SHOE COST / barefoot shoes are 5x cheaper than cushion

[@AndrewFolts]

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[@rdverse1]

Do you have a Strava profile? I think it'd be great to see a barefoot runner in action (I have seen many people talk but haven't seen anyone run). I am still on the fence to believe it's good. I would appreciate it if you could share your runs on Strava. Thank you :)

[@AndrewFolts]

@@rdverse1 Nah, sorry, I don't take any technology with me when I run or track milage. I just run whatever milage/pace feels good. Usually about 3-5 miles, anywhere from 6-8-minute miles. The only way to find out for yourself is just by trying it, starting slow, and seeing how you like it. (:

[@rdverse1]

@@AndrewFolts Alrighty! thank you

[@duckyluver12]

They all scrunch up your feet and cut off circulation. Yes! Thank you for saying it! I spent so many years running in the "widest" shoes I could find in the running stores and still my toes would be numb by the end of my runs even though I technically had enough space at the end of the toe box. I dealt with pain from shoes my whole life and just assumed there was something wrong with my feet. Now I wear vivobarefoot shoes, and they're shaped life my feet, and life is wonderful and it's not painful to walk :)

[@AndrewFolts]

One time, I was working with a running customer, and he asked for a wide width of a shoe, so I brought it out. He says: "This is not a wide." I say: "Yea it is, look at the shoe tag." Then he says again: "This wide is not wide." And I look down at the shoe and laugh: "Yea...you're right, that wide is not wide." Glad you escaped the prison of "wide." (:

[@justinreynolds6318]

I found Vivabarefoot overall not wide enough. I wear Xero shoes now.

[@svenvanderzwaag1012]

@@justinreynolds6318 in general vivos are wider than xeros

[@Jaigarful]

Even in Altras I've been having this issue since I started wearing barefoot casual shoes as well. My toes just went numb on my right foot and I couldn't figure out why. Switched to toe socks and it seems to help, based off just one run, but I dunno.

[@ExtremeChallenges]

the xero shoes look a lot better in real life then on the website

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, good to know. I'm probably going to catch flak for the Xero comment until the end of time. (:

[@davidzauhar6813]

Here's another shout-out for Xero shoes. I've been wearing them for a year now: and here's my favorite advantage over xero's barefoot shoes and the cushioned shoes I used to wear: when the cushions wore down, my back would start to hurt, and once your back starts hurting, bad things can happen... but I didn't always have time or money to get shoes, so I had to take a chance and put up with back pain for a month or so. Barefoot shoes don't wear down in a way that puts my back (and everything else) at risk. So it's been a year without a shoe-induced back ache. But if you don't like how their shoes look, give their sandals a try. The Z-Trail is on sail for $40, and if they happen to have your size, you have a sandal that will last a long long time.

[@joeb4294]

I wear the Xero Oswego's for everyday casual wear. But I also felt that most of the Xero shoes didn't look as durable or premium as other brands. I have Vivobarefoot running shoes and boots. Perhaps it's the Xero website design that could use a touch of refinement - not meant as a knock, rather as constitutive criticism :) *constructive criticism

[@GenevaCat]

Lol they're still ugly in rl imo but i love them. They are comfy af

[@Thebirdemoji]

Honestly the HFS was a good shoe but I'd probably get the aqua ones Just get something with logs on it don't get anything flat The tire tread on the HFS doesn't really grip anything.

[@JohnMoseley]

Hey! Just come here from your cushion v barefoot video, where we were discussing all this. Yes, the argument is so damn strong. I hadn't even considered the eco aspect and had no idea that traditional running shoes needed replacing so often. A little more anecdotal evidence: I wore almost nothing but seemingly comfortable everyday sneakers for years and started to develop apparently chronic foot pains. Eventually I realised my pinky toes were being pinched by my Pumas and went out looking for wider shoes. After just two weeks in Vivobarefoots, _all_ the foot pain went away. Later on, when I found even less constricting shoes for my wide feet and gave some serious attention to my left pinky toe and the muscle below it, my knee pain (in my left knee) went away too, an interesting correlation. I'd been told by a doctor that this knee pain was just part of the normal wear and tear of ageing and would be with me for the rest of my life. Ha.

[@AndrewFolts]

Haha, omg. Don't even get me started on doctors. You have no idea how many times I've heard the same story of people with "incurable conditions" that "required" drugs or surgery who then took matters into their own hands (or feet) and solved everything in a matter of weeks with barefoot shoes. If I hear "normal wear and tear" one more time, I will throw myself out a window! But more seriously, I love hearing these stories. It's like YES, we're slowly moving humanity in the right direction one foot at a time!

[@zacbrach]

What did you switch to? You like your new shoes even better than the vivo’s?

[@JohnMoseley]

@@zacbrach These days I alternate between three different pairs of shoes. My sneakers are Freet Connect 2s, now sadly discontinued. I'm hoping they'll come out with a version 3 as the sole was wonderfully flexible and comfortable and their other sneakers are stiffer, more like vivos. Technically, the Connect 2s probably aren't wider than Vivos, but the very soft upper means I don't feel anywhere near as constricted in them, though I could do with a little more space for my big toes. My everyday shoes are Softstar Sawyers, a little like desert boots. As far as I can tell, except for the Primal Runamoc, another Softstar shoe, these are the widest shoes in the world and I, with my wide feet, am glad of every millimeter. Expensive, but worth it to me and they seem to be lasting. Definitely enough room for both big and little toes, which is a wonderful thing to experience. I also have a pair of Lems Boulder Boots, which, though technically barefoot, have a considerably thicker sole (10 mm). Good for winter, very comfortable, and I find them especially good for cycling. Make sure to go at least a half size up from your usual, or a whole size if you want to wear them with thick socks, but as long as you do, they're pretty good for toe space.

[@zacbrach]

@@JohnMoseley thank you so much I will give them all a look. I already ordered some vivos last week since in my initial research they were the best I could find. Hopefully they’re wide enough. 😁

[@JohnMoseley]

@@zacbrach You're very welcome. :-) For most people, Vivos are wide enough and a lot of people love them. But maybe take care when they first arrive: try them out indoors and if they're not right in any way, know that you can send them back and try one or more of the excellent alternatives. For sneakers, another is Wildlings. I've never tried them, but they look great and people rave about them. They're probably what I'll go for next time I need sneakers, especially if Freet don't do a new version of the Connects.

[@JasonFarrell]

Hey, new sub here. I've watched a bunch of other barefoot/zerodrop/healthyfeet==healthybody vids recently, but only felt moved to sub to yours for some odd reason. I've worn heavy heeled boots my whole life, and while not a runner I do walk many miles every day, so I count myself lucky to have never been injured. However, now in my 40s, I've recently developed some out-toeing and knee pain in my right leg, which prompted my trip down this barefoot research rabbit hole. Leaning toward a pair of Lems Boulder zerodrop boots for transitioning, and then a pair of more barefoot shoes or sandals for summer. Thanks - and looking forward to more... reviews, advocacy, "big shoe cushion conspiracy", etc.

[@AndrewFolts]

Haha, "Big Shoe." Yes...they're plotting world domination as we speak. (: Lems are a great option for transitioning. I've not tried them yet, but have heard all good things. Knee pain really sucks, I hope them Lems help out!

[@chark503]

So glad I found your channel! You would think the points you made are obvious, but so many people (like you said) are so wrapped up in what a shoe looks like. I've been buying new balance shoes every 4 months for years...and this whole time I could have had only ONE pair of vivos! WHAT! Dude, I'm sold!

[@AndrewFolts]

Think of all the vacations you'll be able to take with that unspent cushion money! (:

[@rodrigosouto9502]

Hey Andrew, thank you for the analysis. I just bought my first barefoot shoes and they arrived yesterday. My first impression is that I feel *way* more stable and even comfortable with them.

[@AndrewFolts]

That's great, Rodrigo! Wish I could do the transition all over again, it was so much fun. Which shoes did you go with?

[@grahammizzi4368]

Thankful for finding this channel, I am not a runner, maybe I'll get into it, but was looking for workout shoes that have less cushion, Reebok used to have minimalist trainer shoes but they basically are all super thick now. I ordered a pair of vivo a little pricer but worth it

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks for stopping by, Graham! You can also check out "Revivo" for refurbished Vivo's at discount prices. Just found out about it the other day from a comment, and the guy said they felt like new.

[@grahammizzi4368]

@@AndrewFolts thank you for that information

[@den2335]

I feel attacked. I absolutely love my Xero Prios. Great video though! I always enjoy your input!

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, everyone has their own preferences. I’m glad you enjoy them. And let’s be honest...getting outside is the only thing that really matters. Thanks for watching! (:

[@TirnanHealy]

I can’t believe our philosophies line up so much! Sometimes I wonder if I’m a bit mad in thinking minimalist shoes feel way better than cushioned shoes and it’s great to find someone talk about the similar things, here’s to our shoes lasting 1000’s more miles than normal 🤝

[@AndrewFolts]

Like Tim Ferriss says: "Everything popular is wrong." Idk how it got this way, but once you break out of The Cushion Matrix, you never go back, ha! (:

[@user-mo8ul]

Ahh yes this is finally the shoe I have been looking for! All of my life I remember going to a shoe store and seeing shoes like Nike, Under Armor and Addis and them being so narrow as a child with wide feet ( like feet are supposed to be) I remember my feet always hurting after wearing the thick shoes for like a month. I love that shoe brand are going back to the basics now!

[@AndrewFolts]

Destiny! Feel you, can't believe I ever stuffed my feet into pointy soccer cleats.

[@Saiarts_yt]

I like my Whitin Cross Trainers. Honestly I disliked the insoles so I removed it for longetivity. Many people said they look like gloves but I don't bother about it. I feel a good pride in conditioning with my minimalist shoes. Thanks to you sir!

[@AndrewFolts]

Glad you like them! I think they're supposed to resemble a Vibram FiveFingers-type shoe.

[@SaphirBeere]

That transition in the intro was soo good! Well edited!

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, that was fun. Need to do something like that again. (:

[@buffalomind6838]

Wow! You broke it down very well. I am sure many haven’t thought of the cost actually going to barefoot shoes in being less expensive than commonly worn shoes Not traditional let alone natural as for a waaaay longer of time we’ve worn closer to barefoot shoes, or when not in them literally walked around where suitable in bare feet. Thanks for the info.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, it feels weird to pay more for less, but in the end it works out to the opposite, ha!

