I won’t be buying a pair any time soon but I do understand the grounding thing Jst wanted to say well done - this is a good standard on video reviews 👍🏼
Been wearing Vivos for about 6 months, and they have improved the arthritis in my knees hugely. For anybody with this condition, I hope they help you too.
I have a lot of cartilage loss in my knees and I also find that foot strength has been amazingly helpful! I am transitioning to more barefoot time and I would say to anyone with a knee history going into this, yes it does help a ton, but be kind to your knees, at first they may be sore, and don't overdo it! You might not feel it until the next day so be kind!
@@mollyarbor563 I am in the same situation, I am now trying barefoot shoes with correct toes and switch between altra's (zero drop, wide toe, cushioned) and barefoot shoes with correct toes and custom made insoles. It is a tremendous difference for the knees because zero drop changes your posture and foot strenght reduces knee impact. There also is a permanent solution for minimal cartilage loss. It is hydrogels in combination with stemcells that will cure local cartilage loss. This means it does not cure evenly damaged cartilage.
Got my first pair of vivos in December, fast forward to mid April. I have sold most of my regular pairs of shoes and own 3 vivos at the moment. I LOVE THE SHOES! My feet feel stronger, relaxed, and dry.
I’m on my fourth pair of BF shoes. I cannot go back. All of the relief you hear about is real. I have had probably around 20-30 pairs of shoes in the recent year before trying the BFs. Nothing is the same. Trekker 2 are the best boots I own and I am genuinely excited when a day calls for them to be worn. Primus trail fg are my go to for wet weather or non pavement adventures. Lately I’ve been running lots of miles and have turned to me Altra. While not BF they are minimal and zero drop. This shoe switched has been a major shift in my life as an athletic person. I cannot recommend the change to others enough..I now run outdoors at my home with nothing on my feet…and I feel strong and nimble doing it. An amazing change for me.
I've been wearing barefoot shoes inclusively (except for weddings and such) for six years now, and i can't believe how i managed to walk with the shoes i used to have. I was so into how they looked and not very interested in how they felt. Now my feet have changed so much that i dont think i could wear pointed shoes or high heels every day, even if i wanted to. I love the feeling of freedom barefoot shoes give you, you feel more connected and aware of your surroundings. Now even some barefoot models feel too thick and "shoe like" to me. I wish there were more options for everyday wear and for making a fashion statement. That's the only thing i miss from my non-barefoot days.
I made a mistake. Bought my vivos 3 weeks ago. So I walk about 10 miles a day for work, about 50 miles a week on concrete. By day three tha balls of my feet were so tinder I could barely go to the restroom. I had two more days of work and didn’t know if I could make it. Well I didn’t in my vivos. I have had to alternate days between Altra and vivos. But the pain from walking 200 miles a month is getting better everyday. If you walk like I do I suggest you do it a little slower, cause wow the pain was tough.
Don't hesitate to have different insoles in the vivos depending of your activity and tiredness I use thikest insoles on hard surfaces and in winter, and remove the insole on soft ground
I've been wearing barefoot shoes for a few years now and can't think of using anything else. Even started running completely barefoot recently. It's probably not any less injury pronenor any better for performance but there's a certain level of connectedness you get with barefoot running that you can't get any other way.
I had bad plantar fascitis 2 years ago which influenced my shift to barefoot shoes. I took about a month to get myself used to barefoot walking before changing shoes. No more foot issues since then. I'm even getting back to 10k runs again. Definitely not returning to non zero drop shoes. Been using Xero Mesa and Inov 8 Ultra 270 though. Vivos are hard to obtain where I am.
I’ve been wearing BF shoes in some capacity since 2010 (5 fingers), mostly for working out and errands. It was a couple years later that I found Lems and since then I’ve been wearing various Lems and Xero’s 90% of the time. The initial transition was less than fun having a tarsal coalition in one foot but as I wore BF shoes more often the foot pain is nearly gone except in certain situations. I’ve been eyeing Vivo’s for a year or so but haven’t found a style I want to try first. Eventually I’ll get a pair, they appreciate very well made and do have a number of different options. Bottom line….BF shoes have made a huge difference in my foot health and don’t plan to stop now.
I was looking for something that looked more like a traditional shoe. One thing with VFF is you will get strange looks from people wherever you go. A distant secondary reason was all my VFF smelled something awful.
