Guest Blog: Why I Love Earth Sole – A Review by Isabelle Brough, Author of Mindful Feet

We’re very happy to share this thoughtful guest blog by Isabelle Brough — movement specialist and author of Mindful Feet: A Practical Guide to Being Attentive to Your Body from the Ground Up. In her book, Isabelle dives into the vital role that feet play in posture, balance, and full-body awareness. It’s a guide for anyone who wants to move more consciously and reconnect with their natural alignment — starting with what we walk on every day.

As someone who’s been barefoot or in minimalist footwear for over a decade, Isabelle knows the difference real barefoot shoes can make. In this post, she shares her experience with Earth Sole shoes: how they support natural movement, why she values their handcrafted and sustainable design, and what sets them apart from other minimalist brands she’s tried.

Mindful Feet in Practice: Isabelle’s Earth Sole Experience

I have tried many minimalist shoes of various brands over the years, and they have all disappointed either on the fit side or on the environmental side. I was searching for the perfect summer shoe that combined sustainability and movement-friendly features when I first came across Earth Sole and started to get excited. I had been wearing minimalist footwear or going barefoot for a good 10 years and was never going back to pretty, stiff, narrow shoes. I love walking and there’s nothing I enjoy more than feeling the variability of the terrain beneath my feet.

Earth Sole shoes align perfectly with my values of sustainability, mindful living, and connection to nature. It just goes to show that footwear can be simple yet beautifully handcrafted with care for the planet and its inhabitants. This is my second pair!

Minimalist features

The Earth Sole seems to have it all: a thin, flexible sole that allows natural foot movement, a thin, flexible upper that allows movement at the ankle joint; a very flat sole which keeps the foot in a neutral position on flat ground and makes it natural to stack the hip vertically over the ankle and keep the pelvis centred; and they are so light that they feel like a second skin. The sole is thin enough to feel humps and lumps adorning the ground and keep the foot joints mobile.

These shoes feature no arch support, so they are great if you are also working on developing your foot and leg muscular strength and improving the range of motion of your foot joints. In case you don’t know, there are 33 joints in each foot, which gives plenty of room for movement variability! These shoes don’t interfere with the natural ability of the foot to flex and propel you forward when you walk or run. Fit

My Earth Sole shoes are a perfect fit because they were made to measure. There is enough room for all my toes to be relaxed and spread out, and enough room for my front toe. Earth Sole now also has a barefoot shape design available, which gives even more space for the shape of my feet.

Material

Earth Sole shoes are made of offcuts of leather, so they use material that already exists. As they are made of natural material, they will go back to the Earth once they reach the end of their useful life.

As they are made of natural material, they will go back to the Earth once they reach the end of their useful life.

Weight

My pair weighs almost nothing. Each shoe is under 100 g, light as a feather!

Design

The design is simple and more akin to a slipper than a shoe. There is a choice of beautiful colours and a choice of shape as the upper can be a more rounded shape. My pair of Earth Sole shoes came in a beautiful, eco-friendly pouch made from reclaimed fabric.

Durability

Earth Sole shoes are meant for light use in dry weather. They are ideal in the summer, to protect the skin on my feet from thorns, dirt and hot pavements.

Price

Earth Sole shoes are handmade to order within 1–2 weeks. The quality–price ratio is very good given the materials and craftsmanship. Part of the benefits are donated to charity.

Comfort

I have driven and walked in them on forest floors and city pavements. I can even run in them, as they do not restrict my movement in any way.

My conclusion

I'm very happy with my Earth Sole shoes. I can recommend them to anyone who enjoys going barefoot but needs to wear something on their feet sometimes. The barefoot feel is excellent! I found them so good that I have featured my first pair in the Footwear Choice section of my book: Mindful Feet, A Practical Guide to Being Attentive to Your Body from the Ground Up. If you are interested in finding more about my book, please visit my Etsy shop:👉

https://www.etsy.com/shop/mindfullittlebooks