4 ms·

Occasionally I'll be walking and step on a single pebble on the sidewalk in just the right place and I can feel that for sure, but on a trail that's less of a p

Occasionally I'll be walking and step on a single pebble on the sidewalk in just the right place and I can feel that for sure, but on a trail that's less of a problem because you're not pressing that pebble against pavement, and the shoes aren't so thin that it's like there's nothing there – they definitely provide some protection. For larger rocks, like a rock scramble, I find it's nice to be able to feel it a little more – I'm not sure if it's true, but it makes me feel I have more control and better balance. Thus far the rare "single pebble on the sidewalk" has been the only issue. I'm not exactly a shoe wonk, but I think the idea of barefoot shoes is to encourage you to put more force on the ball of your foot as opposed to the heel, which I think is meant to be better for posture and your knees. All I know is I love them, and I think I'd have trouble going back to shoes with thick outsoles. If you're thinking of trying a pair, Vivobarefoot has a pretty good return policy (100 days no questions asked) so it might be worth giving it a shot. That said, it's definitely an acquired taste and I don't think they're better for everyone. My partner hates minimal shoes and just bought for herself a pair of Hokas, which to my eyes have a comically large outsole. Ultimately it's about finding the best match for your body.

flanbiscuit 5y ago
I am genuinely curious about these shoes but cautious as my left ankle gives me problems and I find that I'm most comfortable when I'm wearing my thick Merrel hiking books. I use insoles in all my shoes because of it and I feel like it would defeat the purpose if I used insoles in these. Their Tracker II Fg Mens looks good too
- carpdiem 5y ago
  Ankles can be tricky. Most "barefoot" style shoes have essentially zero ankle support. What ends up happening for most people is that if you ease into them, and use them regularly, you end up building up substantially more muscle in your foot and lower leg which ends up being the "thing that gives you ankle stability". If you've got really serious ankle problems / past injuries / etc, that might not be a plausible approach for you. But if it's just a case of your ankle being a little unstable every so often, it might be worth trying the barefoot shoe approach, and treat it like building up new muscles in any other context: start slow and easy and try to be consistent about it.
Rendello 5y ago
I've been looking into minimalist/barefoot shoes lately and one thing that I found interesting is that, even though the plains First Nations of old (think Apache) wore thick, hard-soled moccasins, the woodland nations always preferred the soft, thin-soled pucker style. The forest floor is littered with sticks, rocks, and other things, but clearly there was still some benefit derived from wearing what would now be termed "barefoot" shoes in the bush.

flanbiscuit 5y ago

I am genuinely curious about these shoes but cautious as my left ankle gives me problems and I find that I'm most comfortable when I'm wearing my thick Merrel hiking books. I use insoles in all my shoes because of it and I feel like it would defeat the purpose if I used insoles in these. Their Tracker II Fg Mens looks good too

carpdiem 5y ago
Ankles can be tricky. Most "barefoot" style shoes have essentially zero ankle support. What ends up happening for most people is that if you ease into them, and use them regularly, you end up building up substantially more muscle in your foot and lower leg which ends up being the "thing that gives you ankle stability". If you've got really serious ankle problems / past injuries / etc, that might not be a plausible approach for you. But if it's just a case of your ankle being a little unstable every so often, it might be worth trying the barefoot shoe approach, and treat it like building up new muscles in any other context: start slow and easy and try to be consistent about it.

Rendello 5y ago

I've been looking into minimalist/barefoot shoes lately and one thing that I found interesting is that, even though the plains First Nations of old (think Apache) wore thick, hard-soled moccasins, the woodland nations always preferred the soft, thin-soled pucker style. The forest floor is littered with sticks, rocks, and other things, but clearly there was still some benefit derived from wearing what would now be termed "barefoot" shoes in the bush.