First pair of BF shoes were Vivos and they were very good! I was amazed at how sore my legs got as whole muscle groups that had atrophied from typical shoe use were being exercised back into active use...!
I transitioned to minimalist shoes about a year ago and I will not go back to traditional shoes. Before, I had to deal with regular plantar fasciitis episodes and lower back issues which I have not experienced since I started wearing minimalist shoes. I’m avid Tennis and Racquetball player and I wear Vivo shoes for both. I feel more stability and the only issue I have is sometimes coming hard on my heels. For hiking I also wear Vivobarefoot shoes. I’m still in the process of relearning how to walk with minimalist shoes but it is getting better. I have half flat feet and after months on constant walking with this shoes my feet are developing a natural arch. For work and other daily activities I wear Whitin shoes which are nice and less expensive than the Vivibarefoot ones. By the way I’m 63 so age is not an issue when transitioning to minimalist shoes. I was drastic about it. Once I got my first pair, I stopped wearing traditional shoes. It was a little painful at first but now I’m fine.
Thank You for a well thought out and informative video. I am currently making the transition to barefoot shoes. I found the "work your way into it" strategy best. Just like working out your body needs to adjust. I found running in them less painful due to barefoot forces you to land differently. So I no longer land on my heel. Benefits are fantastic for me.
I've been wearing them since 2020 and my feet have widened and are in much better health, i love that i can spread my toes in them! My usual shoe was converse and vans and i find them really uncomfortable to wear now as they are much tighter on the sides and crunch my toes inwards
Been wearing Vivo for almost a year and they have been life changing. My feet used to be sore and inflamed/swollen all the time, and ever since using strictly Vivo my feet are rested and at peace. My knees did take a bit of adjusting for the first week.
Back in the 80s in South Africa we didn't wear shoes for sport until we started high school. Track and field and rugby was barefoot. The only exceptions were cricket (because of the ball) and netball (which was played on hard concrete). I agree train and do as much daily activities barefoot to strengthen your feet. But the best runners in the world don't run barefoot, Kipchoge, Jornet and Bolt. Although there was one, Zola Budd who competed barefoot. But yeah after race day, put the supershoes away and recover your feet.
I have had no issue with changing to barefoot shoes at 70. Always love feeling the terrain, the cracks in floor and whatever I walked on. I went barefoot at home, loved the $3 white Chinese plimsolls when I found them, and wore the beautifully made now discontinued jcrew biella italian loafers. Hated toes misaligning shoes. My toes have reverted to finger shaped rather than dead grub shape. I started with Merril which I loved, now have heaps of Merrill Vapor glove which are truly comfortable. I have nice arches and always strong pretty feet. I love my vivobarefoot gobi leather boots, joyful for walking. But now in summer am wearing vivobarefoot ballerinas, the Jing Jing in pewter metallic and black which are not so pleasing to walk distance on concrete. I find cushioned shoes horrible, suffocating my body, I like feeling my feet, feeling ground or floor. My body is also flexible. similarly I drive a responsive go fast car which lets me feel the terrain and how the car is driving.
Been having big toe pain issue, made a punt on a pair of primus lites at start of new year. Now I own 3 pairs (lites, Ra, and forest esc boots) they are that game changing. Looking to buy a couple more pairs still! I need a better discount than 10% though at this rate…😅
- The Vivo Magna Forest ESC’s are the best Winter and hiking footwear for me. - Feelgrounds Knit Highrise are the best looking for casual wear, and the most comfortable for walking. - FiveFingers V-Trek are the best for daily running hands down, and also the best for starting barefoot running in my opinion. - Also, my “Skinners 2.0” are slowly becoming the go-to for everything including running as my feet get stronger.
Toe socks are a must have to get proper toe spread. Have been using them since 2019. Xero, freet and vivos. Vivo are nicest but most expensive, and I have worn through the soles of a few pairs of them at the ball of the shoes, so price is definitely an important consideration
@wes7532 Couldn't agree more. I wear mostly Injinji toe socks since they're absolutely the best and most comfortable and I wear Freets because I have wide feet. I can't wear Vivos - they're very narrow. I also think that Freets are more reasonably priced. I tried Lems as well, but they're also too narrow for my feet. I'm still looking for a barefoot dress shoe in my width. There's not much out there.
@@johnatyoutube Dude, Zaqq's, Tomar Creations, and Geo Soles all make some quality dress shoes. Check out their websites. Zaqq's has the largest selection and I own several types from them that I love.
