{
  "slug": "barefoot-shoes",
  "name": "Barefoot shoes",
  "question": "Which barefoot shoes have no plastic in the sole, the glue, the laces or the lining?",
  "status": "nothing-qualifies",
  "updated": "2026-11-11",
  "editor": "jake-avins",
  "page": "https://amaterio.com/plastic-free/barefoot-shoes/",
  "summary": "No barefoot shoe is listed yet. We've checked one so far, the RHIZAL Brio slip-on, and we can't vouch for it: it's undyed hair-on calfskin over a cow leather lining with a water buffalo leather sole, and the maker says there's no synthetic rubber-plastic outsole. What nobody says is whether the leather carries a topcoat, or what the insole, the thread and the glue are. Those are the places plastic hides in a shoe like this, so it stays unlisted until the maker answers.",
  "whyPlastic": "\"Natural\" and \"eco\" turn up on barefoot shoes more than on any other footwear, and the sole is where to check. A thin flexible sole is synthetic rubber, EVA foam or polyurethane, and a sole called only \"rubber\" has not said which. Natural latex is the plastic-free one. Uppers are polyester or nylon mesh and microfiber, linings are polyester mesh, and insoles are EVA or polyurethane foam; cork, wool felt and leather are the swaps. Soles are cemented on with polyurethane or neoprene glue and sewn with nylon thread. Laces are polyester with plastic aglets, and some toe boxes hold a thermoplastic cap.",
  "whatToCheck": [
    "Sole: natural latex or crepe rubber named as natural, or just \"rubber\", EVA or polyurethane?",
    "Upper: leather, wool, cotton or hemp, or mesh and synthetic leather?",
    "Leather finish: unfinished, oiled or waxed, or a coated top layer?",
    "Lining and insole: leather, wool, cork or cotton, or foam and mesh?",
    "Glue: natural latex, hide or starch, or an unnamed cement?",
    "Thread and laces: cotton, linen or leather, or nylon and polyester with plastic aglets?",
    "Stiffeners: none, or a thermoplastic toe cap and heel counter?"
  ],
  "faq": [],
  "whyNone": "",
  "products": [
    {
      "slug": "rhizal-brio-slip-on-cowhide-mens",
      "name": "Brio Slip-On, Cowhide (Mens)",
      "brand": "RHIZAL",
      "category": "barefoot-shoes",
      "tier": "cannot-tell",
      "rank": null,
      "page": "https://amaterio.com/plastic-free/barefoot-shoes/rhizal-brio-slip-on-cowhide-mens/",
      "url": null,
      "affiliateUrl": null,
      "price": {
        "amount": 170,
        "currency": "USD",
        "seenAt": "2026-11-11"
      },
      "madeIn": "",
      "inTheBox": "",
      "unknowns": [
        "upper",
        "lining",
        "outsole",
        "insole",
        "thread",
        "glue and sole attachment",
        "heel counter and toe puff",
        "elastic panels"
      ],
      "verdict": {
        "summary": "Hair-on calfskin upper, cow leather lining, a water buffalo leather sole and a copper earthing plug. That's the whole materials list, and the maker says the shoes have no synthetic rubber-plastic outsole, which is a good start. The open question is the leather: finished leather often carries an acrylic or polyurethane topcoat, and undyed isn't the same as uncoated. Nobody states the finish on the upper, the lining or the sole. The insole, the stitching thread and the glue aren't named either, and all of them sit against your foot.",
        "date": "2026-11-11",
        "passes": [
          "pass-1",
          "pass-2"
        ],
        "agree": true,
        "caveat": "Unknown: the finish and tanning of the upper, lining and sole leather, the insole, the stitching thread, the adhesive or sole attachment, any heel or toe stiffeners, any elastic panels, and what holds the copper plug in. Packaging not checked. Made to order, so the photos may differ from the pair you receive."
      },
      "components": [
        {
          "name": "upper",
          "role": "major",
          "material": "undyed hair-on calfskin leather, finish not stated",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": "R7",
          "source": {
            "url": "https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens",
            "quote": "Upper: Undyed hair-on calfskin leather",
            "translation": "",
            "retrieved": "2026-11-11",
            "archive": "http://web.archive.org/web/20260316030810/https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens"
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "lining",
          "role": "major",
          "material": "cow leather, finish not stated",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": "R7",
          "source": {
            "url": "https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens",
            "quote": "Lining: Cow leather",
            "translation": "",
            "retrieved": "2026-11-11",
            "archive": "http://web.archive.org/web/20260316030810/https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens"
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "outsole",
          "role": "major",
          "material": "water buffalo leather, finish not stated",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": "R7",
          "source": {
            "url": "https://rhizal.co/pages/faq",
            "quote": "Our shoes don't have synthetic rubber-plastic outsoles - just natural water buffalo leather.",
            "translation": "",
            "retrieved": "2026-11-11",
            "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261111213407/https://rhizal.co/pages/faq"
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "copper earthing plug",
          "role": "major",
          "material": "pure copper",
          "class": "not-plastic",
          "ruling": null,
          "source": {
            "url": "https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens",
            "quote": "pure copper earthing plug",
            "translation": "",
            "retrieved": "2026-11-11",
            "archive": "http://web.archive.org/web/20260316030810/https://rhizal.co/products/brio-slip-on-raw-calfskin-mens"
          }
        },
        {
          "name": "insole",
          "role": "major",
          "material": "",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": null,
          "source": null
        },
        {
          "name": "thread",
          "role": "minor",
          "material": "",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": null,
          "source": null
        },
        {
          "name": "glue and sole attachment",
          "role": "minor",
          "material": "",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": "R8",
          "source": null
        },
        {
          "name": "heel counter and toe puff",
          "role": "minor",
          "material": "",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": null,
          "source": null
        },
        {
          "name": "elastic panels",
          "role": "minor",
          "material": "",
          "class": "unknown",
          "ruling": null,
          "source": null
        }
      ],
      "packaging": {
        "verified": false,
        "materials": [],
        "class": "unknown",
        "source": null
      },
      "commentary": [],
      "images": [
        {
          "src": "/products/rhizal-brio-slip-on-cowhide-mens/1.webp",
          "alt": "RHIZAL Brio Slip-On, Cowhide (Mens)",
          "credit": "Photo: RHIZAL (rhizal.co)",
          "source": "http://rhizal.co/cdn/shop/files/MSide-80.jpg?v=1794086149"
        },
        {
          "src": "/products/rhizal-brio-slip-on-cowhide-mens/2.webp",
          "alt": "RHIZAL Brio Slip-On, Cowhide (Mens)",
          "credit": "Photo: RHIZAL (rhizal.co)",
          "source": "https://rhizal.co/cdn/shop/files/MSide-80.jpg?v=1794086149"
        },
        {
          "src": "/products/rhizal-brio-slip-on-cowhide-mens/3.webp",
          "alt": "RHIZAL Brio Slip-On, Cowhide (Mens)",
          "credit": "Photo: RHIZAL (rhizal.co)",
          "source": "https://rhizal.co/cdn/shop/files/MSide-80_1024x1024.jpg?v=1794086149"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}