The Issue with Barefoot Shoes
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2024
- Despite barefoot shoes popularity, they do have an issue.....
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- I Wore Barefoot Shoes for 3 Years, this is what happened: • I Wore Barefoot Shoes ...
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I enjoy the typical Laura Try 40-minute deep dive into a particular health topic as much as the next person, but these shorter, more casual, almost conversational videos are a welcome addition to the repertoire. Plus, I imagine they're much less stressful to make.
It was a cheeky one wasn’t it.
I genuinely was hanging out the washing and I stopped midway through and pretty much wrote the whole script.
You’re certainly right for them not taking as long!
I’m pleased you liked it. I appreciate your comment 🙏
It’s great to have both isn’t it and RUclips is great for that variety. I often look for something that goes for 40 min plus to watch while doing an indoor row but at other times look for something shorter when I’m a little time poor.
It’s great to have both isn’t it and RUclips is great for that variety. I often look for something that goes for 40 min plus to watch while doing an indoor row but at other times look for something shorter when I’m a little time poor.
Transitioning to barefoot shoes appears to be a very personal thing. I am 68 and, after a lifetime of wearing 'normal' shoes, changed to barefoot shoes last year. I wear them (or go barefoot) pretty much all the time and have had absolutely no problems, and my feet are definitely thanking me.
Same, 62. Three months into the transition, and I can no longer comfortably wear my old, conventional shoes. God help me if my daughter gets married (I wish!), I don’t know what I’ll wear for footwear!
@@daven.7685 Barefoot shoes perhaps!
I'm 50 but learned pretty quickly as a teenager, that my feet HATE shoes. Luckily, I live in sunny California and have been wearing zero drop shoes, Birkenstocks or Asics my whole life.
I love how you are holding space for your sense of humor after how awful and frustrating it must have been after your recent video was demonetized. That video was amazingly well done and you deserve to be paid for your amazing work.
Also, I started transitioning to barefoot shoes after I first saw you talk about them and I have never looked back. I am so happy I did. You are a fantastic ambassador for Vivobarefoot and have definitely won them some business from me.
Thank you! 🥹
Sadly through marketing we get shoe shaped feet instead of feet shaped shoes
I grew up wearing vans and converse. My mom always warned me I was ruining my feet because they have no support. I'm the only one in my family with an arch. I've also always been barefoot around the house. Even with these things it still took about a year before I could run in barefoot shoes. About 5 years in now
Personally, I think anyone looking to transition back to a more natural foot shape and function should also try using toe spacers with barefoot shoes. Spacers help move the toes back into a more natural alignment.
A great suggestion, and one I mention in my ‘How To Transition to Barefoot Shoes’ video.
Thumbs up for the blurred cat.
LOL!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That was funny 😊
I wore barefoot shoes for over 4 years and all was going well. Then suddenly out of the blue I developed a Morton’s Neuroma !!
I think barefoot shoes are great but humans weren’t meant to walk for hours at a time on pavement. This is what caused the damage i think. I need more cushioning in my shoes to do this.
Yeh this is a good point. Although that tribe out of the Born to run book run on a lot of boulders.
I think our body weight is probably a major factor; a healthy 6ft tall male ideal weight is probably around 11 stone and a 5ft5 female around 9 stone. Looking around, we ain’t that.
Less doughnut/more barefoot 😅
@@nealchambers2306 The are general things and part that are personal. I don't think that your conclusion/oponion is right. Science in combination with the experience of many will give more information.
When I was a child people were arguing how sad it was for african children to not have shoes and were not able to go to school. Who knew, that our shoes and schools were actually the big scam hurting us. Not to mention our food, our media, our medical system, ...
Perfect. I was just in Kenya and watched children run very fast with no shoes on. Well, in the countryside.
100%! Well said.
Yes, so true 👏👏🙌🙌
In Africa we prefer being barefoot
I do wear shoes where there are many thorns or snakes
🔝👏
I made the transition to barefoot shoes about 3 years ago. I have flat feet and a locked big toe. They have helped, but I still have some way to go. One piece of advice I would give anyone transitioning is when they get home is to take their shoes and socks off and spend as much time like that as possible. It helped me.
Covid and the subsequent working from home has really helped my feet. I spend days on end barefoot around the house and I think my feet have benefitted.
I completely agree!
For those wanting a more gentle transition, they could also have a look at Altra shoes, as they do models that have a wide toe box and a flat sole, albeit with more traditional levels of cushioning. Personally, I got used to my Vivobarefoot shoes relatively quickly, a few months. One thing people will notice is their balance improves, as their toes and foot muscles are more active during walking, especially over uneven surfaces.
