10 Best Minimalist Running Sandals
Updated on: September 2023
Best Minimalist Running Sandals in 2023
Xero Shoes Genesis - Men's Barefoot Tarahumara Huarache Style Minimalist Lightweight Running Sandals Black
Xero Shoes Z-Trail - Men's Lightweight Hiking and Running Sandal - Barefoot-Inspired Minimalist Trail Sport Sandals - Multi-Black

- Up to 76% lighter and thinner than other sport sandals, but with all the protection and comfort you want and need. Xero Shoes come with our 5,000 mile warranty.
- Perfect if you hike, walk, run, jog, work out, Crossfit, yoga, raft, stand up paddle board, kayak, canoe, fly fish, even run ultra-marathons.
- At only 10mm thick, it's great for travel. Flexible enough to roll up and fit in your pack or pocket. Durable enough for wherever the Z-Trail takes you.
- Zero-drop non-elevated heel for natural posture. Non-marking sole. Water resistant. Fast-drying. Great grip and traction. Z-style webbing holds securely, yet slides on and off in seconds.
- NOTE: For the best chance of a correct fit, please measure your foot: 1) Place a piece of paper on the floor, against a wall; 2) Step on the paper, your heel against the wall; 3) Mark the paper in line with your longest toe; 4) Measure that length with a ruler; 5) Compare that length to the sizing chart (link, above). To REALLY ensure a correct fit, get printable templates of the exact sizes by contacting the Seller.
Xero Shoes Z-Trek - Men's Minimalist Barefoot-Insipred Sport Sandal - Hiking, Trail, Running, Walking - Charcoal/Coal Black

- All the fun, freedom, and benefits of being barefoot, but with the protection and comfort you want in a sport sandal. Xero Shoes come with our 5,000 mile warranty.
- Perfect if you hike, walk, run, jog, work out, Crossfit, yoga, raft, stand up paddle board, kayak, canoe, fly fish, even run ultra-marathons.
- Up to 70% lighter than other sport sandals. Only 5.5mm thick, it's perfect for travel. Flexible enough to roll up and fit in your pack or pocket. Durable enough for wherever the Z-Trek takes you.
- Zero-drop non-elevated heel for natural posture. 5.5mm non-marking FeelTrue sole. Water resistant. Fast-drying. Great grip and traction. Z-style webbing holds securely, yet slides on and off in seconds.
- NOTE: For the best chance of a correct fit, please measure your foot: 1) Place a piece of paper on the floor, against a wall; 2) Step on the paper, your heel against the wall; 3) Mark the paper in line with your longest toe; 4) Measure that length with a ruler; 5) Compare that length to the sizing chart (link, above). To REALLY ensure a correct fit, get printable templates of the exact sizes by contacting the Seller.
Xero Shoes Z-Trek - Vegan Women's Minimalist Barefoot-Insipred Sport Sandal - Hiking, Trail, Running, Walking

- All the fun, freedom, and benefits of being barefoot, but with the protection and comfort you want in a sport sandal. Xero Shoes come with our 5,000 mile warranty.
- Perfect if you hike, walk, run, jog, work out, Crossfit, yoga, raft, stand up paddle board, kayak, canoe, fly fish, even run ultra-marathons.
- Up to 70% lighter than other sport sandals. Only 5.5mm thick, it's perfect for travel. Flexible enough to roll up and fit in your pack or pocket. Durable enough for wherever the Z-Trek takes you.
- Zero-drop non-elevated heel for natural posture. 5.5mm non-marking FeelTrue sole. Water resistant. Fast-drying. Great grip and traction. Z-style webbing holds securely, yet slides on and off in seconds.
- NOTE: For the best chance of a correct fit, please measure your foot: 1) Place a piece of paper on the floor, against a wall; 2) Step on the paper, your heel against the wall; 3) Mark the paper in line with your longest toe; 4) Measure that length with a ruler; 5) Compare that length to the sizing chart (link, above). To REALLY ensure a correct fit, get printable templates of the exact sizes by contacting the Seller.
Xero Shoes Colorado - Men's Lightweight Shoe Sandal for Trails, Water. Barefoot-inspried, Minimalist, Zero Drop

