The Dark Side of Barefoot Shoes
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 17 май 2024
- Everyone who post about Barefoot Shoes on RUclips says they are the greatest thing ever. But do they actually work or is the science just fooling us? I discuss the top 5 reasons that people recommend barefoot shoes, why they could or couldn't work, and why critical thinking is important.
** Affiliate/Discount Links **
Flux Footwear (Code: "SHERVIN"): flux.rfrl.co/yqxgx
Vivobarefoot (10% Off Code: "SHERVIN10"): tidd.ly/3aCRQbP
Feelgrounds Minimalist Barefoot Shoes: www.feelgrounds.com/?p=shervin
Splay Shoes (10% Off Code: "SHERVIN"): splayshoes.com/?ref=y98a64kw
Vibram FiveFingers: vibram.com/?src=ShervinShaikh
Xpand Laces (No Tie Shoelaces): amzn.to/3rS7fhx
Amazon Barefoot Shoe (WHITIN): amzn.to/40c4EgO
** Watch More Videos **
I Wore 23 Barefoot Shoes... This One's Best: • I Wore 23 Barefoot Sho...
I Bought 16 Vivobarefoot Shoes (so you don't have to): • I Bought 17 Vivobarefo...
1,000 Days in Barefoot Shoes. It Changed My Life: • 1,000 Days in Barefoot...
** Add Me **
Subscribe // youtube.com/@ShervinShares?su...
Socials // beacons.ai/shervin
Strava // / strava
** Barefoot Friends **
@barefootstrength
@heymikehanna
@wellnessdaddy @CadePriorFilms
@BalancingLaura
@LauraTryUK
@katie_moore
@vivobarefootTV @Vibram @Vibram5Fingers @feelgrounds @SPLAYsverige
#BarefootShoes #MinimalistShoes #barefoot
What they don't want you to know
they don't work
** Timecodes **
00:00 - Lawsuit Barefoot Shoes
00:37 - What are Barefoot Shoes?
01:01 - Wide Toe Box
02:26 - Zero Drop for Heel
04:33 - No Arch Support
06:47 - Ground Feel & Thin Sole
07:27 - Fashion & Looks
08:17 - Amazon Barefoot Shoes (WHITIN)
10:03 - Why you should not buy minimalist shoes
________________________________________________
** My Fave Products + Discount Codes **
AMAZON // www.amazon.com/shop/shervinsh...
SLEEP // Eight Sleep (Code "SHERVIN"): eight-sleep.ioym.net/shervin
FITNESS // WHOOP Strap ($30 Off): join.whoop.com/shervin
NUTRITION // Levels Health CGM: levels.link/shervin 
Хобби
Flux Footwear (Code: "SHERVIN"): flux.rfrl.co/yqxgx
Vivobarefoot Discount Code (10% Off): "SHERVIN10" tidd.ly/3aCRQbP
** Watch More Videos **
I Wore 23 Barefoot Shoes... This One's Best: ruclips.net/video/GrC8YQh9_7Q/видео.html
I Bought 16 Vivobarefoot Shoes (so you don't have to): ruclips.net/video/UmmTH2BEC4M/видео.html
1,000 Days in Barefoot Shoes. It Changed My Life: ruclips.net/video/q6TFVRskT5c/видео.html
My dude, the most important part is to have a shoe with a natural foot shape. The amazon one, while ticking other boxes, DOES NOT have a natural foot shape. You can see it when you compare both of the shoes from the bottom the one from Amazon is not going straight where you have the big toe part but it's actually curving inwards.
You were not created to be a runner....you were created to RUN JUST IN CASE YOU NEED TO RUN.
To be a RUNNER is 100% ANTINATURAL.
@@STARLIGHTRAYS why so angry bro he's just talking about shoes
Still don’t understand why shoes aren’t shaped like feet. Why would we smash our feet into weird shapes?
Aesthetics! Same reason why coursets and heels exist, heck the whole fashion industry.
@@thaboseane502 Their modern warped use is for aesthetics but that's not why they were designed. Pointed shoes were designed for riding horses. High heels were designed to keep people out of the street muck. Corsets were designed for support and don't mangle or constrict (especially if they're made and fitted correctly). The tiny waists that people associate with corsets are made with padding and over exaggerated image manipulation.
It’s also cheaper to make shoes narrower and most ppl think you need arch support. But if you ask an engineer, arches are stronger with force being applied to the top forcing downward, if you apply force to the bottom forcing upwards, the arch fails.
@@lisaphares2286 That's so interesting 🤔 thanks so much, I love that I learned something new today.. I have a bunch of arch insoles that I thought were helping and now see they might not be
I think it started because of horses riding pointed toes make going in and out of the stirrups easier. And than it became a goofy fashion thing.
Don’t quote me on it I’m not sure but I think that’s how it started. Doesn’t make any las stupid though. Lol 😂
I went completely barefoot for 8 months. No, I didnt work at the time. Long story. But the point is this: My balance imroved, my feet loosened up, back and knee pain were negligible. The minute I had to wear boots again knees, feet and back hurt again.
That's the importance of strengthening and stretching in general, they'll make up for the obligations you have on your day to day basis
That's why you probably need zero drop shoes.
Good luck finding some that fit.
How do you go barefoot dude? Don’t your feet get crusty and dirty?
@@bjwkusgxjdksoap & water solve that problem. Foot file & other foot care products too.
I remember someone who did that. She was enjoying it a lot... then she stepped on a nail... 😣
I recently started using the five fingers and people have openly mocked me, it’s fun, I’m out there walking super comfortable and that’s all that matters
Try out Xero shoes they’re nice and wide plus they looks lot more natural being a barefoot shoe rather than the five fingers
I recently started wearing the fivefingers and I've had the opposite response - at least those who speak up with a comment. Plenty stare and don't say anything. I absolutely love them regardless.
