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"Barefoot" Footwear

Review – Feelmax Shoes

By Al Gauthier ⋅ July 1, 2009 ⋅ Email This Post Email This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Feelmax Shoes Review

Note: Feelmax felt our review was unfair and that we did not do our homework during this review.  After some suggestions from readers and speaking with Feelmax we were send a new and larger size of Niesa for re-evaluation.

Here is the new review: http://www.livingbarefoot.info/2010/05/feelmax-niesa-re-review/

There are three brands that are always on the minds of barefooters around the world.  Vibram FiveFingers, Vivo Barefoot, and Feelmax.

Feelmax is perhaps the least reviewed and the least popular because of their Finnish origin.

Designed by a Finnish company, these shoes have received mixed reviews over the years.  We are excited to be able to review their newest design, sent to us right from the factory in Taiwan Thailand (the wife of someone who “makes” Feelmax shoes wrote in to tell us that he works in a factory in Thailand).

First Impression
These shoes have a modern look, are incredibly light, and look much like a regular shoe.  They came packaged in a big green box, each inside a protective fabric bag.  Our review shoes have a high-top design and are matte black in color.  They are very light-weight, and look well-made.

Comfort
Putting the shoes on is easy.  Laces are replaced by elastic bands arranged in a lace-like pattern.  While the elastics make it easy to put the shoe on, they do not provide for an adjustable fit.  While I did not find the fit too tight, I would suggest the lack of adjustment may be a problem for some.  Despite being the correct size, my toes felt squished immediately. The issue seems to be the shape of the sole.  Unlike Vibram FiveFingers and Vivo Barefoot, these shoes do not seem to be made for wide feet.  I find it difficult to grasp how a company that markets itself towards people who want a more barefoot experience, and who has just released a new design, would not make a wider sole.  Adding to the disappointment, the shoe is far less flexible than expected. While the materials themselves are quite flexible, the placement of the seams and the material itself is poor.  Areas where allowance needs to be made for the normal flex of the foot are stiff and bend only under pressure, buckling the fabric in an uncomfortable way while walking. The fabric on the inside of the shoe is soft and comfortable to the touch, however, I did not find the shoe comfortable.

Weight
This is the lightest of the “barefoot” shoes we have reviewed thus far.  The rubber sole of most shoes makes up a significant portion of the shoe’s weight.  The sole on these shoes is made of an ultra thin material that resembled a coated fabric.  This design makes the shoes very light.  It would be easy to carry a pair of these in your bag without feeling their weight.

Flex / Sole
While the sole is the thinnest we have reviewed thus far, it is not all good news.  The sole lacks the grip of Vivo Barefoot and Vibram FiveFingers shoes.  The sole also lacks the long-term wear resistance that rubber can provide.  The upside is that the ground transmits well through the membrane, allowing for an excellent barefoot feel.

Support / Insole
There is no support, which is as it should be.  There is no insole.

Barefoot Feel
While the sole transmits the ground well, the inability of the shoe to flex makes not only for an uncomfortable experience, but also takes away from the barefoot feeling of the shoe.  The narrow design of the shoe further amplifies these issues.

Breathability
Much of the upper is made with mesh.  This venting makes for good air circulation.

Quality of Materials / Manufacturing
Putting aside the design of the shoe, the materials seem to be of a good quality, and the construction quality is excellent.  We found no errors in stitching.

Water Resistance
These shoes are not water resistant. Furthermore, unlike both Vibram FiveFingers and Vivo Barefoot, the shoe’s sole is sewn to the upper at ground level, making for an easy path for water to enter.

Sizing
The size seems accurate in length, but they are built for a narrow foot.  This makes them unlikely candidates for a typical wide-footed barefooter, however, they may fit well for many.

Price
While the review pair is not listed on the Feelmax website, the closest style retails for 60 EUR.  At over $100 US, this price seems high for a shoe that is not all that different from a pair of water socks.  While the quality of these shoes is higher than the typical pair of water socks, the price difference is significant.

Style
These would blend in well for normal street wear.  At closer inspection they resemble a combination of water socks and running shoes.

Break-in Period
Given the materials used to make these shoes, I doubt that time would change the flexibility of these shoes.  For the right foot type they may be suitable for casual wear, however, I suspect that these shoes would remain uncomfortable for most.  Feelmax does make other styles that do not have the high sides, however, as this style is not yet listed on their web site, I suspect that all current styles are or will be changing.

Shoe Care
The material for our testing shoes was a matte black material.  Although the material looks great out of the box, it is also the type of material that attracts small fuzzy cling-ons.  The material should clean up well with some effort, and cleaning with water should be sufficient.  There is no mention of whether these shoes are washable in a washing machine.  I would suspect this is not the case.

Warmth
The materials used are thin and there is ample venting.  These shoes are about as warm as wearing socks.  The thin sole transmits the temperature of the ground more easily than a rubber-soled shoe.  The black material absorbs the sun’s heat easily. During a sunny day, they can feel quite warm.  A lighter material color would have been a better choice of color for hot days.

