Clogs are one of those shoes you don’t realize you need… until you slip them on and wonder how you lived without them.

I’d been eyeing the Birkenstock Boston clogs since they were so cute and seemed foot-shaped, but after a quick try-on, there was no way my feet were putting up with that stiff, contoured footbed. Then I found the Birkenstock Lutry—same vibe, but the cork insole was easily removable. Naturally, I swapped out the contoured cork footbed for a flat one to make it barefoot-friendly, and gave them a shot.

No surprise: I loved them. They’re perfect for quick errands, stepping outside, or just padding around the house during the winter.

And the good news? You don’t have to DIY your way into a foot-shaped clog anymore. There are now a handful of barefoot clogs that are wide, flexible, zero-drop, and ready to wear right out of the box. Easy on, easy off, made with natural materials, and even available in some fun colors.

What Makes a Clog Barefoot-Approved?

Just like with other barefoot shoes, there are a few things I look for in a clog:

• Wide toe box – Your toes should be able to splay and move freely, not get squished.
• Zero drop – That means no heel rise. Your foot stays in its natural position.
• Flexible sole – The sole should bend and twist easily, not feel like a brick.
• Thin sole (optional) – For more ground feel, though some clog lovers prefer a slightly thicker sole for comfort.

Top Picks for Barefoot Clogs

Let’s dive right in! Here are my favorites when it comes to comfy, foot-shaped clogs.

Best Style: Birkenstock Lutry Clogs

Suede uppers | EU35 – 48 | $150

You don’t often get to stick with the original name brand when switching to barefoot shoes, so it’s a nice surprise that you can actually make a pair of Birkenstocks more foot-friendly. Most Birkenstocks have the cork footbed glued in and built into the structure of the shoe, but on the Lutry, the cork insole simply pops out. I have a full post on how to remove it and suggestions for what to replace it with, because once it’s out, you’re left with quite a bit of extra space to fill. The good news: the remaining rubber sole is surprisingly flexible.

The suede uppers are soft but structured, especially around the toes, which helps keep the shape even without the original footbed.

Sizing: I opted for the EU37 clog (which lists a length of 24cm), which fits with both my 23.3cm feet with both the cork insole and once I add a thick and fluffy sheepskin insole. If I were going to go for a more minimal insole, I’d likely size down, but I’d still have some extra volume to fill in.

Best fit for: The Lutry clog comes in Birkenstock’s Medium/Narrow width in smaller sizes and Regular/Wide in larger ones. My EU37 pair in the Medium/Narrow width actually felt quite roomy, especially after removing the thick cork footbed. They’re best suited to medium to wide feet and higher volume, though you can easily adjust the fit with different insoles to accommodate lower volume feet too.

Shipping: Birkenstock has the widest selection of Lutry clogs plus free shipping when you become a Birkenstock member. A limited selection is also available at REI which offers free shipping and free returns in store (or $7.99 for shipped returns).

Best Cozy: Be Flamboyant Vegan Clog

Vegan leather uppers | Vegan shearling lining | EU36 – 46 | $149 | KELLY10 for 10% off

I saw these barefoot clogs earlier this year, and couldn’t wait until they came back in stock. Be Flamboyant is a vegan Spanish brand (doesn’t it seem like all of the vegan brands with great style are coming out of Spain?!). All of their shoes have the look of a chunkier sole, but most, including these vegan, shearling-lined clogs, have just a 5mm outsole. They’re the coziest barefoot clogs! There’s also a 3mm removable insole; but don’t worry, if you need to remove it for more volume, the clog is finished with shearling lining underneath, so you get that coziness no matter what.

I opted for size EU38, which is a great fit for me, even with the additional lining, included insole, and a pair of socks. I’m so excited to keep slipping these on as the days get cooler.

Use code KELLY10 for 10% off at Be Flamboyant.

