Top 5 barefoot boots CUT IN HALF

[@RoseAnvil]

Get a premium leather wallet from the Rose Anvil shop here - bit.ly/2YzRlMO

[@Ronzo777]

As someone who HAS to wear "anatomical"/zero-drop footwear due to foot issues, I am so grateful for this video series, because it allows me to actually see inside these shoes, and get an in-depth insight into the best options for me, which ones live up to their claims, etc. THANK YOU!! 😁

[@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski]

dude you're work is making casual people familiar with what quality footwear should have. I don't have to tell you having quality footwear is probably the one investment that nobody regrets. I'm certain your videos will play a large part in raising the bottom level quality of boots and that'll make everyone, from the novice construction worker who buys whatever Walmart has to the connoisseur who probably has to many bespoke boots. he's never really going to use, happier.

[@poilaaliop]

For ankle strength: This may sound silly, but look up pre-pointe exercises for ballerinas. The point of those exercises is to strengthen the ankles enough that they won't roll when you're moving around a space on your toes. (Including jumping!) They also train your reflexes. If you do those exercises, over time you will learn how to feel the little muscles and articulations in your feet, and you'll compensate better when your foot starts to roll. I haven't danced in ten years, but that training has kept my ankles strong. Just make sure you don't let your foot sickle when you try the exercises. Sickling is very dangerous, it's a weak position. It would only take a tiny bit of force to hurt a sickled ankle. I'm sure there must be videos out there explaining it better than I could, definitely look that up before you try the pre-pointe exercises. Dancers are taught to never sickle their feet from the first moment they step into a ballet studio, but if you've never heard of the concept before, it may seem a bit strange. Super worth learning about though. EDIT - This video shows what I mean by sickling: kzbin.infojQUcgBGxRjk?feature=share This one shows how to find the correct alignment: kzbin.infoz-pgZ3wTz4M?feature=share

[@sarahrosen4985]

Great info! Thanks!

[@shoutatthesky]

Nah you've just got to wrap those ankles in really stiff boot to "protect' them.

[@whitemakesright2177]

That's not silly at all! I've never been a dancer, but I've found lots of benefit for my feet in ballerina and dancer foot training.

[@ashscott6068]

Just by walking on uneven surfaces without ankle support, you'll develop those reflexes. Everyone has them. They just lose them to some degree by walking on flat surfaces, and lose them to an even greater degree by wearing footwear with ankle support. Your ankles are more than capable of never rolling under your own bodyweight. It's not a matter of strength. Everyone's ankles are more than strong enough. It's entirely about the reflex. Once it's lost, it becomes a conscious reaction, not a reflex. And conscious reactions are far too slow for a process like that. It's like trying to balance consciously by thinking about it.

[@biosparkles9442]

Did dance for 10 years as a kid/teen and even though I haven't danced in over a decade, my feet and ankles are still so strong

[@TimoteoDelCielo]

I take my vivos through class 3 all the time. Many backpackers and thru hikers who actually travel 20-40 miles a day use minimal type shoes for a reason. I did the Sierra High Route in Topo Athletics, and they held up fine. Talk about some serious class 3 action and talus fields. I think most people just haven't any idea what would actually work best because they don't do outdoors athletically. It would be odd to go from a cast-like boot to a barefoot shoe and not go through growing pains... But for me, anecdotally, once that bridge is crossed... I am loads better off and much more able. I found 'good feet store' and arch supports to all be a kind of racket. addressing symptoms only. Just letting my body get back to what it evolved to do is way better. I still like my artisan boots though, and they have a place, but when I'm doing athletics and many miles... I need breathability, width, flex, light weight and very minimal stack height if any. There are loads of physical problems modernity has ushered in. Poor eye sight, bad teeth, acne, sore feet, poor sleep... & Lots of industry and money there addressing the symptoms, but much of that can be resolved for most with some lifestyle changes at the roots. I think? Maybe? To each their own.

[@vgamedude12]

Yep. You don't need anything special to handle rocky terrain people have been doing it in what are functionally leather socks for thousands of years. It's just about conditioning your feet out of the crutches of modern footwear.

[@brockashsfrund]

I've done class 3 in socks with some rubber on the bottom without issue. It's all about conditioning your feet to be able to handle it imo

[@hrtlsbstrd]

Same, I love a sturdy leather boot, but for hiking even pretty gnarly terrain I far prefer shoe-like footwear. I'd only hike in a full boot if I needed water or snakebite resistance.

