Barefoot shoes

(Edith) #21

I’m not sure about England, but in the US I can frequently find good deals on Amazon, and the Vibram website will have shoes that are on clearance.

(Allie) #22

Thanks, I’m keeping watch on amazon too :blush:

#23

check out altra running shoes. they are a zero drop shoe which is same as barefoot but offer a good deal of cushioning. only running shoes i use.

(Cynthia Anderson) #24

I am totally going to try that.

(Laurie) #25

There are also “kung fu shoes” for men. As a woman, I couldn’t wear ballet flats; the toes would be too tight. Anyway, I haven’t worn shoes for many years. I only wear sandals, but I prefer some support, which is not what this thread is about.

My boyfriend wears bare feet all the time, except in restaurants and when shoes are required on a job (which is seldom). No cost, no worrying about sizing, etc. He walks several miles a day, including beach walking on barnacles and oyster shells. He also jogs. I sometimes went barefoot as a teenager, on city sidewalks and elsewhere, but I’m not really interested in doing so now. One would have to be committed and patient I guess.

(Allie) #26

Yes ballet flats are really tight and restrictive around the toes especially, not at all like barefoot shoes.

(GINA ) #27

They can be, depending on what you buy, but not all of them.

I am not 100% in barefoot shoes. I run and hike in more traditional footwear, and even wear heels to work once a week or so. I just try to give my feet enough ‘free’ time that they keep the strength and flexibility that they are supposed to have.

It seems to be working for me. I used to have PF and all other manner of aches and pains. I had to really pay attention to what I wore if I was going to be on my feet, and just ached miserably after a few hours, but now it doesn’t matter much. I walked all day at our county fair last weekend in unstructured canvas tennis shoes and was fine. That would have killed a few years ago.

(GINA ) #28

Because of this thread I wore my one pair of Vibrams (not the toe kind) to work yesterday. I had occasion to run a little bit on concrete and it certainly makes you use a proper stride. They felt pretty much the same as my ‘normal’ flats.

I’m not opposed to cushioning. We aren’t meant to be walking around on concrete and blacktop as much as we do in the modern world.

(Allie) #29

Well I finally gave in and bought myself some of these and have worn them for two days so far.

They do feel strange compared to the running shoes I’m used to, but strange-comfortable rather than strange-unpleasant.

Yesterday evening when I took them off to do yoga I noticed the tops of my feet felt a little sore, no doubt because my feet are working in a different way to what they’re used to. Not a major discomfort though.

This morning my calf muscles are feeling a bit sore, but that could be the intense yoga session I did last night rather than the shoes :joy:

The only thing I’m not happy with about them is the way they rub a bit on my right heel, but that’s just a case of me needing to get used to having shoes that are taller than I’m used to.

Early days but so far looking good.

(Janelle) #30

I’m kind of surprised Vibram is still in business.

#31

I’ve always preferred to be barefoot, and do anytime I can. (inside/outside) My boots come off as soon as I come home, and don’t go back on until necessary. … Couple years ago, my Son actually purchased some 5-Finger Vibrams to try after we had spoke on them. - He didn’t really care for them though, so gave them to me to try. … I did try them, especially on the tread-mill, since my feet would heat up some when walking. My wife also never liked me walking barefoot on it anyway, saying I should be wearing shoes. :slight_smile: But I still do barefoot most times…

Overall they were ok, but found it’s just a little adjustment to get used to, mostly due to your toes being fit in them similar to fingers in a glove on the hand. … But I still prefer bare feet though. :slight_smile: (I actually threw them on while I was in the basement the other day. First time in a while. But was doing some work and had some light dust in the area and they are nice for this, not wanting to throw on Boots or anything. :slight_smile:

(Allie) #32

There’s were never an option for me, don’t like the look of them at all and hate anything between my toes.

(Mike W.) #33

I noticed with mine that I had pain on the top of my foot. That was when I Googled and figure out there are about 172 different ways to lace up shoes! I chose a pattern that skipped the holes over the area where it was tight and then started up again. This made a HUGE improvement.

(Allie) #34

They’re not tight at all @MiKetoAF, actually really loose all around my feet but a bit tight around the ankles which is the only place I’m noticing discomfort now.

(Mike W.) #35

I guess there are just ways to lace them to remove tightness from any location. Can you just skip the top hole?

(Allie) #36

It’s not the laces that are tight, there’s like a built in sock that’s elasticated and it’s the top of that that is tight. I’m not used to wearing anything so high up the ankle so am hoping it’s just a case of getting used to it.

These are the ones I have but on black -

(Hyperbole- best thing in the universe!) #37

I HATE any shoes that hit right at the bottom of my ankle bone. It has to clear well below or go above. Real converse are good, knock-offs often hit the wrong spot. Any shoe, ankle height is a deal breaker.

(Mike W.) #38

Gotcha. That makes more sense. Hoping they break in a little with some wear.

(Allie) #39

The weird thing is, it’s only my right ankle that’s feeling it. Left is fine :joy:

(Edith) #40

I’ve been wearing five finger shoes for years. Every once in a while I will get a pair that doesn’t feel right. Maybe something in the manufacturing. I have sent them back and gotten another pair. They are good about returns.