BONUS video! We made this one before knowing we'd get to 10k subscribers before the end of our first month as a channel... how crazy is that?? 🤯 THANK YOU for all the love you've been showing Future Proof so far, there's so much more to come!
Question for you. Is it possible to get a blister in barefoot shoes? I've had some broken foot bones, so my big toes, have lumps of bone, etc that stick out and rub against every shoe I buy. I only wear shoes outdoors and I rarely go outdoors. I'd call it a 70/30 barefoot ratio. Still, my podiatrist specifically told me that wearing shoes is the healthier option. Here's a slight disclaimer. I have the flattest feet in the western world. They also stick out like a duck. 😁 I have a hard time finding shoes which won't give me blisters and friction rashes. Everyone claims to have a cure and the perfect shoe, but it never works out. 😥
@Repent or you will likewise perish. No, you socially awkward little man...we're talking about shoes and feet. I'm sure you're quite excited to be born again, but when the adults are talking, you wait your turn.
there are good counter arguments to soft shoes: stability and protection. there is a good reason basically every military uses hard stable shoes. i do have no actual expertise or anything but consider my arguments neitherless: you cant twist your foot, you have much more grip, and while at the start you swueeze your foot, with good shoes the shoe will adapt the basic form of your foot. and they become softer so you still roll your foot. and even more due to your foot beign mor eprotected small obstacles like pebbles wont even be noticed. also it is kinda weird isnt it that through history we put more and more stability around our feet depending on how much stress we put them under like climbing etc. of course you have more feeling barefoot but that can be negated with training and the benefits clearly outweigh it in my eyes
I started wearing barefoot shoes because of health reasons. I had some problems with my knees (ligaments) for quite a while now, and unlike with my regular shoes, my knees do not bother me as much if I'm wearing barefoot shoes. Takes some getting used to, but I'm starting to see why people like them so much. The biggest downside is that they are quite expensive, especially if you are looking for winter shoes.
I bought a pair of Zero Shoes winter boots. They're a little more cramped than the fivefingers I've become used to... but what can ya do? I'm in Illinois. It gets very cold and wet in the winter. One day it's negative degrees, the next it's 40.
@@btchpants I have a pair of xeroshoes as well and love them! I bought the oswego when I got a job as a custodian and was on my feet every day, all day (averaged abt 4 miles a day, almost exclusively indoors). They didn't make my feet themselves hurt less, but after about a week of adjusting to wearing them, the rest of my body would ache SO much less at the end of the day. Everything from my ankles to my core hurt less. I went from my entire body feeling like pain jello at the end of every night to feeling more or less normal. I still had pain of course but shoes aren't magic lol I also have hypermobile ankles so im a very clumsy, unsteady person and often bump into things/almost fall over. Wearing those shoes noticeably helped with my balance, probably since my heel wasn't raised and throwing me off, and the wide, flexible toe box actually let me use my toes to balance and move better. I like them so much; i've never so much as spoken to another person who uses barefoot shoes and don't know the communities at all, and yet I was proselytizing to all my friends and family who would listen! I adore the aesthetic of giant chunky boots, but the experience of putting on my timberlands (which I have lovingly owned for at least 6 years) after months of almost exclusively using my xeroshoes showed how insane the difference is. I should invest into getting some barefoot boots as it gets very cold and snowy where i am as well. Hopefully i can find a pair that LOOK big and heavy......
I'm disabled and have mobility issues. Barefoot shoes help me to walk. I'm 67 and can now walk further and with better balance. They've got me out of my wheelchair much more often.
That's awesome! I'll have to tell my elderly friend about them. Although I kind of doubt he'd try. But still it might allow him to also feel curbs & other obstacles easier since he's visually impaired.
Not sure how you reached the conclusion that most barefoot shoe wearers are in it for the look. I'd say most people I've seen talk about switching to barefoot shoes to reduce pain that they had in conventional shoes.
Also "studies don't exist to say they are more healthy" doesn't mean "science says they aren't healthy" which it seemed you were implying. Those studies largely just don't exist at all, so in that sense we can't say for sure. But it's hard for me to imagine that shoes being actually shaped like feet would turn out to be a bad thing.
This! Had $300 redwing shoes and PAIN my god the pain! It was terrible. Switched to barefoot zero shoes. I was running FedEx at the time as a driver and it was great! First month was hard and painful simply because my muscles weren’t ready haha. Definitely had days of muscle burn! After all the my feet are as strong as a ox and I’ve never had problems. Stones branches etc even really sharp ones tight on the heel don’t bother me anymore. I really want good barefoot boots now especially for winter. Also wish I could get them a bit cheaper but they seem to last quite a long time. I’m a roofer now and they work fine for that too.
@@Anna-pd6dc The problem is running with them In the long term. It can put more stress in the knee joints than regular shoes. Balance can be way better with these shoes, and they do have a place in sport, everyday life and so on, but most physicists and coaches that actually know what they are doing are not going to recommend running in those shoes for extended periods of time, especially if you already have knee and calcaneous problems. Apart from that, they seem fine
@@Anna-pd6dc He wasn't implying that science has proven they're unhealthy at all, he just said health benefits are yet to be proven which is an increadibly important point to make. And him joking about them being ugly is obviously just a throwaway line for humor. You misunderstood a lot of this video, maybe you should watch it again, lol.
The biggest difference I've noticed about my minimalist shoes is the wider toe box that doesn't smash my toes together and what caused my bunion to form from years of wearing narrow shoes. If they made regular shoes that were wider at the toes instead of making them pointy then I'd probably switch back.
I bought a pair of these 5 toe shoes when I was in high school for PE for three reasons: - They give awesome support for lateral movement (comes up a lot in PE of course), you really feel grounded -The shoes look hilarious -But most importantly, my PE teacher hated them Side benefit is that they are unbelievably comfy. Like wearing gloves on your feet.
I bought a pair of these specifically for using in water. The lakes around my area are extremely rocky and I wanted something that would protect my feet but also give me grip on the rocky bottom of the lake. Sure I get made fun of a bit by my buddies but as soon as I let them try them out they instantly change their mind and go buy a pair themselves. So these are a win in my book!
Now that is a good reason. It's a niche that they can nest themselves into without interfering with the competition (which offer a way better product in their respective categories).
I've had absolutely zero blisters, knee, shin or achilles injury since shifting from modern to five fingers over 15 years ago. Who cares if the shoes are ugly. Feeling the ground and moving in the most conservative and efficient movement is more ideal than looking stylish and getting free propulsion from springy padding.
I'm old and switched to barefoot shoes for none of his stated reasons. I tried them because I was tired of my feet hurting all the time, it worked for me. Also helped with my back, hip and knee pain, will never go back!
A reason often overlooked when talking about barefoot shoes is comfort! I have relatively wide, but short feet. It's much easier to find a fitting and comfortable barefoot shoe for me, than finding a regular shoe.
Seeing mostly Xero, Vivo and Vibrams mentioned, just wanted to shout-out Wildlings. I definitely like barefoot/minimalist shoes for just about everything at this point, especially hiking. Being able to really feel the ground makes me feel more stable and confident in my foot placement on rocky, uneven and loose terrain. Never had an issue with slipping. Plus the lack of ankle support has helped me strengthen my ankles and allows a better range of motion which makes navigating over rocks a lot easier.
wildlings are the prettiest barefoot shoes i ever seen online. HOWEVER, they're no use for those who got wide feet. and they do their best to conceal it.
I'm currently in the process of changing all my footwear to barefoot shoes. Since my first pair I just hate wearing anything but my barefoot shoes. Not feeling your toes being cramped and them actually being able to take the space they naturally are supposed to have just feels sooo comfy. Also the sensory feedback you get from having a thinner sole and walking and running more on the front foot just feels so much better than slamming that big fat raised heel in the ground every time you take a step. To me it just makes more sense and feels more natural. I am truly convinced everyone should give barefoot shoes a try. There's so many brands and styles to choose from these days that you really can totally ignore the toe shoes! :p although them being my first pair and I still find them to be the most comfortable, they also don't seem like they'll last me much longer, they aren't really repairable, making them the least sustainable compared to the others I have tried and fitted and seen reviewed. Next time maybe don't put as much focus on the toe shoes, it almost seemed like there are barely any other options. (There truly are a lot of options these days!) Otherwise, keep the videos coming, living the new channel as much as the old one!
This is basically what I came to say. They feel so much more natural for how I walk anyways and don't squish my toes. I only tried barefoot shoes for the wide toe box aspect (most regular shoes are too tight for me and wide shoes have been harder to find in Switzerland than they were in the US) and I like them a lot. I do recommend them to people as something interesting to try, and if you have specific issues with your feet, legs, or they can help in the long run if you transition slowly and correctly (possibly with the help of a doctor even). Luckily there are lots of styles out now so the five fingers definitely shouldn't be your go to. Check out Vivo Barefoot, Wildlings, Groundies, Feelgrounds, Xero, and plenty more I can't think of right now.
@@aaronmontgomery2055 no, at least I didn't. I would run a heel strike, when wearing cushioned shoes, because : 1. There is a drop (front to back) that felt like wearing high heels ( or how I would Imagen high heels). Because the shoe drops are different, it would be more consistent, running a heel strike. 2. The drop increases the missfunction of your feet. It felt like running a little downwards, when compared to barefoot shoes. When running downwards your feet use the heelstrike because you have to stretch them far more than when running straight surfaces. At least for me, running in barefoot shoes, changed the way I run, probably because I don't sink into cushion anymore. I feel that my feet are stronger and far more agile. That is why I switched from trendy shoes.
I have a back pain, and i found that i sleep better on the floor. it doesnt make sense at all, but thats what i fell. I know this is out of topic, but kinda related i think 😅
I’m an overweight, mostly sedentary gamer. I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes since Born to Run was published. My husband is a runner so had the book. The arguments in the book seemed logical, so I gave Vibram 5 fingers a try. They were some of the only barefoot options available then. Before then I was wearing motion control hiking sneakers due to an overpronation problem that was causing knee pain. My knee pain was gone a week after the switch and I never looked back. Sometimes if I have to wear regular shoes for dressing up or boots for rain protection the knee pain returns.
I'm (kind of) the opposite. I'm also overweight and over-probate, but I find to much time barefoot makes the knee pain come back. I'm rarely even barefoot in my own home because of it.
It's probably true that those preferring barefoot shoes are overall more passionate about their shoes than "regular" people. I can only speak for myself, but I think it's because it just feels right. All movement I do with the lower part of my body seems more controlled, nimble and efficient after transitioning to barefoot shoes. This is both due to strengthening of calves, ankles and feet, but also because the shoes themselves give more movement and control. It's great, it feels wonderful, and that makes me passionate about it.
Exactly, I never saw myself talking about shoes but they allowed me to run further than I ever could before and because of that I became passionate about them
@@aazer1aw582 I have one pair of the Merrell Vapor Glove 3 and a pair of Vibram Fivefinger classic. I also have the Xero cloud sandals. They're all very minimal and give a great barefoot feel.
Having stronger feet has been known to lead to more stability and strength not only through the ankle, but through the hip as well. The foot is such a huge sensory organ as a personal trainer ive seen hundreds of clients with "plantar fascitis" go from clunky hokas, to minimal shoes with zero pain over time. And they're all the more resilient now! Its not just a fad its about your bodies health!
This definitely happened with me. I didn't want to give up my Brooks shoes but eventually got tired of the ankle sprains and chronic plantar fasciitis. Took me almost a month of barefoot conditioning before I picked up a pair of Xeros. Absolutely love the increased function, strength and lack of pain. I'm not going back to regular shoes again.
I grew up wearing mostly "minimalist" shoes like Feiyue, cause they were cheap. Since 5th grade I started wearing real sneakers more and more. My parents kept on telling me that I walk with bad posture and I can't get that out of me. I switched back to minimalist/barefoot shoes (mostly thanks to zero drop), I no longer have a posture problem in a few weeks.
This social aspect is a good point! I bought my first Vibram shoes last year but they actually broke down after a couple of months, and I got my money back. Additionally they weren't the correct shape for my feet (neither are any normal shoes though). Still, I find barefoot shoes nice for reasons besides social indentity or possible health benefits; for example the sensory input is quite different and I purely enjoy feeling the different textures as I go about my day.
Apparently the sensory quality is a big factor! Hope you find the perfect shoes for you. Thanks for taking the time to join us here + leave a comment !!
@@FutureProofTV I'll chime in (6 months late) and say that the sensory aspects are probably the biggest draw for me, far less than the "lifestyle" aspects you emphasized in your video. Frankly, I find all that stuff - and the health claims - more than a bit offputting, and so do many of the other BF shoe wearers I've met. They simply feel nice to walk around in and IME do help with some forms of joint issues. I am dubious about their claims for actual running, with one exception - trail running, where the tactile thing is a pretty big deal.
I've struggled with hip pain, plantar fasciitis, and jumper's knee. After months of PT and nothing really improving, we started talking about shots and surgery. My therapist told me I needed these special thick soled shoes that were $150. I stumbled upon barefoot shoes and that they can alleviate stress on the knee. A year later I am completely barefoot and my pain is almost entirely gone. I've stopped going to PT but continue following their recommended exercises (wearing barefoot shoes).
