Feelgrounds Original Knit White
On May 28, 2021 by Noelia
I got this Original Knit in white for my Instagram outfit challenge. I’m going to be honest… I was a little worried about the fit. I tried their Original Mesh last year and they hurt my ankle, so I was a little skeptical at the beginning.
I did not have to worry! They are extremely comfortable, the knit is soft and malleable. I’m extremely happy with them. Even though these were a gift, my opinion is my own.
Company
Feelgrounds started in April 2019 with the goal to “make barefoot shoes available and appealing to more people.”
They want to create shoes that are better for our feet but also better for the environment. That’s why they use recycled materials for their production and test them for safety.
Another value of the company is to make sure production is done ethically. They want to be sustainable, fair, and transparent. Their manufacturing happens in Vietnam, where all workers are of age and benefit from social, medical, and accident insurance and receive a salary above the regional average.
Design and Materials
- Wide and rounded toe box
- Sole is 5 mm thick
- Zero drop, no toe lift and no heel
- Flexible
- Wrap around sole
- Upper, laces, lining: Recycled PET
- Sole: Recyclable TPE
- Heel lining: Microfiber
They are:
- vegan
- water-repellent
It is strange to think that the knit material is made out of recycled materials because it is extremely soft to the touch. Because it is knitted, it molds to your feet and allows for different shapes and volumes.
This new model has a new sole that not only has a different shape, but it is made out of a different material. In the past, they had issues with the durability of their soles, which encouraged them to change it and develop one that looks almost the same but it should be more durable than the previous one. I have only worn them for around 15 – 20 miles on concrete and the soles look like new. I will post an update once I have put more miles on them.
Fit
Feelground has a very accurate size chart. My feet are 24.8 cm in length and 9.5 cm in width. I got the same size I had tried before: 40. They fit perfectly, with extra space in the front, as I like it.
Uppers: The knit material makes this shoe extremely flexible. It can accommodate different volume feet and the laces can help find a good fit.
New sole: Because it is rounder and wider, I believe it will fit multiple foot shapes. The only thing to note is that the sole wraps around the shoe, which means it keeps its form instead of expanding for more width. It is made out of flexible recyclable TPE, so there is a little give, a few mm on both sides, but it won’t change its form.
New vs. Old sole
These are measurements I took from the two Feelgrounds I own, one with the old sole and my new ones with the new sole.
| Size 40 Outsole measurements | New | Old |
| Width at their widest point | 4.2” 10.6 cm | 3.9” 10 cm |
| Width 1 cm from the top (rounded vs. slope) | 2.7” 7 cm | 2.5” 6.6 cm |
| Length | 10.5” 26.7 cm | 10.4” 26.4 cm |
| Ankle width | 2.7” 7 cm | 2.7” 7 cm |
| Wrap around sole height | 2 mm higher all around | |
| Correct toes | Yes! | No, my foot overflows the sole. |
Care
Feelgrounds recommends to remove all loose dirt with a soft shoe brush. I tried this after one of my dogs stepped on me with muddy paws. The dirt came right off!
The problem arises with dust… because of the knitted material, it gets stuck. I am a teacher and I use flexible seating in my classroom, that means I sit, squat, and kneel on the floors all the time. My white shoes look dirty. I have brushed them, but it doesn’t matter how much I do it, the stains stay there.
Feelgrounds recommends to apply lukewarm water and mild cleaning solution to clean them, but the water will also remove the water-repellent properties. So I have decided to live with dirty shoes.
I really like the water-repellent properties though, I wore them to my daughter’s high school graduation and it started to rain… my feet stayed warm and dry!
If I could go back in time, I would order any other color but white! I am sure the other colors hide the stains way better than my white sneakers. Don’t get me wrong, I still love them and I will keep wearing them, but I do have to accept that I am going to be wearing shoes that do not look clean.
Looks
I believe Feelgrounds is the barefoot brand with the most “traditional” look.
They can replace your Vans, Keds, and even your Converse. They don’t have the fun patterns, but they do offer different colors: black, white, pink, blue, navy blue, light blue, gray, dark gray, with different colored soles.
Because their look is in style right now, you can wear them with any outfit, from informal to formal, dress to wide leg pants. It’s up to you to explore the possibilities!
You can go to Feelgrounds here.