Flux Footwear (Code: "SHERVIN"): flux.rfrl.co/yqxgx Vivobarefoot Discount Code (10% Off): "SHERVIN10" tidd.ly/3aCRQbP ** Watch More Videos ** I Wore 23 Barefoot Shoes... This One's Best: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GrC8YQh9_7Q.html I Bought 16 Vivobarefoot Shoes (so you don't have to): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UmmTH2BEC4M.html 1,000 Days in Barefoot Shoes. It Changed My Life: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q6TFVRskT5c.html
My dude, the most important part is to have a shoe with a natural foot shape. The amazon one, while ticking other boxes, DOES NOT have a natural foot shape. You can see it when you compare both of the shoes from the bottom the one from Amazon is not going straight where you have the big toe part but it's actually curving inwards.
@@thaboseane502 Their modern warped use is for aesthetics but that's not why they were designed. Pointed shoes were designed for riding horses. High heels were designed to keep people out of the street muck. Corsets were designed for support and don't mangle or constrict (especially if they're made and fitted correctly). The tiny waists that people associate with corsets are made with padding and over exaggerated image manipulation.
It’s also cheaper to make shoes narrower and most ppl think you need arch support. But if you ask an engineer, arches are stronger with force being applied to the top forcing downward, if you apply force to the bottom forcing upwards, the arch fails.
@@lisaphares2286 That's so interesting 🤔 thanks so much, I love that I learned something new today.. I have a bunch of arch insoles that I thought were helping and now see they might not be
I think it started because of horses riding pointed toes make going in and out of the stirrups easier. And than it became a goofy fashion thing. Don’t quote me on it I’m not sure but I think that’s how it started. Doesn’t make any las stupid though. Lol 😂
I went completely barefoot for 8 months. No, I didnt work at the time. Long story. But the point is this: My balance imroved, my feet loosened up, back and knee pain were negligible. The minute I had to wear boots again knees, feet and back hurt again.
I recently started using the five fingers and people have openly mocked me, it’s fun, I’m out there walking super comfortable and that’s all that matters
I recently started wearing the fivefingers and I've had the opposite response - at least those who speak up with a comment. Plenty stare and don't say anything. I absolutely love them regardless.
@@snorrevonflake They seemed like a ridiculous option to me before I tried them. Now, surprisingly, I can confidently say they're the best shoes I've ever owned. 🤷🏼
Screw all those people! I've been wearing five fingers for 15 years now, love em! People may say things and i just tell them that I like them and fortunately their opinion doesn't matter, lol!! They shut up pretty quick!
Bought my first pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes in August 2021 and now I have a total of 4 pairs (for different occasions). For 30+ years I had flat feet and no natural arch in my foot, since wearing barefoot shoes I have developed an arch, my posture has improved and my feet feel so much better.
Hey Shervin, no I haven’t shared this with any foot doctor. It was only when I went to the Vivo Barefoot store in London (was in there for over an hour), that I’d learnt about the importance of space around the toe box and that I’d been wearing the wrong size for years 😊.
Ive developed plantar fascitis and patella tendinitis wearing plenty of shoes with arch support and custom orthotics. Dealing with with this for years, I'm not overusing my legs, I can't even run anymore. I just got a pair of vivos, they fit really well and I hope they can help some issues go away.
For two years I have suffered with increasingly severe, debilitating pain from plantar fasciitis. It's only been a few weeks since I started going barefoot and wearing barefoot shoes when I go out, and the difference is night and day. I used to be in such pain when I woke up that I would have to roll and massage my feet for 5 minutes each just to be able to walk. I was temporarily immobilized. It was embarrassing to gasp in pain when I was with friends. But by going exclusively barefoot and wearing minimalist shoes when I go out, I have reversed two years of foot trauma. The conventional wisdom of physical therapists told me to buy shoe inserts to support my feet, but they only ended up making the problem worse. The exercises worked, but the orthopedic inserts counteracted any good it did. What I'm saying is that strengthening and stretching my feet has put me on a surprisingly fast path to healing. Praise God!! ❤🙏🙌❤
Foot inserts should be moldes for the feet. I have fallen arches and these made my pain hardly there. But as I kids I’d be barefoot like 90% of the time. Now going barefoot hurts more.
The more I've been looking into getting barefoot shoes, the more I realize I already use something kind of similar. I used to skateboard a lot in my teens, and for the most part I've worn skate shoes ever since. They tend to have no height difference from heel to toe, are wider in the toes, and they're relatively thin and flexible so you can feel the board better underneath you (depending of course on which ones you get, but I'd say the majority and the ones I get especially are like that). They do give a bit more cushion for impacts than I believe a barefoot shoe would of course, but they seem to be a good middle ground from what I can gather, and might even be the better option for certain people from a budget angle and a transition point.
