How to choose shoes for sport – from yoga and the gym to trail

Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes Walking, Movement and Health

Give your feet freedom in any sport. We’ll show you how to choose the right barefoot sports shoes for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Whether you’re diligently working on your New Year goals at the gym, or you’re a dedicated runner who won’t let frosty weather stop you, the foundation of success is the same. Before you chase your next personal best, take a moment to look at your kit. The right footwear is what decides whether movement feels effortless and enjoyable – or whether you’ll struggle unnecessarily.

The joy of natural movement

Once you’ve tried barefoot shoes – whether in a yoga class, running in the park, or on a hike in the hills – you probably won’t feel like going back to conventional footwear. Without arch support, a raised heel and all sorts of foam cushioning, you’ll discover the magic of natural movement. You’ll gain greater stability, sore toes and blisters won’t stand a chance and you’ll love that feeling of really sensing the ground beneath you – again and again.

Why you shouldn’t underestimate choosing sports shoes

Regular exercise brings a whole range of benefits for both body and mind. But alongside proper technique and breathing, every training session should also include a thorough warm-up, a cool-down stretch, and – last but not least – the right equipment. Don’t cut corners: as well as functional clothing, invest in quality shoes, which are one of the key prerequisites for exercise to be beneficial.

The shoe should always adapt to your foot. Never the other way round. Poorly chosen shoes that are too small, don’t respect the shape of your foot, and so on, aren’t just money wasted – they can also cause pressure points, pain, or even injury. When choosing barefoot shoes, think about what sport you’ll be doing and what terrain you’ll be moving on – running on hard city tarmac is very different from uneven natural trails.

First, take a proper look at your feet

Everyone’s feet are unique. That’s why, before you head to the shop, it’s worth spending a little time on your feet. Measure them carefully using the detailed guide and assess their width too. Your shoe should never feel tight – it should actually give your foot extra room so it can naturally splay as you walk. When choosing a specific size, don’t rely only on the number printed on the shoe; instead, follow the internal length – you’ll find this in the size chart for each model on our e-shop.

For yoga and pilates lovers

Yoga is traditionally practised completely barefoot. But if you’d still like to wear something – perhaps because your feet get cold, or because you sweat a lot and your feet then slip – go for LEGUANO sock shoes. For sports like yoga, pilates or tai chi, they’re a brilliant choice because they’reincredibly light and flexible, and you can even wear them for outdoor practice.

You’ll also feel the ground well in the unisex trainers LEGUANO AKTIV. Thanks to the materials used, they’re not only highly breathable, but above all perfectly flexible, so they won’t restrict you when moving through individual asanas.

Models for the gym and crossfit

If you train in a gym with light-coloured floors, it’s ideal to choose footwear with a white or very light sole so it doesn’t leave dark marks. Where the floors are dark, you don’t need to limit yourself as much.

Shoes for the gym or crossfit should, in any case, be sufficiently breathable for sweat and durable in key areas so they don’t split during tougher exercises. They should have a flat, thin sole for good ground feel and freedom of movement in the joints, and provide solid stability for working with heavier weights (for example when lifting dumbbells).

For crossfit or the gym, as well as sports like floorball or tennis, shoes from the brand GROUNDIES are popular, available in both women’s and men’s versions. You’ll appreciate their lightness and flexibility and you can rely on them to perform even during the most demanding workouts. They won’t hold you back when running, jumping or squatting either.

Another excellent choice is the brand JOMA, which we’re introducing for the first time this year. They’ve come out with a whole range of versatile barefoot shoes you can wear in town as well as for training. Just pick the right pair – whether you’re planning a dynamic workout or a run in the park, you’ll get maximum freedom of movement and comfort thanks to the wide toe box and cushioned removable insole.

A great gym partner thanks to their flexibility are also the already mentioned LEGUANO AKTIV, with the added advantage that if you sweat heavily, you can simply pop them in the washing machine.

The German brand LEGUANO also offers another model that’s become very popular among athletes: SPINWYN. These trainers are designed for maximum performance – they provide stable grip in the gym as well as on tarmac or trails, and keep you comfortable, light on your feet and unrestricted as you move. Whether you’re heading to a crossfit class, an hour of tennis, or a dance workshop.

Choosing shoes for running

If you don’t have much experience wearing barefoot shoes yet, we recommend starting with shorter runs, around half your usual distance, and on natural surfaces, so your calves and other foot and leg muscles don’t get overloaded right away. It takes a little time for your body to adapt to a thin sole with zero drop and no foam cushioning. But if you’ve already mastered good posture, strengthened your muscles and, when running , you’re not heavily heel-striking, there’s nothing stopping you from swapping forest paths for pavement.

