Yeah, I wear 5 Fingers. I run in them, play volleyball, sometimes wear them to work, and work out in them. I can tell you that I had vague, intermittent hip and knee pains running in regular shoes: Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, Saucony. I have been running in 5 Fingers for 3ish years, and all of those pains went away and have not returned. I also had plantar fasciitis in regular running shoes. No such problem in the 5 Fingers. All of this obviously anecdotal, but I would not go back to run in regular shoes at this point. Thinking about it, it is hard to find a shoe that exactly matches your foot for running. So you are forcing your foot into an abnormal position when you run. That problem does not exist for 5 Fingers, as you are essentially running barefoot with minimal protection. I did not know about Carets, so will check them out. But a little pricey.
i wear vibram five fingers and they are really comfortable. at the moment thinking about switching all my shoes to minimalist/barefoot shoes, since i have knee problems through having no arch in my left foot ... which can totally be solved through walking barefoot. so these are a great thing to have and to know that they exist. i knew of vivobarefoot minimalist dress shoes, but these take the quality up a notch. saving these as a bookmark for future decision making, thank you!
I've got a couple pairs of these on order, really looking forward to trying them out. Day to day I wear Altras and they have been a game changer for me. Significant reduction in foot, knee, and back pain to wear zero drop shoes, and dress shoes murder me running around Chicago or NYC so this fills a big hole in my wardrobe! Thanks for the review, even more excited to get them.
@@YG-kk4ey they never came. 6+ month backorder so I canceled, and have continued to check and they are still not in stock... have pretty much given up on getting these unfortunately.
I wore the vibram 5 fingers for about 5 years. Ran about 2,000 miles in them (multiple pairs) per my run app history. They were great, but now I am wearing Merrell’s, which are also minimalist but not 5 finger. I have Allen Edmonds now and have never considered minimalist dress shoes. Seems like an interesting shoe. They look ugly though. The vibrams were mostly ugly but highly functional.
Obviously for an older man or someone with joint and muscle pain issues as a nice stop gap. I wouldn’t use them now but it’s good to know there is a better option than the typical boxy, clunky orthotic numbers on the market now.
Is there any good alteratives to Carets for good looking minimalist / barefoot style smart casual shoes? Carets only appears to Cap-toe oxfords at the moment.
I just got a pair of these but ended up returning them, they are version 4 and they still hurt my ankle bone. Supposedly they are going to fix that on version 5 of the shoe.
A 1 year guarantee on these pair of shoes wow I've never come across a shoe company with a year's guarantee to return them so you've given me a bonus here I'm going to check these out
I was enjoying this review up until you said, "I think this is a shoe for a very specific guy." Through the whole review you were saying how great they feel and how well they are made. Given that most people who are buying shoes have feet, then the most comfortable, well made shoe would be ideal for the vast majority of people. Not a specific bunch. I'd presume the specific bunch would want an over styled foot breaker type of shoe.
Recently bought my first pair of Allen Edmonds and they were more comfortable than any shoes I've ever worn, including sneakers. I honestly do not see the appeal of a hybrid between a dress shoe and sneaker.
A great pair of shoes, they oook so beautiful& professional, I almost bought a pair from Moss Bross but ended up buying shirts in the end like yours as I need a few shirts, a great video once again, oh & love that shirt your wearing in the video, your making me t buying your shirt it's so beautiful
I've been in minimalist shoes for about 8 years now and have never looked back. I'm getting married in september and need to finally prioritize getting some real dress shoes and not just letting my Vivo Gobi II's do all the work. They only dress up so far, especially after years of daily wear. These nice black shoes are what I'm hoping to take to formal occasions and like the symphony and stuff after the wedding.
I don't know why this company has changed their name like 3 times. Primal Professional was very memorable. Are you into minimal shoes? You should check out Soft Star Shoes. They make amazing leather shoes that are less formal and more unstructured than these but great looking and great for running. You can customize the leather colors and choose your sole thickness. US made. I designed a Dash with a bullhide leather sole (more flexible than vibram), a breathable perforated leather top, and contrast stitching and it's probably the most comfortable and perfect travel shoe and gets a ton of compliments. They're kind of like an unstructured blazer for your feet. They also pack flat for a second pair that takes up no luggage space. It's honestly weird wearing normal shoes after going minimal, they all feel like high heels!
