Nike didn’t want people running on their heels. That’s called an over stride. Most people over stride because they are weak from a sedentary lifestyle not because of the shoes they were wearing. Go run a sub 3hr marathon in those toe shoes and let me know how you feel on the road. Now I can’t hate on the toe shoes completely, I raced 5K’s in the grass in these shoes which is a completely different impact then road racing. Minimalist shoes are great to help with feet strengthening which in returns offers great health benefits. But dude don’t go telling people to do all their runs in these even through “progression”. Countless studies have shown that using these all the time will result in injury if you are doing high mileage.
Dude, stop being an idiot. Who cares if Nike did it on purpose or wanted it. It’s had an effect. That’s not argue-able. But you know these guys wrote books on jogging, right? Jogging is bullshit btw
‘Countless studies’ and yet doesn’t cite one. I’m sure Nike doesn’t care if you heel strike or not. The point is, modern running shoes encourage the same old instant gratification which we are all used to within our modern society. Want to run 5k straight away? Do so in cushioned shoes and risk nothing! The point is, there’s more to it and it has implications on the body which are overlooked. If one trains efficiently and properly, one can make whatever shoe their standard - including a minimal-barefoot running shoe. It’s entirely possible and honestly likely more injury safe once that appropriate transition has been completed. Your comment only proves your inherent ignorance and bias.
My theory on soul shoes has to do with concrete being everywhere and there is little to no dirt and grass to walk on for many people. I have noticed that when I go barefoot on concrete my feet will very quickly become sore, but when I go barefoot on any more natural terrain my feet are fine.
Friction. Concrete is like the most coarse sandpaper ever. Every step involves SOME slide and those micro-slides add up to literal burns on your feet. Nevermind the actual heat of some pavement. Grass and dirt are comparatively MUCH softer. Even gravel is softer than concrete because the poky granules move when you step and aren't rigid.
@@Super-Herb I would say that the soreness probably would be attributed more to the high density of concrete and not the high friction between feet and concrete. But your point still stands.
Growing up in Western Australia, I went barefoot more often than I wore shoes. Playing outside was always barefoot. I married a Canadian and moved to Canada where my partner always told me to put some shoes on - even in summer. Within a year, I was a regular at the podiatrist. 10 years later, back in Australia and shoeless again, no more foot pain. As an English friend once commented on my feet, "I can see daylight between every one of your toes". 😄
Something to consider, our ancestors didn’t walk on hard concrete surfaces the whole time. I’ve tried barefoot. I’m all in about having wide shoes with no arch. But I realized that a bit of padding prevents me from getting knee pains I got when wearing barefoot shoes….
That is exactly the point. I study my masters in a biomechanical field and you are adressing the major problem with barefoot walking. Nowadays, we walk on streets, sidewalks, stone floors and so on. It's solid surface with up to no dampening. Our ancestors mostly walked in forests and on lands with softer and more divers terrain. Thats the big difference. Sand, forest like undergrounds or just grassy fields are the best and healthiest surfaces to walk on without modern shoes. But walking on a solid concrete sidewalk is just not healthy. Bones and ligaments in the ankle and knee joint will suffer in a long run. Little fun fact. Tribes in Africa which walk on the solid drought-ground often show Pes Planus.
@@mikehunt3420 for running, a good running shoe that's not too soft. For casual walking, normal shoes with a proper insole to support the natural curviture of your foot and also maybe help with foot problems like pes planus or pes cavus. And if you do a lot of walking in a forest or on sand, maybe try a barefoot shoe
@@lolandall915 You realize bones and ligaments can be strengthened to the point of walking on hard ground with no problems? No you don't want to do it too much when you start barefoot walking as that can lead to pain and possible injury which is why you're supposed to ease yourself into it over time (and still take breaks as needed). I started running completely barefoot on grass at a local park over 3 years ago. Eventually I bought barefoot shoes 2 years ago for safety reasons because I nearly stepped on broken glass from a bottle someone threw near the area (off the grass) where I kept my reg shoes. The way you walk or run can be the difference between being comfortable and pain free or injury-prone. Traditional running shoes (or basketball shoes which I used to run in most of my life) had me running on my toes and 3 years ago was when it caused Achilles problems which made me have to stop running for a bit. Running in barefoot shoes on the concrete sidewalk was painful until I learned how to land correctly on the balls of my feet. I never got hurt after that. It was basketball shoes that caused me to have collapsed arches for a few months when I was probably in high school at the time. I never had high arches but I assume all the running playing basketball and other sports caused my feet to go flat temporarily. Going barefoot did the opposite. My arches are very strong and healthy now on any surface I walk or run on. Wearing reg shoes (even sandals with elevated heel) does nothing but cause the foot pain to come back and have me limping up and down the stairs again. I also do exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees (have Osgood-Schlatters disease in my left knee since I was 10 years old so over 20 years, and tendonitis in my right knee since I was 16 from jumping incorrectly too much) many of which I learned from Knees Over Toes Guy like walking or jogging backwards, Tibialis toe raises and others. The barefoot training enhanced everything and my outer calves have grown like I've never seen in my life (I always had smallish calves compared to most of my friends of similar height). All those things have contributed to getting my knees on a healthy path (still in progress as I recently started doing the exercises again after a hiatus of 9 months or so). I doubt they teach you in school that the body can be built up to do amazing things over time. It seems like schooling discourages from doing many exercises that either strengthen the joints or that are for people who have strong joints already. I say this because I had a friend who went to school in a medical field for 4 years and another 2 years of post-grad education (used to some EMT work and is now a doctor's assistant if I recall correctly) and tried to discourage me from martial artist-like moves (that I trained my body to do, I was not reckless) such as wrist pushups which I only did occasionally on soft surfaces like yoga mats, grass or carpet (never on hard floor or ground). I've studied how the body will adapt and toughen itself up when exposed to certain stimuli. Proper education of this is necessary and should not be discouraged out of fear while unsafe "medicines" are promoted and encouraged (and cause joint pain, weight-gain, memory-loss, weakness, loss of consciousness ect. ahem Seroquel). But then again the point of academic institutions is to prepare you to acclimate yourself to their system so that's all they're good at. ***What "Tribes in Africa" on you talking about? "Solid drought-ground" where? Many parts of Africa are luscious and green so what region and what tribes are you referring to? North Africa like Egypt or Morocco? East Africa such as Ethiopia or Kenya? Where? This ambiguous "Africa" nonsense needs to stop. It has just about every terrain and environment you can think of so if you have no actual knowledge of location or peoples you can't give anyone a "fun fact."
I've also been wearing similar shoes for the past 2 years or more. Using them is perfect for walking on grass, soft soil, or any natural environment, but the moment they're constantly used on hard concrete, the lack of cushion starts to propagate the impact felt from toe articulation up to the knee and hips. So it me, it feels like we've somewhat designed shoes to adapt to our infrastructure, but in an ideal world, all hard concrete pavements would be swapped for synthetic running tracks to go with barefoot-like-shoes.
I think ideally our paths should be natural as in ground and grass, like walking through a forest. Sadly convenience wins and we get tarmac and concrete. Recently the fb algorithm was filling my feed with comparison footage of ww1/2 areas with same location in modern world, The difference was actually quite disgusting. Back then there were many verges and greens and natural footpaths.
@@Tenksen Although I agree for the most part, I disagree that there as never a time where we've walked on solid relatively level terrain, mountains, roadways, dry dirt etc
Exactly. It's all well and good in theory, but I have genuine curiosity to know how many of the "Internet naturalists" would react to some of the "less desirable" consequences of having only soil and grass all over the place rather than concrete and modern materias. Things like MUD...
Two thoughts on my barefoot shoes: 1. I love mine, my back and complete posture is way better since I use them. I can walk/stand all day now, without having a sore back or aching legs. 2. I still think cusions are important for sports. If you run a lot, the cusion simulates loose ground (instead of stones), where our feet are designed to work. Without the cushioning effect, the periosteum can get irritated, which has to be treated with heat.
I believe it has a lot to do with not putting all your weight on the heel, neither standing nor walking. The hard impact the "landing" on the heel give you is devastating to every joint in the lower body. OF COURSE it's much more natural for both feet and body to let your feet do their job as intended for, but you can help the rest of the body, especially knees, hips and lower back, with just DON'T put weight on your heels when you walk (or run). You won't have the shockwave through the body every step, the shock will have a natural suspension spread out, also in the feet. It takes more muscle in the calves, which is a good thing, gives a better stability in your ancles, knees, hips and lower back. Which is good for the balance as well. I have a terrible lower back, 4 hernias and arthritis, and old injuries in both knees. Everything has been significant better since I started to walk without putting pressure, weight, on my heels. It took a month before it felt normal, and I didn't have to think about it. Not only that it has helped me with the sometimes hellish back pains and instability in my knees, it is easier, I put much less effort in walking, but probably the same amount of energy, now spread out, less wearing of the least hurting, or already strongest joints. It's easier to spring off, the power comes from all joints, not only hips with stiff knees. (Look at someone who hasn't been jogging/running since they were young or have pains somewhere. Stiff legs, landing every step either with a hard impact, bang!, or like "Ouch, ouch, ouch" , still stiff legs. The only thing that really moves are the hip joints, and you who watches can feel every impact, and how hard it is to to the whole body.) Through advertising we have learned to "land on the heel and let the foot naturally roll over to the front foot" " Our brand of shoes absorb the shock and you can run for ever!" Sure... Suspension in the shoes still make you land so the ancles, knees, hips and spinal column, especially the lower take the hit of a large part of the forward power. Look at the short distance runners. I mean competition, speed. They barely use the heels, that stops the speed. They land on the front part of the foot, let the foot, knee and hip use the forward power and don't bounce anything upwards, all forwards. They don't land in front of them, they land almost beneath themselves, and let the foot spring off with a lot of power from the toes, because they haven't had that break in their speed, they don't have to use effort in keeping the body upright with putting energy upwards to. No crash impact, just going forward. Of course you will need to push a little upwards when you run slower, but not using the heels reduce that.
Just wanted to share my experience. After getting hurt all the time and after reading “Born to run” I switched to minimalist shoes. I ran with it for 5 years but after that I started experiencing pain in the bottom of my feet. I couldn’t run much and after running I would feel excruciating pain and had to give up running for sometime. Now I run with thick cushioned Hooka shoes and so far happy with it. I still wear the minimal but mostly for walking.
@@gordonschiff3621 Bozo ,no1 should run on concrete....it ruins your knees and ankles, every single person that trains or has any brains would tell you that . Always run on dirt or that fake gummy concrete ...
Wore these from 2009-2012. I have had chronic ankle tendinitis since 2014 that has cost me multiple jobs. I don’t blame toe shoes specifically, I was born fairly flat footed. They did however change my feet just enough to cause major problems for my life the past 9 years. I did finally get my really bad ankle surgically reconstructed this year in April. Unfortunately, I had a mental block and had to relearn to move that ankle properly. I hope I am finally out of the dark and can put this nightmare behind me. Please take caution, I do suggest if you are flat footed or have really high arches pass on these. My other two friends who started wearing them in 2009 with me and they still rotate them into their footwear today. That is why I cannot purely blame the shoes.
I have the same problem. Are there any shoes that you would recommend in that case for people with flat feet? I have the same Achilles problem in addition to lower back pain. Any help is appreciated 🙏
@@hellcat7394 I am by no means an expert on foot health. I can only suggest what I have experienced. In 2014, I converted back to traditional shoes full time. An issue I had to get assistance with was understanding how shoes properly fit. I was still in the mindset of “my toes don't touch the end, they fit.” I was also blind to brands, I loved Nike and Vans primarily. Come to find out I wasn’t getting enough space in my toe box, the narrow width was causing issues. I was also informed my shoes had NO support! Which I knew with vans obviously, but I learned that podiatrists (the five I have seen) advise you to stay away from nike as well. If you can avoid surgery that would be ideal, this was the main reason it took 9 years for me to commit to surgery. Secondly, I know it's a commitment financially but Medical Custom Orthotic insoles are a must. I have have a few made, my advice is avoid ones that just “fit” into the heal area. A complete custom fitted insole that spans the length of the shoe are the only ones that make a difference for me personally. I have learned these past three years (I have been unable to walk due to my tenditis not going away at all) that there really isn't a price limit i’d be willing to pay to be healthy. Last tip would be if you have seen a podatrist more then 3 times and nothing changes, move on to the next one. I hope this isn't all just information you've heard and tried calling with little success. Because, I have honestly been there before and my mental health was tested greatly. Wishing you the best!
@@fannyaranda597 I will state I'm not an expert, I can just share things that have helped me. The only shoes I trusted wearing since 2018 are Hokas. They definitely aren't my preferred style, but my health greatly outweighs my vanity. My doctor who performed my surgery did ask if I ever tried ON clouds, I hadn't at the time but I have been wearing them ever since. You really want the models with the most cushioned support, Hoka Bondis (most cushion model) and Cliftons or ON cloud Cloudmonsters (most cushion model) Cloudstratus’ are ones I'd recommend. Though none of these suggested shoes are going to make a huge impact unless you are utilizing Custom made Medical Orthotic insoles, I know the upfront cost seems awful, but I myself will pay darn near anything to be able to hike and go to concerts again. With orthotics, don't waste and money if the insert just fits the heal area. You are wanting a custom insole the spans the entire length of the foot. My first set was a 280$ mistake because I didn't know any better. I really hope any of this information is new to you, personally I started hearing the same thing over and over with little change, and I started challenging my mental health as well. I wish you nothing but success and good health as you discover what works and what doesn't.
I have flat feet. I wore orthotics for 21 years. when I was in my late forties I read Ready to Run. I got rid of the orthotics, and I transitioned from the supper support shoes. I do woodwork in bare feet. When I am at home I rarely wear shoes. I lift waits, skip rope, high impact workouts without shoes. Note I took my time transitioning, it has been 3 or 4 years since I dropped the orthotics, I took my time, but now, I hike mountains, in sandals or minimals. I have had zero injuries. The only issue is I am still working on an ankle issue that I developed with the orthotics..... Oh yeah, I used to roll my ankles constantly (where the injury came from) because my foot was not flat on the ground.
Thanks for this Jason, similarly I've worn orthotics for decades and have been worried about trying out bare foot but the more I hear stories like this I think it's the way to go. One bonus of Covid 'working from home' has been less time in shoes anyway, so I think I'm on a good trend. How are your calf muscles?
I got too much hardware in my right leg to distance run now however half way through my military career i learned about minimalist shoes and it eliminated almost all the pain i would get while distancing running . I used to feel old and broken distance running even in my low 20s using the standard big cushion shoes , then overnight i could run 4 miles pain free as a larger guy , even then i was 225 from all the weight lifting / power lifting . I think i need to start wearing them again when i go hiking , the only issue I've encountered with them is it is hard to do cutting movements in minimalist shoes so they werent good for athletic activity where you have to plant foot really hard and cut into another direction. I wonder if they have any out now that you can cut hard in .
I've always hated shoes and, to my mother's dismay, went barefeet as often as I could. I still wear shoes only when absolutely necessary and this explains a lot of things I've found weird about my feet. Why my toes split as I walk, why my feet are so flat and wide and why I have such huge calfs.
An old prof of mine was one of the key researchers in this field. It should be noted that recent studies show running with a minimalist shoe does decrease running stability over time and hasn’t been researched enough in older populations. So if you’re someone who’s older, it’s best to consult a physio or someone in the medical field before just switching over.
Actually because we were shoes our feet have gotten weaker and the gap between our toes has been lost due to not walking on rough terrain our arch is also way smaller than before because we don't go bear foot, and haveing the gap helps with grip. Now I'm not saying you should stop wearing shoes outside you can still catch types of infections and fungas people in the old says feet where strong enough to walk in freezing snow bear foot for days feet are literally not made like they used to be😂 so while it wouldn't be bad to wear these say if your on a boat or need extra balencing for stuff that you do needing balance, you don't need to worry about it unless you really want it. (Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄⛄🎄) And remember if your concerned about anything talk to your doctor your health is important and talking to them if free
It's the gap that is the problem these shoes are too soft which makes you gap lower throughout generations because your not using it on rough terrain. What studies btw I want to know where you got that from to take a look at it
You walk differently when barefoot. You don't do heels --> front of the foot, but instead your toes touch the ground first and then the heels. This allows the ankle to be sort of a suspension for your normal walk, but is also the reason why you run way slower when being barefoot
I discovered "Toe Shoes" about 15 years ago after developing plantar fasciitis. I was going to a Podiatrist and they wrapped my foot up with some really painful arch support. It hurt like hell to put any weight on it. I decided to do my own research and stumbled on Vibram Men's FiveFingers Trail Shoes. I made the same mistake of going fully into it and that was harsh on the entire body. Mike hit it right on the nose. Modern shoes have entirely altered the way we walk and stand. Every muscle in my body was aching from the realignment of my gate. I found some Toe Shoes made by Adidas that still had a full cushion and started easing into wearing them. It took a couple of months to be able to make the transition to the Vibram toe shoes and wear them full-time. I permanently cured my plantar fasciitis by rebuilding, strengthening, and stretching all the muscles and tendons in my feet. Wearing the Vibram toe shoes also reduced and eliminated my chronic back pain. I am not a Dr. but this is my real-life experience with toe shoes. I have no idea if they will help anyone else but they definitely changed my life. I learned that modern shoes and work boots had atrophied the muscles and tendons in my feet and going Cave Man style fixed them.
Thank you for your time on talking about this, everything that you've said you have is what I'm pretty sure I deal with as well and it's horrible for me I will definitely try this and hopefully I will get the same benefits as you did.
Nike have some sort of toe-shoes too. Unfortunately I have X legs, my feet collapse inwards. I'll have to go through some pretty intense physiotherapy before I can go "barefoot".
A bit after corona started I graduated high school and was extremely depressed, I pushed all my friends away and locked myself in my room till recently. This means I’ve sat at home without ever going out for years now. I mention this because the whole time I didn’t wear shoes or socks because I was in my house and unintentionally transitioned myself into this barefoot lifestyle I guess. Well my parents bought a treadmill a couple months ago and I wanted to get my life together so I put my shoes on and would try to just walk on the treadmill… it hurt… a lot. My shins would feel like they were about to snap just from walking and I didn’t understand. Well after watching this video I walked on the treadmill barefoot. It felt way better and now I understand that because I was use to not impacting my heel the past few years, the very abrupt transition to slamming it on the ground for 2 miles caused my pain. So thanks for this video you helped solve my problem
Hey! Thanks for sharing this experience! For a Gen Z young adult you are very articulate in your writing. I assume you are intelligent and are a bit confused about the world? I hope you find GOOD people to surround yourself with. Stay strong andWish you the best! ❤💪🏽😎
@@antheablackmore5838 you might want to elaborate on that. Some people might think you're talking about sticking a fork in an outlet. 🤔Unless of course... That is what you were talking about. 🤨
As someone who grew up on the beach and spent much of my time barefoot until my mid twenties, running was always painful in running shoes. It wasn't until barefoot shoes came out that I could run and finally everything felt right. I also have very wide naturally spread feet. They are basically a fin or triangle shape lol. I've always wondered why shoes aren't the shape of feet. All that said, I do not recommend running on cement/man made surfaces every day in barefoot shoes. That is not natural either.
