Foot Doctor Explains If Barefoot And Anatomic Shoes Are Right For You

[@FootDoctorZach]

FREE Updated shoe anatomy guide: geni.us/freeshoeguide

[@ALWATSON4]

I have bunions and I have found that when I wear work boots or traditional shoes with a lot of cushioning at the end of the day the joint bone on my big toe is really sore. But if I wear barefoot shoes it's not sore. And as for rock climbing I find that even with the tight shoes it really helps my big toes cause you are standing on tiny holds with your big toe so it's never sore afterwards I think maybe it strengthens it. Does any of that make sense. Do you have any insights on why this might be the case for me? Thanks.

[@jasonk.2739]

This is the best and most balanced discussion I’ve seen on barefoot shoes.

[@dmeelarp]

I agree with this one thousand percent. Great job once again Doctor Zach on this discussion. I've switched to barefoot shoes for every day activities (Vivobarefoot, Xero, etc.) and still use athletic shoes for tennis and some light running (Asics, Mizuno-with wider toebox models) for the last two years, and most of my pain and past foot issues (plantar fasciitis) have gone away. There isn't a one size fits all solution for me so I've mixed and matched shoes based on activities and that seemed to be working.

[@LOLxArcSaber]

After reviewing so many of these narrow, high heel lifted basketball shoes, I never thought I would see the day of Zach making a 30 minute barefoot shoe video. Been waiting for this day, to hear your opinion on it, so thanks for putting this video out Zach. ❤

[@rickfarber6242]

I wish a tennis/pickleball shoe manufacturer like a New Balance would make a court shoe shaped like a barefoot shoe, zero drop but with the padding and comfort of one of their regular court shoes. Basically take the shape of a Altra Escalante and combine it with a NB 996. It seems like you would have the best of both worlds, at least for some people. Thanks for the video.

[@eduardinodecielo]

I started using barefoot shoes for tennis since I saw your previous video. It was great. I’m number one senior in my state in Spain and a tennis coach. I’m 55 but thanks to you I’ve improved my speed. Thanks Doctor

[@107372]

Hi Eduardo. I am considering this too. Which Barefoot shoe are you using for tennis?

[@eduardinodecielo]

@@107372 ​ Not for tennis, only for warm-up or soft practice. I wear Nike Free Run 5.0. I wear those shoes as much as possible as soon the serious tennis match ends. If I'm hitting with a kid I wear them, but if I'm practicing with my team mates... only about 15 minutes. Wearing those shoes you realize that you need to improve in the sprints and jumps, and I did it!!!!

[@FootHQ]

As a podiatrist, I can 100% agree with you Doc. Great video btw Being in one style shoe only can limit overall athletic performance and a strong agile foot is one that's adaptable. I do wear barefoot shoes in certain circumstances but for sure in an athletic scenario, sport specific shoes seem to have the biomechanical advantage over "barefoot" styled shoes Every shoe has it's place.

[@Cousineddy77]

The thing is "sport specific" shoes are not all the same, many of the athletic shoes put your posture and gait way out of wack from your natural stride. Personally finding basketball shoes has been hard because of just how rigid and "inflared" they are, leaving me with knee soreness and foot pain after wearing, meanwhile I can play in some crossfit models such as the metcon for hours without issue as they are much more flexible, don't have a high heel and have a wider toe box. Another thing that most basketball shoes do is sit on a mountain of foam without lateral protection, if you put any pressure on the edge of the shoe most just flop over and can easily lead to ankle sprains. I can't see how athletes would not benefit from shoes that allow their foot to be more flexible and aligned with their natural stride.

[@elitetennisnutrition]

Hi Dr. Zach! I wanted to share my experience with plantar fasciitis. I played football for many years and struggled with it the entire time. When I moved to Asia, I started walking barefoot every day, and my plantar fasciitis eventually disappeared completely! Now, I wear barefoot shoes for shorter walks, but my legs do get tired after a while. I consider myself an amateur athlete, and my lower body is in the best shape it’s ever been. I also play tennis and follow your recommendations for foot care and injury prevention, which have been really helpful. Recently, I started using the latest model of Adidas Barricade, and they’ve been a game-changer for me on the court! Thanks for all your great advice

[@HarveySpecterYEAH]

Shoutout to @FootDoctorZach. Best shoe reviewer out there.