@@mbogucki1 Your plantar fascitis wasn't caused by the barefoot shoes, rather your feet arch was weak due to wearing cushioned shoes for most your life. Moving to barefoot shoes introduced more stress onto your feet than usual; it'll get better over time as your feet strengthen
@@mbogucki1 its a pretty massive shock to your feet that have been conditioned for pillowy shoes that do all the supporting for you, its why most people transition slowly to barefoot shoes
Having that tactile relationship with the ground and relying more on the front of your foot for balance makes it a lot easier to avoid something stupid happening to your ankle.
I've worn these shoes basically since they came out. I was a personal trainer at the time. And let me tell you a lot of people did it in the beginning but stopped wearing them because they would sustain injuries from wearing them. I 100% can tell you that you can definitely feel the different muscles in your calf and front of calf compared to regular shoes after walking in them for the first few miles.
@@lilipepette19 yeah it takes some getting used to and building up slowly. But you are re strenghtening your body to its natural capabilities. We havnt evolved to wear all this modern technology on our feet thats only been around for some years. For me personally my arch hurt when running... i even had special made orthodics. Since ive switched and worn barefoot shoes and ran barefoot my calves started kicking in and infelt them taking the impact which has felt amazing.
I don't wear barefoot shoes regularly, but I started working out barefoot and it's been great for my balance and lifting technique. The elevated heels of the tennis shoes I had been using made my ribs naturally want to jut out more but proper alignment has been a lot easier just doing it barefoot.
If you do try barefoot shoes just be careful. Take it slowly, you can do some serious tendon injuries, especially if you already have quite tight tendons. Ask me how I know 😉 They are great, feeling the ground is amazing just be careful. If you're older, and intend to run, think on the timescale of years not months to adjust.
Good video! While I look forward to more research into this, one thing I wonder is why the burden of evidence should be solely on the minimalist industry. When I transitioned to running in barefoot shoes last year, what was really striking to me was simply that it was *possible* to run long distances without all the cushioning and actually feel good afterwards. I had just assumed that the claims of the traditional shoe industry were true and cushioned shoes were absolutely essential for distance running. Given that no shoes are the human default, and barefoot shoes are attempting to simulate that default, I’d expect the burden of evidence to be stronger on the side of the traditional shoe industry.
Yeah, we might be naturally barefoot, but I have a feeling that originally shoes were designed more for protecting our feet from the ground than anything else. Although in that regard, shoes as a whole have probably led to our feet 'softening' over time, further necessitating shoes for protection. I imagine our barefoot ancestors had much tougher feet than we do!
@@qactustick Yes, indeed, our hands and feet can develop callouses over time to protect them from sharp stones and twigs, just feel the hands of someone who does hard manual labour, like a construction worker for example. I wonder tactile sensory perception is reduced with callouses...
I am a part of that “cult” following! I purchased my first pair of Vibrams in 2013, and have owned nothing but barefoot shoes since 2018. Vibrams are definitely a very bold look, and while I like them for some activities, I definitely prefer the slightly more conventional looking barefoot brands. Wildlings are my favorite thus far! I originally tried Vibrams out because I had issues with my knee, and for me it has helped immensely to build strength and lessen my knee pain. I’ve gotten both friends and family members to convert since, I am very passionate about it!
I bought my first pair a few years ago and they instantly became the only shoe i wear! I get a lot of comments about them cause of the toes. I'm sure most people think they're goofy and they're probably right but they're comfortable so I don't care.
Hi there. I likethe idea of barefoot walking. I was just curious about the toes in the vibrams. Does the separation of the toes not bring discomfort? I remember as a kid having toed socks, and gave em up because of that, precisely
3 situations in which "traditional shoes" make sense 1. Rock climbing (although they are more specialist shoes than traditional) 2. Mountaneering (you need the rigid sole to acompany cramp ons, also you really dont want to feel every rock feature for 5 days straight) 3. Winter and work boots - they last longer, are more resistant to elements and can be easily repaier, quality leather pairs will last you 20-30 years. Other than than, I use my vivos or walk barefoot.
Those shoes with the toes look amazing and you will never convince me otherwise. Unfortunately I am too cheap to buy them. Edit: I bought a pair. I'm quite fond of them.
@@hollowmajin5146 Vibram V-run. Not budget friendly at all, and the sizing is easy to get wrong (mine are a bit too big, so I really need socks to avoid chafing, and without socks they'd probably get nasty and sweaty pretty fast). But they feel great to run in.
Personally I switched to barefoot shoes because my roommate kept talking about how much better that made his hips feel. And honestly I’m was on board. Took a little bit to get used to but my feet, ankles, knees, and hips feels so much better. I don’t get pain from just standing in place for extended periods of time anymore. I also love how light weight they are for hiking and running
I wear Xero shoes, and from what I've found my balance, posture, and walking/running technique has improved significantly, but I've grown up most of my life using sandals, cause I hated wearing normal shoes they always just felt terrible and constrictive. As of now I'm about to turn 21 so I'm glad to finally try out barefeet/minimalist shoes they feel like I'm wearing my sandals, but it's a shoe.
I tried my first pair of barefoot shoes a couple years ago, after going crazy having to use insoles for flat feet. I'm now a barefoot purist...they totally do change the shape of your foot over time, and they feel great. I love being able to feel the earth beneath my feet to a greater extent, and they are so much lighter than their counterparts. Also, they can be stylish! I wouldn't touch the toe ones with a ten foot pole, but I've gotten a lot of compliments on my Vivobarefoot Gobis. Don't usually recommend them to others though...they can be pretty pricey, and you kind of have to wear them all the time for the alleged health benefits, as it takes your feet/stance a while to adjust. It's a bit of a commitment, especially with so little agreement in the scientific literature
After being barefoot most of the time or wearing basic 3mm soles with a lace for walking on concrete and cities, I find the following experiences quite interesting: 1. you feel better, physically, 2. No illnesses since I started doing it (this is really weird for me if I look back to when I had a cold every 4 months or throat issues), 3. Climbing mountains, rocks, running and living barefoot or with only the synthetic soles with laces gives me more control without a doubt and, 4. Weather changes affect me very little, even in cold weather. Is it natural to be barefoot today? No. Cities are a NO NO to being barefoot. But this little protection has helped me and many others to be healthier and with a greater control on stability, equilibrium and posture. BTW, my constant injuries while running have decreased to 0, with the ocasional exception of stepping on a thorn or a pinecone.
I have wide feet and crooked little toes from shoes that were perpetually too narrow. Barefoot and “barefoot shoes” allow my toes to spread back out where they belong. In my younger years I got yelled at for not wearing hiking boots in the woods but frankly, I had terrible balance because I couldn’t tell what I was stepping on and make the necessary adjustments. Thin soles on my shoes allow me to know when & how to shift my weight. They just make sense.
I once went up a mountain with lots of rocks and mud on a rainy day, medium difficulty with trekking shoes on and was shocked when a guy on his barefoot overtook me with just a couple of strides, With that I can say the hype is real I was talking to myself how can he gallop on the rocks like that without any shoes & not hurt himself also not slipping at the same time . Turns out he does this routine everyday picking up trash hikers leave behind that is how he developed his feet to adapt to the terrain.
These shoes changed my life. I remember lower back pain and knee pain accompanied by sore aching feet was the norm after a long day of work. But when I got into these shoes those problems went away. Of course there's many factors to posture and joint health but I truly believe minimalist shoes really make a major positive difference on the well being of the human body. I can be active on my feet for longer periods of time while enjoying the benefits most bare foot shoe companies typically talk about.
I think that barefoot shoes are a really personal thing, and I'm really skeptical of anyone who has an opinion on them without having tried them for long enough to know if they work for their feet (years). I had foot and knee pain for most of my life because I have very wide splayed out toes. Regular shoes just literally do not fit on my feet. I've also danced since a very young age so my feet are very strong and flexible. Finding barefoot shoes changed my life. My foot and knee pain is gone, my running is smoother and my balance is better. I spent 2 years working in an athletic footwear store and can also attest that a ton of people shared similar stories with me when they came in to buy new minimalist shoes. To each their own, but people really need to actually try them before having an opinion.
I had almost the same experience. Work as a mover and constantly pickup heavy furniture. Used to wear altras which are at least foot shaped, but still had knee pain. Switched to barefoot shoes and my knee pain is gone. Haven’t looked back.
@@nolainnogain Barefoot shoes did the same for me. Altras used to be very light cushioned (almost barefoot) years ago, but they suddenly went cushioning mad, at least they kept the zero drop and wide toe box. Glad you found a fix for your knees in barefoot shoes.
I had a very negative experience with them and while I don't doubt that ppl have positive experiences, I don't think you need to wear them for years to find out if they don't work for you. I had very mild hip pain and thought I would give them a try... This led to knee, back, and foot pain that increased over the 3 months that I wore them. I thought "I just need to get accustomed to them" but after 3 months my doc was talking about doing shots in my knee for the pain and I was about ready to say yes. I had almost kinda forgotten about changing my shoes at that point and my podiatrist (different doc) saw them and mentioned that they are great for some, but not all of his patients and asked if they had improved my pain... I realized that the pain had STARTED when I got the shoes and when I switched back to my old kicks my pain went back to just mild hip pain that I can control with yoga mostly. Again, not discounting that some of you guys have great experiences with barefoot shoes. Maybe my mom's sneaker obsession ruined my feet as a baby, idk lol
Tried them and they totally strengthened my feet, ankles, calves and even got my legs in shape to realize that my knee pain is now gone. I wear them daily now and its weird to put on Adidas Ultraboosts, Nike's or any other thick heel shoes that make me feel like I'm leaning forward. Now that I've been wearing them for 8 months it feel much better to wear my barefoot shoes and walk around anywhere and it just feels natural. This is my own experience and I'm just sharing, not advocating anyone to try them.
Used to have massive IT band issues. Five fingers taught me how to run “properly”. It was brutal on my calves at first but eventually got stronger and it really helped me be able to run without IT band probs.
After experiencing horrific pain in my foot for months having gone to a Podiatrist, regular doctor, and Neurologist for the pain, no known cause. The Podiatrist had me wearing a special boot to rest my foot. As soon as the pain was alleviated and I started wearing regular flip flops and shoes the pain came back. It wasn’t until I started watching videos on you tube about foot pain, exercises, etc I bought and started wearing Correct Toes. Next I bought some Xero Shoes sandals for hiking. They feel GREAT, I HAVE NO FOOT PAIN! The reason is now my foot muscles are working ! And to think I had two Podiatrists tell me NOT to go barefoot! Thankfully my daughter in law has been researching brands, foot shapes, what’s the best brands for each particular foot shape etc. Sorry too late, I will be wearing minimalist type shoes with wide toe boxes for the rest of my life!!
No. Bc there are way too may different types of normal shoes. The thing I can say as a general fact is that normal shoes aren’t bad for your feet but barefoot shoes are.
@@zzodysseuszz where do u you find that information? Just think logical, what we humans are better at then the rest of the animals is iq and long distence running. How we survived back in the day was that we ran the animals to death, if you got a knee injury you couldnt get food. So evelousion has finetuned our bodies to run for 100 of 1000 of years. But today 79% of all recreational runners are injured each year… and what has changed sins then… I my self atleast has gotten rid of all knee and foot injuries from swishing to barefoot shoes.
@@superdudeusa3 i mean it is the same thing with cold baths and cold exposure, there are no actual reaserch that proves why it helps with for example muscle and ligament recovery, but it obviusly works and it makes sense becouse it increases blood flow. Everything does not need a scientific reason for it to work or make sense. Thats what i think at least :) + there is tons of research that proves why barefoot shoes are good, and almost none that actually proves why "thick rubber wraps" that we call shoes today actually work.
Great video but I believe the main reasons people like these shoes (like myself) is because they allowed them to run without injuries and discomfort they have been plagued with in the past. Also the sensory feedback is one of my favourite parts. I tried Hoka's after already being used to minimalist and it was so strange not being able to feel anything. All that eco friendly, identity stuff you mention is a trivial factor for myself personally.
I bought into barefoot shoes, using them for long hikes and runs all of last year. My knee and ankle pain went away and was replaced by some major pain in my foot pads, beyond soreness. I’m working with my podiatrist now on finding the issue. He said that the time it takes to adjust your body to the barefoot style is much longer than the commercials and RUclipsrs let on. Take my word for it and take it easy with things like road running and backpacking.
Podiatrist said it was likely deep bruising, no breaks on X-ray. I switched to Hoka per his recommendation and the support has really helped. Glad to be back out putting in the miles. Happy trails everyone!
Hoka Clifton 8. He said that people often underestimate the time it takes to get their feet used to the barefoot style, and that while it’s true that humans didn’t evolve to have cushioned shoes, we also didn’t evolve to run kilometers on pavement and concrete.
I've struggled with knee pain for almost 2 years and went to multiple doctors, had X-rays and a MRI done, tried many joint supplements, rehab exercises, stretching, resistance bands, swimming and nothing worked. At most the pain may go away for a couple days but it would always return. I've started wearing barefoot shoes for the past few weeks and my knee pain is suddenly gone. I am able to run more consistently and my feet feel alot stronger. As a result my mood is alot better and so is my quality of life.
I've noticed that we have a weird stigma when it comes to feet. We cover them up and when we see someone barefoot somewhere where you don't see that, we give a disgust reaction to it. Our feet and hands are literally the same but it different spots. I just find it wild lol. I mean I don't think I will stop those reactions because that's just how we are right now, but we do have a stigma.