@gandito4058 I've gotten nike sb's the last couple of times. Really any will do, though. Nike, Lakai, Vans, Adidas, etc... all make good ones. I would try to feel them out in store, and sometimes they can be stiff at first, but when I skated, we always bent them in every direction for a while to get them to loosen up.
I was literally having this same thought recently when looking into barefoot shoes. My skate shoes have all the qualities you mention but still give you that extra inch when standing too 😂
@Ghostvix That's definitely an issue you can run into, which is why I'd recommend trying them on first. I've usually noticed there is more room than running shoes, though, where my toes are always squished.
My understanding is Vibram settled the lawsuit (without accepting any fault) because they didn't have the scientific evidence to back up the claims they were making, that doesn't automatically mean that those claims were false. Very few minimalist shoes studies existed at the time. The people bringing the lawsuit also had no proof that the claims were false, just that they had no scientific merit behind them. The previous CEO of Vibram, who had left before the lawsuit was filed, said he wouldn't have settled, he would have fought it.
I love vibram five fingers, l bet Nike caused the lawsuit to stop the moment. They have make running fun , it’s great having full flexibility off the foot 🦶🏻.
They made claims and then when challenged admitted they had no evidence to back up those claims. That effectively makes the claims false. The company lied.
@@loganmedia1142 Yet those " false claims ", as of 2023, are now backed up by studies, researchers, coaches, physiotherapitsts and athletes hahaha. You cannot conclude that something is false or true just because there is a lack of scientific evidence, you can't conclude anything by definition. That was the point of the original post and it seems you didn't catch it. it takes time and ressources to do science Another exemple. Until very recently, there was no rigid scientific evidence for the benefits of fasting. Yet for thousands of years, fasting was already part of many cultures and communities. People somehow had an instinct about its benefits, benefits that were very true & practical even though there was no studies (as we know of them today) backing up fasting
@@loganmedia1142 These were the claims Vibram made in their ads 1. Strengthens muscles in feet and lower legs. 2. Improves range of motion in ankles, feet, and toes. 3. Stimulates neural function. Important to balance and agility. 4. Eliminates heel lift to align the spine and improve posture. 5. Allows the foot and body to move naturally, which just feels good. So you're saying that because Vibram didn't have scientific evidence to back up these claims, that means every one of those claims must therefore be false. Seriously?
There's definitely a health benefit in wearing the footwear that is most comfortable to you. I was yelled at a ton as a kid for walking outside without shoes on, so I naturally enjoy barefoot shoes, minimalist sandals, five fingers for walking, hiking, working out. But you really have to ease into minimalist footwear if you aren't used to walking without support. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR GAIT and that is an uncomfortable process for many people. You have to build up the muscles that you weren't using, and people tend to fatigue during this process and just slam their foot into the ground when fatigued. This can easily cause ligament strain and shin splints.
@@loganmedia1142 if I tried to walk barefoot for like 1/3 of year here I wouldn't need any shoes at all. Or even toe clippers XD And for the rest people are throwing shit on the ground so still probably not good idea
I think the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you're in pain even if you've followed all the "right steps" in transitioning into barefoot shoes, then maybe don't force it!
Not nessecarily. The pain is caused by rebuilding the stuff your shoes did into your feet. Of course severe pain is a different story. Reshaping a bodypart is always painful, if it's done over a short timespan.
Barefoot shoes cured my cancer!! [I'm kidding, of course, but it IS related!] I had neuropathy following chemotherapy twelve years ago. The pain and tingling when walking was annoying at best. I switched to barefoot-style shoes (Vibram Fivefingers in my case), and my feet felt MUCH better almost immediately. I've been wearing barefoot-style shoes ever since. Thanks so much for the informative video!!
I sprained my midfoot somewhere around 2016 and had pain every now and then for years after. I spent about a year transitioning to barefoot shoes and haven't had pain from walking too much on it in over a year. Anecdotally, I'd say barefoot shoes for the win
I had a crippling mid foot injury, low back pain, bad knees, against all advise by podiatrists and consultants I went down the bare foot / shoe, and correct toes route, absolutely extraordinary results , within a matter of weeks the pain subsided after years of suffering, within a year all pain gone, absolutely adore vivos !
