Freet Mudee
$128.25
Barefoot in the wild, Mudee is a weatherproof, all year round boot suitable for hiking and leisure.
Customers say: You may need to size up.
For more detail on sizing please see below left second tab – ‘Sizing & Fitting’.
- Description
- Sizing & Fitting
- Care
- Reviews (50)
- Additional information
Description
Although a little more generous than our older styles, in general people still go one EU size larger than their ‘average’ shoe size.
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 43/271mm length, 105mm width, Size 44/278mm length, 107mm width, Size 45/285mm length, 109mm width, Size 46/291mm length, 110mm width, Size 47/300mm length, 112mm width, Size 48/307mm length, 114mm 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
Length and width measurements taken as follows:
Hand wash with luke warm water and mild detergent. Air dry – never place near heat. Freet MicroF microfibre upper material will benefit from a high quality, natural gentle water based treatment to ‘condition’, maintain ‘suppleness’ and water resistance. Nikwax is recommended. Mudee is an ultra light duty barefoot shoe not designed for professional or arduous use or extreme climates.
Reviews
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Additional information
| Size | 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 |
|---|---|
| Colour | Black, Tan Brown |
Daniel Netsah (verified owner) –
So! I’ve now owned these shoes for 2.5 years. I’m on my second pair, and here’s what I have to say:
Great shoes! With some faults. The shoes are more comfortable than any other barefoot shoe I tried, and they look better than most other barefoot shoes. They give me great flexibility, toe space, I can run in them, all around great shoe. Freet customer service has always been excellent also, even offering to ship some new eyelets abroad when the eyelet on one of my boots was ripped off.
The faults? Well, on this second pair I have then I noticed some water leaking in after only the third wear (where previously I’d only worn them for a total of about 1 hour on tarmac). It was the glue holding the sole coming loose. This worsened a tiny bit in the last half year, but just recently after I went on my first serious hiking trip then much more of the sole has become loose. They are still great shoes, and I’ll likely take them to a cobbler to fix up. Interestingly, I didn’t have this issue with my first pair of mudees, but my brother who bought a pair also quickly developed a flappy sole.
The second issue I have isn’t personal to the Mudees I guess, just the lack of grip on the sole, however this is quite common across barefoot shoes. I purchased the Freet Tundra which have more grip on the sole… however found them strangely rounded across the width of the sole, so that out of the box I couldn’t stand flat on them, only with freet pronated or supinated.
Overall! : Excellent shoes, 4 stars overall, be ready to re-glue your soles!
freetadmin –
Hi Daniel, Thanks so much for the feedback – all noted, and let us know if we need to help on that second pair of Mudees! On Tundra, the outsole is designed to follow the shape of of your foot but with longer lugs out of the box on a hard surface they can appear unstable, although this is all part of the design. Once worn a few times especially on the softer surfaces the outsole is designed for, this settles, and the outsole is great; grippy but completely flexible, allowing the foot to move naturally across difficult terrain. Although we suggest the outsole is designed for softer surfaces, we have many people running/hiking on hard trails and road surfaces with this outsole.
Chris Shaw (verified owner) –
Having worn minimalist/barefoot shoes for well over 10 years, I’ve finally found a true outdoor boot for walking in the wet, winter months. I accept that the grip isn’t great in muddy terrain, and I rather wish that the newer, deeper-treaded Tundra had been available when I made my purchase, but these boots have been amazingly waterproof given they only claim to be water-resistant. More importantly, like all my Freet shoes, they are superbly comfortable. Relative to a pair of Vivobarefoot Trackers that I had used for a couple of years, the Mudees uppers and soles flex better, they are much lighter, have a more open and deeper toe-box, are more waterproof (despite not having a waterproof liner), are more breathable and dry out much more rapidly. Moreover, given I live near the coast, the salt water has no real impact on the Mudee material, whereas the leather of the Trackers suffers greatly and requires daily cleaning and regular treatment.
I typically walk 8 or more miles a day, sometimes much further, and so my Mudees have had extensive use. The soles are wearing in a similar manner to most other minimalist footwear that I own, with the uppers standing up surprisingly well to the normal abrasions of use on rough and overgrown paths.
Andy Gibson (verified owner) –
This will be a two part review – the good and the bad; I’ll do the bad first to get it over and because it’s not actually about the boots.
I ordered a pair of Mudees last year, but when they arrived they sadly had a fault – one of the bootlace hooks broke as soon as I tried to put a lace in it. It was clearly a simple fault in a component and not really that serious; the problem was that getting a response from Freet took some time… When I eventually ‘phoned (my email not heving been answered) them they were very helpful and apologetic – but then another pause. The faults handling process seemed to get hung up for a variety of reasons, some connected with a warehouse move, some not. In the end it took several weeks to get the problem sorted (which *was* done – a complete replacement pair of boots arrived). Guys, you really do need to get your business process for handling faults revised and improved!
So, secondly, on to the good – what was good? The boots themselves! My first outing with them turned out (not entirely intentionally) to be a very muddy walk on an icy cold day when one misstep put me mid-calf deep in mud! I wore gaiters with the boots – they fitted together just fine – and between gaiters and boots my feet stayed warm and dry in what were honestly pretty extreme conditions. The boots are comfortable and bring all the benefits that I am beginning to appreciate with barefoot footwear (I also have some Tangas for general wear), plus they are also rigid and rugged enough for lightish walking use, even in poor conditions. So – it took a while, but I’m very happy with my new boots 🙂
freetadmin –
Thanks for letting us know all this Andy. On the issue of our process, apologies again. Looking into it the main issue was to do with our user error of a new email system intended to make things quicker (!) … hopefully now rectified! Enjoy your Mudees, Andrew
Stephanie Fletcher (verified owner) –
This is my one-year-plus review! In short: Love these boots!
Size: I am usually a size 6 and chose to go one size up on these – plenty of room and width. They are OK with thick socks for walking but i think would be feel large if you prefer thinner socks so worth bearing in mind).
Width: I have slightly wide feet, these are very wide – much wider than other brands like Vivo etc. So great as no pinching on the width, but do look a bit like Hobbit feet 😉
Volume: I have pretty ‘low volume’ feet and that’s the only area these shoes aren’t quite right for me. I find Freet’s a bit more bulky on top so I can’t get them as tight over the top of my foot as I would like. Plenty of toe space/wiggle room.
Feel: These shoes are so so comfy, soft and warm. it feels a bit like hiking in your slippers – which is odd at first – but if you try going back to normal, thick, heavy walking shoes you realise how that’s much weirder!
Waterproof: No problems for me, after a year of use. I will happily jump/wade through puddles a few inches deep. You just have to take care of anything too deep which would spill over the tongue area.
Grip/sole: Nice barefoot feel without being too thin. Like other users I find that the grip isn’t great in deep mud or ice, but that’s the trade off for being v.barefoot. I understand Freet are working on a deeper grip on a similar model!
If like me you are searching for whether these are any good for ‘hypermobility’ – I have mild/moderate hypermobility which mainly affects my legs and knees. I’m happy to say that – YES for me – 100% barefoot shoes have helped. They are not a cure – you need to do regular (easy) strengthening exercises and transition to barefoot carefully. But as someone who used to avoid cobbles/uneven paths for fear of losing balance or twisting an ankle – in barefoot shoes like these I now actively enjoy going over cobbles as it’s like a massage/workout for your feet – and very grounding!
🙂
gabriellebrssx –
I follow the recommandation and sized up from my conventionnal size (39, feet 24,4cm) and took 40.
They are perfet, maybe a bit too long in summer with tiny socks, but for colder seasons with thick socks I have a good toes mobility, it’s perfect.
They are a little slippery on harder surface when it’s raining or with ice, but with the sole’s flexibility it’s easy to grip and have good ground feel.
One big con is since the begining, water came in the left shoes from the outsole, but I can’t define where exactly. In few seconds my sock came wet, only in left shoe, not the right, so it might be a technical default. Very disappointing for this kind of shoe and their uses…
freetadmin –
Thank you for your review Gabrielle but please do e mail freet@freet.uk about your issue with the leak and someone will be very glad to help and sort it out.
ferrariannie10 (verified owner) –
I love my Mudees! Minimalist shoes have been a life changer for me. I was almost unable to go for walks for over three years due to tendinopathy in all my tendons in both my feet as well as Morton’s neuroma. I tried to make them comfortable, wore sensible flat shoes with cushioning and arch support, tried the recommended treatments, rested my feet but whatever footwear, walking just a short distance set off the burning pain and swelling. All I could do was to rest up and I thought they would never get better. Then I read about barefoot shoes and bought my first pair in the summer.
Within a few days both achilles tendons were almost completely better. It felt like a miraculous cure! The other tendons have taken a little longer but 6 months on generally my feet are much stronger, my arches more defined and both my feet are painfree. And I’m able to get out walking again, which I love.
So I needed some waterproof winter boots and settled on the Mudees, mainly because the lower ankle cuff. I didn’t want to risk any pressure around my achilles. The cuff on the Mudees is just right; soft, no pressure however I move my ankles but helping hold the boot firmly in place.
They are beautifully comfortable and make walking a joy! I’ve walked over all sorts of surfaces – wet grass and leaves, mud, rock, gravel and tarmac and feel very confident about the grip. And my feet have been perfectly dry and warm even walking through puddles and streams. I can’t imagine wearing anything else now.
Simon Cahill –
Great boot. Can tend to slip but still a great boot and very comfortable.
Rick Kerfoot (verified owner) –
I bought these after my vivobarefoot ranger boots just became so leaky I had to throw them out. I would have preferred to get a non leather, waterproof, barefoot boots when I initially bought the rangers but had not heard of Freet then. I am really impressed so far! They have been worn on some of the wettest walks I have ever been on and not a drop has come through (I further proofed them with Nikwax as recommended) they are exceptionally comfortable and were even on the first walk straight out of the box!! If I had one criticism it would be that they do on occasion lack a bit of grip. All in all though I am thrilled I have found them and will certainly be looking to get more from Freet as and when the need arises. I hope that the designs catch up with Vivo as I have to say their everyday designs in my opinion do look a little more cutting edge and cool!
Jill Edmonds (verified owner) –
Bought in march 2021.
They are brilliant at being waterproof but next to useless for using in muddy conditions due to the tread.
Im out in the peaks/lakes/Wales nearly every weekend, come rain or shine and I was so excited about finally getting a waterproof barefoot boot to wear. The grip on these is appalling. I can only use them where the elevation is minimal, or its been a while since it rained so risk of mud is low.
Even more of a bitter pill now that 6 months later a boot has been released with a tread that sounds exactly like what I need. I’d advise people to go for the newer boot with the more suitable tread
freetadmin –
Hi Jill, thanks for taking the time to give us feedback, and sorry the grip hasn’t been suitable for your use – the Mudee outsole is better on good quality trails rather than steeper, muddy trails/off track. All the best, and apologies again, Andrew (let us know if we owe you a discount on a pair with our new HillGrip outsole!)