@@CarrotConsumer Did you read my comment? I said "when we see someone barefoot somewhere where you don't see that, we give a disgust reaction to it." last time I checked, sandals/flip flops doesn't count as barefoot.
@@Yuni5five Gloves on your feet is even farther from barefoot than sandals are. It has nothing to do with barefeet. It has everything to do with gloves on your feet.
What I miss from the video @Future Proof is a conversation around the topic what the constraints of a “conventional shoe” with support does to the muscle in the feet. We can’t take the muscle in our feet for granted. And also all the joints and tendons in the feet need time to adjust after years in a conventional shoe when switching to a barefoot shoe. But the biggest thing missing in this argument, with regards to the channel, is the amount of money companies make of all the inserts, special soles and all the other stuff they provide to fix the problem that the conventional shoe has caused, and what the production of all that unnecessarily stuff is doing to the environment. And also focus is strictly on the scientific evidence for barefoot shoes, but what about the other side? Is there any scientific evidens-based studies that back up all the inserts, special sole ect.? Sorry but this video feels a bit one-sided and more focus on fashion then health. Not the best you have done Levi!
@@KallutoZoldyck they are good, I wear kso evos all spring/summer at work (window fitter/glazier) they're just not that hard-wearing, I have to buy a pair a year cos they last 6-7 months. Good for ladder work tho. I had a pair of Vivo riffs that lasted 3 years of walking over hard-core, thousands of flights of stairs and walking over tiled roofs. I should be wearing steelies but they ruined my feet.. amusingly I've hurt my feet and ankles far less in minimal shoes.
yeah I agree, this video feels...lazy? and doesn't even begin to get into the reasons why I personally use barefoot shoes, yet focuses on fashion which is clearly not the point. Also, in my high school science fair I was able to prove that running barefoot vs shod affects runner's stride, so all the talk about science being inconclusive seems extremely lacking. There's many proven differences, maybe barefoot shoes aren't proven to be "better" but mentioning Born to Run yet ignoring all the science written about in that book feels like a huge hole in the video.
I personally love my barefoot shoes (Wildlings and Vivobarefoot), as someone who hated wearing constricting shoes I find the wider and low profile better for me, and being a diabetic going completely barefoot isn't just socially unacceptable but also medically so. The barefoot shoe industry itself however is certainly one that pitches itself to the 'hipster' community and plays on itself on being the 'outsider' in the shoe industry, which itself makes it like the rest of the industry just with a green tint to it. I'm not saying the barefoot shoe industry is bad, just saying that we need to recognize that it isn't a disrupter and that it is just another aspect of the fashion sphere. It is good these companies are giving back to the planet, of course, it is, however, these companies should be doing it because it's the right thing to do and not just the 'hip' thing to do. Would I recommend barefoot shoes, heck yes (although not those freaky toe ones..yuch!) they are actually comfortable and you can get some really good looking ones (my Wildlings ones get a lot of attention with people asking where I got them from), so they don't have to look like clown shoes. Just buy them because they are a shoe you want to wear and personally feel good in.
Right on! Glad to hear you're enjoying them, as not just because they're "trendy". Thank you for taking the time to share with us + support what we're doing here, Nicola. We really appreciate it!!
I definitely get a lot of compliments on my Wildlings when people notice them, and they're not so distractingly different looking than regular shoes that I've felt I needed to wear something else in a work or even semi-formal setting.
I bought my first pair of Vibrams FF before they became "trendy". Fell off a cliff, had my ankle reconstructed and heard they were a good way to rebuild the strength. 12 years on, Im a few years into my second pair (the first pair held up for a long time), and they're still my favorite shoes. As far as other people calling attention to them, I would say its about 50/50 whether someone else thinks they're cool, alot of people think they're too wierd. Thats fine. They're still the most comfortable "shoes" for me.
Same here. Have been wearing them for about 7 years now, have 4 pairs, would wear those shoes all the time if they were waterproof. As for the fashion appeal, I'd say 50/50 as well, some people see them as extremely cool, some as weird. The best feedback I get is from kids and young teens, I guess they have fewer stereotypes in their heads and see these shoes for what they are, without trying to fit them into a familiar category and attach a majority-approved judgement.
I've worn barefoot shoes for over a decade now, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoy them. They're lightweight, cozy, and yeah they really do alter your stride. Many of the ones with a thin sole or minimal padding also conveys a strange sort of 'primal joy' in feeling dirt and grass beneath your feet, it's hard to describe
I’ve been curious about barefoot shoes for quite a while. One day, when I finally get a bit of money, I’m hoping to get some. Thanks for the information!
Just start by walking barefoot or in socks as much as possible. In your house, yard or garden, down the beach in a park. Then when you're brave enough down the pavement occasionally, just for a couple minutes. Always listen to your body, aches and pains the next day will let you know if you did too much.
I don't think they are inherently ugly. They just look different than "normal" shoes that people are used to. But a narrow toe makes no logical sense (aside from riding horses).
I've been running exclusively in Vibrams for 11 years and yes I agree that they look gross (which is why I prefer to not have my feet shown in running photos). Then again when I'm running the last thing on my mind is fashion points. I just like to feel the terrain beneath me when I run...and yes I suppose I'm the type who is rather minimalist in his tastes as well. Anyway, I've done marathons in these shoes and yeah, they work great for me even if they're ugly.
He claims through the studies, science doesn't back up the benefits. Yet those of us who have converted to minimalist (zero drop, wide toe box) shoes know otherwise. Stuff actually helps! If you want independent, athlete researched benefits then look into KneesOverToes, Graham Tuttle, or Squat University.
Here's a scientific study from 2014: The Risks and Benefits of Running Barefoot or in Minimalist Shoes A Systematic Review Kyle P. Perkins, William J. Hanney, PhD, PT, DPT, ATC, and Carey E. Rothschild, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CSCS Moderate evidence supports the following biomechanical differences when running barefoot versus in shoes: overall less maximum vertical ground reaction forces, less extension moment and power absorption at the knee, less foot and ankle dorsiflexion at ground contact, less ground contact time, shorter stride length, increased stride frequency, and increased knee flexion at ground contact.
The science does back up barefoot. 250 years of science and more coming all the time. There will always be naysayers! Their point is its important to take your time getting back to barefoot, its not a quick fix and no one should ever say it is. Healthy movement is a life long journey...
@@benlevesconte which makes sense when you consider most people will have been wearing shoes for decades by the time they decide to switch to barefoot. Imagine you can bicep curl 50lbs, and then you put your arm in a cast for even just 10 years. You’re not gonna get the cast off and immediately go back to 50lbs. You’re gonna have to start at like 1lb and work up to it slowly. Same with your foot muscles when you stop wearing shoes
This doesn't come off as great when you brush off peer-review science and instead say just trust anecdotes or people selling books about barefoot shoes, lol.
It takes quite a while to see the full benefits of wearing the toe shoe. It took me almost 6 months of wearing them before I noticed increased dexterity in my toes, no foot pain, less back pain, better balance, faster walking ability, and increased strength in my feet in general. You tend to move more fluidly. It’s not like walking across your living room barefoot. When you really do a lot of walking on all sorts of surfaces throughout the day, it really starts to transform the way you walk, and the atrophied muscles in your feet from wearing restrictive closed toed shoes all day.
Great points on the marketing aspect of barefoot shoes! Personally I could not care less, been struggling with plantar fasciitis, knee problems and achilles tendonitis for a year, and barefoot shoes in combination with Correct toes and sensory insoles such as naboso, have fixed everything orthopedic insoles and high end normal shoes could not. Walking on concrete have never been more comfortable! In my opinion most people should not have these problems in their twenties, and the sheer amount of people with foot problems early on is alarming. As to the cause, it is of course a complicated topic that has been overshadowed by quick fixes to the symptoms rather than addressing the root causes. But that can be true for all of medicine sadly.
I had to do a bit of digging what are those Naboso insoles because it's also a czech barefoot shoes shop of the same name (it means „on/with bare feet“).
i feel this! i had a job during high school/college that required me to be on my feet walking around for 10-12 hours a day. i bought the "best" padded shoes i could afford at the time and didn't understand why my feet just seemed to be getting worse and worse. right around the time i was 21, it was to the point where if it was a little chilly, i literally couldn't sleep because my knees and hips were in so much pain, and my feet were in rough shape. i was trying so desperately to fix it but nothing seemed to help until i tried "barefoot" shoes. i was on a road trip and bought altras for hiking, and i couldn't believe how much longer i could walk without pain. i've been wearing pretty much exclusively barefoot shoes since then and don't even think about any of these issues anymore. i used to tell people i had bad knees which is hilarious to me now. i was barely even into my twenties!!! that is just absurd.
Really opens your eyes to many strange “facts of reality” that no one seems to question. Maybe the first “fact” that I became puzzled at is how I could be getting all sorts of chronic pain/injuries in my early 20s and that is normal/common in our society.
I was told to wear medical insoles but still had pain in my hallux and knees. Some day I was looking for watertight winter shoes and found barefood shoes and liking them right away. The insoles didn´t make sense in these so I tried walking without them: No pain since them. Now I only wear "natural/ health shoes" intstead of sneakers with medical insoles.
I’m a fairly non-athletic city-dweller and once I tried my first pair of barefoot shoes I can’t wear ANY others. They are just so much more comfortable than anything else. Seriously recommend them, lems are my personal go-to.
The most glaring omission in the video seems to be the complete absence of any examination of evidence in support of or against regular shoes. It is almost assumed to be 'normal'.
I've decided to go barefoot about a month ago (waiting for shoes to arrive rn). The reason for my decidion was this: whenever i wear my more coushioned shoes, my back pain and feet pain gets so much worse than in my old, little coushioned and low drop. So i'll see how the barefoot ones will be for me! Edit 1: they arrived, i walked my dog in them, and so far, they're super comfy tho it's a huge difference from the coushioned running shoes
I have problems with my feet and barefoot shoes, toe spreaders and feet exercises have helped with the pain and discomfort. Also if you have very wide feet in the toe area you just can’t wear regular shoes. My toes aren’t very "wide spread" because I’ve been wearing regular (or too small or pointy) shoes all my life. And "the once with the little toes" can help your toes to spread back to the width you once had as a child... or so I’ve understood. 😊👍
If these barefoot shoes are really beneficial then it's absolutely absurd and childish to let the minor issue of appearance prevent you from wearing shoes that might help your feet.
But it does work like that. Would have they been marketed properly and one or two celebrity using them, boom healthy and popular feet. Sadly many hollow people desire to show status first and it works. Getting jobs and getting up the ladder is simply more important for people :'/ .
Bought my first pair of barefoot shoes when I realised that there is actually nice looking shoes. I have seen big improvement on how running feels. I started to walk right and over time back pain disappeared. Overall I love my barefoot shoes and would change back!
when I lived in japan 1963 the men wore this type of work shoe. this also means that toe socks are a must have to accommodate proper fitting of the toes.
Barefoot shoes are the shit. Ever since I started wearing them I have so much less dismofort in my knees, hips, what have you. Outside of them being expensive they are amazing.
I personally started wearing barefoot shoes, because normal shoes didn't give my feet enough space and hated any rise of heel, i was constantly looking for flat shoes that were wide. One day i stubbled across vivobarefoot and saw that they were a certified B corp and new I had to try, now most of the time I'm wearing barefoot shoes and any new shoes I buy to replace my old shoes are barefoot shoes.
I switched to barefoot shoes back in April, and I no longer fit in shoes I used to wear. Toes have spread out enough that it's painful to walk in them. Not to mention I LIKE feeling what I'm walking on. It's mind-blowing how numb your feet feel going back to a *normal* shoe.
That's so true. The only time I have to get back into my regular shoes is for the occasional wedding or funeral. It's awful. I can't stand it. As soon as I can do so without drawing any attention to myself, I'll take my shoes off. I can't believe I wore those things for years.
I can't believe that showing off (6:10 "what wearing these shoes says about you...") is the main driver to buy these shoes. I think you're projecting something into barefoot shoe fans that is only prevalent among a part - but certainly not most - of them.
Short answer, yes. They help build muscles that you would otherwise not be using which leads to better stability. More stability means less injury and better performance. Great for trail running.
I love five fingers the most of the minimalist shoes, lol. I started wearing them just to see what they were like. They reminded me of the waffles that I wore when running track and cross country. I kept buying them because I actually liked them, though I wasn’t a fan of being stopped mid run by people wanting to ask about them. Merrell makes similar versions with full, wide toe boxes for people who dislike the toe shoes. Cheers!
Vibram Fivefingers are my absolute fav, there is no better feeling than running with those on the nature (they are pain to put on tho). Wearing shoes of this brand over 10 years it seems thre is very small population who have strong feelings towards these toeshoes. It has to be a kink or something. It is no shame feeling arousal towards toeshoes my man. I liked the video.
I started doing barefoot shoe running and day to day several years ago. My lower back pain is no longer an issue. My balance is amazing. I'm not a doctor and that's just my experience. Since then my girlfriend also now does it and loves it. Also good to note we are in our 40's.