@jbendix1 I just looked at the 3 brands. Unfortunately, only the Zaqqs look like formal business shoes and they don't come in wide widths. It's very challenging to have wide and high volume feet - even in the regular shoe world. Hopefully, as minimalist shoes catch on, more manufacturers will create shoes for different shaped feet. It's cool that the Geas and Tomar do custom shoes, but they're just not formal enough for some occasions.
Great commentary on all the styles. I have been wearing Vivo's from their inception when they were Terra Plana. Still using my first pair because they lightened up my gait, the sole is still intact. I do like my 5 fingers as well. Swapping them around for the conditions is essential. My Asian flat feet now have a functional longitudinal arch and no plantar fasciitis.
I absolutely love VivoBarefoot PRIMUS LITE KNIT!!! The one and only thing that irks me is that since i run in them often on concrete, the bottoms wear out quickly in 1 area. i understand the reasoning behind this and it is what it is. Day to day wearing or working out in them is amazing! Personally, i have not seen any change in my feet, ankles, or knees, but my feet are no longer smashed inside of shoes.
I've been a fan of Vivos since Galahad Clark and his brother launched the shoes back in 2012. Before then they had a brand called Terra Plan made of sustainable materials besides United Nudes which are more in sculptural fashion high end and with heels you can stand on your toes. I'd been in Vivos on fitness, on running, on walking and hiking since then. And to the parties in United Nudes. Love the brands.
Thanks Fergus, i originally found your chanel from the vivo video you did a few years back. Thanks for the honesty. I agree with you i used to do most of my long runs in Altras. I noticed an improvement in my running cadence etc once i started wearing barefoot shoes and yes i did have sore calves when i started, user error: too hard/long too fast. Great advice in this video its what i eventually learnt. And now coming back from almost 2 years of sickness youve reminded me to take it slow. Thanks 😉
I have Ahinsa fall/winter Jaya boots and I can't recommend them strongly enough. Warm, light, flexible, and great in the snow. I used them in the iciest conditions we get in MN and had good luck. We had a couple days of thawing in February and then a re-freeze after a fresh coat of rain. The kind of conditions anyone would recommend avoiding or using spikes if necessary. The roads, paved paths, and trails were all dangerously slick. I slipped once or twice and never fell down. I'm not saying these will make you immune to icy conditions but I'm pretty shocked at how well they performed. I'd imagine it's partly thanks to the material and tread design, partly thanks to not sacrificing flexibility for tread. I think they allowed my feet to do a lot of the work in keeping balanced and stepping carefully.
Vivos are great and barefoot style definately makes sense. Saying that, I will still buy zero drop wide toe shoes with some cushioning for walking on concrete. I am glad for the bare foot craze as now I can buy comfortable shoes that fit all of my fingers.
Here you, not some click bait hunter. Very smart approach. You use the shoe needed for the job to be done. Carbon plated running shoes for road races, Altras and protected shoes for aggressive trail running and technical hiking, Vivos for day to day living, exercise and recovery. Nice one mate. Keep it up !!!
A note; the Altra shoes he mentions using for longer road runs is also a barefoot type brand with natural foot shape, zero drop, and no toe-spring. Their trail runners were my first pair of 'barefoot shoes' about 5 yrs ago as 'everyday' sneakers and road/trail walking. I have 'outgrown' them as my feet changed :~) Last spring I got a pair of the Vivo Forest ESC boots, for yard/property chores and hiking, including mud/snow. I've used them in all those conditions now and loving 'em more every time I use 'em. I recently grabbed a pair of Splay canvas sneakers in a timely sale for an 'everyday', erranding replacement. I think they're a great choice for an inexpensive 'try-it-out', as long as someone doesn't need some cushioning for transition.
I buy from 2 local brands in Chile. Both cost 40-80 dollars while vivo goes 140 - 200 dollars. Basically VIVO has the Apple strategy, overspending on marketing and I+D. And also, sadly, most barefoot shoers are into the category of ambientalists doomers, which makes them pay for sustainability logos that exists only as an excuse to ask for higher margins, just as "not tested on animals" and "cruelty free"products are.
@@erickmoya1401apart from the outsole, my shoes have no plastic in them 🤗 and I have a person who fix it up for me for a reasonable price for 6-7 years... Yea 200€ isn't that much for that
That's not how supply, demand, and volume sales work. If it was Nike that was making them, you would be correct, but it isn't. It's not a huge market. Materials are a small, small part of the cost anyway.