- NATURAL FIT - A wide toe box lets your toes splay, spread, relax, and move naturally.
- NATURAL MOTION -- Your feet can bend and flex naturally thanks to the flexible sole. A non-elevated "zero-drop" heel allows for proper posture. And the low-to-the-ground design is for balance and agility.
- NATURAL FEELING -- The FeelTrue rubber sole gives you just-right protection, while being minimalist enough to let your brain get the feedback it needs for you to move naturally and efficiently.
- WATER and TRAIL FRIENDLY. VEGAN FRIENDLY. DURABLE -- Colorade is made for water, trails, ande everything in between. It FLOATS! This product is free from all animal products and is backed with our 5,000 Mile Sole warranty.
- GET THE RIGHT FIT with FREE Domestic Exchanges -- This shoe runs 'true to size." If for any reason that's not the case for you, contact the Seller for a free domestic exchange of your 'like-new' shoe.
Xero Shoes Genesis - Women's Barefoot Tarahumara Huarache Style Minimalist Lightweight Running Sandals Royal Blue

- All the fun, freedom, and benefits of being barefoot, but with the protection and comfort you want. Xero Shoes come with our 5,000 mile warranty.
- Perfect if you hike, walk, run, jog, work out, Crossfit, yoga, raft, stand up paddle board, kayak, canoe, fly fish, even run ultra-marathons.
- Better than a flip-flop, the easy-adjust lacing holds comfortably and securely around your foot without pressure points.
- Super light weight. Flexible enough to roll up and fit in your pack or pocket. Zero-drop non-elevated heel for natural posture. 5.5mm non-marking sole.
- NOTE: For the best chance of a correct fit, please measure your foot: 1) Place a piece of paper on the floor, against a wall; 2) Step on the paper, your heel against the wall; 3) Mark the paper in line with your longest toe; 4) Measure that length with a ruler; 5) Compare that length to the sizing chart (link, above). To REALLY ensure a correct fit, get printable templates of the exact sizes by contacting the Seller.
MONO Winged Edition by LUNA Sandals | Unisex Lightweight Athletic Sandals 5.9oz | 11mm (+ 4mm lugs) Vibram Sole | Ideal for Walking, Running, Hiking, Camping, Traveling | Black Huarache Adjustable Fit (Men's 9 / Women's 11)

- The Mono Winged Edition is the ultimate do everything, go everywhere adventure sandal. Its incredibly flexible and lightweight design offer freedom and comfortable mobility to all outdoor enthusiasts.
- Durable Vibram Morflex and LUNA’s own MGT footbed (Monkey Grip Technology) merge to create the ultimate sandal base, ideal for everyday wear and extreme adventures alike
- At 11mm thick (plus 4mm lug height) and 5.9 oz (single sandal), you can take your Monos on every excursion-climbing, running, hiking, walking, biking, camping, working and lounging.
- Customize your fit! The Mono 2.0 features one continuous strap made from climbing grade, tubular webbing and easy slide adjustment buckles to give every foot a perfect fit.
- Made proudly in Seattle, Washington by LUNA Sandal. All LUNA Sandals come with the Moonrock Guarantee to assure you with a lifetime of adventuring .
Luna Sandals OSO Flaco Winged Edition | Minimalist Running and Hiking Sandals - Lightweight 7.2 oz Comfortable Sandals for Men and Women | Adjustable Fit (Numeric_7) Black

- The Oso Flaco Winged Edition is for those who want the most aggressive tread pattern for crazy grip, but also want super flexibility and full ground feel. Its incredibly flexible and lightweight design offer freedom and comfortable mobility to all outdoor enthusiasts!
- Durable Vibram Megagrip and LUNA’s own MGT (Monkey Grip Technology) merge to create the ultimate sandal base, ideal for everyday wear and extreme adventures alike.
- At 7mm thick (plus 4.5 lug height) and 7.2 oz, you can take your Oso Flacos on every excursion - climbing, running, hiking, walking, biking, camping, working and lounging.
- Customize your fit! The Oso Flaco features one continuous strap made from climbing grade webbing and easy slide adjustment buckles to give every foot a perfect fit
- Made proudly in Seattle, Washington by LUNA Sandal. All LUNA Sandals come with the Moonrock Guarantee to assure you with a lifetime of adventuring .
WHITIN Men's Quick Drying Water Shoes for Aqua Hiking Trail Running Sport Minimalist Barefoot Wave Walking Beach Swim Surf Outdoor Kayaking Athletic Male Black Size 12

- Quick to dry
- Hook-and-loop strap
- Open mesh for breathability
- Perforated midsoles and outsoles
- Ideal for all kinds of aquatic adventures
Xero Shoes Z-Trail - Women's Lightweight Hiking and Running Sandal - Barefoot-Inspired Minimalist Trail Sport Sandals - Multi-Black

