Our barefoot shoes free your feet to move naturally. You will immediately feel the improvement in comfort and performance.
It's not about what barefoot shoes do, it's what about they don't do. They don't squeeze your toes. They don't elevate your heel. They don't overly cushion your feet from feeling the ground beneath you. Barefoot shows allow your feet to move and function as designed: strong, stable, and sensory.
We design all our shoes with a foot-shaped toebox to support balance and posture, a thin outsole to enable coordination and agility, and natural flexibility to unlock strength and movement.
Podiatrist Approved
Northwest Foot & Ankle is a renowned sports podiatry clinic located in Portland, OR. Inventors of the original "Correct Toes" toe spacer, they review barefoot shoes based on foot health. The Ascent scored perfect 10s across the board.
Let customers speak for us
from 426 reviews
2 years of daily wear and counting
I got these shoes 2 years ago and wear them most days. Very satisfied. They have a lot of life left, but I just started thinking I needed to make sure the company was still in business for when I eventually need a replacement. Thank you for making durable shoes!
The best everyday barefoot shoes and its not even close. Ive tried all the big brands and these are the best quality, best fitting, best looking barefoot shoes you can get.
I’ve been struggling with finding comfortable shoes for a long time. Especially dressy casual shoes. I could wear these all day they’re so comfortable! And stylish too
I can’t say enough good things. The fit, look, build, all top notch. I’m curious to know if Icarus plans on expanding their line to include more colors and styles.
I like these shoes a lot. The fact that each purchase includes three different thicknesses of soles and toe spacers makes it unlike any other shoe brand that I am aware of. Also, the fact that they are foot-shaped to accommodate the splay of toes with spacers makes them more comfortable than a regular shoe. Plus, they look great. So its both functional and cool - I recommend this brand to anyone looking for a minimalist shoe. I am definitely telling friends about these going forward for sure!
I was incredibly surprised on how well the shoe fit as well as how it looked. The design of it is super sexy and most importantly, really comfortable. I really appreciated all of the options of the insoles to vary the level of minimalism. Looking forward to wearing these more.
I Only Wear Wide Toe Box/0 Drop - Tried All Main Options - Super Stoked to Find These - Better Qu...
Quality 10/10 The construction is levels up from the Olukai and Xero shoes I wear. The sole is much better quality which you feel right away. The presentation and care and thought that has been put into the package and accessories, I've never seen something like it. To send out with 3 options for insoles is awesome. I feel like I'm always chasing just the right balance of casual wide toe box shoes that can be worn with a dressier outfit, or just out for dancing at live music, and the best I had before these are not as cool as the Icarus Ascent Gen 2. I really like how they have the zero drop somewhat minimal, but have such a good quality sole the also feel like you get support differently then other brands, but just the right amount.
Stoked to have these as a new shoe to add to just two other type shoes I ever wear, as I had only found 2 that are so comfortable I just gave up on all random other shoes used to wear. And I love that the outside of sole isn't white, and the also perfectly fit my high end custom orthotics.
Grateful for the time and effort that was put into designing and manufacturing this shoe.
I got these shoes 2 years ago and wear them most days. Very satisfied. They have a lot of life left, but I just started thinking I needed to make sure the company was still in business for when I eventually need a replacement. Thank you for making durable shoes!
The best everyday barefoot shoes and its not even close. Ive tried all the big brands and these are the best quality, best fitting, best looking barefoot shoes you can get.
Was initially concerned about the size of the Icarus footwear because of the space in front of my big toe. I wore them around the house for the first time today and they are fine. If your second toe is longer than the big toe - you need to measure from the second toe to heel to get the correct length and don’t worry about a little space in front of the big toe. If you have to, wear heavier socks. Your feet will thank you. I am usually a EU40 or Women’s 9.5 - and the Ascent Gen 2, size M8/W9.5, EU 39/40 fit great for my “mountain shape toes”.
I loved the look of the Icarus Ascent Gen 2 Black leather shoes! The foot-shaped toe box was not so pronounced as my Altra Lone Peak 9 trail shoes, so the Icarus shoes would be good for a bit more dressy occasions where I’d like to have leather shoes,
My feet, hips, knees feel best in zero-drop shoes, but I would like hiking shoes and dress shoes that have natural foot shape and zero drop. Unfortunately, the Icarus Ascent Gen 2 didn’t fit well with my Tread Lab insoles that support my extra-high arches.
I had a pair of the Gen 1s and they were awesome. I literally wore them into the ground. Super comfortable right out of the box and I was constantly getting compliments. The maroon lace accent was a really nice touch too.
Just got the new pair and they’re definitely a bit stiffer at first and didn’t slide on quite as easily. I had to loosen the laces a little, but honestly just wearing them on the drive to the gym broke them in a good amount. They still have that amazing wide toe-box feel, but somehow look more streamlined on foot. My feet actually look smaller in these compared to most shoes which I like because a lot of shoes make me feel like I’m rocking clown feet.
One thing I noticed is the toe box flex isn’t quite as forgiving as Gen 1. Movements like Bulgarian split squats or deep toe-flexion stuff feel a little uncomfortable but it's only day one. But if you’re not doing that kind of training, it probably just means fewer creases and longer-lasting shape.
Also — the packaging is next level. Multiple insole options, extra laces, socks, toe spacers… honestly wild value for $140.
Overall, Icarus absolutely nailed it. Great shoe. I’m pumped to see more colorways. Earth tones, charcoal, khaki… I’d wear these everywhere. They look legit.
ICARUS footwear
Matthew Loewen
Perfect Shoe
So far this shoe exceeds all expectations. I've tried a lot of "barefoot" style shoes over the years, and really have a hard time finding ones that look decent enough to wear all the time. And I saw a crossfitter wearing these, not even knowing they were barefoot style, I just liked the looks of them. So I bought them and they are perfect! I can spread my feet out, and they look really cool. If they wear in well, I'll see myself wearing these out and continually keep coming back for these shoes in the future.
Ascent Gen 2
Emily Pinto
Great shoes
Love the shoes - comfortable and fit my arched insoles nicely for my plantar fasciitis.
Leather is nice quality and I can tell I'll love them more as they break in and loosen up.
Thanks for the teachers discount - I expect them to last me a long time but I'll definitely purchase again down the line.
Ascent Gen 2
Joe Picotte
Buy these shoes.
I purchased two pairs of the Gen 2 leather trainers and I’ve gotta tell you I am blown away. These are absolutely my favorite sneakers I’ve owned. I’ve been wearing the Correct Toes toe spacers for a couple of years now and have been consistently struggling to find a high quality pair of shoes that actually allowed me to continue using the spacers while wearing. I’m happy to report that my search is over! These kicks look great, are plenty wide for whichever spacers you prefer (the Correct Toes are one of the larger/bulkier options and they fit comfortably), and are constructed of clearly premium materials. I eagerly look forward to years of wearing the product and supporting the brand. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next! Thank you Icarus for bringing such a great shoe to the wide-toe market.
Ascent Gen 2
Thomas
Best quality/cost factor in barefoot market. I LOVE these shoes. I have them in white/red and black/gold and they are my go to for work and going out. I know others work out in them but I opted for longer use, and they did not disappoint. Purchased in 12/22 and still wearing the same white/red shoes and black/gold I got through pre-order. Can not be happier. Shoe pics from a post cleaning 2.5 years after purchase.
