Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes
It’s not just the size – the fit of your barefoot shoes also makes a big difference to comfort. Discover the differences between Groundies Regular, Barefoot and Barefoot+ and find out which one will suit you best.
Have Groundies barefoot shoes caught your eye? Now all that’s left is to choose the right fit that will suit your feet perfectly. Every foot is unique – they vary in width, instep shape and toe shape. To make sure your shoes feel truly comfortable and allow natural movement, it’s important to pick the fit that matches your feet.
Groundies offers three core fits: Regular, Barefoot and Barefoot+, so there’s something for almost everyone. All you need to do is measure your foot correctly – you can use the Plus12 measuring tool or simply a pencil, paper or a cardboard box. Based on your measurements, you can then easily choose the ideal fit.

Groundies distinguishes between three fits to follow the shapes of different foot types as closely as possible:

This fit is especially appreciated by people with narrower feet or those who are only just transitioning to barefoot footwear and are looking for a compromise between conventional and barefoot shoes. It lets you experience the benefits of a barefoot sole, while keeping the look of a classic shoe with a narrower toe. You won’t find these shoes on naBOSo – choose from the official Groundies Czech website.

The Barefoot fit is ideal for most people with narrow to medium-width feet. It offers plenty of room for your toes and follows the typical barefoot shape. This is the most popular option and you’ll find it across most Groundies models.

Do you have wider feet, or do you simply prefer more freedom of movement? In the Groundies range, Barefoot+ is the widest in the toe area. This fit is ideal for anyone who needs more room when walking than Regular or Barefoot can offer.

When choosing barefoot shoes, it’s important to think about the allowance – the extra space in front of your toes and at the sides of your feet. The ideal allowance is roughly 5–12 mm in length and 4 mm in width, but always go by how it feels for you. The right allowance gives your toes and feet the freedom to work naturally, without hitting the front of the shoe or having to adapt to it in any way.
Your shoes shouldn’t pinch anywhere, but at the same time your foot shouldn’t be “swimming” inside them. This is especially important for shoes such as ballet flats or loafers, which could slip off if you choose the wrong allowance. Your toes should have enough room to move in all directions. Try walking and even doing a short jog indoors in your new shoes – if you keep catching the toe, you’ll probably need a smaller size.

In our e-shop, you can filter shoes by fit, so it’s easy to find the model that will suit you best. And if you’re not sure which fit is ideal for you, pop into one of our shops – we’ll be happy to help you choose, and you can try the different models on your own feet.