I don't now why anybody would wear those - there are so many good options (without "toe fingers").
@@snorrevonflake They seemed like a ridiculous option to me before I tried them. Now, surprisingly, I can confidently say they're the best shoes I've ever owned. 🤷🏼
Screw all those people! I've been wearing five fingers for 15 years now, love em! People may say things and i just tell them that I like them and fortunately their opinion doesn't matter, lol!! They shut up pretty quick!
For two years I have suffered with increasingly severe, debilitating pain from plantar fasciitis. It's only been a few weeks since I started going barefoot and wearing barefoot shoes when I go out, and the difference is night and day. I used to be in such pain when I woke up that I would have to roll and massage my feet for 5 minutes each just to be able to walk. I was temporarily immobilized. It was embarrassing to gasp in pain when I was with friends. But by going exclusively barefoot and wearing minimalist shoes when I go out, I have reversed two years of foot trauma. The conventional wisdom of physical therapists told me to buy shoe inserts to support my feet, but they only ended up making the problem worse. The exercises worked, but the orthopedic inserts counteracted any good it did.
What I'm saying is that strengthening and stretching my feet has put me on a surprisingly fast path to healing. Praise God!! ❤🙏🙌❤
Praise God...did Jesus wear barefoot sandals?
@@johnlesoudeur3653 This comment had me in tears from laughter...but....i think he did...lol
Shoe inserts need to be made for order from a professional doctor for length and height. Store one are generic. It makes it worse.
I went thru the same thing with added tarsel tunel and these soless shoes saved me also! heh
Foot inserts should be moldes for the feet. I have fallen arches and these made my pain hardly there. But as I kids I’d be barefoot like 90% of the time. Now going barefoot hurts more.
The more I've been looking into getting barefoot shoes, the more I realize I already use something kind of similar. I used to skateboard a lot in my teens, and for the most part I've worn skate shoes ever since. They tend to have no height difference from heel to toe, are wider in the toes, and they're relatively thin and flexible so you can feel the board better underneath you (depending of course on which ones you get, but I'd say the majority and the ones I get especially are like that). They do give a bit more cushion for impacts than I believe a barefoot shoe would of course, but they seem to be a good middle ground from what I can gather, and might even be the better option for certain people from a budget angle and a transition point.
Which shoes did you get? Need something for transition
@gandito4058 I've gotten nike sb's the last couple of times. Really any will do, though. Nike, Lakai, Vans, Adidas, etc... all make good ones. I would try to feel them out in store, and sometimes they can be stiff at first, but when I skated, we always bent them in every direction for a while to get them to loosen up.
I was literally having this same thought recently when looking into barefoot shoes. My skate shoes have all the qualities you mention but still give you that extra inch when standing too 😂
It’s more about the size of the toe box though.
@Ghostvix That's definitely an issue you can run into, which is why I'd recommend trying them on first. I've usually noticed there is more room than running shoes, though, where my toes are always squished.
Bought my first pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes in August 2021 and now I have a total of 4 pairs (for different occasions).
For 30+ years I had flat feet and no natural arch in my foot, since wearing barefoot shoes I have developed an arch, my posture has improved and my feet feel so much better.
wow that's amazing to hear! have you shared this with any foot doctor? i'd be curious to hear their perspective on how your feet have changed
Hey Shervin, no I haven’t shared this with any foot doctor. It was only when I went to the Vivo Barefoot store in London (was in there for over an hour), that I’d learnt about the importance of space around the toe box and that I’d been wearing the wrong size for years 😊.
Have you had to remortgage to fund this new habit 😂
@@jdaws4896 there are some barefoot shoes for like 50-60 bucks
Ive developed plantar fascitis and patella tendinitis wearing plenty of shoes with arch support and custom orthotics. Dealing with with this for years, I'm not overusing my legs, I can't even run anymore. I just got a pair of vivos, they fit really well and I hope they can help some issues go away.
My understanding is Vibram settled the lawsuit (without accepting any fault) because they didn't have the scientific evidence to back up the claims they were making, that doesn't automatically mean that those claims were false. Very few minimalist shoes studies existed at the time.
The people bringing the lawsuit also had no proof that the claims were false, just that they had no scientific merit behind them.
The previous CEO of Vibram, who had left before the lawsuit was filed, said he wouldn't have settled, he would have fought it.
Very good details to know!
I love vibram five fingers, l bet Nike caused the lawsuit to stop the moment. They have make running fun , it’s great having full flexibility off the foot 🦶🏻.
They made claims and then when challenged admitted they had no evidence to back up those claims. That effectively makes the claims false. The company lied.
@@loganmedia1142 Yet those " false claims ", as of 2023, are now backed up by studies, researchers, coaches, physiotherapitsts and athletes hahaha. You cannot conclude that something is false or true just because there is a lack of scientific evidence, you can't conclude anything by definition. That was the point of the original post and it seems you didn't catch it. it takes time and ressources to do science
Another exemple. Until very recently, there was no rigid scientific evidence for the benefits of fasting. Yet for thousands of years, fasting was already part of many cultures and communities. People somehow had an instinct about its benefits, benefits that were very true & practical even though there was no studies (as we know of them today) backing up fasting
@@loganmedia1142 These were the claims Vibram made in their ads
1. Strengthens muscles in feet and lower legs.
2. Improves range of motion in ankles, feet, and toes.
3. Stimulates neural function. Important to balance and agility.
4. Eliminates heel lift to align the spine and improve posture.
5. Allows the foot and body to move naturally, which just feels good.
So you're saying that because Vibram didn't have scientific evidence to back up these claims, that means every one of those claims must therefore be false. Seriously?
