Should I Give Freet One More Try?

One year ago I bought a pair of Freet Flex. At first they felt great but once I started walking in them they almost seemed to get looser and looser, and the only way I found them comfortable to wear is to wear really thick socks with them. The other thing I don't like are the laces-they seem excessively long and I don't like that you can't make them really tight. Recently I bought my 2'nd pair of Freet shoes, the Bootee M. Again, they felt great indoors but once I started actually walking in them, same problem they feel way too loose unless I wear my really thick socks. Also one of the holders for the laces broke off on the 2n'd day that I wore them and I had to go get it fixed...they definitely seem to have some quality control issues.

I really want to like Freet, their customer service has been great, everyone raves about them and their prices are a lot more reasonable than other brands, especially when they have sales. However I have to say that my experience so far has been less than stellar. Maybe I'm just ordering a size too big? I saw that they've got the Feldoms on sale now which I'm tempted to get, especially since my Flex are nearing the end of their lifespan now.

So...should I give Freet one more chance or just go for another brand?

in BarefootRunningby DareiosK

100%

3mo

Outside-Today6205

3mo

The Feldom and now the Calver have been my staple shoe for trail running. Would highly recommend both.

_heburntmyshake_

30d

Hi, would you say the fit is the same on the feldom and calver, or does the calver have slightly more wiggle room for toes (I saw a review that said that)? I'm about to return the feldom's because they're a bit too tight at the pinky toe for me

toveiii

2mo

Idk about Freet. I would probably take a look at a different brand. Your shoes shouldn't really be at the end of their lifespan after 1 year.

I bought the Tundra after umm-ing and ahh-ing about barefoot hiking boots and I seriously wish I hadn't.

I also have the Freet Nimbus (currently on my feet), and I bought my partner Freet Vibe as well.

I'll review each one quickly -

TundraVery stiff around the ankles - hurts me each time I wear them. Fantastically waterproof though, without being too suffocatingly hot. Look great, and they still look brand new after a year of wearing them on hikes.

Terrible, and I mean, TERRIBLE grip. I have never slid around so much in all my life. Actually terrifying to wear them in even mildly wet terrain. Each time I wear them I'm scared I'm going to bash my head on a rock and die. Actively looking for different hiking boots and even considering scrapping barefoot hiking boots altogether after such a terrible experience with these. Genuinely awful. I wish I had paid more attention to reviews that said that these shoes are downright dangerous and shouldn't be sold. £125 down the toilet. :(

Nimbus
Quite nice. I wear them every single day for work and walk 3 miles a day in them on concrete. They had the most irritating squeak on one shoe for about 4 months which drove me insane, but has since randomly disappeared? Very weird. The sole is showing minimal signs of wear after 7 months of nearly Mon-Fri use. The sole is starting to detach from the sides slightly but I can glue that before it gets worse.

Quite happy with these. The grip is good too around the city and also in woodland walks. I wouldn't say they're as nice looking as my Vivo Geo Courts, however the finish has stayed much better than the Vivos. Good shoes.

Vibe
They're pretty decent. My partner doesn't really like wearing barefoot shoes so he wears them begrudgingly. However, after 6 months of wear they still look brand new (however he doesn't wear them anywhere near as much as I wear mine). Win for Freet.

I don't think I'll purchase any more from Freet after my experience with the Tundras. It's a shame, but I do feel like they are cheaply made. My Nimbus arrived with dents in the sides of the shoes that look as though it was a manufacturing issue - as they are still there but because they are so worn in you can't tell as much now.

I think the Freets are okay if you want a budget shoe, however for the price it's not even really a budget shoe. Pay £20 more and you'll get actual vibram soles and proper leather and stitching.

On a sidenote - if anyone has any hiking boot reccs I would LOVE to hear it. I've been thinking of either Xero Fusion Xcursion or Altra Lone Peaks. My bf is telling me to abandon the idea of barefoot hiking shoes because they will likely not last more than a year and I don't have the money to keep rebuying bloody shoes. It's true haha. Any ideas would be great.

gobluetwo

Birchbury, Lems, Merrell, Vivobarefoot, Whitin, Xero

3mo

Maybe I'm just ordering a size too big?

That's what it seems like to me. You'd be surprised at how many people are ordering the wrong size shoe. For example, if you were previously wearing a larger size in conventional shoes than you should have to make more room for your feet/toes and did the same with the Freets, they will be too big.

Do you have a lot of room between your toes and the ends of your shoes? If so, size down. There is a "sizing and fitting" tab for every shoe. Measure your feet and compare to the sizing recommendations. My bet is that you're ordering a size too large.

After measuring, if you believe you're ordering the correct size and it's a matter of width, go with another brand. Freet is known to be on the wider side compared to brands like Xero and Vivobarefoot.

DareiosK

3mo

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. I think Freet shoes are probably too wide for my feet.

digitalshiva

3mo

I found freet a bit too big in the mid foot for me so I would not get them again.

You can view a comparison of sole across brands here:
https://anyasreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Barefoot-Sneaker-Brands-Narrow-to-Wide-6-768x1024.jpg