Barefoot shoes

[Billybagpuss]

Does anyone use them, for either running or daily use and which brands etc do you recommend. There’s such a mix of reviews out there and conflicting advice from people swearing by them to people saying it’s a waste of money.

I’m interested as there does seem to be evidence that medically they are a good idea, even reducing blood pressure due to awakening muscle groups that are too protected in normal shoes so improving circulation. But they do seem to be a lot of money to shell out and I’d love some personal experiences and recommendations if anyone uses them.

I love Vivobarefoot, and have a good few pairs. I just use them for everyday wear, rather than for running. They are £, but they offer a 100 day £ back guarantee I think.

Thank you, these are one of the brands I’ve been looking at. Do you find a big difference in your gait etc does it feel weird switching to regular running shoes

I like mine and I mostly wear them for day to day wear. I have vivobarefoot which are my least favourite, xero which I just got and really like. I went my first barefoot run yesterday (in the xeros) and liked them, I was faster and found hills easier but my muscles are tighter today than they'd usually be.

I also have some winter seguaro which look a bit odd but are very cosy and comfy.

Altra do some which are barefoot friendly but not completely barefoot. They have zero drop soles and wider toe box. I have a pair of boots and trainers from Altra that I really like.

I don't have any going out barefoot shoes, just everyday boots/trainers.

Barefoot shoes fixed my plantar fasciitis but that was along with a lot of foot strengthening.

I also have vibobarefoot but I use them for strength training at the gym which they are great for because of the flatness and the wide toe box. I find them really ugly looking so I don’t wear them other than that though sorry.

Just the latest fad.

I bought my first vivos through their secondhand shop, revivo I think it is called. They are cheaper if you want to try them out.

Groundies do normal looking shoes but I don't have any of this brand but I plan to in future.

I wear barefoot shoes mainly for the comfort of the wide toe box and I like the flexible feeling of the shoes.

I think Vivobarefoot are quite a hardcore brand to start with. They are very flat with very thin soles. The styles are nice though.

I prefer a brand like Freet which has some cushioning in the sole (still barefoot) or Lems (which are wide and flat but more cushioned). I also quite like Xero which are also barefoot.

Have you come across a website called happy little soles as they sell a wide range of barefoot shoes. Also the website Anya’s reviews is helpful.

I wear them for work and daily wear, but don’t run.

I have BGreater boots for work, and I’m going to buy some Shapen ones for summer. I also have a few pairs of sub £30 trainers that I wear outside of work.

They’re game changing. I have quite narrow feet but in normal shoes my toes were still squashed and uncomfortable. I chop and change between barefoot and normal shoes, but wear barefoots probably 80% of the time as they’re just so much more comfortable and must be better for your feet.

It’s interesting reading the reviews and online there seems to be a pretty even split between loving them and believing it all to be nonsense.

I find it fine to switch between my Vivos and normal running shoes. I did try to run in them once, but I got a lot of pain afterwards - I think you need to introduce them gradually for running.

I think Vivos look great, and normal shoes look overly chunky / are too inflexible.

I'm interested in this thread too as my Physio has just recommended them to me. I was looking at Vivos as they seem to come up first in the search engines (not a very good reason I know) and price wise if they save me a couple of future physio sessions they will be worth it.

I have wide feet, does anyone know if they would be compatible?

I've got a few pairs just ordered some hobibears from Germany which are wide toe but not completely zero drop for walking and running
Have some koel ones from Portugal which look kust like sambas but wide foot and very flexible I love wearing them!

I have PureStep Explorers and love them, I don't run, they're just for day to day walking. They're cheap and cheerful, I found the other models a bit hit and miss in the fit though.

Do be cautious at first, dh managed to injure his ankle using them. You may need to do foot strengthening exercises while your feet and ankles adapt to using different muscles.

