This is a juicy one! Sharing my journey of becoming a first-time barefoot shoe owner – covering mistakes I made and lessons I learned. I am also including a Be Lenka Prime 2.0 white sneakers barefoot shoes review. It is my personal story, so read it, learn from it, don’t take my word for it, and go make your own experiences!
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What lead me to barefoot shoes
Learning that most regular shoes are NOT made for human feet is mind-blowing. When you add the knowledge that bunions and other foot problems are caused just by the shoes we wear and NOT by random chance of the human body getting older, it makes you wonder why the world is sometimes so upside down.
So, reading and seeing a lot more information about barefoot shoes, I knew I needed to become one of those weirdos who wears the duck-feet-looking shoes.
But as with any other shoe, finding the right fit can be challenging. Even when it comes to barefoot shoes, there are different models, materials, and styles that contribute to the overall foot and shoe compatibility.
I want to start by sharing the story of how I purchased my first barefoot shoes. It holds some crucial details as to why the barefoot shoes review is the way it is.
So, the story goes like this.
Buying my first barefoot shoes
In Riga, Latvia (where I live) there is one store where you can purchase barefoot shoes in person. And since I wanted to try the shoes on before buying, I was left with one option where to go.
First time in the barefoot shoe shop
The first time I went to the store, I felt nervous. I was wearing my regular boots and I dreaded the feeling of being a rookie. I knew that the salesperson would know that this was my first time buying barefoot shoes and for some reason, it felt embarrassing for me. Now looking back, it seems so irrational.
The salesperson never shamed me for the shoes I had (what a surprise, right? :D). No other customers paid attention to my footwear (actually, some were also wearing regular shoes). I was never made to look stupid for not discovering barefoot shoes earlier.
Keep that in mind if you are also sometimes a shy person. NO ONE is judging you except you. And if they are, shame on them! I love this quote (which I will rephrase because I don’t remember exactly):
Masters in the field won’t judge the rookies. Only armchair experts will critique someone in their beginning phase.
So, if you want to explore something new – go for it! Whether it is barefoot shoes or anything else.
Barefoot shoe styles and looks
So, I looked around the shop but couldn’t land on any of the shoes. Since the store in Riga is quite small, it had limited choices. There were a lot of unisex shoes, sneakers, or shoes in unusual colors with contrasting laces (for example, Camper brand). I wasn’t fully on board with any of these styles. So, I left the store not even trying on anything.
I assume there is also a moment to adjust to the look of barefoot shoes. At first, they seem odd, but as with everything – the more you look at them, the more normal and even beautiful they become.
Choosing my first barefoot shoes
The next time I went to the shop, I said to myself: “No matter what, I will come home with barefoot shoes. I just need a started pair, and then I can grow my collection from there.” Nice and simple, right? Wrong.
I spent at least an hour in the shop trying on shoes but not feeling it.
I was torn between two pairs: the Be Lenka Prime 2.0 white sneakers and the Be Lenka Trailwalker 2.0 shoes.
First, I couldn’t decide on the size. The EU size 39 felt a little too tight for the pinkies but the EU size 40 felt too roomy for the length. For both sneakers and trail walkers. Also, the saleswoman warned me not to get too big shoes, since that can result in the foot slipping within the shoe which can result in incorrect and uncomfortable walking.
Second, the trail walker shoes felt more comfy compared to the sneakers, but they had more of a walk-in-the-forest look to them (obviously!) and I needed something for the city.
And not that the sneakers were uncomfortable, they felt like new shoes – a little bit stiff but overall fine. So, I thought – white sneakers are always a good idea! It is a classic anyway. I will get them and walk them in.
And that’s what I did! I got the white Be Lenka sneakers and started wearing them.
Going sock-free in barefoot shoes
It could be important for the continuation of the story that I went sock-free in the shoes. I am usually a “socks-on” person, but I looked at my sock collection and realized that they all are quite toe-clamping. The saleswoman in the shop suggested I get socks in bigger sizes to have more room for the toes, but that quite didn’t work for me. I got men’s EU size 42 (I am usually EU size 38) invisible socks, and they proved to be just as tight as the ones I own. I guess the cut of the sock is the same, just the length is adjusted for size 42.