Let’s start with unisex trainers from GROUNDIES – they’re fairly versatile, so you can take them both on the road and into lighter terrain. If you’re heading into more demanding terrain, it’s better to choose the SCRAMBLER LOW – thanks to the sole with the protective TrailFoam™ layer, it provides not only safety but also a very natural feel when running. And if you’re a fan of leguano, you can also wear the AKTIV trainers off-road too.

‘These shoes are absolutely brilliant for sport. They’re comfortable, light, breathable and spacious enough. In my opinion they’re great not only for trails, but also for training in the gym or weight room,’ writes Lenka Dolenská (@monte_sorry_aktivity) in her review of the XERO SHOES HFS II.

If you’re looking for a true off-road specialist, go for FREET FELDOM 2. This minimalist running shoe with a more breathable upper and a HillGrip sole with a 4 mm tread delivers excellent traction even on softer ground.

Groundies doesn’t lag behind either with its trail models. The CHAMONIX TR LOW is synonymous with off-road performance – thanks to quick lacing and the grippy TrueSense® sole, mud and wet stones won’t stop you. And for those looking for maximum freedom, there’s ALL TERRAIN LOW 2.0. It offers an even softer sole, a wider fit for your toes and a breathable upper, making it an ideal partner for running, hiking and woodland walks.

‘I’m a typical running-shoe consumer. I need a nice fast shoe, a trail shoe, something cushioned for longer runs – but as I found out, I also need a shoe I can recover in after hard training sessions or races. It’s really hard to describe to someone like I used to be, with no experience of barefoot running shoes, that feeling of release when you put on barefoot shoes and go for an easy jog. It’s almost unbelievable how quickly you get used to it – and how every week you start looking for that easy run in your training plan, because in any other shoe it just doesn’t feel the same.’ Veronika Preti – Running Blogger & Coffee Lover, Mattoni FreeRun coach (IG @veronika_preti)

Hiking shoes for keen walkers

Whether you’ll be walking on unpaved paths or over rocks high up in the mountains, it pays to invest in quality shoes with proper tread. You can choose either leather or synthetic materials, but keep in mind it’s definitely a plus if the shoes also have a special waterproof membrane – it keeps your feet dry in any weather while still letting them ‘breathe’. Before you head out on an all-day hike, don’t forget to break in your new hiking shoes a little, so you can be sure you’ll feel good in them.

For the most extreme conditions, ankle-high shoes FREET are a fantastic choice. Despite their minimalism and comfort, they’re robust enough to handle any terrain.

If you prefer lower-cut shoes for the outdoors, we have several favourites. The unisex outdoor trainers GROUNDIES ALL TERRAIN LOW 2.0 focus on maximum freedom of movement and a synthetic material complemented by a waterproof membrane.

For demanding challenges, there are XERO SHOES SCRAMBLER LOW– weighing just 260 grams and with a Michelin sole, they’ll support you in any terrain. And if you’re looking for an outdoor shoe that ventilates brilliantly thanks to breathable mesh and looks stylish in town too, go for RIDGEWAY LOW MESH from the same brand.

For hot summer days, the sandals XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL or Z-TREK are perfect – you can head out with confidence not only into the woods, but also into more demanding terrain. Despite their low weight and natural flexibility, they stand out for their durability, protect your feet from injury, and are incredibly comfortable.

So your shoes last for years

Do you tend to come home, take your shoes off, put them in the shoe cupboard and forget about them? Then you’re making a big mistake. Even the highest-quality, well-made shoes require regular care to serve you well for a long time. The absolute basics are to grab a cleaner along with a brush or cloth and clean your shoes thoroughly.

Once you’ve dried them properly (never on a radiator), it’s time for waterproofing, which increases water resistance and often also works as a nourishing leather balm. With membrane shoes, however, be careful: don’t use products containing oils or fats, as they could clog the membrane.

How to keep your feet feeling fresh all day

During a tough crossfit session or an all-day hike, you’ll very likely sweat – so you’ll definitely appreciate special shoe deodorants that help prevent unpleasant odours. If you forget this prevention, it’s not the end of the world – just reach for SMELLWELL ORIGINAL fabric bags. They work as odour absorbers: simply put them into your shoes when you get home, and thanks to a blend of minerals and absorbents, they’ll help remove unpleasant smells as well as moisture.

Your feet will thank you

If you give barefoot shoes a chance, you’ll soon feel your movement becoming lighter. You’ll sense the ground beneath your feet, gain greater stability, and your feet won’t just get better circulation – they’ll also become stronger overall.