Was not prepared for all these Tarantino foot shots, you've definitely made someones day with this vid.
There's definitely a health benefit in wearing the footwear that is most comfortable to you. I was yelled at a ton as a kid for walking outside without shoes on, so I naturally enjoy barefoot shoes, minimalist sandals, five fingers for walking, hiking, working out. But you really have to ease into minimalist footwear if you aren't used to walking without support. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR GAIT and that is an uncomfortable process for many people. You have to build up the muscles that you weren't using, and people tend to fatigue during this process and just slam their foot into the ground when fatigued. This can easily cause ligament strain and shin splints.
thanks for your comment, I will bare that in mind!
I suppose this is an upside of living in a place with a fairly mild climate. Walking barefoot often is normal.
@@loganmedia1142 yep, it's a huge thing in NZ and coastal Australia
Do you think it's easier for people who wear flip flops all the time to transition to barefoot shoes??
@@loganmedia1142 if I tried to walk barefoot for like 1/3 of year here I wouldn't need any shoes at all. Or even toe clippers XD And for the rest people are throwing shit on the ground so still probably not good idea
Somehow humans survived for hundreds of thousands of years without wearing wedge shaped marshmallows on their feet.
Humans weren’t standing on hard concrete for 8 or more hours a day, five or more days a week, during those hundreds of thousands of years.
I think the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you're in pain even if you've followed all the "right steps" in transitioning into barefoot shoes, then maybe don't force it!
Not nessecarily. The pain is caused by rebuilding the stuff your shoes did into your feet.
Of course severe pain is a different story.
Reshaping a bodypart is always painful, if it's done over a short timespan.
The first step should be walking barefoot indoors. Maybe using toe splints if needed.
Barefoot shoes cured my cancer!! [I'm kidding, of course, but it IS related!] I had neuropathy following chemotherapy twelve years ago. The pain and tingling when walking was annoying at best. I switched to barefoot-style shoes (Vibram Fivefingers in my case), and my feet felt MUCH better almost immediately. I've been wearing barefoot-style shoes ever since. Thanks so much for the informative video!!
I’ve been wearing my creepy toe shoes (vibram 5 fingers) for a decade now! I love ‘em. I feel awesome and am never going back. For reference, I’m 48, CrossFitter, yoga practitioner, and generally feel awesome most of the time. Longest run in vibrams: 10 miles. Longest hike in vibrams: 50 miles in mountain terrain.
The only thing I don’t like them for: olympic weightlifting. For that I wear Nike Romaleos 😊.
The most neutral non biased video/opinion one could witness. You should look into reviewing politics as well it would be the birth of a completely new style of news
Great video. I enjoy listening to people who also like minimalist shoes. Good content and good information.
I've been wearing Vibrams since 2013 and I absolutely love them. I would wear them every day when I took my walks, which were anywhere between 4 and 12 miles a day. Of course I had to transition into them properly, which I did on a treadmill in my Ohio basement. The rest of the time I had to wear shoes appropriate for an office environment, or NB sneakers, which were recommended by my FIL who was a podiatrist. He used to be totally against minimalist shoes, but after examining my feet after the first year, he started to understand the benefits.
I now live in Florida and since Covid made everyone homebodies, I've been working from home and really have very little need to wear actual shoes at all. When I do go out anywhere, I wear my Vibrams. So basically for the past 3+ years, I've worn either Vibrams or went barefoot almost exclusively. My feet are definitely stronger and much wider than before. I don't ever want to go back to "traditional" shoes.
Great Video 🎉 What arm band monitor are you wearing? Just Curious 👍
There is a whole difference that should be made between "unsubstantiated claims" and "wrong claims". Vibram settled the class action because they were a bit reckless in their claims while they have no actual proof to defend them. Nothing says these claims were right or wrong. Now, if you think about the biomechanics of feet and legs, what they say makes a lot of sense : having shoes compressing the toes distorts feet over time (just look at the feet of women in their 50's who have worn "sexy" shoes for most of their life… nothing sexy to look at after a couple of decades) and it's just common sense that reducing foot surface reduces stability. Then, thick soles only dampen "wrong" (brutal) foot strokes and surely makes leg muscles lazy while letting people take wrong habits. Human have evolved to be moving mechanics, and it turns out that most technologies allowing human to avoid effort and reduce motion are actually detrimental to our well-being because… we just need to activate those muscles to be well, since a lot of biochemical reactions depend on juices flowing. Motion is life and muscles are the way to move. Vibram marketing and their lack of scientific background doesn't mean they are wrong, they are most likely too forward and should probably invest more in research and less in advertising.
Very helpful vid. I had loads of problems moving to bare foot runs but I accept I did too much too quickly. I’ll still be sticking with my cushioned shoes but I found this vid helpful. Thank you.
Awesome video man, all I know of I've been struggling with osteoarthritis in my right ankle, it even started messing with my knee and hip. I started noticing a difference in my pain while working from home being barefoot all day. I just bought some Xero shoes and wore them out yesterday. It felt amazing!! The toe box and 0 drop I believe make a huge difference for walking and daily activities. I'm sore today haha gonna go do some mobility and stretching now. I look forward to seeing if this improves my chronic pains 🤘🏼
I loved my barefoot shoes. I started them into my run rotation on the shorter runs, and then slowly but surely into the longer runs (5k+). I ended up using them for most runs within a few months. I backed off initially during the transition due to over use pain in my feet. While I have good arches, I don't think my feet were ready without any support. Once I got over that I really enjoyed them. It was weird having your toes separate on uneven terrain at first. Once they got stronger though it was very noticeable for stability and mobility as a whole. I will be getting another pair.
When Shervin drops on the weekend, the weekend is better!
Let's gooo Micah!!
The arch support… the bane of every shoe I ever had…. Arch support kills my feet. My arches are in weird places for my foot size and so every shoe hits it at the wrong place and it ends up hurting me so bad! It even dislocated a bone in my foot! (No BS-ing about that one!)
I sprained my midfoot somewhere around 2016 and had pain every now and then for years after. I spent about a year transitioning to barefoot shoes and haven't had pain from walking too much on it in over a year. Anecdotally, I'd say barefoot shoes for the win
I had a crippling mid foot injury, low back pain, bad knees, against all advise by podiatrists and consultants I went down the bare foot / shoe, and correct toes route, absolutely extraordinary results , within a matter of weeks the pain subsided after years of suffering, within a year all pain gone, absolutely adore vivos !
I've sprained my midfoot while running in barefoot shoes. =P There is no single recipe for all.
@@umartdagnir Not suggesting it is. Simply pointing out that a very slow transition and gradual muscle build up did wonders for me
Which is best for work that requires alot of walking and standing zero rise or running shoes?im having bad foot pain rn pls help😢
I do not have a chance to experience barefoot shoelaces in my country. There are only Keen shoes. but I can try them.. I'm a person who stands for long periods of time while working. what would your suggestion be? I wonder if keen will solve my problems? Or should I choose a skechers with good cushioning?
The only thing I regret about minimal footwear (Merrell VG in my case) is that they did not exist 30 years ago and that I was completely in the dark anyway about the barefoot/ minimal concept. It's worked out for me great both for running and leisure. I only (very reluctantly) put on safety shoes in my shop, and then only when the work requires it.
Chucks existed though.
Zero drop since many decades by now.
Not a wide toebox though... But zero drop. Pretty minimalistic.
Were you born w shoes ???
Did you never walk barefoot or wear cheap sandals b4..
Hellooo.. 😮
@@RedHanded1969 I am especially talking about running and sports in general. I live in Holland, climate and the culture I was brought up in always prescribed sturdy, quality shoes. Anything with little to no support was considered bad. Back in the day when I was running competitively (30+ years ago) no one wore anything 'minimal' except for track spikes as I remember.
@@bigbattenberg
How many hrs do you run n do sports ???
How many hrs are you at home or around the house wearing nx to nothing sandals ?
@@_munkykok_ they could exist, but I was freshly born, it's not like kids have too big influence on what they wear, eat etc. Like my friend say: "we suffer from knowledge of what our parents screwed up and hope we won't for our kids"
I can’t remember barefoot shoe manufacturers claiming they’ll reverse your back problems. You need to figure out why you have back issues then go from there.
Back problems can be caused by a hundred things. None of which has anything to do with your shoes.
Do the toe spacers make you feet fill warmer ? I'll have to try these. I have ben wearing my spenco thong sandals for many years due to the freedom filling. But my pinky does looks like yours
Am still curious why shervin has only 30k+ subscriber 😅 It should be way much more than that💯 Don’t give up man! You’re time will come💯💯
Working on it!
The point you make at 10:48 is how I feel too for the most part. I also have wide feet and I think situationally the barefoot shoes tend to be better. I have a pair of Tolos that I use on leg day because they give me that extra stable feeling. And I have a pair of Icarus for daily wear. I have tried to run in Altra (Olympus Via) but the foam is terrible. I just go back to my wide width new balances. I do wish the barefoot market had better looking shoes. I mean I can't really wear any none barefoot shoes that look good because they come in narrow width only. At the end of the day I am just glad to have some flat, wide, comfy shoes for most situations. I don't care too much about the potentially exaggerated health claims.
I miss the days of shoe stores with proper foot measuring tools and a selection of shoe sizes to fit my feet. I might need some of these barefoot shoes.
They do still have shoe stores that properly fit you to a shoe.just need to look around they are there.
My lower back pain from running disappeared with zero drop shoes. The Vibrams gave me multiple stress fractures though, so now I use Hoka shoes with virtually zero drop. Works for me.
Great video! Seeing the high line and intrepid makes me miss NYC, but remembering storage spaces does the opposite haha
hahah getting both feelings in the same video
@@ShervinShares I live upstate but like to visit the city. Earlier this year I started "urban hiking" in my VFFs and my first was the High Line and Central Park. Such a nice walk.
I've fully transitioned over the past year to zero drop shoes. I wear Altra's, Lem's and Birkenstocks QS 700 steel toed boots. I do have a couple of Witten shoes too.
Same here, few pairs of vivos and qs500 for work.
I used to suffer with squashed toes and calluses. Now I don't suffer with any of this.
I’m flat footed and I run a lot and cycle but I have neglected the health of my feet for a long time which is why I have a slight bunion on my left foot and I’m flat footed. I was in two minds to purchase LEMS Primal 2’s barefoot shoes for running because I fear they will cause injuries to the calf muscles, knees and lower back when your heal strikes the tarmac. So, I think it’s best to use Altra running shoes with cushion support for running and LEMS Primal 2’s for everyday use, like walking.
The ankle mobility increase from using zero drop shoes isn't has much coming from the strengthening of the tibialis anterior (front shin muscles), it is more coming from the fact that your gastrocnemius and soleus aren't being constantly shortened throughout the whole day in that heel lifted position, therefore, decreasing their flexibility and decreasing the amount of dorsiflexion you would normally be able to get.
i see a lot of barefoot shoe video recently but yours is most comprehensive & interesting video i've watched. Thank you. and its my time to wear my first barefoot shoe now.
My recommendation is only do the barefoot thing for running after you're down to a BMI below 22. And even then EASE your way into it. If you try to do barefoot running while too heavy, it's the road to injury for sure! Sometimes only running a mile or less per day, switching to a bike or something for the maintenance of your conditioning (cross train). But yeah if you do it right it will knock MINUTES off your pace. Like say you're doing a 9:30 pace now, if you went below 22 bmi and continued to train I'd say you'd be at 8:30. After transitioning to barefoot to perfect your form at that point you'd probably hold a 7:00 pace real easily. If you really wanted to continue marathon training and do advanced training stuff you could nock a bit more off after that (lots of threshold training, perfecting nutrition etc). Most people aren't gonna get beyond a 6:30 pace tho, unless you have a tiny frame or do drugs. But yeah, most of your progress is going to be in 1: losing weight (this goes for EVERYONE). i.e. getting down to race weight with perfect body comp, and 2: perfecting form.
I say it depends on the activity. A wide toe box is always good but if you're going to do an 8hr retail shift, then cushion is needed. But if you're just heading out to buy some groceries or to hang out with some friends for a few hours then you can go without the cushion. Maybe of you want to attempt to strength your calves then also going no cushion could work. As for arch support, it's your choice. It might not be a massive need, a stronger body does make getting "older" happen slower.
I've been wearing 0 drop converse shoes for the past 15 years. Would It be much of a transition if I go with 0 drop soft running shoes ?
in all honesty, is it ok to swap regulary between barefoot and regular shoes? would this cause more harm than good? TIA
I can't make it through a 6 mile run in barefoot shoes on concrete. Too painful. Bought a regular shoe in wide size. Problem fixed.
I want to get my first pair of barefoots to use for trail running. Any help please? Merrell trail 7, vivo trail or vibram FF? Thanks!
Mesa Trail from Xero Shoes or Superior 5 from Altra
You might of said this before but I’ve forgot whats the shorts you wear? Please
I have been wearing a pair of these for a year now to walk. I work remotely and don't put on shoes around the house. When I go out, many times I wear my barefoot shoes. The pain in my knees is significantly less with them. And I find that I walk like I did as a kid in them. Not sure how to describe it, but it feels natural.
Personally I enjoy the strength Ive gained in my feet for the 5months Ive been wearing them and how my feet have become the bottleneck of my performance. In the past Ive pushed further with regular shoes and I always got injuries in many places because I was pushing further than my body was ready for, and now I cant even if I wanted to so I like how they keep me from overdoing it. Also I never care about all the marketing, just try it out, see what it does for you.
I've been in Altras for years. The Lone Peaks are by far my favorite trail shoe, I love them. Born to Run 2 came out late last year and inspired me to once again pick up my Lunas and go for a run. I loved the enhanced ground feel. At 15 mm these were 10 mm (+ insole?) less than my Lone Peaks and 15+ mm less than the Timps I was rotating in and out. I loved it so much I got some Earth Runner Circadians (8mm) recently and took them out for a run. What a difference another 7 mm can make! I feel so many more features of the dirt/grass/rocks/roots. The Lunas by comparison now feel very soft, and wearing any heavily cushioned shoe just feels so numb.
At first you feel every rock, but amazingly the brain takes over and within like a half mile you don't really notice them any more. We have some decently rocky and rooty terrain near us which made me believe I needed rock plates and super maximal shoes to run it which is just plain false. I've found my running posture and cadence are _way_ better when running in the sandals. That's not to say I can't maintain that form in the Altras, but it's very easy to get sloppy in the cushioned shoes. Now, I'll admit, 8mm is thin and I am not quite ready a long run in them. Most I've done is 5 miles so far. Zero drop is no problem, I walk around barefoot/in sandals and run in Altras all the time, but the thinness is something to get used to because there's no midsole to absorb the impact.
Can do you a review of the Sosenfer shoes on Shein. They are called the minimalist breathable slip on shoes on Shein. They legit look like black socks with a rubber sole. I wonder if they are actually comfortable to wear all day. For only $11. Some people said they use them for water shoes other say they use them as work shoes. I thought about buying them to try myself for work since I have to wear solid black non slip shoes but I freaked out and canceled my order.
what model of barefoot boot is that?
I just started wearing minimalist shoes a few months ago, and also toe spacers at night. I cannot splay my toes yet, but I see that you can. Just wondering how long did it take you to be able to do that?
Spacers🤔 What are those and what do they do? Where can I buy those.
@@lt5550 Bought my toe spacers at Earth Runners look under foot restoration tools
Hello don't wanna be mean or anything but it may very depends on everyone. Not really using barefoot daily but I can do it (I never was unable to do it to be fair...).
Try moving your toes with your hands and see if your feet learn from there.
Sometimes after not toe flexing for a while my foot gets lazy, if I star to train it, then it comes back.
Some people I know can't seem to do it - but I don't think they focus on it.
@@gauthierperrod4958 EVERYONE was born with the ability to do it, the only reason some cant anymore is because they have fucked their toes up with wrong shoes
I want to get barefoot shoes, my front foot has always been very wide and I have always loved walking barefoot. But we're heading into snowy season in a few months so I think I'll wait for spring and save up a bit of money.
My favorite shoe in high school and even afterwards for a few years were indoor soccer cleats.. which is wild bc that was before barefoot or wide toe boxes were a thing.. but if you check how indoor soccer cleats were they are extremely flat and a decent toe box.. i never tied them and left them loose in order to be able to slip them on and off but all in all i loved them.. looks like I’m going to be looking into making a new investment..
