Barefoot shoes/toe shoes

Can any anons speak on barefoot shoes/toe shoes effectiveness at correcting posture, gait, and feet issues?

Been seeing mixed results and I remember a few years ago these were getting spammed here daily. It makes sense to me that walking in shoes that basically allow your foot to re assume it’s natural position would correct the problems that common footwear cause. I’ve been doing a lot of walking and if I could two birds one stone I’d like to.

  1. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    aren't you supposed to walk tiptoe in these?

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Running is on your toes, but you walk kinda normal just with a modified gait.

      never had any issues to begin with, but they are fun as hell to wear. i'd shy away form the goofier looking ones and opt to wear more normal looking ones every day. maybe reserve the goofy shit for hiking/maybe gym.
      however, on every single comment section about these type of shoes, whether a positive or critical review of them, are thousands of stories of older folks getting massive relief from using minimalist footwear. don't think it's a psyop or propaganda.

      This. Being able to feel the ground satisfies my monkey brain. It took me about a week for my feet to get stronger and stop aching.

      https://i.imgur.com/Y6fpTvX.jpg

      Can any anons speak on barefoot shoes/toe shoes effectiveness at correcting posture, gait, and feet issues?

      Been seeing mixed results and I remember a few years ago these were getting spammed here daily. It makes sense to me that walking in shoes that basically allow your foot to re assume it’s natural position would correct the problems that common footwear cause. I’ve been doing a lot of walking and if I could two birds one stone I’d like to.

      Just get some of the hobibear ones off ali for like $20 and try them out then you’ll know for sure. Don’t rush into them though and watch some videos to learn how to use them properly.

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        >watch vids to learn
        I’ll look when I get home but for now, is it not just put them on and go walk outside?

        i bought a couple of these for $15 on aliexpress, it unfucks your walking and your posture

        Good to hear

        have genetic flatfeet and hoped they help.
        tried for 3 years. front striking. vivobarefoot for casual wear and 5fingers for running.

        ended up running less and less. because you need to constantly check road for big stones which is mentally exhausting when you run alot.

        nowadays back to normal running shoes. they are good as a second or third pair of shoes to give your feet different stimuli.

        I’m worried mine may be genetic too. My father has a similar gait as me, duck walk. I’ve tried hard to fix it over th least 5 years doing towel scrunches, gripping the floor with my feet while walking around the house, flexing my arches in my shoe during the day, rolling the sole with a lacrosse ball, balancing on one foot etc. but the improvements been very small. I’d like to walk normal.

        never had any issues to begin with, but they are fun as hell to wear. i'd shy away form the goofier looking ones and opt to wear more normal looking ones every day. maybe reserve the goofy shit for hiking/maybe gym.
        however, on every single comment section about these type of shoes, whether a positive or critical review of them, are thousands of stories of older folks getting massive relief from using minimalist footwear. don't think it's a psyop or propaganda.

        It looks very fun to wear. I imagine it would make hiking more immersive. But mainly I want to fix my body, unfuck as much of the damages that civilization has caused as I can. I have this whole aspiration to get some land raise my own food and get as natural as possible.

        I once knew this liberal hippie chick in college, really weird girl as tall as me (6’2”), she didn’t wear any shoes. She went to all her classes barefoot, walked around and drove barefoot. Her feet were wicked, hard as a rock on the bottom all one big callus, she would demonstrate walking on gravel and broken glass, she’d knock her knuckles on the bottom and it would make an audible “knocking” sound. I kind of wish I got to know her better despite her being liberal, cool chick not horrible to look at but I just knew she has matted pussy hair.

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          Tall hippie chicks in college are fucking great. I still think about mine. She went up north and built a farmhouse out of old truck tires or some shit. Cool chick

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          missed all the best babes cos i had to stay with lauren for papers, after growing up a war refugee without documents
          thanks a lot everyone

  2. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    never had any issues to begin with, but they are fun as hell to wear. i'd shy away form the goofier looking ones and opt to wear more normal looking ones every day. maybe reserve the goofy shit for hiking/maybe gym.
    however, on every single comment section about these type of shoes, whether a positive or critical review of them, are thousands of stories of older folks getting massive relief from using minimalist footwear. don't think it's a psyop or propaganda.