[@bim8498]

I walk completely differently when I wear my barefoot shoes. I avoid sharp rocks and walk with a lighter step, just overall a more mindful experience, instead of brainlessly stomping through the terrain.

[@adielubbe4200]

Awesome comment. Very real and rational.

[@GingerL012]

So glad you're venturing into this barefoot shoes world! After my first baby, my feet grew a half size and my tolerance for tight shoes went out the window, so I've been trying to find shoes with a wider toe box that don't make my feet look ridiculous. I know you're just looking at men's shoes, but it's still helpful to know what brands to look at

[@JJ-zr6fu]

New Balance makes almost any width you want.

[@kerryrwac]

check out Anya's Reviews, she does barefoot shoe reviews for everyone, including women and children.

[@ImAnEmergency]

Splay is an affordable entry into the barefoot world too

[@Orange_pickles]

I really like my altras and lems for zero drop wide footbox shoes. LEMS have more of a casual style and less support, where the altras are more technical and supportive.

[@TheKatelinn]

Vivos and groundies seem to be the best for me. They last me about a year, and that's pretty good for such thin soles.

[@jimj1313]

I just made the cold-turkey switch to barefoot in 2022, and am really glad you're doing this series. I geek out on shoes/boots and love your channel. I will say that I own Freet, Vivo, and Xero (not all boots), and my perceived experience exactly matches what your technical analysis shows. The Vivos are the "most barefoot", the Freets are close behind that, and the Xeros are good but almost feel conventional in terms of stiffness. All that said, I absolutely love my Freet Ibex boots (they are real leather). They are the most comfortable footwear I have ever worn, even from the very first day. For really cold weather I put in the Vivo thermal insole (highly recommended) and add a pair of thin wool socks (I wear my barefoot shoes without socks whenever possible). I would add a double/triple affirmation on the "go slow" caution -- if you've spent decades in normal shoes your feet and legs are NOT ready for a normal walking/running/hiking load in barefoot footwear. Go out and find one of the many videos on strengthening your feet for barefoot activity, and start doing that. Seriously. Also, once again, get into it gradually. Your feet and Achilles tendons will thank you.

[@hogibunz834]

I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are doing this!!! I’m such a barefoot advocate. I’ve been rocking lems bolder boots without the insole and 6mm thick shamma sandals for a long time. Changed how I walk, makes a noticeable difference in back, leg, and joint pain.

[@dakotamiller6326]

Love my shamma sandals

[@cedrics1220]

Does it make a difference in posture too?

[@Walkerxy]

I recently (over the course of 2-3 years) switched from regular hiking boots to vivos and xeros. When you were ranking based on class hiking I can see why you rated the barefoot boots low because of how much you feel rock through them but there is a major benefit to offset the stabby feeling through the sole and that’s ankle stability through foot awareness. In traditional boots I’d regularly roll my ankles because I don’t pay attention to how my steps feel. In the barefoot ones you tested I never have the ankle rolling effect because I am aware every time my foot makes and removes contact. What I will add if you kind of need to change your stepping style, especially on the descent in class 3s in the barefoot shoes. You need to always lead with the toe first going down hill because landing your heel in hard repetitive steps on what rocks in any of the barefoot shoes does hurt. This stuff being said I prefer barefoot boots for the class 3s and reg boots for class 1s. Personal preference of course, I just find the foot awareness makes me feel stronger and keep my ankles from rolling during the hike.

[@StevenKetchum]

As somebody who's had ACL/MCL reconstruction, low-heeled shoes really help my joints. I recently got a pair of iron rangers and they've caused a lot of knee pain, which is slowly subsiding as I break them in. I only wish there was a high-quality heritage style zero drop boot, but I'm thinking of resoling my heritage boots with a flatter, softer gum sole.

[@CptAngelADVlogs]

Check out the tracker forest ESC for that classic hiking boot look. Also Xero Denver leather and Lems Boulder boot leather are closer to the heritage style.

[@MindfulProgramming]

Did you see the new Bearfoot - Bruin boots?

[@dawesome873]

I’ve done class 3 almost exclusively in my Xeros and it takes training at the start. You have to condition yourself to really be aware of your steps or you’ll slam down in a jagged rock. I do quite like it, though. I’ve done it in vivo’s as well, but they’re a little wider in my feet and feel baggy. For really rugged or higher inclined, but not vertical, hikes around 3-4ish, I love my all bison leather 8 in boots from Bison Boots, a small barefoot boots company that unfortunately shut down operations around 2019

[@cevxj]

Didn’t know about the class system until this video, it makes more sense if we differentiate with mileage. I’ve used slippers and flip flops going through “class 3” for half hour, was not ideal but if i swapped vivos in i would not complain.

