Do your feet get cold in winter in regular shoes? In barefoot shoes, they won’t

Do your feet get cold in winter in regular shoes? In barefoot shoes, they won’t Do your feet get cold in winter in regular shoes? In barefoot shoes, they won’t

Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes Walking, Movement and Health

Does a thin sole in barefoot footwear mean cold feet in winter? Quite the opposite. With room for your toes and freedom to move, your feet regain their natural thermoregulation.

Worried what icy temperatures will do to your feet in barefoot shoes? When you look at that thin sole, it’s only natural to have doubts. But we can put your mind at ease. In barefoot shoes, you’re not at risk of frostbite even in bitter cold. You just need a little preparation for winter, and even temperatures well below zero won’t stop your feet from doing their job.

A thin sole is what barefoot shoes are known for

It doesn’t really matter whether you’re buying winter boots, sandals or trainers. The rule is always the same: barefoot shoes should be lightweight. As well as following the natural shape of the foot, they’re best known for their “special” sole— and that’s what we’ll pause on for a moment.

Barefoot shoes not only have no heel, but their sole is completely flat and very thin (usually 3–5 mm). That makes it nicely flexible and allows your feet to feel the ground you’re walking on much better.

Walking properly will warm your feet up

Conventional shoes are stiff and have thick soles. Compared to barefoot shoes, they’re narrow and squeeze the foot unnaturally. That means your foot can’t properly feel uneven ground, and it also can’t move or get good blood flow naturally as you walk. So it makes perfect sense that you’ll feel cold much sooner.

And when you add the fact that we often wear warm socks in furry-lined winter boots, it’s fair to say our feet get rather pampered.

Without proper activity, your feet simply won’t warm up on their own. But once you get barefoot shoes and learn how to walk properly in them, your feet can regain their natural ability to regulate temperature — and you won’t be cold on your walks.

When you walk, the muscles in your feet are far more active thanks to shoes that give them enough space, so they can move freely. This stimulates circulation, your feet get nicely supplied with blood and become a source of warmth in their own right.

How to tell when your feet are getting too cold

Of course, the fact that only about three millimetres separates your foot from the ground does mean a higher chance you’ll start to feel the cold from below. For example, if you’re waiting 30 minutes at a bus stop during wet, slushy January weather. When you’re standing still for a long time, the muscles in your legs and feet are resting, they can’t warm up, and they’ll cool down faster. That’s definitely not the time to stand completely motionless.

You can keep your feet active with simple exercises — shift your weight from toes to heels, circle your ankle, or gradually lift and spread your toes.

So how do you know your feet are really suffering? The first warning sign is that your feet — especially your toes — start to feel numb, because the blood vessels constrict in response to the cold. When you take your shoes off, you may notice your feet have lost their naturally pink colour (again due to reduced circulation) and have started to look pale.

All of these are signs your feet need warming up.

What winter barefoot shoes look like

You don’t have to give up barefoot shoes even in cold weather. Some people can wear trainers all winter — just like someone else will happily wear shorts when it’s around freezing. But most of us cope with temperatures below 0 °C a bit less easily, and we can’t always rely on something like the car heater to keep us warm.

Winter barefoot shoes are usually above the ankle, because a lot of heat escapes from the body around the ankles. Women can also choose barefoot boots from several brands.

Many models are also available insulated — with genuine shearling, faux fur, or a warm lining with a membrane.

How to choose the right size

You already know how to measure your foot properly, so let’s pause for a moment on toe allowance. For anyone who’s not familiar — toe allowance is the extra space at the front of the shoe that lets your foot work properly as you walk. For adult shoes it should be about 5–10 mm, and for children’s shoes 9–12 mm. When you’re buying winter boots, don’t forget to allow room for warm socks, and possibly a thermal insole too.

