Wildling Sustainable Barefoot Shoes Review: Four Years In

Looking for a review of Wilding’s sustainable shoes? I’ve been wearing my pair for nearly four years now – here’s how I’ve got on and what I think of these barefoot shoes.

Minimal shoes are shoes that are designed to closely approximate walking barefoot, in comparison to traditional shoes. With a sole thickness between 1mm and 4.5mm, minimal or barefoot shoes allow the wearer to experience more sensory contact with the ground. Simultaneously they provide the feet with protection from the ground.

Before getting acquainted with Wilding, a German sustainable shoe brand, I had never worn minimal or barefoot shoes before. And when Wildling reached out to me asking if I wanted to try a pair, I’ll admit, I thought I was an unlikely candidate for wearing these types of shoes. I have a condition called hyper-mobility – it’s traditionally known as double-jointedness.

When I was young, I thought it was pretty cool being hyper-mobile. But as I’ve gotten older it’s been less of a joy. Of the many problems it brings, I’m pretty prone to going over on my ankles. This makes footwear a huge problem for me. I can’t wear high heels. Instead, I veer towards shoes with firm support or supplement shoes with prescribed orthotic insoles. Minimal shoes did not come into my footwear equation.

Minimal Shoes & Hypermobility

I explained to Wildling that whilst their shoes were very lovely, I wouldn’t be a very good candidate for their shoes because of my condition.

Wildling quickly got back to me and shared a link to this Facebook post. The post is in German, and my high school German lessons completely failed me, so I had to use the translate button. But here I found that many people in the comments shared that since switching to minimal shoes they are less prone to going over their ankles.

I also read this blog post on the Wildlings site. It featured testimonials from customers with a range of health issues. These ranged from rheumatism to back and foot pain, to diabetes sufferers. All claimed that minimal-soled or barefoot-soled shoes had helped with some of their conditions.

It all really got me thinking. Could a pair of shoes really help with my hypermobility problems? Over the years I’ve seen countless podiatrists, with little success. Let’s just say I was a little sceptical. Wanting more than just anecdotal evidence, I then did my own research. I came across this article on a scientific peer-reviewed study, which found that, in runners, minimal-soled running shoes did actually strengthen their feet.

Whilst Wildling Shoes aren’t specifically barefoot running shoes, I took the plunge. Soon a pair of Wildling Shoes were winging their way to me, shipped completely plastic-free. The day my Wildling Shoes arrived was an exciting one. I popped them on immediately and tried them out around the house.

How I Got On With Wildling’s Shoes

I opted for ‘Wombat’ wool boots, with felt insoles for added warmth. As they are more cold-weather specific, I wear these from around October through to April. So while I don’t wear them continuously all year round, I do wear them for a significant part of the year. Here’s my in-depth Wilding shoes review after four years of wear.

What I Liked

First up, here’s what I liked about my boots:

The Thin Sole

I love the thin sole. Wildlings have the thinnest soles available, of all the barefoot shoe brands. I feel like I notice more when the ground I’m walking on is uneven. As such, when I’m wearing them more likely to take care on uneven ground. Because of my hypermobility, I can be prone to falls, particularly on uneven ground. But so far, four years in, I’ve not had any falls whilst wearing my Wildling Boots.

The Lower Leg Workout

Something else I’ve noticed is that after walking, my feet and calves feel tired, like they’ve had a workout, in very much a good way. Hopefully, this is a sign that my muscles are strengthening. Whilst I don’t have any hard evidence on whether this is the case or not, I’m pleased to report that I’ve not actually gone over my ankle in the last four years. I certainly feel like they are helping with some of my hypermobility problems.

The Cosy Factor

As I mentioned, I have been wearing my Wildlings with the Felty insoles for extra warmth in winter. I always have cold feet, and I was worried that with the thin soles, my feet would be freezing. But I have to say that my feet have been very warm and cosy.

I really shouldn’t be surprised – my Wombat boots are made of sustainably sourced wool. As a material, wool has natural temperature-regulating characteristics. And because of the muscle stimulation while walking in minimal shoes, this, in turn, means your blood circulation is also stimulated, warming your toes too.

The Comfort Level

I was worried that the thin soles might be uncomfortable. I’ve found it’s been quite the opposite. I feel like I’m wearing slippers and I hate having to take them off when I get home!

The Durability

One thing that concerned me was just how durable a thin sole could be. Wildling Boots are not cheap – a pair of boots is around £120. It’s a lot of money to pay for something that may not go the distance. I’m pleased to report that my initial thoughts were wrong. I can’t believe I’m about to show you the soles of my old shoes, but here we go! After four years of regular wearing and walking these are the soles:

As you can see, from where the lines aren’t as deep, there is a little bit of wear to the heel and central footpad. However, I don’t feel like this is bad for years of regular wear. I’ve had thicker-soled shoes that have completely worn out in less time and with less wear than this.

What I Didn’t Like

Now you know the pros, here’s what didn’t float my boat:

The Upkeep

Because of the fabrics, the shoes need regular waterproofing to keep the elements out. Whilst I do try to regularly waterproof them, I would have preferred if there wasn’t any leather on the sole. Even though the leather has lasted, it feels like a weak point of the shoe. I can’t wear these on really wet days as they don’t always keep my feet entirely dry – especially if I’ve been a bit lax on the waterproofing front, as it seems to enter through the leather on the sole.

Discomfort When Walking On Some Surfaces

Overall, Wildling shoes are comfortable for walking on most surfaces. The downfall is when you’re walking on concrete that happens to have some sharp stones or gravel on it. As the stones don’t sink into the ground – on account of the concrete – it can be quite painful on your tootsies.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I’m a big fan of these shoes. Whilst they do take a little bit of upkeep to keep the elements out, and aren’t great on every surface, they are supremely comfortable and I feel like they have helped with my hypermobility issues. They are designed to last, and are super cosy – keeping even my cold feet warm during Scottish winters. Overall, I would buy from Wildling Shoes again.

What Makes Wilding Shoes Ethical?

Now you know about the durability and comfort of the shoes, I feel like it’s important to outline what makes Wildling Shoes sustainable and ethical.

What I really like about Wildling Shoes is their commitment to ethics and the environment. It produces its shoes with as minimal impact as possible, both environmentally and socially. Each and every pair of Wildling shoes is handmade in Portugal by skilled sewers paid a fair wage. Transparency is also key, so you can also find out more about the production process here.

The materials of the shoes are carefully considered too. Its entire range is made from natural and renewable materials such as organic cotton, sustainably sourced wool, hemp, and linen.

Shipping & Fees

If you’d like to try out Wildling shoes for yourself then bear in mind that their shoes ship from the EU.

For purchases up to £135 (net & excluding shipping rates), 20% taxes will apply and will be charged automatically during the shopping process via the Wildling online shop. No further action needs to be taken from your side, and you won’t have to pay any customs fees on arrival in the UK.

If your purchase exceeds £135 (net & excluding shipping rates), no taxes will be charged at the point of sale. Instead, you’ll have to pay taxes and customs duties upon delivery of the goods. To do so, you’ll receive an email from their delivery service DHL Express, including instructions on how to easily pay the outstanding taxes online prior to the delivery of your parcel.