On October 4, we exhibited at BAREFOOT EXPO 2026 in Soyokaze Hiroba, Sumida Park. Since starting advance sales in September, this was our first event alongside other shoe brands.
At our travelling sales events, we have always valued talking with customers and hearing their feedback. We joined this event so that more people, including those new to NEULO, could try our first model, PathOne.
Trying PathOne at the booth
BAREFOOT EXPO returned for another year, bringing together barefoot shoe and foot care brands. The many visitors at the venue gave us a real sense of the growing expectations for shoes that offer a barefoot feel.
More people visited the NEULO booth than we had expected, so we brought in additional staff during the day. We took time to explain the shoes to each person and help them try PathOne and explore how it felt.
As visitors tried PathOne, we asked for their honest impressions. People of different ages, both men and women, shared how the shoes felt and how they compared with their usual footwear.
Trying PathOne and talking with visitors at the booth
We developed our first model, PathOne, in pursuit of the feeling of walking barefoot on grass. It was a pleasure to hear that people who already wear barefoot shoes, as well as those interested in them, could experience that feeling.
Visitors also shared their impressions of the design.
Many visitors liked the shoes after trying them on and bought a pair at the event.
How PathOne was developed: a talk by NEULO representative Funase
In the early afternoon, Funase spoke about the background to PathOne. Around 20 people joined us as we held up the shoes and explained what prompted their development and the design choices behind their feel.
A talk about the development of PathOne, with the shoes in hand
Among the many shoes available, we wanted to create a pair for long, comfortable walks on city pavements. How could we retain a sense of the ground and freedom for the toes while providing the cushioning and fit needed for walking in the city? We shared these starting points for the design.
Feedback after around a month of wear
Customers who had already bought and been wearing PathOne also stopped by. We heard from people who had been using the shoes for around a month.
Hearing directly from customers after they had worn the shoes in everyday life was a valuable opportunity. Seeing their satisfied expressions also encouraged us to keep making better shoes.
More opportunities to meet in person
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and listened to the development talk. Your comments on the fit and feel gave us valuable pointers for future product development. We will continue attending events and holding sales events, making time for people to try our shoes and talk with us in person.