Gavin James (verified owner) –
Had these shoes for about a year now so feel able to leave an honest review.
The good.
Very comfortable out of the box. Very good water resistance. Hard wearing upper. No damage to upper that I can see so far. Customer service is good. Generally get back to you within 24 hours of emailing.
Not so good.
They were waterproof until the sole came away from the upper on the heel of my left shoe. Customer service was very good and have sent me a replacement pair (they did charge me a small amount plus postage as I had used them for over 6 months). Although whilst I was waiting the sole came as way from the front of the right shoe as well. Maybe it was a one off or maybe I use them more often than other reviewers.
Be aware that sole will wear quickly on hard surfaces so avoid concrete and tarmac, this is listed in the description though.
Overall I really like them and hope my replacement pair stay waterproof for longer than the last pair. I will also only be using them for off road adventures so the soles don’t wear as much!
freetadmin –
Thanks Gavin – all noted and appreciated. All the best, Andrew
Helen Cawthraw (verified owner) –
I got the freet mudee a few months ago now and feel like I’m in a place to give them a review. I never really review things I buy but had to with this boot. They are amazing. Like other reviewers have said they only claim to be water resistant but I was out walking in a bog for a few hours (why? Because it’s fun!) along with walking through soaking wet grass which is always the downfall of many a waterproof boot and I came home with absolutely bone dry and warm feet. This was literally a 6 hour hike where the outer of the boot was soaked, then dried , the.man got soaked again but nothing got through at all the whole time. My friend in their waterproof boots couldn’t say the same! I am so impressed with them. They were comfy straight out of the box. Lovely wide toe box, soft material. The fact these are vegan is the best bit of all. I have gone through the mill looking for a vegan boot that is absolutely waterproof and comfy with a wide toe box and once I went barefoot the search seemed to get even harder until I found these gems. They are probably the best vegan barefoot boot you can buy. The only thing I would wish for is more traction on the soles but freet have now got a new boot out with exactly that! I will definitely be grabbing myself a pair when my mudees give up which hopefully will not be for a long time!
Thank you freet for making awesome vegan barefoot footwear!
Daived Trombetta –
Today I went outside with my 4 year old son in a downpour and jumped in puddles. Thanks to the dedication of the folks at Freet, my feet like they were indoors, in their favorite slippers, feeling cozy, warm and COMPLETELY DRY !!.
I adore my Mudees. They are one of the best purchases, of any kind, I have ever made in my life. Thankyou Freet , I can feel your passion and inspiration In every step I take and every puddle I jump in.
DAO (verified owner) –
Happy with the Mudee`s so far,have done many hikes in the Welsh hills,through very boggy and wet ground,so far my feet have not got wet once.
I have treated them a couple of times with Nikwax Fabric+Leather Proof spray,as advised by someone from Freet.
The ground feel is very good,and the toe box is wider than my Vivobarefoot Synth Hikers.
The only problem I have is when laced up,the second lace eyelets from the top dig in to the top of my foot,so I have to miss those eyelets out when lacing the boots up,this solution seems to work.
Some have complained about the grip of these boots,if you are expecting the grip to be the same as non-barefoot boots,then look elsewhere,but for me the grip is fine,as you walk differently in barefoot shoes/boots,avoiding heel striking, and therefore reducing the chance of slipping.
Nicolas Eigner (verified owner) –
Also I feel like your website doesn’t reflect how great your products are !
freetadmin –
Thanks so much for the feedback Nicolas – what do you think would improve the website?
Nicolas Eigner (verified owner) –
I have the first Bootees, they are great, the most flexible and comfortable shoes I hiked with, but they started to be a bit worn out and are not really water resistant.
I decided to get a new barefoot pair for winter / colder hiking, I wanted it to be waterproof or at least water resistant. I have a pair of vivobarefoot for everyday use so I first got their Magna Trails because.. they look nice! First walk, 13 km soft mountain hike : oh god it hurts, the shoe is too hard, the laces hooks hurts through the shoe, their not comfortable.. very unpleasant day, on the ride back home comes the bright idea : what if freet had what I need?
So I came here and got the Mudee, they’re not as sexy as the Magna Trail from Vivo (yeah, who cares?), but they’re so warm, comfortable and YOU CAN FEEL the ground (the Magna are so hard you can’t really feel what’s going under your feet).
I can’t wait to try them on longer distances.
I loved the Bootees (I’ll get the new model as well) now I love my Mudee’s!
Freet will be my first choice when I need new shoes now, no hesitation, thank you so so much !
Lucas –
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R6lRA2UEAOkH8RDDpOTz9TfxKVg559j5/view?usp=drivesdk
Sharon –
We love our Freet Mudee
So very warm in the snow. They are flexible and the most comfortable boots I have ever owned. I have just bought them for my son too and at least 4 friends have bought them after my enthusiasm.
Like all barefoot shoe soles please take care as these are designed for mud and can wear quickly on hard surfaces apparently.
Elaine –
Wanted to say how I am enjoying the Freet muddee boots that I bought recently.
They are completely waterproof and I have waded through mud in them and they clean easily.
They are very comfy and it’s great to be able to feel the ground underneath your feet.