I’ve been wearing my creepy toe shoes (vibram 5 fingers) for a decade now! I love ‘em. I feel awesome and am never going back. For reference, I’m 48, CrossFitter, yoga practitioner, and generally feel awesome most of the time. Longest run in vibrams: 10 miles. Longest hike in vibrams: 50 miles in mountain terrain.
The default state for humans is barefoot. The burden of proof is on shoe advocates to explain why footwear is superior. The science of cushioning, heel drop, etc, is lacking.
I can’t remember barefoot shoe manufacturers claiming they’ll reverse your back problems. You need to figure out why you have back issues then go from there.
The only thing I regret about minimal footwear (Merrell VG in my case) is that they did not exist 30 years ago and that I was completely in the dark anyway about the barefoot/ minimal concept. It's worked out for me great both for running and leisure. I only (very reluctantly) put on safety shoes in my shop, and then only when the work requires it.
@@RedHanded1969 I am especially talking about running and sports in general. I live in Holland, climate and the culture I was brought up in always prescribed sturdy, quality shoes. Anything with little to no support was considered bad. Back in the day when I was running competitively (30+ years ago) no one wore anything 'minimal' except for track spikes as I remember.
@@_munkykok_ they could exist, but I was freshly born, it's not like kids have too big influence on what they wear, eat etc. Like my friend say: "we suffer from knowledge of what our parents screwed up and hope we won't for our kids"
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There is a whole difference that should be made between "unsubstantiated claims" and "wrong claims". Vibram settled the class action because they were a bit reckless in their claims while they have no actual proof to defend them. Nothing says these claims were right or wrong. Now, if you think about the biomechanics of feet and legs, what they say makes a lot of sense : having shoes compressing the toes distorts feet over time (just look at the feet of women in their 50's who have worn "sexy" shoes for most of their life… nothing sexy to look at after a couple of decades) and it's just common sense that reducing foot surface reduces stability. Then, thick soles only dampen "wrong" (brutal) foot strokes and surely makes leg muscles lazy while letting people take wrong habits. Human have evolved to be moving mechanics, and it turns out that most technologies allowing human to avoid effort and reduce motion are actually detrimental to our well-being because… we just need to activate those muscles to be well, since a lot of biochemical reactions depend on juices flowing. Motion is life and muscles are the way to move. Vibram marketing and their lack of scientific background doesn't mean they are wrong, they are most likely too forward and should probably invest more in research and less in advertising.
The arch support… the bane of every shoe I ever had…. Arch support kills my feet. My arches are in weird places for my foot size and so every shoe hits it at the wrong place and it ends up hurting me so bad! It even dislocated a bone in my foot! (No BS-ing about that one!)
Great video. I enjoy listening to people who also like minimalist shoes. Good content and good information. I've been wearing Vibrams since 2013 and I absolutely love them. I would wear them every day when I took my walks, which were anywhere between 4 and 12 miles a day. Of course I had to transition into them properly, which I did on a treadmill in my Ohio basement. The rest of the time I had to wear shoes appropriate for an office environment, or NB sneakers, which were recommended by my FIL who was a podiatrist. He used to be totally against minimalist shoes, but after examining my feet after the first year, he started to understand the benefits. I now live in Florida and since Covid made everyone homebodies, I've been working from home and really have very little need to wear actual shoes at all. When I do go out anywhere, I wear my Vibrams. So basically for the past 3+ years, I've worn either Vibrams or went barefoot almost exclusively. My feet are definitely stronger and much wider than before. I don't ever want to go back to "traditional" shoes.
I miss the days of shoe stores with proper foot measuring tools and a selection of shoe sizes to fit my feet. I might need some of these barefoot shoes.
The ankle mobility increase from using zero drop shoes isn't has much coming from the strengthening of the tibialis anterior (front shin muscles), it is more coming from the fact that your gastrocnemius and soleus aren't being constantly shortened throughout the whole day in that heel lifted position, therefore, decreasing their flexibility and decreasing the amount of dorsiflexion you would normally be able to get.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🧐 Barefoot shoes claimed to have health benefits, but are they as good as advertised? 01:27 🦶 Wide toe box in barefoot shoes benefits foot strength, balance, and posture. 02:53 🏃 Zero drop heels in barefoot shoes promote natural posture, ankle mobility, and reduced strain. 04:21 🦶 Arch support vs. no arch support in barefoot shoes, impact on foot strength and injury prevention. 07:13 👣 Thin, flexible sole in barefoot shoes enhances ground feel, sensory feedback, and natural movement. 10:10 🤔 Science isn't definitive on barefoot shoes, critical thinking and personal preference play a role. Made with HARPA AI
I've fully transitioned over the past year to zero drop shoes. I wear Altra's, Lem's and Birkenstocks QS 700 steel toed boots. I do have a couple of Witten shoes too.