I'm 52 and am forced to wear closed in shoes to work after a life time of being bare foot or able to kick my shoes off under my desk - it's killing me!! I just walk in after taking the shoes off and say "my fat feet hurt"
@@Cwoisson I have an arch, maybe a high one. I'm not sure how that relates compared to more flatfooted people. My understanding is simply that our feet are designed to work without shoes. Shoes throw off the delicate mechanics of our feet. So when armor like protection isn't needed, anyone's feet will operate more naturally, in a more healthy way, without shoes. I'd say try it out but realize its like working out on a smith machine or pulley system your whole life and then going to dumbbells. You have to give your feet time to build the proper support muscles and coordination.
I also always found walking very painful compared to others because my soles would hurt. I wonder if this plays a role because I'm used to walk around in flip flops a lot
Your smile and positivity are infectious. I never thought watching a video about barefoot shoes would make me grin ear to ear, during a rather down period in my life.
Oh that's the sweetest YT comment I've read for sometime! Thanks for that and wishing more smiles and further laughs and hugs and bright horizons for you, fellow 🕊️🌄
As someone who works in rehabilitation and pain management, I nearly always start by encouraging my client to be barefoot as much as possible. It almost doesn't matter their issues, this can really be a great and important start to feeling better over all
If u suffer from bad plantar fasciitis, what's you're point on walking barefoot? I've suffered from pf for over 4 years and want to try out the barefoot style. Only problem is I need safety shoes at my job. Got any tips? I've done all the classic things with molded implants and all the stretches.
@TheAlleballe89 For PF it's mostly about persistent but not over working. Personally, I would tell clients to when at home ease into being bare foot until you are comfortable. When inflammation starts to set in, i would have them use a frozen water bottle to massage the feet.
@@TheAlleballe89 I'm getting cranky about this. I've been walking for 4 years in rehab. Last 6 months developed plantar fasciitis. Been seeing a pod. I have custom orthotics from years ago with a brooks shoe which seems to now kill both my feet. She keeps going on about my flat feet (as all pods do) that being bare feet is the worst thing blah blah. Tried crocs which shredded in a few weeks. Shoe quality these days is at an all time low. 🙄
I went through a phase trying ALL the barefoot brands. My issue wasnt the pain of transitioning barefoot walking & running, it was the luxury price of the shoes, & how ridiculously short the usable lifespan these shoes had. Keen footware was my compromise.
V Trail 2 of vibram is quite durable, except for the sole if you walk/run a lot on concrete. I use shoe goo to restore the sole thickness if it wears out
A free runner told me to ease into it with two hours a day, then four. I delivery drive so I'm jumping in and out of a van for almost ten hours a day. I wear minimalist shoes two or three days a week to vary my muscle use in the feet, legs and back. I can do full days in them but I had to work my way up... This video is correct, you do walk different... It's fun! 39 year old here
I did this by chance. I took all the covid stimulus (money our kids will pay for) and built out a basement home gym. I walk around 2 miles between sets each workout and started doing it barefoot to see what it felt like. Wow. Immediately it was a revelation. But trying to run like that right out of the gate would be a real bad idea. At least for me. My lower legs and feet were in a period of shock for a week or so but now my feet just feel stronger and my calves also got larger. Some evolutionary biologists have been pushing us to take off our shoes for decades. Now I know why.
@@cagneybillingsley2165how so? I wear vibram kso evo toe shoes all spring, summer and early autumn for work. I'm a window/door fitter, I got stick for wearing them for about 5 minutes but the trades respect the fact I'm carrying 90kg+ glass over hardcore and doing hours of ladder work with 4mm soled shoes. After 6 years of that my feet are farking jacked... wouldn't change my footwear for the world.
@@cagneybillingsley2165 People that think they need ancient foot protectors because they are considered the "norm" are "f words". The shoes we have now days are simply better versions, if you can even say that of things ancient natives wore. They worked for what they needed and if anything they were better for our feet than the horse shit we throw on now. Most people have shoes so tight they get constant ingrown nails, their toes deform and their feet lose the arches. People like you who would rather shame something better for you for the sake of essentially fitting in and being afraid of change are idiotic. The added dexterity alone is a massive plus, I have been on the fence about trying them for some time now and I will happily try them regardless of what some moron thinks about it. They're my fucking feet, don't look at them.
My entire life I never had an arch in my foot and needed shoe inserts until I started wearing minimal shoes. When I started wearing minimal shoes I developed an arch and have never needed inserts since, even while wearing 'normal' shoes. I also noticed a great deal of strengthening happened in my ankles and I haven't rolled my foot once since acclimating to minimal shoes. I will forever love my minimal shoes. That said I recently put on a lot of weight due to medical reasons and these shoes are not a great idea if you're overweight. They went from comfy to painful when I reached about the 50+ lb overweight mark. So if you're overweight or obese I personally would not recommend these shoes.
@@DaniDani-zb4wd man don't be like that. Overweight people are already struggling with the drawbacks of their weight. They don't need you belittling them too. If you wanna help then offer constructive suggestions, don't mock them. Mocking fat people only makes you look bad, not them.
It's definitely not recommended to run if overweight, independent the shoes. There are safer sports if you want to lose some weight, with less pressure on your knees.
The single thing I wish I'd had when i switched was Emily Splichal's book 'Barefoot Strong.' As it was, I only got it eight years later, but finally it's helping me figure out my natural walking gait and helping me strengthen all the foot, leg, hip and bum muscles neglected by walking in regular shoes. Feels amazing. Can't recommend it enough.
@Jason Hammond Sure, but there's much more. In particular, Splichal has targeted advice depending on whether you tend more towards a flat foot or a high instep.
Been wearing barefoot shoes the past couple summers for various outdoor activities. I actually prefer it now, and you absolutely become more aware of what's on the ground. Your feet really do reshape and compensate, depending on what kind of terrain you're walking across. I'd definitely recommend people try it from time to time.
It's always the capitalist who create weird stuff that our body don't need. Create Shampoo even though our hair don't need them, processed food vs organic food, now barefoot is better than modern shoes.
or you know just run around the house and yard barefoot and then wear shoes when you should as well and dont worry about psuedoscience 'miracle' shoes that make you like cavemen (who apparently are the picture of health and if you ever met one he would have NO pain whatsoever or injury because ya know they only wore loin cloths and thats the key to all health issues for sure).
@@freshgapples45 i wonder how @heymikehanna explains footballers (soccer) who run miles in soccer spikes constantly since they were like 4 years old. they must be crippled with back pain by the time they are 25. probably cant even walk by 28. right OP? if only soccer players had their vibrams!
@@markheinle6319 My feet feel the same no matter if I walk with barefoot shoes or regular shoes. The only thing that changes is that my feet are cold with barefoot shoes in the winter and I sweat in them in the summer. My feet also hurt a little bit after a long day with bearfoot shoes. I also tend to slip around more because they give less grip, which is pretty annoying in steeper terrain. All in all I like to feel the terrain and thus like barefoot shoes, but the cons overweigh the pros. Regular shoes are better for me. And I have the impression that this is the case for almost all of these livestyle trends. Regular stuff is regular because it works better for the majority of people. And thats that.
I used to do barefoot distance running when I lived on my college campus. Big hippie place zero trash on the ground, safe place to do it. Highly recommend doing various exercises especially running barefoot semi frequently. Nothing else has ever increased the size of my calves so quickly and effortlessly. Always had skinny legs no matter how much I ate and worked out until I started this. Can’t do it too much anymore because I live in the city now and I will NOT go out without shoes but yeah I’ll hop on my treadmill in socks a few times a week.
@HBMUSIC as long as you wear thick sock your feet will not be irritated and within my experience running on treadmill with sock has increased my endurance when I run with shoes outside.
I started by wearing barefoot shoes on vacation and at home. Then transitioned to wear them at work. One thing I notice is my knees also had to adjust. Because the years of cushion shoes were pushing my center of gravity forward. So the gait and stride changes. Now I wear them everywhere. And now totally barefooted at home or around my yard.
I've been going straight barefoot for a whole day at least once a week. It's interesting to see how your body naturally changes the way it walks when you have no shoes. This past summer vacation I was barefoot on dirt and sand for almost 3 days straight, and my muscles definitely felt it.
Back around 2011 I got into fitness and working out a lot. I started with some Nike Lunar shoes, then transitioned to Nike FreeRun 3.0, and then I found Vibrant FiveFinger shoes. OMG it was a game changer. Absolutely love the strength and balance they helped me gain. I felt more agile and I was able to run longer distances for the first time in my life. I finished a few 5k's in them and I wore them everywhere. I got crazy looks but I didn't care because I was comfortable in them. Fast forward to now and I'm overweight, unhealthy, and need to get back into fitness again. But these shoes always come up on my mind and I think about how good I felt using them. I can say the same about my Nike or other shoes that I wore at the time.
Shoes are not really important when working out and don't make a difference to your results. Also, running isn't working out. Working out is weight lifting or calisthenics and running is cardio.
I have a couple of issues with this idea. It sounds nice to use if you are doing outdoors activities in the summer, but in the place i live in it sounds a little bit more difficult. My first concern is the temperature changes. I live in Bulgaria, where the winters can get really cold(like -10/-12 celsius in the nights) and without the humidity and temperature protection, as well as the proper grip, that winter boots can give you, bartefoot shoes seem less feasible. My other concern is trash on the street - i understand these shoes can protect you from regular trash and little stones, but broken glass and pieces of metal on the street are quite common where I live in and even with the hightened awareness these shoes may give you I would much rather not to stab my foot every time i go out. Plus i dont think shoes like this can be very heat protective. When the temperature outside is -10 and you are walking at least ancle deep in snow, beneath wich is ice, i think my feet will frostbite pritty quickly. And in the summer, when the temperature can get to like 35/37 degrees celsius walking on hot concrete can be a challenge. The idea of barefoot shoes seems great, but i don't know about the application outside of like california.
@@sielaa8406 perhaps the op shouldn't be saying the shoes won't work where you both live. Use your best judgment. If you have glass and metal everywhere that sounds like ppl need to clean up the town more mate.
I started wearing LEMs and CorrecToes toe spreaders a couple of years ago at age 75 to deal with a bunion that had been developing over time. After a few months the aches and pains in my lower back, knees, ankles and feet diminished significantly. I was maintaining my balance better, too. And, yes, over time the bunion has decreased and my toes spread more naturally now. It’s never too late to change and well worth it, even in your 70s.
This is really inspiring for a guy that's slowly approaching his 30s and has bunions as well! 🙌 ♥ ️ Thank you for sharing this, and I wish you a good feet health further on! And hopefully a relatively long life, so you can see all the AI wonders that are about to emerge! 👀
@@spencer-janay25 I have a couple of pair of LEMS Primal 2s that I wear most of the time. I subsequently bought Boulder boots for yard work, etc., Nine2Fives for wearing with slacks and a shirt, and Primal Zens for light hiking. So, I’ve pretty much transitioned from traditional footwear. Not going back. I’m not claiming LEMS are best for everyone. There are a lot of good products in this market segment. If you’re going to try LEMS, I’d suggest starting with the Primal 2. They’re not expensive and give a good introduction. They’re also the most mature LEMS product from a development point of view.
i don't normally watch this kind of content but his camera personality is just so freaking great. i have no clue how but its super calming to watch his content. i wish more people actually had chill attitudes like this guy.
I find him annoyingly chirpy. It's almost like he is drunk with amazement at everything. He's making claims as if they were obvious fact and that everyone is doing it wrong. Appeal to nature fallacy. Try running barefoot see how far you get.
Started barefoot running 2015 and ran in Saucony Hattori for 2 years. Ran Lidingöloppet twice which is a terrain race over 30k in Sweden, Lidingö. I had started running in sand every summer vacation and found it to be very effective. Dont remember when i read the book "born to run" or where i learned about the stride. Setting down your feet in the center of gravity, neutral positioning of foot comes natural with that, pushing your hips forward, breast out and shoulders back. Bought Vibram fivefingers early on and was jibed by my kids and others looking. Enjoy your barfeet running. Its never gonna get freer if you dont take off your shoes entirely which i have been doing on som nice 10k tracks. Totally bare is fantastic
I have worn almost nothing but sandals on my feet for nearly half my life now except at work, and I've noticed that with regular shoes, not just my toes, but my entire foot gets forced into uncomfortable positions by my shoes. And it makes being on my feet for work incredibly painful. Of course, a few prior untreated injuries in my ankles doesn't help that, but at least with my sandals, my feet don't feel like I'm only using the outer edge of my foot to walk.
I am from Argentina and i started using this traditional "ALPARGATAS" like 7 years ago (i'm 30), they have all the benefits you talk about and they are very, very cheap. Truly a big change for my feet, and I love them.
I have been in minimal shoes since 2008 and haven’t looked back. I’ve been rocking Vibrams from day one and had about quite a few pairs over the years. My lower back and knee pains I had faded away and I noticed my gait and posture improved greatly. I wear them for everything everywhere. I love feeling the environment I walk on as well.
maybe you started exercising more when you decided on these shoes or being more healthy in general, but your frikkin toe shoes didnt make your back pain go away. all you doctors in here need to get a grip. i think your healing crystals might have gotten into your brain
@@markheinle6319 I was running already prior to wearing these. The extra padding in the “regular” shoes actually atrophies the muscles in the feet and keeps the toes out of the mix when moving and balancing. As a result, other muscles and joints receive unnecessary stress and also strain easier. We evolved to walk barefoot and shoes with cushioning in them bypass that evolution. Also, by putting yourself up on a platform with soles of “regular” shoes you make yourself a little more susceptible to ankle injuries. That is why I continue to wear my minimal shoes, toe shoes or otherwise. It has worked for me so I will continue to use what works. Thanks for your opinion!
Bare in mind also that if the feet muscles aren't activated appropriately , the stress travels along the ankles, knees, hips, spine. I walk a lot bare foot, wear minimalist shoes and never wear shoes at home.
Due to a skin condition, I was required to wear Birkenstock sandals for two years. Birkenstocks retrained my calves and toes. Even after I had to go back to close-toed shoes (worksite safety), my toes are still splayed quite a bit. I definitely prefer to go barefoot indoors whenever I can.
I love Birkenstocks. I always notice them 'cause they're such a Caucasian person's shoe. A dude last year on '90 Day Fiance' wore then all the time, and we laughed all the time. #BIRKENSTOCKSARMY
My mom wears them all the time,because her grandmother wore them all the time. She’s 100% Chinese. But, I guess she has good foot muscles because she has to have Ben wearing them for at least thirty years.
Working in construction, we wear steel toed boots everyday. The wide toes let's us have more comfort when wearing them. Because of its weight, our legs and feet gets stronger over time to bear the weight. The random crap on the ground like rocks, wood and metal makes us roll our ankles a lot, but it doesn't hurt for us since our foot adapted to the environment we work in. It sure is fun to see how different shoes and environment forces our bodies to adapt our feet.
I've worked for ten years in different labourer positions and can't work in steel boots anymore. Too narrow and too much stuff material underfoot. There may be a few brands with new boots out now being a little wider but they are still stupid to walk in for posture.
great video ! i did the change a few years ago, and my feet changed. I went insanely slow at switching, like 20mn in the woods, then more. then upward motion, but still 20mn walks. after one year: first 1h of hiking, and so on. Now I feel great and can walk a lot longer without fatigue than with shoes. The stress of hiking if spread on the whole leg it's totally different, it doen't exacerbate the use of a few muscles. Our bodies are brillant miraculous designs!!
I've been looking into the barefoot shoe for a while. I've had plantar fasciitis for 20 years, so im always looking for what's new there. Ive tried just about everything. I bought a pair of vivobare hiking shoes. I tried them yesterday for the first time. I went for a walk around the block, and by the time I was done I was almost crawling! My calves hurt so bad! I work out my calves regularly to help, but apparently I havent been doing nearly enough. Its not going to be easy, but I think its going to be better. Let the strengthening begin!
Thanks for sharing. Born up north taking my shoes off at home as not to drag dirt inside was the norm. Moved to the sunshine state in my teens and I am happiest shoeless wherever I can get away with it, I plan on expanding my desire to go barefoot to more places with barefoot shoes. Mike, I enjoyed your presentation, you have a really relaxed natural vibe.
As a person who has always had space between their toes as well as always wearing flat shoes with the thinnest sole, I can tell you that this video is great! I've always found trainers extremely uncomfortable with instand pain in my calf and toes as soon as I've put them. From a young age I've run in flat shoes and everything was perfectly fine 😂 also when you go to beaches guys, try to walk barefoot there is much as you can!
I wore converse for years. Only reason I'm not now is because vans slip on shoes are so damn convenient, and my converse are talking back to me while I dont have the money to replace them. I wish they had more toe space though.
@@gorisenke I agree converse and vans don't have enough toe space. That's why even if my foot fits in vans it feels very uncomfortable on the front part of my foot at least for me. That's why the only brand my feet can fit in is a Spanish brand called Camper. So far I haven't found more comfortable shoes for me.
I had a pretty bad plantar faciitis. After researching, I've decided to consciously spread toes and wear shoes for their wide toe box. Literally that's all I did, and a year and a half later, I can jog again. My next goal is to ease into barefoot shoes.
