What even are barefoot shoes? (2024)

FAQs

What even are barefoot shoes? ›

You might be wondering what 'barefoot shoes' even are. Well, barefoot shoes are footwear for daily use, sports, or leisure activities. The main idea behind barefoot shoes is to create the same feeling you would get if you were to walk around without any shoes, the sense of toes spreading out as they touch the floor.

Minimalist and barefoot shoes can strengthen muscles and bones in the feet and ankles, which can help prevent injury, stabilize the arch, and help prevent some athletic injuries. Intrinsic foot muscle strength is positively correlated to stability and better balance, especially in older individuals.

Because of the lack of heel cushioning, minimalist shoes have been associated with an increased incidence of heel (calcaneal) fractures, especially in high arched, rigid foot types.

Barefoot shoes come without heel drop, so the heel of the foot is not lifted up or otherwise elevated. The sole has the same thickness along its entire length. This means that the whole foot is flat against the ground, the same as when going barefoot.

Dr. Irene Davis, a physical therapist and biomechanics researcher, highlights that walking barefoot or wearing minimalist shoes allows for greater sensory feedback and proprioception, which can improve balance and gait mechanics, ultimately benefiting spinal health.

The quick answer is yes, but with a few caveats. Whether you're an athlete, someone who walks a lot, or even someone who's seated at a desk for most of the day, barefoot shoes can be a great way to protect your feet for long-term health and mobility.

“I inform my patients who have had chronic knee pain that minimalist shoes are something they may wish to consider. If they have had chronic Achilles tendinitis or repetitive metatarsal stress fractures, they may not be good candidates.”

Modern shoes have built-in cushioning to help reduce the amount of stress that is directed into the heel; with Barefoot shoes, that lack of cushioning can lead to more significant stress being put onto the muscles & bones within the foot, ankle, knee, hip and sometimes into the spine.

Those who go shoeless take shorter, more frequent strides and have stronger feet with fewer foot and toe deformities. And those who don't wear shoes typically have higher arches, too. Going barefoot even helps with balance issues.

Should you wear socks with barefoot shoes? ›

While some purists might argue for a completely sockless approach, remember that wearing socks with barefoot shoes, be it regular socks or ones specifically designed for socks for barefoot shoes, is ultimately a matter of personal preference.

Basically, you want to start by spending only one hour each day wearing your new shoes or walking barefoot. Each week you increase this time by one hour until you reach the 8-hour mark at the end of two months. At that point, most people should be able to fully switch to minimal shoes without harm.

Running shoes are broadly classified into four categories of cushioning: Barefoot, Minimal, Moderate and Maximum. The term "minimalist shoes" applies only to the first two categories, so your first decision is whether you want barefoot or minimal cushioning.

Walking with little to no support as with zero drop shoes on hard surfaces allows our foot to collapse which can lead to a tremendous amount of stress not only to the foot but to the rest of the body.

Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work. The shoe does the other 50%.

Going barefoot leaves your feet vulnerable

Unshod feet, especially in public areas like gyms and pools, run the risk of picking up a fungal infection like athlete's foot or plantar warts. We recommend that you always wear sandals or shower shoes when walking through damp, public areas.

Being barefoot is good for your health

Being barefoot can even reduce pain levels. Scientific experimentation has determined that grounding the body during sleep creates changes in circadian cortisol secretion levels that positively affect sleep, pain, and stress levels, too.

Transitioning to minimalist shoes will, in most cases, work your foot and lower body in a very new and unique way, leading to initial soreness and fatigue in many before the longer-term strength gains and other favorable adaptations occur. Be patient, monitor your body's response to this transition, and take it slowly!

You can wear barefoot shoes with socks or without socks. We wear our Senmotics shoes barefoot in summer, with regular socks in spring and fall and with thick stockings in winter.