I dont care about sustainability, I'll readily admit that I'm neither outdoorsy, nor athletic. I do have freakishly wide feet though and most "normal" shoes don't offer an option for width; at the same time I kept seeing barefoot shoes mentioned here and there. So I thought why not give them a try and bought a cheap pair off Amazon, canvas upper, generic Chinese brand name, for $25. They were instantly the most comfortable shoe I had ever worn, it felt like not wearing any shoes - no pressure points, no friction points. I was hooked. So it doesn't have to be about making a statement, or saving the planet. It can just be a selfish thing - one's own comfort.
After suffering from knee pain since my 30's I transitioned to minimalistic shoes and implemented "knees over toe's" training... Now I have no pain and I mean no pain...
I had a pair, I wore them through a good part of my childhood and early adolescents, they are so comfortable, I walk on my toes and they allowed for that, I loved being aware of the ground beneath my feet, often when I'm hiking I'll take off my shoes just to experience the ground
hey. I have this problem too. are these really the best option for having short achilles tendons? my only other option is surgery ATM and finding the right shoes is not a fun endeavor
@@hyacinthus9 I bet not youch, I toe walk not for any medical reason, wouldn't something with a heel keep your foot up in that position? I wear low heels quite few quently because it feels comfortable to me
@@salmiakki7652 yes but my mom has the same problem and she has really weak calf muscles from wearing heels :( thank you for the response, i will keep looking
Love my vibram toe shoes. I bought my first one a decade ago. The first time I wore it, it was like being barefoot everywhere. I am naturally athletic so arch support never bothers me. I can stand on my feet for hours at times. If you have issues walking barefoot then this isn’t the shoe for you.
I think human started to wear foot wear to protect the feet from cuts etc. But over time it obviously got to a point where comfort and making money overtook and all the support the shoe gives ruins your bare foot, for example I have had a bad arch. Got orthopaedic soles, only helped when in shoe, without it same or worse because missing the support it gives so i ditched it. Since than I forced myself to notice, and correct my bad stance. Now only when I stand barefoot I have to correct rarely.
I don’t wear them all the time as my job requires steel toe caps, but wearing them as often as I can and no shoes where possible has done me wonders. My little toes used to curl under my feet (a thing a lot of my family share) and it made my stability problems a lot worse. They now sit right and it’s helped so much for pain in my knees and hips too.
I've been interested in getting some barefoot shoes for a while... Not because I fall into any of the categories that you mentioned, but because I just love walking around the house barefoot. After a long day at work in my thick super cushioned shoes, I can't wait to get home and Walk around in my socks. And I live in a big city, so walking around in actual bare feet is not an option
I am in the process of switching all of my footwear to bearfoot, or at least bearfoot adjacent. While the sustainability part of it is a nice perk, I made the switch to bearfoot shoes because they are the only shoes that my wide ass, flat feet fit in and don't cause foot and knee pain.
It really seems to be trending upwards, which makes me curious of the pandemic's impact. Staying home more often typically would translate to more time spent barefoot. More time spent barefoot may lead to foot growth, and/or discomfort in their normal shoes. This is just a hypothesis though.
I will never go back from barefoot shoes. Plus all my bareffot shoes lasted many times longer than shoes I used to buy. I don't necessarily promote barefoot shoes, but I think shoes should have a bigger toebox and no drop.
Lack of evidence for the benefits of X doesn't necessarily disprove X's benefits. The kind of study that would be needed is either: A) a cross generational comparison (kids to elders) between a western population and more primitive population (like indigenous tribes of South America or Africa) or B) a study of three groups of people where: group 1 is raised normally with conventional shoes and stuff group 2 is like group 1 with the difference of using barefoot shoes instead of the conventional group 3 where they are raised to walk barefoot (no shoes) or with those adhesive pads on the feet and in cases where they would need/be required to wear shoes they would wear the barefoot shoes Time investments: A) few years B) many decades (50+ years)
I just want to recommend Altras as a compromise between normal shoes and full-on barefoot shoes for anyone who wants to ease the transition a bit. Nice wide toe box, zero drop, and some nice soft padding to make you feel like you're walking on grass instead of concrete
I love barefoot shoes! I don't run, but I am a powerlifter and your feet are a big deal in the sport of lifting the heaviest weights possible. Your feet are your base, so you could imagine the wider and stronger your foot is, the better it supports driving through huge compound movements such as squats and deadlifts (even the bench press includes drive from the legs) To me, it just feels like it's an advantage. I don't know if your shoe choice will make you a better powerlifter, but I'm sold on the idea of it, so I'm going with it :)
I got a pair of Five Fingers and the more I wear them .. the more I love them. Even if you think they are ugly .. lol .. I don't think so .. They are different and they are noticed around. Always remember .. with these shoes you have to commit yourself on "Learning to walk, before you even think to run" The changes are very noticeable .. the center of balance will not be the same .. the pace when you walk will adjust by itself .. give it time. I got them to see if it will help my knees and back when I walk. Up to now, they bring satisfaction to my expectations. A happy user 🙂
Everyone has their own preference about shoes. What's annoying me is that the barefoot shoe industry wants to impose their opinion about shoes as the only truth out there..
I just saw a pair of barefoot shoes for the first time when shopping the other day. My curiousity is peaked now... We're minimalist travellers, so the thought of having shoes that don't take up much weight or space in our bags is definitely something we could get on board with!
Barefoot shoes have saved me in fitting everything into just a backpack! You can just roll them up or even just flat the pair take up about half the space of a single regular shoe
From my personal, Anecdotal Evidence: I have lived with constat back pain since a spinal injury with I was 6. When I wear shoes, my back pain is significantly elevated. The longer I walk in shoes, the worse it gets. I have a pair of Vibram soled work boots. When I wear them my pain still elevates, but not as severely. I spend a lot of time barefoot. Literally every moment I'm not legally completed to wear shoes. When it is very cold (rare, I live in Florida), I walk around in just socks. After a whole day of walking barefoot, my pain level is about the same as it is after wearing my Vibram boots for 4 hours or regular shoes for 1 hour. When I am barefoot, I keep a pair of flip-flops (thongs) in my back pocket for when I have to go into a store.
Barefoot or minimalist shoes just make good health sense, and they're very comfortable. I don't wear them to make a statement and I don't care about the 'sustainability' crap.
4:18 Screw you, I love my VFFs! 😛 I don't care if they look weird to others with the toe pockets! The fact of the matter is that I, personally, will never get rid of them because they're so damn comfortable to wear, whether you want to acknowledge that or not! 😊
I started wearing them because I grew up wearing tabi, Japanese split toe, think soled, shoes. I'm Japanese and ask for older, tabi started getting harder and harder to find as the older generations started retiring and the younger started westernizing and not wanting to take over family businesses. When I found Five Toes, they felt familiar and, honestly, have WAY better grip. Especially now with the new treads. I definitely get more things between my toes but until I can find another brand with the grip and controllability as Vibrams, I'm kinda stuck.
I love being barefoot and I bought into the Vibram FiveFingers in their infancy in 2006 and I was in love with their shoes and my KSO's lasted well over a decade and only recently fell apart on me. I need to get another pair of FiveFingers again... I loved wearing my FiveFingers societal norms be damned! Edit: I love them because of the individual toes as well :)
Couldn't agree more. Great shoes, I'm about 1,500km into my V-runs and KSO's and they are barely worn in! I reckon they must last 5 or 6 times longer than those silly max cushioned shoes.
I have way too many pairs... My first pair, bikila from around 2013, wore out to the point of no repair in about 2 years because I wore them all the time. Even in mud, at school, in the woods, when exploring the coastline... I had to wash them almost once a week just from mud and sweat during gym class in high school. I still wear other pairs I've accumulated over the years, but have a few from other brands for when I need something nicer, like job interviews, wearing to weddings, etc. Although I would totally get married in toe shoes. The balance is great, I've always loved toe socks, and never cared about fashion. I mean, when I'm not wearing them, I'm wearing Crocs from 2009, so I definitely don't follow trends.
I'm glad so many in the comments love vibrams unlike the tool in the video who is like so many that are freaked out by feet so much they spite themselves and will never try them. I get not everyone loves feet but hating the toes is odd because I dont think they'd be bothered at the beach or in a pool
I’m transitioning to going without shoes more and more often. it’s great except I feel like I have to wash my feet immediately as soon as I get back home lol
As a 70's semi hippy, I was barefoot whenever possible. I spent quite a bit of time picking glass bits from my feet, not to mention plantars warts. When I became a mom, I let it go. I wouldn't risk injury anymore.
I don't see why people hate the toe-shoe looking ones... Are people just innately disgusted by the thought of feet? The toe thingies give your feet even more mobility than you would have otherwise, if you're hiking or climbing it allows each individual toe to articulate independently from each other
So, I love being barefoot. I’ve been barefoot as often as possible since I was an infant and shoes drive me crazy. My feet have never been molded to fit a shoe and so they are wide and hard to size. In my research to find out the best shoe for me I discovered something interesting! Flat foot: The reason we have arch support inserts in all our walking shoes now. Arch support is meant to help align your body correctly and save your knees while you walk around on concrete at your 9-5 job. Vivobarefoot has a goal to put people in their shoes from a young age, building a more natural walk. But…. I know from experience NOBODY enjoys walking around barefoot on concrete all day, it hurts and it’s unnatural. So while I absolutely love my barefoot shoes as a person with high arches and well rounded feet, someone raised in regular shoes, walking around on concrete all day in the workspace is going to experience a lot of discomfort without arch support. That being said, if you are like me and have been barefoot your entire life and have “natural” feet, you’ll be fine go for it. They are your feet I just thought it was interesting
I've had ankle problems ever since my mom made me wear heels for first communion and I twisted it trying to walk on slippery marble. Been weak the last 3 decades and twisted it over a dozen times. Narrow shoes making it worse. Hoping a pair of these will help. I always preferred to be barefoot or in flat sandals.
Religion is dangerous in every way, especially Catholicism. In this example, your mother harmed you physically, emotionally, morally and spiritually. Renouncing your imposed faith would be as liberating as wearing minimalist shoes. Apparently God wears them. Nothing was ever solved by kneeling down.
The available “scientific research” not supporting barefoot benefits is because these big companies would lose a LOT of money on their current and legacy products. If something as frequently used as our FEET isn’t producing enough research since 2012, it’s obvious why.
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Thanks to all the team for the interesting content!
why do you just showcase separate toes in this video there is so many that is not build like that
Question for you. Is it possible to get a blister in barefoot shoes? I've had some broken foot bones, so my big toes, have lumps of bone, etc that stick out and rub against every shoe I buy.
I only wear shoes outdoors and I rarely go outdoors. I'd call it a 70/30 barefoot ratio.
Still, my podiatrist specifically told me that wearing shoes is the healthier option. Here's a slight disclaimer. I have the flattest feet in the western world. They also stick out like a duck. 😁
I have a hard time finding shoes which won't give me blisters and friction rashes. Everyone claims to have a cure and the perfect shoe, but it never works out. 😥
@Repent or you will likewise perish. No, you socially awkward little man...we're talking about shoes and feet.
I'm sure you're quite excited to be born again, but when the adults are talking, you wait your turn.
there are good counter arguments to soft shoes: stability and protection.
there is a good reason basically every military uses hard stable shoes.
i do have no actual expertise or anything but consider my arguments neitherless:
you cant twist your foot, you have much more grip, and while at the start you swueeze your foot, with good shoes the shoe will adapt the basic form of your foot. and they become softer so you still roll your foot. and even more due to your foot beign mor eprotected small obstacles like pebbles wont even be noticed.
also it is kinda weird isnt it that through history we put more and more stability around our feet depending on how much stress we put them under like climbing etc. of course you have more feeling barefoot but that can be negated with training and the benefits clearly outweigh it in my eyes
I started wearing barefoot shoes because of health reasons. I had some problems with my knees (ligaments) for quite a while now, and unlike with my regular shoes, my knees do not bother me as much if I'm wearing barefoot shoes. Takes some getting used to, but I'm starting to see why people like them so much. The biggest downside is that they are quite expensive, especially if you are looking for winter shoes.
Are you white
I doubt I could wear them wear I stay.
But good for you if they are giving you such great results.
#kneesovertoes
I bought a pair of Zero Shoes winter boots. They're a little more cramped than the fivefingers I've become used to... but what can ya do? I'm in Illinois. It gets very cold and wet in the winter. One day it's negative degrees, the next it's 40.
@@btchpants I have a pair of xeroshoes as well and love them! I bought the oswego when I got a job as a custodian and was on my feet every day, all day (averaged abt 4 miles a day, almost exclusively indoors). They didn't make my feet themselves hurt less, but after about a week of adjusting to wearing them, the rest of my body would ache SO much less at the end of the day. Everything from my ankles to my core hurt less. I went from my entire body feeling like pain jello at the end of every night to feeling more or less normal. I still had pain of course but shoes aren't magic lol
I also have hypermobile ankles so im a very clumsy, unsteady person and often bump into things/almost fall over. Wearing those shoes noticeably helped with my balance, probably since my heel wasn't raised and throwing me off, and the wide, flexible toe box actually let me use my toes to balance and move better. I like them so much; i've never so much as spoken to another person who uses barefoot shoes and don't know the communities at all, and yet I was proselytizing to all my friends and family who would listen!
I adore the aesthetic of giant chunky boots, but the experience of putting on my timberlands (which I have lovingly owned for at least 6 years) after months of almost exclusively using my xeroshoes showed how insane the difference is. I should invest into getting some barefoot boots as it gets very cold and snowy where i am as well. Hopefully i can find a pair that LOOK big and heavy......
