Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Ahinsa Slip-On, a lightweight strap sandal with an extra-wide vegan upper, thin padding, and minimal tread for casual and formal.

Features

Back in high school I got a pair of Birkenstocks and I liked the style so much that I kept wearing them nonstop into college, but when I got into barefoot shoes, the raised arch and stiff sole were less ideal.

So I asked Ahinsa for a pair of Slip-One Sandals, and with the roomy upper and thinner sole…

They’re basically what the Grateful Dead would wear if they retired from making psychedelic jams and started a classy freelance photography business for minimalist weddings.

Upper/Lining

Because the Ahinsa Slip-On Sandals have an extra-wide toebox with a synthetic CF+ vegan leather upper, broad multi-notch straps, and a smooth footbed that’s both water and stain-resistant, which make it easy to keep clean.

FYI, they run true to size, but I often go down with sandals, so I ended up getting the 43, which fit with plenty of room for my 10.5 in 26.67 cm feet.

Sole/Tread

Underneath you’ve got a 7.8mm zero-drop sole with moderate flexibility, which includes 6mm of semi-firm padding and a thin yet tough 1.8mm tread for walking on roads and light trails.

Testing

Initially, the 6mm of extra padding made the Ahinsa Slip-On Sandals somewhat firm, but I found that gently bending the sole back and forth with my hands helped speed up the wear-in process and improve flexibility.

Walking

So going out for a walk the footbed felt more protective, but still thin enough to pick up some nice sensation from little stones here and there.

Branching off onto trails the thin 1.8mm tread handled rocks and gravel surprisingly well, and although slip-on sandals aren’t really meant for hiking, it’s worth noting that my foot did tend to slide backward on hills or longer walks.

Casual/Formal

Unfortunately, no one I knew got married while I was testing the Ahinsa Sandals, but they did look super classy paired with some rolled-up chinos, and unlike Birkenstocks, which have a stiff raised arch, the flat, semi-firm padding felt great being on my feet for long periods of time.

Also, where the curved cork of my old Birkenstocks used to become a sweaty swamp in hot weather, the Ahinsa Slip-On Sandals were more open, allowing moisture to escape out the sides, and highly water-resistant, making them easy to wipe clean with a cloth.

Conclusion

Overall the Ahinsa Slip-On Sandals are a great vegan option for anyone who wants a stylish upper for formal or business, while still retaining some ground feel.

Pros/Cons

Because the toebox is extra-wide with plenty of strap space for adjustment, the CF+ fabric looks almost exactly like regular leather, and the 7.8mm zero-drop sole provides a much better blend of freedom and flexibility compared to traditional Birkenstock style sandals.

However, the wider shape may be too roomy for narrow feet, the CF+ footbed can get a little slippery in hot conditions, and the sole could benefit from a slight embed, which would increase flexibility and security for longer walks.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot casual sandals…

Resources

If you’d like to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links below, browse and filter more products with the shoe finder tool at my website barefootwear.org, or watch my Zero-Drop Transition video to learn more about going barefoot.

Finally, if you have a question about the Ahinsa Slip-On Sandals, or about minimal footwear in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, catch ya next time. Peace!