Many of us who used Altras in past years have started using Topos instead because Altras have decreased in quality. I find that the Topos provide the same wide toe box and zero drop, but work better for me on the rocky large gravel and dirt mountain roads that I walk on because my foot doesn't slip around as easily in the shoe..
@@kbc1883 Good to know. Last Altras I bought were 2 or 3 years ago, and were on clearance when they were releasing some new models. I think I may have seen a few posts then that the newer models weren't as good, so maybe I just got lucky buying the previous model.
I love my altras so much I bought the same pair in 2 colours
@@markparker5585 Yes, exactly right! Most people are finding the older versions to be better quality and last longer. I bought up several pairs of the older versions two years ago (so maybe they were the 2021 or 2022 releases) until I could find no more in my size in the outlets. My local running shoe store, Fleet Street, also confirmed the Topos popularity over Altras because so many of their customers were seeing their newer Altras bust out at seams and wear through in the back. The final straw for me was when I rolled my ankle in my Altras because they are looser in the mid and back foot. My 5th metatarsal has a healing Jones fracture and I just can’t risk that amount of slippage right now.
I wish ultras worked for me. The lone peaks are too wide in the toe box, but even the narrower models crease over the top of my foot so they are not comfortable. :(
I have flat feet and mild bunions, but I transitioned to Vivo Barefoot shoes about four years ago with absolutely zero problems. But I must say that prior to transitioning, I have always been in the habit of going shoeless whenever practical.
I had severe hip problems to the point that I could hardly walk or had to rest all the time, I tried orthotics which just made everything worse then I transitioned to barefoot shoes and now have no hip problems, I am well balanced and can even stand on my vibration plate for 4 minutes on one foot. Also I live on a farm and walk up and down hills on uneven ground and I never fall over on slippery ground, something I used to do quite often before, I seem to be more balanced and have stronger feet. Hope this helps anyone wishing to transition, it is worth it, it just takes time. Thanks for the great video Laura.
I use barefoot shoes to work out and I feel more balance and control. You said it LT…our bodies will adapt to support our goals or perform a task…but not always in the best way!!! Problems with shoes and our feet are just a sample. 😊
Transitioned to barefoot shoes (Xero Prio) 3 years ago and it fixed my plantar fasciitis, something I'd had for 9 years. Took 12 months to acclimate to them, but was more than worth it. Won't ever go back.
I'm 42, and I switched to barefoot shoes (for running) about 4 or 5 years ago.. LOVE THEM. Took ages to get used to them but would never go back.
Why do I love them? I can run much further now without pain in my knees. First off I got properly a pair of merrels.. can't remember the model but they had about a 1mm sole.. they were far too rough for anything other than nice smooth tarmac, and then I moved to yorkshire where I do trail runs so I got a pair of altra superiors which are zero drop with a wide toe box but have padding - they're really good! I had to conciously change my running style but then after a year or so it all just fell into place.
One of the best things, is I *feel* like I run naturally now, which is amazing. Well worth the investment of time, you can run in a toe/midfoot strike style with regular trainers though so don't feel you have to spend money.
@@syrus3k Thank you! 🙏
Really interesting, I went barefoot many years ago when I started running again. I transitioned really quickly. The thing about modern running shoes is many people heal strike while wearing heavily cushioned shoes. This is quite unnatural as it is basically impossible to heal strike when barefoot running. Watch any young child running and you will almost certainly see what it looks like to run naturally, they will be impacting on the forefoot. As you stated Laura the foot when barefoot our brains absorbs a lot more information from the foot and responds with the bodies natural shock absorption system. ‘Born to Run’ is a really interesting book to read . It gives an insight into how running shoe companies have used propaganda to continually try to highlight the advantages of using ‘their’ shoes to give you an advantage. At the end of the day though each to their own and anybody that’s out and about trying to improve their health and fitness is vastly better than being a couch potato. 😊
yep,i got into it due to running as well, i had a bike that was hurting my knee just after 7 mile ride,a good bike has let me ride to my hearts content with no knee discomfort at all, so when i got into running i right away started looking for the best shoe to protect my joints ,and hilariously found out that the best is no shoe at all!!! i have run 5+ miles with just toe spreaders many times, i am not sure how to improve my forefoot strike to start each strike at the pinkie toe, but i feel that completely barefoot makes it a bit better ,training to forefoot strike was not easy but pretty straight forward, but refining it to a perfect pinkie side start for optimal shock absorption is still a struggle, any ideas? i sometimes get discomfort in ball of the foot as a result ,going 100% barefoot does help the landing be better
@@silence-humility-calmness interesting my knees were my problem also and likely caused by bike riding , specifically time trial / triathlon bike riding. My ITB was giving me incredible grief walking up/ down stairs and running and couldn’t trust my right knee it would be painful but give way randomly. Going barefoot and using Vibrams (sorry Laura 😊 if that’s not the brand you endorse, but same concept ) fixed the ITB issues really quickly. Like I said previous comment transition was a breeze for me but it seems most seem to take some time, I must have been lucky with my physiology, maybe . 🤷♂️
Been wearing barefoot shoes for two years now and have no regrets. Agreed, the transition must be done gently, as you point out our feet and whole body have changed to accommodate our shoe choice
I transitioned to barefoot shoes after fracturing my ankle - I could not run very far at all, at first. Being forced to take a slow, gradual approach, I was able to fully transition within a year.
