Sockwa X8

Received my X8 today. Disappointed as hell. There is nothing wrong with the shoe/sock, it looks great. But the sizing is shit. I normally have size 43 or us.9,5-10 so that's what I ordered. The ones I received is marked with 43, us 10 but they cannot be bigger than 41. Both my heel and big toe hangs over the edge of the sole. So if you buy, go up one or two sizes.

If I lived in the US I would try to change size, but I live in Sweden, don't know what to do.
 
My Sockwas arrived this morning and maybe I was just lucky but the sizing couldn't be better for me. As I said, I ordered based on foot length and the chart on the Barefoot Britain site, not on my usual shoe size. They fit like socks, no space at the toe. I haven't run in them yet but they feel like they will be awesomely barefoot-like. So far in my running I have had the (unusual in Britain) luxury of not running much in the wet but it looks like that is changing so they couldn't arrive at a better time!
 
My Sockwas arrived this morning and maybe I was just lucky but the sizing couldn't be better for me. As I said, I ordered based on foot length and the chart on the Barefoot Britain site, not on my usual shoe size. They fit like socks, no space at the toe. I haven't run in them yet but they feel like they will be awesomely barefoot-like. So far in my running I have had the (unusual in Britain) luxury of not running much in the wet but it looks like that is changing so they couldn't arrive at a better time!
Running in the rain barefoot is a tremendous joy. From what I understand, Britain and Oregon are similar with the amount of rain we get, and I haven't had a problem running barefoot in the rain for runs under 2 hours. It's so much fun to splash in puddles and putting on footwear in the rain makes it not fun. For some reason wet footwear is just miserable, and it also seems in my experience that my feet have more problems with wet footwear than when slogging around barefoot in the rain. I think it has something to do with the footwear holding the water on your foot where as when your barefoot the water does partially get knocked off as you lift your foot and set it down etc.
 
I agree about the wet grass bit, but wet seems to make my soles an awful lot more sensitive to asphalt or gravel if running on a mixture of surfaces
If you think your soles are sensitive in the rain, wait till you have them wet minshoes on...;) The best footwear I have found for rain is sandals or barefeet. Sandals still allow the water to "fall off" the foot AND it keeps the foot raised above the ground surface for the most part.
 
Well, ran in them this afternoon. It was actually hot again after a damp morning, so I didn't get to try their wet weather abilities. I like that I could run comfortably the whole set of trails where normally there are some parts I can't run. I also like that I didn't have any problem maintaining a barefoot style - they didn't feel like shoes. I liked that they are so packable - i could have taken then off and stuffed them into my waistband pocket, and I also liked that i ran at a busier time of day with more people around and didn't have to cope with the whole social weirdness factor, though on the minus side, i didn't like that i liked that <g>. I also didn't like my sweaty feet at the end of it. I worry that they might be too much of an easy option, especially from the social weirdness point of view, as I wouldn't want to be using them all the time. My other minshoes, I'm wanting to take them off as soon as I get to a nice patch of trail, whereas these might tempt me to keep them on. But on the other hand I really wish I'd had them in my pack when I ran across a field of thistles last week - it didn't bother me too much at the time but I've got three little spikes left in the ball of my foot which I just can't get out!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bare Lee
WARNING! measure your feet and make sure you check the X8 size chart carefully!

The original preorder I put in for my X8s went off my normal UK shoe size converted to US (11). Luckily, after browsing Tracy's Barefoot Britain site I noticed their was a specific size chart for the X8s which takes your 'true' foot size in cm and converts this into unique Sockwa sizes - suddenly a UK 10 becomes a Sockwa M12?! Since time was on my side I promptly sent an email to Sockwa to change my order. A month later my X8s arrive from accross the pond. I excitedly opened my long awaited package only to find the wrong size had been packed together along with the original order slip! :( Thankfully, the very friendly Ashley from Sockwa took full responsibility and I now have a new pair of M12 winging their way to me... luckily I've been able to return the other pair to Barefoot Britain who are the only UK seller of the X8 that I know of.