Uses
Given a good fit, walking, running, and light activities shouldn’t be a problem.  The grip of the sole is not as well-suited for climbing or for wet conditions.  They are not great shoes for hot days due to the color and the amount of fabric, and even hot pavement can start to be noticed through the sole.

Availability
According to shipping options available online it appears these shoes are available only in Europe. It is of course possible that they will make special arrangements for an extra fee to ship to other location around the world.

Summary
These shoes have the thinnest sole we have seen thus far and therefore have an excellent barefoot feeling.  They look like regular shoes and the build quality is good.  The narrow width of the sole together with poor design, and thus inflexible upper, is a huge problem.  Even a narrow-footed individual may find the shoes too inflexible to enjoy.  The longevity of the sole is also in question.  Vibram FiveFingers and Vivo Barefoot shoes win hands down for comfort, flexibility, and longevity.  With some modifications to the design, they would make an excellent alternative to bare feet, however, for the time being there are better choices on the market.

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Discussion

16 comments for “Review – Feelmax Shoes”

Facebook comments:

  1. Great review, thanks!

    Posted by Fred | July 11, 2009, 05:23

  2. Now I can log in and make comments with Google Friend Connect!

    Posted by Al Gauthier | July 11, 2009, 05:27

  3. I’m delighted to discover your website and look forward to more reviews! So far I’ve tried Vibram FiveFingers and Vivobarefoot. I’m interested in more shoes that pass as street shoes as well as good solutions for winter.

    Posted by Maria Coryell-Martin | July 13, 2009, 13:54

  4. Maria, we’re also looking for more shoes that pass as street shoes as well as good barefoot alternatives for winter. We’re working on a ‘Winter Barefoot Alternative Shoe Review Series’ right now and would appreciate any suggestions you might have. We have a few ideas already but can always use more.

    Posted by Tina | July 13, 2009, 17:23

  5. Hello!
    I am from Taiwan and my husband make Feelmax shoes in THAILAND!!!
    There is no production in Taiwan and you are wrong with that – maybe you know something that I don’t know :-) !

    Posted by Angel Spitzer | July 24, 2009, 05:15

  6. Hi There. Thank you for your note. We have corrected the article in order to reflect Thailand and not Taiwan.

    Posted by Al Gauthier | July 24, 2009, 08:19

  7. I have read this review with great interest. I have to say that as a wearer of Feelmax shoes, I have to disagree 100% on your assessment and review of Feelmax. As you know already from the previous post Feelmax shoes are manufactured in Thailand, not Taiwan.

    When I first started wearing my Feelmax shoes it was very odd to me as the feeling was unlike any shoe I have ever worn, I am so used to wearing running shoes and sneakers that when my feet finally were in a pair of shoes such as these (Feelmax) they did not know what to do. Then I read the information that comes with the shoes, it explains about the concept of walking barefoot as well as how to walk in the natural way and not as we are trained since birth.

    The major difference that I have noticed in wearing the Feelmax shoes is the flexibility that I have with the Feelmax shoes as to wearing sneakers. So you will understand my confusion when I read your article in reference to them not being flexible while wearing. I have had no issues with the seams nor have my shoes had to bend under pressure. In fact my Feelmax shoes are so in tuned with my feet that I hardly notice they are there unless I look down.

    In reference to the “support”, if the information card that was sent with your shoes would have been read correctly you would understand the concept of these shoes. The object is to be walking barefoot or simulated barefoot, not pampered or babied as you would get with normal shoes. The only support you need is the natural support your body provides, false support is not what is needed. You stated there was no insole (Sock liner?) I find this hard to believe, the sock liner gives just enough support to keep the feet comfortable, but not enough that it feels pampered.

    For the Barefoot feel, I have to disagree with you there as well. As I said before these shoes are very flexible, in my opinion. I have had no problems with them what so ever. These shoes have not only given back to me what I lost with sneakers, but they have made my feet, and muscles around the feet stronger than before. I am not sure what you were talking about with the narrow design, as mine are wide.

    Non-Water Resistance I have to agree there, these are not water resistant nor where they designed to be. This is why they are my first choice when I am going to the beach. I can wear them and not worry about stepping on stones or buried rocks and shells. If they get wet in the water, or sea water I take them back to the hotel or my house and clean the salt water from them right away, normally I run them under the water from the sink brushing them to remove any lose sand or dirty. Then hang them out to dry. A few hours later they are looking good as new and dry.

    As for your break-in Period you could not be any more wrong in this. The materials in the shoes that I am wearing have become more comfortable than when I first got them. As I said the shoes have formed to my foot in all ways so that I barely notice them. The shoes have become more flexible because the material has learned how I am walking and have become loose in the areas that I need them to be.