I'm disabled and have mobility issues. Barefoot shoes help me to walk. I'm 67 and can now walk further and with better balance. They've got me out of my wheelchair much more often.
Wow
Thanks sir.
Cap
@@rainulan7809 ? can you explain what you mean?
that is great, good for you
That's awesome! I'll have to tell my elderly friend about them. Although I kind of doubt he'd try. But still it might allow him to also feel curbs & other obstacles easier since he's visually impaired.
Not sure how you reached the conclusion that most barefoot shoe wearers are in it for the look. I'd say most people I've seen talk about switching to barefoot shoes to reduce pain that they had in conventional shoes.
Also "studies don't exist to say they are more healthy" doesn't mean "science says they aren't healthy" which it seemed you were implying. Those studies largely just don't exist at all, so in that sense we can't say for sure. But it's hard for me to imagine that shoes being actually shaped like feet would turn out to be a bad thing.
You are correct.
This! Had $300 redwing shoes and PAIN my god the pain! It was terrible. Switched to barefoot zero shoes. I was running FedEx at the time as a driver and it was great! First month was hard and painful simply because my muscles weren’t ready haha. Definitely had days of muscle burn! After all the my feet are as strong as a ox and I’ve never had problems. Stones branches etc even really sharp ones tight on the heel don’t bother me anymore. I really want good barefoot boots now especially for winter. Also wish I could get them a bit cheaper but they seem to last quite a long time. I’m a roofer now and they work fine for that too.
@@Anna-pd6dc The problem is running with them In the long term.
It can put more stress in the knee joints than regular shoes. Balance can be way better with these shoes, and they do have a place in sport, everyday life and so on, but most physicists and coaches that actually know what they are doing are not going to recommend running in those shoes for extended periods of time, especially if you already have knee and calcaneous problems. Apart from that, they seem fine
@@Anna-pd6dc He wasn't implying that science has proven they're unhealthy at all, he just said health benefits are yet to be proven which is an increadibly important point to make.
And him joking about them being ugly is obviously just a throwaway line for humor. You misunderstood a lot of this video, maybe you should watch it again, lol.
The biggest difference I've noticed about my minimalist shoes is the wider toe box that doesn't smash my toes together and what caused my bunion to form from years of wearing narrow shoes. If they made regular shoes that were wider at the toes instead of making them pointy then I'd probably switch back.
do your bunion still bother u running/walking with the minimalist shoes?
@@idk2289, No it does not bother me at all in my Xero shoes, the toe box is wide enough that it doesn't rub on it at all.
You might like Altra and Lems then
And Ahinsa shoes' "comfort" line (which is just a comfy insole in their otherwise minimalist shoes)
They literally make "wide" versions of nearly all shoes.
I bought a pair of these 5 toe shoes when I was in high school for PE for three reasons:
- They give awesome support for lateral movement (comes up a lot in PE of course), you really feel grounded
-The shoes look hilarious
-But most importantly, my PE teacher hated them
Side benefit is that they are unbelievably comfy. Like wearing gloves on your feet.
i like the way they look because of the toes
@@joparsons20 me too!
Doesn't it make your toes cold? Ive used to have this five toes socks and i just couldn't stand how quickly my toes were freezing when separated
@@mishuchyba6027 me no! I find them strangely warmer than regular shoes.
@@joparsons20 do you by any chance "like" feet?
I bought a pair of these specifically for using in water. The lakes around my area are extremely rocky and I wanted something that would protect my feet but also give me grip on the rocky bottom of the lake. Sure I get made fun of a bit by my buddies but as soon as I let them try them out they instantly change their mind and go buy a pair themselves. So these are a win in my book!
Now that is a good reason. It's a niche that they can nest themselves into without interfering with the competition (which offer a way better product in their respective categories).
Are they any different from the normal water shoes? I’ve used those before but they kinda sucked
My husband has a pair of these for this specific reason as well. We kayak a lot and they are his kayaking shoes
@@BoringTroublemaker could you day which brand he's bought?
Makes sense. They were first used by recreational sailboaters. I much prefer them for water.
I've had absolutely zero blisters, knee, shin or achilles injury since shifting from modern to five fingers over 15 years ago. Who cares if the shoes are ugly. Feeling the ground and moving in the most conservative and efficient movement is more ideal than looking stylish and getting free propulsion from springy padding.
Yeah... stay away from my kids. No logical man would ever wear toed shoes without having some dirty tricks up their sleeves. L o s e r
@@LukeNukemTV_ They are pretty lame but damn man they are just crappy shoes basically lmao, nothing more.
Amen to that 😏👍
Honest question, as I have lower back, hip, and knee issues, do roofs and carpentry. Wouldn’t they get really hot?
@@iXmetalXi I'm not sure, but for construction type work you may want to stick with steel toed boots.
I'm old and switched to barefoot shoes for none of his stated reasons. I tried them because I was tired of my feet hurting all the time, it worked for me. Also helped with my back, hip and knee pain, will never go back!
A reason often overlooked when talking about barefoot shoes is comfort! I have relatively wide, but short feet. It's much easier to find a fitting and comfortable barefoot shoe for me, than finding a regular shoe.
I can relate. I have very wide feet, so for me to comfortably wear shoes I need them 3 sizes longer than necessary.
Seeing mostly Xero, Vivo and Vibrams mentioned, just wanted to shout-out Wildlings.
I definitely like barefoot/minimalist shoes for just about everything at this point, especially hiking. Being able to really feel the ground makes me feel more stable and confident in my foot placement on rocky, uneven and loose terrain. Never had an issue with slipping. Plus the lack of ankle support has helped me strengthen my ankles and allows a better range of motion which makes navigating over rocks a lot easier.
Damn they don't ship to the USA.
Fila skeletoes best
wildlings are the prettiest barefoot shoes i ever seen online. HOWEVER, they're no use for those who got wide feet. and they do their best to conceal it.
I'm currently in the process of changing all my footwear to barefoot shoes. Since my first pair I just hate wearing anything but my barefoot shoes. Not feeling your toes being cramped and them actually being able to take the space they naturally are supposed to have just feels sooo comfy.
Also the sensory feedback you get from having a thinner sole and walking and running more on the front foot just feels so much better than slamming that big fat raised heel in the ground every time you take a step.
To me it just makes more sense and feels more natural.
I am truly convinced everyone should give barefoot shoes a try.
There's so many brands and styles to choose from these days that you really can totally ignore the toe shoes! :p
although them being my first pair and I still find them to be the most comfortable, they also don't seem like they'll last me much longer, they aren't really repairable, making them the least sustainable compared to the others I have tried and fitted and seen reviewed.
Next time maybe don't put as much focus on the toe shoes, it almost seemed like there are barely any other options. (There truly are a lot of options these days!)
Otherwise, keep the videos coming, living the new channel as much as the old one!
This is basically what I came to say. They feel so much more natural for how I walk anyways and don't squish my toes.
I only tried barefoot shoes for the wide toe box aspect (most regular shoes are too tight for me and wide shoes have been harder to find in Switzerland than they were in the US) and I like them a lot. I do recommend them to people as something interesting to try, and if you have specific issues with your feet, legs, or they can help in the long run if you transition slowly and correctly (possibly with the help of a doctor even).
Luckily there are lots of styles out now so the five fingers definitely shouldn't be your go to. Check out Vivo Barefoot, Wildlings, Groundies, Feelgrounds, Xero, and plenty more I can't think of right now.
Same! Swichted to vivobarefoot georace and prime lite as well as vibram v-train.
Love them, never going back!
wait don't you run with your front area anyways with running shoes?
@@aaronmontgomery2055 no, at least I didn't. I would run a heel strike, when wearing cushioned shoes, because :
1. There is a drop (front to back) that felt like wearing high heels ( or how I would Imagen high heels).
Because the shoe drops are different, it would be more consistent, running a heel strike.
2. The drop increases the missfunction of your feet. It felt like running a little downwards, when compared to barefoot shoes. When running downwards your feet use the heelstrike because you have to stretch them far more than when running straight surfaces.
At least for me, running in barefoot shoes, changed the way I run, probably because I don't sink into cushion anymore.
I feel that my feet are stronger and far more agile.
That is why I switched from trendy shoes.
I have a back pain, and i found that i sleep better on the floor. it doesnt make sense at all, but thats what i fell.
I know this is out of topic, but kinda related i think 😅
I’m an overweight, mostly sedentary gamer. I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes since Born to Run was published. My husband is a runner so had the book. The arguments in the book seemed logical, so I gave Vibram 5 fingers a try. They were some of the only barefoot options available then. Before then I was wearing motion control hiking sneakers due to an overpronation problem that was causing knee pain. My knee pain was gone a week after the switch and I never looked back. Sometimes if I have to wear regular shoes for dressing up or boots for rain protection the knee pain returns.
Wow
Deeeeep
Same experience here, I have a pair of Vibram and my knee pains vanished once I wore them for running!
I hope your "runner" husband doesn't get sick of you being an overweight, sedentary, gamer. You may wanna exercise, if only for your health.
@@MrEazyE357 I'd assume that the husband married them as that already so no problems really, exercising for health is still good regardless
I'm (kind of) the opposite. I'm also overweight and over-probate, but I find to much time barefoot makes the knee pain come back. I'm rarely even barefoot in my own home because of it.
It's probably true that those preferring barefoot shoes are overall more passionate about their shoes than "regular" people. I can only speak for myself, but I think it's because it just feels right. All movement I do with the lower part of my body seems more controlled, nimble and efficient after transitioning to barefoot shoes. This is both due to strengthening of calves, ankles and feet, but also because the shoes themselves give more movement and control. It's great, it feels wonderful, and that makes me passionate about it.
Exactly, I never saw myself talking about shoes but they allowed me to run further than I ever could before and because of that I became passionate about them
What ur barefoot shoe u wear?
@@aazer1aw582 I have one pair of the Merrell Vapor Glove 3 and a pair of Vibram Fivefinger classic. I also have the Xero cloud sandals. They're all very minimal and give a great barefoot feel.
Having stronger feet has been known to lead to more stability and strength not only through the ankle, but through the hip as well. The foot is such a huge sensory organ as a personal trainer ive seen hundreds of clients with "plantar fascitis" go from clunky hokas, to minimal shoes with zero pain over time. And they're all the more resilient now! Its not just a fad its about your bodies health!
This definitely happened with me. I didn't want to give up my Brooks shoes but eventually got tired of the ankle sprains and chronic plantar fasciitis. Took me almost a month of barefoot conditioning before I picked up a pair of Xeros. Absolutely love the increased function, strength and lack of pain. I'm not going back to regular shoes again.
I grew up wearing mostly "minimalist" shoes like Feiyue, cause they were cheap. Since 5th grade I started wearing real sneakers more and more. My parents kept on telling me that I walk with bad posture and I can't get that out of me. I switched back to minimalist/barefoot shoes (mostly thanks to zero drop), I no longer have a posture problem in a few weeks.
This social aspect is a good point! I bought my first Vibram shoes last year but they actually broke down after a couple of months, and I got my money back. Additionally they weren't the correct shape for my feet (neither are any normal shoes though). Still, I find barefoot shoes nice for reasons besides social indentity or possible health benefits; for example the sensory input is quite different and I purely enjoy feeling the different textures as I go about my day.
Apparently the sensory quality is a big factor! Hope you find the perfect shoes for you. Thanks for taking the time to join us here + leave a comment !!
@@FutureProofTV I'll chime in (6 months late) and say that the sensory aspects are probably the biggest draw for me, far less than the "lifestyle" aspects you emphasized in your video. Frankly, I find all that stuff - and the health claims - more than a bit offputting, and so do many of the other BF shoe wearers I've met. They simply feel nice to walk around in and IME do help with some forms of joint issues. I am dubious about their claims for actual running, with one exception - trail running, where the tactile thing is a pretty big deal.
I've struggled with hip pain, plantar fasciitis, and jumper's knee. After months of PT and nothing really improving, we started talking about shots and surgery. My therapist told me I needed these special thick soled shoes that were $150. I stumbled upon barefoot shoes and that they can alleviate stress on the knee. A year later I am completely barefoot and my pain is almost entirely gone. I've stopped going to PT but continue following their recommended exercises (wearing barefoot shoes).
Opposite for me. I started using minimalist shoes and BAM...planter fasciitis. Never had it in normal running shoes.
@@mbogucki1 Your plantar fascitis wasn't caused by the barefoot shoes, rather your feet arch was weak due to wearing cushioned shoes for most your life. Moving to barefoot shoes introduced more stress onto your feet than usual; it'll get better over time as your feet strengthen
@@mbogucki1 its a pretty massive shock to your feet that have been conditioned for pillowy shoes that do all the supporting for you, its why most people transition slowly to barefoot shoes
Having that tactile relationship with the ground and relying more on the front of your foot for balance makes it a lot easier to avoid something stupid happening to your ankle.
I've worn these shoes basically since they came out. I was a personal trainer at the time. And let me tell you a lot of people did it in the beginning but stopped wearing them because they would sustain injuries from wearing them. I 100% can tell you that you can definitely feel the different muscles in your calf and front of calf compared to regular shoes after walking in them for the first few miles.
On a good way?
