Earth Runners Sandals Review
Earth Runners are flexible, vegan, minimalist sandals that are easy to put on and take off.
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I bought my Earth Runners Alpha Adventure Sandals in May of 2020 and they have become my new everyday shoe. After about three months of daily wear, they’re still holding up well!
Update: As of April 2022, I’m still going strong with the same pair of sandals I originally purchased. The tread is wearing some by this point but they still feel durable and aren’t slippery.
Earth Runners offers different options for sole thickness, lace material, and color.
Earth Runners offers three sole options:
Elemental—thin sole (8mm)
Circadian—medium thickness (9mm)
Alpha—thickest (12mm)
Earth Runners offers two lace options:
Lifestyle Lace (thinner, more comfortable)
Performance Lace (thicker, more secure)
Still flexible enough to get a foot massage on a rock.
Laces
The Lifestyle sandals come with Lifestyle Lace which is a little thinner but is advertised as being more comfortable. I chose the Adventure sandals with the Performance Lace because I really like my feet to feel secured to my shoe.
Depending on your gate and the terrain (especially downhill) you might feel a bit more pressure or rub from the lace between the first two toes. This can take some getting used to, although I personally don’t notice it anymore.
The laces actually attach on the bottom of the sole. I thought that surely those spots would wear thin and fray but, apart from being a little dirty, they remain intact and solid.
When I first got my Earth Runners, the laces fit well and I didn’t need to adjust them. Just recently, I’ve felt my foot sliding around a bit more. I decided to adjust the laces and used the helpful guide on their website. I don’t recommend trying to figure this out independently! Definitely follow the directions.
My Earth Runners after three months of near daily wear over a variety of surfaces.
Sole
I chose the Alpha sole because I walk mostly on concrete and wanted the extra cushion. Despite this being the thickest sole, they deliver the barefoot feeling I’m looking for. I can still feel a lot of the texture I’m walking over. The Vibram soles are flexible enough to deform over tree roots and rocks but sturdy enough to hold up over rough terrain. I’ve worn them hiking in the mountains and felt stable and secure.
I love the heavy duty cotton canvas footbed because it feels good on my feet and keeps my feet from sliding even when wet. The canvas can get a bit dirty but you can scrub it with a soft-bristled brush like this one. The canvas does fray some around the edges but it’s uniform and doesn’t look ratty.
Sizing
Earth Runners come in sizes for men, women, and children. I wear a women’s size 9.5. I printed off the sizing guide and sent a picture of my foot on the template to hello@earthrunners.com to verify my size. They fit perfectly, leaving plenty of room for my toes to spread without looking too wide a clunky (which can sometimes be a problem for my low-volume feet).
The canvas frays uniformly. I need to clean my shoes!
Would I buy these again?
Yes! I definitely would. Hands down. No questions asked. I’ve worn these for my daily walk around the neighborhood all summer, as well as while hiking and just around town.
Style-wise, they’re super versatile too. I wear them with shorts and tanks, yoga pants, and they even work well with dresses and skirts.
My favorite part about these sandals is how quickly and easily I can put them on and take them off. I’m often running out the door to catch up with my two young kids so this is a must!
Conclusion
Earth Runners are my favorite minimalist sandals. Apart from feeling great on my feet, I love that they’re vegan, made in the USA, have a lifetime warranty, and are under $100.
Need help transitioning to barefoot shoes? This post has you covered.
If this review felt helpful to you, use the link below to purchase your Earth Runners today. The small commission I may earn from your purchase supports my small, woman-owned business.
