If you are tired of high shoe prices, barefoot shoe maker Airhas might have some sub-$50 options which fit the budget. Over a series of months, I tested out a pair of Airhas gym barefoot shoes as well as Airhas barefoot lightweight walking shoes.
Being a fan of Xero Shoes and their founder’s entrepreneurial journey, I wanted to try a company which didn’t appear to be trafficking in knock-offs, and the Airhas designs looked different enough I felt comfortable giving them a spin. Let’s take a look at the features Airhas provides, and learn how they stack up to mainstream barefoot shoes.
Airhas Barefoot Shoes Features
Airhas barefoot shoes are generally advertised being: affordable, wide, zero-drop, “super” thin, sock-like, knot, and comfortable.
Having tested out both the barefoot gym shoe and the walking shoe, it’s fair to say these features are generally accurate. My only critique would be the wide toe box. While the toe box does seem wider than many shoes, I think Airhas could flare out the toe even more as the walking shoe, especially, created a little hot spot on the outside right ball of my foot. I normally wear a 2E and these cut it close.
Airhas Barefoot Walking Shoe
Where was this casual barefoot walking shoe before I worked remotely?! Every men’s dress shoe shipped with a high heel, and it drove me crazy as a zero/low-drop fan and Vibram Five Finger wearer (only for exercise of course, not around the office!). The Airhas barefoot walking shoe is the kind of shoe I wished for: lean, flat, and wide with just enough style to sneak alongside a pair of slacks.
These shoes were comfortable, good looking, and flexible right out of the box. Everyone I’ve showed them to seems to appreciate the look, and it’s been nice to wear them to some events were normal running shoes aren’t appropriate.
Now that I’ve been wearing them around town and for some traveling over the past months, I am confident about what seems good and what could use work with these casual shoes. Generally, they seem quite nice: they look good and deliver on an ultra-minimalist premise, to the point where I think some weakness has been revealed in my foot: arch cramping.
Airhas Barefoot Walking/Casual Shoe Pros
- Nice style, especially the gum sole
- Wide-ish toebox (could be a bit wider, imo)
- Extreme minimalist philosophy (zero drop, very thin, very flexible, removable insole)
- Lacing is easy to use
- Breathable knit upper
- Price!
Airhas Barefoot Walking/Casual Shoe Cons
- Stretchy tongue tends to get folded in on itself
- The shoe is so stretchy, it is hard to achieve true lockdown
- The toe box could probably go a little wider, I get a touchy hot spot on the outside right ball of the foot
I mentioned getting a cramp in my arch. This was when I wore them around for long days spectating a sporting event at an arena. My arches were cramping, which has never happened to me in any barefoot shoe. I believe this is due to the extreme thinness of the sole and the taxing nature wearing them on hard concrete surfaces all day. Strangely, this has never happened to me, not even in Five Fingers, but I can’t see why the shoe would cause this.
Who should/should not buy the Airhas Walking/Casual Shoes
If you are looking for an affordable barefoot shoe which will give you some of the benefits of minimalist shoes during casual and low-force athletic activities, this is a good shoe to try. If you are looking for a high performance athletic shoe, or looking for a protective barefoot shoe—these shoes are not for you.
Airhas Barefoot Gym Shoe
I like the look of the Airhas barefoot gym shoe, and it really is nice at the gym with one major exception: exercise which places high stopping forces on the shoe. For example, basketball and cross-fit. Due to the knit and stretchy nature of these shoes, I can’t recommend them for intensive exercises. With that disclaimer out of the way, I wear these to the gym all the time! They are nice for weight lifting and basic exercises like jumping.
Shoe Design
The Airhas gym shoe is straightforward. It has a very thin gum sole, a stretch knit upper with a token lacing system, no-tongue, and a removable insole. The soles are so thin, I can’t imagine the need to pull the insole, but it is an option, which is nice to have on an affordable shoe.
The slip-on nature of these shoes has me reaching for them very often as I head out the door to attend to something in the yard, run an errand, take the dog for a stroll, etc. These have become go to shoes for quick tasks due to convenience (or my laziness). Plus, they look nice.
Lacing System
The lacing system on the Airhas gym shoe simply didn’t work well for me. I found it nearly impossible to snug up the shoe due to the plastic double eyelets. Additionally, the entire shoe is built from such a stretchy knit material, no amount of lacing will stope the shoe from flexing. This disqualifies the Airhas gym shoe from athletic endeavors which require lock down or the ability for precision stop and go motions.
Certain gym routines will be just fine like weight lifting, certain cardio machines, and some aerobic exercises, but I can’t recommend them for movements which have a lot of force (especially laterally). Though I’ve never tried them, Whitin appears to offer a gym shoe with a more traditional lacing system at a similar price point.
Airhas Barefoot Gym Shoe Pros
- Nice style, especially the gum sole
- Sock-like knit style makes for a good slip-on shoe. For this reason, I wear these casually very often.
- Extreme minimalist philosophy (zero drop, very thin, very flexible, removable insole)
- Breathable knit upper with integrated tongue (no tongue really)
- Price!
Airhas Barefoot Gym Shoe Cons
- Lacing system is hard to use
- The shoe is so stretchy, it is hard to achieve true lockdown
Who should/should not buy the Airhas Gym Shoes
If you are looking for an affordable barefoot shoe which will give you some of the benefits of minimalist shoes during casual and low-force athletic activities, this is a good shoe to try. If you are looking for a high performance athletic shoe, or looking for a protective barefoot shoe—these shoes are not for you. I recommend the Xero Shoes Prio for high force athletic activities and a barefoot vibe.
That said, the Airhas gym shoe makes a great slip-on casual shoe which provides barefoot and zero-drop benefits.
