Hey, I’m Derek. Normally I talk about tech, gaming, content creation — the stuff I live and breathe.
But today? We’re taking a detour.
Because I bought some Barestep barefoot shoes and had such a bad experience that I felt like I owed the internet a heads-up. This isn’t a takedown for clicks — it’s just me trying to save someone else from wasting time, money, and foot pain.
Let’s break it all down.
Why I Bought Them in the First Place
So here’s the deal.
I’m into barefoot shoes. I got into them a while back because I was dealing with some foot and back issues, and regular shoes just weren’t doing it. After trying out Xero Shoes (which I reviewed here and still wear), I was sold. My feet felt better, my posture improved, and I was all in.
The only downside? Xero Shoes are pricey — around $120 a pair.
So when Barestep started showing up in my Facebook feed at $40–$50, I figured, “Why not? Worst case, they’re a decent backup pair.”
They weren’t.
First Impressions: Not Great
I ordered two pairs. They shipped from China, which was expected. Once they arrived, I unboxed them, took one look, and… let’s just say I wasn’t impressed.
- The material felt cheap — like a plastic-rubber blend that doesn’t breathe at all.
- The laces were this Velcro system that, in theory, should’ve made them easy to wear — but instead left this weird flap hanging off the shoe.
- Visually, they looked a lot rougher than the photos online. One pair even had shiny reflective tape-like detailing on the side. It looked like something from a bad sci-fi costume.
Still, I decided to wear them. Give them a shot.
Durability: Or Lack Thereof
I wore one pair for about three months, casually. And by the end of that?
- The traction on the toes was already worn down.
- The soles were separating from the fabric.
- The entire thing just felt like it was falling apart.
And keep in mind — I wasn’t running marathons. This was everyday walking.
For comparison: my Xero Shoes lasted well over a year and a half, through all seasons, and were still holding together. These Barestep shoes barely made it out of the trial phase.
Sizing Disaster
Barestep’s website told me to order a full size down.
So I wear a 12 — I ordered 11s, like they suggested.
Bad move.
They were tight. Like, crushing-my-toes tight. Which kind of defeats the entire point of barefoot shoes, which are supposed to give your toes space to move and spread out naturally.
I reached out to Barestep’s customer service to ask for an exchange.
And that’s when things really went south.
Customer Service That Just… Doesn’t
On their website, they said returns and exchanges were “easy.”
That wasn’t true.
They told me shipping was expensive, so instead of helping me exchange them, they offered 20% off my next order.
Let me repeat that: I couldn’t wear the shoes I just bought because they told me to buy the wrong size — and their solution was for me to buy more shoes.
Eventually, after pushing back a few times, they offered 50% off my next order, but still no refund, no real exchange.
I paid with PayPal, hoping maybe they’d help me out — but they sided with the seller.
The Comment That Got Their Attention
Here’s where things got wild.
I saw another one of their ads pop up on Facebook and decided to leave a comment saying, “Be careful with this company — they don’t honor exchanges and the quality’s not great.”
Next thing I know, Barestep DMs me. They say they want to make it right — offer to send me two new pairs in the correct size if I delete the comment.
Kind of sketchy? Yeah. But fine. I agreed. I figured, maybe I’ll at least end up with shoes I can wear.
They sent me one pair — not two.
Wrong color.
And even though I hadn’t worn them yet, the heels were already looking scuffed. Like someone wore them before me.
I never ended up using them. I just shoved them in the back of my closet and called it a loss.
So… How Do They Compare?
Let’s put them up against Xero Shoes, the brand that got me into barefoot footwear in the first place.
| Feature | Barestep | Xero Shoes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ✅ $40–$50 | ❌ $110–$130 |
| Fit | ❌ Runs small, inaccurate chart | ✅ True to size, roomy toe box |
| Material | ❌ Cheap, breaks down fast | ✅ Flexible, breathable, durable |
| Looks | ❌ Off-brand sci-fi vibes | ✅ Simple, casual, wearable |
| Customer Support | ❌ Basically nonexistent | ✅ Fast, helpful, no drama |
| Worth it? | 🚫 Not even at a discount | ✅ 100% yes |
Final Thoughts: Barestep Isn’t Worth It
I don’t usually post negative reviews. I try to give companies the benefit of the doubt. But Barestep dropped the ball in just about every category — build quality, sizing, customer service, and how they handled my issue.
Sure, they’re cheaper than a lot of other barefoot brands.
But sometimes you get what you pay for — and in this case, I paid for a headache.
My advice? If you’re looking to try barefoot shoes, save up and get something that lasts. Check out my review of Xero Shoes. Or try Vivobarefoot. Just… don’t start with Barestep. You’ll probably end up where I did — frustrated, with a pair of shoes you can’t wear and no real way to fix it.
Appreciate you reading.
If this helped you dodge a bad buy, hit that subscribe button or leave a comment. And if you’ve got a barefoot brand you actually like, let me know — I’m always open to giving the good ones a shot.
Until next time —
✌️ Derek