Why choose barefoot shoes, how to choose and wear them?

Do you suffer from back pain, headaches, knee pain, or have deformed toes from traditional shoes and are looking for a remedy? Choose barefoot shoes and your problems will gradually diminish.

If you're hesitant about trying barefoot shoes and are afraid it might not be the right step forward, we say – don't be. It is no exaggeration to say that barefoot, or so-called "barefoot shoes," are experiencing a boom. The return to a more natural way of walking is attracting more and more people and we are delighted about it. Everyone has their reasons for wanting to try barefoot shoes, but most often it is the search for the cause of health complications while walking or running. This is quite logical when we think about how little room a foot has in regular shoes.

Barefoot shoes provide enough space for the foot to function properly starting from the toes. Gone are the days when barefoot shoes looked eccentric or silly. Today's selection is wide and you can choose from a myriad of shapes, materials, and brands, from sports shoes to business models.

Space for Feet, Flexible Sole, and Correct Drop

Naturally, the foot stretches, spreads, and springs upon contact. Try standing barefoot with your feet side by side and bend one leg at the knee. See the difference between the foot on the ground and in the air? The foot needs space to perform its natural movement, which regular shoes do not allow. They are usually very rigid, narrow, and with heels.

A narrow shoe not only prevents the foot from spreading sideways but also unnaturally pushes the toe against the other toes, leading to a bunion. This is a very common and quite painful problem. The correct step starts right at the big toe. And believe it or not, poor positioning of the big toe can lead through the spine to headaches.

The problem is also the rigid and inflexible sole. The foot has no contact with the ground, does not respond to stimuli, and becomes deformed. The feet are stiff and simultaneously insensitive. The brain does not receive enough information about the surface we are moving on, and the body does not adjust.

Another significant difference between regular footwear and barefoot shoes is the drop, i.e., the height difference between the toe and the heel. What happens when we place, even just a small, wedge under the heel? Our entire body posture changes completely. We stick our knees forward, tuck our pelvis under, and finally push our heads forward to balance. It is a common posture, but not a natural one.

This leads to health complications and is a topic for another article. If your knees hurt while running, check your shoes. You probably have a higher heel than toe, and even just one centimeter means increased strain on the meniscus and ligaments in the knee.

Barefoot shoes provide space for all toes and allow the foot to expand upon stepping. They have a flexible sole through which we perceive the surface we walk on, and they have zero drop. By changing shoes, you immediately influence several factors that contribute to a healthier posture and more natural walk. And that is definitely worth a try.

How to Choose Your First Barefoot Shoes

You've decided to try barefoot shoes, but now how do you choose the right ones? Changing your entire shoe collection at once would be tough on your wallet. We recommend starting slowly. If you have worn traditional shoes all your life, transitioning to barefoot shoes will require some acclimation. Choose shoes for leisure activities in which you do not spend the entire day and you will look forward to wearing them.

When choosing, do not go by your current shoe size, but measure the correct size of your foot. Remember, the shoe must provide enough space for the foot. Leave space in front of the toes. Also measure the width of your foot. You may have a narrow or wide foot, and this should be considered when selecting the most suitable brand. The foot should not swim in the shoe, and the shoe should not squeeze the foot. Pay attention to the height of the arch. The shoe should not press and should not be painful. You should feel good in it from the start.

First Steps

The mechanics of stepping and movement are different. It may happen that initially walking feels awkward, unnatural, and uncomfortable. Yes, walking needs to be trained too. It is important to shorten the step and not stomp. In barefoot shoes, there is no padded sole, no drop, and all impacts go straight to the knees and also affect the ankles.

We recommend training your feet on unstable surfaces, with auto-massages, carpets, or walking barefoot on terrain.

Benefits

Some changes you will feel immediately, others will appear gradually. When switching to barefoot shoes, you may experience pain in the feet, ankles, calves, or knees. Because you start using your feet fully, it is a shock for the atrophied muscles and ligaments.

The change in posture is visible immediately, and if you add some stretching, the correction of shortened muscles will go better. You will start to feel diminishing pain in your knees and lower back. Love yourself, give yourself time. Healthy and painless walking and running are great benefits of barefoot footwear.

For Sports and the Office

Gone are the days when wide and oddly looking shoes were worn by only certain types of people. Thanks to the large and continuously expanding selection, you can choose shoes for any activity while looking trendy. Choose according to your life values; some brands use recycled materials, others prefer leather, and you can also find vegan footwear.

You can also put your children in barefoot shoes to support the healthy development of their feet.

Whether you want to go to the opera or jump in puddles, you choose.