A barefoot shoe is defined by what it leaves out. There is no raised heel, no thick wedge of foam and no narrow point at the toe. What is left is a flat, thin, flexible sole and an upper shaped like a foot.
Zero drop
Drop is the height difference between the heel and the front of a shoe. In a zero-drop shoe the two are level, so you stand as you would on the floor without shoes. All four of our barefoot models are zero drop. Our loafers are not: they keep a foam sole with some cushion.
A wide toe box
The toe box is the front of the shoe where the toes sit. The AAOS describes a round or square toe box as roomier, because it lets the toes lie flat, while a pointed shape can crowd them. Among its home-care tips for foot pain, MedlinePlus lists shoes with plenty of room around the ball of the foot and the toes. Every shoe we make is cut wide at the front.
A flexible sole
Hold a barefoot shoe at both ends and it folds and twists. That thin sole lets you feel the ground more than a cushioned sneaker does. Our barefoot insoles lift out, so you can choose how much sits between you and the floor.
Switching over gradually
Going from cushioned shoes to flat, flexible ones changes how your feet work, and the research points to taking it slowly. In a 2013 study of 36 runners, 10 of the 19 who moved to minimalist running shoes over ten weeks showed more bone marrow edema in the foot on MRI than runners who kept their usual shoes, and the authors advised switching slowly and gradually. A Harvard Health article gives the same advice for moving to less supportive footwear.
A 2019 trial with 57 runners found that walking in minimalist shoes, with daily steps raised week by week, increased foot muscle size and strength about as much as a course of foot exercises. Both studies involved runners and ran for a set number of weeks, so they describe those groups, not a timetable for everyone.
In practice: wear new barefoot shoes for short spells at first, add time as your feet adjust, and ease off if something aches. If you have foot pain, diabetes, poor circulation or a past foot injury, talk to a doctor or a podiatrist before you switch.
Which of our barefoot shoes to start with
- ASITVO Women’s Knit Barefoot Sneaker: sock-fit barefoot sneaker.
- ASITVO Wide Barefoot Cross Trainer: barefoot trainer for the gym.
- ASITVO Low-Profile Barefoot Sneaker: low barefoot sneaker for walking.
- ASITVO Wide Barefoot Trainer: our most rated barefoot shoe.
Every barefoot model follows ASITVO standards: level heel, flexible sole, wide front.