[@K4R3N]

Absolutely

[@harrisonmudge]

Really appreciate the fairness and attempt to be as unbiased as possible

[@K4R3N]

I use TYR zero drop wide toe box shoes in the gym for everything but squats. For squats I use squat shoes (Nike, not my favorite tbh). For my walks I use Brooks Glycerin running shoes. For Tennis I use Adidas Controls. My son wears New Balance 2ways for highschool basketball, loves them. He hated Jordan 37 (too narrow and boaty). All our decisions are based on content from this channel! Thanks Zach, great work

[@K4R3N]

And both my son and I use Move Game Day insoles in our tennis/basketball shoes. The stock insoles do nothing (this is where the accountants draw the line I guess)

[@GoufinAround_]

The TYR L-1 lifter is quite nice as far as weightlifting shoes go and they're anatomically shaped. I got mine last year during their black friday sale for I think $60 off, so they were 140 instead of 200. If you're just wearing them for squats, well worth the investment as lifting is one of the few areas that an anatomical foot shape is always best imo

[@K4R3N]

@@GoufinAround_ thanks, I'll probably get a pair for myself and my son on Black Friday. We both don't like the Nike, too narrow toe box (as usual with Nike shoes)

[@ryans7097]

As someone who has always been a fan of sneaker design and used to work at a podiatrist owned practice I like seeing your thoughts on different types of footwear products.

[@Kyriecat12]

This is by far the best video I have found! It explains the bruising and blisters! I need help finding the right shoe.

[@wadestuch]

Incredibly good video! Thank you for using your platform and expertise to create such a well rounded discussion on the topic. Far too often I see "foot doctors" on social media saying "never wear these 3 shoe brands" or recommending orthotics or one particular brand. There is something out there for everyone and variety in footwear is important as is choosing the right tool for the job.

[@sheahudson7433]

Totally agree with this video…Having different styles or pairs of shoes is like going in a toolbox because they all have advantages depending on what you’re doing…I have barefoot Vibrams and they give me an advantage in rock climbing, weightlifting, cross country (grass only), and driving whether it’s racing or just long distance traveling. I’m sure there is more but I’m still picking up hobbies 😊

[@qaidj]

Great info - thanks for exploring the topic with evidence and acknowledging potential biases you/we might have.

[@LuZu_]

I really value this video - the public needed less commercialised bias on the effectiveness of trendy athletic footwear. You cleared up so many misconceptions and went into a lot of detail. Have you considered doing physio therapist-ic deep dives into specific foot injuries, addressing causes and methods of improvement? I’ve been watching David Grey Rehab and some of his ankle/foot stuff is really fascinating. Very nerdy, but that kind of thing seems to do well.

[@tiefenverspannt]

Your work is invaluable. A video on barefoot shoes like this was much needed. Science-based, differentiated, and built on patient research and learning processes. It’s very easy to fall into the “regular shoes destroy your feet” lore when you first learn about barefoot shoes, because it sounds reasonable initially. Thanks for the closer look. Learning a lot from you, Doc.

[@zwright1811]

Thank you for taking the time to do this video! I, like a lot of non professional athletes, have a lot of questions about the different types of footwear. It's great to have some questions answered by an expert.

[@Rippy31]

Great video Dr Zach! I have a hip and femur replacement (2004) and bilateral navicular dislocations, after eight years of AFO bracing and two plus years of orthotics I am in a pair of Xero shoes with no orthotics, this direction feels much better for me. Thank you again for the wonderful video!🦋👣

[@TangoffalsUTD]

Really love this longform style of video where you go super in-depth. Would love to see this kind of style of video in the future if you feel there are any other pressing issues you want to discuss with your vast knowledge!

[@IslanderT]

I feel like a lot of people don't want to admit that they need wide shoes. We need more wide shoe options in the industry in general.

[@kyko-pj7uz]

I appreciate the insight and nuance to a recent fad that I had put some money into. I'm glad that I also saw your early videos as I became interested barefoot/anatomical shoes, as I had noticed that even with your "training tennis barefoot" video, you weren't pushing the same kind of narrative the shoe companies did. It made me consider that we have to adapt footwear to the specific circumstances we are in. Thus, I wear tennis shoes based on the need for supporting tennis performance movement, while I wear relatively minimalist shoes for everyday walking and weight training. Great stuff, Zach!

