Freet Flex
$94.50
Everyday barefoot shoe suitable for sports and casual use.
Customers say: Fits true to size.
For more detail on sizing please see below left second tab ‘Sizing & Fitting’.
- Description
- Sizing & Fitting
- Care
- Reviews (19)
- Additional information
Description
Although a little more generous than our older styles, on average people still go one EU size larger than their ‘average’ shoe size, especially if you prefer ‘roomy’.
The length and width of the insole of this shoe is as below. Remember the shoe has good volume in the forefoot so the actual comfortable width of this shoe will be a few mm greater than this ‘flat’ measurement. Fit is personal, but most people will prefer to have at least 4 or 5mm spare room in front of your largest toe(s). USA sizing is below the European:
Europe/Rest of World Sizing (metric mms):
Size 37/233mm length, 92mm width, Size 38/240mm length, 94mm width, Size 39/246mm length, 96mm width, Size 40/252mm length, 99mm width, Size 41/258mm length, 101mm width, Size 42/264mm length, 103mm width, Size 43/270mm length, 105mm width, Size 44/276mm length, 107mm width, Size 45/283mm length, 109mm width, Size 46/291mm length, 110mm width, Size 47/300mm length, 112mm width, Size 48/307mm length, 114mm width, Size 49/313mm length, 116mm width
Length and width measurements taken as follows:
USA Sizing (Inches):
Size 37 (USA w6.5)/9 1/4 inch length, 3 5/8 inches width, Size 38(USA w7)/9 1/2 inch length, 3 3/4 inch width, Size 39 (USA w8)/9 3/4 inch length, 96mm 3 3/4 inch width, Size 40 (USA w8.5)/10 inch length, 3 7/8 inch width, Size 41 (USA w9.5)/10 1/4 inch length, 3 7/8 inch width, Size 42 (USA mUSA 8.5)/10 3/8 inch length, 4 inch width, Size 43 (USA m9.5)/10 5/8 inch length, 4 inch width, Size 44 (USA m10.5)/10 7/8 length, 4 inch width, Size 45 (USA m11.5)/11 1/8 inch length, 4 1/8 inch width, Size 46 (USA m12)/11 1/2 inch length, 4 1/8 inch width, Size 47 (USA m13)/11 7/8 inch length, 4 1/4 inch width, Size 48 (USA m14)/12 1/8 inch length, 4 1/2 inch width, Size 49 (USA m15)/12 1/4 inch length, 4 5/8 inch width
Length and width measurements taken as follows:
Hand wash with luke warm water and mild detergent. Air dry.
Reviews
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Additional information
| Size | 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 |
|---|---|
| Colour | Black, Navy Blue |
Colin Bean (verified owner) –
I’ve had my Freet Flex for over 2 weeks and have almost exclusively lived in them. I’ve never loved my shoes so much. I walk around 15k steps a day, 70% off road and am blown away by how they perform. These are my first barefoot shoes btw.
The way your foot now ‘works’ is brilliant and you realise you have learned to walk properly again – no longer stomping down, stressing your ankles and knees. Instead of avoiding roots on a hill, up or down, I seek them out – I actually grip on them rather than slip.
Having come from years of wearing market leading branded walking boots I’ve realised we are not designed to have massive weights attached to our legs that render one of the most complex structures we have in our bodies useless. I used to get knee and ankle pain during and after walks, no more. I can walk further without fatigue.
I feel the ground, which is actually really nice. At the gym they are gr8 – I’m now planted and well balanced on single leg deadlifting or split lunges, my foot is allowed to do its job. I’m just about to order some Tundra boots now and some Citees for work. I’m normally a 45 and the 45’s fit me well regardless of sock type. Oh, and NO BLISTERS EVER AGAIN 🙂 🙂 🙂
You will not look back.
Rob C (verified owner) –
In my opinion the Flex is Freet’s answer to the Primus Lite. Are they the sexiest shoes? No. But are they the most comfortable? Ohh yes. And at the price they are a great alternative to the leading brands. Flex has been my only casual wear shoe now for 4 months and they are still holding up perfectly. It doesn’t taper too soon and squish my toes like some other barefoot shoes I’ve tried. They are a joy to wear. So soft and definitely live up to their name, they twist and bend so much especially after a bit of wear, almost sock-shoe-like.
Can’t comment on long term durability but so far they have exceeded my expectations.
Only con is the piece of material above the toe box mesh that holds the lace eyelets can dig in to the top of the foot every time you push off with that foot. Im getting used to it now, either that or they have just softened. Perhaps just the price you pay for a shoe with 100% toe flexion.
