Do you know which type of children’s barefoot sandals will fit which foot shape – and your child? We tested all the models and described them in detail.

Summer is finally here! It’s the time of year when we spend most of our free time outdoors with the kids, enjoying the fresh air. And that inevitably goes hand in hand with sorting through the shoe cupboard, because the sandals your child wore last year might not fit this year.

Choosing a well-fitting shoe can be a bit of a challenge – and the same goes for barefoot sandals. Going by size alone is nowhere near enough. You need to take your child’s foot into account – its shape, heel width and instep height – because only a well-chosen shoe will sit properly on the foot and give it the space it needs for healthy development.

In our guide, you’ll find a comparison of different models, assessed using the same criteria as you would in a real purchase. 

What type of foot we tested on

We tested shoes on a model with foot measurements of 195 x 75 mm, trying sizes 30–32 depending on which best matched the foot dimensions.

The feet are medium-wide, with a medium-high instep and a narrower heel. The toes fan out slightly.

How we tested the shoes

We measured both the shoe and the foot, tried them on, and assessed the fit by feel and by sight. A big advantage was that our model is six years old and can say if and where the shoe rubs, wiggle their big toe, walk around and describe how it feels. With younger children, you’ll have to rely on your own assessment. If you’re not confident about measuring or identifying your child’s foot type, do pop into one of our shops – we’ll be happy to help you choose (not only) children’s sandals.

For each pair, we compared the inner length and width, heel width, instep height, the shape of the shoe and toe box, the flexibility of the sole and heel counter, and the depth of the tread. Last but not least, we looked at how well they fasten around the ankle.

Tested models

CRAVE SHELLWOOD (size 30)

We were really looking forward to this year’s new CRAVE SHELLWOOD. At first glance, the shoes are beautiful and very well made. The closed toe protects the toes, and plenty of openings keep them breathable. Thanks to two Velcro straps, they suit a wide range of feet. The heel is medium, and the shoes perfectly match a fan-shaped foot.

They fit our model very nicely, with a little more room over the instep than Froddo – but it was still not quite enough. The sandals fasten beautifully around the ankle. They provide plenty of space for toe movement and are flexible.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
medium to wider	fan	dominant big toe, angled	medium	medium	flexible	medium	slightly reinforced

BABY BARE FEBO SUMMER (size 31)

These sandals from the Slovak brand Baby Bare are suitable for a dominant big toe, fit a narrower heel beautifully, and accommodate an instep from low to medium. They fitted very well around the heel, and the elastic allowed us to tighten them nicely over the instep. Around the toes, they offered plenty of space. They’re nicely airy and soft.

Thanks to the Velcro, they fasten well around the ankle. Their sporty look and durability make them a great choice for active kids. They protect the foot very well while still meeting all the barefoot footwear criteria. In a real purchase, these would be a top pick.

Our model rated them as very comfortable and liked the design.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
medium	fan	dominant big toe, straight	narrow	low to medium	moderately flexible	minimal	reinforced

PEGRES SANDÁLKY BF50 (size 31)

Pegres sandals have a fan shape with a beautifully wide toe box and a narrow heel. They’re suitable for a dominant big toe and descending toes. We stock both smooth leather and nubuck versions. The shoes are nicely wide and provide plenty of room for the toes, but they won’t accommodate a higher instep.

Our model complained that they rubbed around the ankle. It was obvious they didn’t fit even when putting them on – the foot barely went in. We then fastened the Velcro on the last few millimetres.

No worries – that’s exactly why we recommend these sandals for a lower instep. Their big advantage is excellent flexibility.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
medium to wide	fan	dominant big toe, descending toes	narrow	low to medium	moderately flexible	medium	lightly reinforced

FRODDO SANDAL D-VELCRO (size 31)

Sandals from Froddo are among the most popular, also thanks to their versatility. They fit a wide range of feet. They have an ideal shape for a dominant big toe. Thanks to two straps, they adapt very nicely. The moderately flexible sole is stitched and glued, with a practical toe bumper to protect the front of the shoe. There’s also a removable foam insole inside.

At first glance they seemed to fit our model well, but on closer inspection and after talking it through, they were overall too narrow and too low over the instep. So these are better suited to medium feet.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
medium	tick	dominant big toe, descending toes	medium	medium	less flexible	minimal	reinforced

BEDA SANDÁLY (size 31)

Beda sandals are for wider feet with an average instep, heel and ankle. The toe box is more straight across, so they’re not ideal for a dominant big toe and descending toes. The shoes are beautifully soft and flexible with a reinforced heel counter, the foot sits very nicely in them, and they can be tightened with two Velcro straps.