@@lilipepette19 yeah it takes some getting used to and building up slowly. But you are re strenghtening your body to its natural capabilities. We havnt evolved to wear all this modern technology on our feet thats only been around for some years. For me personally my arch hurt when running... i even had special made orthodics. Since ive switched and worn barefoot shoes and ran barefoot my calves started kicking in and infelt them taking the impact which has felt amazing.
Could you elaborate on the injuries? Internal or external? Thanks.
Many people transferred too rapidly to the minimalist shoes, do you think? That's my experience.
I don't wear barefoot shoes regularly, but I started working out barefoot and it's been great for my balance and lifting technique. The elevated heels of the tennis shoes I had been using made my ribs naturally want to jut out more but proper alignment has been a lot easier just doing it barefoot.
If you do try barefoot shoes just be careful. Take it slowly, you can do some serious tendon injuries, especially if you already have quite tight tendons. Ask me how I know 😉 They are great, feeling the ground is amazing just be careful. If you're older, and intend to run, think on the timescale of years not months to adjust.
Good video! While I look forward to more research into this, one thing I wonder is why the burden of evidence should be solely on the minimalist industry. When I transitioned to running in barefoot shoes last year, what was really striking to me was simply that it was *possible* to run long distances without all the cushioning and actually feel good afterwards. I had just assumed that the claims of the traditional shoe industry were true and cushioned shoes were absolutely essential for distance running.
Given that no shoes are the human default, and barefoot shoes are attempting to simulate that default, I’d expect the burden of evidence to be stronger on the side of the traditional shoe industry.
Good point!
exactly 😂😂
Agreed
Yeah, we might be naturally barefoot, but I have a feeling that originally shoes were designed more for protecting our feet from the ground than anything else. Although in that regard, shoes as a whole have probably led to our feet 'softening' over time, further necessitating shoes for protection. I imagine our barefoot ancestors had much tougher feet than we do!
@@qactustick Yes, indeed, our hands and feet can develop callouses over time to protect them from sharp stones and twigs, just feel the hands of someone who does hard manual labour, like a construction worker for example.
I wonder tactile sensory perception is reduced with callouses...
I am a part of that “cult” following! I purchased my first pair of Vibrams in 2013, and have owned nothing but barefoot shoes since 2018. Vibrams are definitely a very bold look, and while I like them for some activities, I definitely prefer the slightly more conventional looking barefoot brands. Wildlings are my favorite thus far! I originally tried Vibrams out because I had issues with my knee, and for me it has helped immensely to build strength and lessen my knee pain. I’ve gotten both friends and family members to convert since, I am very passionate about it!
Would love to try them. can you recommend some
Vibrams just work. I personally dont trust any other brand
I bought my first pair a few years ago and they instantly became the only shoe i wear! I get a lot of comments about them cause of the toes. I'm sure most people think they're goofy and they're probably right but they're comfortable so I don't care.
@@naveedaman1 please try Wildlings! I love them with my whole heart
Hi there. I likethe idea of barefoot walking. I was just curious about the toes in the vibrams. Does the separation of the toes not bring discomfort? I remember as a kid having toed socks, and gave em up because of that, precisely
3 situations in which "traditional shoes" make sense
1. Rock climbing (although they are more specialist shoes than traditional)
2. Mountaneering (you need the rigid sole to acompany cramp ons, also you really dont want to feel every rock feature for 5 days straight)
3. Winter and work boots - they last longer, are more resistant to elements and can be easily repaier, quality leather pairs will last you 20-30 years.
Other than than, I use my vivos or walk barefoot.
Those shoes with the toes look amazing and you will never convince me otherwise. Unfortunately I am too cheap to buy them.
Edit: I bought a pair. I'm quite fond of them.
Which ones did you buy? I'm considering myself, and have a limited budget.
@@hollowmajin5146 Vibram V-run. Not budget friendly at all, and the sizing is easy to get wrong (mine are a bit too big, so I really need socks to avoid chafing, and without socks they'd probably get nasty and sweaty pretty fast).
But they feel great to run in.
Personally I switched to barefoot shoes because my roommate kept talking about how much better that made his hips feel. And honestly I’m was on board. Took a little bit to get used to but my feet, ankles, knees, and hips feels so much better. I don’t get pain from just standing in place for extended periods of time anymore. I also love how light weight they are for hiking and running
I wear Xero shoes, and from what I've found my balance, posture, and walking/running technique has improved significantly, but I've grown up most of my life using sandals, cause I hated wearing normal shoes they always just felt terrible and constrictive. As of now I'm about to turn 21 so I'm glad to finally try out barefeet/minimalist shoes they feel like I'm wearing my sandals, but it's a shoe.
Best shoes I've ever owned
I tried my first pair of barefoot shoes a couple years ago, after going crazy having to use insoles for flat feet. I'm now a barefoot purist...they totally do change the shape of your foot over time, and they feel great. I love being able to feel the earth beneath my feet to a greater extent, and they are so much lighter than their counterparts. Also, they can be stylish! I wouldn't touch the toe ones with a ten foot pole, but I've gotten a lot of compliments on my Vivobarefoot Gobis. Don't usually recommend them to others though...they can be pretty pricey, and you kind of have to wear them all the time for the alleged health benefits, as it takes your feet/stance a while to adjust. It's a bit of a commitment, especially with so little agreement in the scientific literature
After being barefoot most of the time or wearing basic 3mm soles with a lace for walking on concrete and cities, I find the following experiences quite interesting: 1. you feel better, physically, 2. No illnesses since I started doing it (this is really weird for me if I look back to when I had a cold every 4 months or throat issues), 3. Climbing mountains, rocks, running and living barefoot or with only the synthetic soles with laces gives me more control without a doubt and, 4. Weather changes affect me very little, even in cold weather. Is it natural to be barefoot today? No. Cities are a NO NO to being barefoot. But this little protection has helped me and many others to be healthier and with a greater control on stability, equilibrium and posture. BTW, my constant injuries while running have decreased to 0, with the ocasional exception of stepping on a thorn or a pinecone.
I have wide feet and crooked little toes from shoes that were perpetually too narrow. Barefoot and “barefoot shoes” allow my toes to spread back out where they belong. In my younger years I got yelled at for not wearing hiking boots in the woods but frankly, I had terrible balance because I couldn’t tell what I was stepping on and make the necessary adjustments. Thin soles on my shoes allow me to know when & how to shift my weight. They just make sense.
I once went up a mountain with lots of rocks and mud on a rainy day, medium difficulty with trekking shoes on and was shocked when a guy on his barefoot overtook me with just a couple of strides, With that I can say the hype is real I was talking to myself how can he gallop on the rocks like that without any shoes & not hurt himself also not slipping at the same time . Turns out he does this routine everyday picking up trash hikers leave behind that is how he developed his feet to adapt to the terrain.
Lol I’ve done that before. More of a runner since there’s no mountains around here, but I bet I’ve confused lots of runners out on the road.
Good anecdote and bang on the money.
These shoes changed my life. I remember lower back pain and knee pain accompanied by sore aching feet was the norm after a long day of work. But when I got into these shoes those problems went away. Of course there's many factors to posture and joint health but I truly believe minimalist shoes really make a major positive difference on the well being of the human body. I can be active on my feet for longer periods of time while enjoying the benefits most bare foot shoe companies typically talk about.
I think that barefoot shoes are a really personal thing, and I'm really skeptical of anyone who has an opinion on them without having tried them for long enough to know if they work for their feet (years).
I had foot and knee pain for most of my life because I have very wide splayed out toes. Regular shoes just literally do not fit on my feet. I've also danced since a very young age so my feet are very strong and flexible. Finding barefoot shoes changed my life. My foot and knee pain is gone, my running is smoother and my balance is better.
I spent 2 years working in an athletic footwear store and can also attest that a ton of people shared similar stories with me when they came in to buy new minimalist shoes.
To each their own, but people really need to actually try them before having an opinion.
I had almost the same experience. Work as a mover and constantly pickup heavy furniture. Used to wear altras which are at least foot shaped, but still had knee pain. Switched to barefoot shoes and my knee pain is gone. Haven’t looked back.
Word!
@@nolainnogain Barefoot shoes did the same for me. Altras used to be very light cushioned (almost barefoot) years ago, but they suddenly went cushioning mad, at least they kept the zero drop and wide toe box. Glad you found a fix for your knees in barefoot shoes.
I had a very negative experience with them and while I don't doubt that ppl have positive experiences, I don't think you need to wear them for years to find out if they don't work for you.
I had very mild hip pain and thought I would give them a try... This led to knee, back, and foot pain that increased over the 3 months that I wore them. I thought "I just need to get accustomed to them" but after 3 months my doc was talking about doing shots in my knee for the pain and I was about ready to say yes. I had almost kinda forgotten about changing my shoes at that point and my podiatrist (different doc) saw them and mentioned that they are great for some, but not all of his patients and asked if they had improved my pain... I realized that the pain had STARTED when I got the shoes and when I switched back to my old kicks my pain went back to just mild hip pain that I can control with yoga mostly.
Again, not discounting that some of you guys have great experiences with barefoot shoes. Maybe my mom's sneaker obsession ruined my feet as a baby, idk lol
Tried them and they totally strengthened my feet, ankles, calves and even got my legs in shape to realize that my knee pain is now gone. I wear them daily now and its weird to put on Adidas Ultraboosts, Nike's or any other thick heel shoes that make me feel like I'm leaning forward. Now that I've been wearing them for 8 months it feel much better to wear my barefoot shoes and walk around anywhere and it just feels natural. This is my own experience and I'm just sharing, not advocating anyone to try them.
Used to have massive IT band issues. Five fingers taught me how to run “properly”. It was brutal on my calves at first but eventually got stronger and it really helped me be able to run without IT band probs.
Who did it impact your calves at 1st if you don’t mind me asking?
After experiencing horrific pain in my foot for months having gone to a Podiatrist, regular doctor, and Neurologist for the pain, no known cause. The Podiatrist had me wearing a special boot to rest my foot. As soon as the pain was alleviated and I started wearing regular flip flops and shoes the pain came back. It wasn’t until I started watching videos on you tube about foot pain, exercises, etc I bought and started wearing Correct Toes. Next I bought some Xero Shoes sandals for hiking. They feel GREAT, I HAVE NO FOOT PAIN! The reason is now my foot muscles are working ! And to think I had two Podiatrists tell me NOT to go barefoot! Thankfully my daughter in law has been researching brands, foot shapes, what’s the best brands for each particular foot shape etc.
Sorry too late, I will be wearing minimalist type shoes with wide toe boxes for the rest of my life!!
But there is no studies at all that shows that ”normal” shoes are good either… there is only studies about how ”normal” shoes are bad lol
No. Bc there are way too may different types of normal shoes. The thing I can say as a general fact is that normal shoes aren’t bad for your feet but barefoot shoes are.
@@zzodysseuszz where do u you find that information? Just think logical, what we humans are better at then the rest of the animals is iq and long distence running. How we survived back in the day was that we ran the animals to death, if you got a knee injury you couldnt get food. So evelousion has finetuned our bodies to run for 100 of 1000 of years. But today 79% of all recreational runners are injured each year… and what has changed sins then…
I my self atleast has gotten rid of all knee and foot injuries from swishing to barefoot shoes.
@@acf2453 that’s just intuition, without research to back it up, it could be wrong no matter how reasonable it sounds as an explanation
@@superdudeusa3 i mean it is the same thing with cold baths and cold exposure, there are no actual reaserch that proves why it helps with for example muscle and ligament recovery, but it obviusly works and it makes sense becouse it increases blood flow. Everything does not need a scientific reason for it to work or make sense. Thats what i think at least :)
+ there is tons of research that proves why barefoot shoes are good, and almost none that actually proves why "thick rubber wraps" that we call shoes today actually work.
Great video but I believe the main reasons people like these shoes (like myself) is because they allowed them to run without injuries and discomfort they have been plagued with in the past. Also the sensory feedback is one of my favourite parts. I tried Hoka's after already being used to minimalist and it was so strange not being able to feel anything. All that eco friendly, identity stuff you mention is a trivial factor for myself personally.
I bought into barefoot shoes, using them for long hikes and runs all of last year. My knee and ankle pain went away and was replaced by some major pain in my foot pads, beyond soreness. I’m working with my podiatrist now on finding the issue. He said that the time it takes to adjust your body to the barefoot style is much longer than the commercials and RUclipsrs let on. Take my word for it and take it easy with things like road running and backpacking.
That’s exactly my assumption as I make the switch to barefoot: that it’ll take a lot longer than I expect
Podiatrist said it was likely deep bruising, no breaks on X-ray. I switched to Hoka per his recommendation and the support has really helped. Glad to be back out putting in the miles. Happy trails everyone!
@@dshaf7 may I ask which Hoka you’re using now? Did your podiatrist say anything good/bad about barefoot shoes? Thanks in advance!
Hoka Clifton 8. He said that people often underestimate the time it takes to get their feet used to the barefoot style, and that while it’s true that humans didn’t evolve to have cushioned shoes, we also didn’t evolve to run kilometers on pavement and concrete.
I've struggled with knee pain for almost 2 years and went to multiple doctors, had X-rays and a MRI done, tried many joint supplements, rehab exercises, stretching, resistance bands, swimming and nothing worked. At most the pain may go away for a couple days but it would always return. I've started wearing barefoot shoes for the past few weeks and my knee pain is suddenly gone. I am able to run more consistently and my feet feel alot stronger. As a result my mood is alot better and so is my quality of life.