I went for a walk with my friend and she liked the look of them so much that she ordered 3 pairs! One for her and one each for her sons
Simoon –
A couple of months into ownership of a pair of Freet Mudees and they have proven to be an outstanding pair of boots. All my shoes, boots, trainers and sandals have minimal soles and the Freets are as good as any. I went up a size after trying and returning my first pair (which was painless), the second pair were immediately comfortable and have proven so on countryside, coastal and moorland walks. On rocky surfaces, the flexibility seems to stop the little turns and stumbles that a rigid boot can cause.
An excellent feature of the Mudees is how clean they generally are after walks where hike boots or wellies would retain a lot of mud; they really shed dirt well from both the upper and the sole. They are also very good for driving in, like most ‘barefoot’ shoes. These two properties mean no need to change footwear before or after a walk that we drive to.
On the strength of the quality of these boots, my wife and I now have four pairs of Freets, all of which are performing well. As my other brands of minimalist shoes wear out I will definitely be trying the Freet alternative as a replacement. They have the edge on price and are a British company, additional points in their favour, along with the quality of the product and their business ethics.
Ian Marshall (verified owner) –
After 3 months of wearing nothing else:
Positives – lightweight, waterproof, comfortable, no welded seems have given way, nice people to deal with.
Neutral – Very barefoot!
Negatives – There is already wear on the heels which given the grip is only a mm will soon be down to bare soles, both laces have snapped, the little eyelet to thread your laces through has started fraying at the edges, will need insulated insoles for winter as well as comfort.
Conclusion – I looked at these boot’s and saw hiking boot’s yet the grip on the sole is the same as all the other freet shoes which is not good enough for hiking on multi terrain ground. I have had to buy extra insoles and I wear two pair of socks to make them bearable, you feel everything.
I think these shoe are only fit for hard man made surfaces and are more fashion than practical use.
Robert White (verified owner) –
I bought these a few months back but due to work commitments I have only just had a chance to review them. I have worn them for about 4 or 5 moderately long cross country walks to get a good feel before I review.
The good:
– These are really comfortable and light weight. Much more so than the Vivo Barefoot Tracker FG boots I previously used. Even after a number of miles of fast pace walking with a pack they still felt really comfortable. The toebox is generous. The boots keep your feet warm even in the cold evenings outside. Customer service were really helpful during the purchasing process.
The bad:
– The grips on these boots are not great. I was sliding around on wet muddy parts of my walk, much more so than when I was wearing my Tracker FG’s, and I would feel at risk of slipping over and hurting myself wearing these in icy conditions when the winter sets in.
– This one was a bigee – after a couple of walks (i.e within a few weeks of purchase) with these in wet conditions (but not overly so) I could slowly start to feel my left foot getting damp. At first I couldn’t be sure if it was just something bizzare like my left foot sweating more than my right, but after a few more wet condition walks it was confirmed that the left boot toebox had a slight leak. One issue I have with Freet is they have a policy (which I found out about during a previous purchase I had from them) of not letting you return items once they have been worn outside. So basically I am stuck with a leaking pair of boots that have hardly had much use, and they aren’t exactly cheap! This is one area where Vivo Barefoot excel over Freet, because the former company offer a full refund or replacement of any of their shoes that become defective within 6 months of purchase.
freetadmin –
Hello Robert, sorry for the issue. Sure we don’t have people return shoes worn outside. Anything defective, we’ll sort for a reasonable time period (likely more than 6 months, depending on wear of course). We don’t claim Mudee to be completely waterproof but they should have a high level of water resistance. If you feel the water is coming in, quite quickly, then we can take a look and sort something out. Just drop us a line on freet@freet.uk. Regards, Andrew
Lauren –
I bought my Mudee boots in August and I feel I ‘ve used them enough now to give them a review
Customer service is amazing. At first, I ordered 39s, a size bigger than my “conventional” shoe size, but they weren’t quite long enough, my toes touched the end, not good for hiking. I rang Freet and after a short chat decided size 40 with a thicker insole to fill the extra space from going up another size. I have shallow arches. Returning the pair of 39s was simple even from France.
I really wanted to love these boots, but there are a few things that let them down. I like them. That said, they are still the best vegan, water proof, “bare foot”, hiking boots. A difficult combination to find.
I use these shoes for my cycle commute to work every day, I also used them on a 100km multi-day hike through the Vosges forest and a few day walks. Even with the thicker insole ground-feel is good and there is enough cushioning for walking on concrete all day. I was a little nervous taking them for the 100km hike but they were great, the waterproof membrane kept my feet dry even when walking for 6+ hours a day in the rain in a muddy forest.
I would have liked them more if the collar came up higher for better weather protection, which is really the only reason I’d wear boots over shoes. I don’t want extra support or restriction; I found the padding around the ankle excessive.
After wearing them almost everyday since September and hiking 6 days straight there is little wear on the outsole except for one shoe, the outsole is starting to come away from the shoe where the toes bends. I think some shoe glue should fix it. The boots are still waterproof.
When I need some new summer walking shoes, I’ll be looking at Freet first.