Best Minimal: Mukishoes Soca Clog

Suede uppers | EU36 – 48 | €89 | Code KELLYMUKI for 10% off

Mukishoes recently released the Soca Clog which looks similar to the Birkenstock Boston clog (or technically, the Tokio, since it has a back strap), but with a much more minimal barefoot design. Both the upper and footbed are made of soft suede, which feels amazing, but the uppers do have a lot less structure and sturdiness compared to a Birkenstock. They feel more delicate, almost leaning towards a slipper. The sole is incredibly flexible, but there is a touch of cushion thanks to the cork midsole. Mukishoes released a cozier version in the fall made out of wool.

Mukishoes pulled in a lot of great elements from the inspiration design, including adjustable buckles across the top of the foot and at the heel. I also appreciate the structured toe box—it helps the clog maintain its shape and gives your toes room to move.

The one detail I’m not totally sold on is the strip of leather that extends up the back of the heel by about 1.5cm. On traditional Birkenstocks, that area is reinforced by the molded cork heel cup, but here it’s just soft suede with no backing, and doesn’t really add function. I can’t help but wonder if a fully open back would have made more sense.

Sizing: Sizing-wise, I think a EU37.5 would be ideal for me. I went with an EU38 (my usual size in their tennis shoes), and they feel a bit roomy without socks—but just right when I wear them with socks. Come fall, these will likely be my barefoot clogs of choice!

Best fit for: They fit medium to wide feet and can fit adjust to higher volume. I have a high instep, and I’m using the smallest top buckle. 

Shipping: You can order these directly from Mukishoes, and use code KELLYMUKI for 10% off. Shipping is about €25. If you’re in the US, barefoot retailer PedTerra offers them at a slightly higher price point with free shipping and free returns. Use code KELLY for 10% off at PedTerra.

Best for Outdoors: Bedrock Mountain Clogs

Women’s US6 – Men’s US14 | $160 – $175

These are the durable, adventure-ready take on the everyday clog. With a wide toe box, zero drop, and a Vibram Megagrip sole, they strike a nice balance between barefoot functionality and all-terrain capability. You can wear them loose like a slip-on or use the strap for a more secure fit. They come in nubuck, suede, or synthetic suede uppers.

They’re a bit stiffer than your average barefoot shoe due to the thicker, heavily lugged sole, but these are for the outdoors after all. Think of these as your favorite clogs to hang around the campsite or cabin, your recover slide after a long hike, or the ones you throw on to putz around the garden. Despite their thicker stack height, these still have enough flexibility that I don’t think you’re massively compromising on natural movement.

They’re easy to throw on, but tough enough for just about anything. If you’ve been looking for a barefoot-friendly clog that actually performs outside, this is it.

Sizing: These run a little small and only come in full sizes, so I’d recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes. I found the Women’s size 7 a little small, so the 8 was a better fit. The volume felt good on my higher instep, and I like that these are adjustable with a strap similar to the Bedrock Sandals.

Best fit for: They fit medium to wide feet and can fit adjust to higher volume.

Shipping: These are available directly from Bedrock, with free shipping and free returns in the US (so you don’t have to sweat the fit so much!). They also have a more limited selection available at REI, which often has stock in-store for try ons, as well as free in-store returns.

Best Customizable: Drifter Leather Solis Clogs

EU36 – 42 | €130

Drifter Leather is a barefoot shoe brand that periodically offers both ready-to-ship and custom-fitting barefoot shoes. If you’ve been having a hard time find the perfect fit for you, send your foot measurements or a tracing to help the Drifter Leather adjust the clog to better suit your foot. I opted for their standard fit in this clog, and found that the the leather uppers are low volume over the toes (as you can see below) and start out a little stiff, so I’ve been needing to break them in both to soften them up and stretch them out. I do wish they’d increase some volume at the toes, and even add a bit more structure here at the front (like the new Mukishoes or Birkenstock clogs).

These clogs use a 5mm Superflex Vibram sole that strike a great balance of cushioning, bounce, and flexibility.

The back straps have built in elastic, and secure with metal rivets with two holes on each side for adjustability. Even though they rivets are covered by leather, they’re still a bit pronounced on the inside. I may add a small piece of moleskin for extra padding. You can also remove the back strap entirely to wear them as slides.

I’m wearing these in the purple glicine color, but they also come in black, brown and burgundy.