After a mountain hike one day, I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot. And well, I didn't go to a doctor, so maybe it wasn't plantar fasciitis, and maybe it was some other kind of foot pain. All I know is that shortly after it happened I ordered a pair of the Xero Prio. No, I didn't order them thinking they would cure my foot pain, but yeah, after several weeks of foot pain, it stopped after a short time wearing the Xero Prio shoes. Anecdotal? Perhaps, but I will always look for a zero drop shoe option first.
Critical thinking is key.
'Off road' I have moved to thick soled boots - to cater for clumsy walking, and maybe not paying attention to surface undulations.
For larger distance I have enjoyed paratrooper boots - heavy, but have felt like they limited stress.
As a teen, people seemed to play a fashion game and used heel height to gain overall height.
I have definitely noticed ankle boots appeared to limit / weaken my ankles.
As I grew older I gained more back issues.
Moving to Five Fingers has made me more aware of my feet, and how they affect my structure.
So far it is helping, and allowing greater rotation / flexibility / control.
I am easing my way in by wearing on weekends - and being wary of heel strike when tired.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🧐 Barefoot shoes claimed to have health benefits, but are they as good as advertised?
01:27 🦶 Wide toe box in barefoot shoes benefits foot strength, balance, and posture.
02:53 🏃 Zero drop heels in barefoot shoes promote natural posture, ankle mobility, and reduced strain.
04:21 🦶 Arch support vs. no arch support in barefoot shoes, impact on foot strength and injury prevention.
07:13 👣 Thin, flexible sole in barefoot shoes enhances ground feel, sensory feedback, and natural movement.
10:10 🤔 Science isn't definitive on barefoot shoes, critical thinking and personal preference play a role.
Made with HARPA AI
Exactly what I was looking for, bit surprised actually
And through the whole video only personal experiences
what about winter what is the solution for cold weathers
Changing to barefoot shoes was the best decision i made over the last years. I run for about 15 years and in the last 5 years it was impossible to run without knee pain. It was a slow and gradual process, but it was all worth it. In the beggining your calf msucles get really sored, and you feel muscles in your feet that you never felt before. Now i run more than 20 km without feeling any pain in my knees. It feels fucking amazing.
When plantar fasciitis ended running for me, I briefly tried more cushion and more support but it didn't help. I started exercises and stretches and even went the toe spreader route. It was so painful at first; I could only wear my Correct Toes for an hour before having to take them off but eventually I could wear them for a whole 6-hour shift in my Merrell Vapor Gloves while standing and walking on a concrete floor without knee or back pain. I seriously don't understand why more people with heel pain don't go this route.
When I was 16 I got my first job and bought a pair of leather moccasins. Lived them! Wore them out. Now at 60 I have got problems because I went to standard shoes. I need a pair of shoes that will hold up to getting on and off tractors and washing mud and muck all winter!
Haven't tried barefoot shoes yet, BUT, I have switched to walking landing on mid-front part of my foot and I can definitely say that my lower back and knees have stopped aching after walking big distances.
Also, the flatter the shoe the easier it is to walk landing on mid-front foot as opposed to landing on your heel which is what the casual shoes are made for.
So there is probably truth to the health benefits of barefoot or minimalist shoes, especially combined with changing the way you walk.
Love it. During the COVID lockdowns I worked from home, trained barefoot & spent all day barefoot. After the lockdowns my stability shoes almost made me fall over. I now wear only minimalist shoes 90% of the time, but it is important to transition slowly with the right shoes. Xero shoes were the winner for me. Vibrams did not have enough shock absorption. Also I do wear Altras on my treadmill or for long distances on concrete. But mostly xero shoes ALL DAY! 😅
I started with Astral, their water loyak shoes are awesome.
@@caliberaid8527 thanks for the info! They look nice :)
longterm storage is mostly dumb. I rented a 10x5 for 30 bucks a month for 4 years once. When I moved out of it I ran the numbers and it was about 1500 bucks I had paid for the unit. I coulda replaced most everything in there from thrift stores and garage sales for a lot less than that.
Mate, first thing first: "You are making really good content, congratulations 🙌🙌🙌🙌". Second: I have been using Barefoot shoes for 2 weeks and I feel like a finally I got real freedom on my feet, sometimes I just forget that I'm even wearing a shoe at all.... ... I researched a year before making a move and the most valuable tip is to don't know run on them before many months, you will fracture something in your feet...
I have been squating, pulling the sledge, walking all over (city) and they feel unbelievable amazing, I do go fully barefoot when I go the country side or the beach, mountain, but if you want to trek you should get some special barefoot shoes, just mind the soil quality.
Anyways it is worth to at least try it. Cheers.
I've got flat feet and have been wearing arch support for 30 years. After reading how harmful that can be (weakening the foot and all), I tried going without and training my foot strength instead. In flat, soft shoes, but not barefoot shoes. After about 6 weeks I got intense pain in my left foot, as if I had a knife stuck in there, getting worse every day. In the end I had to give up, put the arch support back in and the pain was gone immediately. I'd love to try barefoot shoes, but don't know if I should. 😕
give them ago, vibram five fingers are best for flat feet, i love wearing them had no issues, arch supports weaken the other muscles in the foot, takes time to get used to them, but its worth it.
Late answer, but if you want to try again: go slow. Use the barefoot shoes for very short walks and your regular shoes the rest of the time. Slowly increase the time while evaluating yourself. If it starts hurting, back down a bit.
i'm living mostly on an island in thailand now, meaning i wear shoes pretty much never here. i did however wear some exhibiting at a conference for a week not long ago, and the standing and period i wore them really did make them feel quite uncomfortable at the end of the day. so may be minimally looking for some kind of wide fit shoes the next time i end up buying a pair.