[@jacqui4green]

Very sensible and inspiring vid! Love ur humble, humorous style. Your info may change my running life, we shall see...Thank you.

[@AndrewFolts]

Thank you! Keep me posted!

[@hawkf9199]

I see the comment on Xero. I like the brand but I use the hfs for casual wear. They're like slippers. I got the Primus Lite and I like them a little more and they're definitely stronger than the hfs. If the vivos seem expensive or sold out look at the Revivo website (vivos recycled shoe site) Excellent condition is like new and cheaper.

[@AndrewFolts]

Just discovered Revivo the other day. What a cool idea! Good to know on the condition. Will definitely buy some when my current ones wear out!

[@lynneann9166]

Your videos are good and engaging. Thank you so much for educating the masses.

[@AndrewFolts]

Glad you're having fun with them. I have a good time making them too. Cheers! (:

[@gabriellajeane]

Awesome video. Would love to hear your thoughts on different barefoot shoes (what you've tried, what works, what features to look for, and affordable options for those just starting out)

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks! I'd recommend the Vibram V-Trek (4mm) for hiking and the Primus Lite (3mm) for road or light trail running. The tread is the most important part. Don't buy anything over 4mm unless you're getting it for serious technical terrain (loose, sharp rocks) because you'll lose the feeling of the ground and your feet won't be able to come down smoothly. 1mm might seem tiny, but it makes all the difference in the world when you're talking about reactions that happen in a nanosecond. If you're concerned about price, you can usually pick up some Vivo's on sale for $100 and Vibram's for even less. Also remember, when taken care of, a barefoot shoe will last 10x longer than a cushion shoe, so they might seem pricy, but they're very cheap in the longterm and can last for years. Don't waste your money on cheap shoes-they'll just fall apart and won't give you a real barefoot experience. Toebox shape is the other key factor. Never buy something that looks pointy. The tip of the shoe should be wide and kind of squared off. Best of luck in your journey!

[@gabriellajeane]

@@AndrewFolts Thank you so much for the recommendation! I hike a lot and would like to get into trail running so the Vibram V-Trek (4mm) sounds great. Thanks for taking the time to write a long reply

[@AndrewFolts]

@@gabriellajeane You're welcome. Happy trail running! (:

[@veetwinboy1]

Great video. I hope your channel grows as you have a great style of delivery and I especially like your little graphics which pop up from time to time. I’ve been searching KZbin for info on minimalist running and you appeared 😁 I’ve suffered from PF in the past, and having recently returned to running its starting to recur, so I want to nip it in the bud. Thought the best way was to transition away from cushioned shoes. I’ve owned a pair of Merrell vapour gloves for a while so went for a 2 mile jog in them today. Don’t want to push it too much too soon (especially as I did 9 miles in my cushions yesterday!). What was your experience of PF which you mentioned in the video?

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks, Paul! Yea, cushion shoes are the #1 cause of plantar fasciitis. When I was running in the Altra Torin's, it got so bad it felt like needles stabbing the bottom of my heel. The three things that helped me the most were barefoot shoes, no more stretching (ever), and not following a training plan (i.e. just going out for whatever distance and at whatever speed I feel like on a given day). Apart from shoes, PF is simply an overuse injury-so listen to your body, rest when you need it, and you'll never have another issue for the rest of your life.

[@arturogranados1133]

Minimalist runner for a year here--I think your videos are very informative and good especially for runners who have never been exposed to barefoot running before. However, I do not understand what you mean about the calluses that you mention one needs to be a barefoot runner. I run at least 6 miles a day on either Luna sandals or Xero shoes and my feet are baby soft. I am curious if your foot contact to the ground is too long, or if you are causing friction to your foot by twisting before pulling up. So, my input would be that one does not need to develop a callus in order to be a minimalist runner--it is most important to achieve the proper form and cadence through practice.

[@AndrewFolts]

I'm running in 3mm Vivo's, so they're thin enough to mold to the tiny ridges and stones in the pavement. Same for trails. This creates callus. Your feet are baby soft because Xero's are around 5.5mm and your Luna's (I'm guessing) are even thicker, so they stay smooth, even on rough terrain-and smoothness won't create callus. My Vivo's wouldn't have lasted 3 months, let alone three years, if I had been twisting on the landing. Twisting destroys rubber. I spent my first 2,000 miles on roads, which are rougher on your skin than trails, so that could also be a factor.

[@christophkonir1618]

Why aren‘t all shoes footshaped? Hilarious 😂! I‘ve been asking myself this painful question for so long! Can‘t go back to normal shoes anymore! At least for running and walking. Although I occasionally have to wear snowbaord boots, climbing shoes, shoes for a vie verrate (Klettersteig), protective shoes (working or alpine hiking), soccer shoes, etc. I wish these shoe types were all footshaped. I just don‘t get it anymore. People are so easily brainwashed into industy standards. I mean not every shoe sole has to be super thin or flexible but come on industry, at least make them a bit more footshaped. Sadly, I don‘t think it will happen anytime soon. Please proof me wrong...

[@AndrewFolts]

Used to play soccer too. I've always wondered why the pros never had cleats shaped like feet. I mean, you'd think Cristiano Ronaldo, making $35 million per year, would have been able to get a custom foot-shaped cleat. But no. His feet are just as squashed as everyone else's, ha! I feel like the industry has just painted itself into a corner. I mean...how do you explain suddenly making shoes that fit after decades of foot binding? Sigh...human beings...

[@magerapstar]

@@AndrewFolts I've also been thinking about this and talking to my mates about it! We can't believe that we can't find a foot shaped cleat! If anyone has an answer to this I am all ears. I can't wear my cleats anymore, they just suck.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@magerapstar I know. It's like Christiano Ronaldo didn't even have foot-shaped cleats. His $500,000,000 toes are squashed like everyone else's, ha!

[@TR-wm3sg]

I've been breaking in a pair of minimalist shoes over the past couple of months and am now to the point where I wear them almost exclusively. I'm still running mostly on softer surfaces like grass, gravel, and dirt, but am gradually working in more pavement (much as I prefer running on a trail, sometimes pavement is the only option). Anyway, since I have transitioned to the minimalist shoes, the persistent ankle/Achilles/heel/tib pain I had been having since last summer has reduced by about 90%! It's amazing! I don't have to walk around in pain anymore! Full disclosure: I've also started MAF training, meaning my runs are much easier now so that, I'm sure, has had an effect on my decrease in pain too.

[@AndrewFolts]

90%...right on, that's amazing progress! The MAF philosophy is really cool-slow and steady really does end up winning the race. Which shoes are you using?

[@stevlehr]

I ran typically 3-5 miles, 3 or 4 days a week until I entered my 50's. Sometimes my runs were after playing tennis matches. By my 40's, I was playing more and more tennis matches and eventually felt the runs were superfluous. I did not hurt my feet or legs until late 50's, playing tennis. Several years ago I bought a couple pairs of Nike Free training shoes and decided to play tennis in them. They had a lower heel lift and less cushioning than typical tennis shoes. Zero lateral stiffness. I moved better on court and actually got more miles out of Frees than with typical tennis shoes. Getting rid of the lateral stiffness reduced my ankle sprains from not much to not at all. They also fit my narrow feet better than tennis shoes. The fit is so good that I could play tennis in them without tying laces. I can play on court as long as my current fitness permits. Sole wear is almost all in the forefoot area. I think I enjoy some of the tactile improvement that runners in minimal shoes report. All good, right? Nike quit making them after 2018. Hard to find, increasingly expensive, and eventually impossible. I've wondered if I could get away with playing tennis in a minimal running shoe like a Xero Prio. Or, what? I'm unaware of any tennis shoe made today that would work for me. I don't know any tennis players who think my shoe requirements makes sense. Age 73.

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Stephen, you could take a look at the Altra Vanish. It has a small amount of cushion (even less than the Nike Free and is zero-drop. Also the brand Innov-8 has some good lightly cushioned options. I haven't played tennis for years, so I have no idea whether cushion is necessary, but if not, the 3mm VivoBarefoot Primus Lite's would be a great option. I found Xero's (5.5mm) to be too stiff and thick for concrete. For some reason, 3-4mm just works on hard surfaces. I ran on concrete with my Lite's for two years, and never had any injuries. Xero's tend to be wide, and I have semi narrow feet, but Vivo's fit me perfectly. Good luck on your shoe search!

[@stevlehr]

@@AndrewFolts Andrew, thanks, I'll look into your suggestions. Most all frequent tennis players wear heavily cushioned shoes and hurt feet are not uncommon.

[@gregk2389]

I went to minimalist running shoes and now hate when have to wear anything else for anything in life.

[@AndrewFolts]

It's literally the worst. (:

[@arne.munther]

I couldn't agree more. I started running again at the end of october after a few years pause. I was the smoothest of restart. Haven't experienced any sore legs, I couldn't walk on the following days, as I did when I had a hard run in the cushion shoes. I feel such a pleasure running in my Vivobarefoot shoes .

[@AndrewFolts]

That's great, Arne. Which Vivo's?

[@arne.munther]

@@AndrewFolts At present I am running in a pair of Geo Racer. I had the white with orange, I think the modelname was One. It was a cooperation with Lee Saxby. The biggest problem for me with the Vivo's, is not how long the sole last, but how long the front of the upper part last.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@arne.munther Nice! Yea, it's funny, someone should conduct a study on why certain parts of shoes wear out, because it's always different for everyone.

[@deter3]

same question I asked . my conclusion is technology and science some time is just a marketing for profit .

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, yea...money, money, money!