  3. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    have genetic flatfeet and hoped they help.
    tried for 3 years. front striking. vivobarefoot for casual wear and 5fingers for running.

    ended up running less and less. because you need to constantly check road for big stones which is mentally exhausting when you run alot.

    nowadays back to normal running shoes. they are good as a second or third pair of shoes to give your feet different stimuli.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Just do a combat sport on mats to fix your flat feet and walk barefoot in your house.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      For casual everyday shoe I totally say wear barefoots. The toe finger holes are weird, gay, and cringe. But ya for running just get regular running shoes. You're only running like 5% of the time, the rest is walking around doing normal shit where a big rock won't fuck your day up. That's also plenty if time to build up good foot muscles.

      You can also forefoot strike in regular running shoes, or get ones designed for that but still have regular padding and protection.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Bro youre not even supposed to run on concrete let alone in barefoot shoes. If you have no choice then get a pair of Hokas or Altras. Barefoot shoes/no shoes on concrete is just asking for injuries

  4. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    i bought a couple of these for $15 on aliexpress, it unfucks your walking and your posture

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      post link. might wanna try them out. my knees kinda hurt recently and I think it's related to footwear

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805970919599.html
        https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804856009106.html
        https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805009925864.html

        • 4 weeks ago
          Anonymous

          thanks fren. did your usual sizing fit?

          • 4 weeks ago
            Anonymous

            no, you definitely want barefoot shoes that are 1 US size larger (and larger will be wearable) before converting to EU size

            • 4 weeks ago
              Anonymous

              I second this advice. When I bought mine I converted my foot directly to euro sizes by measuring my foot in centimeters. It came out to a size 42. I bought a 43 and my shoes are too small

  5. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I got some 40 dollar ones on amazon but they don't have the individual toes. They're just zero drop wide toebox, going to try some sprints in them eventually and I like them so far.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Hobibear? Got some recently for a similar price and found them comfy enough. They also look like regular shoes rather than some individual toed monstrosities

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        These ones
        https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C738ZTC2?

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          Similar: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOBIBEAR-Barefoot-Minimalist-Lightweight-Breathable/dp/B0C45BW8B6

          • 1 month ago
            Anonymous

            Yeah the reason I got the ones I linked were because I planned on doing sprints on grass.

  6. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    tl;dr the lack of heel allows you to bend your foot for more natural walking
    the bottom is a piece of rubber with a bunch of shapes in it that gives your foot an analog of what it'd feel on the ground

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      What are the brand and model of your pic?

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Bump, give me winter zero drop barefoot shoes that are not $200

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        i dont think they exist. ended up copping these for $100. if you need to deal with snow, then you need a proper outsole, waterproofing and insulation. havent gotten them yet, but i sized up so hopefully its not too cramped

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          pic

          • 1 month ago
            Anonymous

            >posts shoes with toe spring

            • 1 month ago
              Anonymous

              its exaggerated. youve seen a converse irl right? also like i said, i dont think a proper winter barefoot shoe exist yet

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                Converse are horrible for your feet. The whole “le rigid flat bottom” shoe for lifting was spread because they’re cheap, but they’re actually terrible and even worse for foot health. They cause the before in these

                https://i.imgur.com/JnquJSu.jpg

                That’s what human feet are supposed to look like, like hands almost

                https://i.imgur.com/BVMhGR5.jpg

                While we’re on the subject, are there any special socks that offer similar “anatomical correcting” benefits I should look into? Like while I’m wearing normal shoes during work

                https://i.imgur.com/8GXkw2B.jpg

                Shit just look at this.

                just as much as all modern shoes do.

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                then post a better barefoot winter shoe/boot nigga. proper outsole, insulation, water repelling, <$200. go

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                >post a better shoe
                Vibrams
                >proper outsole, insulation
                Just don’t be a bitch XF or wear thick toe socks. Or get vibram V trek which comes with wool insulation.
                >water repelling
                Hydrophobic solution spray is $20-$30, converse are not hydrophobic like you insinuate.
                Again, V trek are already water resistant.
                ><$200
                They run $80-$130 depending on sizing and version. So max w/hydrologic solution spray $160.
                Or just get V treks for $130…

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                these are a winter boot converse. they are hydrophobic

                https://i.imgur.com/5ArqGkj.jpg

                pic

                aint gonna catch me dead in a pair of five fingers, fucking g33k

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                Okay enjoy having fucked up feet. Btw wear lifts to deal with your problem here

                >makes you look shorter than everyone wearing normal shoes
                Nope.

                I don’t think converse are enough to solve it
                >t.

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                Jokes on you
                >I workout in a pair of Docs with red laces.

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                nigga i main barefoot shoes. for -10C or wet snowy shit winters however you dont have much choice. wearing trail minimalist shoes, doesnt cut it. if you say it does, then youre a nagger who takes it in the ass

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                See

                [...]
                [...]
                https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805889487436.html

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                https://xeroshoes.com/shop/boots/alpine-men/

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                how chuck 70s look in online shop for reference

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        I have the freet tundra
        its not cheap but well worth the money
        I tried the anhisa rubber boot but they squeak too much
        and the xero shoe boot looks like its made of shit material

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      What are the brand and model of your pic?

      Bump, give me winter zero drop barefoot shoes that are not $200

      https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805889487436.html

  7. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    They can be good, they can also fuck you up more. Seen both happen around me. For me theyve been great but I'm a general movement geek so I started adjusting my gait and my resting position which apparently were fucked but I just noticed that when I went minimalistic.
    I've also seen others have knee pains because of improper balance and terrible gait, then use these shoes and then be worse then before. Basically the "normal" shoes enabled the bad gait. Whole the minimalist shoes showed the weaknesses and they didn't work on them which was as you can guess, not a good thing.

    So take them when you've got the time to properly address imbalances and bad gait patterns for yourself. Take the time to adjust to them.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      This. And for the love of god, dont just buy some and start running in them. Thats how everyone hurts themselves and then blames the shoes, fucking idiots.

  8. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I like using them for a couple hours in the mornings while doing my daily exercise (it varies day to day) and then throughout the day I usually wear zero drop shoes or sandals.

  9. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I got some Altras and my calves now have tendinosis but I blame myself for going too hard too fast with them.

  10. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Shit just look at this.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      >minimalist shoes give you toe fungus and poor circulation
      Well, count me out.

  11. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I've been wearing zero-drop shoes like Whitens for years and my feet feel great.
    I need a size wide shoe, and barefoot shoes are almost always wider.
    Don't know if they've done much for my posture, as that requires a lot more conscious effort.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Literally wearing Vibram toeshoes as I type this. These little fuckers SAVED my back. Seriously.

      Watch Dr B talk about gait. He mentions these shoes which is why I bought them. No more back or hip pain.

      ?si=A3dYImuMyElNeA2p

      These are what I was looking at getting. The vibrams are pretty pricey though. I think I’ll grab some generic cheap $20 toeshoes like anons above recommended, and get the whitens and just try alternating and seeing which feels better.

      >natural
      concrete and pavement aren't natural
      >what about rock?
      people didn't run on rock everyday

      At no point did I use the words concrete or pavement. I’m inna woods bitch. I’m onda sand nigguh. I’m walking everywhere. It would still be better to walk more naturally on super flat surfaces than to be getting double fucked via shitty shoes and shitty ground surface, though.

  12. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Literally wearing Vibram toeshoes as I type this. These little fuckers SAVED my back. Seriously.

    Watch Dr B talk about gait. He mentions these shoes which is why I bought them. No more back or hip pain.

    ?si=A3dYImuMyElNeA2p

  13. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Great for posture, agility, speed, tendon strength. Biomechanically superior to all other footwear.

  14. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    >natural
    concrete and pavement aren't natural
    >what about rock?
    people didn't run on rock everyday

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Thank you for your contribution of obvious shit everyone already knows.

  15. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I got Altra wide toebox zero rise runming shoes. They have a good bit of cushion though.

    Results are zero knee pain while walking, and calves are extremely stretched and worked. I exclusively do uphill hikes at 3 mph pace as I can't run longer than 2 miles before left IT band gets irritated. Right soleas is a few mm shorter than left according to podiatrist.

  16. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    While we’re on the subject, are there any special socks that offer similar “anatomical correcting” benefits I should look into? Like while I’m wearing normal shoes during work

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      https://i.imgur.com/8GXkw2B.jpg

      Shit just look at this.

      The 'after' pictures look worse to me. Like the fingers are more vulnerable to breaking when they are apart.