I have been wearing a pair of these for a year now to walk. I work remotely and don't put on shoes around the house. When I go out, many times I wear my barefoot shoes. The pain in my knees is significantly less with them. And I find that I walk like I did as a kid in them. Not sure how to describe it, but it feels natural.
I loved my barefoot shoes. I started them into my run rotation on the shorter runs, and then slowly but surely into the longer runs (5k+). I ended up using them for most runs within a few months. I backed off initially during the transition due to over use pain in my feet. While I have good arches, I don't think my feet were ready without any support. Once I got over that I really enjoyed them. It was weird having your toes separate on uneven terrain at first. Once they got stronger though it was very noticeable for stability and mobility as a whole. I will be getting another pair.
The point you make at 10:48 is how I feel too for the most part. I also have wide feet and I think situationally the barefoot shoes tend to be better. I have a pair of Tolos that I use on leg day because they give me that extra stable feeling. And I have a pair of Icarus for daily wear. I have tried to run in Altra (Olympus Via) but the foam is terrible. I just go back to my wide width new balances. I do wish the barefoot market had better looking shoes. I mean I can't really wear any none barefoot shoes that look good because they come in narrow width only. At the end of the day I am just glad to have some flat, wide, comfy shoes for most situations. I don't care too much about the potentially exaggerated health claims.
Love it. During the COVID lockdowns I worked from home, trained barefoot & spent all day barefoot. After the lockdowns my stability shoes almost made me fall over. I now wear only minimalist shoes 90% of the time, but it is important to transition slowly with the right shoes. Xero shoes were the winner for me. Vibrams did not have enough shock absorption. Also I do wear Altras on my treadmill or for long distances on concrete. But mostly xero shoes ALL DAY! 😅
@@ShervinShares I live upstate but like to visit the city. Earlier this year I started "urban hiking" in my VFFs and my first was the High Line and Central Park. Such a nice walk.
I love Whitens! 72 year old woman who after 20 years trying to strengthen my problematic hip decided to take a different approach and try barefoot shoes. Started with Whitens and with a few weeks had three pairs in different colors! Everyone said start out slowly but my feet felt so good in them I couldn't take them off. I am doing foot exercises and toe spacers in the evening and I can already tell that my arch is strengthening after only two months! Never going to back to regular shoes. Lucky that I am old, no one looks at what I am wearing anymore. Oh BTW my hip pain went away with 24 hours of wearing these shoes and hasn't come back since!
Critical thinking is key. 'Off road' I have moved to thick soled boots - to cater for clumsy walking, and maybe not paying attention to surface undulations. For larger distance I have enjoyed paratrooper boots - heavy, but have felt like they limited stress. As a teen, people seemed to play a fashion game and used heel height to gain overall height. I have definitely noticed ankle boots appeared to limit / weaken my ankles. As I grew older I gained more back issues. Moving to Five Fingers has made me more aware of my feet, and how they affect my structure. So far it is helping, and allowing greater rotation / flexibility / control. I am easing my way in by wearing on weekends - and being wary of heel strike when tired.
Beware the thin padding. I love zero drops but was road running with no padding and a little barefoot - after a few years got bone spurs. I learned: - med-high padding for long road running - strength train your calves!! - talk to a podiatrist sooner than later to help or if you have any pain. Hope that saves some hurt!
Awesome video man, all I know of I've been struggling with osteoarthritis in my right ankle, it even started messing with my knee and hip. I started noticing a difference in my pain while working from home being barefoot all day. I just bought some Xero shoes and wore them out yesterday. It felt amazing!! The toe box and 0 drop I believe make a huge difference for walking and daily activities. I'm sore today haha gonna go do some mobility and stretching now. I look forward to seeing if this improves my chronic pains 🤘🏼
I've been thinking about barefoot shoes since last summer, when I made huarache sandals and started wearing them slowly on the beach and grass (simply not on concrete). I was a bit put off by the price as a student though, so I abandoned the idea of switching to barefoot shoes. But as I started a new school and a new city, I found myself seeing barefoot shoes around more and more. Whether out on the street or among new classmates. Now in the spring I've gone back to regular sneakers and knee and hip pain has set in. Now in the spring I've gone back to regular sneakers with a raised heel and knee and hip pain has set in. I was kind of surprised. About two weeks ago I started wearing barefoot shoes (about 6mm) and the pain is gone. I'm totally satisfied and can't wait to start slowly reducing the thickness of the sole.
