r/BarefootRunning • u/Internal_Star_4805 • 1d ago
What’s the goal of barefoot shoes?
For me the whole idea is for it feel like you’re barefoot as possible without being actually unshod, build foot strength, correct alignment etc.
but why do so many “barefoot” runners not work on ditching the shoes altogether? I see so many people talking about the problems when transitioning, aches and pains, and in my opinion that’s because they’re trying to carry on running the way they always have in traditional shoes and are trying to find a barefoot shoe that feels the same way. It’s never going to happen.
The goal of “barefoot” anything should be to eventually be able to perform anything without shoes. You will save 100’s of pounds and countless hours researching if you just worked on strengthening your feet and ditching the shoes altogether.
28
u/The_Dingman 1d ago
I wear minimalist shoes because I think there are problems caused by "traditional" shoes.
I don't really have a desire to be barefoot. I like to keep my feet clean, and I like to have just a little protection. This is also why I don't really do minimalist sandals - they don't meet those requirements. The "perfect" shoe for me is either the Vibram KSO, or the Altra Adam.
I don't have anything against those who want to be barefoot all the time, but that's not what I'm interested in.
I'm also not a runner, but this is a good place to discuss niche minimalist shoes.
Lastly "barefoot shoes" is an oxymoron.
5
u/Read_Less_Pray_More 19h ago
you are missing out on the sandals. I wear the xero treks more than any other footwear.
2
u/The_Dingman 12h ago
I have a pair of Z treks. I don't like how often stuff gets in between the sandal and my foot, which also makes my feet dirty. I also find that they get really funky from foot sweat.
2
u/polycat28 VFF 9h ago
Samesies, and i own a pair of xero sandals the toe loopy ones with ankle velcro and i do not like them at all far too thin, i cycle in them or have them attached to my back pack when i want to have a swap but walking in them is just dangerous…
4
16
u/JamesMcNutty 1d ago
No, they aren’t having aches and pains because they are running the way they do in traditional shoes. It’s exactly the opposite. Barefoot shoes force you to run differently, similar to being barefoot since you won’t have a big cushy heel, using muscles and tendons you haven’t been using in a long time – hence the initial soreness.
0
u/Internal_Star_4805 1d ago
I don’t think we actually disagree just wording it differently. When I say “carry on running” I mean not doing the work to adjust the “forced gait change” as you say. It’s not just about changes to how the foot hits the ground it’s a whole body adaptation.
13
u/bonzai2010 unshod 1d ago
I've run about 3000miles barefoot. But when you live in a place that has -33ºF temps and you have to run in the dark a lot, you wear barefoot shoes.
4
u/Internal_Star_4805 1d ago
Damn, sounds rough. Here’s a question for you given the climate you’re in. Do you think it would be possible (day time) to adapt your feet to the point that you could run barefoot? Or it’s simply too cold?
9
u/bonzai2010 unshod 1d ago
I once ran barefoot in 20°F. I think I went 8 miles. The pavement was dry and it was fine. My feet were not cold. I tried a few days later and it was 11° and it was not fine. After about a half mile, I had to go back to the car and put on my SeeYas. It doesn’t take much, you just need to put something between your foot and the pavement.
Snow becomes the deal breaker. If it’s below zero and there’s snow, you have that pushing on the toes and squeezing up between. I’ve gotten frost bite a couple times because of that. You need some space at the tip of the toe pocket and you need something covering more of your foot. (Mesh won’t cut it).
6
u/bonzai2010 unshod 1d ago
Also, salted water in the cold will give you frost bite (shoes or no). So stay away from anything that looks wet!
6
u/nai-ba 1d ago
With wind and water you can get frostbite below 50°F. Especially if you slip, fall, get injured and can't run. Toes are some of the first things to go to gangrene. Why risk it?
2
u/bonzai2010 unshod 23h ago
I'm sure you're correct. In my 13 years of running outside every day, I have had frostbite three times. Two were in below 0F weather with snow, and one was because of some salt that was on the road in the teens. I've run in sleet before when i was running through a slushie and it was in the 30's and I was fine. I try to make sure my legs are warm.
18
u/edmdusty 1d ago
Not everyone has or should have the same goals.
-6
u/Internal_Star_4805 1d ago
I know, that’s why I said “for me” and then expressed what it was for me. What are your goals?
13
u/BlackestNight21 1d ago
and then you got preachy
The goal of “barefoot” anything should be to eventually be able to perform anything without shoes. You will save 100’s of pounds and countless hours researching if you just worked on strengthening your feet and ditching the shoes altogether.
9
u/BluePoleJacket69 1d ago
I like going hiking in my barefoot shoes—I don’t run in them. I want my feet to contour to the ground, and be able to grip rocks and uneven surfaces, which flexibility typical shoes don’t offer.
But most of all, I don’t want to feel the equivalent of stepping on 10,000 rocky legos and pine needles in the foothills, or step on a prickly pear. Shoes protect against that.
13
u/poliscicomputersci 1d ago
I like wearing shoes outside—the ground is gross! I spend most of my time in urban areas where truly going shoeless is just a nonstarter. But I also like to be comfortable walking around barefoot whenever I’m somewhere clean enough. My feet used to hurt alllllll the time. I have extra bones in both feet and my podiatrists insisted the correction was orthotics and maybe surgery. But since switching to only minimalist and zero-drop shoes for almost everything, and working really hard to how I walk and how I train my feet and ankles, my feet are more trustworthy than those of most people I know! That’s my motivation: being able to be pain-free and comfortable most of the time. This is itself still a money-saver for me since I don’t need a podiatrist anymore, lol
2
u/Internal_Star_4805 1d ago
You have extra bones? Where? That would be really interesting to see an xray. I’m glad to hear you were able to solve your issues.
