FAQ

In the morning, your foot is up to four millimetres shorter than in the evening because the muscles get tired during the course of the day and your foot gets longer as a consequence. This has to be taken into consideration. It is also important that the foot can roll naturally without any hindrances. To do this, it needs sufficient width and length. If the shoe is too tight, you can jolt the bones and cartilage in your foot. The space is also important for good circulation of the blood in your foot and for having warm feet - without any pinching.

We do not usually need different widths because our shoes do not narrow towards the front but follow the original shape of the foot.

No because we don’t want to. Unlike all the shoe shops you know, we want to offer you total comfort. There is nothing better than walking barefoot and that’s what you get with our shoes without a heel.

That depends. First of all it depends on the material: the harder the sole, the longer the lifespan and vice versa. Then it depends on the wearer, his/her weight, how he /she walks and how often he/she wears the shoes. Usually the soles last 2-3 years.

Because people’s heels are also round and not square. If the material permits, we take this rounding of the heel into consideration. It means the shoes cushion your every step.

We don’t intend to give these shoes a heel. It is the shape that is the nearest you will get to walking barefoot. And since nobody was born with a high heel, you should practice walking barefoot in these shoes. It contributes greatly to stronger, healthier feet.

Our shoes all have soles with shock-absorption characteristics. Most of them actually feature an ultra-elastic material that always guarantees perfect cushioning.

Our shoes are not expensive. When you purchase our shoes, you get the best leather and highly developed soles. A lot of the shoes are sewn by hand and are made to last a long time and provide you with the ultimate in comfort. And you should not economise when it comes to your feet. You need them every day for an entire lifetime!

You are informed about special offers, innovations and events. It helps us to establish a close customer/supplier relationship that we value and that is to your advantage.

Because our shoes are made and repaired by specialists. We try to repair your shoes as quickly as possible and hope you will bear with us while we ensure you get the perfect repair.

The thicker the sole the less flexible they are. A lot of orthopaedic doctors say it is very healthy to be able to feel the nature of the terrain you are walking on; it sharpens your reactions and thus protects you from injury. Special shoes for mountain walking are made differently but that is a special individual area. Our return to list of questions priority is: comfort, softness and flexibility – health for your feet.

We do have models with removable footbeds. These are perfect for using your own orthopaedic insoles. Please note, however, that the natural shape of BÄR shoes, the soft flexibility and the generous toe zone mean that you often do not require an insole because walking in BÄR shoes is so natural that the muscles in your foot work properly again – as if you were walking barefoot. Insoles are only there to help. Why not try walking without them and see how that feels?

The unsurpassed softness and suppleness. And since we deal with open-pored leather, it is particularly breathable.

Between 80 and 100% of the leather used for clothing, furniture and footwear is tanned with the aid of chromium. We use this process too. The leathers are tanned with chromium (III) salt.

This is a natural, non-toxic element which we also absorb with our food.

Unfortunately, a lot of people associate the word ‘chromium’ with toxicity or have heard about limits on chromium (VI) being exceeded. That is something completely different.

Chromium (III) salts are not considered to pose a health risk. The vast majority of people do not have any problems, despite their skin coming into close contact with shoes or clothing.

Even drinking water, for example, is allowed to contain 50 micrograms of chromium (III) per litre.

Advantages of chromium-tanned leathers:

• They are very soft
• They are twice as tear-resistant
• The leathers are lighter
• The leathers can be impregnated more easily and dyed better
• The leathers are more resistant to fading

All of the tanneries plus all of the leathers and other materials we use at BÄR comply with the relevant European standard and are personally checked by Christof Bär.

However, this is another area where we are constantly evolving. We always give preference to environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. It is worth noting, however, that vegetable production processes also use chemicals – they’re just made from natural (rather than synthetic) substances. A lot of customers also don’t know that vegetable-tanned leathers often undergo subsequent chromium tanning, meaning that these leathers are not free from chromium.

In rare cases, it is possible for some dye to be transferred from leather, which then discolours other materials, such as socks or the skin.

This could be caused by lint from suede. For example, nubuck leathers are sanded during the production process. This leaves some loose dust, which can have a discolouring effect.

By contrast, oiled leathers are usually treated with a coloured wax. This can be transferred, just like shoe polish.

Dark lining leathers are most prone to discolouring in when they become damp and are rubbed. In other words, sweaty feet heighten this effect.

We could simply seal the surface using chemicals, which is how most lower-quality shoes are treated. However, that also prevents moisture from being absorbed.

Our tips for preventing shoe discolouration:

1. Use dark socks when you first wear the shoes
2. Rub the shoes with a damp (not wet) cloth dipped in a vinegar-water solution to remove excess dust and dye
3. Use hairspray to fix the dye
4. Apply talcum powder to your feet (and the inside of the shoes, if you like) – this reduces moisture