I've been considering buying a pair of Dash mocs with the bullhide leather sole for dancing. How would you describe the traction of the sole. I need something that allows me to slide/turn with ease, and I fear the vibram sole will have too much grip.
Majority of the shoes we buy nowadays you can return within 30 days& you have to have a receipt to do it otherwise there's your money gone, was quite surprised to hear from your video 365 days returns guarantee on these shoes
I have a pair of Lems dress shoes. Amazing comfort. Problem is they look like orthopaedic shoes. That’s the draw for these. A little pricey but worth it probably.
I’ve been wearing a black pair of these for about 6 months. The primary reason to wear these is to avoid healed shoes, which in the long run will add to a host of physical ailments like tight and sore calves, hamstrings, pelvic floor disorder (pain in groin, urinary incontinence/feel like or actually leaking urine, lack of blood flow to the genitals, etc), and back pain. All healed shoes will do this if you wear them for decades, which applies to 99% of westerners. So, if your primary goal is to have the most beautiful and stylish shoe, this isn’t the shoe for you. In any case, these shoes do look good and they are of high quality. They look a little bit longer than the average dress shoe, but that is by design. You have to take into consideration that there are no other minimal dress shoes. All the other ones look like clown shoes at best. I’ve worn them and they do feel good but they look truly awful. This is your only option if you want to wear something that looks like a normal shoe but is as healthy as possible.
shovelcharge 👍🏻 Also, the wider shoe front allows the foot to spread out. When cramped, foot muscles can’t work properly and the dysfunctions go upwards. And I totally agree about other similar shoes looking bad. Like orthopaedic shoes. I wear them bc my life is hell otherwise. I’m glad to find these. I’m gonna get a pair. Tips on sizing?
I think these serve a different purpose, if you look at the Carets site they show the postural alignment as a big part of the shoe and the minimal arch support as being the primary design feature. Wolf and Shepherd want to make shoes that will pass for an Allen Edmonds but have more padding and technology for a comfortable but traditional silhouette. I think these are an upgrade for everyday guys, but Wolf and Shepherd will fit in anywhere
Jon, Just curious what's your opinion on dress pants length/ break? I'm not crazy about the trend of heeming my pants 2 inches short showing ankle and not wearing socks. Hope you are well, Ant
There leather so will be expensive but your going to get years of wear out of these shoes treasure them & wear them to your corporate job role, your are professional & have a brilliant dress attire
If you need the benefits of these shoes then go for it. But honestly they look like "old man shoes." If you find the right size, a much more elegant dress shoe can be very comfortable. A little tip I picked up from an old Alpham video is get a pair of removable insoles of you suffer from sore feet in your shoes. Side note, I would love for you to check out meermin shoes. They are becoming one of my favorite dress shoe brands and I would love to know your opinions!
The idea of minimalist shoes is to prevent foot and back pain by allowing your feet to respond to the ground in a more natural way, rather than stomping/clacking around(no offense). which by design the shoes have a thinner sole and are lighter in weight. But obviously it is not for everyone. and maybe I am jealous that I do not have more options because of my wide feet. For me and a lot of people(not most) this shoe may be the best option.
I think these serve a different purpose, if you look at the Carets site they show the postural alignment as a big part of the shoe and the minimal arch support as being the primary design feature. Wolf and Shepherd want to make shoes that will pass for an Allen Edmonds but have more padding and technology for a comfortable but traditional silhouette. I think these are an upgrade for everyday guys, but Wolf and Shepherd will fit in anywhere
Personally I will choose elegance over comfort if i have to, obviously combining the two is the best option but I’d rather look good than feel comfy if i could only pick one. I have some scarosso sneakers and they are whole cut made in italy all that jazz but have a very thin lining right under the ankle and the stitching gives me small cuts if i wear no show socks with them but they look so nice its worth the pain. Maybe I’m crazy but until i find a replacement I’m sticking with them. Nice vid though!
As soon as I saw them from the side it was a hell no. They look like hell. Meeting in the middle makes sense when trying to balance it out but if it looks that bad you wont fool anyone anyway. Only if someone had to stand all day in dress shoes would I understand.
