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Wildling Shoes Crane – Review

There is something special about Wildling shoes. Something, that makes me feel like these shoes have an invisible magnet built in that pulls me towards them and refuses to let me go...

When Wildling shoes started their business, their goal was to develop a ‘shoe that protects feet from injuries and weather, while restricting as little as possible its natural movement and healthy growth’.

After five years in barefoot shoe industry their success is only growing and growing. People are getting almost obsessed with their shoes. No wonder, why I own so many pairs of their shoes 🙂 You just want more and more of this luxury.

These spring Wildling shoes launched beautiful new models in different colours and materials for adults and kids. I decided to get their new hi-cut Crane model in light grey colour with an integrated membrane for better protection in rain.

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1. General

  • Brand: Wildling Shoes
  • Model: Crane
  • Colour: grey/white, microfibre edging in mouse grey colour
  • Tested on: woman, medium-wide feet, 26,3 cm long and 10 cm wide, low instep, skinny ankles

2. Material characteristics

2.1 Upper

Wildling goal is to ‘use pure, natural materials as far as possible’. All their materials are carefully chosen and also for Crane model is no different.

The upper is made from combination of cotton from certified organic sources, recycled cotton, polyester and other recycled fibres and it is in grey &white colour.

The edging in mouse grey colour is made from microfibre.

The laces are in the matching light grey colour, but if you wish to add some colour you can change them with some others. They have many different laces available on their website (regular cotton laces or even elastic).

At the back of the shoe there is a Wildling significant fox sign printed on the microfibre. Pull loops at the back are in brown colour.

2.2 Lining

The inner lining is made of ‘100% cotton from certified organic sources’. Shoes are really pleasant to wear even completely with no socks at all.

Crane shoes have an integrated membrane made from 100% polyester. Wildling recommend treating the shoes with waterproofing spray to ‘support water-repellent properties’. So far, I haven’t decided to spray them as I’m afraid that they could change the colour as this happened with my Wildling Flora shoes. But I tried to put them in the sink with the water and the wet didn’t came in at all. So, I hope they will cope well with rain.

The tongue is sewn to the upper to prevent water from getting into the shoe.

Crane shoes came with a thin removable insole, which according to Wildling shoes ‘should always be worn in the shoe as it fixes the new membrane construction’. But it ‘can be removed for ventilation’.

2.3 Sole

The sole of Wildling shoes is inspired by Japanese ninja boots and it is definitely something completely unique in barefoot shoe industry. I’m not sure if you can get a better ground feeling in any other shoes than you can get in Wildlings.

As you can see from the photo the sole in Wildling shoes does not completely cover the bottom part of the shoe. I glued all my previous Wildling shoes in the middle area, where the sole is missing, but not in this model.

What is new this year is the added black patch on the sole; ironed directly on the sole. According to Wildling shoes it is ‘extremely tearproof and durable’.

The sole can be easily rolled in any directions with completely no effort at all. The thickness of the sole is only 2,5 mm (sizes 36-41) or 3,5 mm (sizes 42-48).

3. Sizing information

3.1 Length

Crane model is available in Cubs, Wildling and Rewild collection from sizes 18-48.

They fit just slightly little smaller than other Wildling models (inside lenght is 27,3 cm measured with Plus 12). Wildling recommend if you are in between size to choose ‘the bigger of the two’.

When choosing the right shoe size, I definitely recommend using Wildling Fitkit. Just be sure to print it out in the right scale.

Here are my feet on their FitKit on size 42. I also tried some models in size 41, but all my toes are completely at the end of the shoe in that size, so smaller size is not an option for me.

Although they fit a little bit smaller, I decided to stay on my regular Wildling size 42 for my foot length 26,3 cm. This size I wear in my all Wildling shoes, although some models fit snugger than others.

In Crane model my toes have a little bit less space in the shoe as they have in some other spring Wildling models I have, but still enough for me. On the photos I’m wearing the shoe with the insole in. If you remove the insole, you can definitely get some more space.

3.2. Toebox & width

Wildling Shoes have a really great foot-shaped toebox, which suit various foot-shapes and widths.

On the photo below, you can see my foot on the inserted insole. My foot hangs a little bit over the edge, but inside the shoe there is more space than that.

I would say that shoes fit the best to medium and medium-wide feet, but because of the lacing system and really soft fabric, people with slightly more volume can get a good fit too.

At the end they are extremely versatile shoes appropriate for a lot of different foot shapes and types.

3.3. Fit

Wildling shoes fit really well for all kinds of foot shapes, foot widths and volumes. But if you have a shallow foot as I do or extremely narrow feet, you can find some models a little bit deep for you.

Sometimes the fit depends on the model. Some models feel wider or deeper than the others. So, if you don’t find a perfect fit in your Wildlings, you can try to add some of their insoles to improve the situation.

This model fits me well with the inserted insole in, but without it I need to tighten the shoes quite a lot to get a good fit.

3.4 Comfort

All Wildling shoes are extremely soft and super comfortable to wear. It’s almost impossible that they could rub you anywhere. They perfectly adapt to your foot and they feel almost like a second skin. They would be probably the most comfortable shoes you have even worn.

4. How to wear them?

These are the shoes that work really well with your casual clothes.

You can wear them with skinny jeans, trousers, joggings or even with a skirt. Choose what works the best for you.

Also, this neutral light grey colour makes them super easy to match with different clothes and styles.

5. Price & where to buy

Wildling shoes can be bought only from their official Wildling website. Full price for Crane model is 119€.

6. Shipping info

Shipping costs for Germany are 4,90 €, for international orders 8,90 €. Free shipping and first returns are for all orders above 200 €.

7. Where are they made?

One of the goals of Wildling shoes is definitely sustainability in shoe industry. Therefore, they carefully choose their materials and most of them came from Europe. Also, their shoes are made in Portugal to keep the distances short. Everything to keep our planet alive.

8. To sum up

I think that you could not wish for a better casual shoe for spring than Wildling shoes. With their lightness and comfort, they will absolutely fascinate you. On one side they are light and airy, but on the other side their integrated membrane will keep this April rain away from you.

With such a comfortable shoe on my feet I totally feel I’m ready for spring to come. These are not my first Wildlings, but I’m sure they are not the last ones either. Once a Wildling fan, always a Wildling fan.


PTUJ, Slovenia

Wildling Crane shoes wandered in Ptuj, which is the oldest documented city in Slovenia. It offers a tour of beautiful Roman monuments and facades of medieval buildings. The paved streets lead to one of the most beautiful castles in Slovenia.

Ptuj is a city of festivals and a strong ethnographic tradition that lives deep in the hearts of people. This year’s traditional International Carnival Festival is now in its 60th year. The main actor is Kurent, a traditional carnival character who chase winter away and calls spring to the country.

UNESCO inscribed the “Door-to- door rounds of Kurenti” to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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