The Best-Looking Barefoot Sneaker? A Deep Dive Into the Barbarics Zing
TL;DR / Quick Verdict
The Barebarics Zing is a chunky, retro inspired barefoot-style sneaker that looks great — which is quite hard to find in the barefoot shoe world, in my opinion. It’s a solid daily casual shoe with impressive durability, comfort, and toe space. Just make sure you don’t pay full price plus ridiculous delivery fees.
Barebarics Zing has become a favourite of mine.
Everyday Use & Long-Term Wear
I've been using this shoe regularly for casual wear — walks, cafés, day trips, and general day-to-day use. I’ve worn it for over 8 hours at a time without any discomfort or fatigue.
It’s incredibly comfortable for long casual days and stays breathable, even in humid conditions. The grip holds up well across a variety of surfaces, from pavements to park trails.
After more than 1.5 years of wear, the Zing has proven to be impressively durable. It’s outlasted several Vivobarefoot pairs I’ve owned. While it picks up dirt fairly easily, a quick clean gets it looking fresh again.
All day at the zoo? no problem in these
Fit, Feel & Materials
Fits true to size — no issues in my US Men’s 13. No discomfort, pinching, or pressure points. Width and toe space are generous, and the shoe is soft and comfortable around the ankle, with no rubbing or blisters.
Plently of width for my toes
The upper is microfiber, polyester and leather around the lace eyelets and back. All of which feels durable and easy to clean without being too precious. Barebarics mentions its lined with Dermodry Coolmax® to help keep it cool — whatever that is, it works. These breathe well even in Hong Kong humidity, which is saying something. They don’t get hot or soggy and dry quickly.
Materials feel soft and comfortable all around — nothing stiff or blister-inducing. Some of the microfibre gets roughed up over time but not as bad as I've seen in other shoes.
Looking good - polyester, microfibre and leather upper materials
Ground Feel & Outsole
Barebarics lists a 4mm sole, but it feels thicker than that in practice. It's not overly cushioned, but you definitely don’t get the same level of ground feel that you'd expect from a typical barefoot shoe. Many reviewers call this a "transition shoe" — a term I’m not a huge fan of, but I can see where they’re coming from. It’s still flexible, just not to the same degree as a true barefoot model.
The lack of ground feel is not a bad thing. A lot of the time, I actually prefer this, especially for casual wear. The Barebarics Zing strikes a nice balance for those who want a roomy toe box and some of the barefoot benefits without going full primal.
Flex test - Vivobarefoot Asana (Top) vs Barebarics Zing (Bottom) - The Zing easily has a thicker rubber sole and doesn’t flex as much as the Asana
The outsole grip is excellent. I’ve worn these in the rain and down steep hills in the city without any slips or issues.
Great rubber outsole with no large signs of major wear
Style & Aesthetics
When it comes to casual wide-toe-box sneakers, this is easily one of the best-looking options out there. I think the photos online don’t quite do justice to how good they look in real life — they exceeded my expectations.
That said, my only minor critique is how oversized they look in a US size 13. They are chunky — borderline clown shoe territory. But that’s the trade-off when you want toe space. Something to keep in mind for people with larger shoes.
Great looking shoe but that toe box is chunky!
Price & Comparisons
The retail price is 140 EUR, which I think is great value given the current barefoot market — especially when you factor in the durability and overall design. But at the time of writing, shipping to Hong Kong is 67 EUR.
That’s wild.
It’s nearly half the price of the shoe itself and brings the total to over 220 EUR. It not worth it for what you’re getting.
I managed to pick mine up from a local retailer for about 170 EUR, and at that price, I can’t complain. (Barebarics — a 20 EUR shipping option, please?)
At the 220 EUR mark, you’re better off checking out other brands like Vivobarefoot, Ohne Project, or Brambas — I’ve got my eye on a few of their upcoming styles.
Buy it if: you can get it locally or under 160 EUR — it’s worth it.
Skip it if: you’re paying international shipping that pushes it past 200 EUR.
Note: I checked the delivery fees directly on the Barebarics website, and Asia seems to get slapped with the highest shipping rates:
UK: 6 EUR
Australia/US: 15 EUR
Canada: 35 EUR
Europe: 5 EUR
Japan/Singapore/Hong Kong: 67 EUR
Final Verdict
A fantastic casual barefoot-style sneaker that’s stylish, durable, and beginner-friendly. If you can find it under 170 EUR, it’s a no-brainer. Just don’t get suckered into paying 67 EUR for shipping — no shoe is worth that.
Quick Recap:
Stylish, retro look (rare in barefoot shoes)
Comfortable for all-day wear
Solid durability after 1.5 years
Breathable enough for HK summers
Avoid paying full price + shipping
