Barebarics makes zero drop sneakers with a wide toe box and a sole that is 4 mm thick, excluding lugs. If you want a different sole, upper, price or return window, or a shoe for wet and rough ground, other brands are worth a look. This article compares Barebarics with Be Lenka, Lems, Xero Shoes, Dolfie Paradise and Wyde Footwear. It covers sole, upper, country of production, price and returns, with prices as of October 2026.

What does Barebarics offer?

Barebarics sells barefoot sneakers in low-top, mid and high-top, insulated and vegan styles. It also sells socks, shoe care, insoles and T-shirts. Its site says all its sneakers have zero drop and a wide front part, and that the ultra-flexible sole is 4 mm thick, excluding lugs. Zero drop means the heel and the toes sit at the same height, like standing barefoot.

Barebarics says its sneakers are brought to you by Be Lenka. The Zing Fresh is a vegan sneaker with a synthetic and textile upper, made in Vietnam, listed at around €130. The Legend has an upper of leather and textile, is made in Portugal and is listed at around €160. The UrbanEdge is a high-cut insulated shoe with a membrane, made in Vietnam.

How do Barebarics and its alternatives compare at a glance?

The table below shows one model per brand, plus two from Wyde. Brands measure soles in different ways. Some state the thickness of the sole and others state the stack height, so treat the numbers as a guide and not as a like-for-like ranking.

Every model in the table has a wide toe box and zero drop. Toe spring is the upward curve at the front of many shoes that lifts the toes off the ground. Wyde has no toe spring on any model. Prices are as listed on each brand's own store: Barebarics, Be Lenka and Dolfie Paradise in euros, Lems and Xero Shoes in US dollars, and Wyde in Swedish kronor and euros.

Which alternative has more sole under the foot than Barebarics?

Wyde's Soma has the tallest stack in the table at 22 mm. Lems' Primal Zen has an 11 mm stack height and Wyde's Nova Dual Black has 10 mm plus the insole. Be Lenka, Xero Shoes and Dolfie Paradise sit between 5 mm and 6 mm.

How thick is the sole on each model?

• Barebarics: 4 mm, excluding lugs, according to its site.
• Be Lenka Rebound: 5 mm.
• Xero Shoes Prio: 5.5 mm of FeelTrue rubber plus a removable 3 mm insole.
• Dolfie Paradise MC5 V2: a 6 mm zero drop rubber sole, which comes with a 6 mm and a 2 mm insole.
• Wyde Nova Dual Black: 10 mm stack height plus the insole.
• Lems Primal Zen: 11.0 mm stack height.
• Wyde Soma White: 22 mm stack height, with an EVA midsole and a rubber outsole.

Dolfie Paradise says the 6 mm insole gives more cushioning and the 2 mm insole gives more ground feel. Xero Shoes says its removable 3 mm insole lets you choose more or less of a barefoot feel.

What do Wyde models have under the foot?

Wyde describes its shoes as the bridge between conventional shoes and barefoot shoes, with more cushioning than a barefoot shoe. Every Wyde model has a wide, foot-shaped toe box, zero drop, no toe spring and a removable insole. There is no traditional built-in arch support. If you use your own orthotics, you can swap them in for the insole.

The stack heights above are Wyde's own figures. They are taller than Barebarics' 4 mm sole, but the two brands do not measure in the same way. If ground feel matters most to you, Barebarics has the thinnest sole of the models in this article.

Which alternatives suit wet weather and rough ground?

Lems and Xero Shoes sell dedicated trail and waterproof models, and Be Lenka and Barebarics sell waterproof or insulated winter shoes. Wyde sells shoes for everyday wear on concrete and pavement and does not position them for hiking or trails.

What does each brand sell for wet weather?

Barebarics' UrbanEdge is described as a high-cut insulated shoe with a membrane for frost, rain and snow. It has a rubber PowerGrip outsole and is made in Vietnam. Be Lenka's ArcticEdge is described as an all-round waterproof shoe with Primaloft technology and a ThermoGrip Neo sole, made of vegan materials.

For cold, wet city days, Wyde sells the Norra boot. It has an Acquastop membrane that Wyde says keeps out wind and water while letting the foot breathe, an LWG Gold certified leather upper, a 24 mm stack height and a cork insole. It is handmade in Portugal and costs 2,975 kr or €289.

What does each brand sell for trails?

Be Lenka lists an Outdoor / Trail category among its uses. The ArcticEdge has a thickness of 9 mm, made up of a 5 mm base and 4 mm lugs.

Lems' Boulder Summit Waterproof is a boot with a full-grain oiled leather and nylon upper, a waterproof membrane lining, 4 mm lugs and a 16.0 mm stack height. It has zero drop and costs $210. Xero Shoes sells the Mesa Summit trail runner with a rock guard and grippy lugs. The men's Mesa Summit costs $124.99 and the waterproof Mesa Summit WP costs $144.99.