Simon Cahill (verified owner) –
Mine split, where the foot tends to bend, quite quickly. They are extremely comfortable and Freet sent me a replacement pair which I am yet to use so I am hoping that they don’t split. I found the Dex ‘waterproof’ sock, not waterproof.
freetadmin –
Hi Simon, I think we spoke on the phone – sorry for the split, but enjoy the replacements! I replied to your comments on the Dexshell socks on the product page, all the best, Andrew
Ben Schuster (verified owner) –
Best shoe I’ve ever used!! These shoes really do it all. I use them for hiking, running a general sport shoe and as a casual everyday shoe.
They’re super wide, probably wider than any other shoe I’ve used, and not just in the toe; they’re wide through the mid foot as well which makes them feel super spacious and unconstrained yet still not flopping around.
The tread on the sole is a great compromise for both hard and soft surfaces. No sign of wear so far, the individual lugs don’t dig in on hard surfaces and they are super grippy on rock and dry trail. Not ideal for super boggy terrain or tall grass, but they’re such a sensitive shoes that it doesn’t really matter: you can stick to basically anything if you press with the right part of the foot.
My dad also got a pair and is equally happy with them. I will probably be using a pair of freet shoes for my thru hike of the PCT next year. Also customer service was fabulous. I needed my pair for an upcoming hiking trip and called up freet to see what they could do. Sarah was very friendly and helpful, thanks!!
freetadmin –
Ben, thanks so much for the feedback. We love Flex too. Wow PCT! Sarah and I must have read 10 or 15 books on the trail. We’ve done very small sections (day walks) but would love one day to thru-hike! All the best and keep in touch, Andrew
timbertales –
bought these as school shoes for my youngest, as they are all black and a trainer-normal shoe mix. thanks for making all black shoes for kids that are used to more barefoot shoes
pro: – light, flexible, he likes the foot-friendliness. sole has got really good grip, freet soles seem better to me than flat-soled vivos that way
con: – webbing that holds elastic to tighten frayed within days. we got a replacement pair (good customer service!), next pair: webbing frayed again. this time i sealed it with lighter. elastic seems to tire quickly and get worn out, meaning the (long from the start) surplus is even longer. final stopper to prevent toggle from slipping at end of elastic got lost on both sides quickly. least satisfying: after a few weeks of school-only use, the mesh on either side, where creases form from toe action, is ripping. my expectation is that a kid shoe worn in mainly indoor conditions should last longer. also green foam on insole came off on one side, making it all bumpy, so had to get different insoles.
would love these with stronger material for my children, please!
Jaki Bell (verified owner) –
The Freet Flex was my first barefoot shoe. I found my way to these after a tendon injury – I was reading about ways to help lengthen and strengthen my tendons, muscles and feet to help rehab the injury, and came across barefoot shoes (and also after starting to look into parkour). I was really happy to find a UK company making barefoot shoes, and even happier to learn that they are among the widest barefoot shoes. I’m so sick of having squished toes in ‘normal’ shoes – my little toe had become practically triangular and was always being blistered. Can’t tell you how glad I was to finally find the solution. Walking in these Flex shoes is just bliss… I can hear my feet going ‘ahhhhhhh, yes’! I love feeling the ground under my feet. Went for a coastal walk this week in them, and it was amazing to feel the ground squishing beneath my feet on the slightly muddy sections, and to feel the softness of pine needles in the woodland bits. When I did a half-day walk in the Cumbrian fells a few weeks ago, I loved how my whole foot felt part of the action and I was conscious of how active my toes were, helping with balance and movement. I felt a lot more balanced and happy in these than my usual ‘normal’ walking boots. For hill walking in poor weather, I thought I’d try a pair of Xero Excursions, but I found them too narrow and will be returning them. I’ve now ordered the Freet Mudee instead… looking forward to seeing how it compares. In terms of sizing, my ‘usual’ shoe size has been 38 (size 5) and I’ve sometimes had size 6 in walking boots. I ordered size 39 originally in the Flex shoes, but found them a bit neat and exchanged for size 40, which are blissful. I’m very glad to have found Freet – I feel like an issue that’s been literally a pain for years has now been solved and I’m loving the extra info my senses can now enjoy with the barefoot soles, too. I’ve now got a new problem… going to have to find new homes for all my other shoes and invest in Freet versions over time instead!
