There is something truly magical about walking into a room where you do not have to explain your footwear choices. If you have ever found yourself defending your wide toe-boxes or zero-drop soles to well-meaning friends, you will know exactly how refreshing it is to attend a dedicated barefoot shoe event.
This past weekend, my husband and I hopped across the pond to attend Anya’s USA Barefoot Shoe Expo in Chicago. Landing just 25 minutes away from O’Hare airport at the Schaumburg Convention Centre, we arrived at 9:45 am to find a vibrant queue already buzzing with barefoot-shoe-wearing folk from all corners of the world, eager to scan in and get their wristbands.
Compared to the vast, slightly overwhelming Colorado Convention Centre from last year’s expo, the Schaumburg venue was a breath of fresh air. It was smaller, friendlier, and perfectly matched the warm, close-knit energy of the global barefoot shoe community.
I was absolutely thrilled to see Anya again (and to finally meet her husband in person). The sheer amount of work that goes into hosting an event of this scale is monumental, and she (along with Justin and Samantha, PA) deserves endless praise for bringing so many people together.
Key Highlights from the Chicago Barefoot Shoe Expo
Before diving into the full details, here is a quick snapshot of what made the weekend so memorable:
- A Beautiful New Venue: The Schaumburg Convention Centre provided a friendly, intimate, and highly accessible setting just outside Chicago.
- A Joyful Community Spirit: The atmosphere was packed with positive energy, family visitors, and wonderful conversations.
- Industry Innovations: Brilliant new footwear solutions designed for soccer players, corporate professionals, and sensory-sensitive children.
- Global Representation: A fantastic showing from independent European and international brands who made the long journey to support the event.
Planning a Barefoot Shoe Event for the Whole Family
The atmosphere inside the hall was filled with friendly excitement, wonderful conversations, and the pure joy of trying on new designs in person. It was lovely to see so many families exploring the stalls together, though it did strike me that the current marketplace at this specific expo was heavily focused on grown-up styles. Even household-name brands like Koel, who excel in the children’s niche, chose to only showcase their adult options at this particular event.
As many of my readers know, my husband and I travelled without our four children, knowing how intense a full expo day can be for little ones. While Anya’s event did not have dedicated childcare, seeing the families navigating the busy space got my wheels turning for our own upcoming UK event.
To ensure parents can fully relax, browse, and chat with designers, the UK Barefoot Shoe Expo is being built with family comfort in mind. We are planning to feature dedicated on-site children’s activities and a paid crèche. This will allow visiting parents to drop their little ones off safely for a short time so they can relax, think, and browse the collections with total peace of mind.
Industry Shifts and Future Lineups
I have to address the biggest surprise of the weekend. There was a collective sense of confusion when we realised that three of the leading players in the industry, Vivobarefoot, Xero Shoes, and Lems, were absent from the lineup.
As content creators and advocates in this space, Anya and I rely heavily on the support of leading companies to anchor these community events. Their presence ensures these gatherings are financially viable and helps to legitimise the movement on a grander scale. It was sad to think these brands had bypassed the event based on a rigid return-on-investment calculation for immediate sales, because in the early stages of a movement like ours, community investment is rarely that simple.
The wonderful news for the global barefoot community is that we all have different opportunities to connect. Because audiences naturally vary by region, I am absolutely delighted to share that both Vivobarefoot and Xero Shoes are already locked in to exhibit at the UK Expo this October. While Lems may not be joining us, I am over the moon to bring the other two giants to connect face-to-face with our visitors.
The Human Element: Building the Future of Foot Health
For me, traveling to a barefoot shoe expo as Barefoot Brit is about far more than just the excitement of trying on new designs. It is about nurturing the vital, long-standing relationships that keep our industry moving forward.
One of the greatest gifts these expos offer the public is the chance to meet not just retail staff, but the passionate owners, founders, and designers who pour their souls into these creations. We are all united by a shared direction, and being able to shake hands and talk shop in person changes everything.
It was a joy to connect again with Juraj Fehervari, the owner and founder of Be Lenka, alongside his brilliant team. Be Lenka are a true top-tier powerhouse in our community, and they consistently set the standard for quality and innovation.
