If you’ve been finding many barefoot shoe brands too plain Jane for your fashion sense, check out Shapen’s dressier barefoot shoes like the Poppy or Lily. Shapen also has sneakers and stylish barefoot boots for both men and women.
About the Brand
SHAPEN is a barefoot shoe brand based in Slovakia that initially launched with beautiful, stylish barefoot shoes for women. When the founder Mia realized that barefoot shoes would be an essential part of treating her scoliosis and joint hypermobility, she wanted barefoot versions of the shoes she loved. And back in 2017, the barefoot options for stylish flats, sandals, and high heel replacements were almost nonexistent.
So Mia set out to make her own, and thus started the SHAPEN brand. If you’ve already heard about SHAPEN over the last few years, it was likely for the women’s barefoot dress shoes like the Poppy or Lily. But as they’ve grown, they’ve released other styles, including sneaker and boots made for both men and women.
How barefoot are Shapen shoes?
When evaluating just how barefoot a brand is, I look at these features of their shoes:
1) If the toe box have a wide, natural foot shape
2) How flat and flexible the sole is
On a spectrum, SHAPEN is on the “very barefoot” end of things as the toe box is wide and naturally-shaped. It accommodates wide and even extra wide feet, depending on the style.
The soles for the boots are 5.5mm thin and very flexible. They provide decent insulation while still being very flexible.
Shapen Fit & Sizing
Shapen’s barefoot women’s shoes are available in sizes EU35 – 44. Styles that are unisex, like their sneakers and some of their boots, are available in sizes EU35 – 47.
Shapen shoes are best fit for:
- Medium to extra wide feet
- Medium to high volume feet
- Runs large, so Isize typically down from my usual barefoot size
I most often wear an EU38 in sneakers and an EU39 in boots in most barefoot shoe brands based on my 23.3cm length, medium width, and higher instep. I find that Shapen runs a little large, so usually end up going one size down from this. This means I’m an EU37 in Shapen sneakers and EU38 in their boots.
Ordering, Shipping and Returns
Shapen barefoot shoes are available directly on their website, where they offer worldwide shipping. Note that returns are not accepted for orders outside the EU. Luckily, Shapen styles typically have a pretty high demand (and can sometimes sell out), so I’ve seen plenty of them resold on this Facebook barefoot buy/sell when the fit or sizing didn’t work out for the original buyer.
You can use the codeBFSHOEGUIDE5for 5% off on the Shapen barefoot website.
Shapen Barefoot Shoes Review
Let’s jump right in to this Shapen Barefoot shoe review! I’m sharing my favorite styles and details about feel, fit and sizing.
Shapen Boots
Shapen greatly expanded their barefoot winter boot collection for 2023, so now there are a lot more styles to choose from. They still have dressy boot styles for women, but also included some options that work for men too.
Outsole for Shapen Boots
Most of Shapen’s boots use the same 5.5mm rubber outsole. It’s durable and flexible, and features a dot pattern to give it some grip. But, this outsole doesn’t have deep lugs specifically designed for traction, so they’re not the best option in icy conditions. I typically wear my Shapen boots during fall, and in winter conditions when I’m not super worried about traction.
Cozy
€139 |Code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off
The Cozybootwas one of those shoes that felt like a perfect fit from first wear.If you’re only going to get one barefoot boot and you don’t live in extreme weather conditions, the Shapen Cozy is a versatile option. I found myself reaching for this boot most often last winter just for how easy it is to slip on (thanks to the side zipper) and how comfortable it was.
The uppers are oiled nubuck with water-resistant properties. I’ve dumped water on it a few times, and my feet have stayed dry.
The inside is fully lined with wool. I was warm wearing them in temperatures down to 20F last winter with a pair ofmid weight wool socks.
The Cozy boots also come in brown nubuck and black smooth leather.
I wear these in an EU38 and find this to be a comfortable fit for both length and volume. The lining along with the laces means these are the snuggest fit I have in the Shapen Boots.
Fluffy
Suede Uppers | Faux Fur lining | €149 |Code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off
These Shapen Fluffy boots use asuede for the uppers and are fully lined with the softest faux fur! Here they’re pictured in a beautiful off-white, but they also come in black and brown. They’re a great replacement for a pair of Ugg-type boots.
The faux fur lining is warm, and fully covers the inside of the boot and most of the sole. It is a little slippery, so there is a leather patch on the bottom of the heel so your foot doesn’t slide around as much. I opted to wear these with thicker socks so that my feet fit snuggly and I didn’t feel like I was sliding in the boot. Personally I prefer the wool lining on the cozy boots, but the faux fur look goes well with this style.
Divine
Leather Uppers | €149 |Code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off
Chelsea boots with a taller shaft are on-trend right now, and as Shapen strives to be at the forefront of barefoot style, they designed the Divine boot. The functional straps around the ankle are also a nice feature, elevating the boot from just another simple barefoot boot.
These boots do not have any additional inner lining, so they feel a little big compared to all the other styles as I still opted for an EU38. The length feels good with thicker socks, but there is a lot more volume that I needed to fill with an extra insole. This style can accommodate wide, high volume feet. If you plan on wearing these without thick socks or insoles, I recommend sizing down (for me that would’ve been the EU37).
Urbaneer
€149 |Code BFSHOEGUIDE5 for 5% off
The Urbaneer is a stylish, high-top combat boot that would be great for both men or women. They look fairly similar to the Cozy, but use a stretchy ankle panel instead of a side zipper. These are fully lined with wool, though it feels slightly more slippery and a little less voluminous than the wool lining of the Cozy boot. I’m comfortable wearing these in an EU38.
Shapen offers several other barefoot winter boot styles:
Lynx Boots: Two-tone boots with a fuzzy, foldable collar that can be worn up or down.
Ivy: Classic ankle boots
Frosty: made from leather and nylon.
Glam: Knee-high barefoot boots that come in leather and faux leather.
Brand ReviewEuropean BrandsWinter
