I have a pair of the original Freestyle sneakers in Sand. They are my favorite barefoot shoe shape (I own pairs from 5 barefoot companies). I know that Splay shoes are moving away from the pure barefoot style of shoe, but I was hoping that the Freestyle 2.0 hadn’t changed much, because I really like the original pair I have and I only wear barefoot shoes (unless it’s one of the two days or so a year I wear heels, and then there we go.)
Overall, it is a comfortable shoe. Compared to the original Freestyle, it is noticeably stiffer. The part that bothers me the most is the arch support in the insole. As I am used to barefoot shoes, having an arch push up against my foot feels very intrusive. I can wear them, and I do. If this is how the most “barefoot” option in the lineup is though, I will not be buying any other Splay styles as they are clearly not barefoot shoes. Those stack heights are way high.
While I’m sad I might be being edged out of the target audience, I applaud your hard work! You’ve made some really awesome shoes, and these new ones look seriously stylish.
I will continue to wear my original Freestyles with fondness for your brand. If you ever release another true barefoot option, please make it obvious in the description so others like me can feel confident our choice will continue our barefoot experience.