The Bär family has been making shoes with "toe freedom" for four decades and are pioneers when it comes to functional shoe design. Already in the early 80s, they realized that shoes should follow the natural shapes of the foot, instead of the opposite. A shoe should be widest over the toes to give them room to balance and stabilize the foot. Today, Joe Nimble has shoes for everyday use, training and hiking - all with "toe freedom".
When his son Sebastian worked with the running event Badwater Ultramarathon, perhaps the world's toughest trail running competition, he noticed something interesting. Many of the competitors cut the upper part of the toe box on their shoes to give their toes more space and minimize the risk of injuries. With the experience already gained from making everyday shoes with "toe freedom," Sebastian realized that this knowledge and design philosophy was also highly relevant for runners and running shoes.
The natural foot, with its thousands of years of refined function, should be at the center.
Joe Nimble works with shoes for lifestyle, running, hiking, gym, and recovery. Joe Nimble has been awarded, among others, the Red Dot Award, the German Design Award Special Mention, and the Top Innovator for its work towards better foot health.