I've noticed that we have a weird stigma when it comes to feet. We cover them up and when we see someone barefoot somewhere where you don't see that, we give a disgust reaction to it. Our feet and hands are literally the same but it different spots. I just find it wild lol. I mean I don't think I will stop those reactions because that's just how we are right now, but we do have a stigma.
Have you never seen sandals or flip flops?
@@CarrotConsumer Did you read my comment? I said "when we see someone barefoot somewhere where you don't see that, we give a disgust reaction to it." last time I checked, sandals/flip flops doesn't count as barefoot.
@@Yuni5five it kinda does
No stigma in most countries. No stigma here in NZ, Australia, the Pacific nations, Sub Saharan Africa.
@@Yuni5five Gloves on your feet is even farther from barefoot than sandals are. It has nothing to do with barefeet. It has everything to do with gloves on your feet.
What I miss from the video @Future Proof is a conversation around the topic what the constraints of a “conventional shoe” with support does to the muscle in the feet. We can’t take the muscle in our feet for granted. And also all the joints and tendons in the feet need time to adjust after years in a conventional shoe when switching to a barefoot shoe. But the biggest thing missing in this argument, with regards to the channel, is the amount of money companies make of all the inserts, special soles and all the other stuff they provide to fix the problem that the conventional shoe has caused, and what the production of all that unnecessarily stuff is doing to the environment. And also focus is strictly on the scientific evidence for barefoot shoes, but what about the other side? Is there any scientific evidens-based studies that back up all the inserts, special sole ect.? Sorry but this video feels a bit one-sided and more focus on fashion then health. Not the best you have done Levi!
Exactly what I was thinking. Vibrams were the best shoes I've worn.
@@KallutoZoldyck they are good, I wear kso evos all spring/summer at work (window fitter/glazier) they're just not that hard-wearing, I have to buy a pair a year cos they last 6-7 months. Good for ladder work tho. I had a pair of Vivo riffs that lasted 3 years of walking over hard-core, thousands of flights of stairs and walking over tiled roofs. I should be wearing steelies but they ruined my feet.. amusingly I've hurt my feet and ankles far less in minimal shoes.
yeah I agree, this video feels...lazy? and doesn't even begin to get into the reasons why I personally use barefoot shoes, yet focuses on fashion which is clearly not the point. Also, in my high school science fair I was able to prove that running barefoot vs shod affects runner's stride, so all the talk about science being inconclusive seems extremely lacking. There's many proven differences, maybe barefoot shoes aren't proven to be "better" but mentioning Born to Run yet ignoring all the science written about in that book feels like a huge hole in the video.
100% agree. I have been wearing only barefoot shoes for several years now and I will never go back to conventional style.
@@BethanieBailey did you wrote a peer reviewed paper about what you supposedly proved?
If not, you haven't proved anything
I personally love my barefoot shoes (Wildlings and Vivobarefoot), as someone who hated wearing constricting shoes I find the wider and low profile better for me, and being a diabetic going completely barefoot isn't just socially unacceptable but also medically so.
The barefoot shoe industry itself however is certainly one that pitches itself to the 'hipster' community and plays on itself on being the 'outsider' in the shoe industry, which itself makes it like the rest of the industry just with a green tint to it. I'm not saying the barefoot shoe industry is bad, just saying that we need to recognize that it isn't a disrupter and that it is just another aspect of the fashion sphere. It is good these companies are giving back to the planet, of course, it is, however, these companies should be doing it because it's the right thing to do and not just the 'hip' thing to do.
Would I recommend barefoot shoes, heck yes (although not those freaky toe ones..yuch!) they are actually comfortable and you can get some really good looking ones (my Wildlings ones get a lot of attention with people asking where I got them from), so they don't have to look like clown shoes. Just buy them because they are a shoe you want to wear and personally feel good in.
Right on! Glad to hear you're enjoying them, as not just because they're "trendy". Thank you for taking the time to share with us + support what we're doing here, Nicola. We really appreciate it!!
Wildlings are great :)
Also Groundies look nice I have some black ones for work
If you’re in middle Europe, the wildlings also have a good footprint when it comes to transportation emissions as they produce in Portugal
I definitely get a lot of compliments on my Wildlings when people notice them, and they're not so distractingly different looking than regular shoes that I've felt I needed to wear something else in a work or even semi-formal setting.
What do you have against toes? You have them. I have them. Everyone has them!
Same thoughts
I bought my first pair of Vibrams FF before they became "trendy". Fell off a cliff, had my ankle reconstructed and heard they were a good way to rebuild the strength. 12 years on, Im a few years into my second pair (the first pair held up for a long time), and they're still my favorite shoes. As far as other people calling attention to them, I would say its about 50/50 whether someone else thinks they're cool, alot of people think they're too wierd. Thats fine. They're still the most comfortable "shoes" for me.
Same here. Have been wearing them for about 7 years now, have 4 pairs, would wear those shoes all the time if they were waterproof. As for the fashion appeal, I'd say 50/50 as well, some people see them as extremely cool, some as weird. The best feedback I get is from kids and young teens, I guess they have fewer stereotypes in their heads and see these shoes for what they are, without trying to fit them into a familiar category and attach a majority-approved judgement.
I've worn barefoot shoes for over a decade now, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoy them. They're lightweight, cozy, and yeah they really do alter your stride. Many of the ones with a thin sole or minimal padding also conveys a strange sort of 'primal joy' in feeling dirt and grass beneath your feet, it's hard to describe
I’ve been curious about barefoot shoes for quite a while. One day, when I finally get a bit of money, I’m hoping to get some. Thanks for the information!
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Just start by walking barefoot or in socks as much as possible. In your house, yard or garden, down the beach in a park. Then when you're brave enough down the pavement occasionally, just for a couple minutes.
Always listen to your body, aches and pains the next day will let you know if you did too much.
#thankwansmaskahsaturversary
Saguaros are pretty cheap
I don't think they are inherently ugly. They just look different than "normal" shoes that people are used to. But a narrow toe makes no logical sense (aside from riding horses).
I've been running exclusively in Vibrams for 11 years and yes I agree that they look gross (which is why I prefer to not have my feet shown in running photos). Then again when I'm running the last thing on my mind is fashion points. I just like to feel the terrain beneath me when I run...and yes I suppose I'm the type who is rather minimalist in his tastes as well. Anyway, I've done marathons in these shoes and yeah, they work great for me even if they're ugly.
Miguel, there aren't ugly at all, get those feet in your photos!
Foot-shaped shoes aren’t “gross.” That’s nonsense.
He claims through the studies, science doesn't back up the benefits. Yet those of us who have converted to minimalist (zero drop, wide toe box) shoes know otherwise. Stuff actually helps! If you want independent, athlete researched benefits then look into KneesOverToes, Graham Tuttle, or Squat University.
Here's a scientific study from 2014: The Risks and Benefits of Running Barefoot or in Minimalist Shoes
A Systematic Review
Kyle P. Perkins, William J. Hanney, PhD, PT, DPT, ATC, and Carey E. Rothschild, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CSCS
Moderate evidence supports the following biomechanical differences when running barefoot versus in shoes: overall less maximum vertical ground reaction forces, less extension moment and power absorption at the knee, less foot and ankle dorsiflexion at ground contact, less ground contact time, shorter stride length, increased stride frequency, and increased knee flexion at ground contact.
The science does back up barefoot. 250 years of science and more coming all the time. There will always be naysayers! Their point is its important to take your time getting back to barefoot, its not a quick fix and no one should ever say it is. Healthy movement is a life long journey...
@@benlevesconte which makes sense when you consider most people will have been wearing shoes for decades by the time they decide to switch to barefoot.
Imagine you can bicep curl 50lbs, and then you put your arm in a cast for even just 10 years. You’re not gonna get the cast off and immediately go back to 50lbs. You’re gonna have to start at like 1lb and work up to it slowly. Same with your foot muscles when you stop wearing shoes
This doesn't come off as great when you brush off peer-review science and instead say just trust anecdotes or people selling books about barefoot shoes, lol.
It takes quite a while to see the full benefits of wearing the toe shoe. It took me almost 6 months of wearing them before I noticed increased dexterity in my toes, no foot pain, less back pain, better balance, faster walking ability, and increased strength in my feet in general. You tend to move more fluidly. It’s not like walking across your living room barefoot. When you really do a lot of walking on all sorts of surfaces throughout the day, it really starts to transform the way you walk, and the atrophied muscles in your feet from wearing restrictive closed toed shoes all day.
Great points on the marketing aspect of barefoot shoes!
Personally I could not care less, been struggling with plantar fasciitis, knee problems and achilles tendonitis for a year, and barefoot shoes in combination with Correct toes and sensory insoles such as naboso, have fixed everything orthopedic insoles and high end normal shoes could not.
Walking on concrete have never been more comfortable!
In my opinion most people should not have these problems in their twenties, and the sheer amount of people with foot problems early on is alarming. As to the cause, it is of course a complicated topic that has been overshadowed by quick fixes to the symptoms rather than addressing the root causes. But that can be true for all of medicine sadly.
I had to do a bit of digging what are those Naboso insoles because it's also a czech barefoot shoes shop of the same name (it means „on/with bare feet“).
i feel this! i had a job during high school/college that required me to be on my feet walking around for 10-12 hours a day. i bought the "best" padded shoes i could afford at the time and didn't understand why my feet just seemed to be getting worse and worse. right around the time i was 21, it was to the point where if it was a little chilly, i literally couldn't sleep because my knees and hips were in so much pain, and my feet were in rough shape. i was trying so desperately to fix it but nothing seemed to help until i tried "barefoot" shoes.
i was on a road trip and bought altras for hiking, and i couldn't believe how much longer i could walk without pain. i've been wearing pretty much exclusively barefoot shoes since then and don't even think about any of these issues anymore. i used to tell people i had bad knees which is hilarious to me now. i was barely even into my twenties!!! that is just absurd.
Really opens your eyes to many strange “facts of reality” that no one seems to question. Maybe the first “fact” that I became puzzled at is how I could be getting all sorts of chronic pain/injuries in my early 20s and that is normal/common in our society.
I was told to wear medical insoles but still had pain in my hallux and knees. Some day I was looking for watertight winter shoes and found barefood shoes and liking them right away. The insoles didn´t make sense in these so I tried walking without them: No pain since them. Now I only wear "natural/ health shoes" intstead of sneakers with medical insoles.
I’m a fairly non-athletic city-dweller and once I tried my first pair of barefoot shoes I can’t wear ANY others.
They are just so much more comfortable than anything else. Seriously recommend them, lems are my personal go-to.
The most glaring omission in the video seems to be the complete absence of any examination of evidence in support of or against regular shoes. It is almost assumed to be 'normal'.
I've decided to go barefoot about a month ago (waiting for shoes to arrive rn). The reason for my decidion was this: whenever i wear my more coushioned shoes, my back pain and feet pain gets so much worse than in my old, little coushioned and low drop. So i'll see how the barefoot ones will be for me!
Edit 1: they arrived, i walked my dog in them, and so far, they're super comfy tho it's a huge difference from the coushioned running shoes
Bravo You. Good decision. Your back and feet will thank you. Build up gently with the new shoes. All the best from New Zealand
I have problems with my feet and barefoot shoes, toe spreaders and feet exercises have helped with the pain and discomfort. Also if you have very wide feet in the toe area you just can’t wear regular shoes. My toes aren’t very "wide spread" because I’ve been wearing regular (or too small or pointy) shoes all my life. And "the once with the little toes" can help your toes to spread back to the width you once had as a child... or so I’ve understood. 😊👍
Good to know! Thanks for sharing + joining us here 💪
If these barefoot shoes are really beneficial then it's absolutely absurd and childish to let the minor issue of appearance prevent you from wearing shoes that might help your feet.
But it does work like that. Would have they been marketed properly and one or two celebrity using them, boom healthy and popular feet.
Sadly many hollow people desire to show status first and it works. Getting jobs and getting up the ladder is simply more important for people :'/ .
Bought my first pair of barefoot shoes when I realised that there is actually nice looking shoes.
I have seen big improvement on how running feels. I started to walk right and over time back pain disappeared. Overall I love my barefoot shoes and would change back!
when I lived in japan 1963 the men wore this type of work shoe. this also means that toe socks are a must have to accommodate proper fitting of the toes.
Barefoot shoes are the shit. Ever since I started wearing them I have so much less dismofort in my knees, hips, what have you. Outside of them being expensive they are amazing.
I personally started wearing barefoot shoes, because normal shoes didn't give my feet enough space and hated any rise of heel, i was constantly looking for flat shoes that were wide. One day i stubbled across vivobarefoot and saw that they were a certified B corp and new I had to try, now most of the time I'm wearing barefoot shoes and any new shoes I buy to replace my old shoes are barefoot shoes.
It’s sad that we are at a place where you are waiting for science before just getting outside and trying it for yourself
I switched to barefoot shoes back in April, and I no longer fit in shoes I used to wear. Toes have spread out enough that it's painful to walk in them.
Not to mention I LIKE feeling what I'm walking on. It's mind-blowing how numb your feet feel going back to a *normal* shoe.