Overall 4 stars
Freetbarefoot –
Review of Mudee just in from Walks & Walking magazine:
http://www.walksandwalking.com/2020/10/freet-mudee-lightweight-walking-boots/
Alzbeta Bodnarova (verified owner) –
I bought these recently and have worn them since twice – once for a short hike and once for an hour walk in the city. I was so pleased to finally find vegan waterproof walking shoes. As some other reviews said they look like leather walking boots and i also opted for a bigger size (normally wear 38 but bought size 40 and the length was just right). I noticed that the left shoe is slightly tighter on the top (not on the length) but thought it should not be a problem – i .e. they were not identical. Unfortunately it irritated my big toe mound and hence had to stop wearing them (and had to stop walking due to swelling); I was really hoping these will be great for winter for both hiking and day to day city use but sadly not to be the case. I love minimalist shoes and want to support them but I also want them to be healthy for our feet. I hope I am just unlucky that I received a slightly faulty and substandard pair.
freetadmin –
Hello Alzbeta – did you already contact us direct about this? Apologies for the issue – if you email us we will check this out & sort something for you of course (Email is freet@freet.uk – include picture, please) Regards, Andrew
soraya uroz (verified owner) –
Geniales! Normalmente uso 39-40, pero tuve que cambiarlas por un 41. Una vez acertada la talla, han sido muy cómodas des de el primer momento.
harri (verified owner) –
I’ve just finished 4 days walking on a coast path and my Mudees stood up perfectly to rain, rock, mud and more…. The sole manages to be comfortable & springy, and at the same time to give excellent ground feel – my feet got quite a massage travelling over pebbles and roots! They’re super light and flexible, the ‘rubber’ front gives good toe protection, and they’re grippy on wet surfaces too.
I like to wear them quite loose, and they are so comfy that I was walking around 12 miles a day, up hill & down dale, with no socks – and NO chaffing or blisters either! Unlike on previous trips wearing more traditional ‘protective’ walking boots/another make of so-called ‘barefoot boots (+ walking socks) when I ended up with both, plus sore points on my little toes from where they had curled under due to pressure from the sides of my boots. Freet footwear gives room for my gnomey feet to spread as they want (even in toe socks) – no squashed piggies, no curling under, no blisters!
‘Pleather’ uppers? I wan’t too sure when I ordered, so was pleasantly suprised to find that they’re virtually indistinguishable from leather to look at, and just as flexible and breathable. I also reckon the synthetic material is more waterproof – previous leather ‘waterproof’ boots have started to soak up water after a few months, whereable these Mudees are still repelling water after a couple of years of wear, including when walking through streams and long, wet grass, and working on the farm.
That said, my first pair developed a small split between the upper and the sole that let in water. The folk at Freet said there had been a problem with the bonding process, but that this that been remedied. So, I took a chance on a second (discounted) pair, and they’ve been perfect, so it looks like that issue has been sorted.
Anything not perfect about them?? Well, ground insulation is not great – although I appreciate that’s always going to be the case with any proper minimalist footwear. My job sometimes means standing outside all day, and when it was icy in the winter my feet were getting numb with cold, even with the Freet insoles and wool socks. I’ve got myself some lambswool thermal liners, and they’ve been a great help. (Tip: buy several sizes too big and cut down, in order to get enough width! Also, Ultra Balm (like Tiger Balm) works like magic to prevent chillblains).
The laces kept slipping undone all the time – but this was easily remedied with some cheap dark brown plactic lace locks.
Also – though hardly worth mentioning – the soles are strangely noisy when walking on tarmac … clickety-clack!
So overall I’m pretty chuffed with my Mudees! The very best barefoot waterproof walking/work boot that I’ve worn.
PS: Be aware that the sizing is quite random, as with other Freet styles, and you’ll need to order at least one size larger than usual. I’m a 5 in length, often need a 6 for width – and my Mudees are ‘6.5’!
Sara Khan (verified owner) –
I have had my muddees since November 19. Costumer service are super nice! Really love that!
I’m overall happy with my muddees but not thrilled.
The flap on the back (fabric thingie to take your shoe on and off) disintegrated within 1 1/2 months of wear, gentle wear may I add. I had to cut off the remaining threads. I would expect they last longer? Impractical without them to get the shoes on and off.
I wore from November till April here in Norway. And I must say the grip on the sole is not that good. Especially on mud! Even though they are called muddees😆 I’m happy they are waterproof! And VERY happy they are wide as well.
I wish so badly freet would make more of a winter boot for us Northerners… which is a bit taller on the leg with the same water proof features, wide fit but a thicker outer sole for more padding and a way better grip on real snow and ice. Cheers!
freetadmin –
Thanks for the feedback, Sara – all noted. We’re developing that new very grippy outsole and higher leg boot (launching March, 20) but it will not be so good on harder, smoother trails 😔
Jessica Kolbe (verified owner) –
Those are my second pair of freet shoes.
I love them!
The first pair I ordered was a bit to tight, so I sent them back. They arrived quickly after.
I feel very safe in them. They have a really good grip and just out of curiousity I tried them in the river nearby: they are waterproof!
Even long hikes are easy. Those are the first shoes I never got any blisters while going for a hike.
Just amazing.
Justin Hill (verified owner) –
This is the 2nd pair of Mudees I’ve bought and as I said in my first review they’re awesome! Bombproof moccasins! Comfort straight out of the box, good grip on most terrains, fantastic build quality. If you want to connect your feet to the ground, improve your posture, agility and movement across technical ground these are for you. I cannot fault them. I put a sheep’s wool insole in mine and they’re perfect! Thanks Freet!
Hanna Luiga (verified owner) –
After about 6 months of daily wear & several longer walks I’m totally in LOVE with my Mudees! Being vegan, environmentally conscious when it comes to buying new things, having problems with pronating and hallux valgus and only wearing barefoot shoes, buying shoes isn’t the easiest thing to do. But your Mudees fits all my requirements and my feet perfectly!
