6 reasons why to wear barefoot shoes and what barefoot means

Why start wearing barefoot shoes? Read 6 reasons that will convince you to buy your first pair of barefoot shoes. From comfort to health.

Barefoot shoes mimic walking barefoot. They provide ample space for the toes and are very flexible and light. At the same time, they protect the foot from dirt, cold, or injury and, unlike bare feet, will match your outfit. They look like classic shoes except for a few details.

Let's first clarify what all these words actually mean:

Barefoot = barefoot

Barefoot footwear = footwear simulating barefoot walking

Walking barefoot = walking barefoot or without shoes

So, these are shoes that have something in common with barefoot walking. The question arises, why not walk completely barefoot? Simply – walking completely barefoot without shoes is not for everyone.

Barefoot shoes are comfortable, protect the foot, and have come a long way in design over the last few years. With many models, no one will recognize that the shoes are "different."

At the same time, there are many myths and untruths circulating about barefoot shoes. To the uninformed, it may seem like just a fashion fad. Many people also worry whether walking in barefoot shoes is pleasant, or even if it might ruin their feet.

Main Benefits of Walking in Barefoot Shoes

1. Natural Width

Barefoot shoes inherently mimic the natural shape of a healthy foot. Therefore, they have a wider or anatomical toe box. This provides enough space for the toes, doesn't compress them while walking, and allows them to spread, support, and push off adequately.

For comparison, try standing on a shoe: if your foot – even slightly – hangs over the edge, the shoe is too narrow for you.

2.Flexibility

Give it a try – take off your shoes and socks, look at your foot and try to move it a bit. It goes almost without a problem, right?

Now put the socks back on, put on the shoes, and try moving your foot again. That's almost impossible, isn't it?

That's precisely where the problem with traditional shoes lies: due to the hard sole, they do not allow the foot to move naturally. In contrast, barefoot shoes are extremely flexible and beautifully pliable in all directions, allowing the foot to move as freely as if it were completely barefoot.

3. No Drop (Heel)

The term "drop" is not yet as established as "heel," but their meanings are not different. The drop of a shoe indicates the height difference between the heel and the toe, and in barefoot footwear, it is zero, i.e., none. Our body is naturally perfect – if it needed a heel, it would have one.

What a heel does to the body can be seen in the image below. A heel, even a minimal one, deforms the body's posture with each step. Zero drop, on the other hand, supports a natural and upright walk. As a bonus, it strengthens the immune system, improves circulation, and helps the lungs use their full capacity when breathing.

4. Thin Sole

Touch is one of our important senses – yet we do not use it on our feet. We've reserved it only for our hands, which is a great pity.

When we have a thinner sole and can feel what we're walking on, we give our brain clear information about what to prepare for. If we walk on a hard surface, the body can prepare for the hard surface. If we walk on a cold surface, the body can respond. If the surface is unstable, the brain sends a signal.

Why do we actually need this? Have you ever walked in hiking boots and stepped awkwardly on a stone so that it snapped in your ankle? If the foot had sent information in time that the substrate was unstable, the body could adjust the leg so that it wouldn't happen.

5. Low Weight

It is said that we should take at least 10,000 steps a day. A classic adult shoe weighs about 0.7 kg, which means we need to lift about 7 tons of weight daily. This turns an ordinary walk into quite a decent gym, don't you think?

In contrast, barefoot shoes are amazingly lightweight. An adult shoe weighs on average 250-300 g, and you can take our word for it that you will really feel the difference on your own feet during longer walks.

6. No Arch Support

Have you ever heard the opinion that we must have support under the arch because otherwise, we would have flat feet? The arch consists of bones along with muscles and tendons. Bones alone do not hold any shape, for the proper function of the arch, we need muscles and tendons. If we do not support the arch, we strengthen the muscles during walking that nature has given us in our feet.

If, on the other hand, we support the arch, we replace the function of the muscles that should hold the arch. Yes, the arch will have the correct form in the shoe. But what happens when we take off the shoes?

A foot enclosed in a shoe will not function as it should, and the muscles in the foot will gradually weaken until the arch completely collapses. Therefore, strengthen your arch by walking barefoot.

Supporting the arch can also negatively affect, for example, the blood flow towards the toes.

Most problems with the arch arise precisely because the muscles and tendons do not work as they should. Barefoot shoes can help a lot with this. Of course, you need to start gradually, literally step by step. And in case of major problems, consult everything with a physiotherapist and add exercises for the foot.

What to Expect from Barefoot Shoes

Let's sum it up: a barefoot shoe is a shoe that does nothing.

That may sound surprising, but if the world's largest brands compete in which shoe does more things – more cushioning, more springiness, or more ankle support, isn't that strange? Our body is inherently perfect.

All we want from barefoot shoes is:

1. maximum freedom and flexibility for our feet

2. protection of the feet from dirt, adverse weather conditions, and unwanted dangers

3. an attractive appearance that complements our outfit

Are you ready to put on your first barefoots? Just choose from our selection.