Leguano: How the brand became a symbol of comfort and style

Stories and Brands Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes

How did leguano win the hearts of thousands of customers and become a symbol of comfort and style? Read on to discover what makes these barefoot shoes so special.

“I’d been eyeing up leguanos for a while, but the price put me off. I looked at other brands too and decided I’d properly test shoes in-store and give other types a chance. Only I made the mistake of trying leguano first. They were like slippers — love at first sight and first step — and nothing else stood a chance.” We hear this story in all sorts of variations at naBOSo all the time. In this article, we’ll show you what the magic of these barefoot shoes is all about.

What makes leguano unique?

The founders of leguano say it best themselves: “We focus on what matters: pure functionality, reduced to the perfect interplay between elegant design and traditional shoe-making.” You really couldn’t sum it up better. But what does that mean in practice? When you buy a pair of leguano, you’re not just buying shoes — you’re also getting customer care, years of manufacturing know-how, proven material quality and distinctive hand craftsmanship, backed by experienced shoemakers from the German town of Buchholz.

A signature feature of leguano is its sole — thanks to its unique structure, it’s perfectly flexible and highly resistant to abrasion. Those little dots also pamper your feet with every step, which is exactly why leguano feels like slippers. At the same time, you can trust them even in rainy (slippery) weather.

And what else? Most leguano models can simply be washed in the washing machine. So you don’t need to worry about your feet smelling while you’re wearing them — or after you take them off. When the time comes, just pop them in the wash. It won’t harm the quality; they’re made for it.

Reviews always speak best for a brand — and we have two for you right here:

What benefits did both reviews agree on?

they’re comfortable and fit perfectly from the very first wear
very lightweight (on your feet and in your luggage)
they look great in the city and in the woods — and you can confidently wear them for special occasions too

Made in Germany

Leguano started making shoes in 2009, but it was preceded by a long period of development — researching patterns, materials, threads, seams, and searching for the right solution in every respect. Proof of quality is the fact that you’ll find thousands of leguano owners all over the world, and over the brand’s lifetime more than three million pairs have been made. Happy lovers of barefoot walking and quality footwear know exactly where to come back for their next pair.

Another sign the brand is heading in the right direction is that, according to Business Focus magazine, leguano ranks among the TOP 100 companies with the highest annual growth in Europe. You wouldn’t expect that from a barefoot footwear brand, would you?

In the Czech Republic, the first leguanos appeared in 2015. What does Petr Exnar, the owner of the Czech distribution, think of these barefoot shoes? “Barefoot isn’t just about health — it’s also about freedom. I kept looking for flaws and waiting for something to go wrong, but I just felt better and better. Today I don’t wear any other shoes.”

You can listen to an interview with him HERE. Among other things, you’ll learn that the first leguano shop and our naBOSo grew side by side from the very beginning in Prague 6.

Which leguano models are on the market (and at naBOSo)?

In trusted German quality, you’ll find women’s and men’s shoes — and, perhaps surprisingly, children’s too. You can choose footwear for sport, the city and the mountains; for the beach and for icy January weather. And the range keeps growing.

Leguano first shook up the market with sock shoes, which you can still find in the range as the SNEAKER model. But that’s definitely not where it ends. The best-seller is AKTIV — it was also the first “proper” shoe (not a sock) that helped leguano break into the barefoot market, and it’s still the number one. What does the brand owner say about it? “The AKTIV model was created in response to numerous customer requests from people who didn’t want to go out into the street ‘just in socks’ for every occasion and in every season. Meeting that need certainly paid off.”

Very similar — but smarter (meaning lace-free) — are the LEGUANO SCIO shoes: just slip them on and go. The airy upper hugs the shape of your foot perfectly. And yes, these come in children’s sizes too. Thanks to their lightness and breathability, they’re lovely for warm summer days, but also for those first kisses of autumn or the fresh days of May.

You’ll also find special models (with them — and with us), such as the elegant ballet flats LADY LOOP or the smart lace-ups GENTLE, which look brilliant on your feet even for social events. And speaking of occasions… barefoot-loving brides will appreciate the elegant white trainers AMALFI. Plus, these aren’t shoes you wear once in a lifetime; these lace beauties will travel the world with you. They look great with dresses, leggings and jeans — and if you’re worried about white, rest assured these shoes handle the washing machine with ease.

But leguano isn’t just a canvas summer shoe. As the sunshine fades and the frosts arrive, you’ll appreciate the stylish insulated ankle boot KOSMO or the winter-warm and water-repellent HUSKY in vegan leather, with an insulated lining and a higher cut — just in case it does snow. The HUSKY model is clever not only in function, but in style too. You’ll look the part in the city, and it will support you in harsh mountain conditions as well. Thanks to the small lugs on the (otherwise thin) sole, it’s less slippery even on ice — while still keeping that barefoot feel.

leguanito: lizard-like barefoot shoes for children

LEGUANO LEGUANITO, as the cute name suggests, is the children’s line. It’s ideal footwear even for those very first steps. It’s made from size 22 up to 34. What makes these sock shoes so great? They don’t restrict those little chubby feet anywhere, they don’t pinch, and they’re so light you barely notice you’re wearing them. That’s the most important thing for learning to walk well — the foot needs space. And leguanito gives it that space.

In the range you’ll find sock shoes in various colours, suitable for the playground as well as for slippers. There are also stylish lace-up trainers for older children. By “stylish”, we mean the original and popular AKTIV trainers. And there’s also the all-year-round SCIPPO model for cooler days — and, thanks to its water-repellent upper, for wetter ones too.

To finish, here’s a tricky question: do you know how the brand name came about? It’s obvious — and yes, that’s exactly it. The name leguano is inspired by the iguana. Its walk is associated with natural movement, speed, endurance and excellent grip. And that’s exactly what you expect from barefoot shoes. So if you’re hesitating about whether to go for these “lizard shoes” and whether they’re really worth the price, we recommend just one thing: try them for yourself — on your own feet, with your own eyes, and by feel. You’ll see that leguano is simply barefoot love.