Barefoot shoes

Are they just shoes with a really thin sole and the benefits are just snake oil? Interested but don’t want to splurge loads of cash to find it’s literally an emperor’s New clothes situation

Anyone one love them or fallen for the hype?

AFAIK the main benefit is that they’re comfortable, which they definitely are.

(At least my Vivobarefoots are)

I like them,  started with vibrams but they can be a pain.

Got vivobarefoot ones,  merrells and a pair of the wildings now.

I just find them really comfortable

AFAIK the main benefit is that they’re comfortable,

As are Hoka, and I see more nurses wearing those. It was interesting to compare and contrast the Manchester marathon; Last year Barefoot very popular, 1 in maybe 20 runners in them, this year Hoka, maybe 1 in 5 wearing them.

Fallen out of love with mine due to a foot injury – what size feet are you? I’m normally 9.5, so 10 in their  (Vivo Barefoot) sizing I think.

Happy to pop a (well worn) pair in the post if you cover postage. Seemed a shame to bin them

I particularly like my Xero shoes. Yes they have very thin soles plus a very wide toe box to allow your toes to spread. They are my first barefoot shoes and now that the uppers have started to get a little tatty I will certainly not hesitate to replace them.

I also have Xero sandals but the very minimalist design makes them a tad more challenging on hikes.

Edit: The only issue I have with them is that my Xero shoes look weird imo, the Xero sandals on the other hand look fine. imo

There’s a theoretical bio-mechanical advantage with barefoot shoes but it’s too personal to apply generally. Some folk prefer them, some don’t. I don’t think it’s “snake oil” but you’re only likely to find out by experience.

I tried them, but I am not a convert. I’m heavy and I found any heel strike based walking to be eye-watering if you hit even a small stone. Think barefoot and lego, we’ve all been there.

Also, the vivo weren’t hard wearing for a ‘premium’ shoe. Although I wear through most footwear pretty swiftly.

Last year Barefoot very popular, 1 in maybe 20 runners in them, this year Hoka, maybe 1 in 5 wearing them.

That’s surprising – I do a ton of running races and I haven’t seem many folk at races wearing ‘barefoot’ shoes for years.

They – especially Vibram fivefingers – definitely had a moment for a couple of years after the ‘Born to Run’ book came out in 2009 (also helped by Anton Krupicka with his zero-drop NBs and several other big-name trail & ultra runners).

But by the turn of the decade I’d say 99% of runners realised it’s a fast track to injury and started wearing big soled carbon plated shoes instead.

I just wear my Vivos round the office.

In my opinion the benefit is that they are flat (i.e. zero drop) and have a wide toe, not necessarily that they are thin. I found actual minimal shoes fine to run in despite me being heavy for a runner, but I decided more padding helped me. So I got some zero drop shoes with some padding in the end – but I do miss the nice wide toe.

There might be a benefit to doing some time in barefoot shoes to learn about technique, then moving back.

On our last ride we kept getting overtaken by a lady running in barefoot sandals.

@finbar, yeah they come in and out of fashion right enough. The Hoka craze this year was easy to spot 😁  I don’t think there was many in Fivefingers a year back, but there was definitely a number of folks with v low soles.

This chap has done some videos on how we are apparently walking incorrectly (i.e. heel strike first is not correct).

Pretty interesting:

I started using them 2 months ago and really like them but I used to take my shoes off at all opportunities anyway as I don’t like wearing them.  They are light, soles are thin but tough, you feel the ground but not too much.  Not snake oil, not a ‘game changer’ either but I do prefer wearing them to anything else when I have a choice.  Will buy more.  Don’t buy online as I find the size (for the vivobarefoot ones that I have) to be different to what I use normally

Been wearing Vivo’s for years and can’t wear normal shoes anymore. Like the equivalent of wearing boxing gloves on your feet! Everyone is different but the thin sole, wide toe box and zero drop works for me. Helps that they’re a great company too. Used their ReVivo service to repair some boots.

I wouldn’t say they are premium, more priced where they are due to being niche and made by people getting a fair wage. Probably helps that I’ve walked barefoot for years and therefore have feet like a Hobbit. I can imagine they’d be crap if you have the gait of Frankenstein’s Monster or walk with heal first.

