Barefoot shoes

Freedom for the feet, yet still protected

Barefoot shoes are designed to give us the feeling of walking barefoot, while at the same time providing a natural walking experience with intensive ground contact and protection from injury and dirt. They enable the feet to maintain natural movement patterns and strengthen the muscles and joints in the feet. Barefoot shoes are often the type of footwear preferred by runners, hikers and fitness enthusiasts seeking better foot health, balance and improved posture.

Special features of barefoot shoes

Barefoot shoes have thin soles with limited cushioning. The material of the footwear must provide sufficient protection from injury and ensure secure ground grip. Additionally, the feet’s natural gripping function must be enabled to an adequate degree. A flexible structure is important. It must allow physiological movements of the feet both lengthwise and in torsion dimensions. Natural movements such as rolling, pronation and supination must be sufficiently enabled. Pronation occurs when the feet touch the ground and roll inwards (the outer edge of the feet lift), while supination is when the feet roll outwards on contact with the ground (the inner edge of the feet lift).

Usage guidelines

Before using barefoot shoes, you should familiarise yourself with their particular usage characteristics, as this type of footwear is very unfamiliar to our feet. Overloading, for instance, can be avoided by an appropriate adjustment phase. For athletic use as running shoes, you should definitely obtain information about different running styles from your specialist retailer.

Checklist for back-friendly barefoot shoes

  • Since barefoot shoes do not have a pronounced sole construction, they only have limited cushioning. This is intentional, enabling you to feel the ground surface you are moving on.
  • Due to the special sole construction, foot muscles are stimulated, the feet’s natural gripping function is maintained, and significantly more foot muscles are engaged than when wearing conventional footwear. This promotes foot health.
  • Barefoot shoes must also provide adequate protection from injury.
  • Good ground grip must be ensured even on smooth surfaces, thus providing secure footing.

Additional minimum requirements for barefoot shoes

  • Thin soles with limited cushioning
  • Protection from injury
  • The feet’s natural gripping function is maintained
  • Natural movements are maintained
  • Secure ground grip

Products with the AGR seal of approval

None at present.

This might also interest you