Winter barefoot shoes for the city and the outdoors

LEGUANO HUSKY is love at first step. The signature sole is fully flexible, just like the whole shoe, and the resulting comfort is hard to beat. Combined with water-repellent material and warm faux fur, they’ll handle winter trips in the snow too. Great alternatives you can wear from autumn through to spring are LEGUANO KOSMO or ICEBARE. For a milder city winter, the low-cut insulated LEGUANO GALAXO.

Our own brand RAYVE brings high-quality winter barefoot shoes for children and adults, combining comfort, style and practicality. You’ll find leather insulated models with a membrane or wool for adults, as well as leather shoes, snow boots and winter pre-walkers for children.

If you’re looking for shoes that can handle frosty days and fresh snowfall, take a look at RAYVE UTAH 3.0. They come in five colours and sizes 36-46, so there’s something for women and men alike. The nubuck upper is moisture-resistant thanks to the TEX membrane, and natural sheep’s wool will keep you warm inside. The outsole with a pronounced tread grips well even on wet ground and snow. The wide toe box gives your toes the freedom you’ll really appreciate in winter.

If you’re after elegant winter boots for the city, ANGLES are an obvious choice. Stylish ankle boots and Chelsea boots will look great with any outfit. It’s up to you whether you choose an all-leather model or boots lined with sheep’s wool.

Among our most popular are ANGLES NYX WINTER WOOL 2.0 and ORPHEUS WINTER ZIP 2.0, insulated smooth-leather models with a wool lining that can handle frost (Nyx are Chelsea boots, Orpheus are ankle boots with a zip). If you’re looking for something lighter for autumn and cooler days, go for the elegant burgundy patent Chelsea ANGLES ORION.

If you prefer taller boots, go for barefoot boots, which look great with dresses, skirts and trousers. An elegant classic is all-leather boots in black or brown, which you can also get in an insulated version for frosty days with a wool lining. If you prefer a lower cut, a great alternative is mid-calf boots with a woolly faux-fur lining.

Czech brand BENNON is well known for work and outdoor footwear, and recently it has also introduced barefoot models that combine practicality with comfort. The range includes winter ankle boots designed for everyday wear in the city, for walks in nature and for colder weather. The durable microfibre upper can handle tougher outdoor conditions, and the insulated plush lining provides cosy warmth on frosty days.

Croatian brand FRODDO offers affordable winter barefoot shoes that combine style and function beautifully. You can choose from comfortable lace-up models with warm faux fur and a membrane, or elegant all-leather Chelsea boots.

Proper care is essential

Whichever brand you choose, winter boots will last longer if you look after them properly. Snow, moisture and gritting salt can really take their toll. Regular waterproofing helps, as does wiping off salt in the evening and drying slowly at room temperature (skip the radiator). You’ll find everything important in the article Caring for shoes in winter: the most common problems and how to deal with them properly.

Even barefoot shoes can be insulated

If you don’t want to give up your favourite ankle boots in winter, there’s nothing easier than choosing wool insoles with an aluminium layer that reduces heat loss, which will keep your feet warm even below freezing.

Better thermoregulation through cold exposure

Unfortunately, our feet can lose their natural ability to regulate temperature from wearing tight shoes and socks. But it’s nothing that can’t be improved. This is where gradual cold exposure can really help — improving not only your resilience, but also how you perceive temperature. Alongside regular cold showers and rinsing your feet with cold water you can also try barefoot walks on grass covered in morning dew, or a few minutes of walking in snow.

You can wear barefoot shoes all year round

If you keep in mind that our feet cope less well with chilly temperatures below 5 °C, and you adapt your choice of winter footwear accordingly, you can wear barefoot shoes all year round without worry. And if you add regular foot-strengthening exercises and gradual cold exposure alongside winter insoles, you’ll see that your feet won’t suffer in winter either.

Winter barefoot shoes for children

Warm little feet even on winter walks, building a snowman and sledging? Insulated winter barefoot shoes can handle it. Warm faux fur combined with leather or a waterproof membrane will keep children’s feet dry and warm during winter fun. This article will help you choose children’s winter shoes: How to choose children’s winter barefoot shoes: from pre-walkers to shoes for schoolchildren.

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