Arken

I sized up by 1 from EU38 to EU39 and it fits me comfortably. There was no rubbing anywhere. It is breathable and it kept my toes warm in the cold. Freet's shoe width design appears to be better compared to Feelgrounds.

The wide tox box and high volume have sold me! I have a pair of Lems primal zen and Vivo Gobi sneaker but the toe box in these Freet boots are so much better. I can really push off on my big toe. I can truly splay my toes. I also have a relatively high instep and these boots don’t cramp the top of my foot, especially when driving when the foot is pointed forward for an extended period of time. The only slight downside is the heel area is a bit wide for me. I have a narrow heel. That said, my foot is secure. They are pretty flexible given that they are boots. They do become more flexible as you wear them. See photo.

I live in USA, Chicago IL area. We go through freeze/thaw cycles throughout the winter. I purchased these books for everyday walking on sidewalks and the flat trails in the nearby woods. Thus far, the boots handle these surfaces well. I have not experienced any slipping that some reviewers noted. The grip is fine on concrete, asphalt. We haven’t had much snow but there remain patches of packed snow and ice that these boots can handle. I’ve gone into a few stores and my work building and the boots haven’t slipped on linoleum when boot soles are wet. I did experience slipperiness, however, on the wet bathroom tile floor in my office building. Overall, I’ve found these boots to grip just fine but use appropriate caution and adjusting your walk by slowing down on ice and smooth surfaces.

Regarding warmth: I’ve used these boots in freezing and sub freezing temps. The supplied insole doesn’t provide great insulation. I swapped it out for a thermal or wool insole. I wear with winter merino socks. We havent had enough snow to test the warmth while snowshoeing.

Sizing: I consistently wear a 7.5 US women’s shoe. Depending on the manufacturer, a 7.5 is a EU38 or 38.5 depending on how they round the number. The size guide suggests to go up one size using EU sizing. I wasn’t able to accurately measure my feet per the guide. Because I wear a half-size I was unsure whether to go up a half or full size. I first tried a 40 and it was way too large. I exchanged for a 39 and the fit was good. In other words, if you wear a 38 or 38.5 going up to a 39 was just right for me, even with a thermal insole and cushioned merino socks.

Shipping/returns: I’m fortunate to live only 40 miles from the US distributor for Freet. I got my order in 2 days. Returns are via USPS and the rate was less than US Priority mail. A side note: I forgot to put back the insole in one of the boots I returned. I notified Freet and they were very kind and just said to return it. I got my refund before the insole was received. Very nice working with a small company. I will be back for more. Also, enjoy Andrew’s informative videos.

I bought these for my partner as he needed new boots for winter. He has wide feet and problems with back and knee pain, so we are slowly making the switch to barefoot shoes to see if this helps. First impressions are good. The boot looks well made and he says they're comfortable. Looking forward to seeing how they hold up over the Scottish winter!

Excellent boots. Really warm, solid water proofing, and very comfortable. I did want them to be grippier, truth be told, as I need something for walks in rough terrain and rougher weather, so in the end I opted for the Arken 2 ... but I will genuinely miss these.

A note too about Freet's customer service. These guys have made a life long customer out of me, with such a helpful approach to any problem I've encountered with the many pairs of shoes I've bought from them. They're brilliant. They also happen to make the best natural shoes I've worn (comfortably beating Vivobarefoot and Zero Shoes, pun intended ...)

I already have a pair of Freet boots and wanted something warmer and waterproof for the winter. These are very snug and feel great. The sizing does run small, maybe because of the thicker lining. One size larger than normal is good though. Love the bottle yarn upper!