SOM Trailhead, Limited edition

I visited the SOM factory this past June when I was starting an RV trip with my family.

Oliver and Nathalie received us with open arms and gave us a full tour of their facilities, even though it was a national holiday!

From the moment I stepped in their factory I felt the love and dedication they have for their shoes. You can see how proud they are of their product and the work they have put into designing and making their shoes.

These shoes were a gift, but my opinion is my own.

Company

Located in Montrose, CO, USA.

It was founded by Oliver and Nathalie in order to create a running barefoot shoe for Oliver. It all started when Oliver hurt his back and was unable to keep running as he had before. He read “Born to Run,” by Christopher McDowell and was inspired to create a running barefoot sneaker. At the time, he did not find barefoot shoes that he liked so he decided to design his own. As a metal worker, he even created some of the machines used in his factory today!

Oliver designs every aspect of the shoe, starting with the soles, which are manufactured here in the US according to his instructions. He finds fabric suppliers here in the US and the shoes are put together in their Colorado factory (only the laces are imported, but they are trying to find a US supplier).

They have eyes on their shoes from the beginning of the process up until the end, when they put them in their store, right next to the factory!

Their shoes are designed so they can be resoled by any cobbler or they also offer to resole them for free when you buy another pair.

Materials

• Upper: 100% cotton Ripstop, produced in the USA with environmentally friendly ink and processes.
• Removable Insole: Blend of EVA and synthetic rubber topped with polyester fabric to wick moisture.
• Lining: Breathable mesh.
• Outsole: Custom made in the USA.

Vegan

Design

• Zero drop: No heel lift nor toe spring.
• Wide, foot shaped toe box: These will fit narrow to normal width feet best.
• Insole: 4 mm
• Stack height: 10 mm + 4 mm insole
• Flexible: Even though the sole is thicker, they can still bend in different directions.
• Sole: The sole wraps around the shoe, which provides protection, but it also takes away some of its overall flexibility. It is perfect for hardcore activities.
• Lightweight: 8.9 oz for a women’s size 8.5
• All models are gender neutral.
• Tongue is sewn to the uppers but still provide space for low to medium volume feet (without insole).

Sizing and fit

SOM has an amazing size range for their shoes from 5.5W/4M to 17.5W/16M!

SOM recommends getting your usual US size, but they also provide a sizing chart. This chart does not provide internal measurements, but you need to find your foot’s measurements and SOM will recommend a size for you.

My usual size is 8.5 – 9 W (40 European) and my foot is 24.8 cm in length and almost 10 cm in width. For length, they recommended 8.5 W, which does not have a width measurement.

I got size 8.5 W / 7 M: their internal length is 26 cm and 8 cm in width.

I prefer my shoes to be 26 cm in length and 10 cm in width. These definitely feel smaller than my other sneakers. If you are not sure about your size, make sure you contact SOM, their customer service is amazing!

The first thing I did before wearing my shoes was to take out the insole (I do this with most of my shoes) to get a better ground feel, which is pretty limited with the thick sole. The first time I wore them, I was barefoot and my big toe + 4-5 toes ended up bothering me. The inside mesh feels a little rough, so I wore socks the following hikes. My toes were still in pain. The toe box, even though is foot shaped, it is a little too narrow for my 3.9” width foot. I wonder if half a size bigger would be better for my feet. I do believe these would be perfect for people with narrower feet or for people starting their barefoot journey.

Things to know:

• The cotton uppers are super breathable and stretchy.
• The thick sole is perfect for activities that are rough on shoes like skating, biking, etc.
• I wear them without insoles to get a better ground feel, but ground feel is still limited.
• Wrap around sole provides protection but takes away flexibility and makes the toe box feel narrower.

Buying from SOM

If you are in the vicinity of Montrose, CO, I highly recommend going to their store.

If you are anywhere else in the US, you can order from their website. They offer something called Shipping Prime ($17.95), it includes:

• Shipping for your new order of SOMs;
• one exchange or return and;
• your next pair(s) if bought within one year of your initial purchase;
• please note: this benefit is associated with the individual and is not transferable to another person*.

If you are anywhere else in the world, you can still get them on their website. They will ship for $40 (and will refund excess if it ends up being less). They do not offer exchanges, returns, or resoling at this time. They cannot ship to China, Indonesia, nor the Philippines. They will ship to your US hotel if you are visiting!

They have a One Year Warranty if there is a defect in material quality or workmanship outside of normal wear and tear.

Make sure you let them know you found them through Barefoot Maestra!

Opinion

I love the ideals that this brand was founded on, I love the fact that almost all of their materials come from US suppliers and that they are manufactured in a small shop in Colorado.

I believe these are the perfect transitional shoes for people that want to have a better toe box but do not feel comfortable on barefoot shoes yet. They provide a little more cushion with a great toe box in the narrower side. If you are not sure about your size, make sure to contact SOM. They have great customer service and I am sure they can help you out.

Even though I do not skate nor do any extreme activity, I believe these would be perfect for them!

Have you read my other reviews? Click here to find other sneakers.