La Mexa Barefoot
On July 19, 2021 by Noelia
I found this small shop on Instagram and I was instantly curious about their sandals.
I bought these sandals myself with free shipping, my opinion is my own.
I have worn these sandals on different hikes and walks, for at least 15 miles.
Company
La Mexa carries different non-barefoot shoe styles and only one sandal, which happens to be barefoot. It is inspired by the barefoot runners from Sierra Tarahumara.
According to their website, they work with artisans in Mexico in order to preserve traditions and crafts. They want to create good quality shoes so we can wear them year after year.
Materials
Sole: recycled tires
Footbed and laces: Vegetable tanned leather.
Design
- Zero drop: no heel nor toe lift.
- Stack height: 7 mm (4 mm of rubber + 3 mm leather footbed)
- Wide with foot shaped sole: My sandals are 10.3” by 4.5” but the toe box has a more rounded shape. It seems as if the widest part is not by the toes but by the metatarsals (bunions).
- Flexible: Because the sole is made of recycled tires, it is not as flexible as a 4 mm Vibram sole, but it still provides good flexibility and ground feel.
- It comes with two different laces and you can choose how to tie them, which can be intimidating, but you can find tons of videos on YouTube to help you out.
Sizing and fit
They offer sizes Small (37-38), Medium (39-40), Large (41-42), and Extra Large (43-44).
I reached out to them via Instagram, provided my measurements, and they recommended size Medium as I usually wear size 39 for sandals. I wish they would provide measurements on their website for each size so we can decide which one would work best for our feet.
My size medium is 10.5” x 4.5”
The shape of these sandals it different than others I own. It starts curbing before the big toe ends instead of going straight (you can see it compared to my Deliberate Life Design sandals, custom made to my feet). Sometimes, I feel like my big toe is coming out of the sole and I feel the stitches on the edge (I do have long toes, though!). It is also wider at the mid part and heel compared to other sandals.
These would be great for people with longer 2nd toe and short big toe.
I’m going to be honest: I’m not a big fan of leather straps. I bought and sold my Luna Brujitas because of it. I knew I was taking a risk with these sandals and it did take me a while to find a way to tie them in a way that is comfortable for me.
I looked up all the different videos showing the different ways you can tie them. I tried many of them and I wasn’t really convinced. It wasn’t until I found a runner that uses this kind of sandals that I found a way to tie them that works great for me.
If you end up buying these sandals or any other that has leather straps, please be aware that it will take patience and time to find the perfect way to tie them (there are tons of videos on YouTube!).
Buying from La Mexa
I bought my sandals via Instagram. I paid with Paypal and received them shortly after.
They do have a website where you can buy them for 39e + 14.99 e shipping.
If you are in Mexico, you can buy them via Amazon.
Opinion
Even though I am not a big fan of this style, I really like my sandals. Once you find the best way to tie them, they are supper comfortable. The leather also starts to “remember” the knots and stays put.
These sandals are not my first choice when I go on walks/hikes as they take longer to put on, but they are the ones I choose when I want to look cute.
If you like your Luna Brujitas but are looking for a thinner more flexible sole, these are your sandals!
Read my other reviews here: