Dr. Stephen Steller, Founder of Barefoot Sandal
All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome Dr. Stephen Steller, chiropractor and creator of the BareFoot Sandal, as a guest to the show.
In this conversation, Dr. Steller joins Lance to discuss the story behind BareFoot Sandal, how more than 25 years as a chiropractor influenced its development, and why rethinking traditional footwear may help people feel more stable, connected, and confident.
The idea for BareFoot Sandal began with a personal problem. After years of spending long days on his feet caring for patients while staying active with his wife and four children, Dr. Steller developed persistent foot pain and plantar fasciitis.
As a chiropractor, he understood the importance of support and alignment, but he also preferred the freedom of walking barefoot. When he could not find footwear that combined those experiences, he began developing his own solution.
Unlike a traditional sandal, slide, or flip-flop, the patented BareFoot Sandal supports the midfoot while leaving the toes and heel in contact with the ground.
Dr. Steller explains how three specialized arches beneath the midfoot are designed to provide support while allowing the toes and heel to move naturally and maintain contact with the walking surface.
Lance and Dr. Steller also explore why the sandal’s heel-less design is different from conventional footwear. Because there is no traditional sole extending beyond the front of the toes, the design eliminates the projecting front edge that can catch against flooring, thresholds, rugs, or changes in surface height.
The conversation also examines traction. BareFoot Sandal is made from flexible, non-toxic thermoplastic rubber designed to flex under pressure and increase contact with the surface beneath the wearer. It is intended to provide traction on both wet and dry surfaces, including bathrooms, showers, pool areas, spas, docks, gyms, smooth indoor flooring, and other everyday settings.
For older adults, caregivers, and families focused on aging in place, mobility is about more than getting from one room to another. Confidence while walking, ground awareness, traction, ease of use, and natural movement can all influence how comfortable someone feels remaining active and independent.
Lance and Dr. Steller discuss how BareFoot Sandal approaches support differently by concentrating it beneath the midfoot rather than placing the entire foot on a conventional sole. The goal is to support the foot while preserving a barefoot-like sense of ground awareness and natural movement.
Dr. Steller also shares how users can select the appropriate size, become accustomed to the unique design, and his long-term vision for BareFoot Sandal.
At its heart, the BareFoot Sandal story is about turning a personal challenge into a new approach to support, traction, movement, and everyday confidence.
Step Secure. Live Endless.
About Dr. Stephen Steller:
Dr. Stephen Steller is a chiropractor with more than 25 years of experience working with the human body, movement, alignment, and musculoskeletal health.
After years of long days caring for patients and maintaining an active lifestyle with his family, Dr. Steller began experiencing foot pain and plantar fasciitis. His search for a way to combine support with the natural feel of walking barefoot led him to develop an orthotic design featuring three specialized arches beneath the midfoot while keeping the toes and heel connected to the ground.
After incorporating the design into his own routine and experiencing significant improvement in his discomfort, he continued developing the concept, eventually creating the patented BareFoot Sandal and a version designed to provide added traction for wet environments.
About BareFoot Sandal:
BareFoot Sandal is a patented, slip-resistant orthotic sandal designed to support the midfoot while keeping the toes and heel in contact with the ground.
Its three-arch design is intended to support foot and ankle alignment while allowing natural movement and ground awareness. Its heel-less, toe-exposed design eliminates the traditional sole projecting beyond the toes, while its flexible thermoplastic rubber construction is designed to provide traction on wet and dry surfaces.
BareFoot Sandal was created for people seeking a unique combination of support, natural movement, traction, ground awareness, and ease of use at home, near water, at the gym, during recovery, and in everyday life.