Hello, my name’s Andrew, and these are the Magical Alaskan’s, a lightweight barefoot boot for winter casual with a quick zip and cozy insulation.

1. Features

Lately I reviewed the featherlight Ahinsa Jaya’s and the rugged BeLenka Winter Boots, but I wanted to find something with a bit of both.

So I asked Magical Shoes for a pair of their Alaskan boots to test, and they’re basically the dog-walking, errand-running, trail-exploring, do-it-all boots of winter barefooting.

Fit/Form

Because they’ve also got a classic minimalist design, but with a full-zip, wide toebox, and super flexible 6.5mm tread and semi-aggressive lugs.

Materials

Outside you’ve got a soft leather upper with rugged waxed laces, and inside there’s a water-resistant membrane with wool insulation.

FYI, mine are chestnut, but the Alaskan’s also come in bay, palomino, black, brown, and grey.

2. Performance

Like the Ahinsa Jaya the Magical Alaskan’s are so flexible you can literally run in them, although, obviously, they’re not meant for that.

Sole/Tread

Also, while the Alaskan’s aren’t as aggressive as the BeLenka Winter Boot, they are more versatile.

Because the lugs are flat enough for roads but angled enough to give you traction for casual hiking, and the membrane keeps your feet dry slogging through muddy grass.

Activities

Finally, the wool insulation is warmer than any barefoot boot I’ve tried, but the puffiness improves airflow, so you don’t overheat going inside…

…and the zipper might seem like a small thing, but when you’re in a rush or struggling for dog walking motivation at 6 am it’s a big help!

Conclusion

Overall the Magical Alaskan is great do-it-all barefoot shoe to get you through winter.

Pros/ Cons

Because it’s super light and flexible with a convenient zip design, breathable insulation, and hybrid tread for roads and trails.

That said, it’s not fully waterproof and while the shoe itself is wide, the toebox is a little more pointy, so I’d go up a size if you want more room.

Alternatives

In terms of alternatives…

Resources

If you want to check out any of the barefoot boots we covered you can support the channel by shopping with the links here…

…and if you have questions about the Magical Alaskan, or about barefoot shoes in general, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading. Stay Magical. Peace!