[@priyankatobing]

By far the most objective opinion on barefoot shoes I've heard so far. I've been a huge proponent of barefoot shoes since I've had my Vivobarefoots for about a year and a half, and I feel super happy about it and became very reluctant to wear anything else. As big fan of Vans. But i think this is something that everyone needs to hear, whichever side of the fence you're on. In the end of the day, context matters and there's no such thing as a one size fits all solution to every problem and every person.

[@WolframOctavia]

I find that rotating between different drops helped me avoid the kinds of injuries i incurred from being an obese person trying to get active. I was able to spread the load to different muscle groups throughout the day for different activity. Wide toe box anatomically shaped zero drop for walking (mix of stacks depending on the surface) and higher drop max stack for running. Its helped me avoid pain in my calves and hams.

[@niddelsarmiento4608]

30 minutes of my favorite doctor!! Great video, very clear and facts🤞

[@NotKurt7]

Great video! Thank you for clarifying the whole debacle. Coming from a third year DPT student, this video will help me become a better clinician.

[@ninathepink]

New viewer here. This was extremely helpful! You've for sure got a new subscriber.

[@as112]

I really appreciate this and would love a video on a breakdown on what each type of component actually do for the shoe and feet. The benefit for people with wide or flat or narrow feet. People that need bounce etc etc.

[@jackpotjohnny5005]

Love your passion and thank you for spreading your knowledge…I really enjoy your videos

[@njY2K]

I was just thinking "When is Doc Zach bringing out a new review" and here we are! We appreciate you Doc, thanks for what you do!

[@Jonessmoothies]

Been waiting for this video from Zach!

[@danielbrown2379]

Great video. I’m a super pronator, orthodics since I was 12 but recently I’ve noticed how I wear all this support and I feel like my feet are just along for the ride. I’m not trying to jump into the barefoot life but I am trying to regain my toe/foot mobility with the help of mobility exercises(it took days practicing just to easily move my little toes independently of my big toe) and increased time barefoot. Like you said I think a strong base can then help utilize a shoe’s performance during activities.

[@thebballer69]

I'm a basketball player and a runner who wears barefoot shoes for my daily activities and lifting weight. Been more than 2 years now and I can feel that my ankle and feet are stronger, and my flat foot is getting better. There was one time when I landed on someone's foot after a jumpshot, and luckily I didn't experience any ankle sprain due to stronger ankle and foot

[@thebballer69]

I'm still wearing basketball and running shoes for those activities, but most of the time I'm in barefoot shoes or sandals

[@MihinduAriyasingha]

Great insights. Thanks Dr. Zach.

[@peterookotai6965]

more important than barefoot shoes, is exercising your feet. I have been suffering from severe plantar fascitis for two years. only thing helping is shock wave therapy and foot exercises. if your foot is healthy and you are doing foot exercises regularly, I think bareffot for casual use is great. Speacialist sports where your foot is under extreme strain, i think use proper sports specific shoes... and i go as wide as i can get

[@esweiss98]

Great video very informative. Thanks doc

[@jonathaneng2099]

So glad you made a video on this topic. Questions: 1. I’ve read / watched that big toe alignment is critical for big toe engagement and function, which then helps to support the arch. With traditional shoes, the big toe is “asleep” thus resulting in less supported arch. Thoughts on this? 2. You mentioned you don’t think barefoot shoes are good for walking. Couldn’t a barefoot shoe still train and strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles during walking? Not just in athletic training? Especially if they’re on the weaker end of the spectrum to start?

[@judaxzeug7858]

A very good and unbias explaination. I know work boots are not your thing but hopefully you could make a video on Pacific Northwest Boots.

[@K4R3N]

I love walking on sand, great workout. Andy Murray did a lot of that after his hip replacement to get back on the court

[@GoufinAround_]

I think the number one thing that people, especially the people who say you have to wear only barefoot/anatomically shaped shoes or the people who say that those are to be avoided at all costs, forget that shoes just need to fit and work best for their designed purpose.

[@NDallas100]

I’m nobody in this argument besides a direct example. I believe of course we can benefit from shoes for specific events. Running, tennis, basketball, etc. I just have been amazed by the transformation of my body after switching to barefoot shoes as my daily wear. I work on a concrete floor everyday and everyone goes from high stack shoe to high stack shoe trying to fix their ailments. In my opinion and experience this only continues to keep their feet, ankles, knees, and even back, very weak.