That's so true. The only time I have to get back into my regular shoes is for the occasional wedding or funeral. It's awful. I can't stand it. As soon as I can do so without drawing any attention to myself, I'll take my shoes off. I can't believe I wore those things for years.
@adrian try wide toe shoes. Try a shoe before buying. Put cushions in the shoes especially gel cushions.
What about sandals?
I can't believe that showing off (6:10 "what wearing these shoes says about you...") is the main driver to buy these shoes. I think you're projecting something into barefoot shoe fans that is only prevalent among a part - but certainly not most - of them.
Short answer, yes. They help build muscles that you would otherwise not be using which leads to better stability. More stability means less injury and better performance. Great for trail running.
I love five fingers the most of the minimalist shoes, lol. I started wearing them just to see what they were like. They reminded me of the waffles that I wore when running track and cross country. I kept buying them because I actually liked them, though I wasn’t a fan of being stopped mid run by people wanting to ask about them. Merrell makes similar versions with full, wide toe boxes for people who dislike the toe shoes. Cheers!
Try Xero Shoes. They perfected the minimal/stylish/wide toe box shoe! Only ones I use now.
Vibram Fivefingers are my absolute fav, there is no better feeling than running with those on the nature (they are pain to put on tho).
Wearing shoes of this brand over 10 years it seems thre is very small population who have strong feelings towards these toeshoes. It has to be a kink or something. It is no shame feeling arousal towards toeshoes my man. I liked the video.
I started doing barefoot shoe running and day to day several years ago. My lower back pain is no longer an issue. My balance is amazing. I'm not a doctor and that's just my experience. Since then my girlfriend also now does it and loves it.
Also good to note we are in our 40's.
I dont care about sustainability, I'll readily admit that I'm neither outdoorsy, nor athletic. I do have freakishly wide feet though and most "normal" shoes don't offer an option for width; at the same time I kept seeing barefoot shoes mentioned here and there. So I thought why not give them a try and bought a cheap pair off Amazon, canvas upper, generic Chinese brand name, for $25. They were instantly the most comfortable shoe I had ever worn, it felt like not wearing any shoes - no pressure points, no friction points. I was hooked.
So it doesn't have to be about making a statement, or saving the planet. It can just be a selfish thing - one's own comfort.
My grandfather is 88 years old and has increasingly poor walking mobility, I wonder if he should try something like these.
After suffering from knee pain since my 30's I transitioned to minimalistic shoes and implemented "knees over toe's" training... Now I have no pain and I mean no pain...
I had a pair, I wore them through a good part of my childhood and early adolescents, they are so comfortable, I walk on my toes and they allowed for that, I loved being aware of the ground beneath my feet, often when I'm hiking I'll take off my shoes just to experience the ground
hey. I have this problem too. are these really the best option for having short achilles tendons? my only other option is surgery ATM and finding the right shoes is not a fun endeavor
@@hyacinthus9 I bet not youch, I toe walk not for any medical reason, wouldn't something with a heel keep your foot up in that position? I wear low heels quite few quently because it feels comfortable to me
@@salmiakki7652 yes but my mom has the same problem and she has really weak calf muscles from wearing heels :( thank you for the response, i will keep looking
Love my vibram toe shoes. I bought my first one a decade ago. The first time I wore it, it was like being barefoot everywhere.
I am naturally athletic so arch support never bothers me. I can stand on my feet for hours at times. If you have issues walking barefoot then this isn’t the shoe for you.
I think human started to wear foot wear to protect the feet from cuts etc. But over time it obviously got to a point where comfort and making money overtook and all the support the shoe gives ruins your bare foot, for example I have had a bad arch. Got orthopaedic soles, only helped when in shoe, without it same or worse because missing the support it gives so i ditched it. Since than I forced myself to notice, and correct my bad stance. Now only when I stand barefoot I have to correct rarely.
I don’t wear them all the time as my job requires steel toe caps, but wearing them as often as I can and no shoes where possible has done me wonders. My little toes used to curl under my feet (a thing a lot of my family share) and it made my stability problems a lot worse. They now sit right and it’s helped so much for pain in my knees and hips too.
I joined the cult a couple of years ago, it was a great decision.
I've been interested in getting some barefoot shoes for a while... Not because I fall into any of the categories that you mentioned, but because I just love walking around the house barefoot. After a long day at work in my thick super cushioned shoes, I can't wait to get home and Walk around in my socks.
And I live in a big city, so walking around in actual bare feet is not an option
Do it. I got barefoot shoes for the same reason and it has been great.
Same. I wear barefoot shoes, and when I take them off after a long day, my feet feel the exact same as when I had the shoes on.
I am in the process of switching all of my footwear to bearfoot, or at least bearfoot adjacent. While the sustainability part of it is a nice perk, I made the switch to bearfoot shoes because they are the only shoes that my wide ass, flat feet fit in and don't cause foot and knee pain.
It really seems to be trending upwards, which makes me curious of the pandemic's impact. Staying home more often typically would translate to more time spent barefoot. More time spent barefoot may lead to foot growth, and/or discomfort in their normal shoes. This is just a hypothesis though.
I will never go back from barefoot shoes. Plus all my bareffot shoes lasted many times longer than shoes I used to buy. I don't necessarily promote barefoot shoes, but I think shoes should have a bigger toebox and no drop.
Lack of evidence for the benefits of X doesn't necessarily disprove X's benefits.
The kind of study that would be needed is either:
A) a cross generational comparison (kids to elders) between a western population and more primitive population (like indigenous tribes of South America or Africa) or
B) a study of three groups of people where:
group 1 is raised normally with conventional shoes and stuff
group 2 is like group 1 with the difference of using barefoot shoes instead of the conventional
group 3 where they are raised to walk barefoot (no shoes) or with those adhesive pads on the feet and in cases where they would need/be required to wear shoes they would wear the barefoot shoes
Time investments:
A) few years
B) many decades (50+ years)
I just want to recommend Altras as a compromise between normal shoes and full-on barefoot shoes for anyone who wants to ease the transition a bit. Nice wide toe box, zero drop, and some nice soft padding to make you feel like you're walking on grass instead of concrete
They still make great shoes, but they moved to higher cushioning years ago, which stopped me buying them.
I would love to see an episode on all the research they have done for the benefits of wearing
shoes!!
I love barefoot shoes! I don't run, but I am a powerlifter and your feet are a big deal in the sport of lifting the heaviest weights possible. Your feet are your base, so you could imagine the wider and stronger your foot is, the better it supports driving through huge compound movements such as squats and deadlifts (even the bench press includes drive from the legs)
To me, it just feels like it's an advantage. I don't know if your shoe choice will make you a better powerlifter, but I'm sold on the idea of it, so I'm going with it :)
I got a pair of Five Fingers and the more I wear them .. the more I love them.
Even if you think they are ugly .. lol .. I don't think so .. They are different and they are noticed around.
Always remember .. with these shoes you have to commit yourself on "Learning to walk, before you even think to run"
The changes are very noticeable .. the center of balance will not be the same .. the pace when you walk will adjust by itself .. give it time.
I got them to see if it will help my knees and back when I walk.
Up to now, they bring satisfaction to my expectations.
A happy user 🙂
Everyone has their own preference about shoes. What's annoying me is that the barefoot shoe industry wants to impose their opinion about shoes as the only truth out there..
Barefoot shoes are comfortable and solved my knee pain, I don't care about anything else
I just saw a pair of barefoot shoes for the first time when shopping the other day. My curiousity is peaked now... We're minimalist travellers, so the thought of having shoes that don't take up much weight or space in our bags is definitely something we could get on board with!
Barefoot shoes have saved me in fitting everything into just a backpack! You can just roll them up or even just flat the pair take up about half the space of a single regular shoe
@@4you700 thanks Michael! Good to know 😁
From my personal, Anecdotal Evidence:
I have lived with constat back pain since a spinal injury with I was 6.
When I wear shoes, my back pain is significantly elevated. The longer I walk in shoes, the worse it gets.
I have a pair of Vibram soled work boots. When I wear them my pain still elevates, but not as severely.
I spend a lot of time barefoot. Literally every moment I'm not legally completed to wear shoes. When it is very cold (rare, I live in Florida), I walk around in just socks. After a whole day of walking barefoot, my pain level is about the same as it is after wearing my Vibram boots for 4 hours or regular shoes for 1 hour.
When I am barefoot, I keep a pair of flip-flops (thongs) in my back pocket for when I have to go into a store.
Barefoot or minimalist shoes just make good health sense, and they're very comfortable. I don't wear them to make a statement and I don't care about the 'sustainability' crap.
4:18 Screw you, I love my VFFs! 😛 I don't care if they look weird to others with the toe pockets! The fact of the matter is that I, personally, will never get rid of them because they're so damn comfortable to wear, whether you want to acknowledge that or not! 😊
I started wearing them because I grew up wearing tabi, Japanese split toe, think soled, shoes. I'm Japanese and ask for older, tabi started getting harder and harder to find as the older generations started retiring and the younger started westernizing and not wanting to take over family businesses.
When I found Five Toes, they felt familiar and, honestly, have WAY better grip. Especially now with the new treads.
I definitely get more things between my toes but until I can find another brand with the grip and controllability as Vibrams, I'm kinda stuck.
Check out wildling shoes
@@shanemous2451 I'll check them out!
check out Freet. They have a separate big toe and lots of grip
I love being barefoot and I bought into the Vibram FiveFingers in their infancy in 2006 and I was in love with their shoes and my KSO's lasted well over a decade and only recently fell apart on me. I need to get another pair of FiveFingers again... I loved wearing my FiveFingers societal norms be damned!
Edit: I love them because of the individual toes as well :)
Couldn't agree more. Great shoes, I'm about 1,500km into my V-runs and KSO's and they are barely worn in! I reckon they must last 5 or 6 times longer than those silly max cushioned shoes.
I have way too many pairs... My first pair, bikila from around 2013, wore out to the point of no repair in about 2 years because I wore them all the time. Even in mud, at school, in the woods, when exploring the coastline... I had to wash them almost once a week just from mud and sweat during gym class in high school. I still wear other pairs I've accumulated over the years, but have a few from other brands for when I need something nicer, like job interviews, wearing to weddings, etc. Although I would totally get married in toe shoes. The balance is great, I've always loved toe socks, and never cared about fashion. I mean, when I'm not wearing them, I'm wearing Crocs from 2009, so I definitely don't follow trends.
I'm glad so many in the comments love vibrams unlike the tool in the video who is like so many that are freaked out by feet so much they spite themselves and will never try them. I get not everyone loves feet but hating the toes is odd because I dont think they'd be bothered at the beach or in a pool
One of the most sustainable and anti-consumerist footwear options is: no shoes at all!
You're not wrong! 😜
I’m transitioning to going without shoes more and more often. it’s great except I feel like I have to wash my feet immediately as soon as I get back home lol
As a 70's semi hippy, I was barefoot whenever possible. I spent quite a bit of time picking glass bits from my feet, not to mention plantars warts.
When I became a mom, I let it go. I wouldn't risk injury anymore.
Turns out, feet are naturally covered in self-healing leather. Genius!
I do both (wearing minimalist shoes and going barefoot) and I’m not “anti-consumerist.”
I don't see why people hate the toe-shoe looking ones... Are people just innately disgusted by the thought of feet? The toe thingies give your feet even more mobility than you would have otherwise, if you're hiking or climbing it allows each individual toe to articulate independently from each other
Damn you guys were at less than 10k subs 9 months ago??? Bravo my dudes, bravo👏 hope the best for this channel I dig the videos
So, I love being barefoot. I’ve been barefoot as often as possible since I was an infant and shoes drive me crazy. My feet have never been molded to fit a shoe and so they are wide and hard to size.
In my research to find out the best shoe for me I discovered something interesting! Flat foot: The reason we have arch support inserts in all our walking shoes now. Arch support is meant to help align your body correctly and save your knees while you walk around on concrete at your 9-5 job.
Vivobarefoot has a goal to put people in their shoes from a young age, building a more natural walk. But…. I know from experience NOBODY enjoys walking around barefoot on concrete all day, it hurts and it’s unnatural. So while I absolutely love my barefoot shoes as a person with high arches and well rounded feet, someone raised in regular shoes, walking around on concrete all day in the workspace is going to experience a lot of discomfort without arch support.
That being said, if you are like me and have been barefoot your entire life and have “natural” feet, you’ll be fine go for it. They are your feet I just thought it was interesting
Man made surfaces are killing our feet, legs, spines for sure. This is a separate issue.
I've had ankle problems ever since my mom made me wear heels for first communion and I twisted it trying to walk on slippery marble. Been weak the last 3 decades and twisted it over a dozen times. Narrow shoes making it worse. Hoping a pair of these will help. I always preferred to be barefoot or in flat sandals.
Religion is dangerous in every way, especially Catholicism. In this example, your mother harmed you physically, emotionally, morally and spiritually. Renouncing your imposed faith would be as liberating as wearing minimalist shoes. Apparently God wears them. Nothing was ever solved by kneeling down.
I just like the feeling of walking barefoot while also hating the feeling of lacerating my bare feet on broken glass on the street.
The available “scientific research” not supporting barefoot benefits is because these big companies would lose a LOT of money on their current and legacy products.
If something as frequently used as our FEET isn’t producing enough research since 2012, it’s obvious why.