It depends for me benefits are there but I have very wide foot so usually I was forced to wear bigger shoes than I should have(instead of EU44 i was wearing EU46-47) mainly due to unavailability of wide shoes in general stores.
Wide is not common place even now.
@@krane15 Yeah I know I started wearing beLenka (Slovakian brand) footwear and I'm finally happy with the shoes I wear. They are very wide and fit me well.
I've been thinking about barefoot shoes since last summer, when I made huarache sandals and started wearing them slowly on the beach and grass (simply not on concrete). I was a bit put off by the price as a student though, so I abandoned the idea of switching to barefoot shoes. But as I started a new school and a new city, I found myself seeing barefoot shoes around more and more. Whether out on the street or among new classmates.
Now in the spring I've gone back to regular sneakers and knee and hip pain has set in. Now in the spring I've gone back to regular sneakers with a raised heel and knee and hip pain has set in. I was kind of surprised. About two weeks ago I started wearing barefoot shoes (about 6mm) and the pain is gone.
I'm totally satisfied and can't wait to start slowly reducing the thickness of the sole.
how much toe space between big toe and front of shoe
I get wide running shoes and use lock lace or cheaper knock-offs. The laces stretch and I can also open them up on the wider (bottom) and tighten them a little more on the top.
Result: no more tying shoes and no squishing my toes.
Picked up vivobarefoots for volleyball and those same whitins for my suit! love em both!
nice!!!
man five finger shoes saved my qulity of life!~ I couldn't walk. Multiple spine surgeries...Bunyons, nerve issues and horrific tarsal tunnel! Because I already couldn't walk...I didn't have to take it slow and gentle. I put these on and didn't take them off except to wash them and shower for 2 weeks! I also did an extensive amount of research on my feets. I don't sleep in them anymore but I wear them every moment of the day. Hiking -shopping -walking my dogs -cleaning...-every moment. They taught my brain to re-learn what my feet were actually supposed to do for my body. I can control more muscles and have more strenght in my feet now and walk with confidence. I have a super high arch and my arch is still high with more muscle. So happy I made the life switch. And it really is a lifestyle change. LOVE
What I noticed is that for some people that lived inside shoes their entire lifes, the toes became shaped like the narrow shoes. Here in Brazil i spent my entire childhood playing barefoot, so my feet are pretty wide and my toes are very splaied. Here in Brazil we mostly use sandals, thats why barefoot shoes didn't became a thing here yet I think. I mostly use them because my feet are so wide that using normal shoes are very uncomfortable. I actually have to buy 1 or 2 sizes so it is bearable, but I keep tripping on my self because the shoe is so long. Minimalist wide toe box shoes are just perfect for me because my feet never got deformed anyways.
what about slippers like how everyone in hawaii wears. or birkenstock sandals?
For reals. My posture has already increased in like a week. It's insane. I also walk a lot, less back pain when sitting down, and shoulders just doesn't bent forward as much. It's good. :) Feet is destroyed though, but in a good way. They been working real hard. :D
I love Whitens! 72 year old woman who after 20 years trying to strengthen my problematic hip decided to take a different approach and try barefoot shoes. Started with Whitens and with a few weeks had three pairs in different colors! Everyone said start out slowly but my feet felt so good in them I couldn't take them off. I am doing foot exercises and toe spacers in the evening and I can already tell that my arch is strengthening after only two months! Never going to back to regular shoes. Lucky that I am old, no one looks at what I am wearing anymore. Oh BTW my hip pain went away with 24 hours of wearing these shoes and hasn't come back since!
I just got my first pair because I drive for work and wanted the freedom to move my toes while driving. I don't take a lot of steps at work, so thought that'd be a good way to start with barefoot shoes. Even after wearing them the first 2 days I noticed muscular pain in my foot and big toe after years of wearing traditional running shoes. Kind of like a post-workout type of thing. This proves to me that the concept works. My toes feel better. The shoes actually fit so well, I pulled the laces out completely. I'll continue increasing their use into other activities to see if I can strengthen my toes and feet. They do look a little silly, but the comfort of being able to use your toes is worth the minor fashion faux pas.
I don't run anymore - I'm 75 and have had injuries to my feet in the past. They tend to come back to haunt you when you get older, trust me. The problem I have with barefoot shoes is the makers seem to think everyone has the same shape feet. We don't. My second to is the same length as my big toe. Called, I understand, a 'Grecian' foot. Whatever. I'm wearing a pair of Merrel Vapor gloves and they're pretty comfortable but rather wide. though I can't say their helping my flat left foot. That was down to a rather heavy oak bench which dropped on it when I was lifting it onto a table - then add a few big horse feet... Any comments or suggestions? Cheers.
I am very overweight and have always worn sturdy shoes that just narrow the foot. Now i am lucky that the company i work for is very concerned about the health of their employees and that's why we had a visit from an orthopedic doctor. He told me straight out that walking and standing barefoot is more stable and safer with the overweight because the body can stabilize itself with the feet.
I tried it and bought barefoot shoes and since then I been able to walk longer distances with less pain. Knee pain is almost gone and I lost 34 pounds in weight in the last 5 months since the increased mobility I gained. I stick to barefoot shoes because they just work really well for me. I can only recommend that everyone try it out for themselves to see if it improves anything.
