The Barefoot Shoe Institution - Schuhkurier

With a clear attitude, but without drugs

Despite the large number of brands, the selection is not random. Rather, each brand is checked for quality, explains the Freizwei founder: “I only include shoes in the shop that I think are good and that I or my children would wear.” For example, she initially did not include a brand in the range because the shoes caused her knee pain when she tried them out. Only when the sole was adjusted and the problems no longer occurred was the brand included. Even with the so-called compromise shoes, there are clear rules under which circumstances they would remain in the range in a purely barefoot shoe store. Compromise shoes are models that do not meet all the criteria of a barefoot shoe. There is an explanatory text explaining why they are classified as compromise shoes and are still sold. The basic rule is: You can stay in the shop as long as there is no pure barefoot shoe that meets the same requirements in terms of design and function. New developments will only be taken up if Steinert can, through test runs and discussions with experts, rule out that they do not have a negative impact on gait: “I don’t sell shoes if I have concerns about whether they could have a negative impact on health. If in doubt, you have to prove me wrong.”

Stefanie Steinert doesn’t want to scare anyone away with an all-or-nothing attitude on the subject. Instead, her concern is to give people the opportunity to try something that could improve their quality of life: “I don’t believe in hard dogmas when it comes to this topic. There are also many who start with barefoot shoes and then put in their insoles. Everyone has to listen to their body and observe developments instead of forcing something.” So if the route initially involves compromise shoes, short distances or insoles, that can’t do any harm. In general, however, the retailer is of the opinion that barefoot shoes are good for most people: “I believe that barefoot shoes are well suited for most people because they are based more on the shape of the foot. Diabetics who have numbness in their feet need to be a little careful. And if you have previous illnesses, are a little older and have worn a lot of heels, you have to be particularly careful when making the switch.” Many newbies to barefoot shoes would also order their first shoes from Freizwei; There is a curated selection of shoes that are particularly suitable for newcomers. As one of the first offerings in the area, the shop has now become an institution. And if you’re looking for barefoot shoes, you’ll most likely come across Freizwei among the first results. According to Steinert, this is due to two things: “Hard work and SEO. I don’t put that much money into ads. But you have to consistently adhere to the rules of SEO and continually maintain the site.”