Earth Runners sandals are some of my favorite shoes for a few reasons – versatility, health benefits, style, and a minimalist, vegan design that is better for feet. The Earth Runners company created these in response to our modern lifestyle that prevents us from connecting with the earth and contemporary shoes that can cause physiological problems.
In this review I will explain the benefits of Earth Runners earthing sandals and go over the details of each style offered. Here is a breakdown of what you’ll learn:
- What is grounding and what are the benefits?
- What are earthing shoes?
- What are minimalist shoes and what are the benefits?
- Why Earth Runners are better than flip flops
- 3 Types of Earth Runner sandal styles
- How do Earth Runners fit?
- Lacing
- Final thoughts to help you choose
- Discount Code – use code 10RENEWAL for 10% off your order
What is grounding and what are the benefits?
Grounding, aka earthing, is direct electrical connection between skin and the earth which results in various benefits to our health. Our cells and our planet are electrically charged and when this connection is made via grounding, benefits include: reduced bodily inflammation, improved immune response, wound repair, adjusting circadian rhythms (such as when traveling between time zones) and reduced pain.
Simple ways to “get grounded” are swimming in an ocean or lake, strolling barefoot through a creek or on a dirt trail, laying in the sand, or walking on grass. Our modern world with industrialism, concrete, pavement, buildings, and bulky shoes block us from earth’s electricity and connecting to the earth is hard to achieve. For those of us who live in cities and suburbs, finding ways to get grounded can be challenging. Even if we have grassy areas around us to walk on, they’re likely contaminated with pesticides and chemicals or littered with dog poop. This makes natural grounding tricky.
This is where earthing or grounding shoes like Earth Runners come in.
What are earthing sandals and how do they work?
Earthing shoes are an easy way to reap the benefits of grounding anywhere you go, whether in your home or wandering urban jungles.
Earth Runners sandals have copper plugs on the bottom and stainless steel string sewn into the laces that conduct electricity. This allows you to connect to the earth while protecting your feet. This video shows how the conductivity is measured. This is such a great invention because these sandals allow you to benefit from earthing/grounding even when you can’t walk barefoot in nature. Even sitting at home or walking down the concrete street you can still get grounded because of the connection they create between your body and the earth.
What are minimalist shoes?
Another benefit of Earth Runners is their minimalist design. Minimalist shoes are designed to bring us as close to walking or running barefoot as possible. They have no arch support, zero drop, and minimal cushion. These features allow for natural movement that can strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles, improve efficient movement, and even reduce biomechanical issues with feet, ankles, knees, hips and/or back.
Modern shoes often provide too much stability and arch support to the point that our feet and ankles can become weak from not having to work in the same way as barefoot movement. For some people, stabilizing running shoes can lead to unnatural movements like heel striking that may cause pain along the kinetic chain. In comparison to highly supportive and cushioned hiking sandals, Earth Runners allow your feet to move more naturally and allow for more feedback to your brain and improved proprioception that can benefit your entire kinetic chain.
“Our entire body’s movement patterns start from the feet,” says Bridgette Koenig, owner of Awaken Cardio Kickboxing, a barefoot fitness studio. “In kickboxing, we can kick harder, punch with more power, and move quicker when our feet are strong and give our body the balance and grounding it needs.”
Barefoot movement and minimalist footwear enables your foot to move more naturally, reduce impact, and improve proprioception (body awareness). Earth Runners’ open-toed sandals allow your toes to spread freely, unlike when our feet are crunched into dress shoes, heels, tennis shoes, and even running shoes. They are also much lighter, requiring less effort from your body when walking or running.
However, do be aware that not everyone will be able to wear minimalist shoes, and it is often best to ease into them by wearing them for short periods and increasing to longer times. Transitioning slowly can reduce the chance of strain or injury to the calf muscles and Achilles’ tendon, particularly if you wear them for running.
Why Earth Runners are better than flip-flops
In addition to grounding benefits and minimalist style, another benefit of Earth Runners is the laces that keep your feet secure and allow you to walk in a barefoot manner. Flip flops and sandals without back straps require you to grip with your toes every time you take a step, requiring extra work from the front of your leg. This unnatural way of walking can lead to flat feet, inflammation, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee and hip pain.
Flip flops are also very insecure. It’s very easy to slip off the sides or have them fall off your feet when going over any uneven or slippery surface, leading to injuries.
3 Styles of Earth Runner Sandals
Earth Runners come in 2 main categories: Lifestyle and Adventure with the only difference being the laces. Under each category there are 3 styles to choose from: Elemental, Circadian and Alpha. When I purchased my first pair I had no idea – I just found a style I liked and luckily they worked out. Now that I am familiar with the difference and own all three types, I can help break them down for you because this was confusing for me at the start. Knowing how they differ is important in choosing the right style for you.