Our model was between sizes: in size 31 the extra space was minimal, but size 32 would have been too big. We tried the smaller size 31. Overall, the shoe was smaller than the volume of the foot. If it were a little bigger, it would fit better. Sometimes that’s just how it is – a shoe that would otherwise fit well gets ruled out because the child is “between sizes”.

We recommend these shoes for a medium instep and straighter toes. Thanks to the perforation at the front, they’re nicely breathable.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
wide	straight	straight	medium	medium	very flexible	minimal	lightly reinforced

3F BAR3FOOT SANDÁLY (size 31)

Very comfortable sandals from the Polish brand 3F. They boast generous space around the toes, suitable for a dominant big toe. They also fit a higher instep and fasten very nicely around the ankle thanks to Velcro. Our model found them really comfortable. The shoe is extremely flexible, and the leather is beautifully soft. They fitted perfectly over a higher instep and provided plenty of room around the toes.

Because there still isn’t a huge choice of airy trainers for this type of wider foot with a higher instep and descending toes, these sandals can be a great alternative. With a low bamboo sock that wicks away sweat, they’ll be a brilliant holiday shoe.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
wide	fan	dominant big toe	medium	medium-high	very flexible	minimal	lightly reinforced

AFFENZAHN SANDAL VEGAN (size 32)

Sandals from the German brand Affenzahn are an ideal shoe when it comes to breathability. They have a very nice shape and, thanks to the Velcro straps, can accommodate a higher instep.

They weren’t quite ideal for our model’s foot – they didn’t follow the fan shape and didn’t provide enough room for toe movement. Around the heel there was too much space. We recommend these shoes more for a medium-wide heel and a straighter foot shape. The sandals are beautifully soft and comfortable for children to wear.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
medium-narrow	straight	dominant big toe, descending toes	medium-wide	medium to higher	flexible	minimal	no heel counter

SOLE RUNNER ERSA KIDS (size 31)

Leather sandals from the German brand Sole Runner look very well made at first glance. The shoe is moderately flexible, nicely wide at the front, suitable for a fan-shaped foot with a dominant big toe.

Our model said straight away that they fit. They have plenty of room over the instep and around the heel. We recommend these shoes for a wide foot with a higher instep.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
wider	fan	dominant big toe, angled	medium	medium to higher	moderately flexible	medium	reinforced

XERO SHOES Z-TRAIL YOUTH (size 31)

At last, truly open sandals are available for hot summer days. Xero Shoes started making this children’s hiking model a few years ago, and since then it has become one of the most popular. The sole is wide enough, and the straps adapt to any instep and ankle. At the heel, the foot sits nicely in the heel cup, so it doesn’t slip out when moving.

Our model was asking us to buy them even though they already had sandals – which says a lot about how comfortable they are. We recommend these sandals for a medium-wide to wide foot.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
wider	fan	dominant big toe, angled	medium	medium to higher	flexible	medium	no heel counter

BOBUX SUMMIT (size 30)

We also tried including the Bobux Summit sandals in the selection, even though according to the size chart and shape description they shouldn’t have fitted. They’re suitable for a narrow, straight foot with a slightly dominant big toe, as well as a narrow heel and ankle.

And it proved true – our model couldn’t get their foot into the shoe even halfway. These sandals are clearly designed for a narrow foot. They’re very flexible and have a nicely padded heel. They’ll definitely find their barefoot fan.

width	shape	toe box	heel	instep	sole	tread	heel counter
narrower	straight	round	medium	lower to medium	very flexible	medium	reinforced

Even though we do our very best to make the descriptions of each shoe as accurate as possible, in some cases nothing beats visiting a shop in person. You can easily try on the models you like on your child, and if you’re unsure, our experienced staff will be there to help.

Give yourself plenty of time to choose. After all, your children’s feet will carry them through life – and well-fitting shoes that are neither too small nor unnecessarily big can influence not only healthy physical development, but also their wellbeing.

And are you thinking about barefoot shoes for yourself too, even though you’re well past childhood? Don’t worry – it’s never too late – you can start wearing them at any time. If you’re unsure which shoes to choose to get started, take a look at this article, where we’ll guide you step by step through choosing shoes and your first barefoot steps. Or visit us in one of our shops in Prague, Beroun, Zlín and now also Brno. We look forward to seeing you.

What else might interest you on this topic?

• PODCAST: Edita Prošková and Hana Tonarová: First children’s barefoot shoes
• From first steps to healthy, strong feet: A guide to choosing first shoes
• How to measure your foot correctly and why barefoot shoes need extra space