I grew up in rural areas of southern Western Australia and never used to wear shoes unless I was at school or something of the sort. Running around completely barefoot never raised any problems and running through the dry bush land or over rough gravel roads was easy for me. However, once I moved to the city for university I obviously needed to wear shoes everywhere I went, and, soon enough, I was getting foot cramps whenever I ran because I started to condition my running to fit the shoes I was wearing. I also found that when I returned to the country my tender city feet were no match for the roads and the bush and I found that I needed to wear shoes in order to keep my feet unharmed. Kinda sad to be honest. I was also far more sure-footed and nimble in comparison to my city friends despite having the same athletic abilities as them, I assume this has to do with being conditioned to the natural way humans are supposed to use their bare feet to balance
Depends on your weight, because if you are tall and heavy you cant realy walk alot barefoot because surface of feet is not big enough for your weight, for example my lowest weight was 90kg or 205lb and i was super thin i even had striations on my chest, you could see any muscle on me and vains on my stomach, and you can walk barefoot on grass and soft land but if you live in rocky area, its realy hard to do, and when you get older you get heavyer i am now 100-110kg and I hate walking barefoot on peebles. And if i had to run on concrete barefoot i would desteoy my feet ib few mins, but if i had barefoot shoes concreet and rough surfeces would still be bad. I like trail runners but if i go to mountains or waliking on sharp rocks i will allways go for hiking boots, and my boots are fool of scars from sharp rocks and stuff like that, if i went in monutains in those shoes they would fell apart in maby 2 hours walking. Its all depends where you live, i dont want to go in mountains in normal running shoes because they will probably fell apart, and these are probably not different.
@@shmentleman9761 that is reason why children can go barefoot around without much problems, but larger you are bigger feet you need but they dont grow enough my shoe size is 47.5 and they are not big enough. Every summer on peeable beach i sucks and when i was elementaty school i would walk all summer barefoot but now i would be mad to do it.
Growing up in rural Vermont working on dairy farms and spending lots of time outside I never really wore shoes. It just feels amazing and really makes you feel good. I find it to be a really good stress reliever for a morning run, feeling the dew, getting the cold morning air on your feet, getting your feet torn up by gravel and dirt roads, only to heal up and be stronger the next morning. Its an amazing feeling and anytime I go to rural places to see family or go camping I go barefoot just to relax. I feel like learning how to run barefoot for most my life also allowed me to be even better at running in shoes, since I am a very good cross-country runner.
I've been wearing vivo barefoot shoes for about a year now and the pain I used to get from walking in normal shoes has gotten so much better. And people always compliment me on my shoes, so definitely normal looking!
Our ancestors didn't walk on flat concrete or marble 99% of the time, tho. I've found that Converse are a great in-between: flat sole to make you walk as nature intended, some padding to avoid your entire weight smashing on hard floors, and they don't look dorky. I use either those, outside, or flipflops at home, my fingers are pretty splayed despite their short length, I can grip stuff with them and I've only started having feet pains when I've had to start using safety shoes for work
I switched to barefoot shoes for the last year. It was a rough transition... but i'm so glad I stuck with it. Toe Spacers where the biggest thing for pain reduction. Calf pain was real... a massage gun was a must. Now, my feet are much stronger... my archs are stronger.
Ive had a ton of soreness every single day for the last few months as I’ve switched into some minimalist altras. Did you have lots of foot soreness everyday for a few months as well?
@@christianperi hii ! i switched to altra's a year ago and first month or even 3 months i had big sore feets like i couldnt even stand for 3 days straight because i did a full transition (actually i dont regret it) and then it just vanished the next day. now my feet, calves are waaay stronger and i have gain lot of balance aswell. i only wear those since. Have fun with them ;D
@@christianperi your welcome ;D it took me 3 to 4 days after a months wearing them. I had this huge soreness spike and it went away. id recommend massage them it helpes quite a bunch to ease it!
@@wilwaren8571 Oh okay I’ve been really sore for the last 2-3 months constantly everyday. I’ve done some massaging and foot baths which seem to help. I hope it all just goes away one day soon
I’m a bit late to the comments, but I’ve been wearing Vivo Barefoot shoes for 3+ years now, although not exclusively. I will say, as Mike Hanna says, you can’t just dive in and expect results. I personally do feet exercises such as practicing toe gripping or splaying my toes and strengthening movements for my arch. I’ve noticed a great improvement in my awareness of my feet and how I was walking, but I’m far from perfect. Also, the mind - muscle connection during squat movements has increased dramatically. I wear the hiking boots on my 10-20mile hikes and the connection I have with the rocks and terrain is impressive. I feel like my feet grip the rock, rather than just the tread gripping the rock. They’re definitely worth a purchase. Also, Born to Run is an amazing read, just because.
My transition was pretty interesting. After a motorcycle accident I always had pain in my lower back. The very first day wearing barefoot shoes I already felt my lower back loosen up and since then I never had this problems again. I can only recommend to try them out and feel for yourself how conventional shoes are putting your feet into very narrow cages.
@@theowels5773 Heyho! Yup, I'm wearing a mix of normal and barefoot shoes. I don't have problems wearing regular shoes but they have to be wider now. My old shoes aren't fitting anymore because they are too narrow. My problems with my lower back haven't come back yet.
Recently on a lark, my wife picked up a copy of Born to Run. I'm not a runner but I tore through the book, super interesting and enlightening. Years ago I had picked up a pair of new balance minimus shoes and still had them in the closet, barely used. I didn't get it before but after reading the book it all made sense. They are now my go-to shoes. First was some lower shin pain but that went away after a couple weeks. Love how I can feel the contours and texture of the ground, my feet naturally conform to it and it just feels more natural and freeing, like being a carefree kid running around barefoot. My feet feel stronger and better. I don't see going back to "regular" shoes anytime soon.
Be VERY careful if you go with minimalist shoes. I tried to transition to these, using both Vibram Five fingers and other minimalist shoes. I even tried to workout barefooted regularly. I developed painful bone spurs in my heels and ankles. My ankle flexion is greatly reduced to this day. I also got a shard of metal stuck in the sole of my foot that was lodged in there for months. It was so deep I had to wait for it to get pushed out naturally. I then had pain in that area for years. I had shin splints, achilles pain, my calves were wrecked, I developed pain in my spine because walking was so jarring without a cushioned shoe. In general, it was really bad for my health. If it works for you, more power to you. But like the guy says in the video, be very careful and take it slow if you're going to adopt barefoot/minimalist lifestyle. Now I wear really cushioned shoes and have much less pain.
@@sheddy22Depends on how you walk/run. Most people land on their heels, which doesn't cushion your landing as opposed to using your mid foot. When you land on the balls of your foot(mid foot) the impact goes to your calves first while heels go straight to your spine
@Alaskanman That sounds more like you are not running properly. If you are landing on your heels it means you are trying to run faster than what you are capable of generating power for. That is why you land on your heels. It is a very inefficient way of running. To my way of thinking you need to try to keep your center of balance forward over your stride, and if that is consuming power faster than you are generating it, you need to slow down. Running properly is the best way to maintain consistent stamina since it self regulates your power output to a sustainable level. If you are landing on your heels you are essentially pulling yourself forward, whereas if you land on or close to your center of your foot you are pushing yourself forward. Pushing is a lot easier and more efficient than pulling. Just changing your stride length slightly can have a dramatic effect on how running feels and the effects it has on your body.
I've stopped wearing shoes as much as I can during the pandemic and my toes have started to spread out. I've got less ankle pain, and I've started to develop calluses so now going outside doesn't hurt my feet. I love this. My old shoes don't even fit me anymore because my feet are too wide. They were wide to begin with. I've decided to buy myself a pair of barefoot shoes after the holidays to see how they work.
I've been barefoot almost all the time these last 10 or so years. Only wearing shoes for a few hours a week, especially during the winters (I live in Scandinavia.) And I think I have excellent foot/leg health. I never have the issues and pain that most people my age complain about (I'm 42.) I have flexible toes, I can spread them wide and wiggle then easily, I can grip things easily and lift things around. I can stand on the front pad for long periods and don't get strained fatigue. Walking/running in the sand is great. So yes, shoes are bad for foot health. Kinda proved it.
Started going minimalist a couple years ago, and went too hard too soon. Definitely got pains on a few occasions. Started with some Merrells with a Vibram sole, jumped around with trail-running shoes which had an open toe box and just a little cushioning. Now I'm into Altra's minimalist shoes. Pretty happy with those. A lot of the advice you gave holds up well. Have a cushioned shoe around for days where it's necessary. I use mine after Leg Day to help with soreness.
@@heymikehanna not really a thing yet.. but in german ballengang, in english forefood walking... fore when you walk quicker... still heel up hill though! forefood down hill es mui importande
I just posted here recommending Emily Splichal's book 'Barefoot Strong' to aid with trsnsitioning to barefoot. Wish I'd had it eight years ago when I first went barefoot, but better late than never. Even after all that time, I'm still finding her exercises vital in strengthening the muscles - all the way up my leg - that were weakened by wearing traditonal footwear.
In Mexico my uncles and grandpa always wore huaraches even to work in the crop fields or construction they wore them by choice but they said it helped them with feet, knee, hip and back problems as they grew older and they would walk for hours going up into the mountains for lumber for their wooden burning stoves
Usually I don't wear shoes. I was born (in 1959) to live barefoot ! 🦶🏼☺🦶🏼 In fact, humans have evolved barefoot and the feet are well-equipped to handle any problems they might encounter on the ground. Aside from accidentally stepping onto something that might be painful (e.g. a Lego) you’ll be fine. In fact, it’s much healthier to go barefoot, than to let your foot sweat inside your shoe, creating a dark, damp and warm environment, perfect for the growth of bacteria and fungi. Aside from that, your average modern shoe is too narrow for the human foot, meaning it will compress and eventually deform your foot causing all kinds of issues.
I watched the whole video to the end mainly because of your positive vibe, it is so strong! Like you’re emanating some form of happiness to the world merely by talking, smiling, etc. Thanks for the information too, I haven’t dig deep into barefeet lifestyle but I do wear one pair of finder-splitting socks from time to time …and also I’m the kinda guy who would definitely wear that 1st pair of barefoot shoes you showed (those are really strange, I agree, but they also positively surprise me as a hybrid being, shoes which are socks-like))
Back in the pandemic, since I did not needed to go outside for anything, I weared sandals every day for 2 straight years. My feet look really good. Not any problems at all. My balance is great. I think I did good.
Similar experience with cold showers: Took a few years to fully adapt (wintertime was the hardest), but: My hands & feet are never cold or stiff anymore, can enter water of any temperature (as long as it's liquid) without chills and never ever cought cold since. Back to basics. Also my wife and daughter love me for never spending their hot showering water :)
that has nothing to do with the video. You making a senerio up in your head doesn't make it true. have fun with your cold showers and your fantasy world where that makes a difference.
@@Sir...... You seriously thought and took the time to comment that? LMAO how original I haven't heard that probably since I got out of elementary school.
@@Sir...... And you should probably go look up the meaning of words that you don't know instead of just repeating what you heard other people say at the nursing home
I've been using the Five Fingers shoes for about 10 years now : I only run with them (trail running and running in the streets), I used them for hiking, for canyoning, for kayaking. The've been the shoes I bring when I travel, because a pair (in my size) weighs about 130g. But you do have to run differently, not so much heels first, have to take smaller steps, and check where you're stepping... But I wouldn't go back. And in 10 years of using them heavily, I've only gone through 2 pairs.
Made the swap at about 17. Went cold turkey on the “supportive” shoes. First two weeks felt like my feet would fall off. My ankles hurt so much. But once the muscles toughened up and I started doing drilling in the minimal shoes… just wow. Your ankle support muscles literally turn from mush into stone. 10 years later and I will never go back. My knees and back are healthier than ever. Occasionally I turn my ankle in a way that would have been a full sprain back when I wore sneakers and my ankle just takes it and moves on. A few steps and the pain has already worn off. Our feet and ankles are meant to support our bodies for a lifetime. Stepping in a little hole shouldn’t put you out of commission for a week. If you baby something in your body it gets weak. We know this about back braces, how do we not know it for shoes? People literally wear an ankle brace every day from the time they’re a toddler. It’s just not healthy.
Imagine wearing these shoes. There are plenty of normal supportive and cushioned running shoes with space for toes to splay out. Toe spacers??? They didn’t have that 10000 years ago. And the pain doesn’t go away! This is pseudoscience that will injure the average human. if you are distance running 30 miles a week this will destroy your feet. The cushions are there to help your feet handle the constant pounding of running. If you don’t cushion them properly you will get tendonitis or some other injury.
I agree I have family in the south and the would run on barefoot and rocks all day and im like how lol I was a wimp my feet would hurt so bad because I wear shoes!
@@enolopanr9820 ya this is all woo and psuedoscience in here. pretty easy to figure out about 20 seconds into the video with the 'ancient peoples' trope. ancient peoples had all kinds of chronic and acute injuries constantly. saying 'ancient peoples did it' is fun history, not medical advice. The OP is a crank peddler. @heymikehanna issue an apology and refrain from giving any more medical advice online, ok?
I was really lucky that I grew up like many Australian kids, running around outside with bare feet. I think that made transitioning to wearing barefoot shoes really easy and removed a lot of my foot, leg and back pain very quickly.
I always injured myself at running before barefootshoes. I tried anything, but I always ended up injured after a few months. But then I started wearing barefoot-shoes - I can say same than you, it totally changed my feet for the better. My calves are insanely strong, my ancles very flexible and I love the sensation of actually feeling what's going on under my feet while I walk or run. Also my running improved a lot, I am faster and I can run so much further with these. The downside: I can't wear normal shoes anymore haha, I get instant knee pains from shoes with higher soles. Though Highheels are no problem anymore and I could wear them the entire day thanks to the new calve- and ancle-strength
After years of basketball, as a child with super tight shoes, I had started to have bunions. I had then learned about parkour and switched to minimalist shoes (kung fu shoes) for years. It retrained how I walked, ran, and jumped, especially since landing poorly was painful. Got rid of the bunions and I have really strong feet and legs. Worked out for me for sure
I totally agree with your conclusion. I’ve made the switch to zero-drop/wide toe box footwear for almost a year now. So far so good. Keen work boots with Sole corkbed insoles for my 8-5 has been a lifesaver on my feet & back. My biggest gripe is with minimalist footwear companies exploiting the market with grossly overpriced footwear. Vivo being the biggest offender. Their shoes are easily $100 more than name brand ‘normal’ shoes. They also use far less materials in their construction!
Vivo are overrated anyway. Their soles aren't flexible enough. And there are plenty of other companies now offering decent barefoot shoes for less - Freet for instance.
@@once7966 That's weird, I thought I replied to this, but it seems to have disappeared. Sorry if it ends up appearing twice. I said Try Amazon. Lots of low-cost barefoot brands on there. Also Feiyue martial arts shoes are dirt cheap (£14.99 here in the UK) and are seen as barefoot by some since they're zero drop with a thin sole, though they toe box isn't wide, unfortunately. If you get them, get the original Chinese Top Ones (look for the green triangle on the sole) as they're both cheaper and said to be better than the French ones. If you can stretch the budget a bit further, Splays are about $50 as far as I know. Haven't tried them, but they look good.
I recently got back to running with Pegasus 39 and Mach 4. After 2 months I stressed my Achilles tendon - I was using Hoka 5mm drop shoes twice a week, Nike shoes (10mm actually it's 8mm) also twice a week. Got some Brooks Glycerin 19 to recover a bit. Will try maybe once a week in Hoka shoes after I get bit more confident. Transitioning to low drop (not even zero drop) has been very hard for me as I am a runner, run on tarmac all the time pretty much. I think it's hard and can take time as all my life I never used low drop/minimal shoes. One thing I can tell: running in low drop shoes feels fun, more natural, you feel more connected to the road. But be careful and take it slowly especially if you're a runner and run on tarmac...
I did this whole thing back in 2009 when “born to run” came out. I fully bought in. Bottom line: I think the barefoot running thing is way too extreme for most people. Unless you hav been shoeless since childhood it’s not going to work. I’m barefoot around the house, even walking the dog. But for running I wear regular running shoes. I prefer the Kinvaras which have a wide toe box and a 4mm drop.
I don't think I am sold on this, but I am willing to listen and learn. I have had pretty extreme gout pain in the past and after 50 years of existence, I have found that my feet have flattened out and I wear a size larger than I did 25 years ago. What I really wanted to say is that you seem like a pretty interesting/cool guy and I enjoyed watching your video because of your personality.
My transition has been pretty easy, but I think it's due to the fact that I work from home and 70 percent of my time has been barefoot without even trying
Cool video, the issue I'm dealing with that i never heard of is that I'm diabetic and the disease has destroyed the fat pads in my feed giving me chronic ulcers. These can easily blow through your foot. My old doctors fail to identify these. And with my AC at 4.9 you would never think I was in danger. But I have already lost the 5th toe and middle foot boon got my third. the reason I'm posting is cause I never heard of anything like this. Also a by product now that I'm with a specialist that has help me be ulcer free is the fat pads that broke down migrated disforming my foot and toes. But folks need to be aware of this which is why I'm sharing my story.
I competed at national championships in bare feet. I was able to transfer more force than what running shoes allow but in some conditions shoes provided superior grip. My barefoot training was only done on soft ground, I used nike shoes for hard surfaces. Shoes in general restrict the large veins on top of your feet which reduces performance but you have to balance that with advantages shoes provide on undesirable terrain.
Since i was 7 i understood that we were the same as some 'cavepeople', only smarter. So i treated myself as such. Now, even at 30 years old i outperform everyone around me. I sit on my butt as much as i want, but when i do something, i push myself as hard as i can. This has led to me only weighing between 120 - 140 lbs, sprinting at 18 mph, climbing, jumping, swimming and a whole other slew of skills that people either do not have, or have not trained themselves enough in. You are a cave person, live like one in this modern era.
My barefoot journey started in Australia around 3/4 years ago. My walking/ feet had a lot of problems and then I was outdoors barefoot or in "thongs" daily and started to notice the difference. However, I also spent the past 5 years in steel-toe-capped boots for up to 16 hours a day. Fast forward to 2019 when I jumped into barefoot shoes, I started doing the exercises daily, wearing toe spacers and walking on balance beams. Choosing to be barefoot as often as possible and correcting all the posture issues that poor footwear and habits had introduced. I can relate to the heel/ calf tightness (only on one side) there are a few reasons this happens-. Over-correction, tight Hip flexors, and hips being out of alignment because of poor habits/posture and footwear. I often get funny looks and comments, especially if anyone sees me walking around the house in toe spacers. However, I let them laugh because I am loving the results. I have a long way to go to where I want to be but I'm glad I started the healing journey.
out of curiosity are you still wearing steel caps? If so is there a brand thats specifically good or do you just wear them for work and wear barefoot shoes outside?
@@punani_slayer4209 It took a few months, the problem was I was making improvements but then cramming my feet back into work boots which were not ideal. Right now I have had a lot of improvement, combining the foot exercises-barefoot shoes- and a Movement/strength program. I'm no expert, but I had the same issue. My feet pulled my hips out of alignment and gave me a weak back. So far that's recovering especially as I joined the program to strengthen the body through correct movement and mobility.