I'll do a review of the X8 once I've had a chance to give them a thorough testing - watch this space!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darkand
Hi all
Had my first run in sockwa x8 last night. Very impressed. Normally inmerrell road gloves so big change.
From barefootbritain. Arrived in two days. Very strange feel when tried on even though I used the measurement chart off website. The run was a dream. Wet and drizzle. Could feel the road but no pain from grit ( still adapting ). Had more energy as could alter foot placement as I went and seemed to run smoother. Overdid it a nit as enjoyed it so much so will have a couple of days rest. As soon as I started running the sole seemed to hug my foot. Still had enough room to use toes when running. Dont know how people can use then for general wear unless I sized myself slightly too small a shoe.
Can recommend them anyway.
Still want to go barefoot but these will definitely help. Have fun.
 
Still running in my x8's. Had my second pair for xmas as sm using more and more. Perfect for me as am unable to go barefoot. Have tried and tried but the pavements where I run are dreadful and I occasionally catch my big toe on some rough tarmack and don't want tk risk injury. Maybe in future. The sockwa give me enough feel for the running surface. Even when I ran through some deep puddles last week it felt great. I have never had a blister since getting them. Couldn't go back to my road glovez again. Highly recommend from barefoot britain web site.
 
Hi guys,

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

I was wondering if some sockwa x8 owners can give me a bit of advice on sizing.

I am going to buy them from barefoot britain and have followed the size chart and measured my foot.

My feet are pretty much straddling the line between the M12 and M13. My feet measure 28.2/28.3 cm, the cut off for the M12 is 28.1 cm.

I would like to know how these fit as I am worried I'll end up with a pair that is either too tight or really floppy at the front.

Any help much appreciated!
 
Although its important there is at least a small amount of space at the front of any footwear, Sockwa are designed to be a snug fit and therefore I would recommend going with M12.

I have narrow, high arched, 28.1cm feet and M12 X8s fit beautifully. Absolutely my favourite minimal shoe....

If you are uk based I'm sure BB would swap them if you had any concerns over tightness (pre use of course) Running in them does free them up a little though.

Hope this helps and good luck!
 
Thanks guys,

On your advice I've gone for the M12. I will be using them purely for running on cold and/or rainy days so went for the smaller size.

Can't wait to try them out.

Cheers
 
I originally got my sockwa X8s something like a year ago. Didn't like them. I was wrong, they are really awesome. :)

Back then I was running with fivefingers, that's probably reason I didn't like them - fivefingers are pretty well locked to feet, whereas sockwas are looser, so with too much push off foot slides inside looser fitting shoe. Now I'm running barefoot and use sockwas to get through rougher sections.. There isn't any sliding inside shoe, I guess it was running form problem initially and running barefoot solved that form problem.. At first I thought there's bit too much ground feel with sockwas, it was actually painful to run at the rougher sections but it seems that problem was also about not enough barefoot running.. Now they feel like they add just enough protection and comfort. Whereas vff kso evo now feels almost like I can stomp through any terrain without feeling much.

Compared to vffs sockwas are much faster to put on and to take off. It's bigger thing than it would seem, it's not just little extra effort to adjust laces or put toes to toepockets. Here in Finland mosquitos attack pretty fast when you stop, with fivefingers I get lot more bites than with sockwas. And when there's some extra effort to put on shoes, it makes me more reluctant to stop to put them on, so I find myself going through rougher sections barefoot and slow down and mosquitos catch me.. :meh:

Sockwas also can be tucked into running belt, they stay put and don't bother. Some heavier minimalist shoes tend to move a bit and need to be adjusted occasionally. And more structured minimalist shoes might feel bit awkward.. Much better carrying option than hydration vest or carrying shoes at hand.. Especially with shorter runs I used to have this carrying problem, it felt too overkill to take some hydration vest just to carry shoes and carrying shoes at hand sucked.

BTW, I started barefoot running this time because I broke my little toe at orienteering. It was still bit sore on some test run and then I realized that it was shoes that irritated it, so I removed shoes and barefoot running felt great and painless. That toe is healed now, I still run barefoot.


Aaaaand, since winter will eventually come, hows sockwa G HI ? Like width, sizing compared to G3 or X8 and do they behave?