Elemental Sandals (thin)
The Elemental sandals are the thinnest style offered by Earth Runners, also making them the most similar to walking barefoot of all three styles. The Vibram sole is 8mm thick and after wearing the Circadian style for several years and then trying these, I felt a noticeable difference. It truly feels like walking barefoot with just a bit of material to protect your feet from the ground. They do not feel cushioned in my opinion, but the Vibram material is very comfortable. I read other reviews that some people prefer these as their daily sandal, but I wear these least of the three due to the lack of cushion. I love how they feel, but the thin sole gets more tiring for my feet if I wear them for long periods. However, for a short-distance walk or going out running errands they are great.
Unlike the other two styles, there is no “Earth Grip” canvas foot bed, and I find the Vibram/no foot bed to be more comfortable on the bottom of my feet. However, if you wear them around water (and they are waterproof), it is easier for your foot to slip in these since they lack traction on the foot bed. I loved these on a trip to Hawaii because I could wear them at the beach since they dry quickly, but also did short hikes in them and found them comfortable for both activities.
There is a slight 1.5mm tread on the bottoms for grip. The material is highly flexible, able to be rolled up or bend with your foot over varied terrain. The color of the sole only comes in black. I chose the Lifestyle Elemental sandals with the ergonomic laces (see section on laces below) in the Canyon Clay color. I find the ergonomic laces to be the most comfortable of the lace options.
Summary:
- 8mm Vibram sole (black color)
- No cotton canvas footbed
- Comfortable, flexible material
- Thinnest material & closest to barefoot feel
- Hardest to adapt to if not used to minimalist styles
- Best for walking or light hiking (in my opinion, although some people run in these)
- Great for the beach
- Cutest style for women to wear with casual or slightly dressier clothes (in my opinion)
Circadian Sandals (mid)
These were the first shoes I bought from Earth Runners and I loved them from the start with no breaking in required. I had no problem getting used to these even though I had never worn minimal footwear before. I have a fairly flat foot and have often worn shoes with more support, but these have never felt uncomfortable or caused pain. It has been 5 years and they are still in great shape and look barely worn.
These have a 9mm Vibram sole with the same tread as the Elementals, so they are a bit thicker than the Elementals and slightly thinner than the Alpha sandals (hence the “mid” classification). Circadians have the “Earth Grip” cotton canvas foot bed that is a beige color on top of the black Vibram sole. This foot bed does provide better grip and will slip much less than the Elementals, making it better if you’re walking, hiking or running around water. They take longer to dry because of the canvas, but still dry fairly quickly. Personally I have times when this foot bed can irritate the bottoms of my feet if I wear it too long as it is just slightly rough, but other days it feels fine.
The Circadian sandals are slightly less flexible than the Elementals, but can still roll up and move well with your feet. I have walked, hiked and run in these and they work well for all, although running did give me some blisters and discomfort. I probably won’t ever do much more than 1-2 miles in my earth runners, but some people run long distances in these and love them.
I wore these sandals all over San Jose, Puerto Rico one day while wearing a maxi dress, and when I saw the pictures we took I was surprised how cute the sandals looked even with my nice dress. The footbed makes them look slightly less “formal” if you’re wearing them with something like a dress, but otherwise I think these look cute with any casual outfit.
When you choose these sandals you can select either the ergonomic or classic laces. Mine have the classic (in carbon/black).
Summary:
- 9amm Vibram sole
- Cotton canvas “Earth Grip” foot bed
- Better grip for hiking or running
- Slightly less flexible than Elementals
- Cute and comfortable
Alpha Sandals (thick)
The Alpha sandals look almost identical to the Circadian sandals except for the thickness of the sole. These feature a 12mm Vibram sole with the canvas foot bed, but the tread is a different style and thicker than the Circadian and Elemental sandals. They are slightly stiffer which is great for anyone who is transitioning to minimalist footwear and may want more cushion. This also makes them comfortable and secure for hiking, running, or long walks.
I purchased these from the Adventure category since my other two came from the Lifestyle category and I wanted to try something different, particularly for trails and hiking on a vacation to Hawaii (and beyond). The ONLY difference between the Adventure and Lifestyle options is the lace style. The laces are thicker and stiffer and slightly less comfortable in my opinion (and from reviews I read). I read some reviews that said they were very uncomfortable at first and needed a lot of breaking in before they become super comfortable. From my experience, this wasn’t necessary. I wore them around my neighborhood a few times before going on vacation where I wore them frequently and my first walk took a bit getting used to after wearing my other laces, but it never caused blisters or pain.
Regarding comfort, I read reviews saying that some people do not prefer these for daily wear. However, I feel just the opposite. The extra cushion in the sole is SO comfortable for me that I love putting these on for daily walks – it feels like walking on clouds compared to the Elementals! But if you really love the minimal wear feeling, then you may prefer thinner as well.
