Jinga Shoe Review

If you had told me that this barefoot shoe series would eventually entail my delving into the world of Brazilian dance wear, I would have never believed it. And yet, that’s precisely where today’s review has led us.
Furthermore, I’m not entirely convinced that Jinga is primarily a footwear company; it’s more like an enterprise that was created to bring about social change while enriching as many lives as possible, who somehow decided to start making footwear along the way. It’s one of the more colorful corporate stories I’ve heard in this whole series, and this is perhaps the company who makes the biggest direct impact on the targeted beneficiaries of its humanitarian outreach.

But first, the name.

There’s a Brazilian colloquialism called ginga which is a descriptive term describing the joyful, intangible aspect of someone’s personality; something that Americans might describe as spirit, energy, charisma, style, or joie de vivre (OK, that one’s French, but you know what I mean) all rolled into one. Ginga is an individual sense of personal expression that makes each one of us unique.

Brazilians believe they have ginga in abundance, which gives them the natural grace and fluid energy they proudly display on soccer fields and dance floors all over the world. Jinga shoes (the company name is spelled differently for easier pronunciation) are seemingly made with that purpose in mind; the company’s FAQ page includes testimonials from salsa instructors and performers describing how ideal the footwear is for many forms of dance. They’re also the footwear of choice for at least two world-famous (at least, according to the website – I’m stretching beyond my realm of expertise here) salsa dance troupes.

And remember what I said about their shoe business being something of an afterthought? That comes from the website as well:

We are a social enterprise. Where regular companies are driven first and foremost by financial targets, our goals are social as well. Our purpose is not just to run a successful business, but also to provide opportunities and social development to disadvantaged young people in Brazil. All our profits are reinvested for social purposes – both within our company, to improve the environmental and social impacts of our products and our supply chain, and also outside our company, providing funding assistance for Julio Otoni, a social project for young people and teenagers in a low income area of Rio de Janeiro.

So Jinga is not just about shoes: it’s about creating and making the most of opportunities, about bringing colour into people’s lives, progression, fun and individuality and trying to get the best out of life for everyone as far as we can make that happen.

Seems like a company you can feel good about supporting, doesn’t it? And if that doesn’t convince you that the company is trying to make the world a smaller, happier place, here’s one more item to consider: in addition to their footwear enterprise, the owners host another business called Jingando Holidays; it offers vacation packages where you get a guided tour of the city, participate in outreach projects benefitting impoverished kids, and take as many hours of dance instruction as you’d like in all the coolest nightspots in Rio.

Considering all that ... can you see why it’s hard for me to stay focused on footwear? So let’s finally take a look at these shoes.

Jinga shoes are purely minimalist footwear, with no heel, no arch, and no cushioning in the outsole. They combine a lightweight synthetic and mesh upper with a super thin and flexible outsole for a shape that feels like a dance slipper, but looks like a classic sneaker*. The color schemes available have a distinctively Brazilian character: vibrant, colorful, and fun. They may not get you through a day at the office, but they’ll be a conversation starter as soon as you’re off the clock.

(*Full disclosure: my wife thinks they look like bowling shoes. Needless to say, it's not the first fashion-related difference of opinion we've ever had. Since it's my review, I'm calling it a sneaker - but feel free to weigh in in the comments. If consensus goes her way, my wife will love you for it, and I'll never hear the end of it. On second thought ... maybe I shouldn't encourage comments so much.)

PVC outsole

The outsole is made of recycled PVC, like the pipes that carry water to your outdoor sprinklers. At its thickest point, the outsole is a mere 4mm thick, giving you superb ground feel. Wavy traction stripes on the bottom provide surprisingly good traction, and the outsole is flexible enough that your foot naturally employs the same toe and forefoot grip that it uses when walking barefoot. However, the outsole material and means of construction are designed to minimize friction, so you can glide smoothly and stay light on your feet during your samba or soltinho routines (I’m learning all kinds of new Brazilian words lately).

The shoes come with a 2mm insole for those who like a little bit of cushioning, but I found that I much prefer them with the insoles removed. Even with the insole, the entire shoe weighs 250g, which places it second only behind Feelmax for lightweight footwear.

The standard demo for minimalist shoes

Ironically, even though they make a nearly perfect minimalist running shoe, the Jinga website does not recommend using the shoes for running. When I questioned one of the owners about this, she admitted that their recommendation was based on a comparison to traditional athletic shoes (and traditional heel-striking runners). I’ve mentioned before how the barefoot running movement has taken several companies by storm, and Jinga is a classic example. They now realize the potential new market they have, and they’re revising the language on their website to indicate that their footwear is perfectly suitable for barefoot or minimalist runners.

I’ve gone running in my Jingas, and experienced no issues with overall durability or traction on the asphalt. The lacing system allows you to dial in your desired snugness, and the lining of the upper is comfortable enough that I can wear them without socks, with no chafing or blister issues. I prefer, however, using these more as an everyday shoe, for casual outings when I want to stay “nearly” barefoot in something that looks like a standard sneaker*. (*Or bowling shoe. Whatever.)

At the moment, Jinga doesn't have any retailers in the US. Although prices on their website are advertised in £, the payment provider does a conversion to American dollars for you, and the 39.99 pounds converts to about 64 US dollars. Jinga already enjoys a fair number of customers from the States and Canada, and they’re looking to get a presence in some North American stores and e-vendors in the next year.

I find myself really pulling for them to succeed. The company’s stated mission is to help everyone bring out their unique ginga, and they do it in a way that is both enriching for people and protective of the planet. If karma has anything to do with it, Jinga is a company that has a lot of dancing days ahead of them.


*footwear provided by Jingando Ltd.
** See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.