I’ve read some people here complaining about the sole of the shoes not lasting long enough for the price one pays, to that I can only say that when it comes to barefoot shoes that’s kind of the price one haves to pay. Especially people walking many miles on tarmac, theres only so many miles a very soft sole with amazing grip can handle. But on the other hand when one mostly uses them in the outdoors and live on the countryside like I do the wear after these 6 months are minimal! Also want to praise the waterproofness! I have stepped in, getting the boot completely soaked in water and walked many days in pouring rain without my feet getting even a little bit wet!
Harry (verified owner) –
As a vegan with high volume, wide-toed duckfeet I have searched in vain for years for my ‘unicorn’ walking boots. My requirements: synthetic material, zero or low drop, thin but grippy sole, wide toebox, at least somewhat waterproof and preferably durable. Despite barefoot/wide toebox shoes gaining popularity in recent years, this is still a market that’s criminally undercatered. My search is now over though, because the Mudees tick all the boxes and do it with style!
The sales page advised to size up, and having already had to return a pair of too-tight Chukkas in 45 for 46 I went ahead and ordered the Mudees in 46. Sadly, upon arrival the Mudees were missing a metal lace loop on one boot – they looked like a return that someone hadn’t spotted the defect on, as they were also missing tags. Customer service offered to send a new loop for a cobbler to fix, but in the end I realised the 46 were also too long and so I returned them for 45s.
The 45s are a little tight height-wise for my feet with the supplied inner soles, but fit perfectly with them removed. No biggie for me, as I like more groundfeel.
Be aware that Freet’s soles are very thin, particularly if you remove the inner sole, and you’ll feel every stone and lump as you traverse rocky terrain; some people might hate this, but I love it as it makes me feel really connected and stable. The soles have excellent traction and the sensation of walking on smooth stone in Freets is a bit like driving a racing car. You really feel them gripping in a reassuring way! Walking in Chukkas and Mudees has really improved my confidence when walking on slippery surfaces.
I’ve already worn the Mudees for two 8+ mile walks on Dartmoor and they’ve been excellent! Teamed with a pair of eVent gaiters, my feet were totally dry despite the very muddy conditions after weeks of stormy weather.
My only small criticism of the design of the Mudees would be that the tongue isn’t fully gusseted, so any water reaching the mid level of the boots would come in over the gusset at that point. However, this is a minor niggle and I always wear gaiters if I’m expecting a lot of wetness underfoot.
I’ll definitely be back for a second pair of Mudees in black at some stage!
Amy Warren (verified owner) –
These are well-designed and comfortable. Good balance of cushion and ground feel and plenty of toe room – work well with correct toes. Hopefully the synthetic fabric wears as well as leather. With Collonil waterproofing they have been impervious so far. Awesome traction on slippery surfaces. Zero break in time. Runs small – I’m normally a 38 and ordered a 39, which is perfect. Now I just need a taller, insulated version for Michigan winters – these are too low for walking in snow and my feet get cold. Please make a winter version Freet and I’ll buy them!
freetadmin –
Dear Amy, thanks for the feedback. Noted about a higher leg and maybe warmer version. We are working on a style a little higher as a start! All the best, Andrew
Martina –
The Mudees is a must have! I wear them in the autumn and winter. They are 100% waterproof and they’re warm and trustable.
Roomy, soft outsole, very good at ice and snow – not at all as slippery as other brands! Started with the black ones and now I have the brown too.
My biggest foot is 26,1 cm and when I wear size 42 it’s a snuggle fit. I think I could have chosen size 43 too, but I prefer it more snuggle.
Mudee is vegan and in the future I hope they will do Mudee in children’s size and with a velcro.
Love to all your shoes!
Kevan Palmer –
Exactly one year ago I received my @freetfootwear Mudee boots. My intention was to thoroughly beast them and also see how they performed in the woods as a “bushcraft” boot.
Well I can safely say I think I’ve achieved my goals. Since they arrived I have walked over 2250 miles of which I reckon 1800 were in the Mudees for a lot of the UK population,is 2-3 years continual use. They have been in snow, rain, mud, rock and pounded a few pavements. They have been in the Tatra mountains, the Alps, the Dinarian Alps and the Dolomites. From the battle sites of the Somme and the countryside of Brittany to the forests of Croatia.
More importantly they have been out in the woods around the campfire repeatedly going from cold and wet to hot and dry…a test for any boot.
So how have they performed?
They were comfortable straight out of the box, and fitted fine. They got a good test just a few days later on a walk with the local Long Distance Walkers Association, 15 miles in the pouring rain and thick mud. They gripped perfectly in the slippery conditions and my feet stayed dry and warm.
Most leather boots start to crack after repeated going from wet to dry around the fire, but the synthetic Mudees seem impervious.
So one year on. I’ve gone through 3 sets of laces and 4 insoles. The tread is now pretty much gone on the heels but hardly surprising on a barefoot shoe with minimal sole and tread. The uppers are still in pristine condition with no sign of wear or cracking …..vastly superior to leather, plus no cleaning or maintenance required. Always a bonus!
After a few months the glue holding the sole to the uppers started to break down and needed re gluing but this is true of many boots I’ve had especially when worn around the fire and it is certainly a problem with other makes of barefoot shoes that cost a lot more. It seems only boots with stitched soles don’t seem to have this problem.
All in all, I’d say they’re a winner…. I’ll certainly be getting another pair.
Magdalene –
I made it up to the summit of Snowdon in my mudees, and they were so very comfortable. Not even a hint of a blister, my feet were perfectly warm, never cold, never too hot, in a mixture of warm sunshine and freezing ice and snow. My feet were very happy!
Sophie –
I just wanted to thank you for my alternative pair. They are perfect! I am so impressed with them, I never expected to find a pair so suited to my needs. Fantastic quality and so warm and comfortable. I’ve not taken them off! I’ll definitely be looking to buy another style for warmer weather on the strength of these.
Thank you also for such a fantastic buying experience. I found all the info you provided really useful and ensured I got what I needed style wise and size first time. Outstanding customer service ??
Michael –
I’ve recently completed the Long Mynd hike in the Shropshire hills in my Freet Mudee boots. 50 miles is a long way to walk in barefoot shoes! The weather Saturday night was also horrendous! There’s nearly 3000m of up and down on the hike so plenty of very wet and muddy steep accents and descents to tackle. For the most part my boots helped me get up and down the hills, though I did have quite a few falls. My boots soles are probably about 3/4 worn and most of the falls we’re on the last (very very steep grassy and mossy) down after ~48 miles and 21hrs of walking! In very testing conditions they did quite well.
I also had dry feet throughout with only slight dampness from sweat. Others in my group with waterproof shoes and boots had soaking wet feet and so blisters thanks to either sweat or water ingress.
My feet are sore but have fared much better than my legs 🙂
admin –
Thank you for your comments Michael and we hope your legs have recovered!!
John Ward (verified owner) –
Love the comfort of these shoes. Right from the start, they were comfortable, water resistant, which I occasionally need. However, after 6 months of 6000 steps of light walking on concrete 5 days a week, the big toes developed holes in the soles. Not long lasting enough for the cost. Otherwise, I would have called them my favorite boot.
admin –
Hello John,
Many thanks for the review and sorry you have been disappointed with durability. We use a slightly softer but more expensive rubber compound than the really cheap hard, inflexible hiking outsoles in order to get the complete flexibility we require to ensure we are impacting on biomechanics as little as possible. The downside is the ouitsole will wear more quickly on concrete/tarmac. I’m not sure if the office have sorted you with a discount code to try to make up for your disappointment a little (should you wish to try another Freet), but if not please do.
All the best and keep in touch, Andrew
Justin Hill (verified owner) –
Had the Freet Mudees now for about a month. I live up in the Scottish Highlands and walk out every day at least 10 miles over varying terrain, tracks and trails to moorland and mountain paths. I’m very impressed with the Mudee boot. Comfortable straight from the box, they’ve coped with everything I’ve thrown at them including ridge walks in the snow! They’re holding up well too with no signs of wear and tear. Size as expected, perfect fit. Water resistance is good, not river crossed with them but certainly withstand heavy rain and long wet grass and scrub. Clean up easily too after with a wipe over with soapy water or nikwax products. Highly recommended!
Gordon –
I’ve been wearing my Leap 2 for awhile and just received my new Mudee’s and I have to compliment you on them.
Excellent shoes, they have help me a lot. I suffered a stroke a few years ago and the barefoot style shoes really help with gaining my movement back, by making me more aware of the ground, especially when walking the dogs over different terrain.
Jo –
Just thought you may appreciate some feedback!
I climbed Great Gable (mountain in the Lake District) yesterday, it’s a tough climb especially in wind and rain which there was plenty of! I wore my Freet Mudee boots with the waterproof socks, I can say they were excellent! Great grip so comfy and I returned with no blisters which is remarkable given the rough ground underfoot and challenging elements!!
So I give these boots 100% ! Thankyou Freet!!
Lawrence –
I just wanted to tell you about my experience of using the Freet Mudee on the Three Peaks Challenge.
Ben Nevis – rain, snow showers, 14 miles and 1300 metres. The grip was amazing, the rain and ground water stayed out. They were warm. They got me up and back in a confident 5.5hrs.
Scafell Pike – just awful. The stones were all smaller than my feet which meant I bruised my soles from the get go. I really needed the support of my walking pole on the return 3 miles of brutal terrain.
Snowden – the most ‘rock climbing’ experience. Feeling every nook and cranny of the rock was definitely reassuring. Much better than feeling-less walking boots. I was hampered only by the Scafell Pike injury the previous day.
Love the products. ?
Billy –
Don’t know If this interests you or not but I have had problems for many years with my feet, namely being I supinate extremely and have high arches. This caused me pain inside my knees and much discomfort in feet and ankles. I actually had to leave my job as it entailed standing all day. I have been to a few podiatrist’s over the years and paid for very expensive full contact insoles. The last pair I had been trying to break my feet into for the last 6 months, I could not wear any longer than 4 hrs and dreaded putting my feet in them in the morning. On waking my feet were painful to stand on. I had mentioned to the podiatrist about trying barefoot in which she replied it was a very bad idea! I was kind of at my wits end as to what to do and started to research barefoot shoes.
These are my first barefoot boots and I have been breaking myself in gently. I am pleased to report that already my knees have no pain. The comfort on the soles of my feet is great. The pain on standing in the mornings is sub-siding. My feet rotate naturally inwards allowing the ball of the big toe to have contact. I have had a little discomfort in my neck but have controlled this by swapping back and forth from mudee to regular trainers. That discomfort is now sub-siding and I am getting to a point I could wear them all the time.
Another interesting fact I have noted is in normal foot wear my shoes collapse to the outside very quickly. In barefoot the boots are remaining upright.
