Sainsbury’s Kids Barefoot Trainers: Are These Supermarket Budget Shoes Any Good?
Supermarkets are getting in on the action! Barefoot shoes are becoming more and more mainstream, but will the brands that sell conventional shoes really commit to making truly barefoot shoes? Established brands in the barefoot market have years of experience in their relatively niche customer base. Let’s see if this major supermarket can compete with them, in this review for the Sainsbury’s kids barefoot trainers.
Quick Summary:
Brand: Sainsbury’s own Tu clothing brand (UK based)
Sainsbury’s kids barefoot trainers Review Verdict: Incredible price and one of the few easily accessible in-store options in the UK. Let down slightly by the lack of width in the toe box, but otherwise not a bad option for a cheap, synthetic toddler shoe.
New to Barefoot Shoes? See beginner resources below:
Barefoot brand directory. Listings and info on retailers.
First Impressions
Due to the unseasonably warm weather, I needed a stopgap trainer until my toddler can wear his Tipsietoes Boots full time. After being on the fence about some high-street options, weighing up price versus how narrow the ‘barefoot’ toe boxes are, I settled on a newly released Sainsbury’s option.
For £15 I took a gamble, as the website images didn’t show the toe box shape clearly. These are available in-store! A rarity for barefoot shoes. I clicked and collected ahead of time and they were available the following morning. At first the shoes look awfully narrow to my eyes – I’m used to wider toe boxes. Otherwise they looked appealing with their faux-suede and nice grassy green colour. The colour options are a grassy green, hot pink, beige, and black. They also have a‘high top’ barefoot boot that I’m yet to try, but look promising.
They appeared flexible and lightweight, so despite the slightly sloped toe box I decided to keep them instead of return them. Thankfully they don’t constrict toes as I purchased with extra growing room.
Fit & Sizing
The size chart very helpfully gives a foot length recommendation, making it easier to find the right size. Returns are easy via Tu, as is the purchasing itself. I am reviewing the infant size 8, which fits with some growing room for my toddler with feet just over 150mm.
They are fairly cushioned around the ankle, but not too bulky or heavy. The base of the tongue inside where it is sewn is rather cushioned due to the amount of material. This bothered my kids slightly at first, but he soon ignored it. You can see the slight bump in that area in some side-on images.
They are decently flexible and the sole isn’t particularly thick or rigid,
While not as tapered as conventional shoes, the toe box is rounded more than I would like to see on a barefoot shoe. The outer side is particularly sloped, making them less useful for children with wider toe splays and those with squarer toe profiles. These may be outgrown sooner as a result of the toe box shape rather than toes approaching the very end of the shoe. They are certainly a huge improvement over their usual shoe options and were suitable for my toddler’s feet.
Design & Construction
For a £15 barefoot shoe, my expectations of quality are low. Despite that, I was pleasantly surprised. Of course they are synthetic outside and in, but the build quality isn’t bad at all. They haven’t fully been through the ringer, but they are holding up well to general toddler outings.
They are fairly cushioned around the ankle, but not too bulky or heavy. The base of the tongue inside where it is sewn is rather cushioned due to the amount of material. This bothered my kids slightly at first, but he soon ignored it. You can see the slight bump in that area in some images.
The laces are elasticated and there is a single velcro strap at the top. This makes them easy enough for a child to get on and off themselves and means the fit is relatively adjustable.
Aesthetically they look pretty good with their sporty looking stitched details and a white section at the Achilles to break up the single coloured shoe. Note the stitching on top of the toe box is shaped to make the shoe look less ‘foot shaped’ – ideal for those still wanting more conventional appearing shoes. The green is vibrant enough to be interesting but still muted enough to be supremely wearable.
I’ve included a comparison photo with the size 8 Sainsbury’s trainer and a slightly longer Tipsietoes boot in size 9. You can clearly see the differing toe box shape – Tipsietoes has a much more foot-shaped profile, for most people’s feet.
Usage & Final Thoughts
They are good for general wear, but perhaps not suited for very damp weather. The faux suede is not water repellent, although mud should hopefully come off with brushing when dry. The moulded sole is a good choice for a kid’s shoe and offers some protection from the elements (and toddler activities!)
These are a good trainer option for budget conscious parents. An excellent option for those wanting to start out their kids in barefoot shoes! They are genuinely barefoot, if a little narrow at the toes, and are a very tempting option considering that they are available instantly if in stock as your local Sainsbury’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Sainsbury’s Kids Barefoot Trainers easy for a young child to take on and off themselves?
Yes – they’re low on the ankle with elastic laces and a single velcro closure at the top. Depending on your child’s current ability, of course!
Are Sainsbury’s kids barefoot trainers good as school shoes?
They do have a plain black option here, but it will depend on your school’s uniform policy. They do look like trainers. The black features mixed textures compared to the green and pink, as they have a smooth synthetic and faux-suede upper.
Do Sainsbury’s make adult barefoot shoes?
Not at the time of writing this article. Most already-established brands that are newcomers to the barefoot world tend to start with children’s shoes. People can be more easily convinced to care about their child’s foot health than their own, perhaps! Some go on to extend into adult sizing, but there is no guarantee (e.g., Zara – check out an adult trainer review here).
How do Sainsbury’s barefoot kids trainers compare with specialist barefoot shoes?
You will seriously struggle to find any devoted barefoot brand selling shoes at this price point! Sainsbury’s are cornering the budget end of the market and at £15 will probably see some success. In terms of barefoot attributes (click here to learn what these are), they are zero drop, moderately flexible and lightweight, with a slightly narrower and more tapered toe box than you tend to see on specialist barefoot brands. Material quality is low, as per the low cost, but not any worse than other plastic barefoot shoes.
Do Sainsbury’s barefoot kids trainers run true to size?
Firstly, if you can avoid going by ‘shoe size’ (e.g., UK 8 or EU 23 or US 12 etc) then DO. Any other actual measurement of the shoe or foot is preferred, which Sainsbury’s helpfully provide as a recommended foot length. Obviously, buy the ones where you child’s foot measurement is at the bottom of the range if you want growing room. Click here for a guide that includes how to measure feet.
Are Sainsbury’s barefoot kids trainers available in store?
Yes!! At the time of this article, the green and black colour options were available in my local store’s Tu clothing section. Note that the rest of their shoe range, unless specified as ‘barefoot’, tends to be narrow-toed, stiff shoes.