The minimal shoe industry claims they encourage improved/good foot health but, doesn’t make products in half sizes. Seems incongruous to a proper fitted product. What am I missing?
You know I thought this same thing. I wear an 8 1/2 womens shoe so I bought an 8 and a 9 in each barefoot shoe that I tried to see which size fit better. Realized that the arch in my left foot was not exactly in the same place as my right foot. But in barefoot shoes there is no arch so you only need to fit the length of the foot! All my barefoot shoes are size 8 and they fit perfectly.
I suggest ‘Xeroshoes’ for anybody with a tighter budget. They are basically the same but are cheaper so budget friendly. The also have sneakers (casual), trail shoes and hicking for in the mountains (waterproof), and have crosstraining, running, and multiporpose shoes (the prio). They have the same benefits like; wide toe box, flexible soles, zero drop. Have FUN and succes. 🍀 🎉❤
Been barefoot since Nov 21, my plantar fasciitis has gone, shin splints have stopped, Achilles tendon pain gone, calves are not tight anymore, pelvis has re aligned, SI joints have released. Just allowing my lumbar spine to start to react now as my entire body is changing from the ground up. Been having monthly deep tissue massages from 2022 just to help the adjustment process and it’s been helping a lot. I also have toe spacers to try to get the toes realigned more quickly.
2 weeks in with bf shoes, my knee pain when going up stairs has gone and my toes get more flexible by the day. The shoe industry is such a scam, unbelievable.
Super reasonable points. Barefoot shoes are a training tool. Traditional shoes give you short term performance benefits at the expense of long term atrophy. Use the right tool for the situation. Day to day errands? Barefoot. Once in a lifetime hike of Half Dome? Reasonable to choose traditional.
I just never really liked most shoes, this is probably the fix. My toe box is quiet wide and it feels better to not wear shoes. I never wear shoes at home. So i think barefoot shoes will help me be more comfortable when i'm outside and in shoes for long periods of time.
I have just started a 30 day barefoot challenge and switched all my shoes for VivoBarefoots, but have been using minimalist shoes more and more or walking barefoot around the house as much as possible before switchin. I've got the Knits, one pair of walking boots and the soul of africa shoes. And safe to say I've already noticed some benefits. I really appreciate your intake after wearing them for 3 years, and having a very neutral opinion on them.
I bought a pair of the tracker forest ESC boots a couple of years ago, the comfiest walking / hiking boots I've owned, cannot fault them. I generally walk about barefoot most days, even in the garden on warmer days, I even noticed my toes had naturally spread out a little more during 2020 where I barely wore footwear at all 🤣 will deffo consider getting a gym shoe too 👌🏻
I’ve been wearing Vivobarefoot shoes since 2010 and reviewed them for 4 years between ‘13 and ‘17. I rarely wear anything else. There’s only really one occasion when I’ll wear something else - and that’s when I need guaranteed waterproofing in hours of torrential rain in the Lake District and the ability to put micro spikes on. I’ve accrued 28 pairs and they fit every discipline from lifestyle to running to the gym, or hiking. I could never, ever go back to wearing conventional shoes. My feet are stronger and my ankles are stronger - as are my ligaments, connective tissues and muscles. Then there’s the proprioception you get, which is the main thing I couldn’t do without. Would I recommend them? Yes, every single time. People just need to understand there is a transition period where things need to strengthen while you adapt to them - I know a lot of people give up too early because they’re used to a big cushion.
@@nobitaadidas they vary. None fall apart quickly, but there are some which really seem to last a long time. It’s usually the sole that wears down, while the upper still looks great - I suppose that’s the same for most shoes! In the past they had some issues with gluing around the sole/upper and it would start to separate around the flex point. Now, I rarely see it mentioned. They offer a 100 day return policy (when purchased direct) and you can buy refurbished models through Revivo for a decent chunk off, so it’s worth a shot.
