Source
r/BarefootRunning•
shepherder

Minimalist shoes are getting harder and harder to find

I've been on the barefoot/minimalist train since the Born to Run days in 2010 or so, and would love nothing more than being able to just go into a store and pick up a new pair of zero drop, wide toe box shoes for running or casual wear. Unfortunately this seems to be next to impossible now. I just moved to Toronto, and other than VFFs and the NB Minimus at Sport Chek, I haven't seen any minimalist shoes for sale. I desperately need new casual shoes, and something a little nicer for the office would really come in handy too. I'm female, if that matters - but at size 9-10, I can wear smaller men's sizes in sneakers.

Has anyone else noticed the trend of the dwindling minimalist options? I can't help but wonder what I'm going to do if it gets even worse. My feet are so wide from barefoot running that regular shoes hurt these days. I think I might have to order something such as Lems online, although I would much rather just buy something in a store after trying them out. Canadians, where do you buy your shoes from?

Posted May 26, 2017, 2:43 AM UTC

3133
_per_aspera_ad_astra•

Most people don't care about foot health or aesthetics or anything out of the ordinary, really. They just want some plastic, narrow shoe. As long as it's shiny and has a name brand and gets lots of upvotes on r/streetwear or instagram, well, that's all that matters to them.

Just buy some Lems Primal 2s.

17
SammaDynamite•

I second the Lems. I am on my second pair of Primal 2s; my first pair lasted 3 years of daily wear. I also got the boulder boot this time around and I love them as well. Lems also has a work/dress shoe I believe. I also live in Canada and had to order them online.

8
woogeroo•

I wish Lems would hurry up and make shoes in more sizes. 15US and I'm in.

5
br0phy•

Same here. It's depressing how many shoemakers stop at 12 or 13. Xero and Soft Star are the only ones I've found that go up to 15 (and xero only does it for their sandal, not shoes)

3
woogeroo•

Vivobarefoot have a few models in my size ( though all out if stock last I checked), and Merrell are good for sporty things.

2
SOM_Footwear•

At SOM Footwear we started going up to a men's size 16 US this year and have had good reception from our larger footed friends.

1
cozigounshod•

Wow, how tall are you?

2
woogeroo•

6'5"

2
kirkendall71•

I third Lems. I've worn a pair of primal 2's everyday for a year, slight wear, but a little shoe glue, and i'd say they'll last another year.

4
MadeOfStarStuffunshod•

Besides a cheap pair of flip flops, Lems are the only shoes I wear, for work or social events.

4
sonsue•

Bought the Lems Boulder Boots a couple months ago. Unbelievably comfortable. My only regret is that I didn't spring for the leather ones.

5
SuckNFail•

I have two pairs of Lems. The Primal 2s are easily the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn and the Nine2Fives are a nice work show and were the most comfortable shoes I had ever worn until I bought the Primals.

Their customer service is also amazing.

My VFFs are gym shoes now.

3
shepherderOP•

Looks like I'll be springing for the Lems. Thanks!

2
SuckNFail•

Gald I could help! They seem to have sales every couple months. I used that to get my Primals. Their sizing chart was spot on for me.

2
heartofarabbit•

I live in Ontario. It is impossible to find minimalist shoes in my neck of the woods, so I order Vivobarefoot shoes from Amazon.com when they go on sale. (Which is relatively often. Yay!)
I'm afraid it's online only around here. VFF is selling directly off their website , and ship to Canada via USPS . Xeroshoes have casual shoes as well as their sandals. I've also found other things work, like Sanuk sandals and sneakers, and Woolrich shoes, which sometimes have very thin, zero drop (or nearly) soles.

5
cedaro0o•

I'm resigned to ordering online. Xero Shoes work for me. A New Brunswick Canadian here.

5
hoboj•

I've only ever ordered online from xeroshoes or softstar shoes. I really stuck with these two because they offer very accurate sizing guides so I've never gotten a shoe that doesn't fit right.