[@A4Foot1Giant]

Absolutely perfect timing on this. It’s so hard to find information from a Doctor on these types of shoes. I’d love to see you do an interview or content review of Squat University. He has a lot of amazing info, but his evangelical-ness on anatomical shoes was confusing to me after doing more research.

[@od_avenon]

I've bought shoes from Vivo a couple times simply because they marketed products that were wide enough for my feet. But it's nice to have some level of padding when you're often walking on concrete

[@simonthomas2242]

Xero actually did a footshaped shoes for basketball with Justin Holiday. It's very interesting because in a shoe of this type you have a really flexible sole in which you can optimally use all of the 100 muscles in your feet. You have a toe box that actually keep your big toe alignement natural so he can support your foot arch the best way. You have 0 drop that don't deform your posture etc...and you add all the support you need for this specific sport. Of course you need to have trained feet to assume this shoes but the benefits are huge. I understand why you need your toes to be snug in an athletic shoes. But you can make a shoes that is actually footshaped and narrow...We can see the disaster on some of our best athlete in the world like Lebron James and Usain Bolt both wearing shoes that actually pinch all their toes in an unnatural position.

[@timo7641]

barefoot shoes for gym use is very practical (tho no protection) I can run it on treadmills and I can do weightlifting without switching shoes and its portable, tho bringing running shoes and weightlifting shoes is much better but not practical

[@jackjackdom]

I just always liked a bit of room in my non-sport shoes. I alway buy half or even a size bigger depending on the model and i found its much more comfortable for all day use.

[@nickamarit]

All I need is zero drop because I use all my shoes for downhill skateboarding. Having the same heel and toe stack allows for equal turning leverage onto the board for both the heelside and toeside leans. In fact, I do want some impact protection for when I need to bail and run it out, so being fully barefoot isn't actually that great for my use. I wish shoe makers would specify the stack height for the heel and toe, so I will know that a shoe is zero drop or not. There are shoes like the Nike Ishod 2, which is zero drop if you change to a flat insole (instead of the stock Air Max insole). edit: The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is also another shoe that is not zero-drop due to its insole, so an insole swap can make it zero drop.

[@simonthomas2242]

You haven't talk about the fact the big toe is usefull to support the arch of the foot. Traditionnal footwear actually change the natural position of it. The right option is maybe to make more footshaped shoes for differents sports more or less narrow with more or less support for fast directions changes but with a good toe alignement. What do you think about that?

[@BrettPrice1983]

I find the xero 360 with the move gameday insole a perfect basketball shoe for myself. Granted I've been wearing minimal shoes exclusively for the past decade. I must mention that using the included insole in a barefoot shoe on a hardwood court is not a good idea. The sport specific insole and becoming lighter on your feet are both important for making it work.

[@yusof_ayran]

I agree on that cushioned shoes with anatomic toe box aren't the best.

[@rdaffon23]

the most drastic case of a group of people whose feet physically changed due to the use of specific footwear are the old concubines who practiced foot binding. Absolutely horrific. It wasn't for sports performance but societal acceptance that women with smaller feet were more appealing.

[@barefoot-gibb]

Some of them only have enough foam to serve as a buffer between the footbed material and the rubber. Without it, the friction could cause major problems and make the shoes less durable on the inside 2:40

[@jjonz50]

Howdy, Just discovered your channel and have watched several of your shoe review videos. I'm looking for a new pickleball court shoe. My favorite shoe for pickleball was my Five Ten mountain bike shoes but the durability was crummy. I decided to try a pair of Sketcher (sp?) pickleball/court shoes as there was a local store where I could try on the shoes to get the correct fit with their odd sizing. I found the midsole too soft and too tall. So I bought a Xero court shoe and was pretty happy with it until I played solid for 2 1/2 hours and got what felt like a stress fracture in an upper foot bone. I temporarily went back to the Sketchers which allowed the bone (or ligament or whatever) to heal. Then I saw your video on the Orthollite insoles. I may have to go in search of one of those to try in the Xero court shoe.

[@Cousineddy77]

try the nike metcon, its been one of the only shoes that gets the benefit of barefoot (flexible, wide toe box, lateral stability) without the had impact of a true barefoot shoe on a hard surface. I can play basketball in them for hours without pain.