Don’t get the snake oil claim. Feet are for walking on. If anything it’s modern footwear from the majority that is snake oil. If you’ve not walked sans shoes much and get a pair I’d recommend easing in to wearing them as your feet may be weak from being cushioned for years.

Caveat – I don’t run in them other than circuit classes at the gym. Running is the devils work. Used to run barefoot when younger though.

I’ve got the vivo leather boots and the trainers. It’s the wide toe box that makes them so natural and comfortable for me.

The sole rules out rugged walks for me as its a bit on the thin side. Still use my salomons for big hikes and my brooks for running, but for everything else, I wear my vivo’s.

This is definitely worth a listen:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ngl2

Vivo have hiking boots with a thicker sole, about 4mm, with lugs too. Merrell used to have some good gateway barefoot shoes called footglove, not sure if they’re still around.

I’ve been using them for a couple months after doing a 3 day hike up to 10,000ft with a mate who was wearing Vivos. I have noticed a significant increase in tibialis and calf strength. The first few times using them my lower legs and feet felt ‘sore’ in the way my chest feels sore after a hard chest workout, which in my eyes means something is strengthening

And as others say, extremely light, breathable and comfortable

Did my first OG Barefoot (ie no shoes or socks) walk last week and it felt great even over loose stones and light gravel

Caveat: I lift weights most days, am in shape and do several sports so am not heavy and can notice any small difference in my body

Caveat2: I have a rare genetic skin condition which is alleviated my hardening up the soles of the feet so have a good reason to walk around with no shoes on, not everyone may be looking to do that for obvious reasons

From my understanding, most shoes are made to look nice primarily over fit and function. I think this is more the case with women’s shoes than mens. Bare foot shoes are the other way around, hence they can look a bit odd.
You heard stories after lockdown about people not being able to wear regular shoes anymore. Because their feet had spread from not wearing shoes for months. This is my concern with buying barefoot shoes, I’m worried that my feet would spread and I wouldn’t be able to get my feet into my other non-barefoot shoes.

That’s where I am. Took years as opposed to months though. Can’t wear normal shoes at all anymore. Just too tight and restrictive and make me feel like I’m leant at an angle because of the sole construction favouring the heel. Most also feel really heavy.

I have been wearing barefoot shoes for about 7 years. The worst thing about them is that once you get used to them you won’t want to wear anything else! I have Vivobarefoot, zero shoes, tadevo and freet. Having walked and run in narrow, overly supportive or stiff trainers and boots I can’t think of anything worse now. I honestly think almost anyone would be better off wearing thin soled, wide and flexible shoes rather than what most people wear. I started wearing them when I was having back and foot problems. I think that helped as at the time I was looking for ways to be more aware of my body whilst walking and/or running. I imagine that most people would get injured if they bought a first pair of barefoot shoes and just mindlessly carried on doing the same things.

So in summary, they are great. But only if you acknowledge that the reason they are great is that they remove a barrier that can stop (some) people from learning how to move more efficiently. You have to do the learning bit but it is easier than it sounds.

Zero drop cushioned shoes (i.e Hoka) are not the same and miss most of the main points of barefoot. They are a terrible idea. Avoid!

Zero drop cushioned shoes (i.e Hoka) are not the same and miss most of the main points of barefoot. They are a terrible idea. Avoid!

And that’s when you know you’re reading the words of a zealot. Like I wrote above, it’s all personal and you’ll only know what suits you by trying.

i tried some i bought, around the house.  not for me, far to flexible.

i do however live in Keen targhee sandals, and shoes for winter.  they are as wide as vivobarefoot in the forefoot.

they fit my feet perfect in the arch and heel area.

and if you are a bit odd, like me, the sandals are amazing for summer cycling shoes with wide flats.

Merrill are dead to me now… Let me explain!

The trail glove 5 was a barefoot running shoe. There was more to it than the Vapour Glove 3. The VG3 was my first BF shoe. Took some getting use to, could only walk slowly in them for ages. Very minimal, something like 3.5mm sole. During lockdown I started running in them and injured the ball of my foot stepping on a stone at least twice (to the extent I couldn’t run for 2+ weeks), so bought the Trail Glove 5. Still minimal, very flexible, and wide enough (slightly less then the VG3). Both fit my feet perfectly in my usual 9,5 size and very comfortable.

However Merrill decided to make these shoes narrower. Both necessitating sizing up. Nowhere near as comfortable, it’s a relief to get then off my feet.

