Skinners Sock Shoes Review: A radical alternative

Rating: 4/5

Words: Cameron Hanson

Photography: Lauren Shepherd

Skinners Sock Shoes promise the freedom of socks with the protection of shoes, so we have picked up a pair to test how well they perform on the trails.

As barefoot and minimal running shoes increase in popularity we are seeing new brands and new technology arising from across the globe each promising to free your feet from the cage of a traditional shoe which distort the foot and can cause weakness and injury. One of the new brands emerging is Skinners.

The shoes are made from a stretchable knitted material with a polymer layer on the bottom which wraps around the front of the toes to provide protection and grip. Due to the flexible, sock-like build of the shoes, you can roll these up and they come with a small pouch to keep them in when travelling.

First Impressions

Immediately upon trying the shoes on, they felt very comfortable and noticeably lighter than other minimalist shoes I have tried. The shoes have no laces, once you have slipped them on, you are ready to go. Initially, I tested them on a 1 hour run across a multiple terrain route from tarmac to grass, beach and then onto coastal trails. 

With the shoes being so thin, the first worry was with the harder surfaces. I expected to feel every stone and sharp object on the road. However, contrary to expectations, the rubbery polymer outer sole dealt with the surface incredibly well. Soon I felt confident running through the town on pavements and roads. 

The shoes performed well on the beach and no sharp shells caused any problems. The flexibility of the shoe allowed for the foot to easily adjust to the contours of the sand which made for a comfortable running experience. 

During the run, the shoes were taken through shallow seawater. The knit-like build of the shoes meant that water did get into the shoe - however, they quickly dried out as I continued running.

The rubber-like outer sole provides adequate protection on every terrain when testing and there were no points where I felt a twig or rock breaking through. 

Things to consider

The sock-like build of Skinners means that they can adjust and shift to allow maximum flexibility. This does cause minor issues while descending through steep terrain, as the front of the shoe shifts around ever so slightly making for the sensation like you’re going to inevitably lose grip and fall.

The price of the Skinner sock shoes is currently placed at around £35. This seems expensive for a pair of socks, but this is an investment into a lightweight, durable and comfortable minimalist running shoe. Compared with other products on the market, these shoes are more affordable. Considering that Vivo Barefoot shoes can cost more than £100, this is a very good deal.

Debris does get through the shoe due to the sock-like structure, so while they do remain comfortable across long distances beware that your feet will get dirty especially when running along trails if you do not wear socks with them.

Are Skinners Sock’s an everyday running shoe? 

I would say that these could be an everyday running shoe but would not recommend this immediately.

If you are new to barefoot running, then your tendons and muscles are going to need time to strengthen and adjust.

We have only tested these to half marathon distance, and they were comfortable the whole distance.

Final thoughts

Skinners are the most unique shoe I have ever used, and the sock-like build is what intrigued me to put these to the test. Surprisingly, Skinners perform well across most terrains and despite the super minimal build the shoe provides plenty of protection and remains comfortable even when used for long-distance runs. 

I would recommend these as an everyday shoe for day to day use running errands or for use when exercising such as running or hiking. 

If you are new to minimalist running and are considering buying skinners I would advise starting with shorter distances and softer surfaces as these shoes do not provide any cushioning or assistance which forces all the work into your feet and legs. This will take some time for your muscles and tendons to adjust to. It is worth making a gradual switch or you can potentially start with using them for walking or yoga.

Thanks for checking out this review of the Skinners sock shoes, if you are interested and would like to read more about barefoot running check out our other article about barefoot running.