Hobibear reviews

Summer is here, and that means it's time to ditch those heavy shoes and slip into something much more comfortable.

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Since I wrote this review Whitin has made some big changes and now offers two widths! Read this updated Whitin Review for the lowdown. Whitin barefoot shoes are some of the cheapest available, but how do they stack up? Whitin is an Amazon brand that makes many different kinds of shoes. Only two models are barefoot friendly, so make sure you check the titles for the words barefoot or minimalist.

Hobibear reviews

For over a decade, our team has run, hiked, and trained in some of the best minimalist and barefoot shoes on the market, with the 10 top current models included in this review. Our team of experts and athletes have put these shoes through their paces, running miles of pavement and technical trails and training hours in the gym. Unlike conventional footwear, minimalist shoes require a dedication to training to properly develop foot strength. Our field testing requires a similar dedication. Our exhaustive examination of these shoes provides expert advice with an aim to help you free your feet from the confines of restrictive shoes. Some barefoot shoes are unisex, but most come in both men's and women's models. We have also conducted in-depth testing by female reviewers in our review of women's barefoot shoes. If you're not quite ready to dive into the world of minimalist footwear, our expert team has put in the miles to test the best footwear on the market across other categories. These include recommendations on the best running shoes and our favorite trail running shoes for those who like to get off the pavement. We also have extensive hands-on experience with a wide variety of hiking shoes and the best walking shoes if you're looking for something a little less niche. And if you need to take your workouts indoors for bad weather, have a look at our roundup of the best exercise equipment , which covers a bit of everything.

Our field testing requires a similar dedication.

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I love the look of the black upper with a gum sole, and was really pleased when I received them. They look great, and are super roomy and comfy. I was also curious to see how wide the toe box really is! The toe box of the Hobibears is definitely more squarish looking. The Hobibears have an actual tongue, while the tongue of the Whitins is a continuation of the fabric of the upper. This causes a little wrinkle by the bow of your laces if you like to cinch them tightly.

Hobibear reviews

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Conversely, the Softstar Switchback proved not to be waterproof in the same way — walking through a stream left us with soggy socks. Close Customer Login:. Score Product Price I'm Anya. They just aren't likely to last you as long as a more expensive pair. The design makes it a bit of a challenge to get each toe into the right hole. One of our testing grounds for traction - the loose dirt and gravel slopes of our local river canyon. We also wanted to test the waterproofness of the boots, as keeping your feet dry on the trail can be the difference between sad and happy feet when putting in the miles. We'll focus on the latter since it's the type that we tested. The thin 3. These Whitin casual sneakers are cute, simple and very flexible. The sticky Vibram rubber outsole grips in most conditions and recovers quickly when wet. The straps are made from soft synthetic leather, which won't chafe or irritate your skin even after hours of wear. Since our side-by-side testing is based on comparisons, a low score does not mean that a particular pair of shoes isn't worthy of consideration.

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The boots that we tested inevitably scored the highest in this category. Conversely, the Softstar Switchback proved not to be waterproof in the same way — walking through a stream left us with soggy socks. The best minimalist shoes limit their interference of, and perhaps even enhance, our natural "sixth sense. We didn't feel like this affected the performance much, but it is a technicality worth mentioning in a review of barefoot shoes. Slippery on loose surfaces, lack of versatility, feels like a rubber flipper. As a fun fact related to barefoot running, Aaron hates wearing socks. Shoes that incorporate a more durable upper and sole design scored higher in this category. We make specific notes on the design of the lug patterns and how well they perform in dry, wet, loose, and rocky trail conditions, as well as how effectively they propel you over concrete. However, this design is a great bridge between conventional and barefoot. For hikers, it's important to maintain traction on technical trails, especially when carrying weight. Along with a welded seam where the outsole meets the upper, this boot is designed to take some licks and keep on kicking. Affordable , Vegan Lace-up , Sneakers Whitin.