- Up to 76% lighter and thinner than other sport sandals, but with all the protection and comfort you want and need. Xero Shoes come with our 5,000 mile warranty.
- Perfect if you hike, walk, run, jog, work out, Crossfit, yoga, raft, stand up paddle board, kayak, canoe, fly fish, even run ultra-marathons.
- At only 10mm thick, it's great for travel. Flexible enough to roll up and fit in your pack or pocket. Durable enough for wherever the Z-Trail takes you.
- Zero-drop non-elevated heel for natural posture. Non-marking sole. Water resistant. Fast-drying. Great grip and traction. Z-style webbing holds securely, yet slides on and off in seconds.
- NOTE: For the best chance of a correct fit, please measure your foot: 1) Place a piece of paper on the floor, against a wall; 2) Step on the paper, your heel against the wall; 3) Mark the paper in line with your longest toe; 4) Measure that length with a ruler; 5) Compare that length to the sizing chart (link, above). To REALLY ensure a correct fit, get printable templates of the exact sizes by contacting the Seller.
Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS with HRM Review
The Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sports Watch with heart rate monitor has been on the market for a while now and what I have heard, this watch is without a doubt the best training tool on the market.
The Garmin Forerunner 405 could replace your training coach.
As with any new tool, the Forerunner does have a learning curve to it. Out of the box it works great, but when you learn how to use all the features that the watch has you will almost be able to save on paying for a training coach. The 405 is a regular sports watch that you could wear all the time. It is not big and ugly like some of the training watches available.
The Garmin has everything in one device. You are able to track heart rate, pace, distance, elevation, and laps.
The GPS device saves you from mapping out your course. With the GPS city running is a lot easier. All you need to do is do your workout until you have completed your distance or time and then the Garmin Connect site will show you your map of the route you have taken. From the Garmin Connect site you can also transfer courses from other runner and run their course. You have the ability to compare your run to the same run of others. This really helps to push you to the next level.
The Forerunner will track all kinds of runs, with warm-ups, intervals, tempo intervals, pace segments, biking intervals. All the while it is also keeping track of your time, HR, pace.
The accuracy of this watch seems to be pretty good. We live on the shores of Lake Michigan and sometimes signals can skip over the water but so far this hasn't been an issue. It does take a few seconds sometimes to pick up the signal, but during that time you can do your warm ups.
The virtual partner is great when you do not have a companion to train with. The virtual partner also gets you into the habit of correctly pacing yourself to go the distant with less injury. This is really a very positive feature with this watch.
The Garmin Forerunner 405 is not for everyone.
The Garmin Forerunner 405 is a pretty intensive training tool and a little costly as well. This watch was more designed for the serious ultra competition enthusiast in mind. With all the functions available with this watch, casual runners, bikers or hikers may be really dissatisfied. Unless you are someone who is using a coach or thinking of using a coach to participate in some really big competitions, this watch may not be for you.
If you do triathlons and need something to record your time and laps in the water, the Forerunner is not for you. The Forerunner 405 is not waterproof. There have been a few complaints from users of this GPS watch that when the bezel gets wet it will freeze up or quit working all together. It appears that moisture is not friendly to the watch. Some extremely heavy sweaters had complained that the watch as stop working all together because of their sweating. My son-in-law sweats a lot during his work outs and has never had an issue with this. He does wear gloves however and tries to keep his hands dry when touching the bezel.
The battery life on the Garmin Forerunner 405 is only good for about 6 hours. If you are doing a triathlon or a 100 mile bike race the battery will go dead. You need to turn off the watch when not in use or you will burn up battery time. The watch does go into sleep mode but if it gets bumped, it will activate the watch and use battery time. During normal training, the watch needs to be recharged every two days. It would be nice to be able to use the watch for a twelve or twenty-four hour race. Maybe this is something Garmin will consider in the future.
The watch and watch band is not that appealing for most women. It is not something they would were on a daily bases. The watch band is a plastic and not very attractive. The plastic watch band has the antenna built into it. If you have a larger than normal sized wrist, for a man, the watch band is too tight. Some people have complained that the watch bands keep falling apart because of it being too tight. My son-in-law is a tall slender man with small bones so the watchband has never been an issue this far.
If you look at all the features that the Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS with HRM has you will be amazed at how well this watch handles most of your training needs. There is also great support at Garmin to assist you to get the most performance out of the watch. They have a large manual on their site that you can download to aid you in your understanding of the Forerunner and how to set the watch for your individual operating schedule. Remember the Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS is just a tool. It is up to the individual to use the tool correctly.