About me

I’m Brittany Balinski, better known online as Barefoot Brit.

I test, review and explain barefoot shoes, helping people understand how footwear should respect the natural shape and movement of the human foot.

Most modern shoes taper into a point and restrict the toes, even though our feet are naturally wide at the front. Barefoot shoes take a different approach. They are foot-shaped, flexible and flat, allowing the foot to move naturally while still protecting it from the ground.

Millions of people now watch my content each month as they explore alternatives to conventional footwear.

Why I Talk About Barefoot Shoes

Most people never question the design of their shoes.

But if you compare the shape of a human foot with the shape of most shoes, the mismatch becomes obvious. Toes are meant to spread and move freely, yet many shoes push them together.

Barefoot shoes are designed to respect natural foot function, giving the toes space and allowing the foot to move as it was designed to.

Helping people understand this difference has become the focus of my work.

What I Do

  • Review barefoot shoes for adults and children
  • Explain what makes a genuinely good barefoot shoe
  • Help people recognise foot-shaped footwear
  • Highlight brands producing proper barefoot shoes
  • Educate consumers about natural foot movement

"What began as personal research has grown into one of the most recognised consumer education platforms for barefoot footwear in the UK."

Brittany

How Barefoot Brit Started

My interest in barefoot shoes began while researching first shoes for my children.

I quickly realised that many children’s shoes were narrow, rigid and shaped nothing like a child’s foot. The more I learned about natural foot development, the clearer it became that many footwear traditions exist simply because they have always been done that way.

Barefoot Brit began as a way to share what I was learning and help others make better footwear choices.




The Footwear Revolution
More people are beginning to question conventional footwear and look for shoes that allow their feet to move naturally.
Barefoot footwear, once a niche category, is now growing quickly, with more brands appearing and major retailers starting to stock foot-shaped options.
I often refer to this shift as the Footwear Revolution.
 

Connecting the Barefoot Community
As Barefoot Brit has grown, so has my role within the barefoot footwear community.
I work with brands, retailers and consumers across Europe and beyond. I am also the founder of the Barefoot Shoes and Foot Health Expo UK, an annual event that brings together brands, educators and consumers interested in natural footwear and foot health.
My goal is to help this movement grow while keeping the focus on education and consumers.

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