Term
First Shoes
7.6/10 overallFrom £39.00
A UK barefoot-shoe specialist offering wide-fit, foot-shaped first shoes designed around podiatry guidance.
The verdict
Term First Shoes are foot-shaped, wide-fit barefoot shoes from a UK specialist brand, priced from £39, designed entirely around podiatry-informed foot health. Their thin, highly flexible sole is among the most barefoot-like in the category, though the brand has less recognition than Clarks or Bobux and no in-store fitting network to try before buying.
Term is a UK brand built entirely around barefoot foot health — every shoe is designed foot-shaped (wide at the toes, no tapering) rather than adapted from an adult shoe last, with a genuinely flexible, thin sole intended to mimic barefoot walking as closely as a shoe can.
Against the bigger, more established names here, Term is a newer, smaller UK company rather than a household name, which means less brand recognition but a more singular focus: every design decision is justified by podiatry-style reasoning about foot development, rather than balancing that against a firmer, more "traditional" shoe look.
For parents who've specifically read up on barefoot shoe philosophy and want the most foot-shaped option on the market, Term is usually the first name that comes up; for parents who'd rather buy from an established high-street name they already know, Clarks or Bobux offer more brand familiarity.
Is the First Shoes worth it?
- Foot-shaped, wide-toe design specifically built around foot health
- Thin, highly flexible sole among the most barefoot-like in this category
- UK-based specialist focused entirely on this niche
What are the downsides of the First Shoes?
- Less brand recognition than Clarks, Start-rite or Bobux
- No in-store fitting network to try before buying
Specs
- Sole
- Thin, highly flexible barefoot sole
- Closure
- Riptape
- Width fittings
- Wide, foot-shaped last (no tapering at the toes)
- Design philosophy
- Foot-shaped design informed by podiatry guidance
How we scored it
Foot Development
Sole flexibility and room for natural toe splay, per UK podiatry guidance for first walkers.
Foot-shaped, wide-toe design and a genuinely thin, flexible sole — the most barefoot-focused option here.
Fit & Sizing
Range of width fittings and how securely the shoe stays on a new walker's foot.
Wide, foot-shaped fit, but no in-store fitting network.
Durability & Value
How well the shoe holds up against how fast feet grow at this age, including hand-me-down life.
Reasonable durability; mid-range price for a specialist brand.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the First Shoes ourselves yet. This review is built from Term's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
| TermFirst Shoes |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From £39.00 | About £45 (often discounted to around £30) | From £34.00 | From £32.00 |
| Overall score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Sole | Thin, highly flexible barefoot sole | Thin, flexible rubber outsole, barefoot-style flex | Flexible but more structured than barefoot-style brands | Soft, flexible barefoot-style leather sole |
| Closure | Riptape | Single riptape strap, T-bar cage-sandal cut | Riptape or T-bar buckle | Riptape |
| Width fittings | Wide, foot-shaped last (no tapering at the toes) | Standard fit only, no wide option | F (narrow) to H (extra wide), varies by style | Standard and wide available on most styles |
Frequently asked questions
Are Term First Shoes worth it?+
Yes if you want the most foot-shaped option on the market — the wide-toe design and genuinely thin, flexible sole are specifically built around foot health. The trade-off is less brand recognition than Clarks, Start-rite or Bobux, and no in-store fitting network.
How do Term shoes compare to Clarks or Bobux?+
Term is a newer, smaller UK company rather than a household name, with every design decision justified by podiatry-style reasoning about foot development rather than balancing that against a firmer, more traditional shoe look. Clarks or Bobux offer more brand familiarity for parents who'd rather buy from a name they know.
Can I try Term shoes on before buying?+
No — there's no in-store fitting network, so you can't try them on in person before buying, unlike some more established brands.
Are Term shoes good for foot development?+
Yes — they're foot-shaped with a wide toe box (no tapering) and a thin, highly flexible sole intended to mimic barefoot walking as closely as a shoe can, informed by podiatry guidance for first walkers.
Guides that mention this
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.