Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Milano Soft, the best Groundies barefoot shoes for minimalist style.

Features

This summer I got a pair of Vivobarefoot Gobi’s for the first time and I’ve been digging the minimal design, but I also wanted to try something less firm, so I asked Groundies for a pair of the Milano Soft to test…

…and they’ve got the same excellent flexibility, but, as for comfort, damn, these things win first prize for the most cozy barefoot shoes I’ve ever worn.

Upper/Inner

Because the Groundies Milano’s have a wide, foot-shaped toebox with a soft leather upper that conforms to your foot and subtle lacing.

Inside there’s a lightweight tongue and base for ground feel, and the leather is reinforced with a soft mircrofiber lining for durability.

Sole/Tread

Underneath you’ve got a 6.3mm zero-drop sole that’s highly flexible in all directions and a rounded tread for roads and light trails.

FYI, I went with the grey’s, but the Milano’s also come in brown, black, and blue, along with a firm version and extra-wide Barefoot+ styles.

Testing

My first impression of the Groundies Milano’s was that they felt a lot like the Vivobarefoot Gobi’s, but with a slightly wider and more stretchy upper that gave my toes room to spread out.

Walking

So they felt really natural going out for a walk on pavement, and even though the sole is a millimeter thicker than the Gobi’s, the rounded tread was as soft to walk on as the upper was to walk in.

That said, they weren’t as water resistant for wet grass.

Running

Technically the Groundies Milano’s are casual shoe, but after seeing my friend Andrew run in some old barefoot desert boots, I thought I’d give it a try, and, yea, they were actually nice for low-key milage.

Casual

Style wise the Milano’s are one of those barefoot shoes that gets away with looking classy and professional, while being comfortable enough to forget that you’re even wearing them.

So they also make a great indoor shoe if you’re looking for a slipper alternative in the wintertime.

Conclusion

Overall the Groundies Milano’s are a super comfy barefoot shoe that’s classic enough for work and versatile enough for long city walks.

Pros/Cons

Because the toebox is wide and stretchy, the tread is flexible yet durable, and upper is so light and soft that it’s like wearing nothing at all.

However, the soft upper doesn’t offer much protection, the thin leather is better for dry conditions, and the minimal tread isn’t mean hills or rough trails.

Alternatives

In terms of similar barefoot shoes…

Resources

If you want to support the channel, you can shop with the referral links above/below, or watch my Zero-Drop Transition video to learn more about barefooting.

Finally, if you have a question about the Groundies Milano’s, or about barefoot shoes in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading. Catch ya next time. Peace!