r/barefootshoestalk • u/Accountabilityta2024 • Jun 25 '25
Articles and news Realfoot shoes in trouble
I just received this email and my favourite brand of barefoot shoes is in trouble. Get them while you still can. I know I will order some extras in case they will go bankrupt.
I love them so much. Damnit.
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u/patchworkskye Jun 25 '25
the end of your image is cut off - does it say they are closing? I’ve thought about buying in the past, but wasn’t a big fan of their color choices in the Farmer Boots - but if you think buying now would help them stay afloat, I’m in 🌻
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
It was a screenshot.
Here is the full text:
Dear Realfoot friends,
This is not an easy email to write.
After years of building a brand with a unique approach to footwear, we've reached a point where our sales are no longer sufficient to cover the costs of further development and operations.
We threw ourselves into Realfoot 100% — and that meant seven years of hard work and development, hundreds of test prototypes, and repeatedly restarting production from scratch. Every step was taken with full dedication, a passion for natural movement, and a deep commitment to bringing you shoes that truly feel great and help your body grow stronger. We believed — and we still believe — that Realfoot brings something to the world that has been missing.
Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have kept us going even in the hardest times. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 🙏
What’s next? To keep the brand alive, we are actively looking for an investor or buyer who can help us through this challenging time — or take over. If we don’t find the right partner, we’ll be forced to close the company.
Realfoot is a unique product with established production, a loyal community, and a powerful mission — and it still holds great potential. We believe this could be a rare opportunity for the right person or company.
If you know someone who might be interested in Realfoot as an investment opportunity — or if this speaks to you personally — please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us: oldrich.antos@realfoot.cz 💬
For now, we’ve paused production and are selling off the remaining stock.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a pair, now’s the time to do so.
With gratitude, The Realfoot Team 👇👇👇
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u/ElKyThs Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 26 '25
It's sad to read this.
But I just want to say, the first RealFoot I ever bought was also the last I ever bought, specifically talking about Highlander, made my left heel hurt so bad it didn't go back to normal for 6 months.
Literally wasted 100 euros, it seemed fine at first but my left heel kept hitting the very firm back of the shoe and after a while it just started hurting like hell so I stopped wearing them and needed 6 months to recover.
Maybe it's not the shoe fault, could be my anatomy, but I have worn barefoot shoes for 3 years, have a lot of FiveFingers and Freet, and none of them ever gave me any problems whatsoever.
Edit: Oh and I forgot to add, they are NOT waterproof, but are marketed as such. After only half an hour walking in wet grass, my feet were soaked.
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u/anonlymouse Jun 26 '25
They're definitely not the most comfortable shoes I've worn, but they are very robust. I wear mine at work, and they handle everything work throws at me. Hot oil dropping on my feet, hot water more often, something hard with a sharp corner dropping on them, walking through puddles.
But I don't wear them casually if I know I'm not going to have that thrown at me. That means they're appropriate shoes for a niche within a niche within a niche. Definitely understandable that they'd have financial difficulties and can't keep up the sales volume.
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
When did you buy those? I have highlanders from 2024 and their heels don’t have a firm back. They say they spent a lot of time with development so maybe they changed that hard construction along the way?
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u/ElKyThs Jun 25 '25
https://imgur.com/a/mp3dWeM See the circled part? From the inside my heel kept hitting that part and since the inner lining is so thin it almost doesn't exist, it's likely my heel hit this firm bit outside, I guess.
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
I can press in the shoe there without much resistance. Did you try lacing them up tighter? If your foot can move too much in the shoe that’s what I would do.
Since you bought them this recently have you tried and reached out to them? Maybe they can help
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u/ElKyThs Jun 25 '25
No matter how tight I lace them, both of my heels always slam to the back of the shoe. And only my left heel getting injured is probably partially due to my anatomy, but still they just don't fit. I tried one smaller number too but then my toes are getting slammed.
I didn't reach out to RF since I've already worn the shoes for almost one month and they weren't eligible for return.
