Feelgrounds Patrol Lite
On April 24, 2022 by Noelia
I received these boots as a gift for review, my opinion is my own.
It was perfect timing because we’ve had a very cold and rainy spring in the Midwest, USA. I’ve been wearing them a lot lately!
Company
Feelgrounds started in April 2019 with the goal of making barefoot shoes that appeal to more people.
Feelgrounds have independent testing institutes, like SGS, regularly test and approve the safety of their products.
They have a highly skilled manufacturing team in Vietnam. All workers are of age and benefit from social, medical, and accident insurance and receive a salary above the regional average. Their factory is part of the European BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative).
Materials
The Patrol Lite are made with:
- upper + lining inside collar: Vegan PU leather
- Sole: TPE & TPU
- inner lining: microsuede
- exchangeable insole: cork + TPU
- Laces: waxed cotton
One of the most important characteristics of Feelgrounds shoes is that they are all vegan. I, personally, am not, so I did not know much about vegan materials. Here is a little bit of information about them:
- Vegan PU leather: The production takes up way less resources than animal leather and therefore it is more eco friendly. It is more sustainable than conventional leather but it does not decompose when thrown away in nature. There are still a lot of chemicals and petroleum involved in making it, so it is not the most eco friendly solution. Better vegan leather alternatives: cork, mushroom, grape or pineapple leather (Mukishoes and Sambas offer cork boots and/or pineapple leather).
- TPU or Thermoplastic Polyurethane is a category of plastic. They can be used as a soft engineering plastic or as a replacement for hard rubber. Not biodegradable.
- TPEs are a family of rubber like materials that combine the characteristics of rubber with the recyclability and processing advantages of plastics. Not biodegradable.
- Microsuede: Feelgrounds doesn’t have any information about this material..
- Cork: Natural material obtained from the bark of a tree, from which is periodically removed without harming the tree, it is considered to be one of the most sustainable materials. It is biodegradable.
Design
- Gender neutral
- High tops
- Gusseted tongue
- Water repellent
Barefoot qualities
- Zero drop: no heel nor toe spring
- Flexible (for a combat boot)
- Sole thickness: 10 mm
- Removable insole: 3 mm (1 mm of cork + 2 mm of PTU)
- Total stack height: 13 mm
- Wide toe box: it accommodates different types of feet.
Sizing and Fit
Feelgrounds recommends you get your normal size, so that’s what I did. I got size 40, which is what I wear in their Original Knit.
My measurements:
- Length: 24.8 – 25 cm
- Width: 9.8 – 10 cm
Feelgrounds size 40
- Length: 26.1 cm
- Width: 10.2 cm
I am happy with the fit of my boots. There are just a few things to know:
- I wear my Patrol Light with thin socks, if you want to wear them with thicker socks, I would definitely think about sizing up.
- I have low volume feet and even with their insoles, I had to add felt tongue pads in order to take some of the extra space.
- The material is not as flexible as their knit or mesh, they do feel more constrictive. But this also means they protect my feet from the environment (rain, rocks, mud).
- They have thicker soles, which are not extremely minimalist, but this makes them perfect for more difficult terrain.
I am very happy with them. I usually have a lot of problems breaking-in high top boots, but I did not have ANY problems with these Patrol Lite. The vegan PU leather is very malleable and they have molded to my feet beautifully.
Care
Feelgrounds recommends to remove loose dirt with a dry, soft shoe brush. If they are still dirty, you can use a mild cleaning solution with a little water and a clean brush. Remove excess product with a damp cloth. After cleaning, allow to dry at room temperature.
Because of the properties of vegan PU leather, I have had no problems with dirt nor stains.
Opinion
It is difficult to find water repellent boots in the barefoot market. I was really curious about them and a little worried they were going to be stiff like my Freet Mudee. I was pleasantly surprised when I wore them and my ankles did not suffer.
I like their water repellent properties, but I have not tested them in extreme conditions. I cannot talk about their durability either, they were just released this spring 2022 and it will take time and wear to see how long they will last.
Overall, I am happy with my boots. I like the look and their versatility.