Regarding the second limitation, if you’re looking for a genuine running shoe , keep shopping around. You’ll just need to unlace and lace the shoe up normally, which is pretty standard for most lightweight racing shoes. The F-Lite also has a firmer foam in its midsole, making it better for heavy lifting (although a little clunkier for running).

The sole is made of EVA foam, which does the job at being a foam for running shoes. I know that was a pretty bland way of describing the foam, but that’s how it sits within the shoe market. Any barefoot shoe can be a great walking shoe, but the Altra Solstice is a particularly solid fit for someone who prioritizes walking as their primary form of fitness or commuting. It's also a likely fit for nurses, food service staff, and anyone who puts in long hours on their feet. The traction is as good as any shoe out there, the upper is luxurious and form-fitting, and the feeling of the "cushioning" underfoot is firm, but still substantial enough that it will bear the brunt rather than your tootsies having to. What We LikeNike’s React foam, Saucony’s EVERUN foam, Adidas’ Boost Foam, and many other specialty foams stand above regular EVA, which is why Altra isn’t tooting their horn that the Solstice has EVA foam. There really aren’t any other dedicated cross-training options out there that combine the Solstice XT’s unique blend of a wide toe box, zero drop, and lightness for competing shoes. The upper feels race-ready. It’s a thin fabric in most places, and reminds me a bit of the Brooks Hyperion. Unlike the Brooks Hyperion, the fabric on the upper of the Solstice has a seam at the base of the tongue to change materials. You might find that exchanging the laces for something with a bit more stretch works for you as the standard laces don’t flex around.

Best Slip-On Barefoot Shoes: Vivobarefoot Opanka Leather Shoes - Men | Vivobarefoot Opanka Leather Shoes - Women

Most cross-training shoes have toe boxes that taper a fair amount which can leave them feeling tight. In the Solstice XT 2, the toe box follows the curvature of the toes and is purposely designed to be wide to accommodate full toe splay and the act of gripping the floor with the feet. To my knowledge, it is the only lightweight cross-trainer that provides both zero drop and wide toe box.

This light but mighty running shoe weighs in at only 300 grams, yet it’s infused with some of the world's toughest materials to give you an edge during your workout. In fact, it claims to offer the world’s ‘toughest grip’ due to its graphene-enhanced power heel, a feature developed by scientists at The University of Manchester.

Best Barefoot Gym Shoes - Inov-8 Bare XF 210

What is frustrating is that Altra knew this would reduce the durability of the shoe and they did add a tiny patch of rubber, but only on the heel, and not on the toe where most other shoe manufacturers dab a bit of rubber to Its wide “foot-shaped” toe box allows metatarsals to spread and toes to engage while performing fully. If you really, really want the most race-ready shoe (we’re talking cross country racing), you’ll want to look at their Golden Spike shoes. While well-known for burly hiking boots, Merrell was also an early barefoot adopter and has continued to iterate on its popular Vapor Glove and Trail Glove lines. The Vapor Glove 5 is the best so far, with more durable upper materials, improved sole texture, and less of a floppy feel than previous models. The first thing to like about the Altra Solstice XT 2 is their Footshape feature. Altra uses a proprietary feature in pretty much all of their running and training shoes called Footshape. Essentially, it’s a feature that replicates the anatomy of the foot to provide a more comfortable and seamless fit in shoes.