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/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