[@MicheleZaylaMusic]

Hey Andrew! Really enjoying your videos and creativity. Was wondering when you were transitioning, what you were wearing for everyday tasks, walks, etc.? Did you ever have to flip flop back a little to some cushioning once you hit your limit for the day, etc? When I initially found barefooting years ago, I went full throttle and definitely never fully adjusted, so toned it back a little and went more slowly. I've been in pretty minimal drop shoes for years now, and mix with barefooting and earth runners sandals and xero sandals, but I never really can get there consistently because of pretty bad heel pain. I really don't think I'm heel striking hard, yet I'm having symptoms of plantar fasciitis regularly, where I never did with a little more cushioning. I have no car so I do all of life by foot and bike and really want to enjoy walking again and really deep down believe in barefoot living, walking, running, etc. I take care of my body, eat well, do natural exercise, and keep life pretty simple. Any thoughts?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Michele, thank you! After trying lots of cushion and barefoot shoes, literally the only thing that has ever worked for me on concrete/pavement is either full barefoot or VivoBarefoot Primus Lite's (3mm). They recently changed them to 4mm, which is a bummer, but they might still work. Wildings are 3.5mm, which I might switch to when my Lite's wear out. My next video (coming soon) is on the barefoot/zero trop transition, so there will be lots of into in that. But, yea, I was and still am 95% in Primus Lite's. I can get away with Xero sandals (5.5mm) on softer trails, but I don't know...3mm seems to be the magic number. As for as plantar fasciitis, I would transition very slowly to a forefoot strike for running. Look up the channel "Run Forefoot" for great footage. It's possible that your calves are just underdeveloped from relying on a heel-strike. Have not had a single arch issue since month 3 of my transition back in 2017. Also, beware cushion shoes that are worn out because you can sink into them, making PF 10x worse. Stretching and warmup like leg swings can cause PF too. I don't do any of those things and my body feels much happier. Hope something in there ends up helping! BTW, nice job on "LONG GAME." Getting Zero 7 "In the Waiting Line" vibes. (:

[@andrewnguyen2656]

Hey there! Awesome video! Really love the small edits lol. Quick question: when you were testing the durability of your Vivo shoes, what type of pavement did you run on? I'm kinda surprised that the traction held up for that long.

[@AndrewFolts]

Idk, ha! Just ordinary rough road pavement and occasionally concrete. Plus some trails this past year. The wear actually has a lot to do with your stride. If you keep it short and focus on smoothly rolling your feet (never twisting or stuffing), there is actually very little friction. I'd bet that the few times I've scuffed my feet accounts for about 90% of the overall wear.

[@nioxic77]

Yo Andrew. Have you tried the Skinners "socks"? (they're basically socks with a rubber bottom of sorts... probably the most minimalistic you can get before it becomes a shoe) I've worn some for a few days (not running, just walking around) and i really enjoy them. People do give some strange looks but.. then look. i've got places to be!

[@AndrewFolts]

"Places to be." Yup! I've been wanting to try them, maybe this summer. How was the breathability?

[@nioxic77]

@@AndrewFolts the breathability isn't great. They recommend having socks on, when you wear them (to reduce sweat and odor) But they also have a silver-lining to reduce bacteria. No idea how well that works though. They're machine washable though, so.. maybe it's not a big issue in terms of long term smell. of course, the breathability can be a problem when running because of heat. but.. yeah, i'm not sure.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@nioxic77 Yea, that's what I've heard. Wish they would make a merino wool version, so they'd work better for running!

[@braillynn]

Xero Shoes were my introduction to barefoot shoes. Part of why I got into them was how good they look. Hell they even look better in person. I loved walking, but I could only walk about an hour in my Asics before my feet and back hurt too much. It took me about a month of walking in Xero Shoes to get used to them. I had sore muscles in my legs I never knew existed. With the Xero Shoes I was able to go from 1 hour walks to up to 2.5 hours daily and in matter of months I went from 182lbs to 156lbs. Sadly I developed Morton's Neuroma in my right foot which put me out of commission for a while. Happy to say I'm back on the trails and long walks. Still rocking the Xero's, just bought my third pair actually. This time, the Mika's for getting around this Midwest Winter.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, I used to wear Aisics in high school for track. Didn't know any better at the time, but they were super narrow and stiff. Glad you're having so much fun with the Xero's and hope your MN stay's away!

[@braillynn]

@@AndrewFolts Factory job I worked at allowed us get a free $100 pair of them. I settled on a $138 pair and paid the difference. I've noticed cushioned shoes don't hold on to your foot the same way barefoot shoes do. Wish I switched sooner.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@braillynn So many people working standing jobs end up with plantar fasciitis, etc, from bad footwear, so good on that company for giving the option.

[@alexreeed]

No idea how this video landed on my homepage but a couple of questions: 1 - why are barefoot shoes so expensive if they're so thin/minimal? Why not just buy £10/$10 plimsolls? 2 - Is there any grip on the Primus Lites? They look super slippy with those smooth soles Cheers!

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, good old KZbin algorithm. For one, a 3mm sole is very important for barefoot running-anything above that and it becomes difficult to sense the ground, which defeats the purpose. I'd guess most $10 shoes are far above 3mm thick, so they're going to be too clunky to run in. Even if you could find a 3mm pair of shoes for $10, the rubber would probably be crap, so there's no way you'd get 3,000 miles out of them (how long my Primus Lites have lasted so far). I doubt you'd even get 100 miles with a cheap rubber. At 3mm, traction is impossible. You can get thicker "barefoot" trail shoes around 5-7mm with a more aggressive tread-like the Primus SG. But even in the winter, I still prefer my traction-less Primus Lite's. I'm willing to be more careful in exchange for a good ground feeling. Actually, 3mm makes it easier to detect ice before you slip. Cheers!

[@alexreeed]

@@AndrewFolts Cheers for the info! I've actually just ordered some Primus Lite 2s and Merrell Trail Gloves to try out/compare what feels better for me

[@AndrewFolts]

@@alexreeed Would make a good comparison video! (:

[@jamesrose2312]

Hey man! Xero is my fave: price point, true to foot shape, durable! Don’t hate!

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, they're always a good option. Just never my first pick, because they're thicker and more clunky feeling than brands like Vivo, Wildling, Vibram, etc.

[@Jaigarful]

5:00 On the Injuries point, I just started running in barefoot shoes after 2 months in Altra Escalante's, and I'm definitely slower. But I don't think that slower is a bad thing. I get immediate feedback when my form is bad because I feel the impact a lot. I will say though, I can tell I don't have much callus on my forefoot because after an easy 4 mile trail run, I do feel the wear on that pad. I understand it will build up with time, but just making note of it.

[@AndrewFolts]

Most likely you won't build any callus in the Escalante's, as they're too think and cushioned. At one point I would have considered them "thin" at 24mm, but after running in 4mm Vibram's (7x thinner) and even completely barefoot, they're not even close. They do give a bit more sensory feedback, which is good, but if you want real speed, then I'd go for something without cushion, as the foam just drains your energy like running through a swamp.

[@Jaigarful]

@@AndrewFolts Hi Andrew, I do have barefoot trail shoes. I have to slowly work my way into it. I'm on my feet on day for work in heavy work boots, so I road run in escalantes and trail run in barefoot shoes.

[@therodent3134]

I agree with every point in this video, but I think there's more nuance than it may appear. I run in both high cushion and minimal shoes (TOPO ST3, Altra Superior 4.0, and Saucony End.-Speed). I love doing all types of runs in all 3 of my shoes, but sometimes I favor the cushion of the Speed. Additionally, the breakdown of a shoe's upper must be taken into consideration. The fact that your minimalist shoes have held up for so long is more of a testament to the brand than minimalist shoes as a whole. A person's gait must be assessed. Die-hard heel strikers will destroy their shins in minimalist shoes, whereas mid and front foot strikers will be more successful. Finally, the function of the shoe must be examined. I work at a shoe store near a hospital, and the people who work there certainly appreciate Bondi-style cushioning more than minimal mid-soles. Walkers are much the same way. In conclusion, there are more factors than this video discusses as to why minimalist shoes are not always better than higher cushioned shoes in every situation.

[@AndrewFolts]

Everyone has different preferences. Personally, when I was working 8-hour shifts on concrete, I found Bondi's to be intolerable. The cushion gave me plantar fasciitis symptoms, even when they were new. Conversely, I could be on my feet all day in 3mm Vivo's without any pain or fatigue at all. Of course brand matters, but unless you're buying some junky off-brand, barefoot shoes will always last longer than cushion shoes. The cushion is the first thing to break down, and barefoot shoes have no cushion, so if you treat the soles with care, they will last for thousands of miles. At the end of the day though, the best motto is: "Whatever works!" (:

[@jacobwitt2070]

Honestly I'm just thankful that the shoes I wear isn't necessarily the problem. My biggest problems come from me just not being strong enough. Ever since I started lifting along with my running I haven't had a single injury to report. I think barefoot shoes would be great for some but truthfully I couldn't bring myself to ever by them just because I love the feeling of cushion. Especially on those days where my legs are beat after a hard race or workout. I am definitely not a fan of the rising stack heights. As far as foams go there is react from Nike and it's twice as durable as the Asics I used to run in (gt-2000 series). I get a good 500mi in most of my Nike's that use React foam. I've seen a few reviews where people were getting 700-1,000 miles in the infinity react, which for a cushioned shoe is insane. I'm definitely down with it. I wouldn't say that barefoot shoes are a gimmick by any means and I think they serve a purpose, but especially for trails there is room for innovation.

[@AndrewFolts]

At the end of the day, whatever keeps you healthy is the best option. Shoe milage is so weird. When I worked run specialty, some people would come back pissed because their React's were trashed after 200 miles. But other people would get 500+ miles. Who knows!

[@mobilitytactics9877]

Great stuff dude! Keep at it!

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@emma9648]

talking about the last point, mainstream consuming, i can see the same aspect with the menstrual cup: you have to replace it less than tampons/pads so you pay one (big) amount of bucks less times in your life.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yep, a little research and you can find a minimalist, low-cost solution to pretty much anything.

[@donodony3868]

I ran through my primus lite soles in about 8 months. Super annoying because they were so expensive. The thinner sole didn't stand up.

[@AndrewFolts]

What part wore out? Front or back? Mine are still going after six years, so it's possible there's some scuffing or twisting going on in your stride, which is causing a lot of extra friction. Coming down and rolling on its own barely causes any wear.

[@donodony3868]

@@AndrewFolts the bottom of the toe box has worn through. I run on rocky sandy paths in the bush so I assume it's more abuse to the shoes than flat paths. I'm often jumping over and dodging rocks and sections are very steep. So possibly this is too much for the sole. Love your content btw.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@donodony3868 Yea, that could be it. Jagged rocks can do a number on a thin sole. Vibram FF might be worth a try, because it's basically the toughest rubber known to man yet highly flexibile.