Mike –
Just to keep you updated about my Freet flex I bought in 2018. They are clocking up some serious Kms now and still going strong no signs of tearing or failure! I even hiked 18kms up a mountain (I live in Spain now) I recently by mistake wore a pair of conventional trainers on a walk and it almost killed me! Proof barefoot shoes are the future. Keep up your great work folks I look forward to more purchases in the future. Many thanks, Mike
Michael –
I bought these shoes, my first barefooters, in the summer of 2020, and I fell in love with them. Absolutely, the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever had. I had to put in an extra sole to cushion my feet as I was not used to the hardness of barefoot shoes. Since then, I have used them at almost every possible opportunity, both in urban environments, on beaches, and in forests. I have even used them in the winter in temperatures down to -20C (with a very thick pair of thermal socks, of course), because I just wanted to get my barefoot feeling after weeks of winter boots. As long as the snow is not too high, it was not a problem and the shoes dry fast indoors on a radiator. Even icy conditions is not such a big deal because we walk differently in barefoot shoes, less heel and more toe. It took me a while for my feet to get used to barefoot but I can’t wear normal shoes anymore.
My only complaint is is that there seems to be a weakness when a crease forms when the front of the shoe bends up when walking. The material holding the laces digs into the mess and eventually wears it down (bend the shoes into a ball and you will see where the crease forms). I didn’t mind so much as long as it was only the out mess and not the inside, but now my little toe is peaking out… I have had the shoes less than a year so… that’s not a good thing.
On the other hand, I have never had such pleasure putting on a pair of shoes. It feels like wearing slippers.
Tried the bootees, but no… these are the shoes I love.
Mark Crompton (verified owner) –
I’m in love with my Freet Flex shoes. They are so comfortable that I hardly know that I have anything on my feet. Which of course is the whole idea!
My first barefoot style shoes were a pair of Merrel Vapor Glove’s. Although I found them comfortable the Flex are a step up in quality. The soles of the Vapor Gloves were through in a few months which was very disappointing. I do a lot of walking on a variety of surfaces and have found the Flex shoes have excellent grip and the soles are wearing extremely well. I also have to mention the wonderful customer service from Freet. I live in NZ and the Flex shoes are a replacement for a different Freet shoe that didn’t suit my foot. The return process was simple and the new shoes arrived quickly and at no cost to me. Very impressive. I have no doubt that I will be ordering more Freet shoes in the future.
Samuel Teeter (verified owner) –
I’ve had these for a couple months now and have used them for jogging, parkour, and light hiking.
PROS:
– Outstanding craftsmanship, especially on the mesh uppers. The double stitching on the tongue has held up well, unlike my Merrell Vapor Gloves where it tore lose after one day.
– Perfect amount of padding: thick enough to handle edges and small rocks, but thin enough to not interfere with natural foot motion at all.
– Great at keeping out dust and sand
– Stylish, especially compared to most barefoot shoes
– Wide toebox accommodates my hobbit-like feet; another area where Merrell falls down.
– Fairly priced–and the price included my international shipping!
– The sizing charts are good. I measured my foot and got the right size on the first try.
CONS:
– Sole durability. The outsole is neither as grippy as the soft rubber you’d find on a climbing or martial arts shoe, nor as durable as the hard rubber of a hiking or trail running shoe. For me, this was an unhappy medium. I wanted to use these shoes for parkour, but the soles were noticeably torn up after one session. I notice that Freet does make tougher, more performance-oriented soles for sport activities so I may give those shoes a try.
– This is a tiny thing, but: the laces are too long. I always have to tuck them in to avoid tripping myself.
Overall these are outstanding shoes–just use them for road running and everyday wear, and not for intense athletic activities. I may give the Respond or the Leap a try, as they look to have more durable outsoles.
freetadmin –
Thanks for the detailed feedback Samuel. Laces – we’ll keep working away at fine tuning lengths! Outsoles are tricky. As you imply ‘horses for courses’. This outsole we designed for everyday durability, and running including good quality trails. Maybe we could make the compound a little harder, just to improve overall durability (and lose some grip). All the best, Andrew
Stephen Smith (verified owner) –
I bought these to try and strengthen my feet and see if they will help with flat feet/over-pronation. Only time will tell on that one.
As a casual shoe they are excellent, very roomy and comfortable after getting used to the barefoot style. The size guide worked spot on for me.
I forgot my hiking boots and ended up hiking 35 miles of the south west coastal path in these. They are crazily comfortable, my feet have never looked so good after a hike. They are holding up very well except a few of the sole grips tearing on the back- they are for casual/sports use though so I’m definitely not complaining about that. If they hold up well in the long run I’ll definitely be using this company again. 5 stars.
Angus Logan (verified owner) –
Simply a fantastic barefoot shoe. I’ve been looking for the ultimate do everything minimalist shoe, walk gym run. The flex is it. Price, quality and look is spot on. Maybe some other colours too.
freetadmin –
If you get chance, let us know what other colours you think!
Angela Jauneika (verified owner) –
I bought the Flex recently to replace my trusty Freet Springs and just love them. Sooo comfy. Well priced they are perfect for the gym – beautifully flexible with a good grip and a subdued design that coordinates with all my gym gear – I wish these had been around when my children were at school as they would also make a perfect choice for school too.