Unless you have medical/ health related reasons for wearing these I can’t see what the appeal is. There are many other more stylish options out there for this price point.
Yeah, I wear 5 Fingers. I run in them, play volleyball, sometimes wear them to work, and work out in them. I can tell you that I had vague, intermittent hip and knee pains running in regular shoes: Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, Saucony. I have been running in 5 Fingers for 3ish years, and all of those pains went away and have not returned. I also had plantar fasciitis in regular running shoes. No such problem in the 5 Fingers. All of this obviously anecdotal, but I would not go back to run in regular shoes at this point. Thinking about it, it is hard to find a shoe that exactly matches your foot for running. So you are forcing your foot into an abnormal position when you run. That problem does not exist for 5 Fingers, as you are essentially running barefoot with minimal protection.
I did not know about Carets, so will check them out. But a little pricey.
Thanks for sharing.
Zero-drop is the future. Love it.
It was also the past too!
Eh. Not really. A small heel is just fine. A fitting toe box is 10000% more important
i wear vibram five fingers and they are really comfortable. at the moment thinking about switching all my shoes to minimalist/barefoot shoes, since i have knee problems through having no arch in my left foot ... which can totally be solved through walking barefoot.
so these are a great thing to have and to know that they exist. i knew of vivobarefoot minimalist dress shoes, but these take the quality up a notch. saving these as a bookmark for future decision making, thank you!
"Makes you look like a peasant" lol
I've got a couple pairs of these on order, really looking forward to trying them out. Day to day I wear Altras and they have been a game changer for me. Significant reduction in foot, knee, and back pain to wear zero drop shoes, and dress shoes murder me running around Chicago or NYC so this fills a big hole in my wardrobe! Thanks for the review, even more excited to get them.
How have they been?
@@YG-kk4ey they never came. 6+ month backorder so I canceled, and have continued to check and they are still not in stock... have pretty much given up on getting these unfortunately.
@@StormKingPNW oh God, I was hoping to get them. Do you have a special size?
I wore the vibram 5 fingers for about 5 years. Ran about 2,000 miles in them (multiple pairs) per my run app history. They were great, but now I am wearing Merrell’s, which are also minimalist but not 5 finger. I have Allen Edmonds now and have never considered minimalist dress shoes. Seems like an interesting shoe. They look ugly though. The vibrams were mostly ugly but highly functional.
Obviously for an older man or someone with joint and muscle pain issues as a nice stop gap. I wouldn’t use them now but it’s good to know there is a better option than the typical boxy, clunky orthotic numbers on the market now.
2:00 Ahahahah nice Sven
This is my favorite shoe , and I am a podiatrist
I love wearing minimalist shoes!!! To bad they are pricey but they look nice.
I’m not a big dress shoe kind of guy but I have to admit those sound and look like a great buy 👍👌
I like the heal. Makes my posture better.
Is there any good alteratives to Carets for good looking minimalist / barefoot style smart casual shoes? Carets only appears to Cap-toe oxfords at the moment.
I just got a pair of these but ended up returning them, they are version 4 and they still hurt my ankle bone. Supposedly they are going to fix that on version 5 of the shoe.
A 1 year guarantee on these pair of shoes wow I've never come across a shoe company with a year's guarantee to return them so you've given me a bonus here I'm going to check these out
Nice touch with the 1.5-second GG comment in there! 😁
I was enjoying this review up until you said, "I think this is a shoe for a very specific guy." Through the whole review you were saying how great they feel and how well they are made. Given that most people who are buying shoes have feet, then the most comfortable, well made shoe would be ideal for the vast majority of people. Not a specific bunch. I'd presume the specific bunch would want an over styled foot breaker type of shoe.
Barefoot shoes are unheard of in the modern world because people are NPCs and wanna bind their toes and feet like the Chinese Qing ladies
I wish these were like $100-$150 cheaper and more elegant. But interesting
really wish you kept the shoe trees in while presenting them on camera, especially next to your AE shoes with trees in. Do you still wear these?
Recently bought my first pair of Allen Edmonds and they were more comfortable than any shoes I've ever worn, including sneakers. I honestly do not see the appeal of a hybrid between a dress shoe and sneaker.