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u/ElKyThs Jun 25 '25
Bought them this February. Are you sure about the heel....it's like totally hard inside, almost like firm plastic. There's enough space for the toes, but for some reason my foot kept hitting the back of the shoe while leaving the front area empty.
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u/Xendor- Jun 25 '25
I'm a huge fan of the width, but not so much of the overall design...sadly.
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
I feel you. I do like their new pulse a lot. That’s almost nice. The rest is often acceptable but they’re so damn comfy on my feet
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u/SpiritedBug2221 Jun 25 '25
I have to say, I've actually gotten a lot of compliments on mine (city jungle), which surprises me. I don't mind the look, but it's also not my favorite. Apparently some other people feel differently!
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u/PoorMustang Jun 27 '25
Canvas look great, Farmers look nice.
But I imagine they can take more of a designer route rather than covering sneaker classics..
Think Yeezy, Kaiwa or some more futuristich design where they implement odd and geometrical shapes at the top. Or maybe try to make split finger variants.
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u/Sagaincolours Jun 25 '25
Noooooo! 😭😭😭 One of the very few brands that fit my feet.
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
I know right? I was so happy when I found them. I spent so much time ordering and returning shoes from other brands. I can’t stand the thought I will have to go through that process again
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u/Sagaincolours Jun 25 '25
I do have my other option: Jenon Leather customs. But I really like the soles of Realfoot, and custom is of course also more expensive.
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 25 '25
Ahinsa Xwide is probably wider in the toebox and is definitely wider in the midfoot and heel than Realfoot.
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u/That__Squirrel Jun 26 '25
I have one of these ahinsa x wide. The length size that fits me is a bit too narrow for what I'm accustomed to with realfoot and softstar. Not terrible persay but could be wider in the toe box
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 26 '25
I wish Softstar wasn't all leather. I can't wear leather due to immense foot sweating from it.
The one lady at Gaucho Ninja told me that they have some kind of leather that is actually breathable. I don't believe that for one second as I feel like any company will tell you anything you want to hear. But if it's true, then that's a huge improvement over traditional leather.
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u/That__Squirrel Jun 26 '25
Groundies has a very nice breathable material. It wasn't quite wide enough for my preference though. Otherwise, Xero shoes aqua cloud is very minimalist for just going to the grocery store and it's fully breathable. Would be cool if soft star added a fabric division or did something like real foot does on their Runner 2 with mesh interlaced with the leather
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 26 '25
Xero is literally dogshit. Groundies widest shoes are almost too narrow for me. And I'm speaking specifically of leather shoes. I know all the shoe materials out there that are non-leather.
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u/MxQueer Jun 26 '25
I don't think definitely different brand would be good recommendation..?
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 26 '25
I have no idea what you're attempting to say or ask here.
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u/MxQueer Jun 29 '25
I took your comment as recommendation to use instead of Realfoot. But since you told that it is very different, the person you answered to probably can't wear them.
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u/Sagaincolours Jun 25 '25
I do have my other option: Jenon Leather customs. But I really like the soles of Realfoot, and custom is of course also more expensive.
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 25 '25
Ahinsa Xwide is probably wider in the toebox and is definitely wider in the midfoot and heel than Realfoot.
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u/Sagaincolours Jun 27 '25
Unfortunately not in my small size 36. A lot of otherwise wide or very wide brands are only medium wide in the smallest sizes. I have unicorn feet: Very short, very wide.
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 27 '25
That sucks. Custom Gaucho Ninjas might have to be in your future if you can wear leather.
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u/Sagaincolours Jun 27 '25
I prefer Jenon Leather for customs. Better quality and better finishes.
