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We are not barefoot in traditional terms, as we have an extremely comfortable Carbon Step footbed inside. Our footbed compresses with your body weight to level the toes and the heel, we do have thin soles, that are light and flexible, and we have a wide toebox.

VIBAe fits into the minimalist footwear arena because we use high quality materials that do not need all the extra backings needed to make a pair of shoes. This makes them feel very soft like a glove around your feet. We are FEEL GOOD shoes!

We are born without shoes hence our anatomy is designed to be level to the ground. However, today's concrete jungle requires some cushion to minimize foot fatigue over the course of the day.

Carbon Step™ footbed follows the 11 / 14 / 7 formula: 11 mm heel, 14 mm arch, 7 mm forefoot.
This creates 3 mm of arch lift and places the toes 4 mm lower than the heel, supporting the foot in a natural position.

Over time, the footbed adapts to your foot and gently compresses to follow your individual foot profile.

We don't have half sizes unfortunately. You might want to take one size bigger from your normal size, if you feel like A. your perfect size is half a size up, B. you want to wear your shoes with thicker socks or C. you prefer a looser feel on your shoes.

As the leather will stretch, we do recommend a snug fit to start with. You might wonder about leaving extra room for your toes, a practice common with harder, less stretchable chromium tanned leather, but there´s no need.

To get the BEST VIBES from VIBAe shoes, the snug fit works best, since it will allow the Carbon Step footbed and the chrome-free leather to work their magic with your feet.

Choosing a larger size can prevent the footbed from properly supporting your feet and hinder the leather's ability to mould perfectly to your feet's contours.

Yes, our shoes will stretch slightly, but only where your foot needs it. The vegetable-tanned leather is designed to soften and mold gently to your unique foot shape over time.

They won’t stretch a full size, but any initial pressure points will ease as the leather naturally adapts to your profile. If the length feels right but the fit is just a touch snug, wearing them with socks can help stretch the leather by a millimeter or two during the break-in period.

If you have a high arch, wearing thick wool socks can help stretch the upper slightly. Alternatively, you might prefer one of our adjustable styles, like the LISBOA, AMALFI, or CAPRI, which offer more flexibility over the instep.

It really depends on how much you wear your shoes. The fabric on top will only get softer and more comfortable over time, and the outsoles are very sturdy. The part that wears down first is the insole—just like in any shoe.

Some of our customers have reported wearing their shoes almost 24/7 (yes, even falling asleep in them), so in those cases, the footbeds naturally flatten faster. You might notice they feel a bit less supportive or even get a bit smelly in scorching hot weather.

Trust your feet—they will let you know when it is time for a fresh pair. For most people, changing the footbeds once a year or every two years is plenty.