[@carolinesmith9489]

Really cool you are taking on barefoot shoes. Though, for us experienced barefooters, some information is not as spot on as it could be. Like how much barefoot feel you get not only depends on the thickness of the sole, but how flexible it is in ALL directions (not just bending/rolling), and how soft it is. A little more soft sole will give more feedback from the ground than a really thin and stiff sole. Also how durable a barefoot shoe is does not depend on like how thick a sole is. I wear down my barefoot shoes at a much slower rate than I did my conventional shoes. Because your walking pattern will naturally soften with barefoot shoes and you for example won't wear through the heel as fast as having a heel strike will hurt in those kinds of shoes. Then we have the width. Measuring on the insole is not always a fair comparison. How much volume the shoe has a the toe area, and how soft the edges are around the toe box will determine the actual width/space for feet to splay. Also, there are a lot of people doing advanced hikes in barefoot shoes without problem. But yeah, you would want to build up your strength in your feet/body first. Lastly, there are many of us that love leather. And leather is most definitely the most environmentlly friendly. (Even though many have been made to believe the opposite, unfortunately). There are a lot of barefoot brands that have leather actually! But anyway, still fun to see you going into the barefoot world. I would love for you to cut apart a pair of Realfoot shoes next time 😊

[@plastikmaiden]

This is awesome! I love barefoot shoes for lifting, everyday wear and wide toebox runners for... running. Recently I picked up a couple by a german brand called Joe Nimble. After going through half a dozen Topos and Altras they're by far the most comfortable and well built.

[@keilebgutierrez5260]

Thanks so much for this video. I used to be into the Pacific Northwest style, heritage boots and nobody can deny how romantically cool they look but after seeing my feet going the route of my parents with bunions and toes that are no longer straight I decided to give barefoot shoes a try and it's been a couple years now and I have done some pretty extreme things in Vivobarefoot shoes (my favorite barefoot brand so far and by far). I have ran many miles, hiked everything from groomed trails to intense via ferrata trails and backpacking in the Rockies. Though I did find that to prevent injury in the tendons and fascia it is important to maintain active and not ignore early signs of strain and not push through that kind of pain. (Strength and flexibility is essential). I have been wanting to see what those shoes looked like on the inside and to get your professional opinion on them so thanks again. My feet, ankles, knees and back have felt better than ever and I am so much more aware of the complexity of my foot and how I interact with the substrate I am on. The best part is that I have not twisted/rolled my ankle to the point that it hurts for more than just a few minutes since I stoped wearing shoes with heels. I have much more control over my ankle and there just isn't that much distance my ankle can travel in that scenario as there would be if I were in boots a stacked heel or just a lot of foam. Like, I don't know anyone who has severely twisted their ankle while barefoot on the beach or at home or anywhere. And back to my original reason, my bunions have actually regressed quite a bit and so no granny feet for me.

[@jgsk78]

Human feet/ankles don't have capacity to roll or sprain themselves. You need shoes for that

[@JayyBird93]

Still happy with your barefoot vs PNW boots?

[@keilebgutierrez5260]

I am actually@@JayyBird93

[@chrismichael1161]

I live in BC where most trails are class 3 and I do all my hikes in minimalist barefoot shoes. Took a while for feet to build up, but now my feet are so much happier and stronger. Plantar fasciitis is gone and lower back pain gone. Not to mention it’s so enjoyable to feel the changing ground beneath me. It’s like a foot massage

[@jaslarue]

That was great! I hate squished toes too. I have a pair of Rancourt moc boots and a pair of Keens. For most hikes I reach for the Keens. Your criteria make sense to me. It's not only the rigidity and zero drop. Leather, after a hike, takes a lot of work to clean up. As always, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I'm trying to whittle my way down to three or four boots that handle what I throw at them. You have helped me focus on the qualities that matter.

[@jansenburrell3774]

I'm right there with you on the "Why should I hate leather to like barefoot shoes" train. Anyone who actually acknowledges facts knows leather is the more environmentally friendly option. I think it's one of the reasons I'm super pro Lems though. Because they acknowledge both sides and you can get them either way.