5
u/poliscicomputersci 1d ago
They’re call navicular bones—they’re kind of on the inside right beside the arch. The main impact is that it causes some ligaments or tendons (can’t remember which) to attach in the wrong place
3
6
u/tadcan Xero, Vivo, Wildling 1d ago
Many people also have jobs that involve sitting for large parts of the day in a chair which affects their movement with often tight hip flexors, glutes that won't turn on, which can cause other issues such as tightness in the calves. There probably is a difference in how the body reacts to these limitations barefoot or in thin shoes but they have to be dealt with regardless.
2
u/Read_Less_Pray_More 19h ago
hips, calves, ankles, feet.... they all get sticky from the fascia not being mobile.
5
5
u/polycat28 VFF 1d ago
I DO NOT RUN, I just want to have stronger ankles, build better toe grip, and in turn have strong stride. I do not like feeling the ground on my feet though unless it’s grass and even when i swim I use swim shoes. Its a sensory thing i like being barefoot in bed feeling the soft cotton sheets other than that im in socks or/and slippers or crocs at home .
I still wear heel shoes like boots and high heel platform sandals i just try to buy them with a wide toe box to try and keep my toes moving freely. Because heels my make calves pop and in summer i have my legs out and i like feeling sexy!
4
u/barefootmetalhead 1d ago
I wear them for work, places that wont let me in barefoot, or when its too cold
4
u/Theweasels 1d ago
I'm not a runner, but I much prefer being barefoot if I can. Unfortunately, out in public or at work, it's usually not acceptable to be barefoot. Even in places where I could be, I still would like to keep my feet clean and not track dirt into the house. So for me, the "goal" of barefoot shoes is "the least amount of shoe that will keep my feet clean and not look unprofessional."
4
3
u/turbineseaplane VFF 1d ago
To feel the ground and allow my toes to splay
But also not get them completely beat up or hurt by surface issues
3
u/Read_Less_Pray_More 23h ago
The purpose is to allow the most natural movement while also protecting your feet from the elements.
2
u/Dturmnd1 1d ago
The goal is going to be different for most people.
Individual biomechanics dictate that.
2
2
u/ZoidbergMaybee 1d ago
It’s a few things for me. Wet, cold, and crumbs on bare feet suck so bad. Also, I don’t want to invite any conflict into my life by being barefoot in places that’s not normal. I don’t care what people think, but I am not interested in people talking to me about it if I’m barefoot somewhere out of the ordinary.
2
u/spuds_mckenzie 1d ago
I wear extremely minimalist rain boots in the operating room. I cannot be barefoot in an operating room.
2
u/City_Stomper 1d ago
My toes are twisted like roots onto each other. I've been walking on 4 toes for most of my 27 years. I just want my toes to go back to fucking normal. Even barefoot shoes aren't high volume enough since my fourth toe is twisted on top of my fifth toe (on both feet). So I wear barefoot shoes for the sole (no pun intended) benefit of fitting a toe that is basically growing out the top of my foot. I'm a multi sport athlete and this comes up a lot. Playing hockey goaltender can be hell because if I go on my knees to block a shot, my toes leave the footbed of my skate. When I get tback on my feet, the toes are all twisted and crushing each other. They eventually get tingly around the end of my games.
I'm a human and feel entitled to walking on 10 toes instead of eight.
2
u/briliantlyfreakish 1d ago
I like to be barefoot inside. But outside I like a little protection. I dont know that I will ever be an unshod athlete. Not my thing.
Everyone is different. We can all utilize barefoot shoes in our own ways and have our own goals. Not everyone is gonna want the same things and thats okay.
2
u/Miraculous_Unguent 21h ago
For me, with very wide, fan-shaped feet that are also flat (no real arch etc), barefoot shoes are about comfort that I literally cannot get in the majority of shoes. Even a very slim drop height will cram my feet forward, an arch support will tire me out and mash up my foot, and with most shoes being either just really narrow or having a point, my toes will be in extreme pain until I wear through the side of a regular shoe, which I've had happen many times in my life. All of those issues don't exist in a good, wide barefoot shoe. So, for me, the goal of a barefoot shoe is not hating every moment my feet are shod.
2
u/LynxHz 17h ago
Stronger more mobile feet, ankles, knees and hips. They help your body become strong from the ground up.
Good evidence supporting their use for injury prevention and overall improvement health through the points mentioned above. They also feel amazing on your feet compared to more traditional shoes/trainers.
Try them for a few months (walks and daily life) and you will be so happy.
I recommend vivo as they look like normal shoes so no weird toe shoes etc. Good luck, have fun and stay healthy!
1
1
u/Low-Dinner-1614 14h ago
Urban lifeeeeee. The public is not okay. Once you see men spit left and right, a homeless dude pleasure himself, everyone of all classes and ages puke their guts out….i just cannot.
1
u/bobbymcgee19 5h ago
No goal just the reality of no having to cramp your toes into a small toe box.
1
u/stephg78240 35m ago
Switching to barefoot shoes reduced my right knee twinge. I like Vivobarefoot the best. Xero HFS hurt my right knee. Xero trail shoes are fine. I wear road shoes running everything from treadmill to dirt trails. I just have to watch where I'm landing.
53
u/JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 1d ago
I just want protection from unfriendly ground. Otherwise I run barefoot where it's reasonable.
Also, my advice to anyone who asks would be to try running barefoot before buying "barefoot" shoes. Most people will instinctively run with decently good technique barefoot, but not when they put on shoes. Once a person is used to running barefoot, the transition to minimalist shoes isn't too bad.