So, I went barefoot in the barefoot shoes.
Be Lenka Prime 2.0 white sneakers: barefoot shoes review
My story wearing Be Lenka sneakers
I wore the white Be Lenka Prime 2.0 sneakers here and there for shorter periods, and everything felt fine. But then came the fateful walk.
I had to run some errands and I decided to walk that day. It was about a 40-minute walk one way and then back. By the time I was close to home, I felt that my pinkies were feeling way too sore and I knew that there would be blisters when I took off the shoes. At that point, I was hoping they were not bloody blisters so I could resell the shoes.
I was very disappointed. I have always had a wide foot and at that moment it felt like not even barefoot shoes could fit my hobbit feet. It was very disheartening and sad.
I washed the shoes, took photos, and put them up for sale.
Overall I wore the white sneakers 4–5 times before realizing that the fit is not suitable for my feet.
Warning signs
To be fair, I had warning signs that these white sneakers were not the shoes for me. In the shop, they felt a little bit tight on my pinkies but I thought maybe my previous shoes had rubbed them, so I didn’t pay enough attention to that fact.
In hindsight, I should have realized that barefoot shoes should not feel tight even in the beginning. There shouldn’t be a thing such as “breaking in” new shoes when it comes to barefoot shoes. They should be comfortable from day one.
I was so determined to come home that day with barefoot shoes, that I overlooked this feeling. However, if I hadn’t done that, I might have still stayed in the freeze state – not being able to choose. It was a push over the edge, I needed!
General impressions of Be Lenka Prime 2.0 white sneakers
Overall good look
The shoes look very cute and they are quite soft. They are not made from the extra, extra soft leather but for polished leather they were good.
Very thin and flexible soles
These Be Lenka sneakers have very thin soles. I could feel the ground very well. Keep in mind that it could be a feature for all Be Lenka shoes, at this point I cannot compare yet!
A thin, flexible sole is a desired barefoot shoe quality, but for the first timers, it might be wise to get a pair with a little bit thicker sole. It can help adjust to the barefoot shoes a little bit more smoothly. But that of course depends on the person and their personal preferences! Some might want to dive all in.
Little bit raw edges
To be fair, I wasn’t 100% impressed by the craftsmanship. The higher part of the back of the shoe looked a little bit too raw for my taste. Maybe that was just the look but I prefer all sewn-up shoes.
White shoes get dirty fast
Also, keep in mind that the shoes are white, so they will get dirty faster than other shoes. Since barefoot shoes don’t have thick soles and they are closer to the ground, the sides of the shoes get dirty almost instantly (it depends on your walk as well).
Visible creases
And lastly, there will be creases on the top of the shoes from walking. It is inevitable but noteworthy to mention if you haven’t thought about it.
Why Be Lenka Prime 2.0. white sneakers didn’t fit me
At first, I wanted to blame the Be Lenka brand for creating barefoot shoes that didn’t fit my feet. Then I wanted to be mad at the barefoot shoe shop in Riga, for not having the right shoes for me. And lastly, I was disappointed in the salesperson who didn’t help me choose the right shoes.
But after a while, I calmed down and saw it for what it was – an experience I can learn from. I won’t lie, it was difficult for me to trust another barefoot shoe after this, but in the end, it is a happy ending. More on that soon! :) But for now, let’s see why the Be Lenka white sneakers didn’t work for me.
High foot volume
When thinking of barefoot shoes, usually the first benefit that comes to mind is more space for toes in the toe box. That is correct! But to buy the right shoes for one’s feet there are other parameters to keep in mind, for example, the instep height.
I have quite a high arch or foot volume naturally.
The Be Lenka white sneakers even to the naked eye seem to have a very low instep so I think this is where I went wrong. My theory is that because of my high arch, the shoe didn’t fit quite right and the upper part pressed too much on the edges aka where the pinkies are.
I assume these Be Lenka white sneakers could be a good fit for a regular to wide foot with a low instep.
