Finally Primark have joined the high-street barefoot line-up, alongside Sainsbury’s, Zara, and others. As predicted, they have come in with one of the cheapest options and started with children’s shoes.
I’ve tested out their kid’s barefoot trainer to see how it compares to other high street and established barefoot brands.
Check out the Primark kids’ barefoot trainers here »
Quick Summary
MODEL
Boys’ Barefoot low-top trainers
MATERIALS
Synthetic textile
TESTED SIZE / PLUS12 SIZE
UK 8 Junior / Not measured
SOLE THICKNESS
Not measured
Five Toes Free Shoe Profile
The verdict
At £12 new, these are probably the cheapest barefoot kids shoes you will find in the UK. Primark get some things right, including the decently foot shaped toe box, but massively drop the ball on the flexibility of the sole. That’s a deal breaker for me, but they would work very well for those who just want something wider than a conventional shoe and are not fussed about other barefoot aspects.
First Impressions
I had high hopes looking at the images on the website – a nice neutral barefoot kid’s trainer at a very low price. While not available in-store near me, I could click-and-collect these within a few days.
Ordering was easy, except for the lack of sizing information. No shoe measurements whatsoever, just the usual UK sizing. Very frustrating considering we are are spoiled by almost all barefoot shoe makers providing actual shoe measurements!
Fit & Sizing
They were, I suppose an infant/junior UK 8, but again with no measurements on the website it’s not easy to get the right size. Thankfully Primark returns are simple. They seem to be the appropriate size with growing room for my 15cm long footed toddler.
They are fairly average in fit all around: moderate volume, moderately wide, but they really do have a nice spacious toe box! It’s a little bit rounded / tapered compared to wider options like Tipsietoes, but compares well against other budget high-street options like Sainsbury’s.
There is some padding around the ankle area, as it common with these types of trainers, but it’s not excessive.
Design & Construction
They are nicely designed in mixed neutral colours and mixed textures. They can easily be considered a unisex design, despite being sold under the boys’ department.
Naturally at this price they’re fully synthetic, but the quality is more than decent for a £12 trainer. They have the ever-popular elastic lace and velcro combination, which is great for both adjustability and ease of putting on.
On the topic of flexibility: these are some of the least flexible ‘barefoot’ shoes around. The shoe bends a bit at toes, but the heel to midfoot is incredibly stiff – I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a shank in there. In the image below I really had to put a lot of force on the sole to get it to bend to even ~45 degrees.
There is an insole inside, firmly glued in – I doubt removing this would make much impact on the flexibility as the insole is just a flimsy standard foam one.
Usage & Final Thoughts
These were an instant no based on the inflexibility of the sole – I returned them. If you are wondering why I am a stickler for flexibility, find out why it matters for foot health and development in this article.
It’s really disappointing that they had such a flaw, because they are otherwise a ideal budget barefoot kids shoe. They do a lot of things better than competitors, other than being ridiculously cheap. The design and toe box shape are excellent. Look at the text on the insole claiming “flexible sole” – another example of when to ignore marketing slogans and look at actual user reviews and specifications.
If you are in the market for an all-rounder casual kids trainer and willing to compromise on flexibility, these are perfect for you(r kid). For those with their children still in conventional shoes, these are still a massive improvement over shoes that have heels and tapered toe boxes.
Check out the Primark kids’ barefoot trainers here »
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a kid put on the Primark barefoot trainers by themselves?
The elastic laces and velcro mean they’re relatively easy for toddlers and above to attempt themselves, and even succeed!
Are Primark kids’ barefoot range true to size?
They appear to be approximately as expected based on UK sizing. Unfortunately they provide zero details on the sizing specification (like interior length), so you have to take a gamble on guessing the UK shoe size alone.
Are Primark kids’ barefoot shoes worth buying?
If you are not fussed about flexibility, yes. For us personally, we choose options that are more barefoot like Tipsietoes. They are around £10 more expensive, but genuine leather and both wider and more flexible.
Are the Primark kids’ barefoot trainers waterproof?
No – these are a synthetic textile upper that isn’t water resistant. I wouldn’t say they were particularly weatherproof, particularly with the light colouring showing up any dirt. They would hold up to the usual drizzle, just not muddy adventures.
Are the Primark kids’ barefoot trainers good value?
Yes! At £12, you will not (currently) find cheaper barefoot trainers. It is incredible that barefoot shoes are now being offered to mass market at such a low price – there is no barrier at all to putting your kid in barefoot shoes!
What sizes do Primark barefoot shoes come in?
Currently they come in UK 3 Junior to UK 13 Junior.
Do Primark sell any other barefoot shoe models?
At the time of writing, they another pair of trainers in pink and a ballet style pump. Unfortunately searching ‘barefoot’ on their website doesn’t bring up every model, making them tricky to find.