I think one of the most important things that so many proponents of minimal footwear gloss over is zero drop vs minimalist footwear. If you're trying to help guide people to get more in touch with natural movement, you should suggest zero drop shoes first. Personally I think that most health benefits from barefoot shoes are posture related. If someone is really searching for a solution to back or joint pain, then a more natural posture can really assist with that. However, those people won't have the muscles built up in their feet to really benefit from something like vivos. Instead, they'll be in even more pain. I would like to see more people guiding newbies to Altra. I believe all of their shoes are 0 drop. However, they offer cushion and support in their shoes that people would still need during transition. Heck, maybe Altras would be all they need if it's just a posture issue they're looking to solve. Obviously, building stronger feet, better balance, and more range of motion in your feet is great as well, but that takes time. I've been wearing minimalist shoes with relative frequency since I was 17 or 18, and I'm 29 now. Currently, I wear minimalist/0 drop shoes nearly 100% of the time. I only wear 0 drops at my job because steel toes are required. Other exceptions are due to needing something nicer for special occasions. So, I'm coming from a place of experience. I love hearing people talk about minimalist footwear and natural motion. I just think we should also hype up zero drop focused companies as well
I've been wearing vans and they're the most comfortable shoes i've ever worn. I'm convinced 90% of that reason is because they're zero drop shoes. Vans are a good mainstream starting point but they don't have a wide toe box which is one of the reasons I'm looking into barefoot right now.
@@AranelEruvyreth that's awesome! If you're looking to go with a barefoot shoe with a vans look, there are some options out there. I think Xero released a slide that has a bit of a vans look this year. Splay athletics also have a bit more of a casual look to the, as well. I will say, make sure you're going easy with barefoot shoes starting out. These shoes only have a few millimeters of rubber, and they're very flexible, so your feet will be working a lot. Don't overdo it when you start out. My personal close toed shoe of choice right now is the Merrell Vapor Glove 5. It's a great shoe at a great price. It doesn't have the ultra casual look though. In the sandal department, I'm rocking Earthrunners. They've been a dream, but they require a bit of effort to get them fitting right.
@@jaysonmoore5166 So I'm actually someone who wears sk8 highs cause i need more ankle stability so i was looking into barefoots with more support. The ones im eyeing right now are the Vivo Decon Tracker FG2's. They're made with leather and wool uppers which has been confirmed by Rose Anvil and I like that about them too. I need something with a bit of body like that for work. Do you have any thoughts on the Vivos? I'll definitely check out your recs too.
@@AranelEruvyreth those Vivos look really nice. I've considered nabbing then off and on, but I'm not too frequently in need of boots where I live. I think Vivo sounds like an excellent company, bit I've never had the opportunity to try on their shoes. I think there a solid choice though. I personally think the ankle support offered by most midcut footwear is more of a placebo than an actual solid support. Some people really just like that secure feeling though, and I get that Also, Lems has a new boot that Rose Anvil did a video on. Those sound pretty nice as well. They may have a 4mm drop though
Could you tell me zero drop steel toe brand you are wearing please? I also have to wear steel toed shoes at work and find the selection quite limited in that department.
Altra is probably the best shoe for running if you want to combine performance, zero drop and wide toe-box. Vanish Carbon and Escalante Racer are excellent options. Barefoot shoes like Vivo and Xero are my go-to for basically everything else.
Altra has been narrowing their toe box over the past few years, so they no longer work for those of us with truly wide feet. I'm a female with 2E width. and the men's Altra Cayd was my daily shoe for almost 3 years....until it started pinching my little toes and causing metatarsal pain. I went to buy new Altras, only to find they're too narrow and now have "orthotics" (i.e. arch support, pronation stabilization bars, etc.) that mash my feet into unnatural positions and cause pain. Lots of online discussions mention how Altra have narrowed their toe box, and even the Altra website shows the "Original" foot shape versus "Standard" and "Slim." Many of their shoes are now "Standard" width, and even the Original width is too narrow for me.
I bought some Vivo Primus Lites a month or so ago… it coincided with an increase in mileage in my running as I’m training for the London marathon. I wore the Vivo’s when I wasn’t running and a combo of Asics for road & Salomon for trails. I over did the mileage increase. I’ve since suffered with what I suspect is Achilles tendinitis / plantar fasciitis… this means I now struggle to comfortably wear the Vivo’s as my heels are very sore especially in the mornings. In this case I think I transitioned too fast to barefoot & ran too far (was clocking 100k weeks from 60-70k)… just something to be aware of so you don’t do the same ✌️
I have the Hykes Pinnacle and love them, best shoes I've ever owned and I will never go back to restricted regular shoes. After only a couple months my feet feel so much stronger.