Best fit for: Standard sizing is best fit for medium width and medium volume (lower over the toes, and slightly tight over the top of my higher instep). As these can be customizable, you can work with them to get the best fit possible.

Sizing: I’m wearing an EU37, which feels like the right length if I can scoot my foot to the front of the shoe. Because of the low volume at the toes, my feet end up getting pushed back a bit. As the leather is stretching and softening, they are become a better fit.

More Barefoot Clogs

If you didn’t find quite what you’re looking for in this list above, here are a few more options including slip-ons.

SaguarO SeRENE Mules

EU36 – 44 | $61 | KELLY15 for 15% off

These are backless, so technically mules rather than clogs. As with most of Saguaro’s lineup, they’re a more affordable option—which also means they use lower-cost materials, like the microfiber uppers you see here.

Saguaro

barebound ikaros

EU35 – 44 | $188

This is another clog I haven’t had a chance to try yet, but they look like they use the same outsole as the Lang.S Mira T-Bar flats and the Kombat Boots. I’ve loved this sole–it has a great chunky look, but is still pretty lightweight and flexible.

Barebound

RuBY BAREFOOT

EU35 – 43 | $84 | KELLY35 for 35% off

Handmade leather barefoot clogs crafted in Turkey and sold on Etsy. They run large, and the front panel offers less coverage than most clogs—it doesn’t extend as far over the top of the foot—so the fit is quite adjustable thanks to the long back strap. That said, I still have a lot of extra sole length in my EU37, and would size down to an EU36 for my 23.3cm feet next time.

Ruby

earthing harmony mules

US6 – 15 | $135 | KELLY for $10 off

This is another convenient slip-on option, but it does compromise on some barefoot features—most notably, the lack of a back strap means the fit isn’t as secure. They feature leather uppers and a leather sole with a copper grounding plug. These leather soles start out quite slippery and need to be scuffed up for better traction, very similar to the Feelbarefoot Etsy brand.

earthing harmony

Final Thoughts

If you thought you had to give up clogs when switching to barefoot shoes, I hope this guide helps you find a barefoot version you love.

Have a barefoot clog you love that I didn’t mention? Let me know—I’m always looking for more to test!

The post The Best Barefoot Clogs: Comfy, Easy, and Actually Foot-Shaped appeared first on Barefoot Shoe Guide.

Clogs are trending right now, and they’re an easy, comfy style to pair with a casual outfit. The Birkenstock Lutry is a cute and well-made clog, but like all Birkenstocks, it comes with an overly stiff and supportive cork insole. For someone that wears barefoot shoes, it feels more like a cast than a shoe.  I want my feet to be able to move naturally, and the cork insole makes that impossible.

Luckily, the insole is pretty easy to pop out on the Lutry clog, and you’re left with a slip-on shoe that has a nice, wide toe box and a pretty flexible sole. I replaced the cork with a wool insole that I cut down for size, and now I have a cozy, comfortable barefoot clog that’s good for my feet.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on one of them, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, read our full disclosure.

Are Birkenstocks barefoot?

No, Birkenstocks aren’t considered barefoot shoes. While they have a wide toe box and a natural foot shape, their thick cork footbed is very stiff and includes arch support and a raised toe bar—all features that limit natural foot movement and ground feel. True barefoot shoes are completely flat from heel-to-toe without any added support, flexible, and allow your feet to move naturally.

Why use the Birkenstock Lutry?

It’s true, there are barefoot clogs that don’t need any modifications. But, none of them quite fit the style and quality I was looking for. Birkenstock shoes are known for being exceptionally well-made, and as someone that typically can’t buy the conventional, trendy brand, it was an easy way to modify the shoe and get exactly what I wanted.

While these Birkenstock clogs are a similar price point to many of the barefoot clogs, it’s more likely that you’ll be able to find them on sale. For example, I purchased mine for $80 during their Black Friday sale.