[@Davidthemarathoner]

There is a price deferential because I regularly put in 70 to 100 miles a week so therefore, I tend to wear out shoes faster than the people who do a few miles a day. I wear Altras exclusively now. (Not by choice). I purchase their most minimal, least cushioned shoes they manufacture. Why? because this company actually makes size 12.5 Whereas Merrell, Xero and Vivo really do not. The pairs of 12.5 are rare to find. Merrells and Vivo are UK companies, if I am correct and on occasion I find a 12.5 but they are rare and Xeros just don't make shoes in my size. I don't and cant wear 13s or12s. I have done some barefoot running as well as in Luna Monos but I became obsessed with my bare feet and the mileage suffered. The running experience became about (not) stepping on the very tiny pebbles that may seem benign or innocuous but in truth will hobble you. They did me lol.... The sandal and going barefoot thing just wasn't for me so I began researching then I made my first Altra purchase. Yes the natural foot shape is for me, THE only shoe to wear. I could never go back to the pointy foot coffins that are purchased because of the style. I purchase them on ebay for a 3rd of the price usually, that I would be forced to pay retail and directly from the company. Do I prefer Merrells? Yes. Yes I do. I have purchased them from ebay sellers on the rare occasion I happen upon a 12.5 barefoot trail glove. Love wearing them in fact. But they tend to be a bit pricey even for the few I have purchased as 'lightly worn'. So, from not seeing any other alternative as stated above - the different variables, I wear Altras. In truth by necessity and not completely by choice. The natural foot shape and minimal cushioning is the only way.

[@AndrewFolts]

"foot coffins" Ha, yup. I love how Altra's fit. I wish they made barefoot shoes. My favorite was the Altra Vanish. Even though it was a racing flat, the cushion was more firm and I got maybe 500 miles out of them. Surprisingly, I got less than 300 miles from my Escalante's and Torin's before they turned to mush. The Escalante toebox was great, though. You could look into Vibram if you don't mind the individual toes.

[@Davidthemarathoner]

Hi Andrew, I purchased a pair of monkey shoes and lolo......Damn.....Not sure what was worse, the appearance or the blisters. They were returned to REI the next day.

[@Davidthemarathoner]

The least cushioned altras made, I own. The company however does, for some odd marketing reason, make a few really orthopedic-looking frankenstein-looking shoes that remind me of those most bizarre and frankensteinish of all foot coffins, wait for it.... hookas. WTF. I think these are made for people who want to appear taller lol .... All that cushioned crap can not be justified.

[@InfiniteQuest86]

Haha! Yeah you can call out Xero shoes on looks, but they are pretty amazing. I thought the 5,000 mile guarantee was insane. After running about 1,000 miles in mine and showing literally no wear, I wore them everyday all day for over a year straight in addition to running in them. I don't know what mileage that puts me at, but those things will not break down. It's a bit crazy. Kind of a crazy business model though. I'm not sure I'm ever going to have to buy a second pair.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, think they make a durable product, for sure. I think my Z-Trek sandals were rated at 10,000 miles, and I could easily see that happening if I wore them more. Barefoot shoes are such a bargain, it's ridiculous.

[@fruitarian]

I appreciate you sharing your journey! I can share a journey I had with you, too. I went to Amsterdam and I saw people wearing shoes that I had never seen before. I wanted to pick up a pair, before I went home. I'm an American. I found a store with shoes similar to what I had seen, called Geox. I wondered why I had never seen them, before. There are some Geox stores in the U.S., but only 5 of them, while Canada, with a much smaller population has 20 stores. I found the store and sat next to other customers, both of the people I spoke to were Swiss, for some reason. So, I bought a pair for 110 Euros and left the store. The clerks told me I could get the tax refunded at the airport, so I did. When I got home and started wearing them on a daily basis, every step felt weird, as if I was walking barefoot on concrete. It was that way for a long time, maybe even months. But, finally, they started to feel normal. I don't know if the particular pair I got had foam in them or if all Geox shoes don't have foam. They look like bowling shoes. I really like them, though. Geox shoes aren't really designed to be stylish or durable or to last forever. The founder designed them with small holes on the bottom, that are supposed to be large enough for water vapor to escape and small enough for rain drops to not penetrate, thus keeping your feet dry and handling the problem of smelly feet. I didn't know about this at the time. I expect to get many years of use out my Geox shoes, hopefully, even if I don't wear them all the time. I wanted a pair of shoes that wasn't disposable. I'm impressed with the amount of thought and research you put into your videos, as well as the time you must have spent editing them. I'm glad you decided to share your journey. I hope I can benefit from it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3aVYqeuZbmfn9U The ones I got are thoroughly odd, by American standards. They're sort of a hybrid between a dress shoe and an athletic shoe. Maybe, the best of both worlds. The durability of a dress shoe and the comfort of a casual shoe.

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, what an interesting shoe design! I love that they have one called "Snake Man." Some of the outsoles remind me of octopus tentacles. How do you find the breathability? Did the micropores help?

[@fruitarian]

@@AndrewFolts Thanks for your hospitality in the comments! Even though my story isn't remotely related to barefoot shoes. It's really about frustration with the American shoe market. I don't know anything about breathability. I swear, they had two shoe stores in town. One of them sold SAS and were for old people or people that walked funny. SAS were supposed to be good shoes, but they don't hold their shape. They look good in the store and then a few months later, they look awful. Then, there was another expensive shoe store, that sold a lot of Danish shoes, mostly for women and mostly for fashion. The one with Naot and Dansko closed down. I bought a few pairs of SAS, but I wasn't happy with them. I bought them because I didn't have that many options. Maybe, I did have options, but I didn't think of buying my mail order with shoes as something to do. I thought it was best to buy with brick and mortar, so you could try them on. I live in Grand Forks, ND. A town of 60,000 people. I didn't want to take a trip to Minneapolis just to buy shoes, but I guess that could have been more sensible than buying shoes in Europe. I could have taken a trip to Fargo, with a population of 3 times ours and their mall hasn't died. The hotels in Fargo are cheaper than Minneapolis and the bus ticket costs about half. I didn't really go to Europe to buy shoes. I went to camp and see if I could visit without having to use family money. I spent $2,200, including the flight for 3 weeks, so it was somewhat of a success. Lately, I've been buying shoes from the Walking Co., with their closeouts. They closed out all their brick and mortar stores, so they are now completely online. I bought a pair of flip flops from them about 12 years ago. They lasted like 7 years. They were normally $60 and I got them on sale for $30. Lately, my flip flops last about a year. I've been buying the Olukai Ohana, which look good, but I don't think I'm going to get more than 2 years out of them. They were $70 and they never go on sale. I hadn't heard of Snake Man, so I looked it up, after you mentioned it. They do look similar to the ones I got. A lot of the shoes on their website look totally different. In my experience in Switzerland, the Swiss really know quality like no other nationality I've ever seen. Everything there is overbuilt. I don't even think the Dutch care that much about Italian shoes. I should just buy shoes in Italy, after my current batch wears out.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@fruitarian Yea, it's hard to find good shoe stores anymore, and the ones that do exist only stock mainstream options. And if you're looking for something exotic, like VivoBarefoot...forget it. Quality is also a problem, because companies have no motivation to make their shoes last. All my cushion shoes have worn out in 200-500 miles, which is one reason I switched to barefoot shoes. Without cushion, there's very little to break down, and my 3mm Vivo Primus Lite's have lasted 3,000 miles so far. Glad you've found some foreign options that work, because there's a lot of snake oil being sold in America.

[@fruitarian]

@@AndrewFolts It's nice to find a kindred spirit and it is obvious you are as frustrated by it all as me. I think I got lucky with the hybrid design of the Geox, that is halfway between a dress shoe and a casual shoe. Aren't dress shoes designed to last longer than casual shoes? Good ones can be resoled. The problem is people will think you are weird if you wear them with sweatpants. You worked in a casual shoe shop, like a Footlocker? I bought a pair of Doc Martens, in SF. They have only 16 stores in the U.S. I hated them. Have you checked into the Thursday boot company? They are trying to make quality at a reasonable price. I haven't bought anything from them. These are interesting. I bought them, the other day. They are sneakers, but they are built like tennis shoes of the 70s. The stitching and quality seem like they are meant to last a little better than Adidas or Reebok. www.thewalkingcompany.com/collections/brand-jkoda/products/jkoda-island-black I visited the Vivobarefoot site. Where do the shoes get sent from? Is this an Ethiopian company? I was looking at the Addis, at $115, but it was hard to choose a color and then the size. The website seemed to be manipulating me. I'm hesitant to buy any barefoot shoe, because I bought some off of Amazon and it's like wearing a bicycle tire. Do you wear socks during the warmer months? Sorry if you are getting tired of talking to me.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@fruitarian Thursday boots look well-made, for sure, although I've never tried them. My rules for buying shoes are as follows... #1: The sole is 3-5mm thick and no cushion. #2: The toebox is wide (not pointy). #3: The drop is 0mm (no heel lift). VivoBarefoot makes good, sturdy products, in my experience (they're based in England, I think, but often do African design collabs). I mostly use my Primus Lite's (which have 3 years, 3,000+ miles on them), so I don't know how durability will turn out on the Trek's and FG's, which I use less. If you bought a no-name or budget barefoot brand from Amazon, the rubber was probably stiff and clunky. The only barefoot shoes that ever worked 100% for me are the 3mm Primus Lite's. They're so thin, it's as close as you can get to being actually barefoot. Just enough protection for broken glass and such.

[@joeb4294]

I just watched a video about planned obsolescence; I hadn't thought about that in relationship to shoes until I watched your video. Of course the clothing industry in general heavily relies on people re-buying the same thing every year, or more often. One thing I have never understood is why shoe companies often completely re-design a shoe (same named shoe). Then, when someone who loves that shoe goes to rebuy the same shoe, they are unpleasantly surprised to find that the same shoe no longer fits the same.

[@AndrewFolts]

I remember when I started working run specialty. I asked how long a running shoe was supposed to last, and my coworker said: "300-500 miles." I laughed. But he wasn't joking. Can't speak for everyone, but I would say the runners who just want the "same old, same old" are the minority. Most of my customers were always on the lookout for "something different." So I guess brands are just trying to appeal to that mentality, even if there's no reason to change a popular shoe.

