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Barefoot Styles
There is no definitive description of what a barefoot shoe is but there are several generally agreed upon principles about what a barefoot shoe should, or should not, contain.
The term barefoot derives from providing the wearer with a feeling that they are moving without anything on their feet. To replicate this feeling as much as possible the barefoot shoe will usually have a very thin sole. The thickness of the sole can be the bone of contention between many brands as they balance the needs of protecting the foot, which is especially of concern in children’s barefoot shoes, with maintaining the realistic feeling of the foot touching the ground. Whatever the preference the soles of barefoot shoes should feel lightweight and flexible.
A barefoot shoe should provide the wearer with a feeling of freedom and should not restrict the foot. There will be no, or minimal, padding. This will allow the foot to naturally support itself. Also children’s barefoot shoes will often have a wide toe box (the area where the toes are) which will allow the feet to develop naturally. This will often mean that the front of the shoe will appear wider than the back, and will allow toes to spread out naturally to assist with gripping the ground when moving.
Another characteristic of barefoot shoes is that they usually do not have a raised heel. The foot should remain flat in the shoe, with the toes and heel being at the same height, just above the ground.
Different shoe makers interpret the demands of barefoot differently and we offer a selection of our brands girls barefoot styles here.
A lot of the characteristics of children’s barefoot shoes can also be found in the whole of the Bobux range.