Thank you. I am experiencing crippling pain from Plantar fasciitis and I read about barefoot shoes. Like you, I have seen the comments from the 2 camps and I was so confused. Thanks to your clear and honest explanation, I have decided to buy a pair of VivoBarefoot to try. In fact I have been looking at their website before I saw your video. I am going to get the Primus Lite IV All Weather. I think this may be a good first pair to try out barefoot shoes. I am hoping the pain will go soon. I am doing exercise to release the fascia and to stretch my calf muscles, also toe spreading exercise etc to strengthen my feet. And with wearing barefoot shoes hopefully I will have better overall foot health, better balance and healthier feet. Thank you.
I use a combination of Merrel Vaporglove and various Altra shoes and boots as well vivo shoes but I have to say my favourite by far are my Vivobarefoot Tracker FG, hiking and daily use in them is great. If I go back to 'normal' shoes for any reason my feet object.
Great video. I may train in barefoot shoes but I race trails in the best shoe for the terrain. I raced a 9 mile race in barefoot shoes all to find out 6 miles was on sharp gravel-no fun but no damage took 1st in age group
Started running around 40 with shoes to compensate for over pronating. Switched to VFF's 10 years later and have improved my PR's on every distance, even being 10+ years older. Had to get used to the ground feel, now I love it.
Probably my love of walking in socks at home prepared my feet for such shoes as I haven't noticed much discomfort when I change my working snickers into barefoot shoes. Now after a few months of using them I've bought winter barefoot shoes... It's a bit more intense of a change and I feel it in my calves 😅
Yeah, walking in socks or barefoot definitely helps. The transitioning period is necessary for most people who have been wearing rigid narrow toe box shoes for many years. Similarly to you, I was wearing Vibram Furoshiki at home for years before trying Vivobarefoot. There was a slight transition period in form of pain in my calves and buttocks after walking for 10 or more km, but apart from that no other issues. My stability, foot and leg strength have improved. No more back pain. I cannot and will not wear any other shoes again.
1.5 years ago I bought a pair of XERO brand shoes and began rotating them into my work footwear. I work on my feet. It was odd feeling the floor like I did. But over the course of a couple of months I found myself wearing them more and more until I wore them every day to work. Then about a year later I bought a new pair for work and a pair for outside of work. Just this morning I ordered a pair of Vivo fg2 hiking boots and I can't wait for them to arrive! I'm so excited to have a wet weather/cold weather hiking style boot. I still occasionally wear "normal shoes and boots" when necessary or appropriate. But, for me, with wide flat feet, my feet have never felt better day to day. My lower back is much improved too.
VERY GOOD: about transitioning slowly!! that 8 ml drop will make the insertion achilles tendon and middle achilles work alot harder. definitely will cause injury if not dont progressively like physical therapy
Been a Vivo wearer for 6+ years. Great shoes and generally last me for 2 years or more. Never had issues with breaking in my foot when getting away from main stream footwear but decades worth of sports activities and gym time have given me strong feet and ankles. Great video here and well sorted. Expensive footwear yup they are but worth every penny for what they do.
I am of both camps as well but I do lean a little heavy to minimalism shoes. As for Boots I wear 1 of four options: Bellview Min Mil Boots for all year around in and out of uniform, Dewalt Plasma boots for safety toes (stiff but still zero drop and wider toe box), or a Japanese Safety boot that are even more barefoot but still safety toes, and uppon occasion traditional double leather soled moccasin. All but the dewalts have slight ankle support but are in general very soft boots.
My first pair were some primus shoes that I got solely for the purpose of rolling them up and putting them in a bag when I cycle around since I wear cycling shoes/cleats, and they were so comfy that I wound up getting a few other styles that have all been really good shoes. I'm someone who tends to be a forefoot walker even with conventional shoes so there wasn't much of a transition period for me. It definitely makes going back to conventional a noticeable difference when it comes to your toes getting squished.
I loved Altras and wore them for a few years. Unfortunately, they have gone with the latest trend in building shoes with stack height of at least 22mm. So Altras are not technically a minimalist shoe. But they still have the zeroo drop.