The current Trail Glove (7 I think) is especially bad. Doesn’t even say barefoot on them any more. They’re utter shit. Stiff inflexible sole, very narrow, and covered in padding, just a shit generic trainer, total bollocks. But the idiot I am decided to keep them and throwing the box so can’t return. Avoid!

If you want to try barefoot shoes on a budget I recommend these:
TSLA Men’s Trail Running Shoes, Lightweight Athletic Zero Drop Barefoot Shoes, Non Slip Outdoor Walking Minimalist Shoes

A cheap copy of Merrells Vapour Glove 3. The finish isn’t as nice and polished as premium brands, but I’m stoked they’ve nailed a super gnarly barefoot/minimal experience to hit hard.

They take a few months to get used to, especially for me it took a while for my calf to stretch back to a natural length. However it was because of constant tight calves that I started wearing them.

I have been wearing them now for about 5 years, and I can no longer force my toes into a “traditional” shoe. My toes have splayed a little, but it is still quite obvious that my little toe is still unnaturally tucked in. One thing to note is they are not just wide shoes, the shape of the toebox is also important, there are many wide shoes that still then go pointy at the toes.

Foe me it is the zero drop, and toe box shape that are the features I am most interested in. I am not that bothered about having an ultra thin sole. My preferred everyday shoes is Lems primal zens, which has a thicker sole than the vivobarefoot etc but still flexible enough.

Traditional shoes can contribute to foot, ankle and knee problems, from bunions to constant misalignment in movement causing excessive wear on joints.

And that’s when you know you’re reading the words of a zealot

Possibly! I shouldn’t have singled out Hoka, there are lots of other terrible trainers/boots with overly supportive or cushioned soles. It seems to be the trend at the moment. I don’t believe the “it’s all personal bit though”. Compare it to yoga. There isn’t anyone, anywhere that wouldn’t find some benefit from it….probably. I’m not sure I’m helping!

If anyone did want to try barefoot shoes I would start by looking at xero shoes and freet. Xero do some nice trainers that look quite normal and last well. Freet are a company based in Yorkshire that make some very comfy and functional shoes, though their higher performance stickier soles wear quite quickly and are probably at the thinner end of the barefoot spectrum. Tadevo are brutally thin and not great for a first barefoot shoe. I’m still trying to decide if Vivobarefoot are form over function, though their soles seem to balance feel with protection quite well.

Anything soft triggers my plantar fascitis.

I still have hokas for long runs where my knees/hips want the cushion but I have corrective inserts in them to stop my planter going to shit which helps a fair bit.

Do most of my running and have migrated to day to day living in Merrell barefoots.

Feet have grown nearly a full size and my toes have spread out which has driven that migration somewhat – my Gilles brogues for the kilt are a thought when I have to wear them….

This chap has done some videos on how we are apparently walking incorrectly (i.e. heel strike first is not correct).

After watching a video or two on the subject (of course) I believe how you walk (ie heel/midfoot/forefoot) is more a function of where on the scale of walking…running your motion is. Heel strike bad because shock straight up leg, but it’s the easy way to walk hence cushioned soles full of air. Hence stiff shoes to protect feet from stones. Feet not strong say ouch stone. Squashed smelly sweaty week foot need support.

I suffered really badly with PF and had 3 different people make 3 different sets of custom orthotics.

Wife was due bunion surgery but didn’t fancy the recovery time. She started wearing correct toes and barefoot shoes. Several years later, she’s still not needed the surgery.

I followed not longer after her and have been barefoot for a number of years. Started out with Altra Superior as a transitional shoe. Now wear Lems in the office, Freet for walking the dog, still use some Altra. I have some Xero hiking boots but find them narrow for a barefoot shoe

Recently graduated to a couple of pairs of vibram FiveFingers and I’m loving those. My feet has become a lot stronger and more stable and can’t remember the last time I had a PF flare up.

Only downside I find is I like to buy a quality shoe and get it resoled when needed but due to not being constructed around a midsole, they can’t be resoled.

Try removing the insole from a shoe you wear a lot and stand on it, weight bearing, see how much of your foot spills over, that’s where barefoot shoes are great.

Vivo can be resoled now. Just had a pair of boots refreshed that included a new sole. Not cheap but better than going to landfill

I think you need to be able to run midfoot before trying barefoot shoes for running.