Steve –
Received my new set of Flex shoes the other day.
I’ve completely fallen in love with them.
I love how they fit and they force in a change in gait.
Been researching barefoot walking and running and these fit the bill for what I require perfectly.
Ran 1k today and the feeling of having my feet hit the ground is incredible.
Thanks for making them, super pleased to be supporting a British company.
Jessica Kolbe (verified owner) –
These shoes were the first pair of barefoot shoes that I’ve ever wore.
I never used my old shoes after I got them about three months ago.
They are very comfortable – no blisters so far.
The soles are very grippy, even on a rainy day and they’re still in good shape.
Favourite pair!
freetadmin –
Thanks so much for your feedback Jessica – really appreciate it!
Jof –
Got the Freet Flex last week – thank you – and have been wearing them for a while. First impressions; I think you may have made the best barefoot shoe on the market!
As barefoot shoes go, a nice-looking and inconspicuous design
The extra layer from the insole makes a huge difference when it comes to comfort on London’s concrete. Please always offer this!
Great lacing options with lots of holes
No excessive use of reflective materials
Robust sole that’s grippy and yet not squeaky in the supermarket when wet
… And of course, very comfy
All-in-all; excellent.
Matt Renouf (verified owner) –
I wanted to hold off on leaving a review for these until I’d put them through their paces, and I can now safely say this is an excellent athletic shoe and more. I was looking for something I could wear to the gym and for longer trail runs, and the Flex performs excellently for both. In the gym, the amazing flex and ground-feel of the sole provide a great base of support for functional movements like squat variations, and on the trail there’s plenty of room for toe-splay without feeling at all bulky. For a thin sole they provide plenty of protection on gravel, and even the rogue larger rock doesn’t cause too much hassle, though of course still best avoided.
The tread is holding up excellently after a month of regular use. In terms of grip, generally it’s been very good; the only time I’ve had an trouble is in the slick mud of England in December, but it’s asking a bit much to be able to hold down in that and still provide great ground feel. After said muddy runs, they clean up really well with a gentle brush in the sink, and they’re dry by the next morning.
Not least of all, these guys provide fantastic customer service. The first pair I received had an unfortunate manufacturing issue, but the Freet team were extremely vigilant in getting another pair sent out with excellent communication the whole time.
Remains to be seen how these shoes do in the long term but I’ll definitely be buying again, especially when other brands are charging double the price for a similar product. It’s a shame there’s nothing else in the range that takes my fancy as a casual shoe just yet but I’ll be keeping an eye out. Thanks Freet.
Meikel –
I recently bought my first pair of barefoot shoes (your freet flex)
After much deliberation and searching I found feel grounds barefoot shoe company but they were a new company and expensive 120€! Secondly vivobarefoot a long established company, the latter poor customer service, I even went to there shop in Covent Garden, after trying on a pair I liked told they were out of stock! This has been the case for 2 months! I gave up.
Finally through more research I found “Freet” although I must tell you, your company didn’t come up very readily in searches for “barefoot shoes” however people who had purchased previously had positive things to say so I took the plunge and I am more than happy I did!
THERE FANTASTIC! I walked all around London sightseeing (approx 9kms) a raining day up and down steps etc.. there super grippy all almost ALL surfaces Brilliant! Gives you great feedback and confidence also my feet stayed dry! I ended my day with a feeling of my feet fresh as the start of my day, my calf muscles ache nicely telling me my legs are now working properly.
Thank you all so much for your products I will be watching to see what comes from freet in the future. I would love a pair of casual shoes in your range.. here’s hoping
conradnorton (verified owner) –
I’ve been testing the Freet Flex for a good month around the concrete city of London. I required a shoe that can deal with the wear and tear that being active on concrete creates. What I immediately loved about the shoe was the extra bit of vertical space for my toes (space to lift up your toes). The sole shape is fantastic and allows my toes to move where they want to. I’ve been wearing minimalist shoes for around four years so have widely splayed toes but my mid foot and ankle are fairly narrow. The Flex are very adjustable and provide the option to fit them snugly to my feet. The sole hasn’t any signs of wear, which is music to my feet and bank balance. The soles aren’t as flexible as the ones on the Connect 2 shoes, but it’s worth it for the longevity you get if you’re using them consistently in an urban environment. I’ve been wearing them without the insole and have no issues with my feet slipping. They are a joy to wear. The only small change I would make is to have thicker laces.
admin –
Dear Conrad, noted about the laces – we’ll review for next production. Thanks so much for taking the time to send us the feedback, All the best, andrew