I originally searched high and low from Kingston to Ottawa to Montreal and found fuck all for minimalist options. Even the places that carried Merrel products wouldn't get in any of their minimalist options when they existed a few years ago. At this point I just suck it up and order online, the worst part about it being the extortionist shipping costs...

4
[deleted]•

I live in a major cities with dozens of shoe stores. Not one of them stocks a minimalist shoe. I tried ordering minimalist shoes online and they were too narrow in the toe box. Currently, I'm going barefoot with my Skinners tucked into my pocket for when I need to go into a store. In winter I guess I'll either get a bigger pair and wear several sucks under them as winter shoes or wear socks and sandals.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

3
_Annihilatrix_•

I can confirm that I have the same problem as OP. I haven't seen a minimal shoe in a local store for over 3 years. Online is almost just as bad if you have healthy wide feet. Your options are Softstar, Xeroshoes and Lems. As a woman with wide feet you may have some luck ordering regular width mens shoes. I am currently wearing Lems Primals and absolutely hating it. Lems fit, but that's about it.

3
GirvoGiovanni•

I had to go through amazon, even then it's hard to find ones that fit properly

2
anonlymouse•

Campers have a hipster appeal, so they should continue to be available even if the minimalist bubble in the sport sphere has burst. I would look at whatever Toronto's equivalent to Robson St is. They're not my favourite, but when I needed to buy a pair of minimalist shoes on short notice, they were what I could find.

2
aramingo_venango•

I live in NYC and I still have to "try on" all of my shoes online by bracketing my size. There is at least 1 store that I know of that sells minimalist shoes—Tip Top on 72nd—but their stock is limited.

My feet are pretty messed up (arthritis in one big toe, 2 bunions, AND a tailor's bunion) and it is depressing that I cannot buy shoes in a store anymore. Vivobarefoot Gobi IIs are saving me right now; they're currently the only non-hideous shoes that I can wear without discomfort.

2
accentadroite_bitch•

I don't know where you might be able to find them in Canada, but there are some Topo's that are zero drop and Topo's typically have a nice, wide toe box. Example: http://shop.topoathletic.com/mens/run.html?colorid=4241&model=ST-2

2
accentadroite_bitch•

And yes, I just assumed your gender. I'm not going mining for hints from your post history. :)

1
shepherderOP•

Lol... I actually mention in the post itself that I'm female :) Thanks for the tip anyway!

2
accentadroite_bitch•

CRAP, sorry. Topo has female ones too! http://shop.topoathletic.com/womens/Run.html?colorid=2840&model=ST-2

3
_Annihilatrix_•

are we seriously considering 16mm soles as minimal shoes? Toe box looks a bit silly too.

3
MilkManXXero Shoes•

+1 for Xeroshoes!

2
RealNotFake•

I just buy online and buy 2 or 3 sizes to try and return the ones that I don't like or don't fit. Unfortunately there are zero places that actually sell minimalist shoes around my area. It's a hassle but it's worth it in the end.

1
joshshua•

I stocked up on one of each style of NB Minimus Zero Road. Hopefully they revive the model before my soles are completely obliterated :)

1
_Annihilatrix_•

haha so jealous. I saw a guy last week wearing a NB minimus model that had been discontinued for 4 years. I almost tackled him and stole his shoes :D

2
softball753•

This is why I'm glad I bought a backup pair of Altra Adams back when they still made them. Still beating the crap out of the first pair though.

1
Dotrue•

Where I live I'm lucky enough to have REI and A Merrell store pretty close by.

If you don't have anything like that, you'll probably have to go online. We're a pretty niche market.

1
ceylonblue•

Late reply, FYI for any Vancouverites who search this topic:

Distance Runwear on Main stocks Lems, Xero, Luna, and Vivo - albeit in a very limited range of styles. They're a local shop so likely to respond to demand if enough people ask. I bought a pair of Primal 2 from them and the price is fair. I calculated the cost of buying from Lems online w/currency conversion & having it shipped & possible customs charges- buying local came out better, and the value of trying on in person with a knowledgable fitter is worthwhile.

1