I might wear oxfords if they had the elastic lacings like those shoes have but probably not, Jon.
A great pair of shoes, they oook so beautiful& professional, I almost bought a pair from Moss Bross but ended up buying shirts in the end like yours as I need a few shirts, a great video once again, oh & love that shirt your wearing in the video, your making me t buying your shirt it's so beautiful
I've been in minimalist shoes for about 8 years now and have never looked back. I'm getting married in september and need to finally prioritize getting some real dress shoes and not just letting my Vivo Gobi II's do all the work. They only dress up so far, especially after years of daily wear. These nice black shoes are what I'm hoping to take to formal occasions and like the symphony and stuff after the wedding.
Birchbury has really nice dress shoes. Check them out
I don't know why this company has changed their name like 3 times. Primal Professional was very memorable.
Are you into minimal shoes? You should check out Soft Star Shoes. They make amazing leather shoes that are less formal and more unstructured than these but great looking and great for running. You can customize the leather colors and choose your sole thickness. US made. I designed a Dash with a bullhide leather sole (more flexible than vibram), a breathable perforated leather top, and contrast stitching and it's probably the most comfortable and perfect travel shoe and gets a ton of compliments. They're kind of like an unstructured blazer for your feet. They also pack flat for a second pair that takes up no luggage space. It's honestly weird wearing normal shoes after going minimal, they all feel like high heels!
Good call! This was my first look at them but it's an interesting space.
I've been considering buying a pair of Dash mocs with the bullhide leather sole for dancing. How would you describe the traction of the sole. I need something that allows me to slide/turn with ease, and I fear the vibram sole will have too much grip.
At 1:24 it looks like you’re wearing clown shoes lmao! The typical bus driver or security guard shoe hahaha 😂
ahahahahaha
I just tried on Cole Haan's Flex Dress shoes and while they are not as quite as elegant as AE shoes, they feel so comfortable. Like wearing sneakers
Nice review! Would love to see one of Zaqq, I've got my eye on some of their boots.
Majority of the shoes we buy nowadays you can return within 30 days& you have to have a receipt to do it otherwise there's your money gone, was quite surprised to hear from your video 365 days returns guarantee on these shoes
Do they have black and 15-16 size?
I have a pair of Lems dress shoes. Amazing comfort. Problem is they look like orthopaedic shoes. That’s the draw for these. A little pricey but worth it probably.
2:00 "make you look like a peasant"LOL!!!
Little shoutout to Raphael from Gentleman’s Gazette
wolf shepherd shoes or these comfort wise?
I've worn the Five Fingers before, but these shoes make me curious.
super helpfull video. thank you!
when you say they are "not elegant" what exactly are you referring to?
Wait did you say $350?
The Omega on nato. 👍🏻👏👏👏
They creased after 3 weeks?
“Not elegant” 😭 😭 me, after buying 8 different pairs at once
I’ve been wearing a black pair of these for about 6 months. The primary reason to wear these is to avoid healed shoes, which in the long run will add to a host of physical ailments like tight and sore calves, hamstrings, pelvic floor disorder (pain in groin, urinary incontinence/feel like or actually leaking urine, lack of blood flow to the genitals, etc), and back pain. All healed shoes will do this if you wear them for decades, which applies to 99% of westerners.
So, if your primary goal is to have the most beautiful and stylish shoe, this isn’t the shoe for you.
In any case, these shoes do look good and they are of high quality. They look a little bit longer than the average dress shoe, but that is by design.
You have to take into consideration that there are no other minimal dress shoes. All the other ones look like clown shoes at best. I’ve worn them and they do feel good but they look truly awful. This is your only option if you want to wear something that looks like a normal shoe but is as healthy as possible.
That is a great point. I had not looked at the broader market and you're right about clown shoes. Great perspective!
shovelcharge 👍🏻
Also, the wider shoe front allows the foot to spread out. When cramped, foot muscles can’t work properly and the dysfunctions go upwards. And I totally agree about other similar shoes looking bad. Like orthopaedic shoes. I wear them bc my life is hell otherwise. I’m glad to find these. I’m gonna get a pair. Tips on sizing?
How do they compare to Wolf and Shepherd?