    So for my summary in testing these shoes as well I cannot agree with your assessment. Feelmax shoes are excellent barefoot simulated shoes, and are flexible when walking among other things. I have had no issues with the narrow width as I have not even noticed this, not with my pair anyway; and there is nothing poor in the design of these shoes. The outsoles of my test pair are still intact despite the abuse I have put them in. So in my opinion someone who is biased towards Vibrams FiveFingers should just stay with that shoe, they can deal with the blisters on the toes, and a few other issues I know about Vibrams, I will stay with my Feelmax shoes.

    Posted by Edwin White | July 25, 2009, 06:33

  8. Hi Edwin,

    Thank you for your feedback in regards to your experience with the Feelmax shoes. Clearly everyone has a different perspective when it comes to wearing shoes. This is based on the comparisons being made and the experiences of that person as well as the persons own feet. There are quite a few positive reviews of the Feelmax shoes made by well established barefooters, and so I’m happy to see that you are adding your voice to that group. I gave the Feelmax shoes an honest review based on my experience with them, and in comparing them with other shoes, such as the Vibram FiveFingers. I would be interested to know if you also have the same model of Feelmax shoe as was reviewed, as I would suspect that all other Feelmax designs would not have the flexibility problems that I found.

    Posted by Al Gauthier | July 25, 2009, 16:12

  9. Greetings Al,
    Yes I have to agree with you, we all have a different perspective when dealing with shoes. I wanted to let you know that the shoes that I have are the Niesa, the same as you have. I have had them since they came off the production line so to speak (Wear Testing). Many of the other Feelmax designs are very different even from each other but they all have one thing in common, they all are based on the principle of barefoot “simulation”.

    Posted by Edwin White | July 29, 2009, 17:34

  10. Great review. This mirrors my own experience with Feelmax shoes (my own comments on them can be found here: http://battlegeek.blogspot.com/2009/07/no-more-niesas.html).

    Biggest issue: far too narrow! Hope your other reviews are as informative.

    Posted by Hektor | July 30, 2009, 05:48

  11. It’s good we all are different with different kind of feet. And like different kind of shoes or not shoes at all. I’m Physical Therapist in Norway and very interested in feet/shoes – lately more like “barefoot”. After using daily MBT – shoes it was quite big difference to wear Feelmax. I have not had any negative experience so far. My foot is not narrow and I have had no problems with that. At the pictures I see your model is Niesa, mine is Panka black. Newest shoe Kuuva brown is coming soon and that’s water resistant hiking shoe. You can read my first experiences at my blog: http://henrihenell.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/feelmax/

    Posted by Henri Henell | August 5, 2009, 02:27

  12. I just bought a pair of Niesas and have been using them for about a week. In general I really like them so far. I have wider than average feet, so I’m puzzled by Al’s problems with the shoes and his relating them to the width of his feet.

    I wonder whether this isn’t really a sizing issue. In general I find sizing shoes very problematic. With some shoe manufacturers I take a 9, others a 9 1/2 or 10 and sometimes even a 10 1/2–same with the European sizing sometimes a 41 and other times upto a 43 1/2. Ordering shoes online makes this problem more prominent because you can’t try a couple of pairs on and then figure out what’s your correct size for this brand.

    I suspect that Al’s problems with the Niesa’s would be fixed by trying on a size or two higher. With a larger size I really think he’d start to feel the flexibility and cease to have any discomfort.

    My pair of Niesas are size 43 and actually a little too big for me (Extreme Outfitters — http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/feelmax.aspx — where I bought them from, said that 43 was equivalent to a 9), but interestingly being too large doesn’t seem to cause as much of a problem as it would with a normal pair of shoes. I think it’s because the sole is so thin that when your foot hits the ground that’s where it stays within the shoe and doesn’t slide around–thus no blisters or anything that you’d normally get wearing shoes that were too big.

    Posted by Tom | August 8, 2009, 14:05

  13. Hi Tom,

    I have already written to Feelmax to suggest that they send a large sized pair for a retesting. It is quite possible that a larger pair will resolve many, of not most of the issues. As you mention, shoe sizing is a difficult issue. Hopefully Feelmax responds to this and sends another pair for testing. I will fully retest the new size and repost all my findings. I would like nothing more than to give a wonderful review for these shoes.

    Al

    Posted by Al Gauthier | August 10, 2009, 17:06

  14. So did you guys get a newer size to review? And if so, what was the verdict?

    Posted by Michael Banaag | December 7, 2009, 17:02

  15. Hi MIchael, the full review hasn’t been written yet. Feelmax was kind enough to send us a new pair, and we made a point of being even more specific and even more in-depth than the initial review. I don’t want to oversimplify the review by posting anything but a full review here however. We will release the review as soon as possible.

    Posted by Al Gauthier | December 7, 2009, 17:17

  16. [...] we originally released the review of the Feelmax Niesa in August of 2009, the response from Feelmax was strong. Feelmax felt that we had not done our homework and that the [...]

    Posted by Feelmax Niesa Re-Review | Living Barefoot | May 16, 2010, 22:17

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