I bought into this back in 2009 when I read “born to run” like everyone else. Bottom line, I think that it’s too extreme for most people unless you grew up shoeless in some kind of native tribe situation. That said, I prefer to be barefoot whenever I can be. It’s “natural” and feels good. But for running I wear mostly conventional running shoes. Believe what you want about form and biomechanics but concrete is not “natural” and loading up constant miles barefoot on concrete is likely to produce injuries unless you have developed your system through a lifetime of barefoot/minimalist running. Even then, what do the loads of Kenyan runners wear? None go barefoot, even training on their dirt roads. Of course, anyone can make their own choices. I’m just sharing my perspective as someone who’s done this and put a lot of thought and effort into it. By the way, Altra makes a zero drop leather casual work shoe that looks great. It’s the only shoe I wear to work. Ever. Super wide toe box. Zero drop. Nice cushion. Check it out.
The irony is that some of the Tarahumaras started wearing shoes after transitioning to popular ultra races. I don't think there is anything wrong with either minimalist or normal shoes as long as you have an appropriate technique. I can't say I'd see myself running in minimalist on steep rocky or muddy trails and slopes, although I've never tried.
Everyone who is poor and runs barefoot or in barefoot options (tires etc) wear real shoes the second they are able to. This minimal stuff is so American you know where all the great runners come from….. ohh wait that’s Ethiopia and Kenya, you know where the minute they can afford shoes they get shoes lol 😂
@@davidrosenthal5795 I don't disagree but for a lot of people minimalist shoes help. There needs to be more shoe that have the regular cushion and all that but shape better and wider to box.
It makes sense that that there are some shoe designs that will enhance performance. Every runner in the top professional marathons I see are wearing shoes. Most of us are not trying to perform at a pro level, and that is a good thing, because being a pro is bad for your health. It also makes sense that moving around in a way closer to the way we evolved to walk and run is better for our feet and joints. I think that is the spirit of this video, we might have less orthopedic problems going forward if we keep it simple. I have been wearing minimalist shoes for years and love them. I do play basketball and for that I like current shoe designs, but for everything else, I am barefoot or minimal shoes.
@@davidrosenthal5795 of course they get shoes. most dont know about minimalist shoes all they care about is not hurting their feet on runs like it happens when you go barefoot
Changed work completely about 4 years ago. From office to workshop, standing almost all day long. With required work boots (steel toes, S3). Then my heels and all my foot started to hurt. By Wendsday, I couldn't imagine how to make it to Friday. I bought "better" inlay soles. Didn't get better. Until I analyzed and informed myself. Threw all the inlays out. No longer tighten the shoes, but try to have an as lose as possible fit and give as much space as possible for my feet. Pay attention on how I walk. And bought barefoot shoes. Things are getting way better! I wear the barefoot shoes whenever possible. When going shopping, when having a walk, when riding on the bike. And now, the work boots are bearable again, the pain is almost gone.
Very nice that you mention the dangers of walking/running as if you had normal shoes on. I wore my barefoot shoes (with toes) for the entire first day when I bought them. Didn't have a problem in the joints or back (even though I'm not exactly physically fit), but damn, I had sore calfs the next day. My problem with them is that I live in a place where it rains a lot and gets pretty cold in winter, so I can't wear them all year round. Some of the sellers claim that your feet are so well supplied with blood in barefoot shoes - as opposed to normal shoes that hinder the blood flow - that you can wear them in winter without getting cold feed. That's bullshit in my case at least (or rather: only works if you're runnin and your pulse is at 180). Once the shoes get wet, my feet are freezing within minutes.
For real, there needs to be a design to cover up the toes with a toe box for both aesthetics and warmth. Keep the shoe wide as fuck, who cares, no one wants to see toes.
As a person who prefers being barefoot as much as possible to the point where finding me even in socks is rare, this is great! I love the thought of running and have tried it several times but never really got into it mostly because I hate how tight and restrictive it is! Whenever I try it I could feel my toes wanting to spread out and move but not being able to. Kind of like a corset on my feet. It's nice to know alternative options exist. Maybe I'll try again.
@@markheinle6319 You're missing the point. When you run or walk your feet aren't just slapping the ground. Your feet and toes are actively spreading, moving, gripping and working to give you as much purchase as possible to make sure each step is as stable as possible. You don't get that in shoes because you don't need that in shoes. I am used to my feet working for me. Running is active so I expect my feet to be more active and they are but they’re also confined in a shoe. It doesn’t matter the toe box size. It's like wearing mittens while trying to bake a cake. Your hands know what they are supposed to do but aren't allowed to fully do it. So it becomes annoying because of how restricted you are.
@@LibraFvr019 oh ya so ive heard! its a wonder that soccer players arent crippled by 25 with all that time spent in their cleats. the back pain and knee pain ... they can probably barely move by 28, right? the shoes must have destroyed their bodies. right? theres no way they are in masterful physical shape right? because the cleats had to have destroyed their musculoskeletal system. right?
@@markheinle6319 -_- that's the best you got? Sarcasm? Ok. So basically, you’re saying: “What are you talking about? Look at all the professional chefs who can bake cakes with mittens! If they’re able to do it then clearly there is nothing wrong or room for improvement! No one is getting hurt, so why worry about it! All those videos of soccer players pretending to get injured during a game to get an advantage are just doing it for kicks. It’s not like leg and knee injuries actually happen that often! Runner’s knee? Aw, don’t worry about that! No connection at all! I know we’re built to be persistent hunters who can run miles for hours on end with little need for rest. And I know runner’s knee (I wonder why it’s called that?) is most likely caused by imbalances in the leg muscles that might be connected to your feet and how it moves, but there’s no connection. We don't need our toes to run better! Just like we don't need our fingers to bake a cake! It’s just silly to think otherwise!” Is that about right?
I can't speak to technical running shoes, but I wear hiking boots all the time and have no trouble with toe splay or that corset feeling. Have you gotten professionally measured for the right shoe? I walk barefoot fairly often, but the minimalist shoes I tried did nothing but hurt my feet. Now I don't leave the house without orthotics, or I am limping for days. To be fair, my ankles are messed up and have high arches, so my situation may not be relavent to you. The opinion of the doctors I've seen is minimalist shoes are a fad that turned into a nightmare of foot problems for people.
The other barefoot shoe you showed (the white one) really looked similar to what surfers would wear if they weren't barefoot. Really breathable, flexible footcovers basically. I wore them once and it really gave me a chance to realize that walking in them was way more comfortable, if a bit more painful due to having barely anything between my foot and sharp-ish rocks. Except they didn't have laces, but a sort of elastic band around the part that goes around your ankle.
Born and raised here in Chihuahua, where the raramuri (Tarahumara) live and there's one slight detail about their sandals I wanted to tell you: This is a desert, so most of the year is dry land with almost no plant life because of the lack of rain. The terrain is cover with dry plants full of long hard thorns, sharp rocks, and toritos (is what we call those little round balls full of thorns that stick eveywhere, specially in the socks). So the raramuri makes them out of old tires, it gives their feet freedom while protecting them from those elements. So take into consideration the terrain and calluses on your feet when buying those barefoot shoes, cause I can tell you from experience that those are not practical in terrains like ours. So when he says that you can feel a rock, in places like this you'd feel a really sharp pain from being stabbed in the foot by a smal ponty rock (I've felt it even with regular shoes)
What I will say is that slowly implementing Vibram Five Fingers into my running definitely made my feet and lower legs much stronger. It's strange to admit, but running barefoot on hard concrete now is rather comfortable.
I’ve transitioned to them over a couple years starting in 2005, at this point it’s a huge struggle to wear anything else. Walking on cobblestones is the best foot massage!
It was an extremely painful transition for me. I thought I had strong legs but my calves were atrophied after decades of heel landing. Awesome if you can make the switch, takes dedication.
Great video! I started using barefoot shoes during the vibram craze. The transition to barefoot running is very difficult and it took several months running on flat grass before my feet and calves were strong enough. I was taught bad running form in my youth and I had lots of knee pain from running. After switching to the barefoot shoes my knee pain went away and my calf muscles got much stronger. Running in vibrams feels great and I highly recommend it. I cringe when I see people in the current trend of chunky hoka style shoes!
Dang Mike! I wasn't expecting you to get people so fired up over sharing your barefoot experience. I think what some people need understand is the majority of us in the US have been wearing some sort of shoe or boot with support in it since we were children. So when you quickly take all of that away, it can cause all sorts of problems. Just take your shoes off and walk down a gravel road. If your feet aren't used to it, you will probably experience discomfort. We were designed to be barefooted, but we were also designed to be logical. You wouldn't go out in the cold naked or you would freeze to death. The same thing applies to your feet. I am a long distance runner and I have ran in just about every type of shoe. I do believe FOR ME that less is better, but I know that isn't the case for everyone. I do encourage people to try to go without shoes as much as they can because it does help your feet, but be smart about it. Do what is best for you and your feet, but be open minded about trying new things. I do recommend limiting the amount of time you train on concrete no matter what shoes you wear. You can run fast on concrete because it doesn't give, but it can beat you up pretty bad. Unfortunately most sidewalks and running "trails" are concrete. For me, actually dirt trails have really improved my feet. However, you really have to pay attention to keep from tripping over something. So there are kind of trade offs. Whatever you do, don't quit and keep running! The benefits are worth it!
I love being barefoot, its so strange to see people not be able to be barefoot for extended periods of time. When I was a kid climbing all kinds of things I definitely did hurt my feet a lot but its still so much more comfortable
As someone who loves being barefoot and since I was a kid always played barefoot, everything you listed is what I do in my normal life and that explains why I never got a sprain or anything on my foot while playing instead of my friends who always got a sprained foot or a damaged ankle
Our kids (and my husband) love barefoot running and walking. We do get a lot of negativity towards our large family about it, but equally we have had some encouragement too. Thanks for the video, you have just inspired me to give it a go.
I did the same thing of jumping in cold turkey, and man that first month my feet hurt so much. I love them so much now. My feet don't really tire, and the best part is my back pain has dramatically reduced (I have a pars fracture of the L5). It's pretty nuts too how my feet literally look different and wider.
Thanks - I've done bf running for quite some time - one advise: You can severely hurt yourself if you train like an idiot. Basically like me. My first run was 30 minutes which is plainly dumb. All your muscles need to adapt to the new situation. If you go brute force with your buddy, you will feel it quickly. And your calves are pretty prone to long lasting and veeery annoying injuries. So go for 5 minute routines daily and increase week by week. Also: Immediately stop if you feel discomfort and walk it off. Running through the pain achieves nothing. Trust me - I was literally sidelined for 6 months because of allowing myself to train bf running like an idiot.
I also read “Born to Run,” and bought into the Vibram Five Finger Shoes a few years ago. My transition to walking with them was simple, just lift your heels off the ground and walk on the balls of your feet. There are people who are born what they call “Pigeon Toed,” and naturally walk that way. It has me wondering, if that is actually the way humans were meant to walk. The arches of your feet are like leaf springs, facilitating one’s agility and nimbleness. While the heel is meant for you to rest or settle on, only when you are stationary to maintain balance. The balls of one’s feet are more akin to the paws of a cat or dog, which is why that area of the foot is more padded and tends to callous more… It’s interesting, the more we learn, the more we realize that simplicity is more beneficial… 🤔
I do believe the heel is used in the stride, but not with any weight on it. After 6 years minimal I've found that although my heel technically touches the ground first, the weight doesn't come on until the forefoot is in contact with the ground before supinating to provide propulsion with my big toe the last part to leave the ground before repeating. It's less striding forwards and more pushing backwards.. it pains me to see minimalist shoe wearers smashing their heels into the ground..
After i read this i starting thinking when i walk outside in the summer barefoot i always walk on forefoot. I’m also a forefoot runner but that’s for another video lol
My boss has early onset Parkinson’s and she recently in the last year starting to wear barefoot shoes to help strengthen her feet to improve her balance while standing and walking
You mention dogs & cats - I’ve read the dew claws on the side of the ‘ankle ‘ & pad an inch or so above the foot at the back were originally flat to the ground ( put hand ; palm down flat on the surface , then lift up leaving fingers to illustrate) so those animals were originally flat footed & evolved to ‘tip toes’ leaving the redundant digits & pads higher up the limb .. Your comment is definitely food for thought !
@@sarahsue4065 If you can bare it, in the film “American Werewolf in London,” there is a very interesting transformation scene that demonstrates well, a more detailed though graphic physiological comparison of human to canine/ feline anatomy. For the purpose of this discussion, pay particular attention to how the hind legs and paws come to form… 🤔
I have been a barefoot proponent for all of my life. Now, as I approach my mid 60s, I am finding that my feet hurt more when I go barefoot than when I wear a shoe with arch support. I have very high arches (I used to leave two prints - toe and heel - for each foot in wet beach sand) that now require arch support. To be fair, If I could lose 30 pounds, I would probably be good with being barefoot. The bottom line is - take care of your feet.
You can retrain your feet. What happens with regular shoes is your plantar muscles atrophy. The pain you feel is probably you re-engaging and training those muscles. I’m not a professional in this area but I did notice that when I had plantar fasciitis and wore my five finger shoes, the problem went (and stayed) away after a few months of wearing them.
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/1.gif)
Nike didn’t want people running on their heels. That’s called an over stride. Most people over stride because they are weak from a sedentary lifestyle not because of the shoes they were wearing. Go run a sub 3hr marathon in those toe shoes and let me know how you feel on the road. Now I can’t hate on the toe shoes completely, I raced 5K’s in the grass in these shoes which is a completely different impact then road racing. Minimalist shoes are great to help with feet strengthening which in returns offers great health benefits. But dude don’t go telling people to do all their runs in these even through “progression”. Countless studies have shown that using these all the time will result in injury if you are doing high mileage.
Would you mind citing those studies? Never read any about that
where the studies are m8 Im waiting
Dude, stop being an idiot. Who cares if Nike did it on purpose or wanted it. It’s had an effect. That’s not argue-able. But you know these guys wrote books on jogging, right? Jogging is bullshit btw
‘Countless studies’ and yet doesn’t cite one.
I’m sure Nike doesn’t care if you heel strike or not. The point is, modern running shoes encourage the same old instant gratification which we are all used to within our modern society. Want to run 5k straight away? Do so in cushioned shoes and risk nothing! The point is, there’s more to it and it has implications on the body which are overlooked. If one trains efficiently and properly, one can make whatever shoe their standard - including a minimal-barefoot running shoe. It’s entirely possible and honestly likely more injury safe once that appropriate transition has been completed. Your comment only proves your inherent ignorance and bias.
There are African tribes that still persistence hunt and they don’t wear shoes lol
Then again those Africans are bigger badasses than all of us 😂
My theory on soul shoes has to do with concrete being everywhere and there is little to no dirt and grass to walk on for many people.
I have noticed that when I go barefoot on concrete my feet will very quickly become sore, but when I go barefoot on any more natural terrain my feet are fine.
Magnetics bro
@@kingjim9619 what
@@kingjim9619 seriously what even
Friction. Concrete is like the most coarse sandpaper ever. Every step involves SOME slide and those micro-slides add up to literal burns on your feet. Nevermind the actual heat of some pavement.
Grass and dirt are comparatively MUCH softer. Even gravel is softer than concrete because the poky granules move when you step and aren't rigid.
@@Super-Herb I would say that the soreness probably would be attributed more to the high density of concrete and not the high friction between feet and concrete. But your point still stands.
Growing up in Western Australia, I went barefoot more often than I wore shoes. Playing outside was always barefoot. I married a Canadian and moved to Canada where my partner always told me to put some shoes on - even in summer. Within a year, I was a regular at the podiatrist. 10 years later, back in Australia and shoeless again, no more foot pain. As an English friend once commented on my feet, "I can see daylight between every one of your toes". 😄
Why did you put your foot on your friend's face? 🤔
Hope you guys are still married.
bro i hope
f mbfn
Still married? 😂
I don't know anyone who's ever gone to a foot doctor.
Something to consider, our ancestors didn’t walk on hard concrete surfaces the whole time. I’ve tried barefoot. I’m all in about having wide shoes with no arch. But I realized that a bit of padding prevents me from getting knee pains I got when wearing barefoot shoes….
That is exactly the point. I study my masters in a biomechanical field and you are adressing the major problem with barefoot walking. Nowadays, we walk on streets, sidewalks, stone floors and so on. It's solid surface with up to no dampening. Our ancestors mostly walked in forests and on lands with softer and more divers terrain. Thats the big difference. Sand, forest like undergrounds or just grassy fields are the best and healthiest surfaces to walk on without modern shoes. But walking on a solid concrete sidewalk is just not healthy. Bones and ligaments in the ankle and knee joint will suffer in a long run.
Little fun fact. Tribes in Africa which walk on the solid drought-ground often show Pes Planus.
@@lolandall915what kind of should would you recommend?
@@mikehunt3420 for running, a good running shoe that's not too soft. For casual walking, normal shoes with a proper insole to support the natural curviture of your foot and also maybe help with foot problems like pes planus or pes cavus. And if you do a lot of walking in a forest or on sand, maybe try a barefoot shoe
@@lolandall915 You realize bones and ligaments can be strengthened to the point of walking on hard ground with no problems? No you don't want to do it too much when you start barefoot walking as that can lead to pain and possible injury which is why you're supposed to ease yourself into it over time (and still take breaks as needed). I started running completely barefoot on grass at a local park over 3 years ago. Eventually I bought barefoot shoes 2 years ago for safety reasons because I nearly stepped on broken glass from a bottle someone threw near the area (off the grass) where I kept my reg shoes.
The way you walk or run can be the difference between being comfortable and pain free or injury-prone. Traditional running shoes (or basketball shoes which I used to run in most of my life) had me running on my toes and 3 years ago was when it caused Achilles problems which made me have to stop running for a bit. Running in barefoot shoes on the concrete sidewalk was painful until I learned how to land correctly on the balls of my feet. I never got hurt after that. It was basketball shoes that caused me to have collapsed arches for a few months when I was probably in high school at the time. I never had high arches but I assume all the running playing basketball and other sports caused my feet to go flat temporarily. Going barefoot did the opposite. My arches are very strong and healthy now on any surface I walk or run on. Wearing reg shoes (even sandals with elevated heel) does nothing but cause the foot pain to come back and have me limping up and down the stairs again.
