Frequently Asked Questions

Barefoot shoes are a type of footwear designed to mimic the feeling of walking barefoot while still protecting your feet from injury, cold, and dirt. Key features include:

• Flexible sole — allows your foot to sense the surface beneath it, improving stability and balance.
• Wide toe box — respects the natural shape of the foot and provides enough room for active toe engagement.
• Zero drop — the sole is the same thickness under the heel and the toe to help maintain correct posture.
• Lightweight construction — minimal weight for natural, unrestricted movement.

For most people, switching to barefoot shoes is one of the best things they can do for their feet, posture, and long-term movement health. Like any positive change, your body just needs a little time to adapt — especially if you’ve spent years in conventional footwear with raised heels and rigid soles.

The good news is that most people find the transition easier and more enjoyable than they expected. Your feet are naturally designed to move freely — barefoot shoes simply give them the space to do what they were always meant to do.

To help you make the switch smoothly and confidently, we’ve teamed up with experienced physiotherapist Mgr. Martina Miklovičová, who wrote a practical guide covering everything you need to know. Read our complete guide on transitioning to barefoot shoes.

Getting the right fit is essential in barefoot footwear. To find your size:

1. Measure the length of your foot carefully.
2. Add the extra space you prefer.
3. Match the measurement to the size chart on each product page.

For more detailed advice, visit our barefoot shoe size guide.

We offer peerko barefoot shoes in both natural leather and vegan leather — here’s what sets them apart:

For more information on our materials, please see this article on our blog.

Only items currently in stock can be added to your cart — so we can dispatch your order quickly.

We process orders as quickly as possible — if your order is paid by 10:00 AM, we ship it the same business day in 95% of cases.

If your size is no longer available in our shop, don’t hesitate to contact us. If one of our wholesale partners has it in stock, we’ll send you a direct link to their shop.

Once dispatched, delivery times are typically:

• Czech Republic: next business day.
• EU: 2–6 business days depending on your country. See exact delivery times by country →
• International (non-EU): 5–7 business days to the US and Canada via express carriers (DHL Express, FedEx, or UPS). For other destinations, times may vary — drop us a line at eshop@peerko.eu and we’ll check the estimated delivery time for your address.

Please keep in mind that these are standard estimates and occasional delays can occur due to circumstances beyond our control. You’ll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order is on its way.

If your size is unavailable, a “Track availability” button will appear on the product page instead of the add-to-cart option. Enter your email address and we’ll notify you as soon as the item is restocked. You’re also welcome to email us directly if you’d like an estimated restock date.

As a smaller, sustainability-focused brand, we intentionally avoid holding large inventories — this helps us prevent overproduction and stay true to our commitment to genuine environmental responsibility.

If your order hasn’t been dispatched yet, please contact us as soon as possible at eshop@peerko.eu — we’ll do our best to make the change or cancel it for you.

Orders shipped outside the European Union may be subject to local import taxes, customs duties and any applicable carrier handling fees. Because all peerko shoes are made in the EU, they qualify as EU-origin goods, which often helps with lower duty rates.

• US customers: currently subject to an estimated 10–15% customs duty — rates may vary and are subject to change.
• Canadian customers: thanks to CETA, peerko shoes enter Canada duty-free (you only pay local sales tax).
• Collection: DHL Express typically collects taxes and any applicable carrier handling fees during delivery. FedEx may send an invoice for duties and any applicable small processing fee 1–2 months after delivery.

You can return unworn, clean shoes within 14 days of receiving your order. We don’t offer direct exchanges, but you can return your shoes and place a new order. If you’re worried about funds being tied up, simply add a note saying “Exchange for order XY” to your new order — we’ll reserve the item for you so you can pay once your refund arrives.

You have two return options:

• Return label — we’ll email you a prepaid GLS label. The shipping cost (equal to your original shipping fee) will be deducted from your refund.
• Your own shipment — arrange the return yourself and send it to our warehouse address below.

Before sending your return, please make sure:

• Shoes are unworn and undamaged
• Packed as received — with all parts, safety paper inserts, laced and properly wrapped
• Parcel is securely wrapped

Returns that arrive with signs of wear or damage may be declined or result in a partial refund.

Unfortunately, returns and exchanges are only available to customers within the European Union. As a small, family-run business, we don’t have the fulfillment infrastructure to handle international return shipping and customs reimport procedures.

That said, we truly want our shoes to be accessible to customers worldwide — and we’re happy to ship internationally. If you’re ordering from outside the EU for the first time, we strongly recommend taking extra care when selecting your size. We’re always happy to help you get it right before you order — just reach out to us at eshop@peerko.eu before placing your order.

All peerko shoes are covered by a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects. If you believe your shoes have a defect that is not the result of mechanical damage or normal wear and tear, we recommend email us at eshop@peerko.eu with:

• Photos of the issue
• Your order number

Please make sure the shoes are clean and complete before sending anything back. We’ll get back to you with next steps.

Proper shoe care significantly extends the life of your footwear.

Natural leather shoes reward regular care — clean them, apply a suitable leather conditioner, allow them to dry naturally, and store them with a shoe tree or stuffed with paper to hold their shape.

Vegan leather shoes are easier to maintain and require less upkeep.

For detailed tips on maintaining both materials, read our comprehensive barefoot shoe care guide.

Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer repair or resoling services due to capacity and technical limitations. For repairs not covered by warranty, we recommend visiting a local cobbler — it’s usually the fastest and most convenient option.

peerko is a Czech barefoot shoe brand, born in 2018 out of a crowdfunding campaign backed by the barefoot community. What started as a line of canvas minimalist shoes grew into a full collection — leather and vegan models, sneakers, flats, ankle boots, and tall boots — all designed with one goal: shoes that are both beautiful and genuinely healthy for your feet.

We’re a small, family-run business based in Karviná, Czech Republic. We design our shoes ourselves, and all our shoes are manufactured in small, family-owned workshops within the EU — from sole to laces. That means ethical working conditions, careful craftsmanship, and no offshore mass production shortcuts.

There are a few things that genuinely set peerko apart:

• Designed with physiotherapists — our lasts were developed in collaboration with movement specialists, not just designers. Form follows function.
• Made entirely in the EU — from the leather to the shoes, everything is produced in Europe. No offshore factories, no quality compromises.
• Clean, certified materials — European-sourced leathers meeting strict safety standards; vegan materials certified to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class I (the highest category). Soles have been tested at the Institute for Testing and Certification in Zlín.
• Beautiful, not just healthy — peerko shoes don’t look like “health shoes.” They’re designed to be worn every day, to work, out, and everywhere in between.
• People behind the brand — whether you buy directly from our eshop or through one of our trusted resellers, you’re always backed by a team that genuinely cares about your experience. We’re easy to reach and happy to help.
• Community roots — peerko started as a crowdfunding project supported by the barefoot community. That origin still shapes how we operate.

Sustainability at peerko isn’t a marketing label — it’s built into how we operate:

• EU production — manufacturing locally cuts out long-distance transport and keeps us close to our supply chain, making it easier to ensure ethical and responsible conditions at every step.
• Small workshops, not huge factories — we work with family-owned manufacturers who focus on quality over volume. This naturally limits overproduction.
• Intentionally limited stock — we don’t hold large inventories on purpose. Less overstock means less waste.
• Certified materials — our vegan materials carry Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class I certification, guaranteeing they’re free of harmful substances. Our leathers come exclusively from European suppliers held to strict standards.
• Longevity over disposability — well-made sustainable barefoot shoes that last longer are inherently better for the environment. We back that up with a 2-year warranty and care guides to help you get the most out of your pair.