I think these serve a different purpose, if you look at the Carets site they show the postural alignment as a big part of the shoe and the minimal arch support as being the primary design feature. Wolf and Shepherd want to make shoes that will pass for an Allen Edmonds but have more padding and technology for a comfortable but traditional silhouette. I think these are an upgrade for everyday guys, but Wolf and Shepherd will fit in anywhere
Did you ever do the review on that new shower system you bought months ago?
I should get to it... eventually
Jon, Just curious what's your opinion on dress pants length/ break? I'm not crazy about the trend of heeming my pants 2 inches short showing ankle and not wearing socks. Hope you are well, Ant
This video has been on my to-do list for months. I'm not either but I like slight break. TOP PRIORITY
Awesome
There leather so will be expensive but your going to get years of wear out of these shoes treasure them & wear them to your corporate job role, your are professional & have a brilliant dress attire
At $350 these should come with a back rub.
😜
Unless I was walking around in semi-formal dress all day, I wouldn't get these. It doesn't have "the look". Maybe if I land that job though...
If you need the benefits of these shoes then go for it. But honestly they look like "old man shoes." If you find the right size, a much more elegant dress shoe can be very comfortable. A little tip I picked up from an old Alpham video is get a pair of removable insoles of you suffer from sore feet in your shoes.
Side note, I would love for you to check out meermin shoes. They are becoming one of my favorite dress shoe brands and I would love to know your opinions!
I just opened my pair of Meermin shoes and there was a staple sticking out of the shoe! Going to try and exchange them... developing...
The idea of minimalist shoes is to prevent foot and back pain by allowing your feet to respond to the ground in a more natural way, rather than stomping/clacking around(no offense). which by design the shoes have a thinner sole and are lighter in weight. But obviously it is not for everyone. and maybe I am jealous that I do not have more options because of my wide feet. For me and a lot of people(not most) this shoe may be the best option.
What does minimalist means?
How’s the sizing for you?
Right in line with normal dress shoes
How do they compare to Wolf & Shepherd?
I think these serve a different purpose, if you look at the Carets site they show the postural alignment as a big part of the shoe and the minimal arch support as being the primary design feature. Wolf and Shepherd want to make shoes that will pass for an Allen Edmonds but have more padding and technology for a comfortable but traditional silhouette. I think these are an upgrade for everyday guys, but Wolf and Shepherd will fit in anywhere
review the icanchu derby and chukkas
Any vegan option?
Once you go flat, you never go back!
Personally I will choose elegance over comfort if i have to, obviously combining the two is the best option but I’d rather look good than feel comfy if i could only pick one. I have some scarosso sneakers and they are whole cut made in italy all that jazz but have a very thin lining right under the ankle and the stitching gives me small cuts if i wear no show socks with them but they look so nice its worth the pain. Maybe I’m crazy but until i find a replacement I’m sticking with them. Nice vid though!
As soon as I saw them from the side it was a hell no. They look like hell. Meeting in the middle makes sense when trying to balance it out but if it looks that bad you wont fool anyone anyway. Only if someone had to stand all day in dress shoes would I understand.
Do you have ANY experience with PAUL PARKMAN?
Hey @The Kravalier, would these shoes be great for a graduation party?
These are a more long term solution, but if you're looking to wear them for a long time in a professional setting then yes
Oh okay thanks for answering. And by the way, your awesome!💯
$350 that is madness!!! you can get a Ferragamo for that!
NIce-looking, but unfortunately still force the big toe inward unnaturally...no good, since it wants to point right forward.
I’d rather be elegant and fashionable than ever wear those ugly shoes!
Kevin K what are you talking about they actually look really good for a comfort shoe/dress shoe
neo it’s an opinion
they still not make big sizes in 2022....pathetic...
No human foot, no matter how minimalist, has a shape like that pointed toe box. Someone has brainwashed that reviewer. 😜
Unless you have medical/ health related reasons for wearing these I can’t see what the appeal is. There are many other more stylish options out there for this price point.
they kind look like clown shoes
Those dress shoes look like clown shoes.
These shoes are not comfortable at all. And very cheap looking.
It's a shoe for the guy without any self respect.
Wait... you wore those out? Like in public? Around other people?
Ewww.
review the icanchu derby and chukkas
Really liking the look of those!