I also do exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees (have Osgood-Schlatters disease in my left knee since I was 10 years old so over 20 years, and tendonitis in my right knee since I was 16 from jumping incorrectly too much) many of which I learned from Knees Over Toes Guy like walking or jogging backwards, Tibialis toe raises and others. The barefoot training enhanced everything and my outer calves have grown like I've never seen in my life (I always had smallish calves compared to most of my friends of similar height). All those things have contributed to getting my knees on a healthy path (still in progress as I recently started doing the exercises again after a hiatus of 9 months or so).
I doubt they teach you in school that the body can be built up to do amazing things over time. It seems like schooling discourages from doing many exercises that either strengthen the joints or that are for people who have strong joints already. I say this because I had a friend who went to school in a medical field for 4 years and another 2 years of post-grad education (used to some EMT work and is now a doctor's assistant if I recall correctly) and tried to discourage me from martial artist-like moves (that I trained my body to do, I was not reckless) such as wrist pushups which I only did occasionally on soft surfaces like yoga mats, grass or carpet (never on hard floor or ground). I've studied how the body will adapt and toughen itself up when exposed to certain stimuli. Proper education of this is necessary and should not be discouraged out of fear while unsafe "medicines" are promoted and encouraged (and cause joint pain, weight-gain, memory-loss, weakness, loss of consciousness ect. ahem Seroquel). But then again the point of academic institutions is to prepare you to acclimate yourself to their system so that's all they're good at.
***What "Tribes in Africa" on you talking about? "Solid drought-ground" where? Many parts of Africa are luscious and green so what region and what tribes are you referring to?
North Africa like Egypt or Morocco? East Africa such as Ethiopia or Kenya? Where? This ambiguous "Africa" nonsense needs to stop. It has just about every terrain and environment you can think of so if you have no actual knowledge of location or peoples you can't give anyone a "fun fact."
Our ancestors most definitely walked on rocks and slabs of granite.
I've also been wearing similar shoes for the past 2 years or more. Using them is perfect for walking on grass, soft soil, or any natural environment, but the moment they're constantly used on hard concrete, the lack of cushion starts to propagate the impact felt from toe articulation up to the knee and hips.
So it me, it feels like we've somewhat designed shoes to adapt to our infrastructure, but in an ideal world, all hard concrete pavements would be swapped for synthetic running tracks to go with barefoot-like-shoes.
I used to walk 10 miles a day in my five toes I never had that issue, but I used to go barefoot all the time so maybe that's why.
I think ideally our paths should be natural as in ground and grass, like walking through a forest. Sadly convenience wins and we get tarmac and concrete.
Recently the fb algorithm was filling my feed with comparison footage of ww1/2 areas with same location in modern world, The difference was actually quite disgusting. Back then there were many verges and greens and natural footpaths.
@@Tenksen Although I agree for the most part, I disagree that there as never a time where we've walked on solid relatively level terrain, mountains, roadways, dry dirt etc
Exactly. It's all well and good in theory, but I have genuine curiosity to know how many of the "Internet naturalists" would react to some of the "less desirable" consequences of having only soil and grass all over the place rather than concrete and modern materias. Things like MUD...
Just have dirt paths
Two thoughts on my barefoot shoes:
1. I love mine, my back and complete posture is way better since I use them. I can walk/stand all day now, without having a sore back or aching legs.
2. I still think cusions are important for sports. If you run a lot, the cusion simulates loose ground (instead of stones), where our feet are designed to work. Without the cushioning effect, the periosteum can get irritated, which has to be treated with heat.
Check out altra shoes they have a wide toebox with various levels of cushion
I believe it has a lot to do with not putting all your weight on the heel, neither standing nor walking. The hard impact the "landing" on the heel give you is devastating to every joint in the lower body.
OF COURSE it's much more natural for both feet and body to let your feet do their job as intended for, but you can help the rest of the body, especially knees, hips and lower back, with just DON'T put weight on your heels when you walk (or run). You won't have the shockwave through the body every step, the shock will have a natural suspension spread out, also in the feet. It takes more muscle in the calves, which is a good thing, gives a better stability in your ancles, knees, hips and lower back. Which is good for the balance as well.
I have a terrible lower back, 4 hernias and arthritis, and old injuries in both knees. Everything has been significant better since I started to walk without putting pressure, weight, on my heels.
It took a month before it felt normal, and I didn't have to think about it.
Not only that it has helped me with the sometimes hellish back pains and instability in my knees, it is easier, I put much less effort in walking, but probably the same amount of energy, now spread out, less wearing of the least hurting, or already strongest joints. It's easier to spring off, the power comes from all joints, not only hips with stiff knees.
(Look at someone who hasn't been jogging/running since they were young or have pains somewhere. Stiff legs, landing every step either with a hard impact, bang!, or like "Ouch, ouch, ouch" , still stiff legs. The only thing that really moves are the hip joints, and you who watches can feel every impact, and how hard it is to to the whole body.)
Through advertising we have learned to "land on the heel and let the foot naturally roll over to the front foot" " Our brand of shoes absorb the shock and you can run for ever!" Sure... Suspension in the shoes still make you land so the ancles, knees, hips and spinal column, especially the lower take the hit of a large part of the forward power. Look at the short distance runners. I mean competition, speed. They barely use the heels, that stops the speed. They land on the front part of the foot, let the foot, knee and hip use the forward power and don't bounce anything upwards, all forwards. They don't land in front of them, they land almost beneath themselves, and let the foot spring off with a lot of power from the toes, because they haven't had that break in their speed, they don't have to use effort in keeping the body upright with putting energy upwards to. No crash impact, just going forward.
Of course you will need to push a little upwards when you run slower, but not using the heels reduce that.
@@annabackman3028 If you run, like 200m sprint run, you are going to put all that weight and force somewhere and it will cause a impact.
@@annabackman3028 tysm for the insight
"Toe shoes, they're shoes for toes, and twats!"
Just wanted to share my experience. After getting hurt all the time and after reading “Born to run” I switched to minimalist shoes. I ran with it for 5 years but after that I started experiencing pain in the bottom of my feet. I couldn’t run much and after running I would feel excruciating pain and had to give up running for sometime.
Now I run with thick cushioned Hooka shoes and so far happy with it. I still wear the minimal but mostly for walking.
Yes but that’s likely because you were running on concrete. Not on natural ground.
@@zippo_muk9254 ok we should only run on sand. Not reality for most people. Many people will end up injured if they use the barefoot method.
Sounds like planter ficiitis. Probably from pronation of the foot so arch is collapsing inwards.
@@gordonschiff3621 not sand, dirt trails
@@gordonschiff3621 Bozo ,no1 should run on concrete....it ruins your knees and ankles, every single person that trains or has any brains would tell you that . Always run on dirt or that fake gummy concrete ...
Wore these from 2009-2012. I have had chronic ankle tendinitis since 2014 that has cost me multiple jobs. I don’t blame toe shoes specifically, I was born fairly flat footed. They did however change my feet just enough to cause major problems for my life the past 9 years. I did finally get my really bad ankle surgically reconstructed this year in April. Unfortunately, I had a mental block and had to relearn to move that ankle properly. I hope I am finally out of the dark and can put this nightmare behind me. Please take caution, I do suggest if you are flat footed or have really high arches pass on these. My other two friends who started wearing them in 2009 with me and they still rotate them into their footwear today. That is why I cannot purely blame the shoes.
Im flat footed and have an early stage of bunion. Any tips u would like to provide
As someone with chronic Achilles tendinitis I feel u, it hurts like hell
I have the same problem. Are there any shoes that you would recommend in that case for people with flat feet? I have the same Achilles problem in addition to lower back pain. Any help is appreciated 🙏
@@hellcat7394 I am by no means an expert on foot health. I can only suggest what I have experienced. In 2014, I converted back to traditional shoes full time. An issue I had to get assistance with was understanding how shoes properly fit. I was still in the mindset of “my toes don't touch the end, they fit.” I was also blind to brands, I loved Nike and Vans primarily. Come to find out I wasn’t getting enough space in my toe box, the narrow width was causing issues. I was also informed my shoes had NO support! Which I knew with vans obviously, but I learned that podiatrists (the five I have seen) advise you to stay away from nike as well. If you can avoid surgery that would be ideal, this was the main reason it took 9 years for me to commit to surgery. Secondly, I know it's a commitment financially but Medical Custom Orthotic insoles are a must. I have have a few made, my advice is avoid ones that just “fit” into the heal area. A complete custom fitted insole that spans the length of the shoe are the only ones that make a difference for me personally. I have learned these past three years (I have been unable to walk due to my tenditis not going away at all) that there really isn't a price limit i’d be willing to pay to be healthy. Last tip would be if you have seen a podatrist more then 3 times and nothing changes, move on to the next one. I hope this isn't all just information you've heard and tried calling with little success. Because, I have honestly been there before and my mental health was tested greatly. Wishing you the best!
@@fannyaranda597 I will state I'm not an expert, I can just share things that have helped me. The only shoes I trusted wearing since 2018 are Hokas. They definitely aren't my preferred style, but my health greatly outweighs my vanity. My doctor who performed my surgery did ask if I ever tried ON clouds, I hadn't at the time but I have been wearing them ever since. You really want the models with the most cushioned support, Hoka Bondis (most cushion model) and Cliftons or ON cloud Cloudmonsters (most cushion model) Cloudstratus’ are ones I'd recommend. Though none of these suggested shoes are going to make a huge impact unless you are utilizing Custom made Medical Orthotic insoles, I know the upfront cost seems awful, but I myself will pay darn near anything to be able to hike and go to concerts again. With orthotics, don't waste and money if the insert just fits the heal area. You are wanting a custom insole the spans the entire length of the foot. My first set was a 280$ mistake because I didn't know any better. I really hope any of this information is new to you, personally I started hearing the same thing over and over with little change, and I started challenging my mental health as well. I wish you nothing but success and good health as you discover what works and what doesn't.
I have flat feet. I wore orthotics for 21 years. when I was in my late forties I read Ready to Run. I got rid of the orthotics, and I transitioned from the supper support shoes. I do woodwork in bare feet. When I am at home I rarely wear shoes. I lift waits, skip rope, high impact workouts without shoes. Note I took my time transitioning, it has been 3 or 4 years since I dropped the orthotics, I took my time, but now, I hike mountains, in sandals or minimals. I have had zero injuries. The only issue is I am still working on an ankle issue that I developed with the orthotics..... Oh yeah, I used to roll my ankles constantly (where the injury came from) because my foot was not flat on the ground.
Interesting, I usually describe my foots as duck feets. Flat and wide. Have had som problems as well. This might be something to try.
Safety! Never, ever be in a workroom without full shoes. I usually had on metal capped ones my husband bought me. ;0)
Thanks for this Jason, similarly I've worn orthotics for decades and have been worried about trying out bare foot but the more I hear stories like this I think it's the way to go. One bonus of Covid 'working from home' has been less time in shoes anyway, so I think I'm on a good trend. How are your calf muscles?
I also have a ankle injury because of orthotics. It’s so so frustrating. I wish I would’ve gone “barefoot” soonee
I got too much hardware in my right leg to distance run now however half way through my military career i learned about minimalist shoes and it eliminated almost all the pain i would get while distancing running . I used to feel old and broken distance running even in my low 20s using the standard big cushion shoes , then overnight i could run 4 miles pain free as a larger guy , even then i was 225 from all the weight lifting / power lifting . I think i need to start wearing them again when i go hiking , the only issue I've encountered with them is it is hard to do cutting movements in minimalist shoes so they werent good for athletic activity where you have to plant foot really hard and cut into another direction. I wonder if they have any out now that you can cut hard in .
I've always hated shoes and, to my mother's dismay, went barefeet as often as I could. I still wear shoes only when absolutely necessary and this explains a lot of things I've found weird about my feet. Why my toes split as I walk, why my feet are so flat and wide and why I have such huge calfs.
Bro you get huge calves from your mum or dad not from walking around in bare feet lmao
asd
Same
The calves have nothing to do with walking barefoot lmfao. Just walking
Don't worry about your calves, they are just naturally gifted .
An old prof of mine was one of the key researchers in this field. It should be noted that recent studies show running with a minimalist shoe does decrease running stability over time and hasn’t been researched enough in older populations. So if you’re someone who’s older, it’s best to consult a physio or someone in the medical field before just switching over.
Yes. It’s not that sneakers and Nike shoes harm your foot.
Thats interesting,because I know someone whos running in these shoes and at is suffering from bad backpain at the moment.
Actually because we were shoes our feet have gotten weaker and the gap between our toes has been lost due to not walking on rough terrain our arch is also way smaller than before because we don't go bear foot, and haveing the gap helps with grip.
Now I'm not saying you should stop wearing shoes outside you can still catch types of infections and fungas people in the old says feet where strong enough to walk in freezing snow bear foot for days feet are literally not made like they used to be😂 so while it wouldn't be bad to wear these say if your on a boat or need extra balencing for stuff that you do needing balance, you don't need to worry about it unless you really want it.
(Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄⛄🎄)
And remember if your concerned about anything talk to your doctor your health is important and talking to them if free
It's the gap that is the problem these shoes are too soft which makes you gap lower throughout generations because your not using it on rough terrain.
What studies btw I want to know where you got that from to take a look at it
Was the prof Lieberman?
No. We were not design to run on concrete. Be careful or you will seriously get injured wearing there as everyday shoes.
No
You walk differently when barefoot.
You don't do heels --> front of the foot, but instead your toes touch the ground first and then the heels.
This allows the ankle to be sort of a suspension for your normal walk, but is also the reason why you run way slower when being barefoot
I discovered "Toe Shoes" about 15 years ago after developing plantar fasciitis. I was going to a Podiatrist and they wrapped my foot up with some really painful arch support. It hurt like hell to put any weight on it. I decided to do my own research and stumbled on Vibram Men's FiveFingers Trail Shoes. I made the same mistake of going fully into it and that was harsh on the entire body. Mike hit it right on the nose. Modern shoes have entirely altered the way we walk and stand. Every muscle in my body was aching from the realignment of my gate. I found some Toe Shoes made by Adidas that still had a full cushion and started easing into wearing them. It took a couple of months to be able to make the transition to the Vibram toe shoes and wear them full-time. I permanently cured my plantar fasciitis by rebuilding, strengthening, and stretching all the muscles and tendons in my feet. Wearing the Vibram toe shoes also reduced and eliminated my chronic back pain. I am not a Dr. but this is my real-life experience with toe shoes. I have no idea if they will help anyone else but they definitely changed my life. I learned that modern shoes and work boots had atrophied the muscles and tendons in my feet and going Cave Man style fixed them.
were you born with plantar fasciitis? please tell me how you cured it
Thank you for your time on talking about this, everything that you've said you have is what I'm pretty sure I deal with as well and it's horrible for me I will definitely try this and hopefully I will get the same benefits as you did.
Nike have some sort of toe-shoes too. Unfortunately I have X legs, my feet collapse inwards. I'll have to go through some pretty intense physiotherapy before I can go "barefoot".
Thank you so much for this, iv been struggling with plantar myself doe a while with real bad back pain
Do you still remember the name of the Adidas shoes you used ? If so could you write it down here ? Thanks :)
A bit after corona started I graduated high school and was extremely depressed, I pushed all my friends away and locked myself in my room till recently. This means I’ve sat at home without ever going out for years now. I mention this because the whole time I didn’t wear shoes or socks because I was in my house and unintentionally transitioned myself into this barefoot lifestyle I guess. Well my parents bought a treadmill a couple months ago and I wanted to get my life together so I put my shoes on and would try to just walk on the treadmill… it hurt… a lot. My shins would feel like they were about to snap just from walking and I didn’t understand. Well after watching this video I walked on the treadmill barefoot. It felt way better and now I understand that because I was use to not impacting my heel the past few years, the very abrupt transition to slamming it on the ground for 2 miles caused my pain. So thanks for this video you helped solve my problem
Awesome story, thanks for sharing. Best of luck with everything.
Hey! Thanks for sharing this experience! For a Gen Z young adult you are very articulate in your writing. I assume you are intelligent and are a bit confused about the world? I hope you find GOOD people to surround yourself with. Stay strong andWish you the best! ❤💪🏽😎
🤣 get off the Internet
Try grounding too !
@@antheablackmore5838 you might want to elaborate on that. Some people might think you're talking about sticking a fork in an outlet.
🤔Unless of course... That is what you were talking about. 🤨
As someone who grew up on the beach and spent much of my time barefoot until my mid twenties, running was always painful in running shoes. It wasn't until barefoot shoes came out that I could run and finally everything felt right. I also have very wide naturally spread feet. They are basically a fin or triangle shape lol. I've always wondered why shoes aren't the shape of feet. All that said, I do not recommend running on cement/man made surfaces every day in barefoot shoes. That is not natural either.
I'm 52 and am forced to wear closed in shoes to work after a life time of being bare foot or able to kick my shoes off under my desk - it's killing me!! I just walk in after taking the shoes off and say "my fat feet hurt"
I just wanna ask if you have an arch on your foot? I do and Im wondering if barefoot shoes would help me run better even though I have an arch
@@Cwoisson I have an arch, maybe a high one. I'm not sure how that relates compared to more flatfooted people. My understanding is simply that our feet are designed to work without shoes. Shoes throw off the delicate mechanics of our feet. So when armor like protection isn't needed, anyone's feet will operate more naturally, in a more healthy way, without shoes. I'd say try it out but realize its like working out on a smith machine or pulley system your whole life and then going to dumbbells. You have to give your feet time to build the proper support muscles and coordination.
I also always found walking very painful compared to others because my soles would hurt. I wonder if this plays a role because I'm used to walk around in flip flops a lot
@@Cwoisson Yes it would. I have a high arch and regular sneakers where hurting my knees and feet and I made a switch and feel more comfortable
Your smile and positivity are infectious. I never thought watching a video about barefoot shoes would make me grin ear to ear, during a rather down period in my life.
I was searching for this exact comment
Feel better, man.... ❤
I am praying for you to feel good!
youre gay
Oh that's the sweetest YT comment I've read for sometime! Thanks for that and wishing more smiles and further laughs and hugs and bright horizons for you, fellow 🕊️🌄
As someone who works in rehabilitation and pain management, I nearly always start by encouraging my client to be barefoot as much as possible. It almost doesn't matter their issues, this can really be a great and important start to feeling better over all
If u suffer from bad plantar fasciitis, what's you're point on walking barefoot? I've suffered from pf for over 4 years and want to try out the barefoot style. Only problem is I need safety shoes at my job.
Got any tips?
I've done all the classic things with molded implants and all the stretches.
I love being bare foot I’m surprised more people aren’t it’s amazing
@@TheAlleballe89 i would say walk barefoot everywhere unless u have to over time it should go away let us know ya testimony
@TheAlleballe89 For PF it's mostly about persistent but not over working. Personally, I would tell clients to when at home ease into being bare foot until you are comfortable. When inflammation starts to set in, i would have them use a frozen water bottle to massage the feet.
@@TheAlleballe89 I'm getting cranky about this. I've been walking for 4 years in rehab. Last 6 months developed plantar fasciitis. Been seeing a pod. I have custom orthotics from years ago with a brooks shoe which seems to now kill both my feet. She keeps going on about my flat feet (as all pods do) that being bare feet is the worst thing blah blah. Tried crocs which shredded in a few weeks. Shoe quality these days is at an all time low. 🙄
I went through a phase trying ALL the barefoot brands.
My issue wasnt the pain of transitioning barefoot walking & running, it was the luxury price of the shoes, & how ridiculously short the usable lifespan these shoes had.
Keen footware was my compromise.
Love my keen sandals and I wear them 3/4 of the year in MN. I'm looking into getting some steel toe Keen shoes for work.
V Trail 2 of vibram is quite durable, except for the sole if you walk/run a lot on concrete. I use shoe goo to restore the sole thickness if it wears out
Wear large water shoes. They should serve the exact same purpose and should not hurt the wallet.
Why wear shoes?
transitioning...
A free runner told me to ease into it with two hours a day, then four. I delivery drive so I'm jumping in and out of a van for almost ten hours a day. I wear minimalist shoes two or three days a week to vary my muscle use in the feet, legs and back. I can do full days in them but I had to work my way up... This video is correct, you do walk different... It's fun! 39 year old here
I did this by chance. I took all the covid stimulus (money our kids will pay for) and built out a basement home gym. I walk around 2 miles between sets each workout and started doing it barefoot to see what it felt like. Wow. Immediately it was a revelation. But trying to run like that right out of the gate would be a real bad idea. At least for me. My lower legs and feet were in a period of shock for a week or so but now my feet just feel stronger and my calves also got larger.
Some evolutionary biologists have been pushing us to take off our shoes for decades. Now I know why.
people who wear toe shoes are f words
@@cagneybillingsley2165how so? I wear vibram kso evo toe shoes all spring, summer and early autumn for work. I'm a window/door fitter, I got stick for wearing them for about 5 minutes but the trades respect the fact I'm carrying 90kg+ glass over hardcore and doing hours of ladder work with 4mm soled shoes. After 6 years of that my feet are farking jacked... wouldn't change my footwear for the world.
@@cagneybillingsley2165 People that think they need ancient foot protectors because they are considered the "norm" are "f words". The shoes we have now days are simply better versions, if you can even say that of things ancient natives wore. They worked for what they needed and if anything they were better for our feet than the horse shit we throw on now. Most people have shoes so tight they get constant ingrown nails, their toes deform and their feet lose the arches. People like you who would rather shame something better for you for the sake of essentially fitting in and being afraid of change are idiotic. The added dexterity alone is a massive plus, I have been on the fence about trying them for some time now and I will happily try them regardless of what some moron thinks about it. They're my fucking feet, don't look at them.
Not only the video presentation is amazing, but the editing and all research behind it took it to the moon level! Thanks.
It's terrible. He didn't compare his results, talk about them after 2 years of walking..
@@karolmaczek true
@@karolmaczek about the results, you're correct, there's not much information, I did watch it from a technical editing point
My entire life I never had an arch in my foot and needed shoe inserts until I started wearing minimal shoes. When I started wearing minimal shoes I developed an arch and have never needed inserts since, even while wearing 'normal' shoes. I also noticed a great deal of strengthening happened in my ankles and I haven't rolled my foot once since acclimating to minimal shoes. I will forever love my minimal shoes.
That said I recently put on a lot of weight due to medical reasons and these shoes are not a great idea if you're overweight. They went from comfy to painful when I reached about the 50+ lb overweight mark. So if you're overweight or obese I personally would not recommend these shoes.
You make a good point because i was once 100 pounds over weight and that much weight is too much strain on the feet and knees.
Then stop eating fast food and start doing SOME FKIN EXERCISES . You don't need to go to the gym just a few pushups and running should be enough
I would advise fasting cole Robinson. That way u could customize your eating program to the way u want it.
@@DaniDani-zb4wd man don't be like that. Overweight people are already struggling with the drawbacks of their weight. They don't need you belittling them too.
If you wanna help then offer constructive suggestions, don't mock them. Mocking fat people only makes you look bad, not them.
It's definitely not recommended to run if overweight, independent the shoes. There are safer sports if you want to lose some weight, with less pressure on your knees.
The single thing I wish I'd had when i switched was Emily Splichal's book 'Barefoot Strong.' As it was, I only got it eight years later, but finally it's helping me figure out my natural walking gait and helping me strengthen all the foot, leg, hip and bum muscles neglected by walking in regular shoes. Feels amazing. Can't recommend it enough.
@Jason Hammond Sure, but there's much more. In particular, Splichal has targeted advice depending on whether you tend more towards a flat foot or a high instep.
Been wearing barefoot shoes the past couple summers for various outdoor activities. I actually prefer it now, and you absolutely become more aware of what's on the ground. Your feet really do reshape and compensate, depending on what kind of terrain you're walking across. I'd definitely recommend people try it from time to time.
It's always the capitalist who create weird stuff that our body don't need. Create Shampoo even though our hair don't need them, processed food vs organic food, now barefoot is better than modern shoes.
or you know just run around the house and yard barefoot and then wear shoes when you should as well and dont worry about psuedoscience 'miracle' shoes that make you like cavemen (who apparently are the picture of health and if you ever met one he would have NO pain whatsoever or injury because ya know they only wore loin cloths and thats the key to all health issues for sure).
I’m good I’d rather not look like a tool with those stupid shoes 😂
@@freshgapples45 i wonder how @heymikehanna explains footballers (soccer) who run miles in soccer spikes constantly since they were like 4 years old. they must be crippled with back pain by the time they are 25. probably cant even walk by 28.
right OP? if only soccer players had their vibrams!
@@markheinle6319 My feet feel the same no matter if I walk with barefoot shoes or regular shoes. The only thing that changes is that my feet are cold with barefoot shoes in the winter and I sweat in them in the summer. My feet also hurt a little bit after a long day with bearfoot shoes. I also tend to slip around more because they give less grip, which is pretty annoying in steeper terrain. All in all I like to feel the terrain and thus like barefoot shoes, but the cons overweigh the pros. Regular shoes are better for me. And I have the impression that this is the case for almost all of these livestyle trends. Regular stuff is regular because it works better for the majority of people. And thats that.
his smile is so human , it made me smile
I used to do barefoot distance running when I lived on my college campus. Big hippie place zero trash on the ground, safe place to do it. Highly recommend doing various exercises especially running barefoot semi frequently. Nothing else has ever increased the size of my calves so quickly and effortlessly. Always had skinny legs no matter how much I ate and worked out until I started this. Can’t do it too much anymore because I live in the city now and I will NOT go out without shoes but yeah I’ll hop on my treadmill in socks a few times a week.
At least for me, I need shoes on the treadmill. My feet hurt pretty quickly otherwise.
@HBMUSIC as long as you wear thick sock your feet will not be irritated and within my experience running on treadmill with sock has increased my endurance when I run with shoes outside.
@HBMUSIC I would be really careful about the amount of traction they give. Busted teeth are a likely future.
I started by wearing barefoot shoes on vacation and at home. Then transitioned to wear them at work. One thing I notice is my knees also had to adjust. Because the years of cushion shoes were pushing my center of gravity forward. So the gait and stride changes. Now I wear them everywhere. And now totally barefooted at home or around my yard.
I've been going straight barefoot for a whole day at least once a week. It's interesting to see how your body naturally changes the way it walks when you have no shoes.
This past summer vacation I was barefoot on dirt and sand for almost 3 days straight, and my muscles definitely felt it.
Back around 2011 I got into fitness and working out a lot. I started with some Nike Lunar shoes, then transitioned to Nike FreeRun 3.0, and then I found Vibrant FiveFinger shoes. OMG it was a game changer. Absolutely love the strength and balance they helped me gain. I felt more agile and I was able to run longer distances for the first time in my life. I finished a few 5k's in them and I wore them everywhere. I got crazy looks but I didn't care because I was comfortable in them. Fast forward to now and I'm overweight, unhealthy, and need to get back into fitness again. But these shoes always come up on my mind and I think about how good I felt using them. I can say the same about my Nike or other shoes that I wore at the time.
download run tracker and start running tmr! you got this bro
Shoes are not really important when working out and don't make a difference to your results. Also, running isn't working out. Working out is weight lifting or calisthenics and running is cardio.
@@Muhammed-Ali123 whatever you say bud 👍
I have a couple of issues with this idea. It sounds nice to use if you are doing outdoors activities in the summer, but in the place i live in it sounds a little bit more difficult. My first concern is the temperature changes. I live in Bulgaria, where the winters can get really cold(like -10/-12 celsius in the nights) and without the humidity and temperature protection, as well as the proper grip, that winter boots can give you, bartefoot shoes seem less feasible. My other concern is trash on the street - i understand these shoes can protect you from regular trash and little stones, but broken glass and pieces of metal on the street are quite common where I live in and even with the hightened awareness these shoes may give you I would much rather not to stab my foot every time i go out. Plus i dont think shoes like this can be very heat protective. When the temperature outside is -10 and you are walking at least ancle deep in snow, beneath wich is ice, i think my feet will frostbite pritty quickly. And in the summer, when the temperature can get to like 35/37 degrees celsius walking on hot concrete can be a challenge. The idea of barefoot shoes seems great, but i don't know about the application outside of like california.
Wow, must be nice to consider -10 at night as really cold weather. We have -30 right now at day lol
@@Tolyanskiy it is cold weather where we live don't compare your temperatures to our temperatures this ain't a competition mate
I have Vivobarefoot winter boots and they are very warm at least down to -25 (haven't tried colder yet).
@@sielaa8406 perhaps the op shouldn't be saying the shoes won't work where you both live. Use your best judgment. If you have glass and metal everywhere that sounds like ppl need to clean up the town more mate.
@@cplg2111usmc Yeah because we can definitely force that
I started wearing LEMs and CorrecToes toe spreaders a couple of years ago at age 75 to deal with a bunion that had been developing over time. After a few months the aches and pains in my lower back, knees, ankles and feet diminished significantly. I was maintaining my balance better, too. And, yes, over time the bunion has decreased and my toes spread more naturally now. It’s never too late to change and well worth it, even in your 70s.
Which one do you use ? 👀
This is really inspiring for a guy that's slowly approaching his 30s and has bunions as well! 🙌 ♥ ️
Thank you for sharing this, and I wish you a good feet health further on! And hopefully a relatively long life, so you can see all the AI wonders that are about to emerge! 👀
@@spencer-janay25 I have a couple of pair of LEMS Primal 2s that I wear most of the time. I subsequently bought Boulder boots for yard work, etc., Nine2Fives for wearing with slacks and a shirt, and Primal Zens for light hiking. So, I’ve pretty much transitioned from traditional footwear. Not going back. I’m not claiming LEMS are best for everyone. There are a lot of good products in this market segment. If you’re going to try LEMS, I’d suggest starting with the Primal 2. They’re not expensive and give a good introduction. They’re also the most mature LEMS product from a development point of view.
As a 23 year old with flat feet & bunions, you’ve given me some hope. Thank you for commenting
i don't normally watch this kind of content but his camera personality is just so freaking great. i have no clue how but its super calming to watch his content. i wish more people actually had chill attitudes like this guy.
yess he's cool
I find him annoyingly chirpy. It's almost like he is drunk with amazement at everything. He's making claims as if they were obvious fact and that everyone is doing it wrong. Appeal to nature fallacy. Try running barefoot see how far you get.
and he always looks super happy
@@omi_god that's a hot take
this actually opened my mind...
Started barefoot running 2015 and ran in Saucony Hattori for 2 years.
Ran Lidingöloppet twice which is a terrain race over 30k in Sweden, Lidingö.
I had started running in sand every summer vacation and found it to be very effective.
Dont remember when i read the book "born to run" or where i learned about the stride.
Setting down your feet in the center of gravity, neutral positioning of foot comes natural with that, pushing your hips forward, breast out and shoulders back.
Bought Vibram fivefingers early on and was jibed by my kids and others looking.
Enjoy your barfeet running. Its never gonna get freer if you dont take off your shoes entirely which i have been doing on som nice 10k tracks.
Totally bare is fantastic
Damn. Lived in Östermalm 2011-2015, had a couple of friends in lidingö. Beautiful, beautiful place, miss it very much.
I have worn almost nothing but sandals on my feet for nearly half my life now except at work, and I've noticed that with regular shoes, not just my toes, but my entire foot gets forced into uncomfortable positions by my shoes. And it makes being on my feet for work incredibly painful. Of course, a few prior untreated injuries in my ankles doesn't help that, but at least with my sandals, my feet don't feel like I'm only using the outer edge of my foot to walk.
I do exercises like balancing and yoga barefoot. After a few weeks my toes react so much better. The balance is incredible.
I am from Argentina and i started using this traditional "ALPARGATAS" like 7 years ago (i'm 30), they have all the benefits you talk about and they are very, very cheap. Truly a big change for my feet, and I love them.
I have been in minimal shoes since 2008 and haven’t looked back. I’ve been rocking Vibrams from day one and had about quite a few pairs over the years. My lower back and knee pains I had faded away and I noticed my gait and posture improved greatly. I wear them for everything everywhere. I love feeling the environment I walk on as well.
maybe you started exercising more when you decided on these shoes or being more healthy in general, but your frikkin toe shoes didnt make your back pain go away. all you doctors in here need to get a grip. i think your healing crystals might have gotten into your brain
@@markheinle6319 I was running already prior to wearing these. The extra padding in the “regular” shoes actually atrophies the muscles in the feet and keeps the toes out of the mix when moving and balancing. As a result, other muscles and joints receive unnecessary stress and also strain easier. We evolved to walk barefoot and shoes with cushioning in them bypass that evolution. Also, by putting yourself up on a platform with soles of “regular” shoes you make yourself a little more susceptible to ankle injuries. That is why I continue to wear my minimal shoes, toe shoes or otherwise. It has worked for me so I will continue to use what works. Thanks for your opinion!
My feet are at least 1/2 inch wider each thanks to Vibrams. Same resolution of foot, knee, ankle and back problems as you.
I’m a believer.
Bare in mind also that if the feet muscles aren't activated appropriately , the stress travels along the ankles, knees, hips, spine. I walk a lot bare foot, wear minimalist shoes and never wear shoes at home.
😂
Due to a skin condition, I was required to wear Birkenstock sandals for two years. Birkenstocks retrained my calves and toes. Even after I had to go back to close-toed shoes (worksite safety), my toes are still splayed quite a bit. I definitely prefer to go barefoot indoors whenever I can.
I love Birkenstocks. I always notice them 'cause they're such a Caucasian person's shoe. A dude last year on '90 Day Fiance' wore then all the time, and we laughed all the time. #BIRKENSTOCKSARMY
My mom wears them all the time,because her grandmother wore them all the time. She’s 100% Chinese. But, I guess she has good foot muscles because she has to have Ben wearing them for at least thirty years.
My pair, however, is destroyed. I walk weird on my left, and the heel is paper thin on the shoe. Two years is all it took.
Look up slip resistant barefoot shoes, I just bought some for my job
These commercials are getting longer and longer.
Working in construction, we wear steel toed boots everyday. The wide toes let's us have more comfort when wearing them. Because of its weight, our legs and feet gets stronger over time to bear the weight. The random crap on the ground like rocks, wood and metal makes us roll our ankles a lot, but it doesn't hurt for us since our foot adapted to the environment we work in. It sure is fun to see how different shoes and environment forces our bodies to adapt our feet.
I've worked for ten years in different labourer positions and can't work in steel boots anymore. Too narrow and too much stuff material underfoot. There may be a few brands with new boots out now being a little wider but they are still stupid to walk in for posture.
This is key for total postural alignment too; the feet are the foundation of the body! Fantastic video, spot on!
great video ! i did the change a few years ago, and my feet changed. I went insanely slow at switching, like 20mn in the woods, then more. then upward motion, but still 20mn walks. after one year: first 1h of hiking, and so on. Now I feel great and can walk a lot longer without fatigue than with shoes. The stress of hiking if spread on the whole leg it's totally different, it doen't exacerbate the use of a few muscles. Our bodies are brillant miraculous designs!!
I've been looking into the barefoot shoe for a while. I've had plantar fasciitis for 20 years, so im always looking for what's new there. Ive tried just about everything. I bought a pair of vivobare hiking shoes. I tried them yesterday for the first time. I went for a walk around the block, and by the time I was done I was almost crawling! My calves hurt so bad! I work out my calves regularly to help, but apparently I havent been doing nearly enough. Its not going to be easy, but I think its going to be better. Let the strengthening begin!
Thanks for sharing. Born up north taking my shoes off at home as not to drag dirt inside was the norm. Moved to the sunshine state in my teens and I am happiest shoeless wherever I can get away with it, I plan on expanding my desire to go barefoot to more places with barefoot shoes. Mike, I enjoyed your presentation, you have a really relaxed natural vibe.
As a person who has always had space between their toes as well as always wearing flat shoes with the thinnest sole, I can tell you that this video is great! I've always found trainers extremely uncomfortable with instand pain in my calf and toes as soon as I've put them. From a young age I've run in flat shoes and everything was perfectly fine 😂 also when you go to beaches guys, try to walk barefoot there is much as you can!
I enjoy running on the beach
I wore converse for years. Only reason I'm not now is because vans slip on shoes are so damn convenient, and my converse are talking back to me while I dont have the money to replace them. I wish they had more toe space though.
@@gorisenke I agree converse and vans don't have enough toe space. That's why even if my foot fits in vans it feels very uncomfortable on the front part of my foot at least for me. That's why the only brand my feet can fit in is a Spanish brand called Camper. So far I haven't found more comfortable shoes for me.
@@slovenageorgieva2792 I'll look into those. If its about the same but with the problem solved, I will probably grab some. Thanks for the information.
Idk I wouldn’t want to risk stepping on a syringe barefoot 😅
I had a pretty bad plantar faciitis. After researching, I've decided to consciously spread toes and wear shoes for their wide toe box. Literally that's all I did, and a year and a half later, I can jog again. My next goal is to ease into barefoot shoes.
i was here for the free foot content.
