What can barefoot shoes actually do?

That's what makes barefoot shoes special

Barefoot shoes are no longer ECO or ugly. They can look like a smart business shoe, like a normal sneaker, like a winter boot, they come as a sandal or they look like a glove for the foot, or socks with a sole. Barefoot shoes are available in different shapes and designs, for children and adults, in organic quality or as cheap Chinese goods (which you won't find with us, we have something against harmful substances!).

More and more people are switching to barefoot shoes because they simulate natural walking without shoes.

The biggest difference to normal shoes is the sole: While in conventional shoes we often walk on a sole that is usually several centimeters thick with cushioning and possibly a heel (heel), barefoot shoes are particularly thin and flexible. The shoes have neither a footbed nor a heel. In addition, they are real lightweights, which are much more comfortable to carry due to their low weight. Who likes to carry around unnecessary ballast?

Why are barefoot shoes healthy?

According to doctors, walking barefoot is the healthiest way for humans to walk. After all, we were all born shoeless and have walked shoeless for centuries since the dawn of mankind. So it's in our nature to walk happily through life without shoes. If we walk barefoot, our feet have to adapt to the unevenness of the ground with every step. On the one hand, this strengthens the muscles and, on the other hand, it prevents malpositions. We also perceive the texture and temperature of the ground through the soles of our feet, which promotes sensorimotor functions. When we walk barefoot, the soles of our feet send 100,000 sensory stimuli (touch, pressure, pain, temperature) to our brain, which responds with a motor response (e.g. by changing muscle tone, changing tendon tension, changing the position of the joint).

All well and good, if there weren't a problem: Our current environment makes it difficult to walk on bare feet. On asphalt paths and dirty streets, we prefer to pack our feet in sturdy shoes. A conventional shoe protects our feet from wet, cold and dirt - but it also stabilizes our feet, cushions and actually hinders the entire foot in its work. It takes on many tasks that our foot muscles actually do perfectly by themselves! In this way, the foot muscles are trained less and build up more and more over time, which is often reflected in ATTENTION!! COLD FEET can make itself felt! With barefoot shoes, on the other hand, the foot works as if you had no shoes on at all, it has to do all the work itself. Since the shoe does not support and restrict the foot, the muscles are tightened and relaxed with every step.

Due to the heavy strain on the entire foot and leg muscles, they are almost constantly being trained! And all that without going to the gym. The ready toe box on barefoot shoes gives the toes plenty of room to develop, which in turn can help maintain balance and train your sense of equilibrium.

When should you not wear barefoot shoes?

Despite the many advantages, barefoot shoes are not suitable for everyone. We advise people who already have severe deformities on their feet and who otherwise have problems feeling barefoot to consult an orthopaedist first. If there is a severe misalignment of the feet, walking barefoot too intensively can lead to an increase in the problems and pain. If you already have malpositions and deformities, please speak to your physios and orthopedic surgeons about whether barefoot shoes are suitable for exactly your malposition and deformity! Caution is also required for diabetics and diseases of the nervous system such as polyneuropathy (depending on the severity), as sufferers often do not notice injuries and overexertion.

Change to barefoot shoes - please take it easy!

Walking in barefoot shoes activates muscles that have not been used for a long time and ligaments that may have been shortened. Running in barefoot shoes is first and foremost a matter of training! Avoid overload complaints and slowly get used to the new or actually old natural form of running. See the new shoes best as a training device. Observe how the body reacts and how your foot finds it. For example, start with half an hour to a maximum of an hour a day, in the apartment or with a short walk. Then gradually increase the training intensity (e.g. on uneven terrain) and training duration. In this way, you can keep increasing the wearing time and slowly get your body used to it, so that the shoes can eventually be worn all day for all occasions. The adjustment can take up to half a year - so be patient with yourself and your body! Please also expect sore muscles in your feet and legs at the beginning - this is normal and nothing to worry about! Maybe take a day or two off - but stay tuned - it's worth it!

Barefoot shoes for every occasion?

Of course it works! There are now minimal shoes that are suitable for almost every occasion! Have a look in our shop!

There are leisure shoes, sports shoes, hiking shoes and also smarter models for festive occasions or the office, for example ballerinas, smart sandals or simple, clean lace-ups for a suit. The brands ZAQQ, Blifestyle, BeLenka and Koel are constantly designing many new barefoot shoes for women, men, unisex and children. All fair and sustainable produced in the EU!

Where is the best place to buy barefoot shoes?

There is nothing wrong with buying barefoot shoes online. However, you do without knowledge that you can only find in specialist shops and other advantages:

• Since barefoot shoes are not made by machine, but by hand (!), there are deviations in the shoe sizes. Even within the collections of the individual manufacturers between the models. We usually know how the shoes turn out for the respective season.
• You can look at, touch and try on several models in the store - all live and in color!
• We advise you in the appointment according to your needs. If you are a regular customer and we already know your taste, the right shoes are often already available for you.
• The exchange in our specialist shop is much easier. Since we have your data from the appointment booking, the sale will be booked in your name, ie in the event of an exchange or complaint you don't even need a receipt. You just bring your shoes and we will find a solution for you! Ideally, you should inform us briefly about the reason for the exchange via the info field when booking an appointment online.

Barefoot shoes and sustainability - also a question of ETHICS