If your main need is a trail shoe, these two brands are the closer match. Wyde's warranty excludes sneakers used on rough trails.

What are the shoes made of, and where?

Barebarics, Be Lenka and Lems all sell vegan sneakers. Barebarics, Dolfie Paradise and Wyde sell leather or suede models made in Portugal. Wyde has no vegan shoes.

Which brands sell vegan sneakers?

Barebarics' Zing Fresh is a vegan model with a synthetic and textile upper. Be Lenka calls the Rebound a vegan sneaker, with a textile and microfibre upper and a rubber sole. The Lems Primal Zen has a microfiber and air mesh upper, and Lems lists it as vegan.

Wyde's Nova uses leather and the Soma uses air mesh and suede, so neither is vegan.

Which brands sell leather sneakers?

Barebarics' Legend has an upper of velour and nappa leather with textile. Dolfie Paradise's MC5 V2 has an Italian suede upper with leather details, certified by the Leather Working Group. Wyde's Nova Dual Black has an upper of LWG Gold certified nubuck and LWG Gold certified grain leather, a Coolmax lining and a rubber outsole.

LWG stands for Leather Working Group. Its audit is an assessment of how a tannery measures, controls and reports the impact of its manufacturing operations. It rates the tannery, not the finished shoe. The leather on Wyde's Nova varies by colourway. Nova White, for example, uses LWG Silver certified aniline leather.

Where are the shoes made?

Barebarics makes the Legend in Portugal and the Zing Fresh and UrbanEdge in Vietnam. Be Lenka's site says its shoes are made in leading European workshops, such as in Portugal, and that it has expanded production to Vietnam. The Rebound is made in Vietnam. Dolfie Paradise says each pair is made by hand in Portugal in specialist family workshops.

Wyde's Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra are handmade in Portugal. The Soma is made in China. The Lems and Xero Shoes pages read for this article do not state a country of production.

How do the return terms compare?

Lems has the longest window at 60 days from purchase. Wyde and Xero Shoes give 30 days. Barebarics, Be Lenka and Dolfie Paradise give 14 days.

What are the return rules at each brand?

• Barebarics: 14 days from delivery. Shoes must be undamaged, unworn and in the original packaging, and the customer pays return shipping.
• Be Lenka: 14 days from receipt. The customer pays return shipping, and for some countries a return shipping service is available, with the cost deducted from the refund.
• Dolfie Paradise: 14 days from delivery to ask for a return or a size exchange. Shoes must be tried on indoors only and returned clean, unworn and in the original packaging.
• Xero Shoes: 30 days from the original delivery date, for shoes that are brand new, unworn and unaltered and in the original packaging.
• Lems: 60 days from the purchase date. On international returns, a $14 fee is deducted from the refund.
• Wyde: 30 days from delivery to register a return, with free size exchanges in Sweden, the EU and the USA. For a refund, Wyde deducts €10 in the EU and 100 SEK in Sweden to cover the prepaid label and warehouse handling. Indoor try-on is fine.

What should you know before choosing Wyde Footwear?

Wyde Footwear sells unisex shoes in full EU sizes 36 to 47, with no half sizes. Choose your size by foot length. If you are between sizes, size up. Do not size up for width, because every Wyde model has a wide, foot-shaped toe box as standard.

Wyde's size guide lists the insole width for each size. It runs from 10.0 cm in EU 36 to 12.2 cm in EU 47, and it is 11.2 cm in EU 42. The Maia and Maia Strap sandals are sized differently from the sneakers. If you own a Wyde sneaker, Wyde recommends sizing down one size for the Maia and Maia Strap.

Wyde says its shoes may feel more spacious at first and that it is smart to ease in gradually if you have worn narrow, stiff shoes for years. For help with fit, email support@wydefootwear.com or use the contact form on wydefootwear.com. For one-to-one comparisons, read Wyde Footwear vs Barebarics: Sole, Fit and Materials Compared and Wyde Footwear vs Be Lenka: Sole, Fit and Materials Compared. For a wider field of brands, read Best Brands for Wide Toe Box Sneakers: 8 Brands Compared. For the full detail on fit, read Wyde Footwear Sizing, Size Exchanges and Returns Explained.

Which brand suits which priority?

Choose by what you want from the shoe: sole thickness, upper, trail use, price or return window.

What does each brand offer for each priority?

