Groundies Orlando or Universe sneakers? Which one to choose? Detailed comparison including a chart, a sum-up and a rating. Click on the table of content, and read the part that interest you most!
Table of Contents
About Groundies
Groundies Orlando and Universe are both basic black sneakers, available for a few years already, very versatile and highly popular. Groundies is based in Germany and is one of the most renowned barefoot shoe manufacturers. They come out with a wide range of new models yearly, mostly meant for everyday town use, designed in line with the actual fashion trends. Their shoes fit narrow or medium wide feet best. While male and female models are listed separately on their website, there is no difference in sizing, so they are in fact unisex, with the exception of ladies-only models such as ballerinas. Various models come with a few different sole types, the newest of which I haven’t yet tried. The oldest one, GO1, the original Groundies sole is my favourit. Attention: lately Groundies introduced a new product line called REGULAR FIT that features narrower than natural toe boxes, failing to meet one of the most essential barefoot expectations.
Characteristics of the testing feet 🦶
| Length: 250 / 252 mm | Width: 94 mm | Volumen: low |
| Instep: explicitly low | (150 mm from ground to ground) | |
| Foot shape: sloped = Egyptian | (my big toe is the longest) |
Detailed chart of comparison
| ORLANDO | UNIVERSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 40 | 40 |
| Insole length | 261 mm | 261 mm |
| Width | 96 mm feels more as the material gives easily | 96 mm it feels narrower due to the stiff decor line around the sole |
| Volumen | low/medium the side of the shoe is medium high, I wear a 2 mm insole to raise my very low ankle bone above it | medium/high the shoe is deep and its side is high, not suitable for low ankle bones |
| Toe box | a bit more tapered than Universe but still comfortable for me | mildly tapered |
| Material | upper: soft leather with suede decorations lining: soft microfibre, pleasant without socks | shiny, sturdy yet soft leather lining: breathable microfibre, pleasant without socks vegan version available |
| Heel part | padded, super comfy stylish neon green (or black) label on the outside | padded, super comfy |
| Tongue | padded and soft but cannot be kept in place, moves to the side | padded, soft, with a loop for the laces |
| Laces | black with neon green (black on the newer models) ends I exchanged them for elastic laces | black |
| Sole | zero drop GO1 (the ‘old’ Groundies sole): 3.3mm + 3mm tread super flexible 3 years warranty against wearing through | zero drop GS1: 3 mm + 3.9 mm tread flexible, but considerably less than GO1 3 years warranty against wearing through |
| Ground feel | excellent | good |
| Weight | very light | light, but heavier than Orlando |
| Water resistance | holds up well in rainy weather if impregnated | holds up well in rainy weather if impregnated |
| Style | I didn’t like the suede details in the photos, but in live they are stylish and bad-ass at the same time – love, love, love them wide range of use from light hiking to work, ideal for travel, not made for mud though rather ladylike, I wear them with simple skirts, too suits any age group | they look more sporty in the pics than in real life, in fact they are casually elegant, perfect for work versatile more male than ladylike, not for skirts doesn’t strike me as a juvenile style |
| Colours | also available in white | available in several colours |
| Regular fit | not available | available |
📌📌📌 Youtube video about Universe ➡️: Groundies Universe sneakers
📌📌📌 Youtube video about Orlando ➡️: Groundies Orlando sneakers
Sum-up
Groundies Orlando and Universe sneakers are both designed for town use. They are very comfy, versatile, and – within normal circumstances – durable. I would not wear them in mud, but in rain they will keep your feet dry for quite a while.
Universe is considerably less flexible at the sides and in the sole, and gives less ground feel. It fits higher volumen feet than Orlando, even though Orlando gives more in width.
Orlando is more ladylike and can be worn with simple skirts. Universe is more on the male end in style, and less juvenile.
Universe is available in ‘regular fit’, i.e with an unnaturally narrow toe box.
Both crease easily due to the softness of the leather so they lose their initial smooth look fast, but the comfort they provide richly compensates for this.
Rating
| ORANDO | UNIVERSE | |
|---|---|---|
| Barefoot requirements | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
| Comfort | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
| Style | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
| Quality | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
| Fit for my feet | ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ | ⭐️ ⭐️ |
📌📌📌 If you liked it, you can find further comparisons and review here ➡️ Barefoot shoe reviews