculously happened to be my size in the wide version. If I like them, I may need to stock up on them when I next visit the UK, Inov8's home domicile.

I’m comparing two WHITIN models: the white pair is a size 11, and the green pair is an 11.5. In the insole photos, the regular socks with lettering are on the white insoles; the toe socks are on the green insoles.
The white 11s are too short—my right big toe hits the front when I walk. I could exchange them for a 12, but the side seam also sits directly over my bunion and puts pressure on it. The green pair has more flexible mesh in that area and feels a little roomier, though I’m not sure whether that’s because it’s a half size larger.
My bunion hangs over the side of both insoles. Is that common even in wide toe box shoes? The white model is supposedly one of WHITIN’s widest, so I’m wondering whether a size 12 would actually help or just leave me with shoes that look and feel too long.
Would you try the white pair in a 12, stick with the green model, or look for a wider shoe from another brand? Specific model recommendations are welcome.

I don’t traced my foot while standing and measured about 28.5 cm long and 11 cm wide across the bunion/ball of my foot. Does the tracing and measurement look right? It was surprisingly hard to keep the pen vertical—angling it inward or outward changed the outline quite a bit.
When comparing this to shoe size charts or insoles, how much extra room should I allow in length and width? I’m looking for a comfortable, fairly minimal gym shoe with room at the first MTP joint, preferably one that looks like a regular sneaker. Any models you’d suggest for this foot shape?

[supprimé]

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?

[effacé]

I’ve worn zero drop shoes for daily use for about 10 years, including WHITIN, Vivobarefoot, and Xero. I usually wear a 10.5. They’ve been great for everyday life, though I’ve learned that daily wear and sports are different things.

I have what I call the Disneyland test. I used to go about twice a month, and after a full day in running or walking shoes, my feet would always ache when I got home. One day I accidentally wore my WHITINs instead, and my feet felt fine at the end of the day. That was the pair that sold me on barefoot shoes for daily use even though they were, to me, by far the ugliest shoes I owned.

Tennis was a different story. I played in Vivobarefoots and threw out my back. I remember seeing a tennis player in their marketing at the time, so I thought they might work for me on court. Now I stick with conventional athletic shoes for tennis and other explosive sports. They might work for lower level tennis players, I cant imagine it working for high level play especially if you slide on court.

For everyday wear, my biggest gripe with barefoot shoes has always been their appearance. The Xero Prio Neo became my usual compromise because it looks presentable and fits my feet well.

I’ve always liked ASICS, so I bought the HYPERSYNC as soon as I saw it. I’ve worn it daily for about a month, and it’s become my favorite everyday pair. I’ve also worn it for a full day at Disneyland, and my feet felt great afterward.

The toe room feels about the same as my Xero Prio Neos on my feet. The HYPERSYNC feels low to the ground, with what seems like zero toe drop, though I haven’t measured it. It has a bit more cushioning than the barefoot shoes I’m used to, so there’s less ground feel. I’ve found it very comfortable.

For me, that’s a tradeoff I’m happy to make. I get much of what I like about minimalist shoes in a pair I also enjoy wearing out. If you need more toe room than Xero gives you, these probably aren’t the answer. But if Xeros fit you and you want another low-profile everyday option, the HYPERSYNC is worth a look.

I don't normally post, but I want legacy brands like Asics to dive into this market a bit more. I know they have been vocal about being against minimalist shoes in the past, so its shocking to me to see that they came out with the Hypersync's. I started hunting for any kind of review on them and of course there is nothing. I bit the bullet, and I'm glad I did, they nailed it.

Hey everyone!

I just got my first pair of barefoot shoes — handmade leather boots — and I’m a little unsure about the fit.

I sent the seller my exact foot measurements, and they chose the size for me. They feel pretty tight, especially around the width and instep. I also have flat feet, and my right foot is slightly bigger than my left. My right toes feel quite close to the front of the toe box, although there’s roughly 0.5 inch of space.

Since these are handmade boots from a small Etsy seller, I’d probably have to pay the return shipping if I want to exchange them, which could cost almost half of what I paid for the boots.

Is this normal for new leather barefoot boots? I’d really appreciate any advice!