• Thinnest sole: Barebarics, at 4 mm excluding lugs.
• Most sole under the foot: Wyde Soma, at 22 mm.
• Choice of insole thickness: Dolfie Paradise (2 mm or 6 mm) and Xero Shoes (removable 3 mm).
• Trail shoes: Lems Boulder Summit Waterproof and Xero Shoes Mesa Summit.
• Vegan sneakers: Barebarics Zing Fresh, Be Lenka Rebound and Lems Primal Zen.
• Leather sneakers made in Portugal: Barebarics Legend, Dolfie Paradise MC5 V2 and Wyde Nova.
• Lowest listed price in euros: Be Lenka Rebound, at around €100.
• Longest return window: Lems, at 60 days.
• Boot with a membrane for wet city days: Wyde Norra.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes Barebarics?

Barebarics says its sneakers are brought to you by Be Lenka.

Are Wyde models suitable for hiking?

No. Wyde shoes are for everyday wear on concrete and pavement and are not positioned for hiking or trails. For trails, look at the Lems Boulder Summit Waterproof or the Xero Shoes Mesa Summit.

Which alternative has the thickest sole?

Of the models in this article, the Wyde Soma has the tallest stack height at 22 mm. The Lems Primal Zen follows at 11.0 mm.

Which Barebarics alternative is made in Portugal?

The Dolfie Paradise MC5 V2 and the Wyde Nova are made in Portugal. Barebarics also makes its Legend in Portugal.

Where are Wyde models made?

The Nova, Maia, Maia Strap, Nilo, Chelsea and Norra are handmade in Portugal. The Soma is made in China.

Does Wyde make vegan shoes?

No. Wyde's shoes use leather, nubuck or suede, and the Soma's upper includes suede.

What sizes does Wyde sell?

Wyde sells unisex shoes in full EU sizes 36 to 47, with no half sizes. If you are between sizes, size up. Choose by foot length and do not size up for width.

Which brand has the longest return window?

Lems, with 60 days from the purchase date. Wyde and Xero Shoes give 30 days.

How do you contact Wyde with a sizing question?

Email support@wydefootwear.com or use the contact form on wydefootwear.com.

What are the sources?

Barebarics, Home page: https://www.barebarics.com/

Barebarics, What are barefoot shoes: https://www.barebarics.com/what-are-barefoot-shoes/

Barebarics, By Be Lenka: https://www.barebarics.com/by-be-lenka/

Barebarics, Returns: https://www.barebarics.com/returns-1/

Barebarics, Zing Fresh Dark Grey: https://www.barebarics.com/barefoot-sneakers-barebarics-zing-fresh-dark-grey/

Barebarics, Legend Ice Blue: https://www.barebarics.com/barefoot-shoes-barebarics-legend-ice-blue/

Barebarics, UrbanEdge Dark Olive: https://www.barebarics.com/winter-barefoot-boots-barebarics-urbanedge-dark-olive/

Be Lenka, About us: https://www.belenka.com/about-us/

Be Lenka, Returns: https://www.belenka.com/returns-3/

Be Lenka, Rebound All White: https://www.belenka.com/barefoot-sneakers-be-lenka-rebound-all-white/

Be Lenka, ArcticEdge All Black: https://www.belenka.com/barefoot-boots-be-lenka-arcticedge-all-black/

Lems, Primal Zen: https://www.lemsshoes.com/products/mens-primal-zen

Lems, Boulder Summit Waterproof: https://www.lemsshoes.com/products/mens-boulder-summit-waterproof

Lems, Returns and exchanges: https://www.lemsshoes.com/pages/returns

Xero Shoes, Prio: https://xeroshoes.com/products/prio-men

Xero Shoes, Mesa Summit: https://xeroshoes.com/collections/mesa-summit

Xero Shoes, Returns and exchanges: https://xeroshoes.com/returns/

Dolfie Paradise, MC5 V2 Black: https://dolfieparadise.com/mc5-v2-black-w/

Dolfie Paradise, Returns and refunds: https://dolfieparadise.com/reembolso_devoluciones/

Wyde Footwear, Nova Dual Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-dual-black

Wyde Footwear, Nova Dual Black (EU store): https://wydefootwear.eu/products/nova-dual-black

Wyde Footwear, Nova White: https://wydefootwear.com/products/nova-white

Wyde Footwear, Soma White: https://wydefootwear.com/products/soma-white

Wyde Footwear, Soma White (EU store): https://wydefootwear.eu/products/soma-white

Wyde Footwear, Norra Espresso: https://wydefootwear.com/products/norra-espresso

Wyde Footwear, Norra Espresso (EU store): https://wydefootwear.eu/products/norra-espresso

Wyde Footwear, Maia Black: https://wydefootwear.com/products/maia-black

Wyde Footwear, FAQ: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/faq

Wyde Footwear, Why Wyde Footwear: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/functional

Wyde Footwear, Size guide: https://wydefootwear.com/pages/size-guide

Wyde Footwear, Refund policy: https://wydefootwear.com/policies/refund-policy

Leather Working Group, Certification: https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/certification/