Summer is the season when your feet do the most work - long days, warm pavements, outdoor events, travel. It's also the season when most shoes fail: too hot, too stiff, too narrow by afternoon. This guide covers the barefoot styles worth having this summer, from adjustable everyday sandals and elegant Mary Janes to light trainers that won't overheat. All zero-drop, all wide toe box, all built to be worn all day.
Contents
- Why Summer Is the Best Time to Start Wearing Barefoot Shoes
- Everyday Sandals with Adjustable Straps
- Mary Jane Shoes
- Light Trainers for Summer
- How to Choose
- Sizing & Fit
1. Why Summer Is the Best Time to Start Wearing Barefoot Shoes
If you've been curious about barefoot footwear but haven't made the switch, summer is genuinely the best time to start - and it's not just about sandals being easier to slip on.
In warm weather, people naturally spend more time without shoes: in the garden, at the beach, around the house. The foot's muscles and tendons are already more active than in winter, and the transition to minimalist footwear feels less abrupt. Lighter footwear - sandals, canvas trainers - means less total time in restrictive shoes each day, which gives your feet more recovery time as they adapt. For anyone looking to improve foot health, strengthen foot muscles or reduce pain caused by conventional narrow footwear, starting in summer simply makes sense.
Summer also brings a wider range of models that let you adjust the fit precisely to your foot. Sandals with buckle or velcro straps - like the Horizon N6001 and N6003 - allow you to fine-tune the width and volume as your feet change through the day. This adjustability makes them one of the most forgiving starting points for barefoot footwear: you can ease into the fit rather than committing to a fixed shape from day one.
The models in this guide cover the full range of transition speeds. If you're completely new to barefoot, start with the Bare N5683 or the Horizon sandals - their soles are thicker and more forgiving for beginners. Once your feet have adapted over a few weeks, you can move to the thinner soles of the FELIX or HERLIK trainers, which give more ground feel and work the foot's muscles more actively.
A few practical tips for transitioning in summer:
- Start with an hour or two a day and build up gradually. Muscles and tendons that have spent years in conventional shoes need time to strengthen - trying to do too much too soon is the most common mistake.
- Sandals are the easiest starting point. The open construction means your foot can spread naturally without any upper restricting it, and you can switch back to conventional footwear easily while you adapt.
- Expect some calf and arch soreness in the first week or two. This is normal - muscles that haven't been used properly are starting to work. It passes.
- Don't rush to the thinnest sole. There's no benefit to going minimal faster than your body can adapt. A 10 mm sole that you wear comfortably every day does more for your feet than a 4 mm sole that hurts after an hour.
Not sure where to start? Browse our barefoot shoes for beginners - a curated selection of the most beginner-friendly zero-drop styles in stock.
2. Everyday Sandals with Adjustable Straps
Adjustable barefoot sandals are the most practical summer footwear you can own. Buckle or velcro straps let you fine-tune the fit as your feet expand through the day - and in summer, they do expand. The models below cover two fastening styles and a range of colours, from warm earth tones to clean neutrals.
All are from El Naturalista, built on a zero-drop last with a wide anatomical toe box and a flexible sole that lets the foot move naturally across any surface.
Horizon N6001 - open sandal with buckle straps. The strap runs across the forefoot and fastens at the ankle, giving a secure hold for active walking while remaining adjustable. Available in two warm seasonal colourways:
Horizon N6003 - the velcro version of the Horizon family. Faster to put on and off, with the same wide anatomical fit. A good option if you want precise width adjustment or spend a lot of time on your feet during the day. Two understated colourways:
Grace Sand - a more delicate open sandal in a soft sand tone. The same barefoot fundamentals in a slightly more refined silhouette - pairs well with dresses and linen.
Summer - a lightweight everyday sandal built for warm months. Clean and unfussy, available in two versatile colourways:
3. Mary Jane Shoes
A Mary Jane is the most versatile closed-toe summer shoe there is. It works with casual outfits and smart ones, keeps the foot cooler than a trainer, and in a barefoot version gives the toes genuine room to spread. The two brands below cover the full range of occasions - from a summer wedding to everyday city wear.
POPPY - smooth leather, 3 mm natural rubber sole. Winner of the Global Footwear Awards in the fashion/barefoot category. Available in Regular and Wide fits, five colourways:
The POPPY White is also a popular choice as a barefoot wedding shoe - flat, elegant and light enough to wear for a full day without discomfort.
Bare N5683 - part of the Bare collection. Soft nappa leather, ultra-flexible anti-slip sole with a leaf-pattern relief, made in Spain. A slightly thicker sole than the POPPY makes it a good option for those transitioning to barefoot footwear. Two colourways:
4. Light Trainers for Summer
Summer trainers need to do a specific job: look clean, feel light, breathe well and not overheat your feet. Conventional trainers fail on at least one of those counts. Both models below are made from hemp canvas - a naturally breathable, antimicrobial material that handles heat far better than synthetic or leather uppers. Both are from Bohempia, zero-drop, vegan and PETA-Approved Vegan certified.
FELIX White - a clean low-top inspired by the classic trainer silhouette, often compared to the Adidas Samba in profile. 100% hemp canvas upper, 4 mm natural rubber sole. The toe design visually narrows the shoe, making it look less obviously wide than most barefoot trainers - a good option if the foot-shaped silhouette has felt too prominent on other models. Longer lacing suits both higher and lower insteps. Available in Regular and Wide.
HERLIK White - inspired by the iconic Converse low-top, with the characteristic rubber toe cap and clean canvas upper. Hemp canvas upper is durable, breathable, antimicrobial and moisture-wicking. Cotton lining, 4 mm foam latex insole, 4 mm natural rubber sole - fully vegan, PETA-Approved Vegan certified. The soft collar reduces pressure around the ankle, making these one of the most comfortable barefoot trainers to break in. Available in Regular and Wide.
5. How to Choose
The right model depends on how you'll wear it and what your feet need.
For all-day city wear with maximum adjustability - the El Naturalista Horizon N6001 or N6003 sandals. Buckle or velcro straps accommodate foot swelling through the day and are easy to adjust on the go.
For smart occasions, weddings or work - Shapen POPPY (especially White) or El Naturalista Bare N5683. Closed toe, leather upper, polished enough for any occasion. The N5683 has a slightly thicker sole, which makes it a gentler starting point if you're new to barefoot.
For everyday trainers that don't overheat - FELIX for a slim, Samba-inspired silhouette; HERLIK for the Converse-inspired look. Both are hemp canvas, fully vegan and breathable.
For wider feet or higher insteps - FELIX and HERLIK both come in Wide fits. The Shapen POPPY also comes in Wide. The HERLIK's longer lacing and soft collar make it particularly forgiving across different foot volumes.
6. Sizing & Fit
All models are available in a full size range. Use our Shoe Size Finder - the recommended toe allowance for each model is already built in - or follow the Size Measuring Guide to measure your feet at home.
A note on summer sizing: feet expand during the day, and more so in warm weather. If you're between sizes, size up. The wide toe box in all these models means the forefoot should feel noticeably roomier than in conventional footwear - that's intentional, not a mistake.
If you're unsure which model suits your foot shape or how sizing compares across brands, get in touch - we're happy to help.