Deliberate Life Designs

Barefoot brand from United States, founded 2013.

Deliberate Life Designs is a small workshop in northern Vermont making handmade, made-to-order huarache-style barefoot sandals. You choose your sole, footbed and strap colours, and can order a standard shape, one of five foot shapes, or a fully custom outline. They use Vibram rubber soles and nylon straps, often from repurposed climbing slings, and the sizing runs from kids to large adult sizes, so I think they are worth a look for running, hiking and everyday wear.

Specialities: sandals, handmade, made to order, running, hiking

Deliberate Life Designs website

How Deliberate Life Designs fits

mixed toe box, multiple width

These are made to order, so I'd start with the printable templates (Standard, Mountain, Slope, Wide, Narrow) to pick the best outline and length. If none suits, a custom tracing is available. Expect to fiddle with the straps over a few wears.

The Deliberate Life Designs range

• Alchemy, £77.65
• Alchemy MTO, £77.65
• Approach Minimalist Sandal, £107.52
• Camp Sandal, £41.07
• Camp Sandal MTO, £41.07
• Cork Massage Balls, £9.71
• Creeper Socks | Merino Toe socks 2.0 | Crew Length, £12.69
• Custom Work, £3.73
• Enigma Guide Minimalist Sandal, £111.25
• Enigma Minimalist Sandal, £100.05
• Garage Sale Sandals, £18.67
• Intuition MTO, £70.19
• Perception, £77.65
• Perception MTO, £77.65
• Pursuit MTO, £88.85
• Toe Spacers, £14.90
• Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear (paperback), £11.16
• Winter Sandal Screw Set, £10.45