Directory of Barefoot Shoe Retailers

The Healthy Feet Alliance promotes natural footwear.

Imagine a world where foot pain isn’t an epidemic and people opt for healthy footwear. This is the world we’re aiming for as the Healthy Feet Alliance. Having access to healthy footwear is critical for healthy feet.

But if you’ve ever walked into your local shoe store, you know that finding healthy footwear is next to impossible. That’s why we have created this directory to support both retailers that carry natural footwear and the customers who are on the look out for healthy shoe options.

You’re probably familiar with the struggle of ordering shoes online from overseas, only to find out that they don’t quite fit your feet. Shopping in-person or from local retailers (that you can easily ship product back and forth between) is not only financially beneficial, but also more sustainable for the planet!

What are the key elements of natural footwear?

• A foot shaped toe box that allows toes to splay.

• A zero drop sole that is flat from heel to toe.

• A flexible shoe that allows your foot to move freely as if you were barefoot.

• No arch support

• Securely attached to the foot (sorry flip-flops)

• A thin sole that allows your feet to feel the ground

Because there is no end to the variety of feet, foot conditions, and activities, there are times when a minimalist shoe is not appropriate. For these times, we may recommend a transitional shoe or natural footwear with some cushion. Check out our shoe list to see which brands we recommend for these categories.