Introduction:
I had the chance to try out another one of Wilding's new extra light summer releases - the Hanami. This shoe is somewhat of a new fresh take on colour for Wildling, who usually opt for earthy toned down colours schemes. I was instantly drawn to the fun pastel pink colour and they were a similar shape to my previous Nebula's with a different upper, so I knew they would feel great. Alex and I are big fans of Wildling as a brand and manufacturer because of their stylish designs, quality and ethos.
For a bit of history - my first shoe from Wildling was the Nebula model in a 39 which had a bit of extra room in the toe box. My second pair were the Winter Heath boot where I opted for a 38 and this fit really well. For the Hanami I also chose a 38 and they were perfect when I first put them on, I'm happy I chose this size. My recommended sizing base on Wildling's extensive fitting process could be between a 38 - 39 so it is dependent on how you like your shoes to fit. The international website can be accessed here. Whilst the US website can be accessed here.
(Disclaimer: These shoes were given to me to review, however my opinion is my own).
Company Overview:
Anna and Ran and their three children are the starting point and inspiration for this exciting and exciting journey. This is their story:
“We lived in Israel for 12 years and our children were born there. They grew up barefoot in their first years of life and have always impressed us - with their agile, confident and powerful movements. In 2013 we moved back to Germany. The first shoes had to be bought in autumn, but we could not find a pair, even among the most expensive children's shoes, that our children could continue to walk with and that they wanted to wear with their usual feet. There seemed to be something fundamentally wrong with traditional children's shoes. A look at the statistics confirmed our fears - 98% of all children are born with healthy feet, but only a few adults still have healthy feet. This is usually due to poorly fitting and incorrectly designed shoes. High time for a new concept and a new generation of children's shoes! As a sports therapist, trainer and passionate barefoot runner, Ran has always been a fanatic when it comes to natural movement and biomechanical backgrounds. Anna loves the challenge of implementing new ideas and giving Wildling Shoes its very own identity through appropriate communication. Together with last builders, shoe designers and modellers, we have developed a shoe that offers a completely new concept from the fit over the materials to the sole. In contrast to conventional approaches, which assume that the foot must be held, supported and guided, we are convinced that the foot is naturally healthy and only needs the opportunity to develop vigorously. That is why our shoe leaves the foot as undisturbed as possible - like a second skin that protects against injuries and weather influences, but otherwise has no influence on the foot and its functions. ”
Manufacturing and Sustainability:
Wilding have a strong ethos when it comes to having a transparent supply chain. They have close relationships with their suppliers to ensure they have the best quality and sustainable manufacturing.
Their shoes are made to EU standards
They often used recycled materials
They have a transparent supply chain understanding where each stage of supply occurs
They strive to be a low impact and uphold corporate responsibility to the environment
Their shoes are handmade and therefore made with precision and care
See more information here.
Shipping:
Shipment to: Germany Shipping costs: €4.90 inc. VAT Shipment to: International Shipping costs: €8.90 inc. VAT
Shipment to: USA/Canada via the US wildlings site:
Shipping costs: $9.90
From €200/200USD shipping is free.
For more information about shipping via the international site, click here. For additional info via the US site, click here.
Returns:
Extended return period of 30 days as of now, with your first return to us being free of charge. For each additional return we charge a shipping fee of €3.50 for returns from Germany and €8.90 worldwide. This fee will be retained from refunds. If you return the complete order the shipping costs of €4.90 (Germany) or €8.90 (international) paid in the webshop will be refunded.
For more information about international returns, click here.
For additional info for returns via the US website click here.
