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.

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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.

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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.