Reviews

The Kuuva was the first-ever hiking boot, purpose-built for the barefoot/minimalist shoe crowd. The Kuuva 2 brings some much needed updates to the original design.

When I reach into my sock basket, I find myself always looking for toesocks. No matter what the activity or footwear, my subconscious just prefers them. I say my subconscious because I don't spend a lot of time thinking about socks - I guess I delegate that decision to a different plane of my brain. All I know is that when I reach in to get a pair of socks, a pair of toesocks is almost inevitably what comes out (and NOT because they are the only type I have!).

With the exception of sandals/huaraches, no other shoe offers as much freedom for the toes as Vibram FiveFingers. Their glove-like design means that toebox width is largely irrelevant - a FiveFingers feature that I have absolutely loved since I bought my first pair of (now discontinued) Classics. Like gloves, the limiting factor for FiveFingers is the cold...

The Feelmax Panka was one of the first minimalist shoes on the market. Many people started running or hiking in them before the barefoot craze came alive. Since coming back on the shoe scene, Feelmax has introduced some new models and updated others. But the Panka essentially has remained the same. The Panka is also an affordable shoe; because of this and its multi-purpose design it is a very good minimal shoe to start with.

After releasing the Off-Road Hi waterproof hiking shoe last year VIVOBAREFOOT brought an all synthetic, vegan friendly, hiking and approach shoe to the market - The Synth Hiker. The Synth Hiker and the Off-Road Hi have a lot in common: the off-road sole, the waterproof/breathable HydroGuard liner, and the over-the-ankle height. The main differences between the two are the materials used for the upper, and a slight difference in height.