My lower back pain from running disappeared with zero drop shoes. The Vibrams gave me multiple stress fractures though, so now I use Hoka shoes with virtually zero drop. Works for me.
Good video, but the argument for not having arch support is to let your foot arch, when spread out as it lands, act as a bit of extra suspension. I actually got more knee pain when I added arch support.
Personally I enjoy the strength Ive gained in my feet for the 5months Ive been wearing them and how my feet have become the bottleneck of my performance. In the past Ive pushed further with regular shoes and I always got injuries in many places because I was pushing further than my body was ready for, and now I cant even if I wanted to so I like how they keep me from overdoing it. Also I never care about all the marketing, just try it out, see what it does for you.
The most neutral non biased video/opinion one could witness. You should look into reviewing politics as well it would be the birth of a completely new style of news
Haven't tried barefoot shoes yet, BUT, I have switched to walking landing on mid-front part of my foot and I can definitely say that my lower back and knees have stopped aching after walking big distances. Also, the flatter the shoe the easier it is to walk landing on mid-front foot as opposed to landing on your heel which is what the casual shoes are made for. So there is probably truth to the health benefits of barefoot or minimalist shoes, especially combined with changing the way you walk.
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes since 2009, and they DO make your feet stronger, healthier, improve you balance, and makes your calves stronger. I’ve had flat feet my entire life, and I actually got a little bit of an arch from wearing these barefoot shoes.
How long did it take? I have no arch on one foot and a small arch on the other. I have orthotics very cushioned shoes and use tape sometimes to help. But atm it’s so bad walking barefoot hurts more than with the arch supports.
So basicly no dark side of barefoot shoes? I live in germany and bought a german barefoot shoe for 50€, which turned out to be best investment this year so far. I can wear them while jogging on trail, without socks, 13km no blisters, no pain, no problem. My back feels better, feet feel better, more comfortable, more airflow... Normal shoes seem like a bad idea to me now.
@@krane15 I was referencing the video title. But sure, If you have problems with shoes, then just buy others. There are so many options. If a person looks decent, then the shoes can look ugly I guess...But I would never judge a person by their shoes :D
@@konstantin122 "But I would never judge a person by their shoes :D" If you say so. But we absolutely judge people by how they dress. Even if its sometimes unconsciously. As for the idiom about men and their shoe choice, I didn't make it up. But I have to agree, there is a lot of merit to it. In fact, some consider it a science.
@@konstantin122 For running, I typically chose Adidas brand. For general athletics, a crossfit will do. I avoid flat shoes like most in this video the plague, except for specialized shoes such as a shoe made for sprinting or wrestling. Unlike gym shoes, nobody walks around in those. At the moment, my current athletic shoe of choice are K-Swiss. Roughly 30% are wide. At last count, I have 5 pair of those.
Just do what I do, go barefoot 99% of the time. YES, that is easily possible today if you work at home on a computer. In fact, I can't remember that last time I put on a pair of shoes.
After seeing Cody Lundin's Calves and how powerful his legs are, I trust barefoot shoes. He's a survival expert that purely walks barefoot EVERYWHERE. hes a beast
My recommendation is only do the barefoot thing for running after you're down to a BMI below 22. And even then EASE your way into it. If you try to do barefoot running while too heavy, it's the road to injury for sure! Sometimes only running a mile or less per day, switching to a bike or something for the maintenance of your conditioning (cross train). But yeah if you do it right it will knock MINUTES off your pace. Like say you're doing a 9:30 pace now, if you went below 22 bmi and continued to train I'd say you'd be at 8:30. After transitioning to barefoot to perfect your form at that point you'd probably hold a 7:00 pace real easily. If you really wanted to continue marathon training and do advanced training stuff you could nock a bit more off after that (lots of threshold training, perfecting nutrition etc). Most people aren't gonna get beyond a 6:30 pace tho, unless you have a tiny frame or do drugs. But yeah, most of your progress is going to be in 1: losing weight (this goes for EVERYONE). i.e. getting down to race weight with perfect body comp, and 2: perfecting form.
When I was 16 I got my first job and bought a pair of leather moccasins. Lived them! Wore them out. Now at 60 I have got problems because I went to standard shoes. I need a pair of shoes that will hold up to getting on and off tractors and washing mud and muck all winter!