I've been wearing Vibrams for 15 years straight now. I run on a regular basis every monring for 3K-4K. Vibrams encompass about 80% of my entire shoe range. I'm 52 and have never (touch wood) had any probelm with my legs or balance, or posture. Back before I made the change I was constantly experiencing shin splints, back pain, and shooting pains in my leg muscles on a regular basis. The five finger shoes work for "me", and still continue to do so. I had a complete medical done a year or so ago and had my gait and posture etc analysed with no abnormalities whatsoever. I cannot advocate that these shoes 'work', but they do indeed work for me.
looking for a steel toe in wide toe box, potentially made for working in snow since I work in a warehouse at negative twenty. Eleven hours in ice is pretty brutal and there are a lot of loose nails and stuff that i'd need to resist.
you should try Skinners! I like to walk barefoot but sometimes you want to protect your feet :)
Hey Shervin…what about Earth Shoes? Kelso Earth Shoes for men are amazing, but the sizes are not true…way too short. I wear 10 1/2 to 11 and the 11 1/2 was too small, but 12 was perfect. I’ve been wearing them since High School!
I’m no expert when it comes to shoes, but as someone who walks and hike a lot, I love barefoot shoes. To me, they work. I haven't hurt my foots nor ankles or so in the 6 years I have some. The truth is, I wouldn't wear other shoes, even when I should (in the City) or could.
I started wearing barefoot shoes a month ago and they are really comfortable. The only thing that bothers me is if it's fine to walk or run on hard surfaces like asphalt. It's not nature intended for sure. Any thoughts?
agreed! people should be able to wear those shoes (or any shoes) on dates or social events for sure!
Do you always walk with a heel strike?
Ive been wearing barefoot shoes for abit over a year, its all i wear now. My favourites are vivo's, and ill be doing a 2860km throughhike in them this summer :D my feet have never been healthier, but more notably: my aweful knees that ive struggled with for uears have been absolutely perfect lately, regardless of my long training hikes with extra weight on my back :) i wish i had discovered them years ago!
No that explains alot why so many body builders were lifting weights in flip flops back in the day
Daaang.. my foot is so narrow my pinky two is almost completely under the other. Yikes .. also just realized 6 months ago I’ve been using the wrong size all my life! Thanks to a local running store
Just do what I do, go barefoot 99% of the time. YES, that is easily possible today if you work at home on a computer. In fact, I can't remember that last time I put on a pair of shoes.
Only issue i have with them is when i do like a 20-30 km walk my feet hurt from the hard concrete
For the last six years I have been using New Balance running shoes with arch support and shock-absorbing soles as all-day shoes. For a few months I have been experiencing knee pain. Maybe I'm getting old. During my childhood and adolescence, I used to spend the summer months in beach slippers and played soccer almost every day. There was a speculation that Brazilian soccer players in Turkey like Alex were less likely to get injured because they played barefoot soccer on the beach as children. I don't know Altan.
Footnote: I saw a video that Einstein was always barefoot at home.
Tennis/canvas shoes used to be my favourites when I was forced to wear shoes in summer. Definitely, the cheapest option if you find extra wide fitting. Jazz ballet shoes style are also a good option, but you may have to get waterproof soles added to them (or buy soles from Amazon and glue them on yourself)
However, I am definitely getting old, because the collagen on my hands and feet is getting thin. In fact, they are so thin on my feet that I can feel the heel bone and metatarsals hitting the floor or road I am walking on: a very painful experience. So, unless I am wearing shoes with super soft soles (which formal office wear or fashion boots /shoes never are, I have to add gel pads or memory foam to all of them. There are always some occasions when you have to wear those, but you can alleviate or prevent some of the problems by not wearing shoes at home and wearing stretchy, well,-fitting socks or slipper socks with non-slip soles.
As soon as you try something like basketball, climbing, ice skating you realize there's a time and a place. sure we can swim perfectly fine with our feet but flippers improve speed and conserve energy. sure we can lift heavy items bare foot but it's not fun to drop something on your toes. try working in a warehouse with minimalist shoes.
The arguement about the bigger heel can make you run faster, well.. I haven't tried barefoot shoes yet, but I could easily find a counter-arguement for that.. because if the normal shoes limit your overall body to act and function as it was meant to be, I would argue that with time, you'd adjust and run faster with the flat barefoot shoes.. it's just guess work though, but overall you do sprint with the front of the feet, so of course a "better starting position" helps that.
The Whitins are my favs! Yes I had to go a size up. Good durability even hiking in Sedona. (That is crazy good exercise for your feet.) Still haven't been punctured by a goatshead thorns yet.
So basicly no dark side of barefoot shoes? I live in germany and bought a german barefoot shoe for 50€, which turned out to be best investment this year so far. I can wear them while jogging on trail, without socks, 13km no blisters, no pain, no problem. My back feels better, feet feel better, more comfortable, more airflow... Normal shoes seem like a bad idea to me now.
No dark side? Read my comment.
@@krane15 I was referencing the video title. But sure, If you have problems with shoes, then just buy others. There are so many options. If a person looks decent, then the shoes can look ugly I guess...But I would never judge a person by their shoes :D
@@konstantin122 "But I would never judge a person by their shoes :D"
If you say so. But we absolutely judge people by how they dress. Even if its sometimes unconsciously.
As for the idiom about men and their shoe choice, I didn't make it up. But I have to agree, there is a lot of merit to it. In fact, some consider it a science.
@@krane15 Sure, maybe there is science involved regarding looks. But then again, I dont find them that ugly...What shoes you had?
@@konstantin122 For running, I typically chose Adidas brand. For general athletics, a crossfit will do. I avoid flat shoes like most in this video the plague, except for specialized shoes such as a shoe made for sprinting or wrestling. Unlike gym shoes, nobody walks around in those.
At the moment, my current athletic shoe of choice are K-Swiss. Roughly 30% are wide. At last count, I have 5 pair of those.
If barefoot shoes are minimalist, with less structure, thinner soles, less padding and no arch support - why the fuck are they so expensive?
I'm flat footed. I was told by my ballet teacher to walk on sandpaper to build my arch. Other persons said there same. I never tried.