The shoe model
There are different shoe models and not all of them are going to fit all feet. It is not just about the toe box size or instep height. It’s also where the seems are, what material the shoes are made of, and what overall design the shoe has. Sometimes one type of white sneakers won’t work but another will!
So, I think these particular white sneakers just weren’t meant to be for me.
Not wearing socks
So, maybe I did some damage myself by choosing not to wear socks in the shoes. Bare feet can create more friction that can create blisters. It could be a contributing factor, but I think it was not the main one.
Choosing the wrong size
And last but not least, maybe I just chose the wrong size and I should have gone with the EU size 40. As a first-time barefoot buyer, it is hard to determine when the shoe is too roomy and when it is just a barefoot shoe. However, the size 40 in the shop did feel a tad too loose…
Also, an interesting fact, Be Lenka on their website suggests getting just 0.5 cm longer shoes than your feet (more often the number is 1–2 cm). In that case, the EU size 39 was a good fit (except for the width).
For comparison, all the measurements for my feet and Be Lenka Prime 2.0 sneakers are below.
My foot measurements are:
- Length: 24–24.5 cm (my left foot is 0.5 cm longer)
- Width: 10 cm.
Be Lenka white sneakers EU size 39 measurements:
- Length: 25 cm
- Width: 9.7 cm.
Be Lenka white sneakers EU size 40 measurements:
- Length: 25.7 cm
- Width: 9.9 cm.
Be Lenka – would I recommend?
At the moment I have experience with one type of Be Lenka shoes. Based on this experience, I would recommend people with similar feet to mine (normal to high volume and wide) to make extra sure already in the shop that the shoes are comfortable and fit well (no tight feelings on the pinkies!).
If buying online, pay attention to the measurements – if your feet are the perfect length and width for Be Lenka shoes, I think you should be fine! (But remember that you can always return shoes that don’t fit you*)
* A little disclaimer about Be Lenka returns. Unfortunately, on the Trustpilot website, Be Lenka has a little too many 1-star reviews, particularly for returns. What’s alarming is that they are quite recent (2024). I really hope they are working on finding better solutions for returns and are improving their customer service when it comes to bad experiences.
Another tip for high-volume feet I learned later on – you can try wearing shoes without the insoles to give yourself more room. Maybe this knowledge saves someone’s pinkies.
For first-time barefoot shoe shoppers, it is very important to get a high-quality consult from a barefoot shoe specialist. So, if it’s your first time and you are not sure, talk to someone who can give good, practical advice.
Other reviews on Be Lenka Prime 2.0 white sneakers
Interestingly though, when I scrolled through the barefoot shoes reviews for the Prime 2.0 sneakers on the Be Lenka website, I found one person who had the same experience with the shoes. So, it makes me wonder – did we both choose the wrong size or our feet just was not compatible with the exact model?
That said, many people are satisfied with the Be Lenka brand and these same white sneakers. So, read my story but take it with a grain of salt.
The amazing Be Lenka barefoot shoe collection
Be Lenka has one of the biggest and most diverse collections of barefoot shoes in the market today. They have many different models for women, men, and kids, and they are adding more every year. Going through their website makes you feel like you are shopping for regular shoes – just because of the assortment size. So, Be Lenka is definitely a brand to check out if you want to live in the barefoot universe.
In conclusion
As for me, I think I might try some other Be Lenka shoes in the future because they have so many great models I would like to own and feel comfortable in. But for now, I will stick with the Peerko brand which worked much better for me (read my Peerko 2.0 Classic Triangle review to learn more about that experience!). I also stumbled upon a barefoot shoe shop called Ahinsa that sells the cutest barefoot shoes, so I want to try them out as well. And lastly, for some reason, I feel fond of the Vivobarefoot shoes, so I would like to try some of their creations as well.
Your turn!
Do you have a story of buying your first barefoot shoes? Please share in the comments! I know I want to know and others will as well!
Thinking of buying your first barefoot shoes? Share your thoughts and how you came to the decision!
Have an opinion on why these Be Lenka Prime 2.0 sneakers didn’t fit me? I would love to hear and get your tips!
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