Anyone who has become accustomed to wearing barefoot shoes in their free time may have to accept the restrictive feeling of conventional footwear again at work. Certified work and safety shoes may be mandatory on the construction site or in the factory. With the Phoenix model, which was launched on the market in September, Baak wants to offer a product that is intended to combine the requirements of barefoot and work shoes, as Sonja Arians, shoe modeler at Baak, explains: “Our aim was to have as many barefoot shoes as possible and so on to develop as many safety shoes as necessary.” Designing the shoe so that it also complies with the requirements of the work shoe certificates was a challenge: For the S3 safety shoe standard according to EN ISO 20345, shoes must have puncture protection and a toe cap, which are not provided for in normal barefoot shoes. In addition, a minimum thickness is required for the sole, while barefoot shoes should normally be as thin and flexible as possible.
Compromises thanks to old and new technologies
Like normal barefoot shoes, the Phoenix has a cover sole with no height difference between the heel and forefoot. To make the transition easier for beginners to barefoot shoes, the shoes also come with an insole with a slight drop of 7 mm. A new product for the shoe is the Neo Shield puncture protection. This is made of recycled material and, according to Baak, is particularly thin and light, but still offers 20% more protection than the standard requires and enables particularly rapid liquid absorption and release. Baak often found the solution to problems with proven technologies. For example, the existing Go&Relax system was helpful in designing the barefoot shoe: Baak uses this to produce shoes with a protective toe cap that still allows the toes to bend naturally. EVA was also chosen for the midsole as a material with sufficient flexibility. The safety manufacturer discussed the concept with experts from the barefoot shoe community, says technical director Karsten Keidel: “This flexibility was particularly important for the barefoot community. Meeting the demands of a barefoot shoe in combination with meeting the standard was a real challenge. With the Phoenix we have achieved the best result of all compromises and are proud to have met the highest standard requirement S3S.” The shoe is available in both barefoot shoe shops and work clothing suppliers. The first conclusion from Baak managing director Ingo Grusa: “Basically, we are experiencing a ‘run’ on our Phoenix: The first order was sold out quickly, there are numerous pre-orders for the second.” The manufacturer has already announced that it is planning further developments in the minimal shoe sector . Among other things, sandals and boots are being worked on.
