During the fall 2026 couture shows, magazine editor and actor Blake Abbie wore barely-there sandals to the Jean Paul Gaultier show. They were just a thin sole with delicate leather straps holding them to his feet. “You feel like you’re out there,” Abbie says of his choice, which came from a collaboration between the running brand Literary Sport and Xero Shoes, an active footwear brand designed to mimic the feeling of being barefoot. I’m so naked, he remembers thinking. “There’s a bit of freedom,” he says, “and a feeling of being grounded.” “Plus,” he adds, “it’s hot, and my feet looked good in them.”

After the flip-flop craze, the next big It-shoe is even more minimal: the skimpy little sandal. It showed up not only on the Celine men’s spring 2027 runway but also on the toes of attendees at men’s fashion week in Paris. Along with the Literary Sport collaboration, Xero—whose popular Genesis sandal has just a 5.5 mm rubber sole and corded rope straps—recently teamed up with J.Crew on versions with special rope colors or a gingham-printed footbed. Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Jamie Haller, known for her stylish loafers, has stripped away all the bulk for summer with her aptly named String Theory sandal. In comparison, Loeffler Randall’s Mika sandal, while still simple and bare, looks almost chunky. And when I stopped by the showroom of the buzzy Paris-based label Rier two weeks ago, I noticed they also had a sandal with just a thin sole and slim straps. Everywhere you look, the sandal is being stripped down to its bare essentials.

“There’s a history in the running sandal, which is why it felt right when we started styling with it,” says Jackie McKeown, a creative director at Literary Sport, explaining how the Xero collaboration came about. Since the brand started, they’ve paired their sleek performancewear not with chunky running shoes but with the refined, delicate Genesis. “For me, as someone who runs but works in fashion, I’m never just in running clothes—it’s not that simple. There’s always that in-between. There was this energy where you’d wear sportswear as your daily uniform.”

While these styles take inspiration from rugged hiking sandals (like hearty Tevas or bulky Keens), they apply the principles of minimalism, reducing them to their purest, most essential form. We’re in an era of small footwear (think low-profile sneakers, ballet flats, even Chanel’s half-shoes—not to mention the flip-flop), but these go even further, pushing the limits of what can even be called a shoe. They represent minimalism at its most vital—no frills, no excess. It’s telling that Literary Sport photographed them with a bottle of water, placing them alongside something so pure and fundamental, yet essential.

Of course, they also tap into the ongoing connection between fashion and sport, which has moved beyond popular sports like basketball and soccer to more niche activities—running and trail hiking among them. Basketball shoes, even running sneakers, feel too obvious, while a take on the hiking sandal is unexpected. “I think they’ve always influenced each other,” says McKeown, “but it’s trickling up because running is having such a big moment, and it’s bled into fashion to the point where it’s now shaping how people style and put looks together.” She points to how it was presented on the Celine runway, where slim, running-tight-like pants were paired with these sandals. “That’s becoming a different character in the menswear world now,” she said. “That ‘elevated sports’ person.”A clear example of this trend appeared in Miuccia Prada’s spring 2024 Miu Miu collection, where preppy clothes were paired with rope sandals of this exact style—complete with bandaged toes.

With their brand Literary Sport, McKeown and her partner Fran Miller aim to challenge traditional sportswear aesthetics. Instead of going for aggressive, flashy designs, they focus on something unexpected: grace, restraint, and even elegance. They apply the same thinking here. Rather than pairing their gear with bulky, cushioned running sneakers—the obvious choice—they go the opposite direction. The result is a kind of simplicity that changes the typical look of a running outfit. “The trend in running is to go bigger, but we go the other way—we’ve moved away from the bulky shape,” she says. “Because there’s something more refined about this.”

“It’s almost like you don’t even want the footwear to be noticeable,” she adds. “As little shoe as possible feels like the right energy right now.”

