Puchheim – November 09, 2026 -- The Kjavik One, a barefoot shoe from German brand Kjavik, is designed to look like an ordinary everyday shoe and comes with three insole stages so wearers can reduce cushioning at their own pace. Founder Elias Jochner built it around two hurdles that keep many people from switching: the look of classic barefoot models and the sudden change in feel.
A jogging injury turned a skeptic into a shoe founder
Jochner started researching feet, balance and barefoot shoes after he repeatedly rolled his ankle while jogging and had to pause training. He was skeptical of minimalist models at first, but his view changed over time. When he could not find a barefoot shoe that matched his ideas, he began developing his own.
That led to Kjavik GmbH, based in Munich, with models developed and designed in Berlin. The first shoe reached the market about two years ago.
The Kjavik One is built for the office, walks and the gym
The Kjavik One is the brand's current bestseller. Its look sits closer to classic everyday shoes, and it is meant for situations from the office to walks to the gym. The fit gives toes more room than many narrower conventional shoes, and there is no raised heel. The outsole offers grip for daily life and light trails but stays restrained enough for training. In exercises such as squats and deadlifts, the flat build can allow a direct, stable stance.
Three insole stages ease the switch from cushioned shoes
Anyone coming from years of heavily cushioned shoes may feel the change in load, especially on long stretches of asphalt or other hard surfaces. Jochner does not see cushioning as a problem in itself: he wears cushioned running shoes for longer runs and treats barefoot shoes as a complement for everyday wear and certain training situations.
Kjavik's own insole system starts with the more heavily cushioned Comfort insole. Wearers can later move to the more minimal Performance insole and finally wear the shoe with no insole at all, the Zero stage. Each user decides how fast to progress. According to the company, the flexibility became an important part of the shoe through customer feedback after launch.
Customers help pick the next models
Kjavik has since widened its range. The Nōrd Gx targets outdoor activities and autumn and winter, while the Wool Lx is made for cooler days. With former MMA professional and animal rights activist Stephan Pütz, the company developed the water-repellent T-800, which uses no animal materials. Instead of leather, it uses a material made from grape residue from winemaking.
For one new product, Kjavik built a digital tool that let customers put together their own ideal shoe. Several hundred designs came in, and one is planned to launch in spring 2027.