The Issue with barefoot shoes is... Can't wear normal shoes after! 😂 Feet gets wider and doesn't fit in the "conventional" shoes. I did deep dive transition into barefoot shoes with Vivos and Altras. Couple months of pains and after that can't live without it. Fixed my severe chronic lower back pain within weeks!
Thanks for info. I ordered some a few days ago and used your promo code. 😊
I feel blessed I was able to buy my first pair of Xero shoes a year ago and just run with it. No underlying issues. I haven't seen the amazing transformations in my feet yet but I have donated all my old shoes and now have a barefoot shoe collection that covers every occasion. So don't worry anyone reading this comment, sometimes it just works with no issues!
luckily I was able to just swap to barefoot shoes right away, I'm young and I only ever wore shoes when I went out.. which wasn't very often to be honest.
Love the indirect comparison to corsets, etc! 👏
I have collapsed arches, severe over pronation, joint hypermobility disorder, and chronic pain. My transition to Vibram Five Fingers is instant every time I buy a pair. It's astonishing how well they work for me. It's got to the point where I lace up conventional shoes and I already have instant pain without standing up. Even though I wore conventional shoes for decades, my feet just never adapted. Maybe from the hypermobility, I'm not sure.
That’s crazy. I’m barefoot almost al the time and wear vibram 5 fivers when working out or hiking and whenever I wear “real shoes” I get extreme foot and leg pain.
I've always had wide spread toes and finding shoes that fit was a chore. Vivobarefoot fit like a dteam gor me and make returning to "normal" shoes very uncomfortable. They have a good selection of leather shoes that no one will look at curiously - like lots of barefoot shoes which are a bit odd looking. Definitely worth trying
Runners could switch from high cushion shoes to lower cushion shoes over time to eventually barefoot. Just make sure the socks you use allow your foot to expand.
Great point to make. ❤
I went from standard running shoes to minimalist running for a few years (with standard shoes the rest if the time), then barefoot shoes for everything. It was a good transition for me.
Transitioned almost 5 years ago and I will never going back.
Groundies also has amazing barefoot shoes. They're very stylish. I've been wearing them for years along with Vivos
Yes! I have the knee high boots they are so comfy
I love Groundies and Shapen for more stylish barefoot shoes. There are, thankfully, many options now.
Groundies in summer, zaqq in winter and for hikes, belenka for style and whitins to work (as you can put them in the washing machine with no harm for the shoes) ❤
Oh, and I forgot ZaMi (sandals) when it's really hot ❤
@@katn1952 this is a very helpful list. Thank you!
Thanks Laura!! Ive been meaning to try these so i just ordered the pair you recommended! Looking forward to feeling more grounded and connected to nature🌸🌻💜
This was helpful & encouraging. I finally decided to try some barefoot shoes & experienced great pain after. The bottom of my feet were too tender to touch after a work shift & my knees, calves, & neck hurt in a major way. I've tried wearing them for shorter shifts as practice with the same results...after watching this I felt inspired. I know things take time to change, like diet, habits, and trying new things in general. I'm going to try shorter intervals with barefoot. Thanks!!
I started wearing the Vivo Barefoot shoes about 3 months ago. Going to the gym (resistance training) didn't cause any issues for me. However, wearing them to take a brisk walk was different. I noticed that the way I had always been walking - heel striking the ground first - did cause some leg pain, mainly in the calves. I even had some lower back pain. But, wearing them for several more weeks, the pains have gone away as I have gotten used to them. The interesting thing is that the traditional shaped shoes I was wearing, now feel uncomfortable as it feels like the toebox is just too narrow.
My feet grew one whole shoe size in 3 years when I started wearing them. My feet grew longer and wider from the foot spreading out. Madness!
I now cannot wear a ‘normal’ shoe, my foot is too wide.
Same! Some family cannot grasp that my entire foot didn't widen, as in needing a 'wide' shoe sz... my forefeet have spread into what I call Primal Shaped that no longer fit into traditional shoe shapes without wider, functional toe boxes. @@LauraTryUK
So you're saying you switched from heal strike to mid or toe? Very interesting.
😂 Thank you so much for leaving that part in! You made my day😂🐈⬛❤️
I've been considering barefoot shoes for some time now (mostly due to your videos) and I now feel better equipped to deal with any issues I may experience. (PS: I love your shirt so much!)
I was intrigued by the idea of going barefoot since I recently heard about it. I immediately started going for barefoot walks around my neighborhood and jogging in the grass at my local beach. I had heard about how transitioning to barefoot can be difficult and painful and I’m happy to say that I’m not experiencing any of those problems. It just occurred to me that maybe an advantage I have is that I am 47 years old, and the majority of my life has been spent in a pair of basic Vans. They aren’t exactly barefoot shoes, but I would consider them zero drop, minimal support shoes. Just a theory
That's great. Can I ask, are you overweight? I ask only because anyone that I've ever known who's made a successful transition to barefoot shoes completely has always been pretty close to their normal weight range. Making the transition as a categorical "obese" person seems to be a whole other proposition that proponents of barefootedness don't seem to want to address.
@@dmdunn I lost about 80 lbs a year ago and got down to a very healthy weight. I think you are absolutely right.
Thank you for this shortie, Laura! I've been on my own "adaptive" journey by wearing non-slip socks at home. I work from home and stand in front of my computer, so it ends up being quite a few hours a day. Would love to get a pair of Vivo shoes, but I would have to order them online and am unsure if I want the hassle of having to send them back if they don't fit. 🤔
The non-slip socks at home sound like a great start 💪
oh my goodness Laura, you've come up with some right shockers there. I had my hands over my eyes for some of them. So glad that you are an advocate (maybe the wrong title) for Vivo barefoot shoes. I imagine that making a product that has to be so robust that we can take them anywhere safely, and at the same time being sufficiently responsive in the sole that we as wearers can remain safe and attuned to the walking/running surfaces. But having said all that I do wish that there were ways to reduce the costs. I know there are Revive shoes available, but it is a lot of money and I feel sorry that more people will not be able to have them.
This is suuuch an interesting take! I haven’t really heard this broken down like this before. 👏
I agree with you, and have worn barefoot shoes for many years, but I don't feel the need to have a gigantic Vivobarefoot logo on my wall.
😂😂😂
I’ve since I can remember always wore shoes where my toes had room to spread as I never liked them being squashed, my feet always swell in size during the day. I was lucky to have been in a place during lockdown where I didn’t need to wear shoes for two years. Hence when I needed shoes I bought barefoot shoes. The trainers you showed I have and like. I also had the boots. However as someone who loves going on long walks, I have developed extreme pain in my feet. I feel that I’ve pulled the tendons in my shins and have extreme pain at the bottom of my heel. Now I can hardly walk on my feet and have had to invest in cushioned shoes. Although your theory makes sense, it doesn’t in my case. Barefoot is not cheap either and I feel frustrated as I love the space they give for my toes to spread, but my feet feel destroyed
I’m sorry you’re in pain, I hope you recover soon. I never lost my natural foot shape, going barefoot a lot growing up and not liking my toes squashed either. I got into barefoot shoes in my 20s and it really helped some mild hip and back pain I was starting to get working in a restaurant, I gradually transitioned, did foot strengthening exercises, did everything right, and after a while of only wearing barefoot shoes and standing on hard floors a lot, walking on concrete, moving to a home with hard floors, and then ramping up my high impact exercise, one of my feet became really hyper mobile and the arch flattens under pressure, which cause more pressure on my second metatarsal and I got bad pain. I tried to walk it off and strengthen it, and it just got worse. So now I have to use some padding in my shoes, and I need arch support to not have pain. I felt so bad about it, and I can’t stand regular shoes now. At least as long as I have a wide toe box I’m happy. Sometimes our tendons can only be pushed so far.
Hi Laura thanks for the new vid. Just wanted to say you were one of the inspirations for me switching to barefoot shoes around four years ago in one of your early videos where you were talking about barefoot shoes. I was down the deep rabbit hole of searching for solutions to my foot pain that didn’t involve surgery! I’ve been following ever since and always look forward to your new content. I went cold turkey with my switch over and lots of things got better pretty quickly. But like you say after 50 years in conventional shoes it’s not an instant fix and even now after four years I get little niggles that seem to move to different places. But I’d much rather have that than continuing on route for totally debilitating bunions and more. Thanks again. Ps I’m glad I got to see your recent psychedelic truffle journey retreat before it was side lined. I really hope you are able to sort that because it was really meaningful and may be helpful to many. Thanks for all your great content 🌸🌈
Can definitely relate to this.
Not only my feet hurt in thin shoes (like the classic converse), but without wearing the special padding for my flatfoot I get knee pain as well.
I expect it to be a somewhat painful transition, but I imagine in the end it will prevent more pain than it causes, so it's worth.
I wear barefoot shoes all the time, Except when I want to do jumping. I am older and tore a meniscus years ago. So now, if I do any high impact type of cardio, I have a pair "conventional" gym shoes with the widest toe box and padding. I am so happy to switch right back to barefoot. And my knee is happier also.
I started working out just in my socks recently and really enjoyed the feeling. Also I’ve been wearing flip flops a lot because this is the nearest barefoot alternative available for me right now. All my life I was thinking there is something wrong with most shoes that now I’m so curious about barefoot shoes. You finally convinced me 😂
I work out barefooted or with socks on and the difference in difficulty shocked me. I have to work much harder with my balance. Goes to show how much work shoes are doing for you!
I loved this short, humorous video, Laura. :) My husband began wearing barefoot shoes a few months ago and has had no problems so far. When he was first considering barefoot shoes, I noticed he could not flare out his toes and couldn't even get a finger between them. Remembering I had a pair of toe separators from the days when I used to paint my toenails, I suggested he wear these around the house, and he has begun to notice improvement.
He was involved in a very serious motorbike accident a couple of years ago, and as a result, he now has a bad limp in one leg and had to wear an insert to stop his leg from buckling inwards. Since wearing the barefoot shoes, he no longer has that buckling.
I transitioned 2 months after my last pregnancy (which is 6 months ago). I want to say "I just did it, no problem" but I never really wore heels or the narrower shoes, or the overly cushioned trainers. My feet got tired in the beginning but quickly caught up with my increasing stamina postpartum. One thing I can't explain is that now every morning straight out of bed my ankles and/or feet hurt a bit for a few steps, as if they're stiff and need to warm up.
I'm on board for these shorter vids as a change of pace!
I learned, because of women's hormone adjustments and how they affect our ligaments & tendons too, to stretch my feet, ankles & calves before I got into bed every evening AND before getting out of bed every morning. Makes a huuuuge difference in comfort 😊
@@joan.nao1246 thanks! This is new to me. It's just a few steps but still, weird.
Thanks for the comment and I’m pleased you like the snappy vid 😀
Not even watched the video but if it's not about how insanely expensive these aggressively marketed water shoes are I'll be disappointed
I experienced pain at the beginning a couple of times, but now I think they are the most comfortable shoes on the planet.
@2:16 we are literally hobbled by our own shoes.
I only wear shoes during winter. To protect from frost bite. Spring summer and fall, I'm barefoot.
Smart idea❤
Incredible video! Thank you very much for this.
Thank you for discussing this subject 👍❤️🌹
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤ You inspired me to start wearing barefoot shoes, my son started at the same time. He was 12 then, and he loved it immediately. I had to adapt more slowly, but I feel so free in those shoes. 😊😊😊😊😊
Who doesn't walk around the home barefoot for an hour per day . . Isn't that enough of a break in period for wearing barefoot shoes instead of actually having to purchase a BF shoe.
15 years ago I bought my 1st zero drop shoe - I had no pain what so ever (cuz I am barefoot in my house!). That was after for years wearing work boots when I was in construction & dress shoes when I transitioned to an office.
Lets put barefeet back into the BFS
I love my Barefoot shoes . Does anyone know if you clean them in the washing machine?
I have washed several pairs of vivos in the washing machine over the years . They don’t last as long as long as those I haven’t washed.
Wow so expensive for the amount of time you get out of a pair for the cost of everything today ! Think I will stick to just going barefoot 😂works for me
Love your work!
Glad to see the speed cube still kicking around. :-)
Excellent!! ❤My faves are still my most minimalist slip on Vibrams for the past 8 years. I feel like a Vibram toe type is a great beginner barefoot shoe as well, because it helps put the foot and toes in the right position, stretching out the toes a little with the separation between toes. Wish I’d known 50 years sooner. Also, lot’s of walking on the beach barefoot and on soft ground, grass to begin with make a huge difference.
Once you go barefoot shoes, you never go back. Mine saved my feet from bunion pain. No pain 2 years
I am 73 and did not have any problems when using barefoot shoes for the first time. I now have 3 pairs. They are so comfortable.
Interesting! Literally stuff I never thought about before.
Very good video.. my wife has bunions and her feet, it's so difficult for her wear certain shoes or even sandals. I have worn shoes and sandals for many year.. but mostly now I usually go barefoot in the house because I usually don't wear shoes indoors I was raised to wear shoes inside the house because of my father's believe. Anyways I've noticed now that when I put shoes on and I go out anywhere my feet are in a lot of pain. So to make this a shorter message, its as you mentioned.. the body does adapt and it takes a long time for it to get use to a change. Thank you for your videos
I tried barefoot shoes many years back. Unfortunately they didn’t work out for me. I have a leg length discrepancies and my longer leg was taking the “hit” even more.
During the pandemic, I worked from home and spent a little over a year either barefoot or in Crocs slides (Crocs generally have a wider fit) and I accidentally widened my feet. LOL It pained me to get rid of some of the shoes I had (Doc Martens in particular) but I could no longer wear any of them comfortably. Now if I want a more fashionable shoe, I buy it in wide, go for a lower heel, and more rounded toe box. Recently, I tried Hoka sneakers because I workout in the basement on a cement floor. Just walking in them was a workout. The calf burn was insane and I had to send them back and just install a spongy floor tile instead. LOL Also, weird note, before the pandemic I was dealing with plantar fasciitis and about a month into working from home, it magically went away and I no longer felt I needed the orthotics that were waiting for me at CVS. Hubby also developed PF and I talked him into a barefoot shoe and his went away as well. Love all you do!
Additional (non) issues with barefoot shoes (In my experience after two years)…
1. Your feet will relax and therefore require a bigger size, goodbye £400 winter mountaineering boots
2. You will not be able to wear regular shoes anymore without immense discomfort… RIP Vans, my one true love.
3. Two years in, I still can’t run long distances in barefoots, but I’d recommend altras for running bc they are cushioned, zeroish drop and they have that gorgeous wide toe box
4. It does take a long ass time for some peoples feet to realign, mine are nowhere near.
Then two actual issues for any brands reading:
1. VIVO’s and other brands are mega expensive, particularly VIVO’s. I know you can’t say it bc they sponsor you, but now that they’re owned by Clark’s and have manufacturing scale, £200+ for a pair of shoes that don’t last that long, because barefoot shoes just don’t, gives me the ick. I’d recommend splay athleticas or hobibears on Amazon for a more durable and waaaaay more affordable shoe, but check the sizing.
2. For us office workers, barefoot shoes aren’t the most profesh. Idk if this can be solved, bc it’s about the shoes being an unusual shape, like a clown shoe, and the lack of padding etc means they don’t look as structured/rigid, and there are some brands out there that have a bit more of a profesh look, but it’s not going to fly if you work in a law firm for example.
Some people I know don’t have a problem with regular shoes, they haven’t got the hammer toe vibe, but if you do, you’ll never look back.
Although in fairness to vivo they do have a thing called revivo, which is refurbished vivos and they are cheaper. Not way cheaper, but cheaper.
Thanks for adding your comment. It will certainly help others!
I have also waved goodbye to many loved shoes as they no longer fit.
@@LauraTryUK sooo worth it though. I also forgot to add a thanks for sharing, I think everyone should be in barefoot shoes :)
@@kberanoydexcellent info, thank you for sharing. I too miss my Converse & cheap, cute sandals 🤷🏻♀️
@@joan.nao1246 are you a woman?
If so, check out Salt Water sandal. Not cheap but I think they’re cute. The soft gold is _dreamy_ 🤩
Funny thing about transitioning to barefoot shoes myself, my feet forgot how to walk in flip-flops. I guess the change in my toe spacing has affected me more than I realized, because I can no longer walk in slip-on shoes without having to grip them with my toes which is NOT fun. Alas, still happy I've changed from requiring expensive shoes at expensive inserts to walk comfortably!
About 10 years ago I broke a couple bones in my mid foot. Standing was no problem but walking caused me pain well after the bones had healed. My podiatrist recommended rocker sole shoes like MBT to help my foot break over, but the pain came and went continually.
During COVID I was working from home, rarely went out and was barefoot nearly all the time and my foot pain all but disappeared. So I investigated the barefoot shoes and bought several pair of Lems and Xeros. My foot feels normal now during all activities, so no going back for me.