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

I took my 40$ pair of my Saguaro barefoot shoes out for a jog today and it felt awesome as always. Even better than the Altra Escalante. My Brooks PureConnect minimal shoes lasted 5 years and I don't know how many miles. I could still wear them but I threw them away while being in a serious shoe shopping spree :-D

[@AndrewFolts]

Nice! Yea, a lot of people love the Pure's. Had lots of requests for them when I used to work run specialty.

[@Rubiodiamante]

An awesome and informative intro to the benefits of the barefoot shoes.

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful. (:

[@NicholasHallows]

I agree with everything except durability. My Vivobarefoot Stealth III's lasted about 18 months before they completely wore through until I was actually running barefoot (but maybe that's a good way to transition to no shoes at all :). I was running between 5 and 10k three to four times a week. Admittedly I was running almost always on roads but I think the durability of the two is more comparable. Still team barefoot.

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, I literally had the same thought when I finally started seeing wear spots on my Primus Lite's. So if my math is right your Stealth's lasted about 1,200 miles? That's still pretty good (industry standard for cushion shoes is 500 miles). One thing that makes a huge difference is scuffing and twisting. I'd bet that a small handful of those two things accounts for 99% of the wear, because rolling on pavement creates very little friction. I was super careful about not dragging my feet, and that probably helped my Lite's last longer.

[@NicholasHallows]

@@AndrewFolts Yeah I cringe every time I scuff!

[@thebigredwagon]

I bought my first pair of vivo’s today after a very hard day of wearing converse today. I hobbled home on shattered ankles. I cant wait to start trusting my feet and let them do their job.

[@AndrewFolts]

Ooh boy, going from Converse to Vivo's is gonna feel real good, ha! Which one's did you get?

[@thebigredwagon]

@@AndrewFolts I hope so! I got the primus trail 2’s. Hopefully I’ll only have to wear my saucony for a few more days before my barefoot journey begins. I read a few studies on barefoot shoes and it seems like a logical step…pun intended.

[@gregk2389]

The only injuries I have had running in minimalist shoes was some bruising from rock when racing during my first year of race in them. It was a I mentioned before the tesla that dont have any type of cushion

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, I step on a few rocks every run, but I've never had pain that lasted for more than a few seconds or even a bruise. But it's definitely harder to avoid things when you're racing vs a casual run.

[@mglinkowski]

Be sure to let us know when your shoes do give out. I had a pair of five fingers that I've worn through sole in a few years but I didn't keep track of miles ran/time spent.

[@AndrewFolts]

At this rate, it might be another year or two! (:

[@jaloodali5645]

I went thru five fingers pretty quickly too, about 2 years… since then I’ve been reluctant to spend money on a new pair and just go barefoot. I did buy of pair of Tesla barefoot shoes for $25 but don’t really like them - my toes hurt and feet feel like they are slipping around too much. Been thinking of getting some vivo… but will mostly stick to barefoot barefoot

[@fabianbeyhon]

If you haven't any idea . . . Ummm-- think you should listen 'dis guy, Andrew Flots. I started running @ age 11 and was one of the the last in the pack during my early school days. By the time I reached university and thereafter, people were watching me. AF makes total sense from my experience.

[@AndrewFolts]

What did you run at uni? Track or XC? Or both?

[@oneblackdot]

Hey Andrew, What do you use to produce the illustrations used in your video? Really like them! And really well produced video too! Cheers

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Dot! I use Procreate with an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.

[@oneblackdot]

@@AndrewFolts nice! Ta Andrew :)

[@scotthughes2743]

I love your channel and philosophy ! just starting on my barefoot adventure ( on grass at the moment ) It feels awesome ..I am about to buy some minimalist shoes .. Going with the Xeros !! ha ha

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks, Scott! Grass is a great place to start. Which Xero's did you go with?

[@scotthughes2743]

@@AndrewFolts I am looking at the prio's... have you heard of the Tadeevo brand ??? they look pretty good too

[@AndrewFolts]

@@scotthughes2743 They're both about 5mm thick, so they should be similar. 3mm Vivo's work best for me (especially on roads), but my 5.5mm Xero sandals are pretty good for short trail walking.

[@JessicaFEREM]

my feet are traditionally wide because I've always worn sandals, but for walking outside, I really do need shoes, I wonder what would be a good brand that's cheap and also will fit without having a huge amount of toe box that I can't use, like normal size shoes (even barefoot size) are just way too long for me. I have really thick and wide feet. I'm just having trouble finding good shoes that are extra wide and would work with my flat feet.

[@AndrewFolts]

Barefoot has some extra-wide shoes under $100. bearfoot.store. There are other options, but mostly $120+.

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

i don't have a vivobarefoot shoe but i believe you when you said you already ran 3k/4k miles and still going. i have 4 pairs of vibram five fingers (1 kso evo, 1 v trail, 2 v run) and i ran at least 800km with each pair and outsole still look like new. i run about 1/3 of my mileage completely barefoot, 1/3 with five fingers and 1/3 with regular shoes. i want to ditch regular shoes but problem is i have very high arches and midfoot area of five fingers press the top of my feet that makes them start to get numb after about 2hrs so i can't use them for longer runs. completely barefoot my farthest is 15km on chip and seal (other choice is hard packed dirt with pebbles). does prime lite have high midfoot volume?

[@AndrewFolts]

Nah, the Primus Lite is pretty snug. If you want more room I'd say go with a DIY sandal or shoes kit where you cut out the sole and can make the upper higher as needs be. Leather is a great material for that, because it's not constrictive and forms to your feet.

[@MrGatya2]

To be honest, I wear my 9 year old Vibram Five Fingers in public (lile parks when I work out or hikes, or just taking my daughter to kindergarten) while I wouldn't want to be seen in a Nike like the ones you showed in the video. To me they resemble those padded kids shoes that have the light up heels. So what I am trying to say is that appearance is really subjective😅

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, I wish I had never put that stupid Nike line in the video! Was just starting out on KZbin and trying to be relatable to the masses, ha, but honestly, I agree and think Nike's look silly.

[@jasonberkey9698]

I am pretty convinced on the barefoot, as I have done them in the past and it was when I was the least injured. Question on the trail running aspect of things, how long did it take you to get used to the trails? Any tips? Maybe a video on this next?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Jason! I found trails easier than roads because they’re softer. Lately, I’ve been full barefoot hiking and running on the trails, and it’s my fav by far. You learn a lot faster, even compared to a 3mm shoe. Other than that, a short stride is your best line of defense. There’s going to be a deep dive on trails in the next video, so stay tuned. (:

[@goodvibekidd696]

Your editing is great 👍🏿

[@AndrewFolts]

Thank you 🙌

[@shad0w091]

It’s not about how long shoes last. It’s about the technology and materials they are made of. Barefoot shoes are very cheap to produce. It’s basically thin piece of rubber and some mesh on top. You don’t need to cover expenses for some technology like boost etc

[@AndrewFolts]

Because cushion is the first thing to wear out, a good barefoot shoe will last 5x longer (minimum) than cushion shoes, which means 5x less profit for barefoot companies. Plus, the shoes are really not much less expensive to make than cushion, because the main difference is the foam. I'm thankful barefoot companies doesn't charge 5x, which is what they should.

[@shad0w091]

@@AndrewFolts not really. Barefoot companies have waaaaaaay bigger margin comparing to Adidas for example. They invested a lot of money to come up with some new type of foam. And barefoot companies just take a piece of rubber and put 100-150 dollars price. Which is a total rip off. They should cost 30-50 dollars. At least most of them

[@shad0w091]

@@AndrewFolts I mean barefoot shoes are great and healthy. But with this kind of price where you should prove why they are not expensive by doing some calculation about how long they can last kind of shady. For example for some one a pair will last 5 years. For someone 3 months. It’s all individual. So I think this approach is not that correct. It’s not against you or your videos. I love them. That’s more against the barefoot companies price policy:)

[@AndrewFolts]

@@shad0w091 Every barefoot shoes I've ever owned has lasted 3+ years and every cushion shoe I've ever owned has become trash in less than a year, so I'll gladly pay $150 for a pair of barefoot shoes. I'd pay $300, and it would still be a better deal than any cushion shoes on the market. It's a simple scientific fact that foam wears out faster than rubber.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@shad0w091 Lol, all the "tech" in cushion shoes is just marketing BS. I worked as a running shoes salesman for three years, and every year brands would come out with some technology that was supposed to change everything, and it wouldn't do jack shit to make people faster or increase their endurance, etc. Most cushion brands operate at a scale of 10-100x or more than the largest barefoot brands, and scale means profit. Don't embarrass yourself any further bro.

[@rasputindonut4830]

Hi, love your channel. Where did you get your hoodie from with the cow on? Cheers

[@AndrewFolts]

TenTree! (:

[@liken2845]

Totally agree with your point bro, I from China Nike store is everywhere They ripping off China marketing.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, super evil!

[@BackcountryForward]

I'm still really new to this journey. Still figuring out how to land on my mid-foot. Do you mid-foot stride when walking too? Also, I was thinking about going to a Running Room (Canadian running store) for some advice and insights. Would you say this is a wise idea?

[@AndrewFolts]

No, you can heel-strike when walking-although, I will often walk with a forefoot strike if I'm just in the house because it's a good way to maintain calf strength for running in general and also for hiking down hills, where a forefoot strike makes more sense. Having worked at a run specialty store for three years, I'd recommend going to a family-run business vs a chain, if possible. Chains will try to sell you inserts and other crap you don't need. I don't know about Running Room, but in the US, Fleet Feet is pure evil. That said, most run specialty stores aren't going to have barefoot shoes or even know anything about running or walking barefoot. At my store, there was only one guy who had run in barefoot shoes-and he hadn't done it since being in the army. You could probably get some advice about zero-drop, in general, though. Run specialty shops often will do a "gate analysis," which shows you some slow motion footage of your stride and can be useful to correct things. But every salesman will have a different perspective on the best form and shoes to use, so it's a bit of a crapshoot. (:

[@BackcountryForward]

@@AndrewFolts I appreciate this! This is great information. I'll see if there's any family run businesses in my areas! Looking forward to future videos!

