Footwear with toe bar

An article of footwear comprising:

• a sole including a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion;
• a closed-toe, open-heel upper having an interior configured to closely receive the forefoot and substantially prevent lateral and forward movement of the forefoot without preventing rearward movement of the forefoot with respect to the forefoot portion, the upper attached to the forefoot portion and defining an interior configured to receive the forefoot of the user;
• an upper lining extending along an interior surface of the upper;
• and
• an oblong toe bar extending upwardly through the interior, the toe bar including a foam core and a toe-bar lining encasing the foam core, wherein a bottom of the lining is affixed to the forefoot portion of the sole and a top of the toe-bar lining is affixed to the upper lining, wherein the toe bar is configured to extend between and engage big and second toes of the user to substantially prevent movement of the forefoot with respect to the forefoot portion of the sole.