I spend most of my days in vivos so when im off work im fine and then when i have to use my work boots i end up getting chronic foot pain, these shoes then help to relax my feet over the weekend. Its amazing how many people shit on these types of shoes but my balance has improved so much, to be fair i don't think they're great on concrete but hiking they are fantasitic. I genuinely think it's good for some and not for others its really down to the individuals build and preference. It's so 50/50 with people but i think in general the consensus seems to be people with wide feet prefer flat shoes
I just bought my first pair of Vivo bare foot shoes , trail light all weather shoes. I wore them for the first time at work No running yet, just waking around the the building . Then I change back to my regular shoes after work.
Just ordered a pair of the Primus Lite IVs. I try and go barefoot as much as I can around the house and in the garden. Looking forward to getting shoes that will let me do the same. I've got walking boots on right now and my little toes are so squashed and misshapen from years of shoes that are too thin.
I started running in my cloud shoes at about 220 lbs and now I’m running in vivo’s at 180 lbs. My cadence was shit and I assumed I was overstriding. On my first run in my vivos I quickly realized I was right so I laughed around 9:30 when you mentioned exactly that.
I've only ever worn Vans, because i can and i hate joggers. And moving over to Vivo felt no different apart from them being more flexible and thinner. I did love the bigger toe box so I'm not so squashed. But i love them!!
I have a really physical job working with small kids and bending down, being on my feet all day, running around during play... Vivos definitely helped me with back pain. I am more likely to ache around my ankles but for me it feels like feedback that I need to rest or slow down... Rather than the scary thing that back injury can be.
Living on an island, we always wore thin slippers or go barefoot. The only time I started getting leg pains was when I moved off the islands to the US and was told by non islanders that lots of support and arches in shoes were scientifically better and was the only thing I should do.
I also do long distance running in Altras :). Ran my first marathon in them and I totally love them. I don't think I'll ever buy running shoes from another brand. For my everyday usage, I'm wearing Xero Shoes and they're fine as well. Need to give Vivo's a try as well.
Thank you, very useful video. Ive been hearing these being advertised for the last few months and didn't get it. I am hooked on supportive cushioned shoes. But i understand more now after watching this video and am considering buying my first pair and building up the use of them gradually.
One question about boots, specifically winter boots - as temperature drops to -15C or even lower where I live and we get quite a bit of snow normally thicker sole provides protection from the cold. You can get warmer insoles but they always quickly get flat and useless in terms of fighting the cold. As I've seen the soles are very thin even in boots. The question is - what option can one have in terms of protection from the cold from the ground with ANY barefoot shows?
I have kids, and never did I think that buying their first shoes will take me weeks of research. Yes my both daughters wear only barefoot style shoes. I am considering for a while switching as I walk barefoot home all the time. Although I wear wellies a lot so I don't think barefoot wellies for adults exists lol would be very hard to dig in them. I am waiting for barefoot and grounding shoes! That would be double whammy 🥰😂
I have used vivos and xeros for over three years and I love them. My feet are much stronger and finally pain-free. I started slow and I still add the thin insoles when hiking more than 4 miles on hard surfaces. Incidentally, I’ve also found $15 water shoes that do the exact same thing as the brand name.
My first pair of BFS (for running) are Merrell Trail Glove 6's. There's a bit of arch support built in that I hope will help the transition to BFS without too much trouble, but we'll see. Definitely looking at Vivo's for more casual wear, as I dig the style of some of their shoes.
@@mr.keating4743 I LOVE them. I didn’t ever have foot pain in cushioned shoes, it these just feel better. They have my endorsement as a random man on RU-vid 😂😂
Thank you for the information. I really enjoy this kind of explanation. Unfortunately, Vivos are very expensive here in Germany. I spoke to a shop owner who is closing his Vivo shop at the end of the month. He explained that due to Brexit, it has become very difficult to obtain the shoes at the right price range. As a result, people are opting for other brands.
I got started with xero shoes with sandals and now 4 years on it is the main shoe brand I wear with men's in the wider width. I have tried other "normal" sneakers, formal and hiking and still prefer xeros or zero drop all the time. With a sports and dance background (in shoes with no structure shoes, required feet flexibility) and have high arches. I would encourage others to try just barefoot in house, or walking outside if possible and to strength feet if not used to no support. It might not benefit those how have flat feet (mainly) as I know many need more support and can be added to feet health. I hope this helps and is food for thought and some might just try even for a bit instead of just going to buy shoes. If it works for you great then if not that that's ok. Agree with the science of heels and feet being strengthened as well as having a better cadence especially when landing more on the midfoot or forefoot. Those with flat feet can strengthen their arches but it all comes to all decisions. Just transition more slowly especially when running and walking as its not only how you walk but you also use different muscles and the impact can affect muscles you didn't even realize you have. It takes training and being more intune to your body when i excerising as well as cues that were dulled before with stared hard "standard" sneakers or running shoes. Ps. Sry for long reply
Enjoyed the video but you didn't really go into the studies. I'm curious to hear the science against wearing BF shoes as you mentioned it existed to the point of balancing out the positive science behind it. The links below are overall positive on BF shoes.
