HELSINKI Shearling Cocoa Brown TREK

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.

VIBAe shoes are handmade from vegetable-tanned, chrome-free leather. It stretches naturally as you wear it and shapes itself to your feet, so we recommend picking a perfect fit rather than leaving extra toe room, the way you might with stiffer, chrome-tanned leather.

To get the best out of your VIBAe shoes, a close fit lets the Carbon Step™ footbed and the leather work together as they're designed to.

Use our Size Chart or the Size Advisor on each product page to find your size. If you already know your size in another brand, the Advisor converts it directly. Your regular shoe size is usually a close match if your measurements are accurate.

Don't worry if your new shoes feel close, almost like a well-fitted glove, when you first put them on. That's how they should feel. The leather stretches naturally with wear, so there's no need to size up for extra toe space.

Once your shoes arrive: You can double check the fit. Take out the footbed and place your foot on it. If all your toes sit neatly within its outline, the size is right, and the shoe will relax and stretch where needed as you wear it.

Note: We don't make half sizes. Go one size up if you're between sizes, prefer wearing thicker socks, or just like a looser feel.

Yes, the leather 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 and your foot fits inside the footbed, but the fit feels just a touch tight to begin with, 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 HELSINKI, LISBOA 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.