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        That’s what human feet are supposed to look like, like hands almost

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          >you have to be NEET to have proper feet
          ladies if your feet look like this DM me immediately

          • 1 month ago
            Anonymous

            No you just have to walk barefoot and footmaxx

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          I only believe it If I see some Black tribesman that still live pretty naturally have feet like that

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          ah yes, "my feet and hands should be a brick, for maximum safety"

          I mean, baby toes looks fine to me.
          Not like those plastered aside flatfeet fingers that were probably streched out by specialized "natural" toe shoes.

          It's like going from one extreme to another, and someone earns money from it.

          >The 'after' pictures look worse to me. Like the fingers are more vulnerable to breaking when they are apart.

          This reminds me of those boots with metal plating on a toe - which cleanly cut off your toes whenever something heavy falls on them.
          So technically, it still could be a fault of shoes, I'll give you that.

          • 1 month ago
            Anonymous

            Those plastered stretched out are native uncivilized humans feet who have never worn shoes.

            • 1 month ago
              Anonymous

              Are they?
              >

              https://i.imgur.com/BVMhGR5.jpg

              While we’re on the subject, are there any special socks that offer similar “anatomical correcting” benefits I should look into? Like while I’m wearing normal shoes during work - Correct ® Toes
              >

              https://i.imgur.com/8GXkw2B.jpg

              Shit just look at this. - MAY 2022

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                I posted all three of the pics. The one you originally referenced is some native wild person and the second two are of people who have corrected a lot of the damages of modern shoes. Why do you tag one image when you now say you were not referring to that image and only to these other two. Even if they’re spreading their toes a bit you can see actual significant correction of the foot anatomy mainly on the big toes and little toes and overall widening of the feet.

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                >Why
                I tagged whoever replied to my initial (original) post.

                [...]
                The 'after' pictures look worse to me. Like the fingers are more vulnerable to breaking when they are apart.

                Idk, maybe they look better when standing.

              • 1 month ago
                Anonymous

                They look weird because it’s become rare for feet to be normal that it’s perceived as abnormal. Those native people would view our feet the same way you see theirs, or the way you view chinese foot binding

        • 1 month ago
          Anonymous

          My feet look natural like this and I wear boots 330 out of 365 days .. wellies 50% of the time bc its always raining. You just have to get the sizing right. If you wear tiny city shoes, shits on you and you'll look like a chinese toe princess.

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        ah yes, "my feet and hands should be a brick, for maximum safety"

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        >The 'after' pictures look worse to me. Like the fingers are more vulnerable to breaking when they are apart.

  17. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    >makes you look shorter than everyone wearing normal shoes
    Nope.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      >manlets will never enjoy walking the way God intended
      another plus of being tall lole

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Do you fags actually worry about shit like that?
      lol
      lmao

  18. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    yeah theyre effective at making you look like a fuckin nerd

  19. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    By and large, minimal shoes to include toe shoes will switch you from a heel strike toward a midfoot/forefoot strike.
    Toe shoes may help fight toe crowding that causes bunions but so will a minimal shoe with a wide toe box (Reebok xfit LTE hitops are a great example, god I miss those shoes).
    Expect your tibialis and other shin muscles to get sore at first until you're used to it.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      I wear minimal shoes and it hasn't fixed my rear foot striking. I just have sore heels all the time now. But it has helped a lot with allowing my toes to spread and also massively decreased the frequency of my bouts of neuropathy in my toes and feet. I have been wearing them daily since May.

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        Stop heelstriking you fucking dipshit.

  20. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/diy-feeltrue/ these are the only true barefoot shoes. they fucking rule.

  21. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Fitness shit whose only quality is "it makes sense" is usually retarded. Keto is the same type of thing. "Uh I guess our ancestors didn't farm wheat, huh"

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      You're literally a fucking retard and should suck my cock

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      >moxyte found the shoe thread

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      No one entertain this shit, don’t empower me to schizo fatties in their pathetic attempts at thread derailment, it just serves to give them a mental win so they can stay fat.

      >moxyte found the shoe thread

      You're literally a fucking retard and should suck my cock

      Yup

  22. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I wore them in middle school. Do not walk on blacktop during the day

  23. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    They're great but calf raises will do you infinitely more work.

  24. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    they make your feet strong.

  25. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I can't get used to the feeling that I've forgotten to put on my shoes.

  26. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    why even wear shoes?