[@yosefw6938]

This is why I think a cohort study over time within a 10-year timeframe with kiddos as the main subject for the shoes argument would be interesting, but ethically, it'd be problematic though. Besides, as a med myself, we could only think of the patient in the present times.

[@mkscott12]

I am wearing Hykes Escapes barefoot shoes and best thing I ever did, my arches came back and foot pain is gone after getting used to them. Never going back to regular shoes.

[@jeffjames15]

Hope they make basketball shoes with super wide toe boxes…..although I agree with Dr. Zach that anatomic toe box shoe is not efficient for court sports, the problem is that many basketball shoes today are just too narrow for the toes. I think they need to find a sweet spot in the shoe design 🎉

[@FootDoctorZach]

Yup right there ☝️

[@roscoe007]

Can you plz review more barefoot shoes Zach like the feel grounds sneakers, and the origo sneakers 🔥🔥

[@verrirt3211]

In asia, specifically in the Philippines, we often start playing basketball and volleyball barefoot or wearing just sandals/slippers for years. Do you think those early stages positively affect the foot/leg health of our bodies?

[@mainsourcery]

I invest in Vivo (& Vibram FF) mainly because of the zero-drop footbed & virtually no cushion. Problem is, they’re not made for something like hoops, so traction is garbage & lockdown is severely lacking. I’d be swimming in those shoes, and obviously that would be problematic in a highly-dynamic environment. I hoop in Nike Blazers to resemble a “barefoot” shoe closest, even though there’s a bit of a heel stack. If some of these barefoot sneaker companies made hoops sneakers with tech that improves traction & lockdown (I can bare with a narrow forefoot if need be), and they look halfway decent, I’d probably take the dive.

[@tiefenverspannt]

Xero might be getting there. I haven't seen any reviews on their basketball shoes (not sure if they're even released yet), but they've signed Justin Holiday and afaik some WNBA players

[@mainsourcery]

@@tiefenverspannt yeah I seen Justin Holiday. They don’t look bad, but I think they would function better with a few changes. Make it low-top, separate the lace holes further from each other, and add a strap to increase lockdown, especially at the forefoot.

[@AnthonySmith-bq2if]

Cant wait for you to do a video on Nike LeBron TR1

[@PeteskiPotato]

What I took from this. Like everything, there are pros and cons, the answer is nuanced and dependent on the biomechanics and anatomy of the individual. When it comes to shoes, pick the right tool for the job. Only, there is way more information that I can apply to my situation to make an informed decision based on my needs. And, if you are a shill for big shoe, you're terrible at it because you didn't present anything as the magic bullet.

[@MangaSword8]

30 mins? Yes lawd ❤

[@LeoJohann]

About the rock climbers, a lot of the climbers I know wear barefoot shoes or wide shoes in their everyday non exercise life

[@JDexia]

The video i secretly always wanted!

[@DLFfitness1]

Thank you.

[@johnsmith-zf1fd]

I see no benefit to jamming the toes together, partcually jamming the big toe in, which is what traditional shoes do. Altra is the best compromise between the different types of footwear.

[@alanperez.8826]

I don't mind a high angled taper. What I don't like. Is that ridiculous amount of inflare on shoes that puts a strain on my lateral toes

[@TurnRiver]

Barefoot shoes helps with bunions, but with the wide toe box you can end up with blisters and corns instead. Great for weight training in the gym, bad for cardio and every day walking.

[@paulbraun2126]

Would you recomment barefoot & anotomic toe box for everyday wear/play for children?

[@AdnanKidwai]

What about people who lateral ankle stability isssues and/or peroneal tendonitis? There is conflicting studies whether barefoot footwear or cushioned neutral footwear is better for them even for just walking

[@calix1111]

Would you be interested in reviewing a basketball shoe from an Indonesian brand? I would be very curious to see your opinion!

[@bitw434]

FDZ disrupted the shoe youtube game!!! Ive noticed im only watching his channel when it comes to shoes

[@estherbrun401]

Can you review Cypher Pickleball shoes?

[@ryansolomon4178]

I would be curious to know if you feel this type of shoes is a benefit for Cross Training? Also, is that the Frank Works shoe? Would love to see a review!