First Impressions:
The colour is my favourite by far Cherry Blossom Pink
Very lightweight
A new upper material I hadn't seen before - a cotton/linen blend
As always very flexible and malleable
Comfortable from the minute I put them on, they fit like a glove
Great quality manufacturing and materials on first glance
Sizing and Fit:
**My foot is approximately 235mm, with my 1st toe being the longest. At the time that I measured my foot, the width was approximately 85mm. **
My first pair of Wildling Shoes which were the Nebula are a size 39 were a fraction too big, however I still wear these often. My second pair I tried The Winter Heath boot has a thicker inner than their sneakers however I tried a 38 in these. The 38 fit great after I adjusted the mid toe. For the Hanami I also opted for a 38 because I felt this would be more proportionate for my foot. These fit perfectly like they were made for my foot, great width to wiggle my toes and still has a slender slimline look on your foot which I really prefer.
I am typically a 38 in most barefoot shoe brands.
Wildling have a thorough sizing guide with a a sizing print out, which you can use to measure your foot against and work out your size. I would say the sizing for the boot is a little different to the sneakers due to the thicker lining. Head to this page for a comprehensive size guide, they even have Youtube tutorials on how to follow their size guide.
Performance:
The Wildling Hanami is a perfect everyday weekend shoe to wear running errands, out and about with casual wear, but also great if you're going for long walks around the city and commuting. It's a comfortable everyday shoe that adds something to every outfit.
1. Upper and lining:
Soft, flexible and breathable upper with lightly cushioned lining
It feels as if it has a microfibre heel cap on the inside
Toe-box is generous in size but over all appearance of the shoes is slick and slim looking
Width in the mid-foot is the smallest part but still comfortable
As with all Wildling shoes, it has a tab at the back to easily pull on
2. Sole:
The edge of the sole is rounded
I like that the sole is both tough and flexible at the same time, I prefer shoes to have a sole than can still protect your foot well but allows for good movement. You get the best of both worlds with this shoe
3. Weight and movement:
Extremely light weight when it comes to a sneaker.
Wildling have an extremely unique Tabi sole making it flexible in all directions and allows for your foot to move naturally when walking.
4. Packaging and Extras:
Standard cardboard box and tissue wrapping
Technical Specifications:
Upper: Fantasy weave (67% cotton, 33% linen) – cherry blossom pink
Interior lining: 100% certified organically grown cotton
Insole: Hemp-flax fleece (50% hemp, 50% flax)
Edging: Microfiber (90% polyamide, 10% polyester) – sand
Outsole: 80% synthetic rubber with 50% recycled content, 20% cork
Weight: N/A
Stack Height: 2.5 mm (36 - 41), 3.5 mm (42 - 48) outsole + 2.5mm insole
Available sizes: 23-48
Price: 74,80 € inc. VAT plus shipping (adult sizing)
Further information: Does not contain materials of animal origin
Care instructions:
We recommend thoroughly waterproofing the shoes before first-time wear as well as periodic follow-up treatments. The best way to clean soiled shoes is by brushing them gently when they are dry or by wiping them with a damp cloth. Not machine washable.
We recommend removing the insoles from the shoes every day to air them out and avoid stagnant moisture accumulation.
You can find shoe care products for your Wildlings here.
Video tutorials explaining how to waterproof, cleaning and care, and how to insert the elastic laces are available on the Wildling Shoes YouTube channel.
Future Improvements:
I don't feel that any improvements are necessary. I love how unique Wildlings shoes always are from other barefoot shoes. Their design and workmanship is always well thought out and considered and they certainly have their own distinct style.
Where and how to wear:
I generally where this style with light blue jeans and monotone colours to let the shoes be the main element of an outfit. They're a great everyday shoe, but could be good for long walks too.
Conclusion:
I can never fault a pair of Wildlings and I'm now the proud owner of 3 different models that I wear for different occasions. They have only become consistently better with their new design, with interesting upper fabrics and one of the best fitting shoes I've found. I love their slimline design, as sometime barefoot shoes can look overly big in the toe box.
I think the thing I enjoy most about Wildling shoes is their unique and flexible sole that has so much movement to them. You often feel like you're wearing more of a grippy sock but has the appearance of a sneaker. They ensure my foot as maximum capacity for movement when I make a connection with the ground when walking or running.
-TBSR, Jade