Footwear Focus: A Podiatrist Reviews Bared Footwear
This month, I’m ready to bare it all in my newest Footwear Focus blog.
That’s because I’ll be reviewing the offerings from Bared Footwear for you in this latest article.
This Australian footwear brand has risen to prominence for its timeless styling and focus on comfort and supporting foot health.
But what do I think about them? And would I recommend them to my podiatry patients?
As always, you’ll get my unvarnished opinion about my focus brand, and you’ll learn if they achieve the rank of podiatrist-recommended footwear!
Ready to get moving? Let’s go!
An overview of Bared Footwear brand
Many podiatrists—myself included—like to offer their expert opinions on which footwear is best for their patients and their foot health needs.
But it’s not often that you stumble upon a footwear brand that’s MADE by a podiatrist.
Enter—Bared.
In 2008, Australian podiatrist, Anna Baird, decided to pivot from practicing podiatry to founding her own footwear company.
Bared was her brainchild. Her goal was to create comfortable, supportive footwear she’d be proud to wear. She also sought to focus on sustainability in her manufacturing process and to employ like-minded people with a passion for customer service and support.
Over time, her mission for the brand evolved and expanded.
Today, Bared’s vision includes a focus on sustainability, giving back, and responsible production practices. They continue to invest in innovative, science-backed design, and top-notch customer service.
Bared is also B-Corp Certified.
Another cool aspect of this brand’s offerings and approach is that many of their footwear styles come with their Fit Kit. This complimentary kit includes two thin foot pads and two forefoot pads—one for each foot. They’re designed to ensure each pair of Bared shoes fits as perfectly as possible, and offers the cushioning and support needed.
As a proud purveyor of custom orthotics, I love how this brand proactively provides cushioning options to help its customers get the right fit. Of course, nothing beats custom orthotic inserts for a truly personalized fit, but this is a great way to approach comprehensive customer support.
With a range of styles, a focus on delivering unbeatable customer services, and a global mission—it’s not hard to see why Bared has become popular.
But do I, as a podiatrist and active person, recommend this brand? Let’s tackle that question next!
Do podiatrists recommend Bared footwear?
If you've been following along with my Footwear Focus blog series on podiatrist-recommended footwear, you know I love highlighting brands that offer more than just comfy, quality footwear styles.
I prefer to showcase brands that focus on sustainability, have environmental and humanitarian initiatives, and thoughtfully consider their impact on the world.
Bared definitely hits the mark on that front.
I especially appreciate their focus on customer service and helping customers find the perfect fit.
I also appreciate their push for sustainability in how they select their materials and their production process.
I also like their focus on social responsibility, which includes several global initiatives.
Nowadays, I believe it’s important for shoe brands to offer more, especially when it comes to environmental stewardship. Bared certainly hits the mark with their approach.
I also like their wide variety of styles and use of quality materials.
Plus, it’s always nice to see a podiatrist at the helm of a footwear brand. Call me biased, but this bodes well for a brand that understands what customers need for aesthetics, comfort, and foot health and wellness.
I recently got my first pair of Bared shoes, and I was excited to try them out to offer you my firsthand (or foot, as it were!) opinion on them.
Learn what I think of their Maleo loafer style next…
Dr. Young’s review of Bared Footwear’s Maleo Loafer
I believe in putting my money where my mouth is—that’s why I purchased my own pair of Bared shoes to understand and report on the brand’s offerings firsthand.
I opted for their Maleo Loafer, which is a classic leather style that’s perfect for the office, attending conferences, and being on the go.
I’ve had my pair for over a month now and have put them to the test. So far, I’d say the results are promising.
Here are some key takeaways from my experience with them so far—
Insert switcheroo
First, I tested out my Bared loafers using the standard inserts they arrived with. They felt amazing on my arches! I appreciated the cushioning and support they provided.
Soon, however, I began to notice the leather rubbed quite a bit and gave me blisters.
A couple of caveats about this issue to be fair and balanced:
Blisters are a risk of leather shoes because this material can cause friction and, as you’ve probably learned from my recent blog—friction can cause blisters.
I also wore these heavily the first time out and probably logged 3-4 miles in them over the course of that day. That’s a big test for a new pair of shoes. I didn’t start experiencing issues with them related to rubbing until I’d walked well over a mile.
Fit Kit fix
Following this issue, I elected to take advantage of their included Fit Kit and test out some other insert options to see if these helped reduce this issue.
I swapped out the original inserts with the thinner pair that came with the Kit to see if these led to less rubbing and blister-causing friction.
This simple swap-out did the trick!
My guess is that my heel was too high with the original inserts, which caused the tops of my feet to rub on the leather.
While they weren’t as cushiony with these thinner inserts, the lack of rubbing made this the winning combo for me.
A podiatrist’s opinion of Bared’s Maleo Loafers?
Overall, I really like the cute, classic styling of these loafers and love wearing them.
I find they have a good amount of support for days when you’ll be on your feet a good deal but still want to look nice and professional.
I put mine to the test from first wear, and the only real issue I experienced was the rubbing on the top of the shoe, which I remedied with my insert swap out.
An online search did reveal some folks taking issue with the quality of this brand, specifically about how they hold up over time. I didn’t want to leave this out, as I always seek to offer a well-rounded review to my readers.
I haven’t yet had my pair for long, but they seem to be holding up well. If I ever need to update this article to provide a different take, I will.
At present, everything with my Bared loafers is so far, so good. Based on personal experience I’d give this brand a thumbs up!
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City Step Podiatry is here for you! Reach out today to schedule your visit and treat your feet to the care they deserve.