Thank you so much everyone, this has been very helpful, @NetZeroZealot its interesting your physio recommended them as whilst there is quite a bit of science on this online it still seems to be a bit out there.

I’ve ordered a pair of geisswein to try for every day wear. I’ve got a pair of their slippers and they’re great.

I’m going to get a pair of Vivos for walking in the next month or so if I get on with the others ok.

Does anyone play things like pickleball, badminton or padel with them. This is when I’ve had the biggest issues with my ankles?

Interesting. I love Giesswein slippers too and didn’t know they did barefoot shoes. Will take a look.

I wear the vivibarefoot Chelsea boots, I’ve had the same pair for a couple of years and it feels like I’m not wearing anything on my feet in them, they’re great.

I also have a pair of vivobarefoot trainers that I’ve had about three years, still going strong. I wear them all day most days as wear them for work. I do lots of bending and crouching in my job and they are so flexible. I did try to run in them once and was in agony the next day, my calves were so tight.

my friend recently bought some and she had to return them, as they were too narrow. I think they’re slimmer than some of the other bare foot brands.

my children also wear vivobarefoot and hobibears. Both report them as comfortable

The other thing coming from these responses is people mostly just use them as shoes and running in them is a different beast altogether

I agree with the running! I've been wearing barefoot shoes for a few years so well accustomed to them. I went for a run on Monday (a short one) and while they felt good at the time the next day my calves were tighter and even tighter two days later. Its now Friday and its the first day I could walk down stairs normally! I won't be running in them again 🤣

@Billybagpussindefinitely will not run in them again. Felt great at the time but the next few days were agony.
im not a regular runner, i go as and when i want to so maybe there is something in that, but ill be sticking to my trail running trainers for sure

It seems they are beneficial rather than otherwise, though not for everyone. My DD is a huge fan. She has injuries after a car accident and they help reduce her residual pain.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ngl2

I got some Vivo on vinted as an absolute steal (£25 and they look brand new). It’s the first time ever I have put a pair of shoes on and they just fit, no rubbing or sore toes. I wear them to work but they are pale pink suede so I don’t walk in them really, trying to keep them nice. I wouldn’t run in them, I need more ankle support and cushioning.

@Billybagpussfor daily walking they’re amazing for me.

My experience with running and other sports is that you have to transition gradually or you risk injury. Some regular cushioned trainers are 9 or 10mm drop, and going straight from that to zero drop with no cushioning is big. You need to go to 6mm or 4mm trainers for a while, then down to zero.

Someone will no doubt come along by and say they had no problems going straight to zero but my physio told me these people are outliers so be careful.

I have a pair for travelling as they are so light and flexible they fit really well in a backpack. I like them, they are comfortable, but I wouldn’t walk to walk more than a couple of miles in them and you feel every lump in the ground with them.

I think Vivo have exercises on their website you can use to strengthen the foot, ankle and calves?

I wear nothing but barefoot and have done for about 7 years now, after I got rid of a Moreton’s neuroma. After a while your feet splay more and I simply can’t get my old shoes on. I could never wear heels now even if I wanted to. Do be aware of that if you have old shoes you really like!

I wouldn’t go back though. Would recommend doing a bit of daily foot exercises - heel/ calf raises, move your toes around, do the thing when you pick up a tea towel with your toes, massage your soles a bit. Also you must go slowly if you run in them - build up bit by bit, doing Couch to 5k would be a good adaptation period.

It feels lovely though, sometimes in the summer I run literally barefoot (on grass or sand) and it feels fantastic.

I had major knee surgery 8 years ago and they really help. I have run in them but it took months of building up to it, fast walking, run walk, run walk etc you can't just chuck them on and run. I did walk round Disneyland Paris for 3 days in them though.
Funnily enough I wore some normal shoes for work the other day to see a client and now have had to plaster 3 toes and they rubbed together where there are used to being spread out.
If you are a tiktok user search barefoot in the shop. Lots of reasonable priced ones to try there.