Zero drop cushioned shoes (i.e Hoka) are not the same and miss most of the main points of barefoot. They are a terrible idea. Avoid!

By all means advocate for your choice of whatever, when you start telling the rest of the world that their choice is wrong because it’s different to yours is when we all get to ignore you.

Zero drop cushioned shoes (i.e Hoka) are not the same and miss most of the main points of barefoot. They are a terrible idea. Avoid!

Hoka don’t suggest they are barefoot in any way – what made you think they would be a good idea as a barefoot experience ?

They have their place.

I tried the minimalist/barefoot running thing about 10 years ago – I was <60kg, knocking out 35 minute 10ks having been running since my teens. However the constant, niggly injuries and then to cap it all, plantar fasciitis killed them off for me. I now just use a neutral, cushioned shoes – I did try Altras but their low grade materials and rubbish quality put me off – nice to walk around in and maybe artificial trails, but not for natural  trails.

I’m a little confused that people seem to be conflating barefoot shoes with having a wide toe-box. You can design conventional shoes with a wide toe box and vice versa, surely? Ultimately it just goes back to fit.

My experience with barefoot shoes – Vibram, Merrell, something else I can’t remember the name of – was that for running they gave great ground feel, but obviously very little cushioning and because mostly they have so little underfoot structure and no rock-protection plate, landing on a pointy rock can really hurt and stop you running for weeks – they are not a good choice in the Peak District, ime, unless you are some sort of supernaturally skilled, very light and adroit, thimble-sized running elf. They’re nice on flower-strewn, idyllically soft meadows though.

They are great for just loafing around in. Snake oil? Honestly, I didn’t have any obvious foot related, lower-legs issues before I tried them, so I don’t really know how they might or might not have helped. Personally for off-road running, I prefer a slightly more structured shoe, though still not overly cushioned.

Ultimately it’s all personal preference. Barefoot are at one end of a scale that finishes over with Hoka at the other extreme. They’re the ultra-lightweight, super-minimalist, carbon-framed, rigid XC bike of the footwear world, Hoka are more enduro sled. If they work for you and your running then dive right in, but yeah, ultimately, they are pretty much just shoes with very thin, unstructured soles.

I listened to the podcast @thenorthwind posted. More or less confirmed what I thought anyway. I like the idea of barefoot/ minimalist shoes but as a heavy person with not much of an arch in my feet they’re not for me. I need some support for the arch and a wide toe box which I had more or less worked out myself

there are lots of other terrible trainers/boots with overly supportive or cushioned soles

Hoka aren’t zero drop, they, like most running shoes have between 5 and 10mm of drop depending on the shoe. They are however very supportive and cushioned (well, most of their range is)

there are lots of other terrible trainers/boots with overly supportive or cushioned soles

For some people that support and cushioning is very, very helpful.

There seem to be 3 things that people are mixing up here:
Zero drop – Achievable with cushioning and support, Altra and Innov-8 both do shoes that give this.
Minimal/barefoot shoes – minimal shoes with just enough sole to offer a tiny bit of protection from the ground, but no cushion or padding
Foot shaped shoes – Again, can be zero drop and minimal, but can also be neither.

As mentioned above, it’s very person. I spend most of my day bare foot, but running or walking any distance in minimal shoes gave me calf injuries and was generally an unpleasant experience. Maybe they’re not for me, maybe I didn’t try hard enough with them. Either way, I’ll take a pair of well cushioned shoes with around 6mm drop any day of the week.

Hoka shoes are billed as being supportive, cushioned and comfy. Mrs Lunge swears by them for spending all day on her feet in hospital wards, as do a lot of her colleagues (those and Sketchers seem to be the preferred choice at her hospital).

I wear the Vivo Gobi boots in the office. Love them. Forget I’ve got them on.

For me the the main reason I like them is the foot shaped toe box. Tbh I don’t really care about the ground feel stuff, and as above, it does bloody hurt when you step on a stone on the pavement. I tried them only once walking the dog, where I am (near Salisbury) the trails are flinty/gravel and rocks. Ouch! I run mid foot, but heel first when walking.

I don’t love the look of Vivos though.

I wear Vans 1 size up when out and about doing other stuff, this gives my toes more room, not as good as vivos, but not bad.

Always looking for (and never found) “normal” shoes/boots that have a foot shaped toebox.