Yoga is a barefoot activity. If you’re like me and you hate shoes, this is a dream come true.
I love being able to workout without having to wear socks or athletic shoes.
However, if the idea of walking barefoot across a floor hundreds of other bare feet have walked across gives you the creeps, you probably wish there was something you can wear to a yoga studio that protects your feet but won’t impact your practice.
Thanks to Nike, you’re in luck! My Nike Studio Wrap review hasn’t made me love wearing shoes, but it did make me realise partially covered feet can be enjoyable!
The Nike Studio Wrap
- Updated with lightweight breathable mesh.
- Helps deliver traction and protection on the studio floor.
Last update on 2019-11-26 at 23:39 - More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product." / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Whether you’re doing a yoga, pilates, or barre class, shoes aren’t allowed in the studio, but bare feet aren’t necessarily ideal, either.
Most barre classes require students to wear socks. Their reasoning is purely hygienic. Unlike a yoga or pilates class where you’re on your mat the whole time, you’re walking around the classroom and probably sweating most of the time.
Socks cut down on infections like athlete’s foot.
However, even grippy, barre-specific socks are a bit cumbersome for me, so I really wanted something that covered my feet, didn’t move around and need constant adjustment, and had plenty of grip.
The Studio Wrap is essentially a ballet shoe that leaves your toes exposed. The heel has the most traction, but the rest of the sole is lightly gripped so you can move your feet easily.
The grip on the heel allows for traction during floor workouts, and the rest of the shoe allows for an easy transition between the floor and the mat.
So, why exactly would you buy these over grippy socks or going barefoot?
- You have hygiene concerns or going barefoot weirds you out.
- You want some extra grip in certain yoga poses on your mat.
- You go to exercise classes where bare feet are ideal but not practical or allowed.
I don’t recommend these if:
- You’re looking for arch support. These offer very little support.
- You’re a beginning yoga student. Learning to use your feet and build their strength is an important part of developing your practice.
- You’re taking a class that requires shoes. These offer a next to nothing feel.
Features of the Nike Studio Wrap
Sizing
The shoes range in size from XS to XL. The coinciding shoe sizes are:
- XS: 5-6
- S: 6.5-7
- M: 7.5-9
- L: 9-10.5
- XL: 10.5-12
Breathable
The Wraps are made with a lightweight, airy mesh for ultimate breathability. If you have any kind of fabric on your feet and you’re exercising, your feet are inevitably going to sweat. With these, your feet will still sweat, but you won’t get that smothered, sweaty feeling you get with barre socks.
Support
If you need arch support, these aren’t going to give much of that. They’re extremely lightweight, making them virtually support-free in the arch.
The heel has a fair amount of support for working out on hard floors, but it might be a bit too much if you’re practicing on a yoga mat.
I think it’s more cushion than support on the heel, however. I’ve taken a few barre classes with these wraps and my heels have never ached like they did in thin socks.
Breathable
You’d be hard pressed to find a pair of socks that have this much traction without the material slipping all over your feet and requiring constant adjustments.
The bottom of the Studio Wrap has a silicone pattern that allows for great traction without impeding your ability to pivot, spin, or move your feet quickly.
If you do moves like forearm plank or dolphin in your barre, yoga, or pilates class, socks really impede your ability to grip your toes and safely hold the pose.
Since your toes are exposed with these, you can move from pose to pose without having to remove your socks.
Foot Protection
Sensitive feet? Rejoice! These offer the perfect amount of protection for feet that are prone to blisters, bruising, or general soreness from working out on hard surfaces.
The materials get softer the more you wear them, so as you break them in, they start to mold to your feet. I’d say after regular use, they’ll start to feel like you’re wearing nothing at all.
So…Are They Worth the Purchase?
Last update on 2019-11-26 at 23:39 - More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product." / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re a devout yogi and you rarely branch away from your mat, these aren’t worth the purchase.
Even if you’re prone to your feet slipping on your mat during a heated yoga class, I think a towel is a better investment, and the price is about the same.
If you love barre, dance, or pilates, I think these are worth the investment. There’s good heel cushion, they’re flexible, and your toes are exposed so you can go from pose to pose without slipping or adjusting your position.
All in all, if you hate socks, these are a purchase I think you’ll enjoy very much.
Have you tried the Nike Studio Wraps? Let me know what you thought of them. Hopefully my Nike Studio Wrap review helps your decision when you’re looking to purchase new gear!
How would these work for a person that enjoys walking barefoot but would like a bit of protection?