As mentioned, I wanted to get these for a vacation as well as for a lace color (khaki) that I thought was more versatile. While it may sound silly, I searched through so many pictures trying to figure out if this thicker, more robust style would be “cute”. I was concerned they might look too “hefty” for wearing with certain, non-active outfits. My opinion is that if you’re trying to look dressier they don’t work quite as well as the others, but they don’t look “hefty” and can be worn with a variety of clothing and still look cute. In case that also matters to you!
Summary:
- 12mm Vibram sole
- Cotton canvas footbed
- Most cushion & sturdiest of all 3
- Least flexible of all 3
- Easiest to adapt to if not used to minimalist styles
- Best for walking, running or hiking (in my opinion)
How do Earth Runners fit?
Earth Runners offer a fairly wide fit that suits a variety of feet sizes. I have quite narrow feet so I have a bit of extra room on the sides and in front. The toe box is wide enough to allow toes to splay. One of the unique aspects of these shoes is that the laces are one long “infinity” string that can be adjusted in multiple places. If one area of the lace feels too tight or loose, you can adjust it at another point to get a custom fit. I believe you can also request extra strap length if needed.
All three of my sandals are a size 8, but I feel like my Elementals appear bigger than the other two when my feet are in them. I have no explanation for this, but I did miss that there is a sizing document you can use to get the size just right. If I were to order them again, I would consider getting a 7.5 in the Elementals and an 8 in the others for a closer fit since these aren’t ones that I do much hiking or strenuous activity in. I typically wear a size 8 in women’s shoes for best comfort, and in Circadians and Alphas, this gives a little space in the toes, heel and sides without being excessive. I think a little extra space is nice for more rugged terrain, but it’s all a matter of personal opinion.
The sizing guide will help you determine the right fit and approximately ½ size up or down will determine how much extra space you have. I read that most people prefer a little extra space and material.
Lacing
There are 3 types of laces you can get with your Earth runners: Ergonomic, Classic, and Performance. The Adventure sandals are only different from the Lifestyle sandals because they come with Performance laces. These are a bit more stiff and rugged, designed to keep your feet secure for outdoor adventures. Most reviews indicate these are the least comfortable and take some getting used to, although I still find them perfectly comfortable. Under the Lifestyle category you can choose either Ergonomic or Classic in a variety of colors.
Ergonomic laces have 9/16” Double tubular webbing and feel the most comfortable/soft.
Classic Laces are ½” Mil-Spec reinforced two-ply webbing and have a slightly more “rough” feel to them, but that doesn’t mean they’re uncomfortable. I’ve found them comfortable for my feet since the day I bought them, never having blisters or chaffing.
From my experience, once you’re used to wearing these sandals, you’ll barely notice a difference between the laces at all.
As mentioned above, the “infinity” fit of the laces is convenient because you can make the shoe and straps fit just right for your foot. There are even two slits on the side to use in case you have wider feet to make them more comfortable. Once you’ve adjusted the laces and buckle to the right size, you can cut off the extra material and burn the end to prevent fraying. Sandals arrive in a box that includes instructions or how to trim your laces. The laces can also be changed out if they eventually wear out or you just want a different color. Earth Runners has a great YouTube video on how to change the laces.
Quality – Are Earth Runners Worth the Cost?
Earth Runners come with a higher price tag than your average sandal due to the benefits mentioned earlier. So are they worth it? I think so. I purchased my first pair about five years ago and they still show little wear. The outer foot bed is slightly frayed and the portion of the laces on the sole of the shoe are worn but still sturdy. For the first several years of owning them I wore them less than once per week and have worn them more frequently in the last year. I anticipate them holding up well for quite a while longer. If anything the laces may need to be replaced, which isn’t an issue since you can buy brand new ones with the copper plug. The sandals have a very durable design and long-lasting quality. Many wearers take these on hikes, runs, through mud and water and they still last for years.
Final Thoughts to Help You Choose
One other thing to note is that Earth Runners makes toe socks that work with these sandals so you can still wear them during cold weather. While the conductivity is not as strong with socks, they do still provide grounding benefits.
If you’re trying to pick just one model to start with, which should you go with? I would probably go with the Lifestyle Circadian model if I had to choose just one because it’s a good blend of the minimalist style with comfort and good grip. However, if you’re looking for a shoe for more outdoor adventures, then Alpha (either Lifestyle or Adventure version) would be a great choice. And if you want something simple for daily wear that gives you the most barefoot-like experience, then Elementals would also work well for you.
When you’re ready to purchase, use my code 10RENEWAL for 10% off!
If you have other specific questions on these sandals, please contact me! I spent so much time trying to find pictures and information from other blogs regarding really specific questions I had that I’m happy to answer yours now that I am familiar with all of the styles. Once you try them, come back and leave a comment about how you like them!
