The Best Deals on Camping, Backpacking and Outdoor Gear [June 2025]
We love barefoot sandals for all kinds of outdoor adventures here at Terradrift. We wear them hiking, take them backpacking, pack them when we travel, use them for water sport, and yes, even trail run in them. But while we’ve tested plenty of barefoot hiking sandals over the years, we’ve never made a dedicated list of which ones are best for faster paced movement. So here are the best barefoot running sandals for trail running and beyond (yup, that includes road running).
What Are Barefoot Running Sandals?
What are barefoot running sandals and what makes a good trail running sandal? Excellent question. The most common running sandals tend to be a style of barefoot huarache sandals. Basically, that means they have a minimalist sole that’s flexible, a footbed that is foot-shaped and doesn’t have arch support, and a strap system that keeps your foot securely in place.
Usually that involves a toe plug to keep your feet from sliding forward, an ankle strap that keeps your feet secured to the footbed, and a heel strap that keeps feet from sliding back or sideways. Many barefoot trail running sandals have one continuous strap that goes through the footbed so you can really dial in the perfect fit no matter your foot shape or how tight or loose you want your sandals.
But if you’re new to barefoot shoes or sandals, remember: it’s extremely important to transition to this type of footwear slowly. Your feet were designed to walk, run and hike as is without all the cushioning of “conventional” footwear, but if you’ve been wearing cushy shoes, you’re feet need time to adjust to functional movement and hard surfaces. So read this article about how to transition to barefoot shoes before you set out on your next 15 mile trail run.
The Best Barefoot Trail Running Sandals
Deliberate Life Designs Alchemy Sandal & Onsight Sandal
Stack Height: 12mm, 7mm
We’ve tested several styles of Deliberate Life Designs sandals and we’re big fans. In fact, they’re our favorite trail running sandals of all the shoes on this list. Partially because this Vermont-based cottage brand’s specialty is making sandals that fit YOUR foot perfectly. Not only can you choose your laces–including up-cycled Black Diamond webbing laces–but you can also choose the shape of your footbed: options range from a narrow slope shape to wide mountain shape depending on the outline of your foot and even the length of your second toe. As a result, you’re guaranteed to end up with sandals that fit your unique feet. You can even send a tracing of your feet to DLD and they can custom cut soles for you!
But we also love them because they offer several sole thicknesses that are perfect for running. The 7mm Onsight is the thinnest option (pictured above with yellow and white webbing). The most popular sole, the Alchemy, is 12mm (pictured above with blue and green webbing). For an excellent Goldilocks option, I love the Pursuit, which is 10mm and a perfect balance of flexibility and protection when you’re moving fast over rocky terrain. They’re all highly flexible, felt secure on loose dirt, rock, and uneven trails, and kept our feet locked in when trail running. You can thank the non-stretch webbing for that. The textured Vibram footbed helped, too, keeping our feet in place even on hot days.
The webbing is available in a slew of bright colors and neutrals, and because it’s just all one length of webbing laced through the sandal, they’re highly adjustable (though they may take a few wears to break in because straps are a bit on the stiff side). They’re thick enough so you don’t feel every tiny rock and root, but flexible enough to be functional and the toe-post is thin and flexible cord, so was comfortable.
How it’s sustainable: Made by hand in the USA, durable, small batch/made to order.
Earth Runners Primal Sandals
Stack Height: 7.5mm
Of all the barefoot hiking sandals I’ve tested over the years, I often come back to Earth Runners, particularly the Primal, though the Circadian with its fabric footbed is the most popular model. The sole thickness of the Primal is just right in our opinion–flexible but dense enough to offer protection from small rocks–they look good on and off trail, and they function just as well for trail running as for travel. Plus, they’re grounding sandals. There’s a copper plug connected to the webbing, which is stitched with metal wire, so no matter what you’re doing outdoors, you can stay grounded even with your shoes on (watch our video about the science of grounding here).