Miu Miu, spring 2024
Photo: Armando Grillo / Gorunway.com

Rier, spring 2027

While this trend easily works for both men and women, it feels especially new for men. “From a men’s perspective, I think it adds a whole new dimension to footwear that we haven’t really had before,” says Abbie. “Women have always had the chance to play—I’m looking at a woman right now, she’s just wearing a little strap and a toe ring. Women always have their feet out. So maybe we’re becoming more open to this idea of ‘natural living,’ and less formal about how men dress. I think that’s a broader trend. But having a new type of shoe to explore is interesting.”

For some, this means taking the trend to its logical end—no shoes at all. “Anything that helps make going barefoot more mainstream and acceptable is fine by us,” writes “Barefoot Chris,” a moderator at The Society of Barefoot Living, in an email. As the name suggests, the group promotes a lifestyle where shoes are used as little as possible. “We do see a lot of ‘minimal’ sandals with very thin soles and little foot support being sold as running or hiking shoes. These can be a useful step for people whose feet aren’t yet used to tougher terrain. Still, with a bit of practice and reconditioning, a natural foot can handle most situations just fine on its own.”

A look from Rier’s spring 2027 lookbook.

“We also see ‘barefoot sandals’ that have no sole at all—more like foot jewelry than a shoe,” he continues. (They should consider an anklet!) “Some of our members have different opinions on this. Some prefer to keep their feet completely free and natural, without any decoration. Others like the decorative look of a barefoot sandal, which adds style and flair while still letting the soles touch the ground. Some of us, myself included, like wearing them in social settings that might not be as welcoming to someone completely barefoot, like restaurants.”

Of course, even in their simplicity, these sandals have an element of design—a nod to ancient Greece or Rome (and perfect timing for the film The Odyssey). With their delicate strings, they also carry an undeniable sensuality, playfulness, and maybe a hint of BDSM. Even the Literary Sport pair, in its simplicity, has a small flourish: a shiny pebble hanging from one of the leather cords. In a design that’s all about less, it makes a big impact. Taken together, these styles all show a certain taste and elegance in restraint.

And in the end, that’s what matters, isn’t it? “I’ve gotten so many compliments on them,” says Abbie. “From men, women. People say, ‘I went and bought those shoes today because I saw you wearing them.’”

Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist

Literary Sport x Xero Shoes Genesis sandals
$150 LITERARY SPORT

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Save to wishlist

Jamie Haller
The String Theory thong sandals
$690 NET-A-PORTER
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist

Loeffler Randall
Mika sandals
$185
NET-A-PORTER

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Save to wishlist

Banana Republic
x Flòwze sandals
$195
BANANA REPUBLIC

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the barelythere hiking sandal written in a natural tone with clear answers

Beginner Questions

Q What exactly is a barelythere hiking sandal
A Its a minimalist sandal thats super lightweight has a very thin sole and offers minimal padding Its designed to let your feet feel the ground while still protecting them from sharp rocks and hot pavement

Q Are these sandals actually good for hiking
A Yes but for the right kind of hiking Theyre excellent for wellmaintained trails smooth paths and easy day hikes Theyre not great for scrambling over sharp boulders or carrying a heavy backpack

Q Whats the main benefit of wearing them
A The biggest perk is the ground feel It makes you more aware of your footing which can improve your balance and strengthen the small muscles in your feet Plus they dry super fast if you cross a stream

Q Are these sandals just for hiking
A Not at all Theyve become the official shoe of summer because theyre perfect for everything walking the dog going to the farmers market beach trips and casual travel Theyre basically your goto summer sandal

Intermediate Practical Questions

Q Wont my feet get dirty or sunburned
A Yes your feet will get dusty and dirty but thats part of the appeal for many people Sunburn is a real risk so youll want to apply sunscreen to the top of your feet if youre out for a long time

Q How do they fit compared to regular shoes
A Most brands recommend a snug but not tight fit You dont want your heel lifting off the back or your toes hitting the front when you walk downhill Many models use a single strap system so you can finetune the fit

Q Do I need to wear socks with them
A You can but it defeats the barelythere feeling Most people wear them barefoot If you do wear socks look for thin noshow toe socks to avoid that awkward look