Getting started with barefoot shoes

Would you like to try barefoot shoes but don't know where to start? Here is everything you need to choose a first pair and wear it with confidence: what barefoot shoes are, how to make the transition, how to choose your size and which brand to try first.

What is a barefoot shoe?

A barefoot shoe (also called a minimalist shoe) is designed to let your foot move as if it were bare, while protecting it from the ground. It combines four features:

• Zero drop: the heel and the front of the foot are at the same height, with no raised heel.
• A thin, flexible sole: just a few millimetres, which bends and twists easily. You can feel the ground under your feet.
• A wide toe box: the shape follows the shape of the foot, so your toes can spread freely.
• No artificial support: no built-in arch, no rigid reinforcement. Your foot does the work.

They are also very light. And today they come in every style: sneakers, ankle boots, dress shoes, sandals, slippers.

Why switch to barefoot shoes?

Because our feet are made to move, and most conventional shoes stop them from doing so. A narrow toe squeezes the toes, a heel changes your posture, a thick, rigid sole cuts off sensations.

With a barefoot shoe, the foot gets back its shape and its freedom of movement:

• the toes have room to spread;
• the foot bends and adapts to the ground with every step;
• you feel the ground again, which changes the way you walk;
• the foot muscles work, instead of being held in place by the shoe.

Many people mainly describe great comfort, a feeling of lightness and no wish to go back. Barefoot is not a trend for the few: it is another way of looking after your feet, every day.

How to make the transition to barefoot shoes?

Gently. After years in conventional shoes, your feet, calves and tendons need time to adapt. The golden rule: go step by step and listen to how you feel.

1. Start with a few hours a day, at home or for short trips.
2. Increase the time little by little, over the weeks, depending on how you feel.
3. Keep your old shoes for long days on your feet at the beginning.
4. Wait before doing sport: running or hiking in barefoot shoes comes later, once walking feels natural.

Aching calves or soles are common at first: it is a sign that your muscles are getting back to work. If pain persists, slow down. Everyone goes at their own pace and there is no single right timeframe: for some, a few weeks are enough, for others it takes several months.

A first pair with a thin but not extreme sole (about 4 to 6 mm) is often a good place to start.

How to choose your barefoot shoe size?

Rely on the size chart in cm on the product page, and add 0.5 to 1.2 cm for comfort. Sizes vary a lot from one brand to another: your usual size is only a guide.

1. Measure your foot at the end of the day, standing, heel against a wall: note the distance to the tip of your longest toe, in cm.
2. Measure both feet and keep the larger measurement.
3. Add 0.5 to 1.2 cm depending on your preference: your toes must be able to move freely at the front.
4. Compare with the size chart on the product page, which gives the inside length of each size.

Hesitating between two sizes? Write to me, I will be happy to advise you.

What about width?

A barefoot shoe always leaves much more room than a conventional shoe, especially for a first pair. Depending on the brand, shapes range from narrow to wide feet, and each product page says so (for example "medium to wide feet").

Good to know: when you walk in barefoot shoes, your feet tend to widen over time, as the toes get back their natural position.

Which brand to choose for a first pair of barefoot shoes?

To start with, MTNG and Anatomic are the two easiest brands: low prices to discover the sensations without breaking the bank. After that, it all depends on the shape of your feet and your style.

All our brands are presented on the Our brands page: 21 brands chosen one by one, from Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, France and elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions