To those that have flat feet, I would like to encourage you all to go with barefoot shoes. I too have little to no arch. Since purchasing my first pair of Xero shoes in June 2020, I have notice my arches strengthening and a feel a clear definition of an arch forming. YES.... Your feet WILL be sore, but the more you walk, the stronger they will get and the pain WILL go away.
thanks for helping people understand their feet/bodies! my life changed when i started wearing barefoot shoes standing all day long on concrete in my woodshop; so much pain is now hard to remember.. LOVE
I was plagued with so many feet issues while running. Constant tendonitis in the bottom of my feet. Switched to minimalist running shoes a year ago and haven't had a single foot issue since. It makes you realize just how awful the modern day running form is with all the cushioning we have.
That’s so awesome! I just recently made a video talking about the benefits of barefoot shoes. People had mixed feelings in my comments section. I’m glad you had such an amazing experience switching to minimalist shoes.
Yeah, I tried it and got Plantar Fasciitis for my trouble. Didn't go away until I went to proper boots and running shoes. Barefoot is not for everyone.
Just a discussion point. Somthing to bare in mind would be. You might need to acclimatise to this style shoe if you haven't worn them before. Your body may need time to adjust. Especially with running..You are just at a bigger risk of stress fractures only while your body get uses to it. Long term fully makes sense though
This is true. It's kinda like going to the gym. You're not gonna bench 365 on your first day. The muscles in your feet are weak and need to get stronger
A lot of the acclimation is your foot slowly strengthening. But also for me, slowly finding a walking and running gait that works. My gait has been all f’ed up from using cushioned shoes
Pleeeease don't go from traditional shoes to barefoot shoes if you plan on running. A lot of people will need an adjustment period in order to let your feet start to function properly. Going barefoot shoes cold-turkey may just result in pain.
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for almost 5 years now, and I will never go back! I’m a big fan of Lems Shoes. I own their Boulder Boots, Nine-2-Five, and the Primal 2. They make excellent shoes if you are looking for additional options from the brands mentioned in this video.
I love Lems and Xero shoes. Going to be slowly getting back into them after being forced into regular shoes w/orthotics due to bad plantar fasciitis. Starting with being in my xero shoes around the house to strengthen them until they heal (warehouse job) and lose weight
I started hiking in Boulder Boots five years ago. Love them. I believe I will get the waterproof model when my Vivobarefoots give up the ghost. I switched to Xero Shoes' Ztrek (sandals) for hiking as long as weather permits, now. I wear the Boulder Boots to work, and I wear Vivobarefoot insulated Scotts for winter hiking and snowshoeing. The aside about Vivobarefoot's customer service was spot on.
I had been wearing Altra for years. Still do. But have been wearing a few of Lem's shoes for a while. I am wearing the Boulder boot to work. Great shoes.
I have been barefoot/ minimalist shoe for around 7 years. The first thing I notices is how my arch strength improved and yes you walk so much softer. I try different shoes all the time. I just bought some Skinners and I LOVE them. They are like a sock with a grippy bottom, you can really feel the ground with them great for hiking.
I get wearing these when youre in like the woods but not on the street. I get that humans arent meant to wear shoes but we also arent meant to walk on concrete.
Just like wearing gloves on your hands for certain tasks. You don't wear them all the time because they limit use and feeling in your tactile interaction w/ environment. If your hands were in boxing gloves all the time, I guarantee your hands would weaken, and suffer atrophy.
This is probably the most common argument against barefoot shoes and I'm afraid it has almost no merit at all. Your feet might need some cushioning against concrete, especially when you're not used to barefoot shoe walking. That's fine. Lots of barefoot shoes come with insoles for extra cushioning. The Freets I have now have a shock-absorbing insole (ortholite) that provide better and more comfortable cushioning than any other shoe I've ever owned. Lems Boulder Boots and Primals have reasonably thick soles that provide good cushioning. Altras have even thicker ones. What you absolutely don't need is all the other ways that conventional shoes screw up your feet and your walking: elevated heels, narrow toe boxes, inflexible soles, elevated toes (yes, really). These things are walking (ha ha) long-term injury machines. I walk around a lot in cities and before I got into barefoot shoes, I had a lot of shoes that hurt my feet when I did. Converse All Stars and Doctor Marten's were especially bad, but even 'comfortable' shoes with much softer soles like the Campers and Pumas I was wearing just before I switched weren't much better. At this point, I was getting chronic foot pain and realised I needed a wider pair of shoes. I tried Birkenstocks on in the shop and didn't like the sole, so I went next door to vivobarefoot. After a day in my new vivobarefoot ras, I tried on a pair of my old sneakers with a non-zero-drop sole and knew I couldn't go back. After two weeks, my foot pain was all gone. Later, when I got my Freets, which allowed my toes even more freedom, and figured out how to walk better, my knee pain went away too. As the video says, standard shoes distort the way you walk and dull your feedback from the ground, especially at the heel, so you don't even realise the impact of your heel striking on the rest of your body. Moreover, long-term, they weaken the overall foot, especially the toes, which are rendered almost redundant in ordinary shoes. All of this robs you of your foot's natural spring-like mechanism, which is actually a great benefit on hard surfaces like concrete. A lot of barefoot runners who started out running on grass later say they wish they'd started on concrete and I can see why. Compare the two and you get so much more info from the hard surface. Sorry for the essay. Hope it's helpful.
@@trexx63 I basically agree and that wasn't the argument I was saying didn't have merit. The OP was arguing that barefoot shoes aren't suitable for wearing on concrete. My argument was that while your feet are still weak from wearing conventional shoes, it might still be useful to keep the insoles in your barefoot shoes or wear some of the types of barefoot shoes that have slightly thicker soles, but your foot strength will still benefit from the increased flexibility and lack of toe-spring or heel elevation.
You’d be surprised about how little cushion you need to walk on concrete. With a little time and effort, you can change the way you walk and the strength and alignment of your feet, knees and back. Give it a chance everywhere. I have been walking barefoot since I was a little kid and at certain points I was able to nearly sprint on concrete.
Those feelgrounds actually look really nice, a lot of casual barefoot shoes look odd, so this has definitely convinced me to get more for everyday life and not just running. Great Video dude!
Wildling is another good option for stylish barefoot footwear, and they're some of the most minimalist shoes out there. They have a very unique sole to them to give you maximum flexibility.
You can walk with the forefoot strike with the everyday shoes too. It just takes some time and adjusting to do so. At least for the meantime until you get the barefoot shoes. Been meaning to get those shoes for a long time.
I wear Luna Sandals. My friend thinks they look funny and calls them Jesus sandals. This is the first year I've worn them exclusively. Can't wait to wear my crazy colored toe and tabi socks when the weather gets cold.
👣 We barefoot / minimalist shoe people hear the beat of a different drum. I don't ever want to go back to wearing regular shoes that most people do. I wish I would have known about this when I was your age. 🌞 👣 ♥️
Guys - what did you do with the old but unworn shoes? lol still unbelievable that I dont ever thing of wearing them anymore... but need to remove out of sight as well,lol. cheers
Seems like a really cool dude. But these are $111 for next to no material and he works in marketing. I'm still buying a pair. But im just sayin #questioneverything
It has to do with the economics of scale. Larger companies are able to sell their shoes cheaper because they can distribute the costs of designing a shoe and the cost of equipment over a much larger number of sales.
Yes but no. Barefoot shoes rely on no heel, no cushion technology whatsoever. You buy a pair for 100 will last you three times longer than a pair of Nike or more.
And this comes from someone who's worked in the retail industry many years, now I only buy 100% cotton Levi's jeans and similar for this same reason, they last longer = less money spent per year. Cheap jeans don't even last a whole year.
I would pay attention to the toe box. A part of the issue is that the toe box will squeezing your toes inwards. There's not enough space for the toes to spread while running, which is required to use the arch muscles in both the small and large toes. This causes an underuse of these muscles, and eventually degrades them, causing the arch to collapse, and pushing the toes inward. This is something which is hard to notice, if you have been wearing normal shoes for your entire life, because your toes have already been squeezed together by all the shoes you've worn. It does otherwise seem like a nice affordable option though, especially if you can find a wide toe box one.
I prefer just wearing moccasins. Blew out my knee 10 years ago, dealt with a lot of pain and instability after the surgeries. Couple of years of mocs and my knee feels great, like it learned to handle the pressure and strengthened the legs to restabilize
I got my barefoot shoes recently. It definitely takes some getting used to, but ever since I started wearing them, I have NEVER worn my other modern shoes. My back pain is gone, and walking and running feels so much more natural. My shin splints are finally clearing up. I also notice my sleep and mood are improving since I don’t have to wear those foot traps all day.
The strongest argument I’ve heard against these shoes is that concrete wasn’t around back when we walked around barefoot. Not saying any side is right. But I think it’s a fair counter argument.
I do a ton of walking on concrete in barefoot shoes and it definitely takes some getting used to. Something I really like about barefoot shoes is that they make you much more mindful of the surface you're walking on.
That doesn't make any sense. Hard-packed dry trails can be virtually every bit as hard as concrete. But moreover, it isn't about the surface as much as it's simply about the sensory deprivation and the coddling/cushioning/molding/immobilizing of the foot that happens with traditional/conventional shoes.
They also forget that we didn't walk only on flat terrain. There were all kinds of varied rocks, roots hills, etc. And that trains your ankle and foot.
I've had tons of pain while walking most of my life. Podiatrists always recommended support and more cushioning. I listened for years and years. Recently, seemingly out of options, I checked out Altra. I couldn't believe the difference. My toes, ankles, and heels all have so much more strength.
Love videos like this, I've been a convert to barefoot shoes for a few years myself. Wildling is my go to brand for shoes and Unshoes is my go to brand for sandals. I've had pain in my feet since I was a child, and after getting annoyed with podiatrists, I sought barefoot footwear out as a solution. It's been wonders, the pain I once encountered has become so mild as my feet have strengthened.
Worn FiveFingers for almost 10 years. Everything Cade says, yes. And for those who complain about concrete ... I've walked 40-50 miles on these things at conventions. On concrete. With no issues.
@@litz13 idk what you're referring to, most yellow things are slippery on the road so i find them to be not terrible. Edit. I think i know what you're talking about, but they're red in my area the do indeed feel wierd
As someone who's worn a pair of vivobarefoot gobi 2s for a couple years now, they have their pros and cons, just like anything else. Yes as some people have said, they're rough on your feet on concrete, it's not super easy to walk the "way you're supposed to" with them and so if you're not, and on concrete, the heel impact is not nice. My feet have also just generally hurt after being on them all day, whereas in other shoes that was never the case. And that "way you're supposed to walk", it will make you stand out, people will thinking you're walking weird. Walking on soft ground is nicer than a regular shoe, but even then, you can feel every uneven bit of ground. And then there's the argument that I also agree with, very little material for something so expensive. I can understand the economies of scale but there are other companies that aren't selling barefoot shoes that are $30-50 less, they just don't have the "barefoot" gimmick which has had a precedent set by vivo to be expensive. And yes it is somewhat of a gimmick, they're not some miracle solution to foot or back problems. It really does seem like they're trying to sell cheap shit and using a lot of marketing to make you want it. With all that said, the Gobi 2s in particular, I do very much how they look. The low profile, they match with everything, and the "weird" wide toe box, which honestly, I prefer, I've been looking for something new and I don't like how all these narrow shoes I'm finding look on my feet.
Maybe he bought them through a third party, that can matter for warranty issues. Also not sure if NA customer service is maybe a bit worse Vs UK/EU, as it is based in UK.
It has to do with the economics of scale. Larger companies are able to sell their shoes cheaper because they can distribute the costs of designing a shoe and the cost of equipment over a much larger number of sales.
You should rather look at the way the shoes are made. The labor put into it. the quality of material used. If you prefer to buy your shoes from child labor, go ahead. But don't bring up a topic without looking left and right. Thats just plain blind
Nice video! Glad you're enjoying the barefoot experience. I was a triathlete when I started the transition and went WAY too fast. But I stuck with it and the benefits have been pretty amazing. 10 years in minimal shoes and I'm never looking back! I love my Earthrunners, by far my favorite sandal. And in 10 years I've tried most everything out there lol.
I really like my Wildling shoes because they're made of sustainable materials and you should also check out Groundies. They offer pretty cool styles. You wouldn't recognise them as barefoot shoes on first sight To those who think barefoot shoes are too expensive: why not buy them second hand? I bought my vivos for half the price and they're perfectly fine :)
I’ve had that exact style of feelgrounds for almost a year and they look great in person! People can’t really even tell they’re barefoot shoes and I would really recommend them
Almost 2 years wearing only barefoot shoes. Loving Belenka and Freet. They both have a very wide toe box. I also tried Muki shoes, but were to narrow in the front. My knees don't hurt anymore. Can recommend. I am from Europe btw.
Hey dude, this is a great vid! I’ve been wearing Vivobarefoot for 2 years now. I can’t go back at all. This is such a concise, well edited, well made video, you should be proud!
I am a 61 year old woman who spends a good deal of time walking and standing on concrete floors for my job and hiking mountain trails on my days off. I used to have so much pain I had to stop hiking on my days off. I switched to minmalist shoes and my pain is diminished by about 90% and I feel as if I am in my 40's again. I spend about 75% of my waking hours on my feet and I hope to do so for many more years.
I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. I went through 3 different cushion/arch support/ankle support/B.S. marketed shoes in the first 1000 miles. All noticeably caused terrible ball-of-foot metatarsal pain at mile 10 each day. Translation = the shoes prevented toe engagement thereby causing the ball of my foot to be the last contact point. I tried inserts, metatarsal pads, and a few other things to no avail. I finally switched to a minimalist shoe and the problem immediately stopped. I was knocking out 25 miles per day on average pain free after figuring it out. Most people don’t realize how bad their biomechanics are because they’re sitting or laying down 90% of the time.
I love minimalist shoes, and I prefer to be barefooted ... thanks for this. YOU reassured me that I'm doing what is best and natural for me.. FREE YOUR FEET!
I wear barefoot shoes daily, however they're not for everyone. There are people who have genetically positioned leg and foot bones in a way that barefoot actually causes more harm than good. You have to have pretty stable and strong feet to actually run barefoot or in barefoot shoes, otherwise you'll almost certainly get injured. I do like the concept of barefoot shoes overall and I like the fact, that it brings you to the natural way of walking/running, however if one wants to consider changing to this style of shoe, he should most certainly consult this with a physio or a specialist and first fix the unstability with exercises if there's some of course.
Do you think most peoples issues regarding functional anatomy and mechanics are actually genetic (hereditary) or more a cause of their imposed environmental stresses? I think if most people started off with minimalist shoes from a young age they would adapt well to barefoot living. I do think that a lot of the surfaces we walk on are far too solid and hard for us to be walking on them all of the time without support (for example if you worked in a factory and had to walk on concrete floors all day long).
Thank you thank you thank you. Man the chills I received on you close out placed everything in perspective that I have been trying to share with all family and friends. Started out with Vibram, moved to Merrill barefoot, skipped Vivo cause there customer service is well.. Vivo. Lol. I am now in a pair of Zero brand sandals, along with my wife for her first time, and both loving them. The world really does need to shed the labels and get with a more proactive approach to better, healthy feet! Take care and cheers!
Good video man. Not trying to tell you how to make videos. Your production quality is great! As a viewer, I like to see all recommend products in the description. You put the links for all of the shoes, but not the book. Not that my opinion means everything to everyone. Just wanted to point that out. Again, great video, keep up the great work!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your videos. It started with the floor futon bed. Little by little I keep heading towards minimalistic type life style. I just want to focus on what matter and declutter what's not necessary in my life. I think I'll be watching many more of your videos. I've been thinking of switching to Xero shoes, I'll look in to the others you recommend. I'm looking for most affordable. Which is obviously no shoes at all, but I do feel more comfortable in most places keeping my feet safe. Thank you! I'm glad you choose to share glimpses of your life and spread goodness! -Amber in PA
Thanks for your content Cade 💛 for spreading the valuable word that people deserve to know about. And thank you for the recommended brands I've been searching for a good earthing shoe! I appreciate you a ton ✨
I couldn't heal my plantar fasciitis until I started going barefoot. Even though my pediatrist told me to wear cushioned shoes with an arch support insert.
I am missing a ligament in my left foot which gave me scoliosis, poor arch support, and am developing bunions. I am usually barefoot but I don't walk that much bc of pain. Do you think barefoot shoes would help?
@@alexrose20 Barefoot shoes are better than regular shoes because of the wide toe box and are semi-okay for walking on level surfaces. However, I found that when I'm out in the yard walking on uneven surfaces the soles still go one way while my foot slips a different way causing heel stress, unlike when you're truly barefoot and your feet are allowed to articulate with the ground. You have a unique situation in that you're missing a ligament and may need even more special foot consideration. Have you seen a podiatrist?
I mean if you want a shoe with minimal cushion, no arch support, and is flat, just buy a Converse shoe. Size up a half size for the wider toe box and remove the thin insole. That's for like $40, instead of the $100 for these barefoot branded shoes.
Have 5 pair of vivobarefeet. Been wearing them for 4 years. Excellent shoes, the company also has a program to repurpose worn out shoes as well. My earth runners are amazing, wish I could wear them all the time.
I love that Vivo came out with the Revivo program - isn't it great?! I just ordered some Earth Runners and they should be arriving next week. Really excited to try them out :)
This is a really informal vid thanks man. My back has been hurting for a year now and I think I’m going to get the shoes to see what it does. Thanks for real man💪
I have watched this multiple times and the ending just gets me, it feels so inspiring. Good production job. I am awaiting a time that I can afford some decent barefoot shoes or grab a bargain from eBay so just spending more time fully barefoot for now.
I’ve called their customer service a handful of times and each time they answered fast, and they refunded me my shipping that I paid because they were late. I don’t know what was your issue with them but they have been perfect for me and very nice.
just recently made the switch to this type of footwear. or as close as i can get. i work in a motorcycle shop and ride a harley as my main source of transport. so i NEED a good durable boot. most of these companies don't make work boots.. the lems boulder boot always pops up but by my standard its a hightop shoe not a boot. i settled on a military style boot, the tactical research mini-mil. its a 2mm drop not zero like most "barefoot" shoes. but they have a flexible oil/slip resistant sole with no cushion and a wide toe box. since wearing these my feet dont hurt anymore. had sore calfs after the first week but now that im past that point and they are good and broke in they are the most comfortable things i have ever had on my feet. i recently ordered a pair of earth runner sandals based off your review and a few others, for something to wear when not at work and off the bike. they should be here tomorrow.
That's what Barefoot Ted used in the book Born to Run. Now he makes Luna Sandals after seeing the natives in Mexico wearing sandals. Lunas are bomb awesome.
Probably not the same exactly, but I got my first pair of converse a couple years ago. Theyve been my daily shoe since then, and one thing I noticed after I started wearing them was that the sole was so thin I could feel things under my feet. I did get a gel insert for just the slightest bit more thickness, but even still. I actually went hiking in them and they did really well, even on mud and slippery rocks despite their worn out sole (i had already had them for a year and a half). I think I experienced what you're talking about with barefoot shoes, though perhaps to a lesser degree. Been thinking of getting some new shoes recently, might look into these kind of shoes.
💚 Vivo does have shit customer service. Vibram seemed to have some bimbos working the customer service lines last time I spoke to them, also. I'm considering giving Xero a try since they make size 15s now and I only hear great things about them. We shall see. Keep up the killer work, man! I'm definitely getting excited about this channel
I read the book Born to Run and followed Barefoot Ted for years before buying a pair of his Luna Sandals. Years ago I ran in my Lunas and got injured. Wasn't until about two years ago I started wearing the sandals almost exclusively, outside of work. Then I lost my job about a year ago and was walking and biking only in the Luna Sandals. Just started running again. This time in my Luna Sandals. I was immediately able to run a good amount without that adjustment period you have with the average running shoes. It does take a good deal of time to get your body back to barefoot posture.
Its funny, For the past two months, I’ve only been wearing my vans due to my knee and hip injury and been talking to everyone about how important flat shoes are. I love that i found this vid!
Awesome and informative video!!👣 . You explained this in a way that is so easy to understand, that I will now try this, as I have a lot of foot pain from wearing shoes at work. You are an excellent human being!! Peace out!!
I have been wearing barefoot shoes for about 4 years now. I love them and will never go back, my feet cant stand normal shoes. Heck my toe spread has started to become wider than some barefoot shoes. I have become less clumsy. I made the mistake once of my friends convincing me I needed to wear boots hiking. It was a mistake they made my feet hurt.
Switching to "barefoot" shoes solved my MCL and Baker cyst (knee) issues, along with a ton of stretching. The fallen arch that damaged my knee is back to normal - and I don't own a shoe with an arch support.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of these companies are tiny compared to Nike, Adidas, NB, etc. A lot of them use resources from “eco-friendly” sources.
I agree, they arent cheap. But they are extremely comfortable. If you don't need "shoes" but just something to protect your feet, DIY minimalist sandals are great and very cheap. www.instructables.com/Minimalist-Running-Sandals-Huaraches/ I stopped wearing shoes altogether unless absolutely necessary and now usually just have a pair of those sandals around just in case.
For many years I played tennis in tennis shoes. Like everyone else. Sometimes tennis courts are decorated with signs warning players to play only in tennis shoes. But about 20 years ago, such shoes began to hurt my feet when playing. What to do? I read online that some people wore running shoes while playing tennis. I ran frequently, so that was easy to try. Better! Players then started warning me not to play in running shoes because they lack lateral stability. I don't seem to need shoes with lateral stability. But the running shoes had thick soles and lifted heels. I bought a pair of minimal shoes. Thin soles, very flexible. Other players advised me that I was crazy and that minimal shoes would wear out quickly. And I would fall down a lot. I don't. The minimal shoes helped me improve my movement on court. They last at least as long as conventional shoes I wore in the past, perhaps because I move better in them. And I think they've made my feet stronger. I have played tennis in Nike Free training shoes for many years. Nike doesn't make them anymore. I may try local shoe maker Xero next.
Something that I am learning to adopt in my life as a result of a strong desire to be more free, is the idea that "comfort is captivity." If you have to rely on something for comfort that you cannot provide for yourself, you are a slave. Physical "discomfort" is a fountainous spring of spiritual and mental health. We have been sold this idea that traditional living is "uncomfortable" and "backward", when the truth is that a simpler life that requires a *reasonable* amount of effort is much more fulfilling and better for your overall health. We are unhealthy today because we choose to be weak, relying on synthetic innovations to create a "better quality of life". Strength and vitality naturally arise from a lifestyle thats in tune with the design of your body and how it naturally interacts with the world, this was Gods design. God's plans works flawlessly when you ensure that you are using God's ingredients instead of your own.
@@CadePriorFilms I am trying to get into making outdoor videos like a lot of these bushcrafting channels do. Recently I encountered a large stumbling block. I had been working with my best friend on making enough footage to start a channel with a few videos instead of just 1 or 2. Recently my friend comitted suicide, so now I am trying to plan how to move forward without him. Its difficult, the grieving process isnt complete yet. To make matters worse, a large portion of our footage is on his personal phone which is a late model iPhone. The phone is currently in Police custody as a part of the investigation into his death and beings that it is an iPhone, the Police and his parents are afraid that the data will never be recovered because he had it all password protected. Apple refuses to help, citing that part of their customer service model is personal data security.
I go hiking barefoot in the summer, even though my feet are filled with pine needles and scrapes from rocks, mostly because there is more articulation and control barefoot.
I spent some time walking barefoot no matter the surface. Hot blacktop was THE worst. First few times I tried sharp gravel, I tried walking gingerly. No idea why, but it hurt 1000 times worse than just walking normal on the same surface.
I cant wait to get my first pair of barefoot shoes. I ordered some on amazon yesterday. I always wondered why my feet were in so much pain whenever I tried to run, or even after just walking all day at a normal pace. I realized my arch is almost flat and through research I discovered what barefoot/zero drop shoes are. I've been so badly wanting to get into running on a regular basis but the pain prevented me from doing so before.... I am excited to see if this solves it for me.
3:00 I only wear shoes for school because they unfortunately force me to, and I totally wouldn’t trap my feet from feeling those hiking trail rocks/dirt/trail. If there’s water, I definitely can’t wear shoes because then it gets wet in the shoes. It looks like there’s some water there. One thing that I do is go down the trail, go off along a side path, and then down the rocks, hump off into the river, and swim in there, so all I wear is swim shorts and maybe a swim shirts, definitely not shoes/gloves. If I get to an actual gravel path & it continues to hurt because my skin is still pretty soft instead of very tough like how it’s supposed to be, I would maybe have to put on sandals just for that if I don’t want to tough it out/go slowly and do foot conditioning, but I’ll get there eventually especially if I just force myself to do the foot conditioning. Your feet will be strong with regular shoes, which is what you’re calling minimalist shoes even though they’re the real normal ones bc they’re not messed up narrow toe box toe spring heel raise cushiony supportive foot braces “barefoot” shoes is a misleading oxymoron, but your skin will still be weak and soft. As long as you progress into it and make sure to be careful, your skin will get tougher. Just make sure not to put friction on your feet, and if you’re wearing shoes, still don’t do it because it’s bad for your body overall, but you can’t tell right away because you don’t have skin to ground feedback.
Xero shoes is a good brand. I have had mine 2 years now coming up. And man the benefits I have felt are amazing. I can't even wear "normal" shoes anymore bc of how constricted my feet feel. I have more foot dexterity and flexibility. More control over my whole foot. Over all just my feet, ankles, knees and hips have improved.
Excellent companies offering great products that more people should utilize. One gripe though, it doesn't take perpetuity to recoup design costs! All of the mentioned folks charge very high prices for "minimalist" shoes! This makes them cost prohibitive to a much larger market. I own a pair of Earth Runners and absolutely love them but they were more expensive than a pair of nice sneakers.
This has certainly been an increasingly popular trend over the past few years, however it should not be applied to runners, especially not to people with flat feet who overpronate (their feet naturally roll inward upon footfall; it is far more common than you may think). If you're training at least 35 miles a week, including workouts and long runs, you're putting lots of strain on your legs, ankles and feet. The more tired and worn out your legs are, the more your form breaks down, opening yourself up to injury. Therefore you should be wearing supportive and stable shoes not only to run in, but also whilst lounging around so your muscles can recover rather than having more strain be placed upon them. Inserts with arch support are also good for overpronators because they lift up the medial side of the foot and prevent it from rolling inward, which would cause massive amounts of strain over time and eventually injury (personally, I have had many issues with my posterior tibial tendon as a result of overpronation). The ultrarunner you quoted from the Joe Rogan podcast represents a small portion of the population which has almost perfect genetics in their legs and ankles such that their form is extremely efficient, and their footfalls are so light that they cause barely any strain. It should also be considered the massive amount of strain walking and running barefoot places upon your Achilles tendon, as going barefoot naturally causes your footfall to favor a forefoot strike. Sure, wearing minimalist shoes or going barefoot can build muscles that could eventually prevent injury down the line by increasing efficiency, but you are placing yourself at a very high risk for injury in the process.
@@ErrorMoose I believe you have it right for very casual runners who have the time to put in all the effort required to transition. However, let’s say I’m training 70 miles per week for a marathon. My legs are tired after every run and need the most recovery possible so they can get through the next run the next day or even in the next few hours, so I need cushion, and I need some stability to decrease injury risk as much as possible at these high mileages (even if my stabilizer muscles are strong, won’t this big mileage still make them tired from time to time, putting me at risk for injury?). If I want to do well in this marathon, I can’t just drastically decrease my mileage for a year to support this new style of running while I’m doing just fine right now. Also, runners can easily build stabilizer muscles through cross training, ask any physical therapist and they have plenty of ankle, calf and hip exercises. Lastly (sorry kind of rambling here), Eliud Kipchoge, one of the best marathoners ever, just recently designed a trainer (Nike Tempo%) with tons of cushioning, because he said he needed that for the huge mileage he was running, even though it was all on dirt roads in Kenya. I will grant you the fact that this shoe did not have much stability, because he had a very neutral foot and didn’t need it. You’re right, not everyone needs stability, and I may be biased because I overpronate and have gotten injured in the past because of it. However, you also see plenty of trainers these days that are called “neutral with a hint of stability”, which have been very popular among neutral runners (Nike Infinity React, to name one). Sometimes you just have to do the best you can to not get injured, and most people don’t have a year to specifically train their feet and legs for minimalist running whilst barely running in the process (although I do agree, concrete and asphalt are the death of runners! A very small amount good people can avoid them though, unless they want to run around a track every day.)
I don't wear strictly barefoot shoes but I do wear minimalist or zero drop, and I love them. I usually wear Lems original lines (Boulder, Mariner, Primal). I do wear regular shoes while running because I'm not accustomed to running barefoot, but you gotta make sure to get foot-shaped running shoes like wides in New Balance or Altras. Otherwise you're still hurting your foot in the long term . . .at least in my opinion. Minimalist footwear has been my thing since struggling with a bout of PF (which I treated conventionally with orthotics) but fixing the way my foot relates with the ground has kept it away for years now.
omg i never knew that a lot of the shoes we wear have a narrower toe box. I totally feel the effects this has on my feet bc i walk like 10 miles a day at work. i always say that i prefer to just not wear shoes so i'm definitely going to look into barefoot shoes. thank you!
Hopped on this trend a few months ago, and was definitely surprised by the price of minimalist shoes. But eBay is worth a shot, I got my first pair for $21.
I bought a pair of barefoot shoes just over a year ago and soon after that got plantar fasciitis. I’ve been suffering for a year now and it’s a nightmare.
Not sure the name of it, but there's a RUclips channel entirely devoted to curing plantar fascitis, and the guy actually recommends wearing barefoot shoes. He also recommends using them with toe separators. Might be that with his help, you can get better - and stay in your barefoots. Good luck.
Looking at the Vivo stuff, they look like they fit well, particularly for people like me with wide feet. Couple things, though. A) They're $100-$200, how long do they last before falling apart? I'd guess 6 months of daily wear, that's about how long anything made like that has lasted me. B) Seems counter-productive for people with high arches, whom would need orthotics. And it would take time to grow accustomed to walking on hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, etc with no cushion, obviously.
I have been wearing bare foot shoes ever since Vibram 5 Fingers for trail and grass running. The other minimalist shoe I love is by Xeros. Never looking back to any other shoes.
I share the idea of bare feet, but sometimes complex shoes are needed, I'm an artisan and when I work I need some shoes that protects my feet not only from uneven ground but from everything that can drop on them, from fire and from slipping on oil, so yes when you can bare feet is good but sometimes whe need the protection
Thanks for the insight and tip about Feelgrounds.I've been waiting near a month for my first pair from Xero.Dear as!!Feelgrounds have FREE SHIPPING to Australia and they look smart.Will give them a go for my second journey into barefootedness.
Wow, really surprised to hear you had a bad experience with VB customer support. They've been absolutely stellar throughout my two-year (and counting!) barefootwear journey. Hard to imagine hearing it described as "just okay," let alone awful. Worth reaching out to them again and perhaps requesting a manager. Either way, cheers for a great video!
Wonder if you've seen "The Earthing Movie" which talks about the benefits of of going barefoot? Seems like we are moving very fast towards living more and more unnaturally. Will the hippy social media platform please stand up!
I have fairly wide feet and I haven't really found a pair of barefoot shoes that are wide enough for me. My Freet Connect 2s are pretty good, mainly because they have such a soft upper, but they're the only shoes I can wear and I still don't have total toe freedom. I think the problem is, even so-called wide-toe-box shoes are designed to accommodate the foot in its inert state. It's an improvement on the sheer ridiculous hell of ordinary footwear, but for some of us, it still doesn't allow a full toe splay when walking or running and it's a problem: it's still not an adequate approximation of barefoot walking and it's still, therefore, doesn't provide the same health benefits/protection from long-term injury/damage that really going barefoot would. I'm seriously thinking at this point I'm going to have to learn to make my own shoes.
I'm going through physical therapy because of the effects of modern shoes. I have hypermobile ehlers danlos, and the toes and forefoot of each foot are loose in the joints. Wearing an elevated heel put pressure downward similar to what high heels does, but not as drastic...just...every day. So I suffered for over 5 years with chronic pain. I'm now having achilles tendon issues, and other problems that I have to work to undo.
My feet use to turn outward before starting to wear barefoot shoes now I walk straight and flat on my feet I also massage with my feet (ashiatsu) the sensitivity of my feet now and stability is incredible
Cade, for footwear, all I have been wearing for the past 15 years are minimalist ones. I agree with you: After some really rotten not caring customer servicefrom Vivo, I have 3 pairs, I swore not to buy any more. I have switched to Xero, got their Toronto high top model, so far so good. A newer company called Sockwa (spelling) is coming out with a very interesting model called the X10. I would like to try them because the prices are supposed to be quite reasonable. Thank you for posting.
I remember getting my first pair of vibram five fingers. At the time they were the only barefoot shoes I was aware of and didn't really even understand the benefits; I only got them to workout but the more I wore them the more I loved them. I haven't worn a traditional shoe in probably 11 years and when I discovered companies like Vivo barefoot and Lems it opened up the opportunity for better looking sneakers. There are also companies like Brenston that make high end barefoot dress shoes which I wear for work. There are some European companies that have made shoes like this for years.
i've worn vapor gloves for 5 years, mainly because any other brand is way too expensive to get shipped. they used to be really durable up to Version 3. A very good alternative is water shoes, although i wouldnt recomend wearing them in sharp / spiky terrain as the soles are way too soft to prevent anything thorny from going trough
Most of the benefits of barefoot shoes could be attained by proper training and stretching. The bit with the toes - just get shoes that aren't super narrow. The bit about the heel to toe drop - just stop wearing Nikes and Brooks. Several other companies offer shoes with 4 to 6mm in drop. Incorporating stretches and strengthening - there. Done. Fixed it.
Yo so call me crazy, but I saw a video about making barefoot shoes out of Old skool vans or low-top chucks. I’ve been wearing them a lot lately, (also I have little to no arch in my foot) and I feel my posture already getting better. It’s crazy too because I never thought that barefoot shoes would really work. I catch myself walking on the balls of my feet more and taking lighter steps, and like you said having more control of your steps.
I´ve lost your channel for a couple of years, nice to have found it again. I couldn´t remember of your name, so the search was in vain, and today I found you because suddently recommended by YT. There is 2-3 channels talking about minimalism in YT, that I like, yours is one of them. That happening earlier was almost impossible, cause althought I´ve always been a minimalist, I only watch 5-10 minimalist-videos/year, since good content is rare (and cause I honestly don´t need them). So, YT doesn´t think minimalism is one of my interests, and won´t recommend me any such videos... Feiyue martial-arts-training-shoes are easily accesible, and costed me just 10$/pair... Also Espadrilles are good and affordable, by 5$/pair, but I´ll destroy them after just a single year, cause such 5$/pair-offers are of lowest quality, and since I´m not the shopping-type of person, I rarely come across high-quality-espadrilles. Just last week I destroyed a pair of espadrilles, while riding the moto-cross-bike of a friend. Such motorcycles have simply too many pointy metal pieces protruding, and I tore the thin textile cloth, that espadrilles are made of... :-( My 15$-espadrilles still look new and shinny, It´s only the every-day-cheapo-espadrilles, that I destroyed, just after 9 months... I switched to barefoot shoes just cause of sick-and-tired of ultralight-sportshoes I used to wear, over to casual shoes, that also were U-light, but they were additionally "barefoot"-shoes (I hardly do sport, just some soccer with friends, but still used to wear UL-sportshoes in all off-office times). My feet hurt the whole first 2 months. Now I have such good sense of my feet, that my ball-control and first-touch during soccer-playing has improved a lot (and I hardly play any)! So, not only beneficial for camera-work... ;-)
New barefoot shoe video is out with some updated opinions on the barefoot shoe movement!
ruclips.net/video/eeZ4UNlGMP8/видео.html
To those that have flat feet, I would like to encourage you all to go with barefoot shoes. I too have little to no arch. Since purchasing my first pair of Xero shoes in June 2020, I have notice my arches strengthening and a feel a clear definition of an arch forming. YES.... Your feet WILL be sore, but the more you walk, the stronger they will get and the pain WILL go away.
This. People are so scared of pain that their bodies just slowly get weaker and weaker as they age
@@paddywiggle agreed... especially people older than me. I am 41, and I know the importance of no pain no gain
Hell yeah
That’s really good to know thank you
I have flat feet and heel spurs and had this question after watching the video. Thank you for this info!
thanks for helping people understand their feet/bodies! my life changed when i started wearing barefoot shoes standing all day long on concrete in my woodshop; so much pain is now hard to remember..
LOVE
"what if I told you the shoes you put on your feet are killing you"
me, looking at my work boots: "he's talking about you guys."
As a barefoot shoe lover and a mechanic, I can’t find the proper work boot/shoe, and it’s killing me!
@@Britcherbrianjr If you can get them try 'Birkenstock professional' line.
I was plagued with so many feet issues while running. Constant tendonitis in the bottom of my feet. Switched to minimalist running shoes a year ago and haven't had a single foot issue since. It makes you realize just how awful the modern day running form is with all the cushioning we have.
That’s so awesome!
I just recently made a video talking about the benefits of barefoot shoes. People had mixed feelings in my comments section.
I’m glad you had such an amazing experience switching to minimalist shoes.
Yeah, I tried it and got Plantar Fasciitis for my trouble. Didn't go away until I went to proper boots and running shoes.
Barefoot is not for everyone.
Just a discussion point. Somthing to bare in mind would be. You might need to acclimatise to this style shoe if you haven't worn them before. Your body may need time to adjust. Especially with running..You are just at a bigger risk of stress fractures only while your body get uses to it. Long term fully makes sense though
This is true. It's kinda like going to the gym. You're not gonna bench 365 on your first day. The muscles in your feet are weak and need to get stronger
A lot of the acclimation is your foot slowly strengthening. But also for me, slowly finding a walking and running gait that works. My gait has been all f’ed up from using cushioned shoes
Pleeeease don't go from traditional shoes to barefoot shoes if you plan on running. A lot of people will need an adjustment period in order to let your feet start to function properly. Going barefoot shoes cold-turkey may just result in pain.
@@whittneyh how do u transition then
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for almost 5 years now, and I will never go back! I’m a big fan of Lems Shoes. I own their Boulder Boots, Nine-2-Five, and the Primal 2. They make excellent shoes if you are looking for additional options from the brands mentioned in this video.
I love Lems and Xero shoes. Going to be slowly getting back into them after being forced into regular shoes w/orthotics due to bad plantar fasciitis. Starting with being in my xero shoes around the house to strengthen them until they heal (warehouse job) and lose weight
I started hiking in Boulder Boots five years ago. Love them. I believe I will get the waterproof model when my Vivobarefoots give up the ghost. I switched to Xero Shoes' Ztrek (sandals) for hiking as long as weather permits, now. I wear the Boulder Boots to work, and I wear Vivobarefoot insulated Scotts for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
The aside about Vivobarefoot's customer service was spot on.
I had been wearing Altra for years. Still do. But have been wearing a few of Lem's shoes for a while. I am wearing the Boulder boot to work. Great shoes.
Nice
The Boulder Boots are on point! Love em. First pair of barefoot shoes, have been wearing them about 2 months now.
Most companies want to make as much money as fast as possible-----1 pair of feelgrounds $149.00......WTF?
$149.00 is a cheap price for a healthy body.
@@mauripekkarinen1 if the way to run is barefoot then a shoe that lets you walk that way must be cheap.
They don’t have economies of scale yet that’s why
@@alpacamale2909 Try to sell a product without having large factories, for cheap. And still $149.00 is less than knee surgeries etc.
@@sm.9599 Even though we disagree, hats off to you for commenting respectfully. It seems like human decency is completely forgotten on the internet.
I have been barefoot/ minimalist shoe for around 7 years. The first thing I notices is how my arch strength improved and yes you walk so much softer. I try different shoes all the time. I just bought some Skinners and I LOVE them. They are like a sock with a grippy bottom, you can really feel the ground with them great for hiking.
after trying these types of shoes there's no way i could ever go back. so far my favourite ones are from Vivo and Merrell.
Check joe nimble shoes .
I get wearing these when youre in like the woods but not on the street. I get that humans arent meant to wear shoes but we also arent meant to walk on concrete.
Just like wearing gloves on your hands for certain tasks. You don't wear them all the time because they limit use and feeling in your tactile interaction w/ environment. If your hands were in boxing gloves all the time, I guarantee your hands would weaken, and suffer atrophy.
This is probably the most common argument against barefoot shoes and I'm afraid it has almost no merit at all. Your feet might need some cushioning against concrete, especially when you're not used to barefoot shoe walking. That's fine. Lots of barefoot shoes come with insoles for extra cushioning. The Freets I have now have a shock-absorbing insole (ortholite) that provide better and more comfortable cushioning than any other shoe I've ever owned. Lems Boulder Boots and Primals have reasonably thick soles that provide good cushioning. Altras have even thicker ones.
What you absolutely don't need is all the other ways that conventional shoes screw up your feet and your walking: elevated heels, narrow toe boxes, inflexible soles, elevated toes (yes, really). These things are walking (ha ha) long-term injury machines.
I walk around a lot in cities and before I got into barefoot shoes, I had a lot of shoes that hurt my feet when I did. Converse All Stars and Doctor Marten's were especially bad, but even 'comfortable' shoes with much softer soles like the Campers and Pumas I was wearing just before I switched weren't much better. At this point, I was getting chronic foot pain and realised I needed a wider pair of shoes. I tried Birkenstocks on in the shop and didn't like the sole, so I went next door to vivobarefoot. After a day in my new vivobarefoot ras, I tried on a pair of my old sneakers with a non-zero-drop sole and knew I couldn't go back. After two weeks, my foot pain was all gone. Later, when I got my Freets, which allowed my toes even more freedom, and figured out how to walk better, my knee pain went away too.
As the video says, standard shoes distort the way you walk and dull your feedback from the ground, especially at the heel, so you don't even realise the impact of your heel striking on the rest of your body. Moreover, long-term, they weaken the overall foot, especially the toes, which are rendered almost redundant in ordinary shoes. All of this robs you of your foot's natural spring-like mechanism, which is actually a great benefit on hard surfaces like concrete. A lot of barefoot runners who started out running on grass later say they wish they'd started on concrete and I can see why. Compare the two and you get so much more info from the hard surface.
Sorry for the essay. Hope it's helpful.
@@JohnMoseley No. It has a ton of merit and logic to vindicate the notion that bundling your appendages in padding will weaken them over time.
@@trexx63 I basically agree and that wasn't the argument I was saying didn't have merit. The OP was arguing that barefoot shoes aren't suitable for wearing on concrete. My argument was that while your feet are still weak from wearing conventional shoes, it might still be useful to keep the insoles in your barefoot shoes or wear some of the types of barefoot shoes that have slightly thicker soles, but your foot strength will still benefit from the increased flexibility and lack of toe-spring or heel elevation.
You’d be surprised about how little cushion you need to walk on concrete. With a little time and effort, you can change the way you walk and the strength and alignment of your feet, knees and back. Give it a chance everywhere. I have been walking barefoot since I was a little kid and at certain points I was able to nearly sprint on concrete.
Those feelgrounds actually look really nice, a lot of casual barefoot shoes look odd, so this has definitely convinced me to get more for everyday life and not just running. Great Video dude!
Thanks so much! Hope they workout as an everyday shoe for you.
Ya i have barefoot shoes and they look so weird
Wildling is another good option for stylish barefoot footwear, and they're some of the most minimalist shoes out there. They have a very unique sole to them to give you maximum flexibility.
@@vaxick I''ll definitely check them out, thanks :)
I love Feelgrounds for my free time and wear Groundies in the office, they're great too!
You can walk with the forefoot strike with the everyday shoes too. It just takes some time and adjusting to do so. At least for the meantime until you get the barefoot shoes. Been meaning to get those shoes for a long time.
Dude! I changed my shoes same time as you. I was first in my circle od friends who wear them. To this day I conviced 10 people and they are thankful.
Thats awesome! Its the domino effect!
I wear Luna Sandals. My friend thinks they look funny and calls them Jesus sandals. This is the first year I've worn them exclusively. Can't wait to wear my crazy colored toe and tabi socks when the weather gets cold.
👣 We barefoot / minimalist shoe people hear the beat of a different drum. I don't ever want to go back to wearing regular shoes that most people do. I wish I would have known about this when I was your age. 🌞 👣 ♥️
Guys - what did you do with the old but unworn shoes? lol still unbelievable that I dont ever thing of wearing them anymore... but need to remove out of sight as well,lol. cheers
@@misslinaw Save them you might need a great disguise someday. No one will believe it's you because they always see you in barefoot shoes. 👣
Seems like a really cool dude. But these are $111 for next to no material and he works in marketing. I'm still buying a pair. But im just sayin #questioneverything
It has to do with the economics of scale. Larger companies are able to sell their shoes cheaper because they can distribute the costs of designing a shoe and the cost of equipment over a much larger number of sales.
Yes but no. Barefoot shoes rely on no heel, no cushion technology whatsoever. You buy a pair for 100 will last you three times longer than a pair of Nike or more.
And this comes from someone who's worked in the retail industry many years, now I only buy 100% cotton Levi's jeans and similar for this same reason, they last longer = less money spent per year. Cheap jeans don't even last a whole year.
Haha! question everything brother. But yes, price is a big deterrent.
I don't remember the brand, but I saw comments on another video about 40 dollar barefoot shoes on Amazon
I wear wrestling shoes a lot and I feel like they are the perfect mix of a nice athletic look, with no unnecessary support.
I love wrestling shoes I lift weights in them and tried running in them the other day it was dope as hell
@@pedrocerda6574 Wrestling shoes are so underrated for other things besides wrestling!
I would pay attention to the toe box. A part of the issue is that the toe box will squeezing your toes inwards. There's not enough space for the toes to spread while running, which is required to use the arch muscles in both the small and large toes. This causes an underuse of these muscles, and eventually degrades them, causing the arch to collapse, and pushing the toes inward. This is something which is hard to notice, if you have been wearing normal shoes for your entire life, because your toes have already been squeezed together by all the shoes you've worn. It does otherwise seem like a nice affordable option though, especially if you can find a wide toe box one.
Which model?
I wore my pair of wrestling shoes to death. I need some new ones🤣
I prefer just wearing moccasins. Blew out my knee 10 years ago, dealt with a lot of pain and instability after the surgeries. Couple of years of mocs and my knee feels great, like it learned to handle the pressure and strengthened the legs to restabilize
I got my barefoot shoes recently. It definitely takes some getting used to, but ever since I started wearing them, I have NEVER worn my other modern shoes. My back pain is gone, and walking and running feels so much more natural. My shin splints are finally clearing up. I also notice my sleep and mood are improving since I don’t have to wear those foot traps all day.
The strongest argument I’ve heard against these shoes is that concrete wasn’t around back when we walked around barefoot. Not saying any side is right. But I think it’s a fair counter argument.
I do a ton of walking on concrete in barefoot shoes and it definitely takes some getting used to. Something I really like about barefoot shoes is that they make you much more mindful of the surface you're walking on.
That doesn't make any sense. Hard-packed dry trails can be virtually every bit as hard as concrete. But moreover, it isn't about the surface as much as it's simply about the sensory deprivation and the coddling/cushioning/molding/immobilizing of the foot that happens with traditional/conventional shoes.
They also forget that we didn't walk only on flat terrain. There were all kinds of varied rocks, roots hills, etc. And that trains your ankle and foot.
Shoes were also made long before concrete was. But I suppose they were basically the barefoot/minimalist type without being called that.
All of these barefoot shoes have an outer sole. You are not walking barefoot on concrete. Weak argument.
You seem really sincere about this. Thank you for sharing!
I've had tons of pain while walking most of my life. Podiatrists always recommended support and more cushioning. I listened for years and years. Recently, seemingly out of options, I checked out Altra. I couldn't believe the difference. My toes, ankles, and heels all have so much more strength.
Love videos like this, I've been a convert to barefoot shoes for a few years myself. Wildling is my go to brand for shoes and Unshoes is my go to brand for sandals. I've had pain in my feet since I was a child, and after getting annoyed with podiatrists, I sought barefoot footwear out as a solution. It's been wonders, the pain I once encountered has become so mild as my feet have strengthened.
Worn FiveFingers for almost 10 years.
Everything Cade says, yes.
And for those who complain about concrete ... I've walked 40-50 miles on these things at conventions. On concrete. With no issues.
I actually do need to get a pair of those
wearing xeros for over 2 years, love them, hate rocks though. concrete is fine, but asphalt that has random rocks from cars breaking it down sucks
@@fusionxtras try those yellow round bumpy things at crosswalks. They just feel all kinds of weird.
@@litz13 idk what you're referring to, most yellow things are slippery on the road so i find them to be not terrible.
Edit. I think i know what you're talking about, but they're red in my area the do indeed feel wierd
As someone who's worn a pair of vivobarefoot gobi 2s for a couple years now, they have their pros and cons, just like anything else. Yes as some people have said, they're rough on your feet on concrete, it's not super easy to walk the "way you're supposed to" with them and so if you're not, and on concrete, the heel impact is not nice. My feet have also just generally hurt after being on them all day, whereas in other shoes that was never the case. And that "way you're supposed to walk", it will make you stand out, people will thinking you're walking weird. Walking on soft ground is nicer than a regular shoe, but even then, you can feel every uneven bit of ground.
And then there's the argument that I also agree with, very little material for something so expensive. I can understand the economies of scale but there are other companies that aren't selling barefoot shoes that are $30-50 less, they just don't have the "barefoot" gimmick which has had a precedent set by vivo to be expensive. And yes it is somewhat of a gimmick, they're not some miracle solution to foot or back problems. It really does seem like they're trying to sell cheap shit and using a lot of marketing to make you want it.
With all that said, the Gobi 2s in particular, I do very much how they look. The low profile, they match with everything, and the "weird" wide toe box, which honestly, I prefer, I've been looking for something new and I don't like how all these narrow shoes I'm finding look on my feet.
Maybe he bought them through a third party, that can matter for warranty issues. Also not sure if NA customer service is maybe a bit worse Vs UK/EU, as it is based in UK.
These brands asking for a price on par or higher than Nike and Adidas for taking the material off. That's just ridiculous.
It has to do with the economics of scale. Larger companies are able to sell their shoes cheaper because they can distribute the costs of designing a shoe and the cost of equipment over a much larger number of sales.
You should rather look at the way the shoes are made. The labor put into it. the quality of material used.
If you prefer to buy your shoes from child labor, go ahead.
But don't bring up a topic without looking left and right. Thats just plain blind
Love what you do man. Clean marketing and I know you believe in your promos. Much respect, thanks for the recommendation
Nice video! Glad you're enjoying the barefoot experience. I was a triathlete when I started the transition and went WAY too fast. But I stuck with it and the benefits have been pretty amazing. 10 years in minimal shoes and I'm never looking back! I love my Earthrunners, by far my favorite sandal. And in 10 years I've tried most everything out there lol.
I read Born to Run and love Barefoot Ted's Luna Sandals.
The next step is going barefoot
I really like my Wildling shoes because they're made of sustainable materials and you should also check out Groundies. They offer pretty cool styles. You wouldn't recognise them as barefoot shoes on first sight
To those who think barefoot shoes are too expensive: why not buy them second hand? I bought my vivos for half the price and they're perfectly fine :)
Exactly! I have picked up a few pairs second hand, they have had very little use, and I have saved a lot off the price.
Thanks for the education! I'm definitely trying minimalist shoes now!
I’ve had that exact style of feelgrounds for almost a year and they look great in person! People can’t really even tell they’re barefoot shoes and I would really recommend them
Vivo Primus Knits are the best shoes ever made. ‘Best’ is subjective, but they’re the best decision I’ve made in the last few years.
I’ve got a pair, great shoe.
I have several vivos but I tend to get sweaty feet in those shoes 😅 great style though, they do look great and they are comfortable to wear
Almost 2 years wearing only barefoot shoes. Loving Belenka and Freet. They both have a very wide toe box. I also tried Muki shoes, but were to narrow in the front. My knees don't hurt anymore. Can recommend.
I am from Europe btw.
Hey dude, this is a great vid! I’ve been wearing Vivobarefoot for 2 years now. I can’t go back at all. This is such a concise, well edited, well made video, you should be proud!
Why don't you have more subs? The quality here is phenomenal
I am a 61 year old woman who spends a good deal of time walking and standing on concrete floors for my job and hiking mountain trails on my days off. I used to have so much pain I had to stop hiking on my days off. I switched to minmalist shoes and my pain is diminished by about 90% and I feel as if I am in my 40's again. I spend about 75% of my waking hours on my feet and I hope to do so for many more years.
I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. I went through 3 different cushion/arch support/ankle support/B.S. marketed shoes in the first 1000 miles. All noticeably caused terrible ball-of-foot metatarsal pain at mile 10 each day. Translation = the shoes prevented toe engagement thereby causing the ball of my foot to be the last contact point. I tried inserts, metatarsal pads, and a few other things to no avail. I finally switched to a minimalist shoe and the problem immediately stopped. I was knocking out 25 miles per day on average pain free after figuring it out.
Most people don’t realize how bad their biomechanics are because they’re sitting or laying down 90% of the time.
I love minimalist shoes, and I prefer to be barefooted ... thanks for this. YOU reassured me that I'm doing what is best and natural for me.. FREE YOUR FEET!
I wear barefoot shoes daily, however they're not for everyone. There are people who have genetically positioned leg and foot bones in a way that barefoot actually causes more harm than good. You have to have pretty stable and strong feet to actually run barefoot or in barefoot shoes, otherwise you'll almost certainly get injured. I do like the concept of barefoot shoes overall and I like the fact, that it brings you to the natural way of walking/running, however if one wants to consider changing to this style of shoe, he should most certainly consult this with a physio or a specialist and first fix the unstability with exercises if there's some of course.
Do you think most peoples issues regarding functional anatomy and mechanics are actually genetic (hereditary) or more a cause of their imposed environmental stresses?
I think if most people started off with minimalist shoes from a young age they would adapt well to barefoot living. I do think that a lot of the surfaces we walk on are far too solid and hard for us to be walking on them all of the time without support (for example if you worked in a factory and had to walk on concrete floors all day long).
Thank you thank you thank you. Man the chills I received on you close out placed everything in perspective that I have been trying to share with all family and friends. Started out with Vibram, moved to Merrill barefoot, skipped Vivo cause there customer service is well.. Vivo. Lol. I am now in a pair of Zero brand sandals, along with my wife for her first time, and both loving them. The world really does need to shed the labels and get with a more proactive approach to better, healthy feet! Take care and cheers!
Good video man. Not trying to tell you how to make videos. Your production quality is great! As a viewer, I like to see all recommend products in the description. You put the links for all of the shoes, but not the book. Not that my opinion means everything to everyone. Just wanted to point that out. Again, great video, keep up the great work!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your videos. It started with the floor futon bed. Little by little I keep heading towards minimalistic type life style. I just want to focus on what matter and declutter what's not necessary in my life. I think I'll be watching many more of your videos. I've been thinking of switching to Xero shoes, I'll look in to the others you recommend. I'm looking for most affordable. Which is obviously no shoes at all, but I do feel more comfortable in most places keeping my feet safe.
Thank you! I'm glad you choose to share glimpses of your life and spread goodness!
-Amber in PA
Thanks for your content Cade 💛 for spreading the valuable word that people deserve to know about. And thank you for the recommended brands I've been searching for a good earthing shoe! I appreciate you a ton ✨
I couldn't heal my plantar fasciitis until I started going barefoot. Even though my pediatrist told me to wear cushioned shoes with an arch support insert.
I am missing a ligament in my left foot which gave me scoliosis, poor arch support, and am developing bunions. I am usually barefoot but I don't walk that much bc of pain. Do you think barefoot shoes would help?
@@alexrose20 Barefoot shoes are better than regular shoes because of the wide toe box and are semi-okay for walking on level surfaces. However, I found that when I'm out in the yard walking on uneven surfaces the soles still go one way while my foot slips a different way causing heel stress, unlike when you're truly barefoot and your feet are allowed to articulate with the ground. You have a unique situation in that you're missing a ligament and may need even more special foot consideration. Have you seen a podiatrist?
@@honkymonkey9568 I did a few years ago. I need to go again.
I mean if you want a shoe with minimal cushion, no arch support, and is flat, just buy a Converse shoe. Size up a half size for the wider toe box and remove the thin insole. That's for like $40, instead of the $100 for these barefoot branded shoes.
Have 5 pair of vivobarefeet. Been wearing them for 4 years. Excellent shoes, the company also has a program to repurpose worn out shoes as well.
My earth runners are amazing, wish I could wear them all the time.
I love that Vivo came out with the Revivo program - isn't it great?! I just ordered some Earth Runners and they should be arriving next week. Really excited to try them out :)
This is a really informal vid thanks man. My back has been hurting for a year now and I think I’m going to get the shoes to see what it does. Thanks for real man💪
Awesome video man! You got some skills pitching an idea.
sandals hiking sounds like an ankle snap invitation to me especially with a big expedition pack on ya back
I have watched this multiple times and the ending just gets me, it feels so inspiring. Good production job. I am awaiting a time that I can afford some decent barefoot shoes or grab a bargain from eBay so just spending more time fully barefoot for now.
I’ve called their customer service a handful of times and each time they answered fast, and they refunded me my shipping that I paid because they were late. I don’t know what was your issue with them but they have been perfect for me and very nice.
just recently made the switch to this type of footwear. or as close as i can get. i work in a motorcycle shop and ride a harley as my main source of transport. so i NEED a good durable boot. most of these companies don't make work boots.. the lems boulder boot always pops up but by my standard its a hightop shoe not a boot. i settled on a military style boot, the tactical research mini-mil. its a 2mm drop not zero like most "barefoot" shoes. but they have a flexible oil/slip resistant sole with no cushion and a wide toe box. since wearing these my feet dont hurt anymore. had sore calfs after the first week but now that im past that point and they are good and broke in they are the most comfortable things i have ever had on my feet. i recently ordered a pair of earth runner sandals based off your review and a few others, for something to wear when not at work and off the bike. they should be here tomorrow.
Been wearing Vivobarefoot shoes exclusively since 2018. Can't go back to regular shoes.
Me too!
I use Vibram Five Finger shoes for distance running and I always get weird looks. My feet are happy!
That's what Barefoot Ted used in the book Born to Run. Now he makes Luna Sandals after seeing the natives in Mexico wearing sandals. Lunas are bomb awesome.
@@LiefRunsFar Thanks. Will have to try them out soon.
Probably not the same exactly, but I got my first pair of converse a couple years ago. Theyve been my daily shoe since then, and one thing I noticed after I started wearing them was that the sole was so thin I could feel things under my feet. I did get a gel insert for just the slightest bit more thickness, but even still. I actually went hiking in them and they did really well, even on mud and slippery rocks despite their worn out sole (i had already had them for a year and a half). I think I experienced what you're talking about with barefoot shoes, though perhaps to a lesser degree. Been thinking of getting some new shoes recently, might look into these kind of shoes.
💚 Vivo does have shit customer service. Vibram seemed to have some bimbos working the customer service lines last time I spoke to them, also. I'm considering giving Xero a try since they make size 15s now and I only hear great things about them. We shall see. Keep up the killer work, man! I'm definitely getting excited about this channel
I read the book Born to Run and followed Barefoot Ted for years before buying a pair of his Luna Sandals. Years ago I ran in my Lunas and got injured. Wasn't until about two years ago I started wearing the sandals almost exclusively, outside of work. Then I lost my job about a year ago and was walking and biking only in the Luna Sandals. Just started running again. This time in my Luna Sandals. I was immediately able to run a good amount without that adjustment period you have with the average running shoes. It does take a good deal of time to get your body back to barefoot posture.
Its funny, For the past two months, I’ve only been wearing my vans due to my knee and hip injury and been talking to everyone about how important flat shoes are. I love that i found this vid!
I am not sure how good Vans are also - they are flat but not very flexible - unless they have changed them in the last uears
@@sweetpandemonium2511 although my pros have a thick sole it’s flat, it’s better than other shoes but its better than others!
Awesome and informative video!!👣 . You explained this in a way that is so easy to understand, that I will now try this, as I have a lot of foot pain from wearing shoes at work. You are an excellent human being!! Peace out!!
Excellent video production quality and information!
amazingly clean video!
I have been wearing barefoot shoes for about 4 years now. I love them and will never go back, my feet cant stand normal shoes. Heck my toe spread has started to become wider than some barefoot shoes. I have become less clumsy. I made the mistake once of my friends convincing me I needed to wear boots hiking. It was a mistake they made my feet hurt.
Switching to "barefoot" shoes solved my MCL and Baker cyst (knee) issues, along with a ton of stretching. The fallen arch that damaged my knee is back to normal - and I don't own a shoe with an arch support.
minimalist shoes => no material, only marketing => twice the price as any other shoes #justSaying
Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of these companies are tiny compared to Nike, Adidas, NB, etc. A lot of them use resources from “eco-friendly” sources.
Also, what shoes are they double the price of? Everyone’s price range is different, but most shoes I see are around $180-$220.
The prices are higher because there's not as much demand for barefoot shoes then for normal shoes
Demand and supply
@@PoppyJr11 most *overrated* shoes. But there's comfortable shoes below that price.
I agree, they arent cheap. But they are extremely comfortable.
If you don't need "shoes" but just something to protect your feet, DIY minimalist sandals are great and very cheap. www.instructables.com/Minimalist-Running-Sandals-Huaraches/
I stopped wearing shoes altogether unless absolutely necessary and now usually just have a pair of those sandals around just in case.
For many years I played tennis in tennis shoes. Like everyone else. Sometimes tennis courts are decorated with signs warning players to play only in tennis shoes. But about 20 years ago, such shoes began to hurt my feet when playing. What to do?
I read online that some people wore running shoes while playing tennis. I ran frequently, so that was easy to try. Better! Players then started warning me not to play in running shoes because they lack lateral stability. I don't seem to need shoes with lateral stability.
But the running shoes had thick soles and lifted heels. I bought a pair of minimal shoes. Thin soles, very flexible. Other players advised me that I was crazy and that minimal shoes would wear out quickly. And I would fall down a lot. I don't.
The minimal shoes helped me improve my movement on court. They last at least as long as conventional shoes I wore in the past, perhaps because I move better in them. And I think they've made my feet stronger.
I have played tennis in Nike Free training shoes for many years. Nike doesn't make them anymore. I may try local shoe maker Xero next.
Something that I am learning to adopt in my life as a result of a strong desire to be more free, is the idea that "comfort is captivity." If you have to rely on something for comfort that you cannot provide for yourself, you are a slave. Physical "discomfort" is a fountainous spring of spiritual and mental health. We have been sold this idea that traditional living is "uncomfortable" and "backward", when the truth is that a simpler life that requires a *reasonable* amount of effort is much more fulfilling and better for your overall health. We are unhealthy today because we choose to be weak, relying on synthetic innovations to create a "better quality of life". Strength and vitality naturally arise from a lifestyle thats in tune with the design of your body and how it naturally interacts with the world, this was Gods design. God's plans works flawlessly when you ensure that you are using God's ingredients instead of your own.
Amazing. Sounds like you need to make a video on this 😊
@@CadePriorFilms I am trying to get into making outdoor videos like a lot of these bushcrafting channels do. Recently I encountered a large stumbling block. I had been working with my best friend on making enough footage to start a channel with a few videos instead of just 1 or 2. Recently my friend comitted suicide, so now I am trying to plan how to move forward without him. Its difficult, the grieving process isnt complete yet. To make matters worse, a large portion of our footage is on his personal phone which is a late model iPhone. The phone is currently in Police custody as a part of the investigation into his death and beings that it is an iPhone, the Police and his parents are afraid that the data will never be recovered because he had it all password protected. Apple refuses to help, citing that part of their customer service model is personal data security.
I go hiking barefoot in the summer, even though my feet are filled with pine needles and scrapes from rocks, mostly because there is more articulation and control barefoot.
Heels refer to any form of heel elevation between heel to toe, heels and narrow toe boxes are the biggest culprits.
I spent some time walking barefoot no matter the surface. Hot blacktop was THE worst. First few times I tried sharp gravel, I tried walking gingerly. No idea why, but it hurt 1000 times worse than just walking normal on the same surface.
I cant wait to get my first pair of barefoot shoes. I ordered some on amazon yesterday. I always wondered why my feet were in so much pain whenever I tried to run, or even after just walking all day at a normal pace. I realized my arch is almost flat and through research I discovered what barefoot/zero drop shoes are. I've been so badly wanting to get into running on a regular basis but the pain prevented me from doing so before.... I am excited to see if this solves it for me.
If you feel sore wearing barefoot shoes, you can always pop a thicker insole in. Slowly transition into it, don’t force it
“Make as much money as possible. As quickly as possible…” lol like vivibarefoot
3:00 I only wear shoes for school because they unfortunately force me to, and I totally wouldn’t trap my feet from feeling those hiking trail rocks/dirt/trail.
If there’s water, I definitely can’t wear shoes because then it gets wet in the shoes. It looks like there’s some water there.
One thing that I do is go down the trail, go off along a side path, and then down the rocks, hump off into the river, and swim in there, so all I wear is swim shorts and maybe a swim shirts, definitely not shoes/gloves.
If I get to an actual gravel path & it continues to hurt because my skin is still pretty soft instead of very tough like how it’s supposed to be, I would maybe have to put on sandals just for that if I don’t want to tough it out/go slowly and do foot conditioning, but I’ll get there eventually especially if I just force myself to do the foot conditioning.
Your feet will be strong with regular shoes, which is what you’re calling minimalist shoes even though they’re the real normal ones bc they’re not messed up narrow toe box toe spring heel raise cushiony supportive foot braces “barefoot” shoes is a misleading oxymoron, but your skin will still be weak and soft.
As long as you progress into it and make sure to be careful, your skin will get tougher. Just make sure not to put friction on your feet, and if you’re wearing shoes, still don’t do it because it’s bad for your body overall, but you can’t tell right away because you don’t have skin to ground feedback.
Xero shoes is a good brand. I have had mine 2 years now coming up. And man the benefits I have felt are amazing. I can't even wear "normal" shoes anymore bc of how constricted my feet feel. I have more foot dexterity and flexibility. More control over my whole foot. Over all just my feet, ankles, knees and hips have improved.
Excellent companies offering great products that more people should utilize. One gripe though, it doesn't take perpetuity to recoup design costs! All of the mentioned folks charge very high prices for "minimalist" shoes! This makes them cost prohibitive to a much larger market. I own a pair of Earth Runners and absolutely love them but they were more expensive than a pair of nice sneakers.
This has certainly been an increasingly popular trend over the past few years, however it should not be applied to runners, especially not to people with flat feet who overpronate (their feet naturally roll inward upon footfall; it is far more common than you may think). If you're training at least 35 miles a week, including workouts and long runs, you're putting lots of strain on your legs, ankles and feet. The more tired and worn out your legs are, the more your form breaks down, opening yourself up to injury. Therefore you should be wearing supportive and stable shoes not only to run in, but also whilst lounging around so your muscles can recover rather than having more strain be placed upon them. Inserts with arch support are also good for overpronators because they lift up the medial side of the foot and prevent it from rolling inward, which would cause massive amounts of strain over time and eventually injury (personally, I have had many issues with my posterior tibial tendon as a result of overpronation). The ultrarunner you quoted from the Joe Rogan podcast represents a small portion of the population which has almost perfect genetics in their legs and ankles such that their form is extremely efficient, and their footfalls are so light that they cause barely any strain. It should also be considered the massive amount of strain walking and running barefoot places upon your Achilles tendon, as going barefoot naturally causes your footfall to favor a forefoot strike. Sure, wearing minimalist shoes or going barefoot can build muscles that could eventually prevent injury down the line by increasing efficiency, but you are placing yourself at a very high risk for injury in the process.
@@ErrorMoose I believe you have it right for very casual runners who have the time to put in all the effort required to transition. However, let’s say I’m training 70 miles per week for a marathon. My legs are tired after every run and need the most recovery possible so they can get through the next run the next day or even in the next few hours, so I need cushion, and I need some stability to decrease injury risk as much as possible at these high mileages (even if my stabilizer muscles are strong, won’t this big mileage still make them tired from time to time, putting me at risk for injury?). If I want to do well in this marathon, I can’t just drastically decrease my mileage for a year to support this new style of running while I’m doing just fine right now. Also, runners can easily build stabilizer muscles through cross training, ask any physical therapist and they have plenty of ankle, calf and hip exercises. Lastly (sorry kind of rambling here), Eliud Kipchoge, one of the best marathoners ever, just recently designed a trainer (Nike Tempo%) with tons of cushioning, because he said he needed that for the huge mileage he was running, even though it was all on dirt roads in Kenya. I will grant you the fact that this shoe did not have much stability, because he had a very neutral foot and didn’t need it. You’re right, not everyone needs stability, and I may be biased because I overpronate and have gotten injured in the past because of it. However, you also see plenty of trainers these days that are called “neutral with a hint of stability”, which have been very popular among neutral runners (Nike Infinity React, to name one). Sometimes you just have to do the best you can to not get injured, and most people don’t have a year to specifically train their feet and legs for minimalist running whilst barely running in the process (although I do agree, concrete and asphalt are the death of runners! A very small amount good people can avoid them though, unless they want to run around a track every day.)
@@ErrorMoose Hey I respect that man, best of luck getting back and hope everything works out
Very nice info ... Thanks for this much knowledge
It's definitely a weird feeling being in public and having barefoot shoes on for the first time
I don't wear strictly barefoot shoes but I do wear minimalist or zero drop, and I love them. I usually wear Lems original lines (Boulder, Mariner, Primal). I do wear regular shoes while running because I'm not accustomed to running barefoot, but you gotta make sure to get foot-shaped running shoes like wides in New Balance or Altras. Otherwise you're still hurting your foot in the long term . . .at least in my opinion. Minimalist footwear has been my thing since struggling with a bout of PF (which I treated conventionally with orthotics) but fixing the way my foot relates with the ground has kept it away for years now.
omg i never knew that a lot of the shoes we wear have a narrower toe box. I totally feel the effects this has on my feet bc i walk like 10 miles a day at work. i always say that i prefer to just not wear shoes so i'm definitely going to look into barefoot shoes. thank you!
What do you do for work? That's a lot of walking....
Wow, amazing video! I’m impressed at how well done it is 👏🏻
Hopped on this trend a few months ago, and was definitely surprised by the price of minimalist shoes. But eBay is worth a shot, I got my first pair for $21.
I bought a pair of barefoot shoes just over a year ago and soon after that got plantar fasciitis. I’ve been suffering for a year now and it’s a nightmare.
Not sure the name of it, but there's a RUclips channel entirely devoted to curing plantar fascitis, and the guy actually recommends wearing barefoot shoes. He also recommends using them with toe separators. Might be that with his help, you can get better - and stay in your barefoots. Good luck.
@@JohnMoseley I will look for it. Thank you
@@krisgrotowski2216 Good luck!
Looking at the Vivo stuff, they look like they fit well, particularly for people like me with wide feet. Couple things, though. A) They're $100-$200, how long do they last before falling apart? I'd guess 6 months of daily wear, that's about how long anything made like that has lasted me. B) Seems counter-productive for people with high arches, whom would need orthotics. And it would take time to grow accustomed to walking on hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, etc with no cushion, obviously.
I have been wearing bare foot shoes ever since Vibram 5 Fingers for trail and grass running. The other minimalist shoe I love is by Xeros. Never looking back to any other shoes.
I share the idea of bare feet, but sometimes complex shoes are needed, I'm an artisan and when I work I need some shoes that protects my feet not only from uneven ground but from everything that can drop on them, from fire and from slipping on oil, so yes when you can bare feet is good but sometimes whe need the protection
Thanks for the insight and tip about Feelgrounds.I've been waiting near a month for my first pair from Xero.Dear as!!Feelgrounds have FREE SHIPPING to Australia and they look smart.Will give them a go for my second journey into barefootedness.
Wow, really surprised to hear you had a bad experience with VB customer support. They've been absolutely stellar throughout my two-year (and counting!) barefootwear journey. Hard to imagine hearing it described as "just okay," let alone awful. Worth reaching out to them again and perhaps requesting a manager.
Either way, cheers for a great video!
Wonder if you've seen "The Earthing Movie" which talks about the benefits of of going barefoot? Seems like we are moving very fast towards living more and more unnaturally. Will the hippy social media platform please stand up!
have been "earthing" for years now, get connected
I have fairly wide feet and I haven't really found a pair of barefoot shoes that are wide enough for me. My Freet Connect 2s are pretty good, mainly because they have such a soft upper, but they're the only shoes I can wear and I still don't have total toe freedom. I think the problem is, even so-called wide-toe-box shoes are designed to accommodate the foot in its inert state. It's an improvement on the sheer ridiculous hell of ordinary footwear, but for some of us, it still doesn't allow a full toe splay when walking or running and it's a problem: it's still not an adequate approximation of barefoot walking and it's still, therefore, doesn't provide the same health benefits/protection from long-term injury/damage that really going barefoot would.
I'm seriously thinking at this point I'm going to have to learn to make my own shoes.
Boom! you got it baby! LOL anyway cool artwork on the wall behind you.
I'm going through physical therapy because of the effects of modern shoes. I have hypermobile ehlers danlos, and the toes and forefoot of each foot are loose in the joints. Wearing an elevated heel put pressure downward similar to what high heels does, but not as drastic...just...every day. So I suffered for over 5 years with chronic pain. I'm now having achilles tendon issues, and other problems that I have to work to undo.
My feet use to turn outward before starting to wear barefoot shoes now I walk straight and flat on my feet I also massage with my feet (ashiatsu) the sensitivity of my feet now and stability is incredible
Cade, for footwear, all I have been wearing for the past 15 years are minimalist ones. I agree with you: After some really rotten not caring customer servicefrom Vivo, I have 3 pairs, I swore not to buy any more. I have switched to Xero, got their Toronto high top model, so far so good. A newer company called Sockwa (spelling) is coming out with a very interesting model called the X10. I would like to try them because the prices are supposed to be quite reasonable. Thank you for posting.
I remember getting my first pair of vibram five fingers. At the time they were the only barefoot shoes I was aware of and didn't really even understand the benefits; I only got them to workout but the more I wore them the more I loved them. I haven't worn a traditional shoe in probably 11 years and when I discovered companies like Vivo barefoot and Lems it opened up the opportunity for better looking sneakers. There are also companies like Brenston that make high end barefoot dress shoes which I wear for work. There are some European companies that have made shoes like this for years.
i've worn vapor gloves for 5 years, mainly because any other brand is way too expensive to get shipped. they used to be really durable up to Version 3. A very good alternative is water shoes, although i wouldnt recomend wearing them in sharp / spiky terrain as the soles are way too soft to prevent anything thorny from going trough
Most of the benefits of barefoot shoes could be attained by proper training and stretching. The bit with the toes - just get shoes that aren't super narrow. The bit about the heel to toe drop - just stop wearing Nikes and Brooks. Several other companies offer shoes with 4 to 6mm in drop. Incorporating stretches and strengthening - there. Done. Fixed it.
Even "wide" shoes dont have a foot shaped toe box
Yo so call me crazy, but I saw a video about making barefoot shoes out of Old skool vans or low-top chucks. I’ve been wearing them a lot lately, (also I have little to no arch in my foot) and I feel my posture already getting better. It’s crazy too because I never thought that barefoot shoes would really work. I catch myself walking on the balls of my feet more and taking lighter steps, and like you said having more control of your steps.
Been watching a few of your videos and they're super well made, I'm excited for more~
Great video!! Thank you!!
I´ve lost your channel for a couple of years, nice to have found it again. I couldn´t remember of your name, so the search was in vain, and today I found you because suddently recommended by YT. There is 2-3 channels talking about minimalism in YT, that I like, yours is one of them. That happening earlier was almost impossible, cause althought I´ve always been a minimalist, I only watch 5-10 minimalist-videos/year, since good content is rare (and cause I honestly don´t need them). So, YT doesn´t think minimalism is one of my interests, and won´t recommend me any such videos... Feiyue martial-arts-training-shoes are easily accesible, and costed me just 10$/pair... Also Espadrilles are good and affordable, by 5$/pair, but I´ll destroy them after just a single year, cause such 5$/pair-offers are of lowest quality, and since I´m not the shopping-type of person, I rarely come across high-quality-espadrilles. Just last week I destroyed a pair of espadrilles, while riding the moto-cross-bike of a friend. Such motorcycles have simply too many pointy metal pieces protruding, and I tore the thin textile cloth, that espadrilles are made of... :-( My 15$-espadrilles still look new and shinny, It´s only the every-day-cheapo-espadrilles, that I destroyed, just after 9 months... I switched to barefoot shoes just cause of sick-and-tired of ultralight-sportshoes I used to wear, over to casual shoes, that also were U-light, but they were additionally "barefoot"-shoes (I hardly do sport, just some soccer with friends, but still used to wear UL-sportshoes in all off-office times). My feet hurt the whole first 2 months. Now I have such good sense of my feet, that my ball-control and first-touch during soccer-playing has improved a lot (and I hardly play any)! So, not only beneficial for camera-work... ;-)