Lot of people are buying their running shoes or dress shoes wrong if they complain it’s too narrow, just get it in wider width, that’s the whole point of having D, E, EE, F width in shoes
What I noticed is that for some people that lived inside shoes their entire lifes, the toes became shaped like the narrow shoes. Here in Brazil i spent my entire childhood playing barefoot, so my feet are pretty wide and my toes are very splaied. Here in Brazil we mostly use sandals, thats why barefoot shoes didn't became a thing here yet I think. I mostly use them because my feet are so wide that using normal shoes are very uncomfortable. I actually have to buy 1 or 2 sizes so it is bearable, but I keep tripping on my self because the shoe is so long. Minimalist wide toe box shoes are just perfect for me because my feet never got deformed anyways.
Very helpful vid. I had loads of problems moving to bare foot runs but I accept I did too much too quickly. I’ll still be sticking with my cushioned shoes but I found this vid helpful. Thank you.
As a podiatrist, I recommend my patients to use whatever they feel comfortable as what we are wearing, within a range of confortability it is better to be varied and different. Just make them know that there is no magic recipe different than strengthening and being lean. Biomechanics, though, make hard to recommend barefoot as main shoe as we move in non natural environments and that has a cost for our joints, mainly metatarsophalangic joints. Also want to point that there’s already in the market, for years, minimalists shoes as vans and converse, the most common problem with them is that people don’t choose the correct size.
Changing to barefoot shoes was the best decision i made over the last years. I run for about 15 years and in the last 5 years it was impossible to run without knee pain. It was a slow and gradual process, but it was all worth it. In the beggining your calf msucles get really sored, and you feel muscles in your feet that you never felt before. Now i run more than 20 km without feeling any pain in my knees. It feels fucking amazing.
I've been wearing Vibrams for 15 years straight now. I run on a regular basis every monring for 3K-4K. Vibrams encompass about 80% of my entire shoe range. I'm 52 and have never (touch wood) had any probelm with my legs or balance, or posture. Back before I made the change I was constantly experiencing shin splints, back pain, and shooting pains in my leg muscles on a regular basis. The five finger shoes work for "me", and still continue to do so. I had a complete medical done a year or so ago and had my gait and posture etc analysed with no abnormalities whatsoever. I cannot advocate that these shoes 'work', but they do indeed work for me.
Those Whitins are better than mainstream shoes. You can see, though, they still taper at the big toe. I also wonder how long they will wear? In some comparisons I've seen, a Vivobarefoot shoe or boot will actually cost less per mile as you go through 3 pairs of the lower priced shoe over the same usage. My favorite over the past 2 years is my Forest ESC boots, just like the ones you showed.
When plantar fasciitis ended running for me, I briefly tried more cushion and more support but it didn't help. I started exercises and stretches and even went the toe spreader route. It was so painful at first; I could only wear my Correct Toes for an hour before having to take them off but eventually I could wear them for a whole 6-hour shift in my Merrell Vapor Gloves while standing and walking on a concrete floor without knee or back pain. I seriously don't understand why more people with heel pain don't go this route.
I just got my first pair because I drive for work and wanted the freedom to move my toes while driving. I don't take a lot of steps at work, so thought that'd be a good way to start with barefoot shoes. Even after wearing them the first 2 days I noticed muscular pain in my foot and big toe after years of wearing traditional running shoes. Kind of like a post-workout type of thing. This proves to me that the concept works. My toes feel better. The shoes actually fit so well, I pulled the laces out completely. I'll continue increasing their use into other activities to see if I can strengthen my toes and feet. They do look a little silly, but the comfort of being able to use your toes is worth the minor fashion faux pas.
I'm not a runner, but I wear this style of shoes because it's just better biomechanically. Especially the zero drop and wider toe box. Indoors, I walk around barefoot all the time.
For reals. My posture has already increased in like a week. It's insane. I also walk a lot, less back pain when sitting down, and shoulders just doesn't bent forward as much. It's good. :) Feet is destroyed though, but in a good way. They been working real hard. :D
I don't ride horses, so I have zero use for pointed, narrow toe box shoes. I haven't worn "normal" shoes for about 6 years. My feet are permanently messed up thanks to big name brands like Nike, Reebok and adidas... That being said, since wearing wide toe box, more minimalist shoes, I have seen some improvement. Some cushioning is a good thing in my opinion, as we aren't really designed to walk around on rock solid surfaces all day every day. Topo and ALTRA make good wide toe box shoes, but still have some cushioning.
i see a lot of barefoot shoe video recently but yours is most comprehensive & interesting video i've watched. Thank you. and its my time to wear my first barefoot shoe now.