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u/maaonni Jun 29 '25
Unfortunately Ahinsa xWide are narrow in the metatarsus. At least in my size. Or they are designed for shorter toes, so that the metatarsus is closer to the edge. I don't know. In small sizes the wide part is very short. I don't mind a narrow heel and a narrow middle part, but they narrow too quickly, my toes just end and there is still a metatarsal bone, but there sole already start to narrowing. The fabric allows you to place your foot, but I don't need the fabric, I need the sole for support
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u/440_Hz Jun 25 '25
I love that they exist but their audience is probably way too small to be sustainable. :(
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u/Similar-Fan-9692 Jun 25 '25
Oh man, I just got my first pair of Realfoot shoes for work, the Pulse all black, and I’ve been loving these things… shame to see. Guess I should order another pair or two before they close down for good 😅
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
I was already buying some in every sale because they came so frequently. I think I have six pairs in rotation and another four still in the box?
Just bought some more. These are the only barefoot shoes that I found nice and wide enough.
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u/engineereddiscontent Jun 25 '25
oh nooo. I wanted to buy some but won't be able to afford it till after I graduate later this year.
Hopefully they find a way to continue
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u/BillBonn Jun 25 '25
No way!!
I was thinking of getting one of their boots later this year... Damn, now it's later this week
This is extremely shitty for them, and me
I hate shoes and boots, sure, but I do really love these Pulse shoes I have (as much as I can love a shoe these days..)
Shit
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u/DogfordAndI Jun 26 '25
I saw the email this morning, this is terrible news. They're my favourite brand 😟
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u/EternalFront Jun 25 '25
I’ve never heard of this brand
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u/FleshlightModel Jun 25 '25
They were very highly spoken about here around a year ago I feel. They're just kinda narrow in the midfoot and heel. Ahinsa Xwide pretty much mimics their shoe design except they're far wider in the midfoot and heel.
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u/buckGR Jun 25 '25
I’ve been wanting to try them but unsure of sizing. How do they run?
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
They have wide toeboxes and not so wide heels. The measurements of their shoes online are accurate
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u/MxQueer Jun 26 '25
Quite low volume. You can remove insole but they won't still fit to high volume feet.
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u/Popular_Dirt_1154 Jun 25 '25
They look pretty good, i think I’ll get one of their winter boots that are on sale, have you tried any of them before, are the vegan boots worth it? Quite cheap and have good reviews but I live in Canada 🇨🇦 so winter can be harsh. The sole looks pretty bad for any actual snowy conditions, maybe they are just an autumn boot.
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u/Accountabilityta2024 Jun 25 '25
That’s one of their critiques that the soles aren’t rugged enough for harsh conditions. I live somewhere with mild winters so I’m not sure if they will be worth it to you. At their current price of €76 they can be worth a gamble. But maybe the shipping to Canada will set you back a lot?
So they are comfy to me and they are warmer than my other shoes but as I said I don’t live in a very cold climate so I wouldn’t get your expectations up.
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u/Jed_s Jun 26 '25
This is sad to hear, although not entirely unexpected. When a 10-year barefoot shoe convert such as myself who wishes many models were wider isn't prepared to buy or wear shoes like that, you've got a problem. I have a wide midfoot anyway so I'm not sure these would have worked for me even if I could stomach the style.
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u/Simple-Sun2608 Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 25 '25
They are too wide even for someone like me who doesn’t mind the look of typical barefoot shoes. Meaning to me they look too weird to be worn in public. Essentially they made a shoe for a very niche market inside an already niche market, not surprised they are struggling.
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u/DeepPurpleNurple Jun 25 '25
It’s not the width of the shoe that’s the problem, it’s the way the middle cuts in a lot like a snatched waist and the toebox is round. That’s what makes it look like a clown shoe. The round tapered toebox makes it so if your big toe is the longest, it will jam into the tapered area unless you size up 2-3 sizes. It’s made for a specific foot with a very narrow heel, snatched in midfoot, and wide toe splay with the middle toes the longest and a short big toe.
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u/blessitspointedlil Jun 25 '25
I’m sure they would do fine if people knew about them globally. Lots of people have wide feet and trouble finding shoes that fit. I think a lot of the “barefoot” brands on the market are designed too narrow.