I grew up in rural areas of southern Western Australia and never used to wear shoes unless I was at school or something of the sort. Running around completely barefoot never raised any problems and running through the dry bush land or over rough gravel roads was easy for me. However, once I moved to the city for university I obviously needed to wear shoes everywhere I went, and, soon enough, I was getting foot cramps whenever I ran because I started to condition my running to fit the shoes I was wearing. I also found that when I returned to the country my tender city feet were no match for the roads and the bush and I found that I needed to wear shoes in order to keep my feet unharmed. Kinda sad to be honest. I was also far more sure-footed and nimble in comparison to my city friends despite having the same athletic abilities as them, I assume this has to do with being conditioned to the natural way humans are supposed to use their bare feet to balance
L
More like you are just used to running on a different type of surface 😅
Depends on your weight, because if you are tall and heavy you cant realy walk alot barefoot because surface of feet is not big enough for your weight, for example my lowest weight was 90kg or 205lb and i was super thin i even had striations on my chest, you could see any muscle on me and vains on my stomach, and you can walk barefoot on grass and soft land but if you live in rocky area, its realy hard to do, and when you get older you get heavyer i am now 100-110kg and I hate walking barefoot on peebles. And if i had to run on concrete barefoot i would desteoy my feet ib few mins, but if i had barefoot shoes concreet and rough surfeces would still be bad. I like trail runners but if i go to mountains or waliking on sharp rocks i will allways go for hiking boots, and my boots are fool of scars from sharp rocks and stuff like that, if i went in monutains in those shoes they would fell apart in maby 2 hours walking. Its all depends where you live, i dont want to go in mountains in normal running shoes because they will probably fell apart, and these are probably not different.
@@martinkabic7900 ohhh this makes sense, I grew almost a foot and increased my weight by 40% from age 15-18 this would definitely be a large factor
@@shmentleman9761 that is reason why children can go barefoot around without much problems, but larger you are bigger feet you need but they dont grow enough my shoe size is 47.5 and they are not big enough. Every summer on peeable beach i sucks and when i was elementaty school i would walk all summer barefoot but now i would be mad to do it.
Growing up in rural Vermont working on dairy farms and spending lots of time outside I never really wore shoes. It just feels amazing and really makes you feel good. I find it to be a really good stress reliever for a morning run, feeling the dew, getting the cold morning air on your feet, getting your feet torn up by gravel and dirt roads, only to heal up and be stronger the next morning. Its an amazing feeling and anytime I go to rural places to see family or go camping I go barefoot just to relax. I feel like learning how to run barefoot for most my life also allowed me to be even better at running in shoes, since I am a very good cross-country runner.
I've been wearing vivo barefoot shoes for about a year now and the pain I used to get from walking in normal shoes has gotten so much better. And people always compliment me on my shoes, so definitely normal looking!
Our ancestors didn't walk on flat concrete or marble 99% of the time, tho. I've found that Converse are a great in-between: flat sole to make you walk as nature intended, some padding to avoid your entire weight smashing on hard floors, and they don't look dorky. I use either those, outside, or flipflops at home, my fingers are pretty splayed despite their short length, I can grip stuff with them and I've only started having feet pains when I've had to start using safety shoes for work
Converse are the worst, smallest toebox
I switched to barefoot shoes for the last year. It was a rough transition... but i'm so glad I stuck with it. Toe Spacers where the biggest thing for pain reduction. Calf pain was real... a massage gun was a must. Now, my feet are much stronger... my archs are stronger.
Ive had a ton of soreness every single day for the last few months as I’ve switched into some minimalist altras. Did you have lots of foot soreness everyday for a few months as well?
@@christianperi hii ! i switched to altra's a year ago and first month or even 3 months i had big sore feets like i couldnt even stand for 3 days straight because i did a full transition (actually i dont regret it) and then it just vanished the next day. now my feet, calves are waaay stronger and i have gain lot of balance aswell. i only wear those since. Have fun with them ;D
@@wilwaren8571 Thank you for your response. How long did it take till the soreness went away?
@@christianperi your welcome ;D it took me 3 to 4 days after a months wearing them. I had this huge soreness spike and it went away. id recommend massage them it helpes quite a bunch to ease it!
@@wilwaren8571 Oh okay I’ve been really sore for the last 2-3 months constantly everyday. I’ve done some massaging and foot baths which seem to help. I hope it all just goes away one day soon
I’m a bit late to the comments, but I’ve been wearing Vivo Barefoot shoes for 3+ years now, although not exclusively. I will say, as Mike Hanna says, you can’t just dive in and expect results. I personally do feet exercises such as practicing toe gripping or splaying my toes and strengthening movements for my arch. I’ve noticed a great improvement in my awareness of my feet and how I was walking, but I’m far from perfect. Also, the mind - muscle connection during squat movements has increased dramatically. I wear the hiking boots on my 10-20mile hikes and the connection I have with the rocks and terrain is impressive. I feel like my feet grip the rock, rather than just the tread gripping the rock. They’re definitely worth a purchase. Also, Born to Run is an amazing read, just because.
What are some arch exercises?
I'm really glad to see people starts taking care of their feet, I'm thankful with you for the video!
My transition was pretty interesting. After a motorcycle accident I always had pain in my lower back. The very first day wearing barefoot shoes I already felt my lower back loosen up and since then I never had this problems again. I can only recommend to try them out and feel for yourself how conventional shoes are putting your feet into very narrow cages.
@@fishy2939 I pretty much wear only DCs, just the plain black ones. they are hella comfortable.
@@fishy2939 Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look 👍
Interesting. Have you tried regular shoes since and if so have you experienced the pain returning?
@@theowels5773 Heyho! Yup, I'm wearing a mix of normal and barefoot shoes. I don't have problems wearing regular shoes but they have to be wider now. My old shoes aren't fitting anymore because they are too narrow. My problems with my lower back haven't come back yet.
Recently on a lark, my wife picked up a copy of Born to Run. I'm not a runner but I tore through the book, super interesting and enlightening. Years ago I had picked up a pair of new balance minimus shoes and still had them in the closet, barely used. I didn't get it before but after reading the book it all made sense. They are now my go-to shoes. First was some lower shin pain but that went away after a couple weeks. Love how I can feel the contours and texture of the ground, my feet naturally conform to it and it just feels more natural and freeing, like being a carefree kid running around barefoot. My feet feel stronger and better. I don't see going back to "regular" shoes anytime soon.
Be VERY careful if you go with minimalist shoes. I tried to transition to these, using both Vibram Five fingers and other minimalist shoes. I even tried to workout barefooted regularly. I developed painful bone spurs in my heels and ankles. My ankle flexion is greatly reduced to this day. I also got a shard of metal stuck in the sole of my foot that was lodged in there for months. It was so deep I had to wait for it to get pushed out naturally. I then had pain in that area for years. I had shin splints, achilles pain, my calves were wrecked, I developed pain in my spine because walking was so jarring without a cushioned shoe. In general, it was really bad for my health. If it works for you, more power to you. But like the guy says in the video, be very careful and take it slow if you're going to adopt barefoot/minimalist lifestyle. Now I wear really cushioned shoes and have much less pain.
Like he said you have to relearn to walk properly. Sounds like you never did and were still trying to walk / run as if you were in sneakers.
Running messes up ur spine remember that no cushion makes it worse hahaha
Do you land on your heels when you run or mid foot? The difference is like night and day
@@sheddy22Depends on how you walk/run. Most people land on their heels, which doesn't cushion your landing as opposed to using your mid foot. When you land on the balls of your foot(mid foot) the impact goes to your calves first while heels go straight to your spine
@Alaskanman That sounds more like you are not running properly. If you are landing on your heels it means you are trying to run faster than what you are capable of generating power for. That is why you land on your heels. It is a very inefficient way of running. To my way of thinking you need to try to keep your center of balance forward over your stride, and if that is consuming power faster than you are generating it, you need to slow down. Running properly is the best way to maintain consistent stamina since it self regulates your power output to a sustainable level.
If you are landing on your heels you are essentially pulling yourself forward, whereas if you land on or close to your center of your foot you are pushing yourself forward. Pushing is a lot easier and more efficient than pulling. Just changing your stride length slightly can have a dramatic effect on how running feels and the effects it has on your body.
I've stopped wearing shoes as much as I can during the pandemic and my toes have started to spread out. I've got less ankle pain, and I've started to develop calluses so now going outside doesn't hurt my feet. I love this. My old shoes don't even fit me anymore because my feet are too wide. They were wide to begin with.
I've decided to buy myself a pair of barefoot shoes after the holidays to see how they work.
I use wide toe boots for work since I have always had natural wide feet. I think they do the same for shoes but I'm not sure
I've been barefoot almost all the time these last 10 or so years. Only wearing shoes for a few hours a week, especially during the winters (I live in Scandinavia.) And I think I have excellent foot/leg health. I never have the issues and pain that most people my age complain about (I'm 42.) I have flexible toes, I can spread them wide and wiggle then easily, I can grip things easily and lift things around. I can stand on the front pad for long periods and don't get strained fatigue. Walking/running in the sand is great. So yes, shoes are bad for foot health. Kinda proved it.
It’s just as likely to be genetic. Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn’t say “I put 50 kgs of muscle on in five years - so you can too”
It sounds like a case of confirmation bias. "I agree, therefore it is so"
Started going minimalist a couple years ago, and went too hard too soon. Definitely got pains on a few occasions. Started with some Merrells with a Vibram sole, jumped around with trail-running shoes which had an open toe box and just a little cushioning. Now I'm into Altra's minimalist shoes. Pretty happy with those. A lot of the advice you gave holds up well. Have a cushioned shoe around for days where it's necessary. I use mine after Leg Day to help with soreness.
Ahhh that's a smart move, having both based on the situation-Nice! Thanks for sharing man and I'm super glad you've gotten into them :)
@@heymikehanna not really a thing yet.. but in german ballengang, in english forefood walking... fore when you walk quicker... still heel up hill though! forefood down hill es mui importande
I just posted here recommending Emily Splichal's book 'Barefoot Strong' to aid with trsnsitioning to barefoot. Wish I'd had it eight years ago when I first went barefoot, but better late than never. Even after all that time, I'm still finding her exercises vital in strengthening the muscles - all the way up my leg - that were weakened by wearing traditonal footwear.
I love Altras. I have a bone spur in my foot that messes up my gait and they're the only shoes I can still hike in
In Mexico my uncles and grandpa always wore huaraches even to work in the crop fields or construction they wore them by choice but they said it helped them with feet, knee, hip and back problems as they grew older and they would walk for hours going up into the mountains for lumber for their wooden burning stoves
Usually I don't wear shoes. I was born (in 1959) to live barefoot ! 🦶🏼☺🦶🏼
In fact, humans have evolved barefoot and the feet are well-equipped to handle any problems they might encounter on the ground. Aside from accidentally stepping onto something that might be painful (e.g. a Lego) you’ll be fine. In fact, it’s much healthier to go barefoot, than to let your foot sweat inside your shoe, creating a dark, damp and warm environment, perfect for the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Aside from that, your average modern shoe is too narrow for the human foot, meaning it will compress and eventually deform your foot causing all kinds of issues.
I watched the whole video to the end mainly because of your positive vibe, it is so strong! Like you’re emanating some form of happiness to the world merely by talking, smiling, etc.
Thanks for the information too, I haven’t dig deep into barefeet lifestyle but I do wear one pair of finder-splitting socks from time to time
…and also I’m the kinda guy who would definitely wear that 1st pair of barefoot shoes you showed (those are really strange, I agree, but they also positively surprise me as a hybrid being, shoes which are socks-like))
Dude, no one cares
Viper,sir, please chill tf out @@viper100200
@@w1re817Pricks are gonna prick. They just hope that the person they reply to feels at least remotely as miserable as them.
because hes trying to sell you something. These claims are nonsense and this is a modernized snake oil salesman strategy.
wow you had the patience to sit through a 7 minute video well done you, your so brave and strong
Back in the pandemic, since I did not needed to go outside for anything, I weared sandals every day for 2 straight years.
My feet look really good. Not any problems at all. My balance is great.
I think I did good.
0:31 i can't believe he butcher his feet just to show us the muscles! what a dedication! I hope he'll heal well
Bruh…
.... this a joke comment or...
Similar experience with cold showers: Took a few years to fully adapt (wintertime was the hardest), but: My hands & feet are never cold or stiff anymore, can enter water of any temperature (as long as it's liquid) without chills and never ever cought cold since. Back to basics. Also my wife and daughter love me for never spending their hot showering water :)
that has nothing to do with the video. You making a senerio up in your head doesn't make it true. have fun with your cold showers and your fantasy world where that makes a difference.
@@christking85 .. good man, could i offer you some Cheese with that Whine ?
@@Sir...... You seriously thought and took the time to comment that? LMAO how original I haven't heard that probably since I got out of elementary school.
@@Sir...... And you should probably go look up the meaning of words that you don't know instead of just repeating what you heard other people say at the nursing home
@@christking85 you must be fun at parties
I've been using the Five Fingers shoes for about 10 years now : I only run with them (trail running and running in the streets), I used them for hiking, for canyoning, for kayaking. The've been the shoes I bring when I travel, because a pair (in my size) weighs about 130g. But you do have to run differently, not so much heels first, have to take smaller steps, and check where you're stepping... But I wouldn't go back. And in 10 years of using them heavily, I've only gone through 2 pairs.
Made the swap at about 17. Went cold turkey on the “supportive” shoes. First two weeks felt like my feet would fall off. My ankles hurt so much. But once the muscles toughened up and I started doing drilling in the minimal shoes… just wow. Your ankle support muscles literally turn from mush into stone.
10 years later and I will never go back. My knees and back are healthier than ever. Occasionally I turn my ankle in a way that would have been a full sprain back when I wore sneakers and my ankle just takes it and moves on. A few steps and the pain has already worn off. Our feet and ankles are meant to support our bodies for a lifetime. Stepping in a little hole shouldn’t put you out of commission for a week.
If you baby something in your body it gets weak. We know this about back braces, how do we not know it for shoes? People literally wear an ankle brace every day from the time they’re a toddler. It’s just not healthy.
Imagine wearing these shoes. There are plenty of normal supportive and cushioned running shoes with space for toes to splay out. Toe spacers??? They didn’t have that 10000 years ago. And the pain doesn’t go away! This is pseudoscience that will injure the average human. if you are distance running 30 miles a week this will destroy your feet. The cushions are there to help your feet handle the constant pounding of running. If you don’t cushion them properly you will get tendonitis or some other injury.
I agree I have family in the south and the would run on barefoot and rocks all day and im like how lol I was a wimp my feet would hurt so bad because I wear shoes!
@@enolopanr9820 ya this is all woo and psuedoscience in here. pretty easy to figure out about 20 seconds into the video with the 'ancient peoples' trope. ancient peoples had all kinds of chronic and acute injuries constantly. saying 'ancient peoples did it' is fun history, not medical advice.
The OP is a crank peddler. @heymikehanna issue an apology and refrain from giving any more medical advice online, ok?
what shoes do you wear? what brand
And then you married your crush and had 6 kids.
You a redditor by any chance?
I was really lucky that I grew up like many Australian kids, running around outside with bare feet.
I think that made transitioning to wearing barefoot shoes really easy and removed a lot of my foot, leg and back pain very quickly.
I always injured myself at running before barefootshoes. I tried anything, but I always ended up injured after a few months. But then I started wearing barefoot-shoes - I can say same than you, it totally changed my feet for the better. My calves are insanely strong, my ancles very flexible and I love the sensation of actually feeling what's going on under my feet while I walk or run. Also my running improved a lot, I am faster and I can run so much further with these. The downside: I can't wear normal shoes anymore haha, I get instant knee pains from shoes with higher soles. Though Highheels are no problem anymore and I could wear them the entire day thanks to the new calve- and ancle-strength
After years of basketball, as a child with super tight shoes, I had started to have bunions. I had then learned about parkour and switched to minimalist shoes (kung fu shoes) for years. It retrained how I walked, ran, and jumped, especially since landing poorly was painful. Got rid of the bunions and I have really strong feet and legs. Worked out for me for sure
Bunions aren’t caused by shoes and they can’t go away on their oen
@@ninosdjando Well they did for me!
@@ninosdjando bunions are most definitely caused by shoes, in fact they are the leading cause
do you mean feiyues for the kung fu shoes?
I totally agree with your conclusion. I’ve made the switch to zero-drop/wide toe box footwear for almost a year now. So far so good. Keen work boots with Sole corkbed insoles for my 8-5 has been a lifesaver on my feet & back.
My biggest gripe is with minimalist footwear companies exploiting the market with grossly overpriced footwear. Vivo being the biggest offender. Their shoes are easily $100 more than name brand ‘normal’ shoes. They also use far less materials in their construction!
Vivo are overrated anyway. Their soles aren't flexible enough. And there are plenty of other companies now offering decent barefoot shoes for less - Freet for instance.
What barefoot shoes would you recommend for construction sites?
Keen San Jose (moc toe) workboots are great! Got the EE width
@@JohnMoseley Hey, Can You recommend me some barefoot shoes that might be cheaper than $30? Thanks.
@@once7966 That's weird, I thought I replied to this, but it seems to have disappeared. Sorry if it ends up appearing twice. I said
Try Amazon. Lots of low-cost barefoot brands on there.
Also Feiyue martial arts shoes are dirt cheap (£14.99 here in the UK) and are seen as barefoot by some since they're zero drop with a thin sole, though they toe box isn't wide, unfortunately. If you get them, get the original Chinese Top Ones (look for the green triangle on the sole) as they're both cheaper and said to be better than the French ones.
If you can stretch the budget a bit further, Splays are about $50 as far as I know. Haven't tried them, but they look good.
I recently got back to running with Pegasus 39 and Mach 4. After 2 months I stressed my Achilles tendon - I was using Hoka 5mm drop shoes twice a week, Nike shoes (10mm actually it's 8mm) also twice a week. Got some Brooks Glycerin 19 to recover a bit. Will try maybe once a week in Hoka shoes after I get bit more confident. Transitioning to low drop (not even zero drop) has been very hard for me as I am a runner, run on tarmac all the time pretty much. I think it's hard and can take time as all my life I never used low drop/minimal shoes. One thing I can tell: running in low drop shoes feels fun, more natural, you feel more connected to the road. But be careful and take it slowly especially if you're a runner and run on tarmac...
Don't forget that you're supposed to touch the floor with the front of your foot first while running.
Running distance in minimalist shoes is suicide and will lead to planters stop while you can.
