Barefoot shoes

Barefoot shoes allow for a natural gait. They respect the body's needs and restrict movement as little as possible. Compared to regular shoes, they are more spacious in the toe, bring a thin sole without a heel, are overall more flexible and lighter. If you're looking for healthy and comfortable shoes for children and adults, at Footic we have tens of thousands of pairs of barefoot shoes in stock.

What is barefoot?

The term barefoot means "barefoot" in English, but is more commonly used to describe a specific type of footwear - barefoot shoes (or minimalist shoes, barefoot boots). Their main characteristic is that barefoot shoes allow the natural movement of the foot when walking. The following parameters are important here:

• wide toe, shaped to respect the needs of the foot
• flat sole without heel or raised toe
• high flexibility in all directions
• thin sole, about 3 mm high
• low weight

Why should you get barefoot shoes

We asked our customers why they wear barefoot. Below are the most frequently quoted reasons, why should we wear barefoot shoes:

• they do not squeeze the toes - plenty of toe room provides the feet with a previously unknown feeling of comfort
• teaches the body to walk - they respect the nature of movement, leading to the elimination of faulty patterns and healthy musculoskeletal development
• strengthen legs - legs work more actively, get better blood circulation and overall strength
  weighs nothing - you can hardly feel that you are wearing shoes
• they are compact - they take up minimal space in a suitcase or travel luggage
• feet come alive - closer contact with the surface brings amazing impulses to the body, one feels more alive and in closer connection with nature
• sustainably produced - most brands are sourced from Europe, handmade in lower volumes, with an emphasis on quality and safety of materials

How barefoot shoes help

Barefoot shoes can help relieve symptoms or completely cure some health problems, such as:

• collapsed vault - correct placement of the fingers activates the vault
• bunion (hallux valgus) or little toe - anatomically shaped shoes do not squeeze the toes
• valgus ankle - thanks to the flat sole, there is no deflection of the centre of gravity and no pressure on the ankle
• heel spur - flexible sole and wide toe allow for proper walking technique that does not hurt the heels
• leg pain (feet, ankles, knees, hips) - walking in accordance with nature does not strain the musculoskeletal system
• back, shoulder, neck pain - the body is a complex interconnected system and correcting the footwear improves its general condition
• flaccid leg muscles - allow active walking, which strengthens the muscles
  
• balance problems - enough space for fingers increases stability
  

However, always consult your doctor (physiotherapy, podiatry) first regarding the use of barefoot shoes as medical footwear.

Advantages and disadvantages of barefoot shoes

Before buying barefoot shoes for the first time, consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of buying them:

• a wide toe box offers many health benefits, but can appear too wide
• thin sole allows better surface sensation, but does not cushion the tread
• the toe space gives the foot a feeling of comfort, but it is so addictive, that you won't feel comfortable in other shoes
• local handmade production from eco-friendly materials promotes sustainability, but brings higher production costs for the final customers

How to choose barefoot shoes

If you do not know how to choose barefoot shoes, we will be happy to help you on our customer service line. Below we summarise the basic rules:

1. measure your foot - trace your foot on paper (instructions here) and measure the maximum length and width so you can get the right size and not have to worry about ordering multiple pieces and returning the ones that don't fit
2. filter your desired sizes - in the selected categories you can easily sort the shoes according to many different parameters, just remember to take into account the oversize (children 10-12 mm, adults 4-6 mm)
3. choose shoes - find the shoes that appeal to you, add the size you want to your shopping cart and complete the order

What kind of barefoot shoes exist

Gone are the days when barefoot shoes included only five-toed or homemade sandals. Today's range is on par with classic footwear and offers shoes for all purposes. You will find women's, men's and kids' shoes clearly sorted into categories.

Types of barefoot shoes

• barefoot sneakers - light and breathable shoes for the city and outdoors, suitable for dry weather
  • outdoor shoes - sneakers suitable for trips, have a thicker sole or better anti-slip pattern
  • athletic shoes - sneakers suitable for all types of sports activities
  • slip on shoes 
• barefoot sandals - open summer shoes
• winter barefoot boots - insulated boots and snowshoes
• all-year barefoot low top shoes - closed low shoes suitable for any season
• barefoot high top shoes - closed higher boots, suitable for colder autumn
• barefoot knee high boots - high boots for girls or women
• barefoot ballet flats - social shoes for girls or women
• barefoot rain boots - rain and mud rubber boots
• barefoot slippers and water shoes - garden pool shoes and swimming shoes
• barefoot house slippers - slippers for children for school or kindergarten
• barefoot toddler shoes - selected outdoor shoes for beginners
• barefoot infant shoes - soft leather house shoes for first steps
• barefoot sock shoes - socks with soles

For whom are barefoot shoes suitable

• for beginners - to learn and maintain natural movement habits
• for preschoolers - around 6 years of age the skeleton ossifies, so the first years of life are a crucial period for proper foot development
  
• for school children - children's feet need enough space in the shoe for healthy growth
• for adults - to correct faulty movement patterns and gradually heal the musculoskeletal system
• for the elderly - for improved stability, better blood circulation and overall fitness

Where to buy barefoot shoes?

The widest range of barefoot shoes can be found at Footic. Choose from tens of thousands of pairs in stock from over 60 different manufacturers. For registered users, there is a loyalty programme with many benefits for registered customers, and trained customer service staff will help you with your shoe selection.

What shoes to buy?

We have been selecting the best shoes for the natural development of feet for 10 years. On the Footic website, you will find proven and healthy shoes for kids and adults. To maintain good walking habits, we and our children also wear stylish barefoot shoes outdoors, in the city and on special occasions.

Our Footic e-shop allows you to easily filter shoes by size, type, colour, manufacturer and many other parameters. We will be happy to advise you on how to choose the right shoes on our customer service line - you can contact us via chat, e-mail, phone, Facebook or Instagram. If you're still not sure how to find the best shoes for you, take a look at our regular comparative reviews.

The most popular brands of barefoot shoes for children include BEDA, Froddo, Bobux, Bundgaard and Koel, for adults Camper, Be Lenka, Vivobarefoot, Xero Shoes and ZAQQ. We stock all shoes and guarantee fast delivery with a return policy of up to three weeks.