Whitin Minimalist - Women's Review

The Whitin Minimalist impressed us, with not just its price tag, but with their overall performance. They have a wide base that allowed our toes to splay step by step. We felt very stable in these shoes, confidently using them during gym sessions or to run errands around town. They have a removable insole to further the barefoot feel and a natural zero drop.

Performance Comparison

Ground Feedback

We took these shoes all over, from the gym to light hiking trails, and on travels abroad. Along the way, we documented how well they fit on our feet and how our feet responded to the ground underneath. With a barefoot shoe, we want to feel just about everything beneath our feet without the sharp pains from jagged rocks or sticks. While the stack height is much to consider, the softness of the rubber can also impact this ground feedback. Likewise, how much you can use your feet with the shoes on matters. If you can flex and bend your foot in every direction you could without the shoe, you will have more responsiveness to the ground beneath.

The Whitin allowed our toes to splay out with every step we took. In fact, these are some of the widest shoes in our lineup. We never felt restricted by the sides of the shoes. Still, we could get a snug fit by cinching down the laces if needed. The knit upper is flexible and unrestricting as well. The shoes have a 12-millimeter stack height with the insoles in. Though this is on the higher side, the rubber outsole is soft and pliable, so we could still feel quite a bit of the ground under our feet.

Stability

The Minimalist shines in their stability. They are 11 centimeters wide at the forefoot for a US women's size 9. This is on the wider side, even for barefoot shoes. The toe box also doesn't taper too quickly. This boxy design allowed all testers to have a nice toe splay during walking. That said, we felt extremely stable in these shoes.

The shoes have a square edge around the outsole. Because they are so wide, when standing upright, we never felt like we could roll over an ankle. The lightly rounded edges along the outsole remind us a lot of a skate shoe, though the rubber itself is much more flexible. This flexibility also adds to the stable feeling of the shoe. As we skipped along river rocks, the shoe flexed and curved with our feet so we could get that natural feeling grasp.

Traction

Traction for barefoot shoes is a little different than regular shoes. Traction for these shoes focuses on how much your foot can continue to work, instead of focusing mainly on the outsole and lug pattern. As such, these shoes flex and fold with softer rubber outsoles so that your feet continue to be engaged, just like if you didn't have them on at all. For this reason, you often don't see barefoot shoes with extensive lug depth, if at all.

The Whitin has a very shallow lug pattern underneath. They don't provide much traction on loose ground, so we wouldn't recommend these for trails with loose pack earth. Hardpack dirt and pavement are no trouble for these shoes, though. The softer rubber also provides traction when walking on rocks where your feet need to bend. These also did great on the rubber mats often seen in gyms, making this a great lifting shoe.

Weight

At 17.1 ounces for a US size 9, the Whitin Minimalist isn't the lightest shoe in our lineup. In fact, it is one of the heaviest shoes (not including boots). The upper is made from knit, which is heavier than many other options in our lineup. The rubber outsole, though bendable, is also heavier than some of the options with minimal stack. We found we could shave a few ounces by ditching the insole, but still, these don't feel the lightest.

We think the weight could be worth it for the right person. If you are new to barefoot shoes, these are a great place to start, especially because the investment is pretty low compared to others. The style is also more suited for day-to-day wear, not athletic use. Though we found these great for lifting at the gym, we wouldn't want to take them for a run due to the weight.

Durability

As we tested, we noted any durability issues or concerns. We took these to many places during our testing cycle, including riversides, gravel trails, through town, the gym, and more. We didn't have any major troubles with the shoes, but we have some long term durability concerns.

While we made it to the other end of testing without holes or rips, we have some concerns for the shoes longevity. The outsole is glued to the upper, and we could see the exposed glue around the rubber's edge. Other high-end shoes are stitched, and don't have exposed glue. Additionally, the knit gets worn-in after extended use. So, over time, we could see this wearing away and causing holes more quickly than other options. Still, they are such a great deal that we happily recommend.

Should You Buy the Whitin Minimalist?

We think the Whitin Minimalist is a great deal for anyone interested in barefoot shoes. They are a great starting point for those looking to try out the style without investing a whole lot. Meanwhile, they are a great casual shoe for those well-versed in barefoot shoes. We also think they work great as weightlifting shoes due to their traction on rubberized mats and excellent stability. Keep in mind, they are on the heavier side for the style and they might not last as long as some of the more expensive models. All in all, this is a shoe we keep recommending to our friends and family.

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