Certainly not, and if anyone tells you otherwise, there are making it up. Every foot is different. In shape, length, height, thickness, and so logically, we need to find the right (and left) shoe that will be the best for our feet.
Unfortunately, most of the shoe industry doesn’t work that way. Common shoes are often made on a single type of shoemaking last. The manufacturers are counting on the fact that our feet will adjust to the footwear. Ouch, but that’s how we could destroy our arches, ankles, knees, and the rest of our bodies!
In a utopian world, we would go to a manufacturer who would expertly measure our feet, assess our walking style, and tailor the shoes to our needs. But in reality, such services would take so much time and effort that we would pay many times the regular price of shoes.
Barefoot shoes at least respect the anatomical shape of our feet and have enough room in the toe. In addition, there are already so many different brands and types of barefoot shoes on the market for women, men and children, so almost everyone can choose the right one. And if you happen to be hesitant about which one to choose, you can contact our customer service line for help.
Are barefoot shoes suitable for everyone?
We’d be hypocrites if we were to say now that they are. We believe the healthy population, especially young children who are developing their walking style and musculoskeletal system, can only benefit from barefoot shoes. In addition to extra room for active toe work, the thin and flat soles provide enough flexibility that the foot receives the necessary information from the surface and can react naturally. As a result, the foot can gain strength.
On the other hand, there are exceptions for which we do not recommend barefoot shoes. One such category consists of children with extreme hypermobility. We can recognize this by the fact that in standing and squatting, they have their legs in a distinct X, they sit like frogs with their legs in a W shape, and when straightening the limbs, their knees and elbows are bent to the other (unnatural) side, and they often have a protruding belly. Such children need shoes with a corrective function, which barefoot shoes do not offer, so a physiotherapist should recommend suitable shoes, insoles, or other aids.
For the first steps, we do not have to deal with this yet because the child needs months to master walking. If you have any doubts about the correctness of the child’s movement or posture, it will be best to turn to specialists in time. First, contact paediatricians, or more specifically, physiotherapists or pedologists. It is better to discover the causes sooner than to deal with the consequences later.
In case of a low degree of hypermobility, you may get shoes with a raised heel. You can find plenty of them in the barefoot range (for example, from companies like Beda, EF, Bundgaard, Frodo, etc.). The raised heel will give the foot firmer support in the shoe to keep it in the proper position. Even bespoke orthopaedic insoles are better worn in wider barefoot shoes than in regular ones.
So to sum it up, everyone needs a different shoe. It should fit the ankle but provide enough extra width in the toe. If you are unsure, consult the experts for the best recommendations. In most cases, choosing the right barefoot shoes should not be a problem.