The webbing is a bit less flexible than some other options, so may take some getting used to, but once you do, you’ll likely find them some of the most robust and durable sandals you own. And since there’s little to no stretch to the webbing, they feel ultra secure even after miles on trail. The tread seems minimal but because your feet are conformed to the shape of the ground it’s not an issue. Bonus: They come in a slew of colors and there are several types of laces depending on whether comfort or performance is more important to you. Get 10% off when you use our link (below) at checkout!
How it’s sustainable: Made in the USA by a small brand, durable, 1% of your purchase is donated to True Messages, a non-profit supporting the running heritage of the Tarahumara people, cotton footbeds made of organic cotton.
ZuZu Sandals Flow
Stack Height: 6.8mm
We tested a few different models from ZuZu Sandals, a small brand based in Stockholm and Tel Aviv. The Flow instantly became one of our new favorite barefoot running sandals right out of the box. The sole is made of upcycled tires (they buy tires that don’t pass inspection, use the outer rubber and recycle the rest) so they’re ultra durable (you know how tires are supposed to last 50,000 miles or more?) and stupendously flexible. We’re talking ultra-super flexible. And the rubber is soft, so the ground feel is tremendous, which does make them better suited for those who are die-hard barefoot fans more than newcomers to barefoot footwear. We did feel like we had to make a point to avoid those gnarly and particularly sharp walnut-sized sized rocks in the trail more than with other sandals. But the footbed is impressively sticky and textured and didn’t feel slippery at all when our feet got sweaty.
We also tested the Flex, though, which is just a touch thicker in the sole, and with a non-slip canvas footbed. Thanks to a denser sole, it may be better suited for those who want a more even balance of ground feel and protection. The Flow is our go-to on packed dirt trails or slickrock, though.
The fabric lacing in all styles is softer and more flexible than similarly-designed sandals, so it required no breaking in and felt more comfortable between our toes but still plenty secure when hiking or trail running. All styles also have metal clasps instead of plastic, which in theory should be more durable.
How it’s sustainable: The Flow is made of 100% upcycled car tires (sole) and a 100% recycled PET strap, which makes it ultra durable. The Flex has a natural tree rubber and recycled rice husk outsole with canvas footbed and straps made of 100% recycled PET. Replaceable laces.
Luna Sandals Oso Flaco
Stack Height: 11.5mm
Luna was actually founded by a trail runner some of you may have heard of: Barefoot Ted, who featured prominently in the book Born to Run, which if you haven’t read yet and you’re interested in barefoot sandals, uh, what have you been doing with your life? The aggressive tread on this model in particular (there are several available with different levels of thickness and tread) is super grippy, they’re light, the base feels much thinner than it is because it’s so flexible–which is a good thing–and the straps are highly adjustable.
This style comes in three colors, including classic black, and they are super comfy for a barefoot sandal. I don’t know if it’s the stupendously flexible sole, that the thin footbed feels like it’s got hidden padding, or if it’s the smooth, soft straps, but these feel great on our feet and offer the perfect amount of flexibility and protection.
The toe plug is made of a thinner, softer material than other brands, so it doesn’t irritate as much as some sandals with toe plugs, and the padding on the heel strap makes them feel like you’re wearing clouds on your feet. They are a bit wide for narrow feet, though. My feet are narrow, so they tended to slide side to side just a little, but those with wider feet, including Josh, didn’t have a problem. Get 15% off by using our link below and using code TERRADRIFT15.
How it’s sustainable: Made in the U.S.A.
Bottom Line
I love trail running most when I do it in barefoot sandals. It makes me feel like I’m truly experiencing the activity and my feet feel free and natural. When it starts getting cool, I’ll even stretch sandal running season by throwing on a pair of performance toe socks! But whether you’re new to trail running in barefoot sandals or it’s all you’ve run in for years, one of these pairs will keep you happily trekking along for miles and miles. So get out there (in barefoot sandals) and wander on.
