Sandals

When shoes are mentioned in the Bible, this generally means sandals. Sandals were made of leather and were fastened at the ankles with straps.
The sole was made of a number of layers of leather fastened together with leather thongs.

People went barefoot when they were indoors. Slaves and people in mourning went barefoot outside.
In a number of stories in the Bible, people have to take off their sandals because they are on holy ground. Examples include Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:5 and Joshua, when he meets the commander of the army of the LORD in Joshua 5:15.

In Ruth 4:7-8 we read that at one time it was the custom, in business deals in Israel, for one sandal to be removed and given to the other party.