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 used to run in them, mainly because I have dodgy knees and it kept me more low impact (with padded soles you are more likely to slam your feet down but it hurts if you do that in bare foot shoes so you are more careful about how you land!).
I only spent about £15 on Amazon for a couple of cheap pairs of basic barefoot shoes and they work really well. I figured there was no point spending loads of money when essentially I just needed a 'foot coating'.😆

If you are looking for a good transitional shoe though I love Rocket Dog Jazzin trainers. They are flat with a wide toe box and come in lots of colours and patterns.

My youngest ds has only ever worn barefoot shoes and his feet are human foot shaped with splayed toes. He is enormously stable and sure footed when leaping about the place.

I can't see this as a fad - I rather see shoes that constrict one's feet into abnormal shapes as being the fad. I have walking boots, walking sandals and ordinary trainers/shoes in barefoot styles and they are so extremely comfortable that I consider them the leggings of footwear. When I occasionally wear my old platform dm sandals it is so uncomfortable, my pelvis feels forced into an odd angle and they are so heavy on my feet.

I have not worked up to running in them, but I don't do running anyway. My boots have seen me up many a mountain though.

Which are the most cushioned brands? I want the wide toe box but I need a supportive shoe with some sole padding, I don't want to feel stones or things underfoot.

I agree with you @HumphreyCobblers.

I'm not aware of any barefoot shoes that are like this I'm afraid.

Altra lone peak are running shoes that are zero drop and lovely wide toe box, but decent thick cushioning so not truly “barefoot”.

For general day to day, I have saguaro luck, zz faber and splay 101 trainers which are all barefoot shoes at a much more reasonable price than vivobarefoot - I have paid between £30-60. They all have removable insoles for people who like a really barefoot feel, but personally I leave the insole in.

I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes fully for about a year and get on really well with them. My feet felt like they were burning at night initially when I was getting used to them, but then they would if I wore converses for a day and did a lot of walking! My feet are definitely stronger and more comfortable.

Shoes with a “normal” toe box look obscure to me now, I don’t understand how it ever seemed ok to squash my toes together for no reason.

@PunxsutawneyPhilsShadow you can always buy barefoot shoes for the shape and add an insole yourself… maybe remove it after you get a bit more used to them, whatever suits…

I find Vivo soles a bit more solid than say, Leguano (German brand) whose soles are very thin. It varies by brand. (Vivo soles are still flexible but it’s not like you can feel every pebble).

Interesting that they are helping with your Achilles as that's where I have problems and that's what my physio recommended them for. But there is loads of stuff online that says the opposite!
Mine arrived a week ago - I went for Xeros - and they are certainly comfortable.
I think the Achilles pain is reducing too, but I've been careful not to exert myself too. And doing the exercises.

Yes I don’t know how much is the shoes, which are so comfortable or how much is just relaxing a bit. Today the pain has gone and that is 1 week since i started wearing them. Knee pain has also almost gone.

I do generally just feel less tense in them.

Just to report back, I’m loving my hobbibear shoes. They stay on, even without being laced up, no matter what I do at the gym. My vibro ones sometimes come off when I’m pushing the weighted sled. These ones stay put. Not the most beautiful shoe but does what I want them to well.

Are they helpful for bunions?
I’m nearly 60 and have recently developed them quite quickly.

I have shallow feet and average width (before bunions!) but I always struggle with shoes fitting as my ankles are really narrow so always avoid wide toe box shoes as I’m swimming in them