How to choose right barefoot shoes?

3. Wide toe box (the front part of the shoe)

Barefoot shoes must have a wide and an anatomical toe box (the front part of the shoe) to allow enough room for toes. Shoes with narrow toe boxes disable foot muscles to engage properly which consequently leads to their weakening.

4. No orthotics / foot inserts

No cushioning underfoot is required (usually found in running shoes) because it limits the contact with the ground. The most amount of impact should be on the forefoot not on the heel. Barefoot shoes do not have orthotics/foot inserts, your feet are not unnaturally supported so they are allowed to move and work naturally, the same way as with no shoes on.

5. Lightweight construction

Barefoot shoes should have a lightweight construction but with a firm vamp protecting your toes while still feeling free.

Barefoot shoes for children

When choosing shoes for children, parents must be extra precautions as children are not able to consider everything by themselves, such as shoes are too tight or too loose, there is not enough room for toes etc. Research shows an alarming number – two-thirds of children wear the wrong size of shoes and half of these children suffer from deformities as a consequence. Children up to 10 years old cannot evaluate and tell you whether the shoe fits right. Therefore, it is important to know your child’s feet to be able to choose correctly. Before buying barefoot shoes, measure both feet first (yes, both feet, as feet are seldom identical).

How to measure your foot?

• Place a piece of paper on even ground (avoid plush carpeting or pebbly surfaces)
• Place your foot flat on the paper (you must be standing, not sitting, during measuring)
• Put your weight in on your the foot as it makes it the foot longer
• Take a pencil and mark the heel and the furthest point from the heel – the longest measurement
• Use a ruler and measure the difference between these two points
• Do the same for the second foot (difference might be +/- 0.5 cm)
• The number you get is your foot size (not your shoe size, as standard shoe sizing may be misleading)

If you have an option to compare your measurement with an actual insole of the chosen shoe, do it. Compare the numbers (the length) and then step on it (to compare the width), your foot must not outreach in any direction.

Additional room number

Long story short – an “additional room number” measures the empty space between your longest toe and the shoe itself (the front point of the shoe). This is a very important number when buying barefoot shoes, especially for children. Take your foot size (the number you got when measuring both of your feet) then add 10 to 12 mm (the ideal “additional room number”). The total is the final number you are looking for. The “additional room number” can be up to 18 mm, but the shoe must still fit perfectly around your ankle.

Your feet should have enough room not only in the front but also on the sides. The width of the shoe must be at least identical to the width of your foot. Ideally, the width of the shoe is 0.2 cm – 0.5 cm wider than your foot.

To wrap it all up, when choosing barefoot shoes, you should use your foot size (not your shoe size) plus the “additional room number”. Always check the inner length of the shoe – not only the number – as it may vary depending on the manufacturer or different types of shoes. Every type of Lenka Barefoot shoes has its chart with sizes and inner lengths so you can choose easily the right size for you.