I have had 4 foot operations and since 2010 I have been in pain and not able to do more walking than grocery shopping. I bought cheaper barefoot\water shoes and since putting them on, I experience very limited pain. I am back to walking and cycling. I found out that it was the downward slope of a normal foot in a heeled shoe which caused the pain. I buy mine on line for a fraction of the cost of the Barefoot shoes. I have 5 pairs, all differing colours. I am absolutely delighted with them and, while they are still ugly, at 75 years old, comfort is more important than looks!
Hi Laura, I started wearing Vivos just over 12 months ago after watching one of your videos. I have a pair of Primus and a nice pair of boots. Although I can't run in them yet I just can't go back to conventional shoes. You feel so much more connected to the ground and can distinguish between different surfaces. I love wearing them and now wonder why I used to wear orthotics. Walking naturally is the best way forward. Thanks for posting.
I’ve been transitioning to barefoot shoes for 4 years. I ended up with a stress fracture in the foot by running too much at first. After recovering I had to very slowly transition again. I wear barefoot only in the gym but I struggle doing walking in barefoot because I have ended up with a heel spur. I now wear Altras, with wide toe box and zero drop, because I need some cushioning until I recover from the heel spur. I’ve heard that natural feet are not made to walk on hard pavements. I wear my XeroShoes when in the woods and country trails (walking or running). Transitioning is definitely difficult !
Thanks for sharing your experience and shoe recommendations 🙏
I switched to barefoot shoes last year after having more and more issues finding shoes that didn't hurt my feet. I walked around bearfoot at home and often bought oversized shoes in a wide to get the larger toe box. But I started noticing issues with my arch pain and repeated issues with planter fasciitis that was relieved only when I was at home! After trying several shoes brands that specify for foot issues, I finally realized, my feet like going bare!
I started wearing barefoot shoes in my 50's and only transitioned to completely barefoot at Christmas. Everything feels so much better and my toes are spreading out now. Love Vivos by the way.
I think a good way to help the transition is to be actually barefoot in the home as much as possible. Only putting socks and shoes on when absolutely necessary.
I wear my barefoot shoes every day, all day. Love them. I had no transition period. I just grew up mostly barefoot, and I'm barefoot often as an adult
About 20 years ago I decided to just wear leather mocassins. I get them with no foam insole, made to my foot shape by Itasca Leathergoods at no extra cost. The buffalo hide soles last the longest. Now my feet hurt when I wear anything else! (Unfortunately there's no help for it during ski season.)
I meditate and problem-solve while hanging out the washing as well. :D
My OH (age 66) has recently bought some Vivo Barefoot shoes after thinking about it for ages & so far he’s not had any issues. We both tend to walk round the house in bare feet anyway. I can’t decide whether to try them or not as I have flat feet but also knee & back issues, nothing diagnosed, just wear & tear & age I suppose! I know they have a money back guarantee but I really don’t want to risk making my issues worse so still sitting on the fence!
Here is the best training I can present. While at home never wear any shoes, always go barefoot with nothing on as much as possible. Shoes of any kind are there to protect the skin from damage. Shoe shaped shoes protect the skin but don't allow the body to be strong and stable so yes move into barefoot shoes but also don't wear any shoes as much as possible.
I used to wear only barefoot shoes, but while living in Thailand, I walked daily in thin barefoot sandals and developed plantar fasciitis. Initially, I thought it was muscle pain from yoga, but after some googling, I realized the true issue. I had to stop wearing barefoot shoes and sandals altogether, and it took a couple of years for the pain to fully subside. Lesson learned: human feet aren't meant for walking barefoot on hard, flat surfaces like roads and pavements. Now I only wear barefoot shoes with a terrain undersole and add a soft Birkenstock insole for cushioning.
I started buying and wearing barefoot shoes around the time I found your channel 2017. I could start to see my big toe going at an angle inwards and bunions made me squeamish 🤢 I just went full in. Didn’t progress into it just bought a pair and they were my only shoes. I was working as a postman at the time so walking on all ground surfaces, 10-15 miles a day. At first it did hurt. My feet got tired quickly and if I walked on gravel driveway I would be whimpering. But I would NEVER go back now. My feet have adapted and I have impressive calluses on my feet now. I even don’t wear slippers anymore just socks and all my shoes (even my wedding shoes) are barefoot shoes from a few brands, mostly all vivo’s though thanks to your code 😉
Xero Shoes are great too. I have both. Groundies are also nice if you want something casual looking but still flat, flexible and foot shaped.
I think the problem is wearing them on the concrete and there’s simply too much concrete around us. I could buy barefoot for when I’m walking in just grass etc but then that would not be often
Loved this❤❤❤❤😊
I LOVE barefoot shoes. My problem is that my feet are too wide now. I can't fit in over half the barefoot shoes available on the market after going barefoot 4 years ago. I'm hoping if enough of us who are too wide speak up, more barefoot shoes brands will offer wider options
To walk barefoot shoes helps to stretch and massage the feet and obviously provides a lot of stimulus.
Hmmm, it might be time for me to give barefoot shoes another try, I got really painful bruised feeling heels last time and that was just from walking, I thought I was transitioning slowly but maybe not slowly enough. Great video, thanks.
Laura, I am Australian, a woman in her 60’s who practices optimal health and this includes wearing barefoot shoes. I am an all or nothing kind of person regarding my health therefore have been a proponent of barefoot shoes. I have 4 pairs by Saguaro. They feel great and I bought my first pair about a year ago. I am tall and slim and fit, and the shoes have helped alter the bunion on my right foot. For the last couple of months, and now it is winter, my right instep was aching. I have not lost the arches of my feet btw. My toes are spreading nicely but early days yet, as you say. I walk every day and throughout the warmer months I bicycle daily as well.I had chronic pain in my low back and neck for many years after car accidents over 30 years ago, but rarely use pain meds. Since eating carnivore a year and changing my footwear I rarely suffer any pain at all. I have no illnesses either!
Dr Chatterjee had a very interesting podcast with Vivobarefoot years ago and they mentioned a conversation with the marketing team of a German well known shoe brand. Worth listening to.
The bearfoot shoes are good but vivobearfoot is very expensive 😢.
Exactly !! Why aren't our shoes made to true foot shape. One of life's annoyance s.
I tried Vivobarefoot many, many years ago as a throw of the dice after 5 years of trying to recover from a bad back injury that had me barely mobile. I feel really fortunate that they were the exact right answer for me and my recovery came on quickly from there 🙏 My only sadness is that Vivo stopped doing the Breatho Trail, which I just love (& even had a pair posted from the US by a friend when they discontinued them!), and I'm still wearing them for gardening now, well over 10 years later - they are rags but I just love them. If I ever won the lottery I'd pay to have more made 🤣 For now, I've had to go to another brand for my daily barefoot shoe as none of their models since have been so lightweight yet sturdy, plus Vivo started with nice muted colours but now seem to only like dayglo chaos which is not my vibe 😂
I would just like to say great video. I am actually in that transition period as am currently having to rethink my footwear, due to issues around the shape of my feet and how it has impacted me.
I actually spend most of my time at home since I work there. Since spending all this time at home I spend most of my life now either barefoot or socks. The shape of my feet has widened as a result and since receiving some trainers as a gift from my wife, I realise I cannot wear them as they hurt ny toes and seem to narrow now. I will be starting the gym once my daughter enters her primary school, and I am going on a short holiday before then. Ive seen these barefoot shoes as an alternative but I am not sure what to do. There are shoes with with wide features but not sure if these are different. As you can see I'm confused but need to make a decision that will help me wear something that will not give me pain.
I've been wearing some barefoots around the house for the last few months. I found during lockdown that constant Flipflops and slippers were terrible for my feet! Had a bit of plantar fascia pain for a while after that. now after the barefoots for a while I feel like I actually stand up better, its sort of like changed the way I do it just slightly.
Great video Laura. Not sure what anyone else thinks, but I've found that the state of the UK pavements to be pretty shockingly bad, especially where I live, with camber, tree roots, cracks, uneven flags/concrete, holes, humps, etc etc and that's not to mention fallen branches from extreme weather, dog dirt, etc. So when you switch to barefoot shoes, or zero drop with a low stack height, you could still end up with the disadvantage of having poor surfaces to run on. Sometimes I think running off road is actually better than on road because you don't get the above.
If you want the full benefits of barefoot shoes, do not heel strike.
My feet had no problem transitioning to barefoot shoes.. maybe in part because I’ve always walked barefoot in the house and garden.. However my problem with my vivo barefoot shoes is that, if I’m walking on wet pavement or stone, it’s like walking on ice.. there’s no grip at all on wet surfaces !
I've been wearing Altra running shoes for years now and along with yoga I can physically spread all my toes now. I have just bought my first pair of Vivo to try out on the trails. Couldn't use your discount/link code as I am in Australia but I wanted you to know I tried :(
I love wearing barefoot shoes, I'm all for it. My kids love barefoot shoes, but I'm scared that they will get in trouble if they want to do a sport like football or rugby and won't be able to fit in the boots. The other thing that I don't like is that they are so expensive. especially when they outgrow their shoes every few months 😅
Great video 💯