man five finger shoes saved my qulity of life!~ I couldn't walk. Multiple spine surgeries...Bunyons, nerve issues and horrific tarsal tunnel! Because I already couldn't walk...I didn't have to take it slow and gentle. I put these on and didn't take them off except to wash them and shower for 2 weeks! I also did an extensive amount of research on my feets. I don't sleep in them anymore but I wear them every moment of the day. Hiking -shopping -walking my dogs -cleaning...-every moment. They taught my brain to re-learn what my feet were actually supposed to do for my body. I can control more muscles and have more strenght in my feet now and walk with confidence. I have a super high arch and my arch is still high with more muscle. So happy I made the life switch. And it really is a lifestyle change. LOVE
They’re shaped good, flat and don’t have weird unnatural tilts, feel natural and I don’t have to pay for both running shoes and powerlifting shoes. They’re a two in one.
Started wearing barefoot shoes in the gym and even doing treadmill runs/sprints in them, as soon as I have to change into normal shoes again, I'm in foot jail
Mate, first thing first: "You are making really good content, congratulations 🙌🙌🙌🙌". Second: I have been using Barefoot shoes for 2 weeks and I feel like a finally I got real freedom on my feet, sometimes I just forget that I'm even wearing a shoe at all.... ... I researched a year before making a move and the most valuable tip is to don't know run on them before many months, you will fracture something in your feet... I have been squating, pulling the sledge, walking all over (city) and they feel unbelievable amazing, I do go fully barefoot when I go the country side or the beach, mountain, but if you want to trek you should get some special barefoot shoes, just mind the soil quality. Anyways it is worth to at least try it. Cheers.
I was about to waste my money on barefoot shoes due to plantar fasciitis, but instead I focused on strengthening my feet. You just need shoes that fit your feet right. I think one of the biggest problems that we have in modern footwear, is that people keep wearing highly technical running shoes for everyday wear. I think that is more detrimental than anything. If you're lifted off the ground with a super squishy midsole vs a firmer midsole that isn't as thick, anecdotally from my experience, that is far far worse for your feet. People may like hokas etc for walkign around, but I think it's very bad
I love my FitKicks. They have a totally flat, very flexible sole with grooves that grip the ground really well. They're the only shoe I can tolerate wearing on my feet! Since switching to zero drop shoes, doing some yoga and eating a better diet, I've quit twisting my ankles.
Something to keep in mind is that if you have a condition on your feet like flat feet, barefoot shoes are probably not for u. Your foot basically has structural problems and its "natural" shape wont do it for u. So your more likely to be needing specific made insoles
Going barefoot also plays a huge role in overall health. Your body absorbs the electrical magnetic pull from the earth helping your cell structure be stronger. Of course I have no idea if that is actually true or not, I have read it in multiple health journals.
I found Saguaro barefoot shoes are the most comfortable, only $40, but they don’t last all that long before showing wear. My Altra running shoes with wide toe box and zero drop heel, are at least twice that price (depending on color). With a thicker sole they offer greater lateral support when playing basketball or tennis. But with the Altra, you don’t feel the ground as well as you do with the thin soled barefoot shoes. Could never go back to conventional shoes.
Ive been wearing barefoot shoes for abit over a year, its all i wear now. My favourites are vivo's, and ill be doing a 2860km throughhike in them this summer :D my feet have never been healthier, but more notably: my aweful knees that ive struggled with for uears have been absolutely perfect lately, regardless of my long training hikes with extra weight on my back :) i wish i had discovered them years ago!
For the last six years I have been using New Balance running shoes with arch support and shock-absorbing soles as all-day shoes. For a few months I have been experiencing knee pain. Maybe I'm getting old. During my childhood and adolescence, I used to spend the summer months in beach slippers and played soccer almost every day. There was a speculation that Brazilian soccer players in Turkey like Alex were less likely to get injured because they played barefoot soccer on the beach as children. I don't know Altan. Footnote: I saw a video that Einstein was always barefoot at home.
I believe the main reason for arch support isn't to directly support the arch but to prevent pronation. I'm also tired of people with flat feet telling everyone else they need to wear barefoot shoes. People are born with different feet. Get yourself biomechanically analyzed and buy shoes based on your foot. Get an arc based on your foot. Some people are born flat footed so arch support usually hurts for these people. That's why flat foot shoes are better for them.
longterm storage is mostly dumb. I rented a 10x5 for 30 bucks a month for 4 years once. When I moved out of it I ran the numbers and it was about 1500 bucks I had paid for the unit. I coulda replaced most everything in there from thrift stores and garage sales for a lot less than that.