[@kilroy920]

So I’ve been using cushion shoes for I guess 23 years and have definitely developed a poor running posture for instance with heal striking. I wouldn’t say running is my main source of working out as I do a mix of weight/circuit training but definitely would like to train to run another ultra (last one I did was leg 4 of the CDR on 2 weeks of training) and am wondering how big the curve is, to get use to using a minimalist shoe compared to something like Solomon or a Nike?

[@AndrewFolts]

I will be putting out a comprehensive "Barefoot, Minimalist, and Zero Drop Transition" video hopefully next week, so stay tuned for that. It took me maybe three months to transition to zero-drop with a forefoot strike, and about a year to get fully conditioned to barefoot running. By a year, I don't mean I couldn't run for a year-I was running normal miles after a few months, but it takes a while for your body to build new muscle groups and callus to protect you. I'd say it definitely takes some work, but you don't have to be super hardcore or anything. Patience is the key-just slowly increasing your milage every day and being mindful of when you need rest.

[@NeoVdV]

I have shooting needle like pain in heal and even more the feeling like my toes are broken. So I watched several of your and other video in regard of going barefoot shows, but still some questions. How to know the right size fitting. Very difficult to order online. (As there is no store in a 150 Km radius who sells them) So order them (and here no free shipping return !) And some special socks with it, and hope for the best.

[@AndrewFolts]

Sizing varies, but most brands have a "sizing chart" you can print out and place your foot on to make sure your getting the right size. The pain in your heel sounds like plantar fasciitis, and the two main causes are simple overtraining and wearing cushion shoes that are too soft or have worn out (thus making the foam squishy and unsupportive). For the toes, one thing that really helped me was taking shorter strides, because the closer your foot is to your body, the less your toes have to bend.

[@NeoVdV]

@@AndrewFolts Thx. But it will not be due to overtraining nor to long stride. I turned 60 on dec.2021 and started to run following a couch to 5K from Garmin (on my Fenix6 watch) mid jan.22. I looked at the running dynamics and for sure no long stride. I just made my first 6K in one stretch run yesterday. In that time, from when started to run, I had to stop for about 10d due to groin pain. Also got some light heal pain and different times (first thing in the morning but also sometimes during the day) feeling as my toes would break.

[@AndrewFolts]

​ @Neo Van de Velde Which shoes are you currently running in and how long have you had them?

[@NeoVdV]

@@AndrewFolts I ve 3 pair and all between 1and 6month new.

[@sonia417]

Facts. Every single word.

[@AndrewFolts]

Barefoot, bare facts! (:

[@DenserNL]

Easy....1 set of FiveFingers V-Run: 139 Euros on which I ran 2.000 km (and they are not even close to be worn out). 1 set of New Balance: 800 km max and it's over....

[@AndrewFolts]

NB's never stood a chance! (:

[@MC1796]

Love not wearing shoes as much as a I can. However, my Next% makes running workouts and races a lot easier. I also don't think I'd be able to run 70-80mi weeks on pavement without some significant cushioning.

[@AndrewFolts]

You're right, barefoot and Nike serve two different purposes. Barefoot is about being in touch with your environment and Nike is about pushing the limits of human capability.

[@MC1796]

@@AndrewFolts I think people get angry because they don't realize you can have both. Most of the fastest runners I know do a couple miles barefoot on the grass for foot health.

[@zbigniew2628]

Hmm... Barefoot shoes doesn't have cushion, but insole is really weak and wear out quickly or the sole comes out... How did you find this "3000" miles? I wanted to buy vivobarefoot, but I have read it's made in China, and newest designs are lest durable and people notice different problems in them.

[@AndrewFolts]

I have probably 4+ barefoot shoes with 3,000+ miles, and they're nowhere near being worn through, so the soles seem very tough to me. In terms of Vivo, it could be their quality has gone down....can't say, since my original Primus Lite's are still going since 2017. If you want max durability, go with Vibram, since their rubber is the toughest in the world.

[@anniemac3075]

The ad that ran on here before the video began was a running on a cloud shoe ad.....

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, figures. My channel is probably public enemy #1 for cushion shoe brands. (:

[@anniemac3075]

@@AndrewFolts More power to you, I have yet to try barefoot shoes. I want them for everyday wear as much as I used to love running I risk macula damage if I do bouncy things. Sizes seem a bit out for my feet which is a slight drawback. I'm vegan but there are loads of vegan barefoot shoes & sandals. One day maybe as I have foot problems I'm convinced were made worse with orthotics I was prescribed & I can only walk in one style of shoe from Skechers without crippling myself. .

[@AndrewFolts]

@@anniemac3075 Sorry about your xp with the orthotics. Unfortunately, I've heard the same story from hundred of people, including my own parents. Wildling has lots of great vegan options when you get to a point where you want to try them. Best of luck with your recovery.

[@anniemac3075]

@@AndrewFolts Thank you Andrew, I hadn't heard that name before, I'll have a hunt later today online. I saw a consultant recently & told him I'm sure the inserts I'd been given at different times had made my feet weaker rather than stronger & he said 'interesting'. 🙄

[@DatDante23]

If your talking about a casual sneaker liek a jordan they last way more I’ve had my Jordan 1 for 2 years and they still going on

[@AndrewFolts]

For sure! Walking puts less wear on shoes. The cushion wearing out also matters more for running, since it's like 2x the impact.

[@EddAche86]

I got some primus trail fg and they are pretty much done for after 300 miles, the sole is fine but the rest of the shoe has tears down the sides and across the toe box. I also had some fivefingers that lasted under 100 miles :(

[@AndrewFolts]

Damn, that sucks! I just talked to a dude yesterday who got 5,000 miles out of some Vibram's. Are the Vivo's fitting tight on you or something? Know they don't run super wide. Vibram's are crazy wide, so those shouldn't be an issue.

[@EddAche86]

@@AndrewFolts not especially. Could be the waterproof socks I've had to wear for winter on trails I guess. I wear primus lite day to day and they're holding up fine. The vibram were kso ones. Big toe split and I repaired that. But then the soles came away. I only run off road really as I've got the dog with me, so I'm hunting for a decent reliable pair of barefoot trail shoes

[@QronoZ713]

So nr 2, performance. Why don't top runners use barefoot shoes? Go tell Eliud to bin his Alphaflys and pick up some FiveFingers.

[@AndrewFolts]

Totally agree, Nike's will make you faster in competition. But faster does not equal more healthy. Look at all the top runners and you will find a high incidence of injury. For starters, the human body is not designed to perform at these speeds. It CAN do so for a time, but burnout is inevitable. This is why Usain Bolt (the fastest man in the world) retired at the age of 31...THIRTY ONE!!! I used to race a lot (400m, 800m, 1600m). But after years of injuries, training in cushioned shoes, and running in hard spike plates, I realized what I really cared about was being able to get out and run every day. So I threw my spikes and trainers in the trash, and just started running in barefoot shoes every day. Best decision I've ever made. I've not had one injury in three years, and I plan on running barefoot until the day I die. Anyone can learn to do the same with a patient and mindful approach.

[@TheTomjmcc]

Where’s the bias acknowledgment bro

[@AndrewFolts]

Bias toward barefoot shoes? It's just basic physics and hundreds of thousands of years of human history. I guess I'm "human biased," ha!

[@mollypike9887]

Personally think buying a shoe period is unnecessary, but I started barefoot and have been doing so for 6 years now.

[@AndrewFolts]

Agreed, totally optional! I use 3mm Vivo's because I like to do faster runs, and I simply can't avoid sharp objects at that speed. I've stepped on hidden glass on multiple occasions, and it ends my run right there and then-plus it's a royal pain to dig out. I can live with 98% barefoot in exchange for not having to deal with glass and such.

[@mollypike9887]

@@AndrewFolts I can definitely appreciate that! I am lucky to live with some pretty clean roads and trails.

[@alcurtis93]

Vivo are expensive and their QC is disappointing at least on the magna fg

[@AndrewFolts]

Bummer, well, you can get them cheaper from revivo.com and sometimes eBay. What went wrong with the Magna's?

[@alcurtis93]

@@AndrewFolts the sole and upper coming away from each other as they're glued and not stitched. Seen a lot of reports of it

[@AndrewFolts]

@@alcurtis93 Lame! I'll have to test some of the new Vivo's one of these days. Mine are all still going string after 6+ years.

[@TheLegendaryKuru]

I'm curious, did your running speed change at all after the switch to barefoot?

[@AndrewFolts]

For the first two years, nothing changed. I was basically still going out and running road 5k's at 6-to-7-minute mile pace six days a week. Everything felt fine, no injuries. I slowed down after starting to get joint inflammation all over my body in spring of 2020 (feet, legs, elbows, fingers, etc). After that, I stopped caring about speed, and my priority just became running 100% pain-free. So all trails now and I just run at whatever speed I'm feeling that day.

[@TheLegendaryKuru]

@@AndrewFolts I appreciate the honesty. Did you notice any changes in your distance (i.e. having to reduce), or was speed the greater factor in the pain?

[@AndrewFolts]

@@TheLegendaryKuru I actually got faster after transitioning to barefoot shoes. Cushion just sucked all the energy out of my stride. I'm still perfectly capable of running a 16-minute 5K or a 4:30 mile, but the faster you run, the harder it is to cushion your body, no matter what shoes you wear. So it was a matter of priorities. I just decided I would rather run every day for the rest of my life at a moderate speed than pursue some arbitrary time or distance and risk getting sidelined because of injuries.

[@endo9902]

Older people need to question this "cushion under the feet" idea because my experience and the science that I have read don't support the notion of "having cushion for life".. at some point.. people need to watch for the possibility that they will need some cushion that the body is no longer providing.

[@AndrewFolts]

There are definitely cultures all around the world that go barefoot from birth to death with no issues. It's all in your technique. With a smooth walking or running stride, cushion shouldn't ever be necessary. But you're right that paying attention to your body and continually experimenting with what works (and doesn't) is really important.