Great video, most informative one I've seen. One question - what about slippers in the house? It's cold here and I want to protect my feet cooking & carrying kids on stairs etc currently wear Crocs which have good toe box but some drop. Any thoughts?
Lol, I'm one of the five-finger wearers referenced in the video. I've been wearing them since 2010, pretty heavily. Using them led me to both VivoBarefoot and Altra. Now, my "office shoes" are the Ra from VivoBarefoot in 3 different colors. I refuse to put my feet into a "normal" dress shoe anymore after finding the Ra. I've primarily switched to Altra for my long runs now. I'm just not a fan of the beating my body takes on concrete when running in barefoot shoes, but I still run the FiveFingers from time to time just to keep my cadence, stride, and gait in check.
Been wearing Vivo’s for at least 3 years now and love em! The only shoes I wear that are not “barefoot” are my many pairs of climbing shoes. Someone needs to make a decent set of those! Having been a barefoot boy, barefoot hiker as a man, and barefoot fireside foot toaster off and on all my life it wasn’t really a big adjustment. I’ll never go back to unnatural footwear for daily use.
I tried the primus lite knit - I guess they are not designed for walking. I did about 3-4 miles on them and they tore up the top of my foot. I have used min shoes for about 3 years now so my feet are used to it. I returned them, might be fine for working out but not for long distance walks.
I grew up from age 4 in gymnastics and needed feet that felt the floor. I naturally didn't wear shoes and often was barefoot when I could. I didn't think drop-zero shoes and found shoes that made me taller (short as a young gymanast). I moved more into weight training for overall muscular hypertrophy (I was beat up at age 16 and wanted a lot more lean muscle mass--legs in particular) and got into deadlifting and heavy squats. Guys often took their shoes off and did this in socks or barefoot. They said what you said here--about stability and foot gripping the floor. I was natural in socks. I later found Altra running shoes and landed on those. I hit a growth spurt at age 17 and got 5'9" tall and 178 pounds. I became an abdominal athlete doing a variety of abdominal challenges and always did those with shoes and shirt. When I gained a lot of lean muscle I felt less worried about my height and looked for shoes that had the wide toe box. I'll check into your brand of shoes.
Barefoot shoes are fantastic. Side note I'm thrilled vivo offers a size 15 for me. Barefoot shoes have reduced my back pain by 75% or so. I'm really happy to have tried them out.
On the flipside I'm glad they offer womens size 5-6. It can be a harder size to find especially in a less common shoe style. I think most of the barefoot brands do a solid job of covering the spectrum
When I'm not at work, I am predominately barefoot unless I have to go out to dinner or something. Would like to get a pair for work as I don't enjoy wearing shoes, but it is a requirement for work.
Don't even know why I clicked, I've been a barefoot shoe convert for a year now. I didn't even know they existed until I came across a random thread discussing 'minimalist shoes'. But they sounded great for the gym since I'm always taking my shoes off for squats and deadlifts (an old tip from PT because I kept complaining about my ankles wobbling in sneakers). Also, as an amature kickboxer, most of my non-gym training is done barefoot to protect the floor mats in the kickboxing studio. They seemed like a good option to try with my fitness routine. accustomed subtly
Barefoot shoes tought me how to adjust my gait while running. And after relearning how to run i can now run properly in just about any shoe! Switching up depending on the surface.
After 2 years in them, I wouldn't go back, but they took a good 6 months to be comfortable with - and even now, if I have to spend a day trudging unforgiving pavements I'd choose something with a bit of give in the heel. Take it gradually, especially if you're on hard paving regularly. But my feet and calves are far stronger now than they've been for years, and when I run, or even jog, my heels don't touch the ground. And I'm in my late 60's, so if they work for me....
Love my vivos, also have a pair of Saguaro that were my first BF shoes and prepared me in a cheaper way to transition. The hardest thing is having to wear regular shoes/trainers