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      brown hands typed thos

  27. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Consumerist trap worked. Just go barefoot if you want to be barefoot.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Yeah lmao just go from super thick sole to barefoot on asphalt, nothing wrong will ever happen XDD

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      found the nigga who wear regular shoes

  28. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I converted about two years ago, I'm not autistic enough for toe shoes but using barefoot shoes have been great. They're by far the most comfortable type of shoe I've ever used. You do need to be somewhat mindful where you step as the thin sole gives your feet pretty minimal protection against sharp pebbles. Running with them feels great and I get no pains or stiffness even on hardground like asphalt or rock.

  29. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Any separated toes one that aren't vibram (i.e. that aren't expensive?)

  30. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I wear xero shoes and they're the only pair of shoes that haven't hurt my feet. So there's that.

  31. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I guarantee I have more hours in barefoot shoes than anyone here. I don't mean the ones with the toes. I wear vivobarefoot.
    They're nice. They're comfortable. They're not magic. I am suHispanicious of the notion of running on paved surfaces with them.
    I'm not a runner, though.

  32. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I studied these and ran in them when they first came out. 2009? Among runners they are considered at best to be a sometimes training tool.

  33. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    are vibram five fingers any good for lifting? or should I stick to converses?

  34. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    >walk barefoot
    >do a mid foot strike
    >put on barefoot shoes
    >suddenly turn into heel strikes

    Reee

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Are we meant to walk with toe strikes?? I thought toe striking was just for running and walking was supposed to be heal/mid strikes?

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        I don't think so.
        At least not on the 'flat' surfaces(roads, trails).
        It feels weird and makes me want to change posture - to shift weight forward, like you're creeping, which doesn't make it a good walk.

  35. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    Been wearing five fingers ("toe shoes") for about a year and have tried multiple models. My experience:

    Pros:
    - Will fix your toes
    - Will fix your gait...by force. Regular running shoes enable heel striking with their crazy amount of foam and padding while minimalist shoes punish you for heels striking and encourage you to come down on the balls of your feet
    - Your calves will get massive. Your calves are nature's shock absorbers. Not having an inch of foam/padding means you have to use your calves as nature intended
    - Your back/posture will improve (maybe). This one is harder to prove, but i think its true

    Cons:
    - I couldn't run as far due to general fatigue, discomfort, and occasional knee pain
    - My Achilles tendons were sore ALL THE TIME
    - Five fingers in particular require special toe socks that are expensive
    - Sizing was difficult and inconsistent (with the five fingers at least)

    These days I only wear my five fingers to the gym or more casual walking around type stuff. For actual running, i wear traditional running shoes because running is already hard...don't need an added layer of complexity and discomfort.

    Shoe Recommendation:
    I really the five fingers V-Run. Perfect balance of tactile feel and cushion. There's lots of love for the KSO Evo's, but I found them to be way to thin for anything but walking around the gym

  36. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    just walk barefoot, imagine shelling $100-$200 for nothing

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      >just dedicate next 2 years of your life to adapt to walking barefoot on small stones and sharp branches, only to get more foot injuries and caluses.

      • 1 month ago
        Anonymous

        Took me about 3 months. You're just a soft fag coping

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      >go monk build irl

  37. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    I've been doing cardio by walking up and down the stairs of my apartment building. I do it in socks so it is like barefoot running.

    >The first time I tried it, I couldn't walk for a week because it was like the first time my feet muscles ever got exercise.
    >The arches on my feet have become more pronounced
    >My calves have gotten huge
    >As my feet and calves became stronger, I definitely noticed an improvement in my posture, gait, movements in general.

    It's been a great improvement, especially when I only do stairs 20 minutes every second day.

  38. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    This is pointless if you’re walking on concrete or any hard floors. Out in the grass or dirt is one thing.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Not it's not.

    • 1 month ago
      Anonymous

      Concrete and other hard surfaces are the best though, no damping so all your energy is reflected back, makes for easy going. Running/walking on soft surfaces sucks balls and is very annoying.

      t. urban barefoot rooner

  39. 1 month ago
    Anonymous

    >barefoot shoes/toe shoes effectiveness at correcting posture, gait, and feet issues?
    Not good.
    Get shoes that fit. Figure out how shoes should fit by walking 40km each day. You'll get it eventually.

    You correct your gait and posture by first fixing your glutes and then strengthening your core.

    If you have issues with feet get on a ankle sprain program, and start figuring it out.

    Most likely you are just dyel as fuck.

    • 4 weeks ago
      Anonymous

      Least clueless post on SwoleShack

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