All in all I am blown away with how much making this transition has helped me! It is so simple and makes complete common sense that our feet are perfect without padded shoes and in fact all this foot wear we use must cause problems such as supination or pronation.
Thought if i share it may help people that suffer from similar problems as myself.
TAMSIN (verified owner) –
I am a Freet convert and so I was delighted to find that they now sell a weatherproof boot. As yet, mine have kept my feet very warm and dry and are easy to clean. The only downside is that the sole is very slippery in wet, icy or muddy conditions – as are all my Feet shoes. That said, I would not swap them for anything else, I just make sure I take care.
twizzle (verified owner) –
Ok. I’ve only had them a week, and I may well regret this, but I am IN LOVE! They’re warmer and cosier than my (vibram) slippers. Walking through a wet grassy field, my feet were not only warm and dry but I felt like I’d left my toes at home in front of the fire!!! Bit worried that they’ll give at the crease on front eventually but until then ❤️❤️❤️❤️
twizzle (verified owner) –
Update… MUDEE 2…..I loved my mudees, but after wearing them all winter one of them leaks. The new ones are different. The sole is more rubbery, which is nicer and hopefully more hard wearing, but it’s flat. I remember someone complaining that the toes went up slightly, well obviously Freet listened, coz now they don’t so you can’t move your toes up and down like before. The tongue is much bulkier too. I may get used to them but I so loved the originals. That said they are still cute, comfy, warm, have a good grip and hopefully waterproof
admin –
Hello Twizzle, thanks so much for taking the time to send the feedback. There is still a little toe spring and I think after a little wear the shoe should loosen a little, and you should be able to flex the toes up. They should still be as flexible as before. The change to the tongue is to raise the gusset a little to keep the water out of the shoe a little higher up. I will check a bit more though, if there’s a way we can improve for next production, but again it should ‘bed in’ ok after a little wear. If we use decent thickness materials here, there is going to be a little bulk.
Malin (verified owner) –
I’ve been a fan of Freet shoes for a while, owning several different pairs, and just as I was looking for a winter boot the new Mudee appeared like a gift from heaven, so I immeditely bought a pair (the brown ones). I’ve had them for a few weeks now and I’m very happy with them so far. I haven’t had the opportunity to test them in very wet conditions yet but I’m pretty sure I won’t be disappointed 🙂
Wildflower (verified owner) –
I’m thrilled with the Mudees. I work in an outdoor kindergarten so they’ve been put to the test all week in very wet and muddy conditions. My feet have stayed dry and warm! They are incredibly comfortable from the minute you put them on and I love feeling everything underfoot. I bought them at the same time as a hiking boot from another barefoot brand (which are nearly twice the price) in order to compare and the Mudees won outright on look and comfort. My only fear was that they wouldn’t be waterproof and now I know they are I couldn’t be happier. Just wish the 20% discount had been available when I bought them!
Richard –
In all the jumping and sploshing around I did, the Mudee’s remained perfectly warm and dry, with no water getting in at all. The rock plates have also done a very good job at keeping the pointy limestone rocks from jabbing my feet, with out affecting proprioception or feedback. The Mudee’s have been completely comfortable for the two walks I have done in them so far. I am really liking them, so thank you again
Jon –
My Mudees are doing great! I was right about thinking they would be grippier than my Xero Daylight Hikers, which was appreciated on the wet slab stones of the Pennine Way. They had a pretty tough first challenge but they were really excellent, being comfortable and warm. I did wear waterproof socks as a precaution like I always do, but there was no sign of water ingress in to the shoes anyway even with heavy rain and the occasional stream crossing.
Marie (verified owner) –
I’ve been wearing Urban Ayr and Bootee for over a year now. I’m a fan of the Freet brand.
I recently received the Mudee: they are perfect! They are all I needed for the winter: warm and waterproof shoes. Very comfortable!
I do not practice sports with my shoes, I always wear them for everyday life.
Before I still had very painful feet, now no more worries! I put my orthopedic insoles and everything is really perfect!
Thank you Freet, you changed my life.
Belinda –
Would I be disappointed? – after all, this is THE product I’d been waiting to be released.
As a reasonably recent convertee to the barefoot way of life I had been loathed to give up my sturdy, supportive,weatherproof walking boots- they are after all what most people rely on for longer walks.
Test week 1 – South West Coast Path in balmy sunshine.
Verdict. The barefoot experience I was used to but from a fantastic looking brown boot- even with shorts! Superbly comfortable, ‘snuggling’ to the ankle, giving support and holding the foot back on those downhills yet still allowing the freedom of movement. Incredibly grippy on all those hills, even the loose gravely surfaces. 7 days walking- 15 ish miles per day, no wearing in and my mudees were the most comfortable boot I’ve ever had.
Test week 2 – Rain, rain, rain ‘Up North’.
Verdict. Grip brilliant- I just love the way your feet relax and mould to the terrain giving you confidence and surefootedness ( is that even a word ?) like no other. BUT.. will they be weatherproof? I hadn’t cleaned or treated them in any way since taking them out of the box. Despite paddling through various streams, wet grass and muddy puddles my feet were always dry at the end of the day- pretty good for a boot that is described as ‘weatherproof’. Hubby was wearing boots from another ( more expensive) company and sadly had wet feet.
All in all a fairly perfect barefoot boot, and good looking enough to wear around town too- well worth waiting for. Just about to order two pairs in black – one for me and one to keep hubby’s feet dry.