[@ilio300]

f ckkkk, I am so disappointed that I didn't consider barefoot shoes as dangerous in any way. I have been practice taekwondo, walk barefoot at home, used to walk barefoot on the beach, esp. during warmer seasons. I used to wear shoes (for 9 years) with higher heels, eg. basketball shoes which supported my weak ankles. After tkd practice I improved legs' muscles and feet strength, and because of that I started to feel like my casual shoes are limiting my range of motion. I switched to barefoot, but after 3 days!!! of wearing them, my achilles started to crackle really badly and hurt. That happened over 1 month ago and I'm still waiting for orthopedist visit. I received recommendation from my GP "walk as little as possible"... Miss gym and my tkd classes :/ But thanks to the video I know that the pain isn't from nowhere :(

[@Kyriecat12]

Where are you located?! Just found you!

[@LuZu_]

To reiterate the Doc, BAREFOOT SHOES ARE FOR TRAINING AND STRENGTHENING. NOT FOR THE COURT.

[@rydakule]

Justin Holiday and Xero Shoes are about to bring a barefoot basketball shoe to the market. Justin already wore them in the playoffs as a proof of concept.

[@barefoot-gibb]

I play in my barefoot shoes exclusively. Cushion and supports offer performance benefits, but there is no actual need for anything of the sort if you're conditioned for it.

[@LuZu_]

@@barefoot-gibb i respect it but, you’re hindering your performance and likely increasing risk of injury.

[@LuZu_]

@@rydakule I’ve got a feeling they’re not going to be very good but we’ll see. To be clear, as someone with bunions, I still rely on Wade’s for their more anatomical shape. If these Xero’s have limited cushion at the heel and lack support, performance will be hindered. Do you agree that these are necessary components to a court shoe, not considering stacked metatarsal propulsion?

[@barefoot-gibb]

@LuZu_ I'm thirty with a day job. I don't care if I'm "hindering performance" because I'm just trying to play a game of pick-up ball. And if you can tell me exactly how I'm increasing my risk of injury, I'd love to see it. I've yet to get injured in barefoot shoes since I've switched and I was constantly injured beforehand

[@haiz1079]

Please breakdown the li ning liren assassin 1

[@VictorElGreco]

As a cyclist, I spend a lot of time in relatively narrow, *incredibly* inflexible shoes- by design, of course, carbon fiber soles and all that. So barefoot shoes are my compensation, my happy place. ☺️

[@asthmaticrhino]

This video has confirmed FDZ has gotten his hands on the weird Frankworks tennis shoes 👀

[@FootDoctorZach]

Yep - have had them for a while

[@amardeepkhahra2070]

Thanks for the video! So it sounds like you'd suggest doing some basketball training in barefoot shoes. Do you have worries about cutting and sudden movements in them? Also do you know of any low/no drop basketball shoes thay could help with the transition? Thanks!

[@LuZu_]

I don’t think he should’ve mentioned playing tennis in them as anything but a novelty. You can practice athletic movements in barefoot shoes, but I, and I’m sure he, would suggest keeping it controlled in a gym environment (e.g. Lateral plyometrics) and not on the court. They’re for strengthening the feet and lower body chain in training.

[@amardeepkhahra2070]

@@LuZu_ appreciate the response! More for training than full play...So for basketball, maybe shooting and light movement, but stopping well short of game-speed drills? Is that what you (and Zach) are getting at?

[@jaybird634]

Thanks for breaking this down for us novice sneaker heads ! Lol

[@iugradmark]

Great info as always. Does anyone make barefoot shoes for pickleball and would you recommend them as a training tool?

[@somelar]

Hi Zach. Greeting from Norway. Would you recommend barefoot type of shoes to toddlers?

[@alexbucic]

As you mentioned in the video that you tried barefoot shoes , wich barefoot shoes (brand from EU) would you recommend for tennis training?

[@abextras2005]

jordan 38 low or gt cut 3🙌

[@isaaccouch6238]

can you please review shoes by Serious Player Only?