Daaang.. my foot is so narrow my pinky two is almost completely under the other. Yikes .. also just realized 6 months ago I’ve been using the wrong size all my life! Thanks to a local running store
The way shoes were made when I was a kid caused my pinky toenails to crack constantly and sometimes bleed. Now they don’t and barefoot dress shoes are things I actually want to wear.
I've been in Altras for years. The Lone Peaks are by far my favorite trail shoe, I love them. Born to Run 2 came out late last year and inspired me to once again pick up my Lunas and go for a run. I loved the enhanced ground feel. At 15 mm these were 10 mm (+ insole?) less than my Lone Peaks and 15+ mm less than the Timps I was rotating in and out. I loved it so much I got some Earth Runner Circadians (8mm) recently and took them out for a run. What a difference another 7 mm can make! I feel so many more features of the dirt/grass/rocks/roots. The Lunas by comparison now feel very soft, and wearing any heavily cushioned shoe just feels so numb. At first you feel every rock, but amazingly the brain takes over and within like a half mile you don't really notice them any more. We have some decently rocky and rooty terrain near us which made me believe I needed rock plates and super maximal shoes to run it which is just plain false. I've found my running posture and cadence are _way_ better when running in the sandals. That's not to say I can't maintain that form in the Altras, but it's very easy to get sloppy in the cushioned shoes. Now, I'll admit, 8mm is thin and I am not quite ready a long run in them. Most I've done is 5 miles so far. Zero drop is no problem, I walk around barefoot/in sandals and run in Altras all the time, but the thinness is something to get used to because there's no midsole to absorb the impact.
I read Born to Run and that author becomes obsessed with barefoot running. This is almost 20 years ago. After reading it Ive started running barefoot on grass and it feels like my feet and calves have gotten significantly stronger.
I say it depends on the activity. A wide toe box is always good but if you're going to do an 8hr retail shift, then cushion is needed. But if you're just heading out to buy some groceries or to hang out with some friends for a few hours then you can go without the cushion. Maybe of you want to attempt to strength your calves then also going no cushion could work. As for arch support, it's your choice. It might not be a massive need, a stronger body does make getting "older" happen slower.
45 y/o male with wide feet and since 15 I suffered with plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendon issues, tight calves and hamstrings, a forward rotation of the left pelvis and issues from my lumbar spine right up to my C2 vertebrae, 18 months ago I became fully barefoot and working from home using an electric standing desk and nearly every issues has corrected itself leaving just my c2 issue, normal shoes screw up your body
After wearing barefoot shoes for some years I no longer sprain my ankles easily. I've made some nasty missteps without anything more than just a little uncomfy feeling
I am very overweight and have always worn sturdy shoes that just narrow the foot. Now i am lucky that the company i work for is very concerned about the health of their employees and that's why we had a visit from an orthopedic doctor. He told me straight out that walking and standing barefoot is more stable and safer with the overweight because the body can stabilize itself with the feet. I tried it and bought barefoot shoes and since then I been able to walk longer distances with less pain. Knee pain is almost gone and I lost 34 pounds in weight in the last 5 months since the increased mobility I gained. I stick to barefoot shoes because they just work really well for me. I can only recommend that everyone try it out for themselves to see if it improves anything.
The truth of the matter to me, is the issue is not that shoes are shaped wrong. Aside from running shoes being used during regular life. They're called running shoes for a reason. The issue is people are buying shoes that are too small. If your toes are touching the front of the shoes, your shoes are too small. The idea is thst the tip or "pointy" part is supposed to extend beyond your toes. The toe boxes are just fine, ya'll just aren't using them right. And if the shoes are toe tight width wise? There's this amazing invention called widefit shoes. In conclusion, the issue is the style of 'regular' shoe you are wearing. Choose a shoe with no drop point, skateboard shoes, etc. Then make sure it's the right size. I'd also like to note that the idea that people with flat feet or other similar conditions shouldn't seek arch support is a very dangerous one for your foot health. Always seek the advice of a podiatrist. If you have any sort of muscular disease like myself, strengthening the feet is not an option and trying to do so will do fuck all for you. The problem is your muscles do not act like other peoples, so they will not adapt like other people. That's my biggest issue with barefoot shoes and the cult surrounding them in the end. It seems to discourage (whether intentionally or otherwise) consulting actual health experts on this sort of thing and to me that should always be the first step. Go to a podiatrist, explain your issues, what you're thinking of doing, and get their advice.
