About BarefootReview.
BarefootReview is an independent editorial publication that tests and ranks barefoot and zero-drop footwear, founded in 2019 by professional athlete and model Dominic Hartley. We've reviewed 147 pairs across 50+ brands, reach 1.2M+ annual readers in 60 countries, and are the only barefoot publication run by a sub-3-hour marathoner who also walks runways.
Who we are
A barefooter family. Mom, Dad & a 3-year-old testing barefoot shoes.
BarefootReview is an editorial-first review site focused on a single, narrow brief: honest, performance-driven reviews of barefoot footwear, written for people who actually depend on their feet. We cover performance running, trail & hiking, lifestyle, sandals and boots. and we rank brands across 10 curated categories.
By the numbers
Founder & leadership
Dominic Hartley. Founder & Lead Reviewer. Sub-3-hour marathoner, working print and runway model, and full-time mover. Seven years exclusively in barefoot footwear. Connect on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Editorial panel. A rotating group of trail runners, podiatrists and parent-testers contribute long-term wear notes on every flagship pair. See the full credit list on each field report.
What we publish
- Brand reviews. Long-form, scored 0–10 across ground feel, toe-box width, durability, style and value. See the full brand index.
- Category listicles. 10 ranked lists covering runners, trail, hiking, kids, moms, sandals, wide toe box, "doesn't look barefoot", under €150 and best rated. Hub at /lists.
- Field reports & comparisons. Head-to-heads, transition guides and long-term durability follow-ups on the blog.
- Tools. The Shoe Finder and the barefoot brand index.
Milestones
- 2019. BarefootReview founded by Dominic Hartley after a stress-fracture rehab pushed him into zero-drop training shoes.
- 2021. First 50-brand index published. Reached 100K annual readers.
- 2023. Reader base crossed 500K/year. Launched the Shoe Finder tool.
- 2024. Editorial panel formalised. 100 pairs tested milestone passed.
- 2025. 1M+ annual readers across 60 countries. 10-category ranking framework launched.
How we test
We buy most pairs at retail. When a brand sends a sample, we say so in the review. Every shoe gets a minimum 50-mile wear period. running, training, modelling, travelling. before it earns a verdict. Scoring is consistent across the catalogue so cross-brand comparisons are honest. Read the full methodology on the Transparency page.
Editorial independence & affiliate disclosure
BarefootReview is reader-supported. Some outbound links are affiliate links. they never influence the verdict or the ranking order. Full policy on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
Press, partnerships & contact
For brand collaborations, press requests and editorial enquiries, see Business Enquiries. For everything else: dom@barefootreview.com.
Last updated: June 2026.