Feelgrounds Patrol Winter Boots – Review
Brand Overview: Feelgrounds
Feelgrounds is known for creating vegan, barefoot shoes designed to support natural foot movement and promote foot health. Barefoot shoes are characterized by their wide toe boxes, thin, flexible soles, and zero-drop heels, encouraging a natural walking pattern and helping to build strong feet. Feelgrounds is dedicated to producing shoes that are not only functional but also sustainable and cruelty-free, using eco-friendly materials that align with their ethical stance. All Feelgrounds shoes, including the Patrol Winter boots, are 100% vegan and REACH-certified, ensuring safe and non-toxic production standards.
Product Description
The Feelgrounds Patrol Winter Boots aim to combine a timeless work boot design with barefoot functionality. Made entirely from vegan materials, these boots are designed to keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable during the colder months. With their waterproof construction and grippy soles, they offer decent traction for snowy and rainy days. Available in a variety of colors, including dark brown and sand, they feature a medium fit that suits most foot shapes.
My Experience with the Feelgrounds Patrol Winter Boots
I’ll start by saying that these Patrol Winter boots aren’t my favorite from Feelgrounds, but they do have some positives. They are well made, with good attention to detail, and they certainly keep your feet warm. When combined with the felt insole, they provide excellent thermal care for cold days, which is ideal if you’re looking for boots to handle harsh winter conditions. The thicker sole, while less flexible than most barefoot shoes, offers decent grip and gives the boots a more durable, sturdy feel.
However, these boots do come with their drawbacks. One of the main issues I experienced was the comfort level. For a barefoot shoe, the Patrol Winter boots felt a little bit too clunky, which made them less practical for everyday wear. The sole is thicker than what you’d expect from most barefoot shoes, and this detracts from the ground feel that barefoot enthusiasts typically look for. While some people might enjoy the rugged, casual work boot style, I found them less versatile and a bit out of place in more casual, everyday settings.
The material is not too breathable, but this is typical of synthetic leather. After wearing them for a couple of hours, I noticed my feet were getting quite sweaty, which is not ideal, especially if you plan to wear them for longer periods. Putting the boots on was quite challenging, I found myself having to loosen the laces completely to get my foot in, and there is only a short tab to pull them on with – a loop would be much more helpful, and thankfully the revised model already has a finger loop.
The Positives
Despite the issues, there are some strong points to these boots. They are warm and waterproof, which is essential for winter footwear. The materials, although synthetic, are of high quality and feel durable. The new version of the boot (which I haven’t tested) has some improvements, including a more durable sole material and a revised pull tab, which are positive steps in the right direction. Feelgrounds seems to be listening to feedback and making necessary improvements, which is promising.
The Patrol Winter boots are perfect for those who prefer vegan shoes and are looking for an alternative to leather work boots. The dark brown color I had is a lovely chocolate shade, and the sand version resembles the classic Timberland style, offering a casual, rugged aesthetic that some may find appealing. They’re suitable for medium-width feet, and while they stretched enough to fit my wider right foot, the overall fit was still a little tight in the toe box.
The Negatives
However, as much as I wanted to love these boots, they didn’t quite meet my expectations for barefoot footwear. They feel a little too clunky and not as comfortable as many of the other barefoot shoes I’ve tried. The Patrol Winter boots look more like basic work boots than stylish, everyday footwear, and they lack the sleek design that many people associate with barefoot aesthetics. They feel more like a prototype than a well-refined product, and while they offer some barefoot benefits, they fall short of delivering the full barefoot experience.
For someone used to the flexibility and ground feel of barefoot shoes, the thick sole feels almost out of place. Yes, it’s still flat and zero-drop, but the overall sensation is bulkier than I expected.
Conclusion: Room for Improvement
In conclusion, while the Feelgrounds Patrol Winter boots do have their merits—warmth, vegan materials, and a sturdy, grippy sole—they are not without their flaws. The design could benefit from a more flexible, breathable construction, and a wider toe box to prevent discomfort. A proper pull loop would make them easier to get on, and more attention to heel stability would improve the overall fit.
For those looking for a vegan, waterproof boot for winter, these may still be worth considering, but they are not the most comfortable or versatile option within the barefoot shoe market. I would recommend Feelgrounds continue refining this model to make it more functional and foot-friendly. Until then, if warmth and vegan materials are your top priorities, these boots could work for you, but they may not be the best everyday barefoot shoe.
For those new to barefoot shoes or those who prioritise comfort and ease of wear, there may be better options in Feelgrounds’ range to explore.
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Brit👣