[@endo9902]

@@AndrewFolts There is a logical fallacy of "natural is good" and we need to be careful of assuming this because it can lead to injury. I believe the foot science is currently incomplete and we need to be careful of making generalizations either way. When i encounter reports of archaeological findings of ?fossilized? shoes that are several thousands of years old.. that tells me that "shoes" are not so "unnatural".. much like birds making a nest would not be considered unnatural. Most of us live in an unnatural world and we need to understand to what extend we can go "natural"... I think people generally don't know how to easy into a change.. they underestimate the stresses that the foot takes by simply walking or running. I've heard that of dedicated runners, there is 70% injury rate. This rate leads me to think that perhaps humans aren't so well evolved to be running.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@endo9902 There's a 70% injury rate among runners because they're using cushioned shoes that take away their ability to feel and react to the surfaces they're running on, leading to high impact. Like I said in the other comment, shoes can be "natural" as long as they are thin enough to allow for proprioception (feeling the ground). Foot science is certainly not "incomplete." We know how the human foot works, and it's been working just fine for millions of years. If it didn't, we wouldn't be here. All around the world, people run barefoot from the moment they're born to the moment they die with no issues. Cushioned footwear is silly and unnecessary.

[@endo9902]

@@AndrewFolts My observations is that our artificial environment is too flat and too hard and too hazardous.. the best i can observe from tribal documentaries is that tribes are rarely running and our feet structure suits walking more than running.. look at all the running animal limbs and you'll see that we are closer to a monkey than we are a cougar. I would think that a tribal running human is a stupid human that is not favored in evolution. Cushion shoe can be interpreted as mimicking the natural grass..and soft soil...is there an evolutionary incompatibility between the human foot and soft surfaces? Another thing.. I believe that the natural lifespan of a human is around 30 years... so being past 30 can be thought of as unnatural and out of the scope of evolutionary "intent". I am not arguing for bubble gum shoes.. or for condom thin shoes.. I am just pointing to the logic being tossed around.

[@wy________78]

socks vs vff, which one do you prefer? did you have to size up for your vff?

[@AndrewFolts]

Do you mean running in just socks? Obviously, socks feel more natural, but if you're on rocky terrain or anywhere with potential shards of glass, it's just not worth it. It detracts from the running experience because you're constantly worrying about what you're going to step on. I've gotten things lodged in my feet multiple times running full barefoot, and it's not fun. I'd recommend the VivoBarefoot Primus Lite (3mm) for roads and light trails, and Vibram FiveFingers (4mm) for more technical trails. I didn't have to size up for my Vibram V-Treks, but they are SUPER WIDE, haha. It depends on the model, though. Some run small.

[@wy________78]

@@AndrewFolts thanks! i really enjoy running my socks.. but yea, gravel, small rocks and the occasional twig or screw is not fun. will look into both recommendations. thanks again!

[@AndrewFolts]

@@wy________78 You're welcome, good luck!

[@InfiniteQuest86]

I actually have had a great experience running in Skinners. Better than "barefoot shoes" in terms of natural ground feel but rough enough that small rocks and stuff don't really hurt. Also I ran in a 104 degree (F) day and the pavement did not burn my feet in them.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@InfiniteQuest86 Sweet! I keep hearing good thinks about the feel. How's the breathability?

[@stickyrice6102]

I've been running with vapor glove 4 but I don't have the same experience with durability as you have. They get worn out on on the ball area in a couple months so now I'm thinking about buying the cheap ones on Amazon and I don't even run that much maybe 20km a week tops...

[@AndrewFolts]

That's odd, usually Vibram soles last at least a year. It's possible that you're slightly twisting your foot as you come down. When I worked at a run specialty store, that was the #1 reason people's shoes would wear out too fast near the ball. If you're blowing through Vibram's, then you'll really blow through cheap rubber, so I would try using a shorter stride and check for twisting before you throw money toward something less durable. Let me know if you discover anything!

[@stickyrice6102]

@@AndrewFolts yeah I figured that it might have something to do with my technique I'm going to try saguaro and within ( this one seems to have reinforced rubber around the ball area) and I'll try to be more aware of my foot when it strikes to see what might be causing this. Thanks anyway for the advice!

[@AndrewFolts]

@@stickyrice6102 No problem, good luck!

[@nakoono9113]

I've got an 11 year old pair of VFF. I've patched the thin spots with bicycle tube patches and reglued the uppers to the sole with Shoe Goo.... better yet is Vinyl Repair Glue. You can also put beads of either glue on the thin spots to build it up.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@nakoono9113 Will try this with my Vivo's, which have a few tears starting. Appreciate the tip!

[@danielboisvert-couture5429]

:O :O he attacked Xero O: O: Honestly, though, I think Xero makes their toe box wider than vivobarefoot. I love how vivobarefoot looks so much but they seem very tight in the front, I have very wide feet ): But love my Xeros, they feel amazing

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, I agree. Xero definitely has Vivo beat on toebox. My feet are narrow from years of soccer cleats, so Vivo's fit me perfectly, but it is unfortunate that they're a barefoot brand with no wide's.

[@danielboisvert-couture5429]

@@AndrewFolts looking at the comments, though, you should definitely throw little jabs at different products/companies, people jump in the comment section to defend their brand haha it's good fr the algorithms ;) Plus, the content is great!

[@AndrewFolts]

@@danielboisvert-couture5429 So true, people (including me) get defensive about their fav running brands, ha! ! I got a lot of flak on the "barefoot vs cushion" video too because all the cushioned runners came in and started arguing about which is better. Will definitely take your advice in future videos. (:

[@leoswartzburg2837]

I have a question, how is the grip on the barefoot shoes? For example the ones you showed looked smooth on the bottom while the hokas had a lot of grip. Do you ever have issues slipping on trail runs?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Leo! My Primus Lite's have zero tread, but it's funny because the 3mm sole is so thin, it molds to the terrain and creates a pretty decent grip. Cushion shoes, like my Hoka SpeedGoats, are less flexible, so they can actually be more slippery on hard surfaces, like wet logs. Here's a comparison... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5y6mYGbq7SdoNk

[@leoswartzburg2837]

@@AndrewFolts Thanks! that makes a lot of sense about the flexibility. I am a high school runner looking to get into barefoot running to reduce injuries and help speed in races etc. Which specific shoes would you recommend for my case? I know you said you moved away from racing but for a competitive teenage runner I am trying to find what will work.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@leoswartzburg2837 What distances are you running?

[@leoswartzburg2837]

@@AndrewFolts I run cross country in the fall so 3 mile/5k races and 6 - 11 ish mile runs in practice. I am trying to find shoes for the summer cross country training that will start soon since track season is almost over.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@leoswartzburg2837 The Primus Lite could work for that-especially your slower recovery runs. But if you want something with more traction, the Altra Golden Spike is a super minimal shoe with a wide toebox and a small amount of cushion. You can also do a bit of full barefoot training on the trails if you feel like it. Your feet will get some small cuts and scrapes at first, but you'll develop callus, and then you'll have a built-in "sole" with max sensitivity and agility for the rest of your life.

[@karlbinderberger926]

The Vivo's soles last > 3,000 miles? What type of surface do you run on mostly?

[@AndrewFolts]

Pavement, concrete, trails...anything, really. First 1,500 miles were on roads, almost exclusively. Scuffing shoes wears them out 10x faster than normal running, so if you can avoid that, barefoot shoes can last for years.

[@jonathansciacca3510]

Love running and getting miles in but over the past few months have been battling IT band syndrome... I have a very flat foot and I also am a heel striker ... wondering if this could be the solution to my problems? Been spending $100’s on stability shoes over the past few months and nothing seems to be working... physical therapy, stretching etc... hoping this could be the solution?

[@AndrewFolts]

Can only speak from personal experience, but I haven't stretched in three years, and haven't had a single injury since. I'm convinced static stretching is not healthy. Secondly, stability shoes screw with your stride and weaken your ankles, even more so than cushion in general. Coming from someone who wore stability in high school (and then inserts later on). My advice? Get yourself a pair of VivoBarefoot Primus Lite's and do a little midfoot running every day. My first run was literally to the end of the street and back. Be patient and take it SUPER SLOW. There's no rush. If you body says STOP, then stop. If it says TAKE A DAY OFF, then take a day off. Look up some stride footage on the channel "Run Forefoot." Her lighting choices are questionable, ha, but she's the OG of KZbin barefoot running. I'll be releasing a barefoot transition video soon, as well. Feel free to check in!

[@jonathansciacca3510]

Thank you so much for the reply! I’ll grab a pair and start slow... I will definitely check the video on how to forefoot

[@AndrewFolts]

@@jonathansciacca3510 Good luck!

[@jonathansciacca3510]

Differences between the vivo barefoot and the xero shoes? And would you still recommend vivo barefoot?

[@AndrewFolts]

@@jonathansciacca3510 Vivo has 3mm options, while Xero's are 5.5mm at the thinnest. I've found this makes a huge difference in proprioception (feeling the ground). When I walk or run on concrete in my Vivo Primus Lite's, everything is fine. When I do it in my Xero's, it hurts. I've been running exclusively in my Lite's for three years and 3,000 miles. One advantage of Xero's is that they're a bit wider than Vivo's.

[@brandonavellano1836]

i have ACL replacement from a hamstring graft. I am having issues 10 years after of my calf muscles ripping etc.... wouldn't it be worse for me to go barefoot shoes if running depends on calf muscles? or will it be better coz maybe with cushioned shoes I am not developing it enough?

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Brandon! When it comes to injuries, I find the less I have on my feet, the easier it is to control my stride and avoid stressing my body. Cushion shoes just make me feel clumsy and tired, ya know? Either way, the key is taking things slow. My first barefoot run was just to the end of the street and back. If you build slowly in the beginning and always turn around or stop when your legs start to feel tired, you won't exacerbate anything. Also, keep your stride short and make sure to let your heels touch the ground to avoid calf strain. There's some helpful stride footage/tips here in my Barefoot Transition video. Cheers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYa4lYydfdupbZI

[@gerardcooney791]

So what happened with the pain you were feeling in your fingers once you switched to trails?

[@AndrewFolts]

I mean, no effect on the fingers. Trails are definitely more diverse, and less likely to aggravate the same spots over and over. Making some progress on a thyroid/autoimmune angle with nutrition and lots of outdoor activity, all barefoot. (:

[@Ayoj503]

Would you wear barefoot shoes for marathon distance too? I’m barely starting running on barefoot shoes.