When the cork insole is removed, the Lutry fits all of the barefoot features that I look for. The remaining rubber soles is zero drop and flexible. They’re also really wide. Birkenstocks are often available in two widths: Medium/Narrow and Regular/Wide. The women’s sizes for the Lutry are Birkenstock’s Medium/Narrow width, but it’s actually very wide. For example, when I cut down the wool insole for my EU37 Lutry, the width was 9.6cm. This is wider than most of the barefoot shoes I own. The men’s Lutry is available in the Regular/Wide width, so some sizes are available in both widths.

Step-by-Step Instructions on converting your Birkenstock Lutry Clogs in to Barefoot Shoes

Here’s how to make your own barefoot clogs from the Birkenstock Lutry.

1. Figure out your size for the Lutry clogs when the cork insole is removed
   • I wear an EU37 in a Birkenstock sandal or clog with the cork insole included. The EU37 is supposed to have 24cm of usable insole space. I opted for the same size (EU37) in the Lutry clog as I planned to added a thicker wool insole to add warmth, cushion, and take up some of the excess space. Because the cork insole cups the heel at the back, there’s a lot of extra room once you take it out. When I traced and cut out the wool insole as a replacement, it was about 25cm long, so you can plan on about 1cm of extra space when you remove the cork insole.
   • Wool: When I’m wearing a 5mm thick wool insole and a pair of thicker wool socks, size EU37 fits me a little loose. If I double stack them to 10mm and only have a thin sock, it’s a pretty good fit. I have a higher instep, so if you have a lower instep/low volume foot, you’ll likely need an even thicker insole to take up room in the shoe, or size down.
   • Sheepskin: The sheepskin insole takes up a lot more room, so that plus a pair of medium wool socks offered the best fit for me. The sheepskin will compress over time, so it may end up starting to feel a little loose after more wear. I’ll check back in and update if it does!
   • If I wasn’t planning on adding as thick of an insole, then I’d probably want to size down.
   • I’ve seen the women’s sizes listed as medium/narrow, and the men’s as regular/wide. For my medium width feet, the medium/narrow width is pretty roomy.
2. Order your Clogs
   • Birkenstock has the biggest selection, but you can also order them from a few other retailers, like REI.
3. Remove the Cork Insole:
   • Pop out the cork insole from your Lutry clog. Since it’s not glued or attached, it comes out without damaging the shoe, but you do need to maneuver it around a bit. The leather goes all the way around the back of the shoe, so this doesn’t affect the structure.
4. Buy a wool or sheepskin insole:
   • Felted wool or sheepskin insoles are two of the best options as they’ll both take up some of the excess volume in the shoe, and keep your feet warm.
   • Wool: I purchased the largest size in this wool insole to ensure I’d have enough room in the toe box.
   • Sheepskin: These are a good option for an affordable sheepskin insole.
   • Find a comprehensive list of insoles for barefoot shoes here.
5. Trace the Cork Insole:
   • Lay the cork insole on top of your wool or sheepskin insole. Use a marker or pen to trace its outline onto the wool. This will ensure you cut the insole to the exact size and shape of the original.
6. Cut the Wool Insole:
   • Using scissors, carefully cut along the outline you traced. If you didn’t trace, simply cut the wool insole down bit by bit, testing the fit inside the clog as you go. Since the most sheepskin insoles are the sheepskin layer sown onto a layer of felt, I made sure to trace my outline so I would only be cutting at the front. After the cut, these two layers are obviously no longer sewn together at that part, but I haven’t had any issues with anything moving around as most of it is still sewn together.
7. Insert the New Insole:
   • Place the trimmed insole into the clog. Adjust as needed to ensure it lies flat and fits snugly.
8. Test the Fit:
   • Put on the clogs and take a few steps to check the fit and comfort. If necessary, remove the insole and trim any areas that feel too snug.

By replacing the cork insole in your Birkenstock Lutry clogs with a wool or sheepskin insole, you’re transforming them into a more flexible, barefoot-friendly option. This simple modification supports natural foot function while maintaining the timeless style of your clogs. Give it a try and enjoy the freedom and comfort of your customized footwear!

Can you make the Birkenstock Boston Clogs barefoot?

