Everything you need to know

In the morning, the foot is up to 4 mm shorter than in the evening because the muscles become tired over the course of the day, and the foot also gets longer. This, for example, must be taken into account. On the other hand, it is important that the foot can roll forward freely. For this, it needs sufficient width and sufficient length. If your toes hit the front, the bones and cartilage in your foot are compressed.

As a rule, we don’t need different widths because our shoes don’t taper to a point at the front; instead, they follow the natural shape of the foot.

No, that’s not what we want. Unlike all the shoe stores you know, we want to offer you absolute comfort for your feet. There’s nothing better than walking barefoot, and with our zero-drop shoes, you can experience that.

It varies. It depends partly on the material: the harder the sole, the longer its lifespan, and vice versa. It also depends on the wearer—their weight, how they walk, and how often they wear the shoes.

Because people’s heels are also rounded rather than angular. When the material allows it, we have therefore incorporated this rounding. This provides a softer step.

We have no plans to add a heel to these shoes. This shape comes closest to barefoot walking. And since no one is born with a heel, you should practice walking barefoot in these shoes.

Our shoes all feature soles with cushioning properties. Many of them are even made with a permanently elastic material that always guarantees optimal cushioning.

Our shoes are not expensive. You get shoes made from the finest leather and with highly advanced soles, crafted with a high level of handwork for durability and maximum comfort. - Besides, you shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to your feet. You need them every day, for a lifetime!

You will be informed about special offers, new products, and other promotions. We build a trusting customer-supplier relationship, which we value highly—for your benefit.

The thicker the sole, the less flexible it is. According to many orthopedists, feeling the texture of the ground beneath your feet is very healthy and improves reaction time, which helps protect against injuries. Special shoes for the mountains are designed differently, but that is a specialist area. For us, the top priorities are comfort, softness, and flexibility.

Some models have removable footbeds. These are ideal for replacing them with your own orthopedic insoles. However, please note that in BÄR shoes, thanks to their anatomically shaped design, soft flexibility, and toe freedom®, insoles are often unnecessary.

Unmatched softness and suppleness. And because we process the leather with an open-pore finish, it is especially breathable.

80%–100% of the leather used in the clothing, furniture, and footwear industries is tanned using chromium. This is also the case with us. The leather is tanned with trivalent chromium salts.

This is a natural, non-toxic element that we also consume through our food.

Unfortunately, many people associate the word “chromium” with toxicity or have heard about limit exceedances involving chromium VI. That is something entirely different.

The use of chromium III salts is considered harmless to health. Despite intensive skin contact with shoes or clothing, the vast majority of people experience no problems whatsoever.

For example, drinking water may contain 50 micrograms of chromium III per liter.

Advantages of chromium-tanned leather:

• It is very soft
• It has twice the tear strength
• The leather is lighter
• The leather is easier to impregnate and can be dyed more effectively
• The leather has better lightfastness

All tanneries, as well as the leather and materials we use at BÄR, comply with European standards and are personally inspected by Christof Bär.

However, we are also constantly making progress in this area. We always favor environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. By the way: Plant-based/vegetable tanning is also chemistry, using only natural (not synthetic) raw materials. What many customers do not know is that plant-based or vegetable-tanned leather is often additionally treated with chromium tanning and is therefore not chromium-free.

In rare cases, leather may release dye, staining other materials such as socks or skin.

This may be caused by lint from suede. Nubuck leather is sanded during the manufacturing process, for example. This process leaves behind dust residue that may transfer dye.

By contrast, oiled leather is generally treated with colored wax. Like shoe polish, this can also transfer dye.

Dark lining leather is especially prone to releasing dye when exposed to heat combined with moisture and friction. Sweaty feet therefore intensify this effect.

As with most low-quality shoes, the surface could also be chemically sealed. However, this would also prevent moisture absorption.

Our tips for preventing shoes from transferring dye:

1. Wear dark socks the first time you wear the shoes
2. Wipe the shoes with a damp (not wet) cloth soaked in vinegar water to remove dust and dye residue
3. Use hairspray to fix the dye
4. Apply baby powder to your feet (and, if necessary, the inside of the shoes) to reduce moisture