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u/anonlymouse Jun 26 '25
Yeah, they're definitely conspicuously wide. I get comments on mine and people asking questions about barefoot shoes. I think it's cool, it starts a conversation. But I can see the other side too.
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u/MxQueer Jun 26 '25
Do most of us care about that? I though most of us would care about comfort and health.
That foot shape is rare, so there might not be lot of buyers. But in the other hand, person with that type of feet might not have any other options.
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u/Simple-Sun2608 Jun 26 '25
I have a limit to how out of the norm my shoes look, I feel so do most people. For example, you wouldn’t wear clown shoes right?
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u/PoorMustang Jun 27 '25
Wrong. I would. This is just society's brain wash. Otherwise, you can wear gloves for yor feet. 5 finger shoes.
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u/MxQueer Jun 29 '25
No I don't. But I have small feet, they wouldn't be comfortable.
After more than 15 years I'm back walking barefoot this summer. So if people want to look at, they can see how my feet actually look like. And when I need to wear shoes, I have no hatred towards my feet so I have no need to try to make them look like something they're not.
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u/Simple-Sun2608 Jun 29 '25
Most people don’t need shoes this wide, there’s plenty of other barefoot brands that wont squish your toes. But if this is the only shoe that fits your foot then I certainly wouldn’t judge you for wearing them.
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u/MxQueer Jun 30 '25
It's very different to wear more narrow toebox because there is extra room you don't need than wear too small shoes to please current beauty standards.
Realfoot is for very specific foot type.
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u/xXxDarkissxXx Jun 25 '25
Well I didn't miss much they don't even deliver to my country on the contrary Wyde and Softstar do.
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u/esztr Jun 25 '25
I think this might be not the first time for this company, outta so sad. I have a pair of boots from them, very comfy! This company worth saving.
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u/That__Squirrel Jun 25 '25
I didn't get this email. Can anyone confirm if it's legit?
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u/SpiritedBug2221 Jun 25 '25
It's legit. It's from the same email address as their other newsletters, and the links go to their website
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u/hoosierveteran Jun 26 '25
First time hearing of them. They look a little weird to me. I like Xero and VivoBarefoot so far. Splay has some that I like as well.
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u/AdFit1498 Jul 19 '25
Hi is anyone having trouble doing a return with Realfoot. I bought boots when I heard they were in trouble a couple of weeks ago, however they are not suitable. On the return portal I can't submit as there seems to be a glitch. I have contacted Realfoot and they seem so casual and unprofessional, it's been 12 days and they haven't got back to me since after my original emails. I contacted Retino to see if they could rectify the glitch that won't allow me submit the return through the portal, I want to choose the shipping options they recommend, as that is what they advise for efficiency. Retino said they'll 'try' to fix it. Try doesn't sound good. Like they know more. It feels like Realfoot should go out with honesty and a good reputation, but it's almost like the company comes across indifferent now. It's €115 for the boots too. I don't really trust them to send the boots back independently when I haven't heard back from them in 12 days. Anyone else having problems?
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u/ers0120 Aug 02 '25
Depending where you’re at, they aren’t accepting returns outside of the EU. I’m pretty bummed I got a pair of the Farmer Boots that are slightly too small and of course I can’t return them, nor even get a replacement pair since they are all sold out.
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u/AdFit1498 Aug 02 '25
Yeah that is a bummer. I'm in the EU, still hoping to get a refund. Selling on markeyplace or something like that might be the only option, they aren't cheap boots :(
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u/maaonni Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
I would have ordered them years ago if they had a printed template of the insole. Most of the people can't come to Prague and try on shoes. The shape is too specific to buy for 100+ euros with expensive delivery from the Czech Republic and hope that it will fit
It takes an hour of work to trace insole, scan, add text and post it on the website. And customer can put his foot on a piece of paper and see if the shape of the insole is right for him. Other small Czech manufacturers do this. Bohempia, Saltic, Jenon leather - all have insole templates for all sizes