I did this whole thing back in 2009 when “born to run” came out. I fully bought in. Bottom line: I think the barefoot running thing is way too extreme for most people. Unless you hav been shoeless since childhood it’s not going to work. I’m barefoot around the house, even walking the dog. But for running I wear regular running shoes. I prefer the Kinvaras which have a wide toe box and a 4mm drop.
@@mononokehime3182 that is a myth. Not true at all.
Achilles and Pegasus.
Very Greek mythology themed!!!!
I don't think I am sold on this, but I am willing to listen and learn. I have had pretty extreme gout pain in the past and after 50 years of existence, I have found that my feet have flattened out and I wear a size larger than I did 25 years ago. What I really wanted to say is that you seem like a pretty interesting/cool guy and I enjoyed watching your video because of your personality.
My transition has been pretty easy, but I think it's due to the fact that I work from home and 70 percent of my time has been barefoot without even trying
Yeah it only matters if you’re running around. 😅
barefoot or with footwear?
no no you're an M. it's racist to say anything else.@@GenghisClaus
Same. I only use shoes when outside. Indoors im always barefoot
So gross to wear shoes inside the house. I dunno why ppl do it.
Cool video, the issue I'm dealing with that i never heard of is that I'm diabetic and the disease has destroyed the fat pads in my feed giving me chronic ulcers. These can easily blow through your foot. My old doctors fail to identify these. And with my AC at 4.9 you would never think I was in danger. But I have already lost the 5th toe and middle foot boon got my third. the reason I'm posting is cause I never heard of anything like this. Also a by product now that I'm with a specialist that has help me be ulcer free is the fat pads that broke down migrated disforming my foot and toes. But folks need to be aware of this which is why I'm sharing my story.
I competed at national championships in bare feet. I was able to transfer more force than what running shoes allow but in some conditions shoes provided superior grip. My barefoot training was only done on soft ground, I used nike shoes for hard surfaces. Shoes in general restrict the large veins on top of your feet which reduces performance but you have to balance that with advantages shoes provide on undesirable terrain.
this is BS, I will outrun you in shoes any day any place any time!
Since i was 7 i understood that we were the same as some 'cavepeople', only smarter. So i treated myself as such. Now, even at 30 years old i outperform everyone around me. I sit on my butt as much as i want, but when i do something, i push myself as hard as i can. This has led to me only weighing between 120 - 140 lbs, sprinting at 18 mph, climbing, jumping, swimming and a whole other slew of skills that people either do not have, or have not trained themselves enough in.
You are a cave person, live like one in this modern era.
I also buy shoes larger than my recommended size, that way my feet are not constricted. You can have normal shoes, just buy bigger ones.
My barefoot journey started in Australia around 3/4 years ago. My walking/ feet had a lot of problems and then I was outdoors barefoot or in "thongs" daily and started to notice the difference. However, I also spent the past 5 years in steel-toe-capped boots for up to 16 hours a day.
Fast forward to 2019 when I jumped into barefoot shoes, I started doing the exercises daily, wearing toe spacers and walking on balance beams. Choosing to be barefoot as often as possible and correcting all the posture issues that poor footwear and habits had introduced. I can relate to the heel/ calf tightness (only on one side) there are a few reasons this happens-. Over-correction, tight Hip flexors, and hips being out of alignment because of poor habits/posture and footwear.
I often get funny looks and comments, especially if anyone sees me walking around the house in toe spacers. However, I let them laugh because I am loving the results. I have a long way to go to where I want to be but I'm glad I started the healing journey.
How long did it take until you started noticing results? I've had back and knee problems my whole life and I want to fix it as soon as possible
out of curiosity are you still wearing steel caps? If so is there a brand thats specifically good or do you just wear them for work and wear barefoot shoes outside?
Idk where you live but thongs definetly does not mean shoes anywhere in america 😂
@@Skadidd Very true Thongs is what Aussies call flip flops/sandals.
@@punani_slayer4209 It took a few months, the problem was I was making improvements but then cramming my feet back into work boots which were not ideal.
Right now I have had a lot of improvement, combining the foot exercises-barefoot shoes- and a Movement/strength program.
I'm no expert, but I had the same issue. My feet pulled my hips out of alignment and gave me a weak back. So far that's recovering especially as I joined the program to strengthen the body through correct movement and mobility.
I bought into this back in 2009 when I read “born to run” like everyone else. Bottom line, I think that it’s too extreme for most people unless you grew up shoeless in some kind of native tribe situation. That said, I prefer to be barefoot whenever I can be. It’s “natural” and feels good. But for running I wear mostly conventional running shoes. Believe what you want about form and biomechanics but concrete is not “natural” and loading up constant miles barefoot on concrete is likely to produce injuries unless you have developed your system through a lifetime of barefoot/minimalist running. Even then, what do the loads of Kenyan runners wear? None go barefoot, even training on their dirt roads. Of course, anyone can make their own choices. I’m just sharing my perspective as someone who’s done this and put a lot of thought and effort into it.
By the way, Altra makes a zero drop leather casual work shoe that looks great. It’s the only shoe I wear to work. Ever. Super wide toe box. Zero drop. Nice cushion. Check it out.
The irony is that some of the Tarahumaras started wearing shoes after transitioning to popular ultra races. I don't think there is anything wrong with either minimalist or normal shoes as long as you have an appropriate technique. I can't say I'd see myself running in minimalist on steep rocky or muddy trails and slopes, although I've never tried.
Everyone who is poor and runs barefoot or in barefoot options (tires etc) wear real shoes the second they are able to. This minimal stuff is so American you know where all the great runners come from….. ohh wait that’s Ethiopia and Kenya, you know where the minute they can afford shoes they get shoes lol 😂
@@davidrosenthal5795 I don't disagree but for a lot of people minimalist shoes help. There needs to be more shoe that have the regular cushion and all that but shape better and wider to box.
@@davidrosenthal5795 Extreme luxury, though most people may always choose it when available, is not necessarily the best thing for the human body.
It makes sense that that there are some shoe designs that will enhance performance. Every runner in the top professional marathons I see are wearing shoes. Most of us are not trying to perform at a pro level, and that is a good thing, because being a pro is bad for your health. It also makes sense that moving around in a way closer to the way we evolved to walk and run is better for our feet and joints. I think that is the spirit of this video, we might have less orthopedic problems going forward if we keep it simple. I have been wearing minimalist shoes for years and love them. I do play basketball and for that I like current shoe designs, but for everything else, I am barefoot or minimal shoes.
@@davidrosenthal5795 of course they get shoes. most dont know about minimalist shoes all they care about is not hurting their feet on runs like it happens when you go barefoot
Changed work completely about 4 years ago. From office to workshop, standing almost all day long. With required work boots (steel toes, S3). Then my heels and all my foot started to hurt. By Wendsday, I couldn't imagine how to make it to Friday. I bought "better" inlay soles. Didn't get better. Until I analyzed and informed myself. Threw all the inlays out. No longer tighten the shoes, but try to have an as lose as possible fit and give as much space as possible for my feet. Pay attention on how I walk. And bought barefoot shoes. Things are getting way better! I wear the barefoot shoes whenever possible. When going shopping, when having a walk, when riding on the bike.
And now, the work boots are bearable again, the pain is almost gone.
Very nice that you mention the dangers of walking/running as if you had normal shoes on. I wore my barefoot shoes (with toes) for the entire first day when I bought them. Didn't have a problem in the joints or back (even though I'm not exactly physically fit), but damn, I had sore calfs the next day. My problem with them is that I live in a place where it rains a lot and gets pretty cold in winter, so I can't wear them all year round. Some of the sellers claim that your feet are so well supplied with blood in barefoot shoes - as opposed to normal shoes that hinder the blood flow - that you can wear them in winter without getting cold feed. That's bullshit in my case at least (or rather: only works if you're runnin and your pulse is at 180). Once the shoes get wet, my feet are freezing within minutes.
For real, there needs to be a design to cover up the toes with a toe box for both aesthetics and warmth. Keep the shoe wide as fuck, who cares, no one wants to see toes.
Bro they got wet, of course your feet are gonna be freezing. If bloodflow could stop that freezing wouldnt be a problem
Zaqq has fur lined barefoot shoes, maybe an american brand has something similar?
As a person who prefers being barefoot as much as possible to the point where finding me even in socks is rare, this is great! I love the thought of running and have tried it several times but never really got into it mostly because I hate how tight and restrictive it is! Whenever I try it I could feel my toes wanting to spread out and move but not being able to. Kind of like a corset on my feet. It's nice to know alternative options exist. Maybe I'll try again.
lol wtf there are running shoes with wide toeboxes. the OP is a crank artist
@@markheinle6319 You're missing the point. When you run or walk your feet aren't just slapping the ground. Your feet and toes are actively spreading, moving, gripping and working to give you as much purchase as possible to make sure each step is as stable as possible. You don't get that in shoes because you don't need that in shoes. I am used to my feet working for me. Running is active so I expect my feet to be more active and they are but they’re also confined in a shoe. It doesn’t matter the toe box size. It's like wearing mittens while trying to bake a cake. Your hands know what they are supposed to do but aren't allowed to fully do it. So it becomes annoying because of how restricted you are.
@@LibraFvr019 oh ya so ive heard! its a wonder that soccer players arent crippled by 25 with all that time spent in their cleats. the back pain and knee pain ... they can probably barely move by 28, right? the shoes must have destroyed their bodies.
right? theres no way they are in masterful physical shape right? because the cleats had to have destroyed their musculoskeletal system. right?
@@markheinle6319 -_- that's the best you got? Sarcasm? Ok. So basically, you’re saying:
“What are you talking about? Look at all the professional chefs who can bake cakes with mittens! If they’re able to do it then clearly there is nothing wrong or room for improvement! No one is getting hurt, so why worry about it! All those videos of soccer players pretending to get injured during a game to get an advantage are just doing it for kicks. It’s not like leg and knee injuries actually happen that often! Runner’s knee? Aw, don’t worry about that! No connection at all! I know we’re built to be persistent hunters who can run miles for hours on end with little need for rest. And I know runner’s knee (I wonder why it’s called that?) is most likely caused by imbalances in the leg muscles that might be connected to your feet and how it moves, but there’s no connection. We don't need our toes to run better! Just like we don't need our fingers to bake a cake! It’s just silly to think otherwise!”
Is that about right?
I can't speak to technical running shoes, but I wear hiking boots all the time and have no trouble with toe splay or that corset feeling. Have you gotten professionally measured for the right shoe? I walk barefoot fairly often, but the minimalist shoes I tried did nothing but hurt my feet. Now I don't leave the house without orthotics, or I am limping for days. To be fair, my ankles are messed up and have high arches, so my situation may not be relavent to you. The opinion of the doctors I've seen is minimalist shoes are a fad that turned into a nightmare of foot problems for people.
The other barefoot shoe you showed (the white one) really looked similar to what surfers would wear if they weren't barefoot. Really breathable, flexible footcovers basically. I wore them once and it really gave me a chance to realize that walking in them was way more comfortable, if a bit more painful due to having barely anything between my foot and sharp-ish rocks. Except they didn't have laces, but a sort of elastic band around the part that goes around your ankle.
Those watershoes are also to protect yourself from sea hedgehogs and other dangerous animals on the ocean ground
Most are neoprene or mesh top shoes with rubber soles, are built for water and give you some extra grip on slippery rocks, and dry fast.
@@halbgefressen9768 like the sea bear?
Born and raised here in Chihuahua, where the raramuri (Tarahumara) live and there's one slight detail about their sandals I wanted to tell you:
This is a desert, so most of the year is dry land with almost no plant life because of the lack of rain. The terrain is cover with dry plants full of long hard thorns, sharp rocks, and toritos (is what we call those little round balls full of thorns that stick eveywhere, specially in the socks). So the raramuri makes them out of old tires, it gives their feet freedom while protecting them from those elements.
So take into consideration the terrain and calluses on your feet when buying those barefoot shoes, cause I can tell you from experience that those are not practical in terrains like ours. So when he says that you can feel a rock, in places like this you'd feel a really sharp pain from being stabbed in the foot by a smal ponty rock (I've felt it even with regular shoes)
What I will say is that slowly implementing Vibram Five Fingers into my running definitely made my feet and lower legs much stronger. It's strange to admit, but running barefoot on hard concrete now is rather comfortable.
I’ve transitioned to them over a couple years starting in 2005, at this point it’s a huge struggle to wear anything else. Walking on cobblestones is the best foot massage!
It was an extremely painful transition for me. I thought I had strong legs but my calves were atrophied after decades of heel landing. Awesome if you can make the switch, takes dedication.
Great video! I started using barefoot shoes during the vibram craze. The transition to barefoot running is very difficult and it took several months running on flat grass before my feet and calves were strong enough. I was taught bad running form in my youth and I had lots of knee pain from running. After switching to the barefoot shoes my knee pain went away and my calf muscles got much stronger. Running in vibrams feels great and I highly recommend it. I cringe when I see people in the current trend of chunky hoka style shoes!
Dang Mike! I wasn't expecting you to get people so fired up over sharing your barefoot experience. I think what some people need understand is the majority of us in the US have been wearing some sort of shoe or boot with support in it since we were children. So when you quickly take all of that away, it can cause all sorts of problems. Just take your shoes off and walk down a gravel road. If your feet aren't used to it, you will probably experience discomfort. We were designed to be barefooted, but we were also designed to be logical. You wouldn't go out in the cold naked or you would freeze to death. The same thing applies to your feet. I am a long distance runner and I have ran in just about every type of shoe. I do believe FOR ME that less is better, but I know that isn't the case for everyone. I do encourage people to try to go without shoes as much as they can because it does help your feet, but be smart about it. Do what is best for you and your feet, but be open minded about trying new things. I do recommend limiting the amount of time you train on concrete no matter what shoes you wear. You can run fast on concrete because it doesn't give, but it can beat you up pretty bad. Unfortunately most sidewalks and running "trails" are concrete. For me, actually dirt trails have really improved my feet. However, you really have to pay attention to keep from tripping over something. So there are kind of trade offs. Whatever you do, don't quit and keep running! The benefits are worth it!
yes concrete + heel striking
destroyed my knees
What about standing on a hard floor for hours at work?
I love being barefoot, its so strange to see people not be able to be barefoot for extended periods of time. When I was a kid climbing all kinds of things I definitely did hurt my feet a lot but its still so much more comfortable
I dislike being barefoot even in my house. I am so used to wear flip flops. I feel the floor is dirty even when it isn't.
@@augusto7681 It all depends how you grew up. The good news is if you do want to change something, you can (with time and effort haha)
3:52 look at my boy being confident and all in front of his date :)
As someone who loves being barefoot and since I was a kid always played barefoot, everything you listed is what I do in my normal life and that explains why I never got a sprain or anything on my foot while playing instead of my friends who always got a sprained foot or a damaged ankle
Great job editing this video and making a video about feet entertaining! Great job
Our kids (and my husband) love barefoot running and walking. We do get a lot of negativity towards our large family about it, but equally we have had some encouragement too. Thanks for the video, you have just inspired me to give it a go.
Chiropodist asked me why i thought i had sciatica in my feet, i said, well these shoes are a size 9 and (see a take a) 10
wtf was this @@sannytizer7772
What a weird topic to have come up so much you know who's on what side😂
my foot is exactly 12 inches, but i don't use it as a "rule!@@TheScrubmuffin69
I did the same thing of jumping in cold turkey, and man that first month my feet hurt so much. I love them so much now. My feet don't really tire, and the best part is my back pain has dramatically reduced (I have a pars fracture of the L5). It's pretty nuts too how my feet literally look different and wider.
Thanks - I've done bf running for quite some time - one advise: You can severely hurt yourself if you train like an idiot. Basically like me. My first run was 30 minutes which is plainly dumb. All your muscles need to adapt to the new situation. If you go brute force with your buddy, you will feel it quickly. And your calves are pretty prone to long lasting and veeery annoying injuries. So go for 5 minute routines daily and increase week by week. Also: Immediately stop if you feel discomfort and walk it off. Running through the pain achieves nothing. Trust me - I was literally sidelined for 6 months because of allowing myself to train bf running like an idiot.
Great advice
I also read “Born to Run,” and bought into the Vibram Five Finger Shoes a few years ago. My transition to walking with them was simple, just lift your heels off the ground and walk on the balls of your feet. There are people who are born what they call “Pigeon Toed,” and naturally walk that way. It has me wondering, if that is actually the way humans were meant to walk.
The arches of your feet are like leaf springs, facilitating one’s agility and nimbleness. While the heel is meant for you to rest or settle on, only when you are stationary to maintain balance. The balls of one’s feet are more akin to the paws of a cat or dog, which is why that area of the foot is more padded and tends to callous more…
It’s interesting, the more we learn, the more we realize that simplicity is more beneficial…
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I do believe the heel is used in the stride, but not with any weight on it. After 6 years minimal I've found that although my heel technically touches the ground first, the weight doesn't come on until the forefoot is in contact with the ground before supinating to provide propulsion with my big toe the last part to leave the ground before repeating. It's less striding forwards and more pushing backwards.. it pains me to see minimalist shoe wearers smashing their heels into the ground..
After i read this i starting thinking when i walk outside in the summer barefoot i always walk on forefoot. I’m also a forefoot runner but that’s for another video lol
My boss has early onset Parkinson’s and she recently in the last year starting to wear barefoot shoes to help strengthen her feet to improve her balance while standing and walking
You mention dogs & cats - I’ve read the dew claws on the side of the ‘ankle ‘ & pad an inch or so above the foot at the back were originally flat to the ground ( put hand ; palm down flat on the surface , then lift up leaving fingers to illustrate) so those animals were originally flat footed & evolved to ‘tip toes’ leaving the redundant digits & pads higher up the limb ..
Your comment is definitely food for thought !
@@sarahsue4065 If you can bare it, in the film “American Werewolf in London,” there is a very interesting transformation scene that demonstrates well, a more detailed though graphic physiological comparison of human to canine/ feline anatomy.
For the purpose of this discussion, pay particular attention to how the hind legs and paws come to form…
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I have been a barefoot proponent for all of my life. Now, as I approach my mid 60s, I am finding that my feet hurt more when I go barefoot than when I wear a shoe with arch support. I have very high arches (I used to leave two prints - toe and heel - for each foot in wet beach sand) that now require arch support. To be fair, If I could lose 30 pounds, I would probably be good with being barefoot. The bottom line is - take care of your feet.
You can retrain your feet. What happens with regular shoes is your plantar muscles atrophy. The pain you feel is probably you re-engaging and training those muscles. I’m not a professional in this area but I did notice that when I had plantar fasciitis and wore my five finger shoes, the problem went (and stayed) away after a few months of wearing them.