🤝 An Exciting Partnership: My relationship with Be Lenka is something I value immensely. While I am sworn to secrecy on the exact details, we are currently working behind the scenes on some industry-groundbreaking developments. You can expect some incredible things from our partnership as we move through 2026 and into 2027!
Reconnecting with fellow content creators like Chris and Eric from Sons of Sever, Shaun from The Barefoot Shoe Review, and Barefoot Will also reminded me why we do this. The four of us (Sons of Sever, me and Shaun) actually sat down for a round-table video discussion to hash out some of the trickier points around barefoot shoe attributes.
As the healthy footwear space becomes noisier, it can be incredibly confusing for newcomers to navigate. A parent buying their toddler’s first pair needs completely different attributes to an 85-year-old grandmother with damaged feet. We are working hard on clear ways to map these principles out to help buyers navigate the market safely and correctly. Keep your eyes peeled for that footage when it drops.
Standout Brand Reviews from the Expo Floor
It is always hard not to show favouritism, but a few innovative brands completely stole the show for me this year:
FreeKickz
Innovation at its finest. They have designed a foot-friendly football cleat tailored specifically for international soccer. While I will always love the distinct shape of NaturAthletic’s Iron Lion for American football, FreeKickz offers a highly inclusive shape with a more mainstream look, tailored perfectly for the soccer market. They have just hit their pre-order phase, and orders are shipping soon.
Tomas Sullivent
Tomas Sullivent represents one of the most exciting, sophisticated evolutions in the footwear industry today. Founded by a wonderfully passionate family of lawyers hailing from Oklahoma, this brand was born from a very specific necessity: creating footwear designed by lawyers, for lawyers, and for anyone whose profession demands uncompromised, top-tier formal attire.
To understand where they sit on the barefoot scale, it helps to understand that they are approaching the problem from a brilliant new angle: rather than trying to tweak a floppy barefoot shoe to pass as formal wear, they have taken a traditional, ultra-premium dress shoe and completely re-engineered the last to be anatomically foot-friendly. While they are not a purist barefoot shoe, as they feature a structured sole rather than full barefoot flexibility and a negligible 2mm-4mm heel rise (but with an innovative, larger illusory heel), they are filling a desperate gap in the market. They feature a spectacular anatomical toe-box that is beautifully wide; so wide, in fact, that they seamlessly fit my notoriously square feet(!).
The quality is utterly spectacular. Made in Italy with the finest premium leathers, these are traditional, high-end shoes built to last for decades. My husband came away with a pair of their “Mutiny” style, and I was lucky enough to secure two of their incredibly exciting, upcoming ladies’ models. To be completely honest, we both feel like we need an immediate wardrobe makeover now, as neither of us currently owns anything smart enough to pair with these stunningly formal shoes!
I absolutely love this family and their vision, and I am thrilled to share that I will be working closely with them to help bring Tomas Sullivent more prominently into the UK and EU markets by the end of 2026. Keep your eyes firmly on this space.
Bashers
Hailing all the way from South Africa, Bashers focus on rugged, workboot-style footwear, and they seem to have adopted barefoot shoe principles seamlessly. Offering a very generous, foot-shaped toe-box, their standard fit actually rules my square feet out for now, though they have incredibly kindly offered to make me a custom pair, so I will update you all on that soon!
I witnessed person after person trying them on at the expo and simply saying, “WOW.” These could be exactly what the community needs: a truly long-lasting, durable leather boot that will hold up to hard work in all weathers, every single day. I know the Sons of Sever both snagged a pair, as did B2Barefoot Dan, so keep an eye out on their channels for their full thoughts soon.
They also completely surprised me by having boots made from ostrich leather on display. It is actually a bit creepy when you realise the distinctive bumps are where the feathers used to be! I am genuinely intrigued to see what other unique, natural materials they might use next.
AIRA
Watching AIRA’s transition has made me incredibly proud. In Denver last year, Rachel was showcasing just two sample socks. Fast forward to May 2026, their second expo and four months from their official launch, and they are completely selling out! While some shoe brands offer anatomical socks as an afterthought, AIRA focuses exclusively on them. The intense research and development shows in the seamless comfort, stitching, and fabric. They are perfect for children or anyone with sensory issues who dislikes toe socks. In fact, my own children now wear them exclusively. You can buy them directly from AIRA in the USA or Dan’s Barefoot Brit Shop in the UK.
