Arken

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!

Having had a few pairs of the freet ortholite insoles (the best barefoot insoles out there for hard ground) I thought I'd try some freet shoes.
The Arken are awesome, very comfortable and appear to be well made, certainly showing the "bigger" brands a thing or two.
Just one concern is that after less than 15km of walking there are some fair old creases in the upper which make me wonder how long they will last.
Time will tell, but for now they are brilliant

This is my first time using barefoot shoes. I walked around the house in them for a few days, to get used to them. Then out for a dog walk. They were so comfortable from the beginning. Kept my feet nice and dry and warm but without getting sweaty. Absolutely love them and my trainers! Well done and thank you!

These boots are very comfortable right out of the box and great to keep the barefoot placement of my foot even during hard outside work.

I just took my Arken out on a chilly, muddy hike in the woods after it rained nearly two days straight, and they were warm and waterproof, exactly as I needed them to be. Had a few Loony Tunes moments on slick wooden bridges, but I otherwise felt there was good traction even on steeper slopes. I like that they are lightweight and somewhere between a winter boot and a hiking shoe, perfect for trekking about on squishy, sloppy days. The only thing that is less than ideal for me is the slight squishing of my pinky toes even in the wide toe box -- while I can enjoy a walk in these boots, I still feel relieved to be free and barefoot again once I'm inside. I usually wear Vibram toe shoes which give my feet plenty of space but no protection from the wet, so this is my first foray into other barefoot brands. If my Arken hold up well over the next few seasons, I would definitely try some of their other shoes.

Very good boots, warm and flexible, very comfy.

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.

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!

Great ordering process, fantastic product which looks good and is excellent quality. Very impressed with my first purchase from freet.

I got the Esk in EU43 and the Tundra in EU44. The Esk is the most barefoot out of the 3, but not waterproof . The Arken in EU44 fits me just like the Tundra in EU44, but it feels a little bit thicker and warmer than the Tundra. If there is rain or snow, I have been using the Tundra, but given the construction of the Arken, this will likely become my new winter boot.

I bought it for my husband and he likes it!! I actually have bought bigger size before but all process was smooth until getting the right size. Great customer service and high quality shoes.

In the beginning it robbed the back of my ankle but after a little bending and twisting the shoe it got better. Since then it works great, comfy and can handle a lot of rain... :)

Warm comfy waterproof. Great value.

Confortable and light.

My husband loves Freet shoes. They are perfect for his foottype. He has wide foot with high arch. Arken are perfect winter shoes, literally waterproof and warm enough.

Comfortable and waterproof.

Keeps my feet dry and warm. Really comfortable toebox atleast for my feet.
Look and feels like great quality.

Nothing bad. I highly recommend!!

Excellent service, boots are comfortable and warm.

They're just like Freet trail running shoes, but in a boot format. They're optimal for walks in nature during winter. Easy to put on. I sized up, so they fit perfectly with woolen socks. I like them so far.

+

These are basically a winter version of the Bootee / Mudee / Tundra series, and the fit is the same in terms of sizing. They are comfortable right out of the box, needing no breaking in. The lining is gorgeously soft and very warm. If your feet are sensitive to the cold these should be great for you for any time from late autumn through to early spring. If you don't feel the cold so much, you might want to reserve these boots for cold winter days when they'll really come into their own.

Good ground feel, warm & waterproof with enough grip to cope with muddy dog walks.

They are very comfortable and appear to be good quality.

Introducing sister to barefoot shoes (and I will get to steal them when I visit).
Used in the countryside and towns in British autumn and winter, her feedback so far is "they are brilliant", "nice and roomy" but has to be cautious on wet surfaces "astonishingly slippy on wet bike pedals"; "slipped on brick paving", but out on bonfire night and others complained of cold feet, "mine were not toasty but were fine" and there is still "room for a pair of thick socks".

Great winter boots. Warm and waterproof. Very comfy toebox.

My only downside is that the soles aren't grippy at all on wet pavements and tiled floors, which you have to be really careful about (eg. going from the trail to do a quick errand in town). Hence the 4 stars.

However having an outdoor job in the Derbyshire weather these are still my most used shoes at the moment and will probably remain that way until spring arrives again.

NB. I had to size up 2 sizes.

The high part at the front is very stiff. I haven't worn them yet apart to try them on so have no other comments yet