Howgill

I do have a slight problem with Freet as I have quite low volume feet and there is always a bit of space and baggy fabric around the lace area. This is not problem with the many pairs of Freet boots I own as I wear socks and the upper fabric is a bit stiffer. However, with the softer fabric shoes there is a bit of floppiness. My way around this is to put extra insoles in, usually the ortholite insole does the job, and pull the laces tight. This method has worked a treat with my new Howgills, I did try without the extra insole but my feet skidded around a bit inside the shoes. If you have somewhat higher volume feet than me, I would imagine the fit would be about right.

I bought these with a view to wearing them for a forthcoming Camino in Portugal. Previously, I have walked long distance in Kidepro and Pace but I thought the Howgills looked even more suited to this job. I have been wearing them for dog walking (maybe 10/11 miles) and they are fab, surpassed my expectations. The good bits are: they really have some water resistance, so a foot plonked in a bit of bog stays dry; they don't let any stones/sticks/seeds etc in at all; exceptional comfort; you can pull them on and off without undoing the laces and I don't feel the need to take them off the minute I get home. I can wear then all day. I'll probably need another pair for the Camino in September!

The only aspect that I don't like is that they get a bit sweaty at about 5/6 miles without socks, therefore you get a bit of rubbing and soreness. I do like to operate sockless but have yet to find shoes that will facilitate this for longer walks. I suspect it is because they are not made from natural fibres. It's not a problem that a good pair of thin cotton socks can't put right. Other than that, I really can't fault them.

I've also had several compliments about them which you don't seem to get with most barefoot shoes. 😂

I have two pairs of these Howgills now, and I luxuriate in the free sensation of my feet every time I wear them. I wear them with an extra 3mm insole because my feet are between sizes, and this gives me a bit of extra sole protection without losing the flexibility and space in the toebox. I have taken them on some rugged walks and they certainly give your feet a workout! And my feet always feel toasty warm in these shoes, which is unusual for me. I love them!

I really love these shoes. I got them last fall when the heavy dew and the likelihood of rain returning(I live in the Pacific NW) made my Tangas less than optimal. The water resistant membrane does it's job. The bottle yarn will be noticeably wet and my feet stay dry. They're not warm so I stopped wearing them in November and moved into my Mudee Ls. Now that spring is upon us, I've been back in the Howgills since the middle of March. I wear them in all the conditions my life throws at me(pasture, gravel, trails, exposed bedrock, sand) and the only complaint I have re:the lugs is that I sometimes slip when I first step off of wet earth and onto wet tiles or flagstone. But most any shoe can slide in that moment. So I attribute it more to operator error than blaming the shoe. Laces work just fine, tied them once and have never touched them since. Bootie collar is comfortable and keeps the world out. All of my Freets are 43, all of my US sized shoes are 9.5 or 10...Freet calls their 43 a 9US. Regardless, the 43 Howgill is slightly large and I probably would have been fine in a 42. However, because they're spring/fall shoes, I tend to wear socks which helps with the slightly too big 43. I'm also leaving the insoles in, both to help with filling the volume, and to provide insulation from the cold ground. One thing that has not worked for me is the Airmax insole, it kept bunching up under my toes in an annoying fashion. Since I rarely use the Flexile insoles that came with my Tangas I put them in these shoes and the problem vanished. A truly minimal shoe, so comfortable you can forget you have them on. Thanks Freet!

Everything I want in a barefoot shoe and more. Got my eyes set of a pair of impala boots for winter and some calver 2 for training and football my howgills will be my everyday shoe fricking love them

Would be 5 stars if it wasn't for the silly undersized loop at the back. Difficult to put on over socks especially woolen ones.