Nurturing Friendships at the Expo
Many of the innovative creators in the barefoot shoe industry are becoming close, personal friends of mine now. It is always an absolute pleasure to catch up with them time and time again at these global expos, and this year, I was particularly delighted to see some of my favourite long-standing brands. These creators feel like family, and watching their designs evolve over the years is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
Origo
Catching up with Origo is always a massive highlight for me, and seeing their latest updates on the expo floor was wonderful. A special mention must go to their fantastic children who were present at the expo helping out. They were so attentive, smart, and professional for their ages, and it was beautiful to see the next generation supporting the family business so brilliantly.
I have absolutely adored my Origo Mary Janes and Huaraches for well over a year now, so I can personally vouch for their incredible comfort and beautiful natural materials. They consistently deliver that perfect balance of function and style. I have a huge amount of respect for their vision and elegance, and I would absolutely love to work on a collaboration model with them in the future. We are currently exploring some very exciting ideas together behind the scenes, so watch this space!
Splay
Splay came back this year with a much larger presence, a fantastic team, and an expanded range. My husband was absolutely delighted to snag a pair of their improved 101s in a US14 (EU47), which is a rare find as many brands stop at a size 46. Splay also let me peek at some incredibly exciting, top-secret upcoming samples. I cannot breathe a word yet, but you may just get to see them in person this autumn, as Splay is officially crossing the Atlantic for our UK expo!
For my readers based in America who want to explore these and other local options, you can check out my curated list of USA Barefoot Shoe Brands. If you are looking for the latest discounts and deals from these brands, or any of my partners, head over to my Affiliate Partners Page.
Celebrating the Independent Exhibitors
Finally, I want to give a massive shoutout to the independent brands that made the grueling, expensive trek to Chicago. Huge commendations go to Fleeters and Mukishoes for representing the EU so beautifully. It is not just the industry giants who make these events happen; it is the smaller brands traveling far and wide who give these expos their soul. I am so excited to welcome Mukishoes, with their beautiful Portuguese manufacturing and fine natural fabrics, back to the UK in October.
It was also fantastic to see fresh faces like Nunorm, Notace, and Pines. To any new or small brands reading this: please make the effort to come to these expos. It is the single best way to get your shoes into the hands of the community and the creators who can help broadcast your vision to the world.
Barefoot Shoe Events Worldwide: The 2026 Calendar
The global barefoot movement is growing rapidly, and there are several incredible independent events happening across the world this year.
- Prague, Czech Republic (April 2026): Barefoot Expo Prague
- USA, Chicago (May 2026): Anya’s USA Barefoot Shoe Expo
- Germany (July 2026): Barefoot Messe Offenbach
- Australia (August 2026): Barefoot Expo Australia
- UK (October 2026): The UK Barefoot Shoe & Foot Health Expo
I do not have any confirmed dates for the upcoming HLS meet-ups just yet, so please keep an eye on their social media channels for their latest details.
⚠️ Important Note: I organise only the UK event. All of the events listed above are entirely independent from each other and have separate organisers. Please direct your enquiries to the relevant contact details through the links provided.
I am already looking forward to Anya’s future events, and I will let my audience know as soon as their next venue and date are released towards the end of the year.
Join Us in October
Anya’s expo proved once again that nothing compares to touching, feeling, and trying on footwear in person. The energy was joyful, warm, and left me bursting with inspiration. Because the UK is so beautifully connected to Europe and beyond, we are looking forward to welcoming a truly worldwide crowd.
Tickets for the UK Expo, taking place on the 17th and 18th of October 2026, will go on sale this June. You can bookmark the page and get ready to secure yours via the UK Barefoot Shoe & Foot Health Expo Eventbrite Page.
We are taking all that brilliant community energy, adding a few family-friendly upgrades, and bringing the ultimate barefoot shoe experience to the UK this autumn. Mark your calendars, it is going to be unforgettable.
Brit 👣