[@AndrewFolts]

I'm a mid-distance runner, so I have no personal xp, but people run ultramarathons completely barefoot, so I don't see why not. I would recommend going as thin as possible for road running. I tried lots of barefoot shoes, but the only ones that ever felt good on pavement were my 3mm VivoBarefoot Primus Lite's. Anything thicker than 4mm gave me joint pain. Cheers!

[@Ayoj503]

@@AndrewFolts thank you!!

[@Jake-po4sp]

Do you use your barefoot shoes for walking as well? I'm not into running, but I'm not really happy with any shoes I've tried.

[@AndrewFolts]

Yep. Two of my favs for walking are the VivoBarefoot Primus Lite and Wildling Flying Fox. Especially for roads/concrete, I find that 3-4mm works best. Anything thicker than that makes my feet hurt.

[@Jake-po4sp]

@@AndrewFolts Thanks for the quick reply! Shopping around right now:)

[@AndrewFolts]

@@Jake-po4sp Sweet, enjoy!

[@Jake-po4sp]

@@AndrewFolts how is the durability of those wildling shoes? Looking for something that will last a good long while.

[@AndrewFolts]

@@Jake-po4sp My first pair were a size too big, so I'm waiting until winter to buy the size down. Durability seemed good, but I haven't tested them. Check out this review, might have covered durability, but I don't remember for sure... kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqqsf2akaM5gh7s

[@californiahighdesertpreach2261]

Any time I look up bear foot running shoes cost more! Why?

[@AndrewFolts]

The average cushion shoe wears out in 300-500 miles, which means Nike, et al, make $250/year+ from each customer. My VivoBarefoot's have laster 3,000 miles so far, which means they've made $50/year from me. It's sad, but barefoot brands get punished for making superior products. Even $170 for a barefoot shoe is a steal, because they last so long. That said, you can find Vivo's and other brands for $90 on Revivo.com and eBay. Cheers!

[@ferris3758]

Do you have an opinion on hiking in barefoot shoes? i wear vivos and such since 6 years exclusively except while hiking (multiday overnight). As soon as I need to carry more than 8-10 kg my knees start acting up. Just me? Solutions?

[@AndrewFolts]

Which Vivo's are you using for hiking?

[@ferris3758]

@@AndrewFolts None ;) Hiking is the only activity I do in cushioned shoes since my knees hurt when carrying a heavy backpack

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

did i miss it or you didn't show the outsole of the shoe with 3k miles?

[@AndrewFolts]

Ha, good call. I show them at the very beginning, but should have done a better closeup. There's a better view in this video (they're no on 4,000 miles)... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eImyY2lsqNJ4gck

what about merrell berefoot shoes? trail glove, move, vapor ? all of them are zero drop, with minimal cushioning and footshaped very well :D

[@AndrewFolts]

Hey Artur! I liked the Vapor Glove last time I tried it. Didn't care for the fit of the Trail Glove. Either way, they're 6.5mm thick, and I've found that to be too thick. My 3mm Vivo Primus Lite's are more flexible, so I've been enjoying those a lot. Cheers!

@@AndrewFolts just want to give more options. Used to ran in NB minimus mt100, mt10, mr00, altra lone peak. Now my favourite is merrell. Unfortinatelly vivo are unreachable in Poland wjere I live. Peace / enjoy healthy running 🤜🤛

[@AndrewFolts]

@ Oh man, that's a bummer. You could probably find them on eBay, though. Would be cheaper, too. Cheers!

[@robyoung5716]

I had all the same injuries running ( plantar, knee , hip , wearing orthotics) I bit the bullet 11years ago and bought 5 fingers. After a slow adaptation all my injuries went away and have been running in five fingers or xero shoes trail sandals since. Btw the person who sued 5 fingers should be hung from their toenails ✌️

[@AndrewFolts]

VFF lawsuit was ridiculous. You can't just buy a shoe and expect it to save you from bad form or overuse. Every responsible barefoot runner I've ever met has 100% experienced health benefits from barefoot shoes.

[@Harmony7771]

Hung bye their toenails and then beat with an organic carrot

[@kylestephens9593]

your presentation and way of talk reminds me of the youtuber struthless :) i like him too

[@AndrewFolts]

Dude, you have no idea...we're like the same person. In November of 2019, I decided to draw 365 Comics in one year. Halfway through, I found his video on the Ibis drawing challenge. We literally did the same exact thing. Plus, he went bald. And we both have a history of drug use, but decided to make KZbin videos instead. We need to do a podcast episode together some day, haha.

[@kylestephens9593]

@@AndrewFolts For sure, Andrew. I would like to listen to this podcast! One thing that I want to say is I am very sorry that you had to give up weight training. I've heard the fitness guys Lazar Angelov had similar case where his tendons of his whole body hurted and he couldn't lift weights anymore (I mean like before). Very strange condition that has no explanation! I broke my arm last year and this with the addition with the pandemic pushed me to take up running. My goal is 6 to 9 months to be able to run 5K in less than 20mins. Currently my time is around 26. Sorry for the long message, Andrew! Cheers!

[@AndrewFolts]

​@@kylestephens9593​ Yea, it was devastating at first. I was scared of going back to being a "skinny twig" like I was in high school. But I'm actually glad it happened, because I became "mentally jacked" through barefoot running. Weirdly, I feel stronger now at 142 lbs than I ever did leg pressing 500 lbs and chugging protein shakes. Bulky muscles look great, but they're kind of useless on a practical level, ya know? Now, I define "strong" through speed and endurance. Like, I just have endless energy-I can run for miles and not get tired at all, which is much more empowering than being stuck at the gym. If given the choice, I probably wouldn't go back to weightlifting. Glad you're recovering. It's so frustrating in the beginning when you can't do the things you're used to doing, but the human body is flexible as hell and always springs back in some way or other!

[@martincanning9778]

Have you seen Joe Nimble shoes ( www.Joe-nimble.com ) - they also make a sort of in-between shoe, - zero drop, wide toe box but with some cushioning - for people like me who enjoy barefoot shoes for general and gym use but not quite ready to take it further. All Joe nimble shoes are very well made but expensive!

[@AndrewFolts]

Thanks for reminding me, forgot about them. Looks like the nimbleToes is 4mm with no cushion and a Vibram sole. Would definitely be interested to try those.

[@henrystartt]

If you are talking about performance there should be two category: Peak performance and long term performance In terms of peak performance a barefoot shoe will never match up to a cushioned shoe as there is no energy return in the shoe. That's why all world class athletes wear cushioned shoes. For long term performance as you stated the cushion wears out and is just dead weight at that point so the barefoot shoe will be better every time. Good information but its always best to look at the best from both sides of the picture so not to appear bias! Your own experience is also not to be always trusted as the opinion you form from you experiences is limited to how much knowledge you have at the time. You raced in cushioned shoes so could the training volume and strain caused the injuries not the shoes? It is also a sample size of 1 so can take any meaningful conclusions from it.

[@AndrewFolts]

Totally agree-cushioned and plated shoes are better for max speed. I stopped racing because I knew it was damaging my body, and all I really care about now is being able to run every day for the rest of my life. I'm not concerned about bias. People who don't like my perspective or disagree with it will filter themselves out through personal preference. I'll stand by the idea that barefoot is how we're meant to run and that it's more healthy than cushion in every way (except for elite racing). If anyone doesn't like that perspective, there are tons of other KZbin channels for them to follow. Ginger Runner, for example, produces great videos with a more balanced view. Also, my sample size is not one, but billions. I've drawn my conclusion from hundreds of thousands of years of human history in which the idea of cushioned shoes would be both laughable and unnecessary.

[@arturogranados1133]

Also Xero shoes are fly as hell, whatchu talking about?

[@AndrewFolts]

Haha, I'm going to catch flak for that until the end of time. To be fair, you have no idea how many people have told me my Vibram's and Vivo's are ugly over the years. It's all subjective! (:

[@stevieb6173]

i get all that etc ,, but it's the initial outlay that is the problem !!

[@AndrewFolts]

eBay and revivo.com are two places where you can get quality barefoot shoes for bargain prices. Sometimes 25-50% off.

[@martuchna6084]

Cushion shoes you can find on good sails and vivo not really at list in UK

[@AndrewFolts]

Bummer! Have you tried eBay?

[@martuchna6084]

@@AndrewFolts so you mean used one? I not very kin to use someone else shoes

[@AndrewFolts]

@@martuchna6084 A lot of times people people sell open box or like-new shoes that were worn once and never returned or couldn't be for some reason. Worth a look.

[@todallard8791]

Anyone who buys running shoes for superficial reasons is an idiot, I have run in xero prios and never thought about the style I won't be getting another pair of prios because I now need a wider shoe. I ran 2200+ miles last year and 2600+ the year before so the cost of cushioned shoes would be insane. For anyone who knows the story of Nike Bill Bowerman the man who made the waffle design spent 10 years at the start of Nike and quit because his goal was not accomplished and that was the shoes did not help people, injuries were the same after 10 years as when he started. Barefoot running and barefoot shoes can have injuries as well because you can stop people from overtraining. When I ran in cushioned shoes I always ran more than 500 miles in them and I can tell you the shoes from the late 70's and early 80's lasted far longer than the garbage the make now.

[@AndrewFolts]

That's interesting about Bill Bowerman. I had always.assumed he was kind of the evil forefather of cushion shoes (which he kind of was), but I never knew he left later when there wasn't any progress. Thanks for sharing that!

[@TSGgigi]

hey runner dude :) do you waer socks while using these barefoot shoes? greetz gigi

[@AndrewFolts]

I do. Usually merino wool because it wicks like magic! (:

[@theultimatederp3288]

Have you heard about Tadeevo, Freetbarefoot and Feelmax?

[@AndrewFolts]

Yea, haven't tried them, tho.

[@zbronstein3901]

I had a pair of tadeevos. Super comfortable, but disintegrated during a wet winter. That was the thermal pair.

[@oliviergrimard3845]

what would be the best winter boots that are barefoot

[@AndrewFolts]

I have the Ahinsa Jaya's and love them, but here's a list with pictures of other options too: www.notion.so/aofolts/Winter-Barefoot-Boots-f56468e6f632429c96014ff5f813c54d