While a skilled cobbler could technically remove the cork insole of the Birkenstock Boston to make it more flexible and barefoot-friendly, it’s a much more involved process than the Lutry clog. On a Boston clog (or even the Tokio), The cork footbed is glued directly to the outsole and provides much of the shoe’s structure. Removing it would mean carefully ungluing and scraping out the cork, which is time-consuming—and you’d still need to replace it with something that adds a bit of structure and fills the space.

That’s why the Lutry clog is so much easier for a DIY barefoot conversion: the cork insole isn’t glued in, and the suede upper wraps around the back of the heel, giving the shoe enough structure to swap in a thinner, more flexible insole.

Clogs from Barefoot Shoe Brands

If you’d rather opt directly for a clog from a barefoot shoe brand, check these out. I’ve created a more detailed review of barefoot clogs right here.

BEDROCK MOUNTAIN Clogs

Women’s US6 – Men’s US14 | $160 – $175

These are the durable, adventure-ready take on the everyday clog. With a wide toe box, zero drop, and a Vibram Megagrip sole, they strike a nice balance between barefoot functionality and all-terrain capability. You can wear them loose like a slip-on or use the strap for a more secure fit. They come in nubuck, suede, or synthetic suede uppers.

They’re a bit stiffer than your average barefoot shoe due to the thicker, heavily lugged sole, but still flexible enough to move naturally. They’re easy to throw on, but tough enough for just about anything. If you’ve been looking for a barefoot-friendly clog that actually performs outside, this is it.

BEDROCK clogs

REI

Be Flamboyant vegan clog

EU36 – 46 | $149 | KELLY10 for 10% off

Be Flamboyant is a Spanish brand that makes vegan barefoot shoes with a chunkier-looking sole. Most of their soles are just 5mm. These are the coziest barefoot clogs, lined with faux shearling. I wear the EU38, which is a great fit for me.

Be Flamboyant

MUKISHOES SOCA CLOGS

EU36 – 48 | €89 | Code KELLYMUKI for 10% off

This style is similar to the Boston—or technically, the Tokio, since it has a back strap—but with a much more minimal barefoot design. Both the upper and footbed are made of soft suede, plus a cork midsole that adds a touch of cushion. They pulled in a lot of great elements from the original Birk design, including adjustable buckles across the top of the foot and at the heel. I also appreciate the structured toe box—it helps the clog maintain its shape and gives your toes room to move. Read a full review here including fit and sizing tips.

Mukishoes soca

DRIFTER LEATHER SOLIS Clogs

EU36 – 42 | €130

Drifter Leather is a smaller barefoot shoe brand that periodically offers both ready-to-ship and custom-fitting barefoot shoes. These clogs use a 5mm Superflex Vibram sole that strike a great balance of cushioning, bounce, and flexibility. The leather uppers are low volume and start out a little stiff, so I’ve been needing to break them in both to soften them up and stretch them out.

Drifter leather

SaguarO SeRENE Mules

EU36 – 44 | $61 | KELLY15 for 15% off

These are backless, so technically mules rather than clogs. As with most of Saguaro’s lineup, they’re a more affordable option—which also means they use lower-cost materials, like the microfiber uppers you see here.

Saguaro

RuBY BAREFOOT

EU35 – 43 | $84 | KELLY35 for 35% off

These handmade leather barefoot clogs are crafted in Turkey and sold on Etsy. They run large, and the front panel offers less coverage than most clogs—it doesn’t extend as far over the top of the foot—so the fit is quite adjustable thanks to the long back strap. That said, I still have a lot of extra sole length in my EU37, and would size down to an EU36 for my 23.3cm feet next time.

Ruby

earthing harmony mules

EU6 – 15 | $135 | KELLY35 for 35% off

This is another convenient slip-on option, but it does compromise on some barefoot features—most notably, the lack of a back strap means the fit isn’t as secure. They feature leather uppers and a leather sole with a copper grounding plug. These leather soles start out quite slippery and need to be scuffed up for better traction, very similar to the Feelbarefoot Etsy brand.

earthing harmony

The post How to turn your Birkenstock Lutry Clogs into Barefoot Shoes appeared first on Barefoot Shoe Guide.