The offer of children’s barefoot shoes got broader again. You can shop for time-proven staple pieces or try out the new models. We compared the shape, proportions, and width of the 16 most popular pairs of children’s shoes. You can find enclosed photos of a foot wearing the compared shoe. Detailed and objective captions ensure the right choice.
Start with measuring the foot. The year-round shoes of the same brand can have a different size than the winter ones. The bigger size doesn’t signify the right decision. Go through the video manual and detailed captions. It will guide you through the process of measuring the foot and choosing the right size excess.
Then start choosing - filter by the right length and width, read through the closer comparison.
Sole shape
The sole shape should trustfully copy the inners shoe shape and reflect the foot shape. The accurate copy is projected to the toebox, a rate of bevel, an ankle narrowing. Look at the sole and choose shoes that are adequately shaped and preferably not too big or too small. The biggest pitfall by every ready-to-wear shoe is the insufficient room for the big toe and not corresponding shape because the shape of barefoot shoes is different.
We photographed the shoe of size 31. The booted foot on the photos has 193 x 72 mm, an average instep, and a regular heel. Please don’t take the information too dogmatically because it is only about our observations. Photo of the barefoot is at the end of the article.
Beda & Jonap (Jampi)
Beda has slightly shifted sizing in comparison to other brands, so the shoes can be rather tight.
Beda shoewear (take a look at selection) has a straighter toe box. It is ideal for dominant toes and toes in a row. The toe tip is not beveled. They are suitable for an average instep, and it is perfect for slim ankles because the low models can be adjusted. This brand offers the roomiest shoewear on the market. We don’t recommend low models to people with higher instep. More suitable are high-tops. If it is needed, take a look at the Beta shoe comparison.
Jonap is convenient for children with wider feet and beveled foot shapes. The big toe side slightly rotates inward, so we don’t recommend it to people with a dominant big toe. In contrary to Jonap, Beda shoes are 1 cm higher, a bit firmer, flexible in all directions, and slightly higher in the instep area..
Fare & Baby Bare
Fare shoes are more spacious in the toe area but are relatively tight in the heel. They are suitable for fin-shaped feet. The flexibility of the sole is analogous to Beta, Fare, and Baby Bare. They don’t have a high instep and are suitable for feet with slim ankles and broad toes. Baby Bare GO shoes are also sufficient for fin-shaped toes. They are a few mm smaller in the toe box but have comparable measurements. The difference is in the height of the instep because Baby Bare has more space in this part right above the toes and near the shin. Both have ideally shaped toe-box and even for the dominant big toe. They are not too beveled, even if the second toe is dominant.
Lurchi & Bobux
Lurchi shoes have an optimal shape for a dominant big toe, narrow heel, and slim ankles. They have a beveled toe box, flexible sole, and reinforced heel part. The shoes are similar to Fill - the barefoot groundbreaker. Bobux is less barefoot because of its flexibility, and the round toe box is not suitable for a dominant big toe. The shoes have firmer soles, so they can be appreciated by fans of compromise shoes or by parents who require a firmer heel. They are a tad broader in the heel and aren't adjustable to skinny ankles. We expect the Bobux spring collection at the end of March, and that's why today's offer is limited.
D.D.Step x Protetika
D.D. Step will impress you with its flexibility. They are the softest of the compared models. The toe box is not so wide, more average, and because the shoe tip rotates inwards, they are not suitable for a dominant big toe. The heel isn't reinforced. The heel part is narrow. The shoe is spacious around the instep - in height but also width. The area near the velcros fastening is wide but hardly adjusted to a slimmer ankle. We recommend it to children with high instep and chubbier feet that don't have broad toes.
Protetika has a convenient toe box for the dominant big toe and flat toes, similar to Beda. It has a narrower toe box, a fully flexible sole, soft heel, and it fits on a straight foot type. Compared to older models, the new ones are less spacious around the ankles. So, they can be easily adjusted to narrow heel. 
Froddo & Ef barefoot
Froddo usually fits well on average foot with not so high instep. It is a middle ground or a universal shoe. The shoes accommodate the skinnier foot well, although the centre of the sole and the heel look wide. They are anatomically shaped and are suitable for a dominant big toe. Some models have laces for a more comfortable adjustment. They are lower in the instep, so we don’t recommend it to chubby feet. Landing on the sole is flexible, and because of rubber overlap, they look firmer but still flexible. The shoes are bendable in every direction, and the heel is not reinforced. Ef barefoot shoes are more or less news to all-year-round shoewear. They have a nicely shaped toe box that isn’t excessively fin-shaped. The big toe is not compressed. The shoes can be adjusted to narrow ankles, and the heel is more reinforced than other barefoot shoes. They are higher in the instep and are suitable for an average or a slightly chubby foot. This brand can delight us with flexibility comparable to Fare, Beda..
Tikki & Koel4kids
Both brands have similar proportions and can fit the same foot type. The toe box is well-shaped and suitable for a dominant big toe. Koel has extra rubber overlap that ensures protection against scuffing. They are convenient for average instep and narrow heels. The shoe opening is broader, but we can tighten the shoes well. Both brands are similarly flexible, although Tikki’s heel is slightly firmer without any heel reinforcement..
Affenzahn & Bundgaard
Affenzahn shoes are super flexible and light, suitable for narrow feet with higher instep. The shape of the toe box is ergonomic but not acceptable for fan-shaped toes. They are not beveled and are convenient for children with straight-shaped feet. The shoes have a brilliant design, safety components, and playful details. Bundgaard brand is bulkier, and the design doesn’t indicate barefoot footwear. The style of shoes gives us an impression of sneakers. They are compromise shoes with a thicker sole, stiffer materials, and heel that is 4 mm higher than the toe part. The sole is slightly padded, and the shoes are convenient for the city, barefoot beginners, or children who stamp. The velcros strips aren’t rotating, so the shoes aren't easily adjustable. Yet, they fit nicely around the ankle..
Camper & be lenka
Be lenka brand has ideal space for the dominant big toe and fin-shaped toe. It has enough room above the toes. It fits well the average foot with a bit higher instep. The shoe can be adjusted to narrow ankle by velcro strips. You can tighten the velcro strips and cut the excess. The shoes give us an impression of wide shoes, but the design can be deceiving because they are comparable to the other broadest models. They are without any heels. Camper shoes are stylish and have a beautiful and traditional design. They are less practical because we cannot tighten and adjust the shoes. The laces only have a decorative purpose. The shoes have a nice toe box and softer inner sole, so they are suitable for children or somebody who isn’t a fan of a shoe sole. The heel of these shoes is firmer than by other barefoot models.
These are the photographed feet