[@Lukiema]

Do you think barefoot training is good after an ankle sprain to get a better ground feel to have better proprioception for the ankle to understand where it is

[@zeroelus]

"Someone buys barefoot/minimalist shoes and gets shin splits from going way too hard on them" ...oops! Yeah that was me initially. I used a few of those puma sneakers that where also really good for driving but barely had any sole, but I eventually wised up/stopped pushing too hard and had some success with using Nike Free runs...however living in the desert and sometimes just going on a few walks where sidewalks where not always well maintained or present, you have the possibility of some discarded big thorn lying around and poking through your foot, it happeened a few times to me and that eventually made me turn to slightly more cushioned shoes with more defined/tougher soles. Also since most of my walking is in unnatural settings, it makes sense to me to have some "unnatural" extra support/cushion to sort of gain back the squish/give of what should be more natural surfaces. As I mostly do either strength training or tennis on hard courts, I can't imagine not using appropriate court shoes (and very happily using Gel Res 9 after your recommendation Dr!) On the topic of issues with feet, the loved one who suffers most of that has largely been my MIL, but she tells stories of how she just had to re-use whatever shoe her older sisters used and that they would often fit poorly, I blamed her issues on that, and as my wife has none of those issues didn't give much more thought to it. After what you mention I do have to give some thought, at least to one of my kids, the one who LOVES being barefoot and has nice hobbit footsies *cough precious* with (slightly) splayed out fingers. This is very much something I'll be keeping in mind for her next check up to ask the Dr.

[@jeffjames15]

Love Nike free run… hope they make some free run shoe with tougher outsole for hiking😅

[@myfureverbabiesworld8133]

What about high cush / cushioned zero drop shoes like Altra?

[@tedneanderthal7373]

Are barefoot shoes similar to negative heel / Earth shoes? I see similarities.

[@estherbrun401]

What about anatomic shoes for pickleball when you have Morton's Neuroma? If so, Which ones?

[@FootDoctorZach]

Good use case if you have adequate offloading so no barefoot style- unfortunately I don’t have a great option to recommend in that category as the ones our currently are either way unstable or are just no go running shoes - better off with a NB 2E to allow some expansion

[@haku1082]

Could you give recommendations for barefoot shoes? Or are they all pretty similar to the point where it doesnt make sense ro recommend one over the other?

[@FootDoctorZach]

Yeah you said it- if it’s barefoot is shouldn’t really have anything that differentiates it- that being said the uncivilized sneaker has the best uppers and lockdown I’ve seen on a barefoot shoe so if I were buying one it’d be those

[@stevenglen5971]

.... barefoot shoes great for Strength training and casually walking around...running though I'd just go with either running on grass or buying some Altra or Topos or even some 4e new balance with 4-6mm drop, concrete and asphalt is way to hard for feet long term .... Personally in the gym on leg days I'm in barefoot shoes on upper body days I'm in vibram 5 finger because most of the floor is rubberised mat, so I can get away with it. Running is varied but it's all low ish drop but with cush. Controlled(form) sessions on a track I use an Altra escalante Racer, to work on my gait. Faster or longer sessions, I'm going with more cush but still low drop so Topo, new balance fresh (4e cos I got froddo feet and quite wide toes) 1080s and more v4s, and I just wear 'normal' basketball, shoes when I play ...I've learnt barefoot shoes is a tool

[@lorenzocardinale697]

What do you think about uncivilized sneaker 2.0 by kneeovertoesguy ??? Can you do a performance review ???

[@FootDoctorZach]

They are the barefoot shoes I’d buy if I were in the market but it mainly comes down to the tread and uppers which I think theirs does the best - not much else to review about them tbh

[@karvinerlangga4281]

doc, i have a question, my left foot is kinda flat, but my right foot is a little bit high on the arch, so what do you suggest for me on what type of shoe for me to wear? (im a shifty player, my weight is about 55kg, and my height is about 5’4)

[@LuZu_]

I recommend David Grey Rehab

[@Lukiema]

Do you think jordan 1 as a barefoot shoe is just rubber and an insole? Do you think these shoes would work for training those muscles when barefoot?

[@mainsourcery]

The heel-to-toe drop in an AJ1 is horrendous, so unless your foot can properly function inside of the shoe, your foot is gonna slide forward & crash. And that leather is gonna stretch, so the lockdown is gonna suck. Or just wear an extra pair of socks.

[@Dub23zero]

Coffey!?❤

[@lyheyhey3521]

Should I wear barefoot shoes at weight training?

[@hippie_4762]

They're "right" for just about anybody, but what they ARE is a training tool. They allow you to train on some weak points that other shoe's bandaid. Which is great, but you should treat them as such, with PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD. It's not a lifestyle overhaul, it's not your new you, it's a training tool.