[@markfrazer3239]

I'm just a person who chooses boots in the winter but I walk from train to work...a mile each way... and I love that keen boot. I have a dark blue with a yellow sole... great look. My legs don't hurt with them and I love that toe box.

[@johnmccrossan9376]

I really don't understand this whole thing with people acting like leather isn't environmentally friendly. First off cows are raised for the meat and milk, leather is mostly a byproduct that would otherwise be left to rot or ground up for fertilizer so you're not hurting anything by growing it on the cow. Second off it lasts much longer and performs far better than virtually any synthetic alternative so you've got the reduced energy cost of replacing things less frequently. And finally leather is a natural material if you bury it or throw it in a river it'll get eaten or rotted away in a few years as opposed to these alternative materials that are more or less just plastic. The tanning can be quite chemical intensive sure but companies can work with tanneries to reduce that and manage waste efficiently.

[@ninemimesleft]

I have worn barefoot boots/shoes for a few years now. I recently got a pair of Jim Greens and realized going back to regular boots from zero drops my back started hurting a ton. Zero drop works for relieving back pain.

[@popuppete]

I have also worn primarily barefoot shoes for the past 4 years and have been debating Jim Greens for a few weeks. I need a new boot for yard work with a ridged sole for ladders. Your experience if what I feared. It would be hard to go back to wearing heels

[@CptAngelADVlogs]

@@popuppete Check out the Magna or Tracker Forest ESCs. All the sole you need, amazing grip and zero drop + wide + flexible.

[@ninemimesleft]

@@popuppete I did a 7 mile hike in my jim greens and had to lie down and stretch in the back of my van when I got done to keep my back from spasming. Something about the heel angle for me is not good. YMMV. I sure wish there was a leather, water resistant minimalist boot with a gussetted tongue that can be resoled. Softstar seems the closest but for some reason they decided not to release their leather switchback with a gussetted tongue.

[@matsab7930]

@@ninemimesleft A lot of shoes hit all those features bar being resolable... honestly that's my biggest issue right now. I've been looking in to 'bison bushcraft boots' by a small company in the UK, and they seem to tick the boxes; with the recent upswing in the popularity of both 'proper' boots and minimalist footwear in recent years, we may begin to see proper goodyear welted minimalist footwear soon.

[@ninemimesleft]

​@@matsab7930Rejoice and sing Jim Green and Rose Anvils praises.

[@leland303]

Thank you so, so much for showing the benefits of barefoot shoes! So many wearers of high arch boots use those boots to try and correct problems...what they end up achieving is using the boots as a crutch and not addressing the underlying issues such as weak foot, ankle, and leg muscles. People don't realize that high arch boots were designed to allow us to work longer, not specifically designed to correct underlying problems. They are trying to treat the symptoms instead of the cause. I wear PNW boots for work and workout in barefoot shoes and go barefoot as much as possible.

[@shodack5124]

My last pair of Keens was 1/8" narrower than the boots I've bought from them in the past (I've had about 8 pairs). It made a shocking amount of difference in comfort, especially after wearing them for so many years.

[@repetemyname842]

Same here, I dont trust them any longer. Been wearing Keens in construction and for hunting for 15 years. Never again.,

[@fetB]

i dont understandwhy they are on here anyway. The toes box is generous but its clearly not foot shaped

[@IStillLikeIke]

I’ve never tried barefoot boots but I love my Xero prio shoes and am excited to get more in the world of barefoot shoes thank you for this video!!😊

[@nvsv_wintersport]

I now have three Freet shoes: one for the office with black leather (or whatever it is) and two running/walking shoes for wet conditions. They tend to be just a little too large, so you might go one size smaller. If it's dry I use my Vibram Five Fingers for running. Now I'm looking for a sturdier walking boot, so this series is helping me a lot to decide, thank you.

[@galou0090]

I love this series! Discovering what type of construction and shoes are the best for my health is really important. I hope dress shoe companies can figure out a way to make wider toe boxed shoes look better, they are squish our toes so much for looks ita insane

[@applejuice9468]

It's not usually that bad, but barefoot dress shoes would look like absolute shit

[@MM-yh2mi]

My daughter has been wearing Vivobarefoot boots for years. Such great quality!

[@crystalmetric4706]

I kept seeing suggestions that barefoot shoes might help my plantar fasciitis and severe knee pain. I have very wide feet so cute was never an option. Bought a CHEAP pair of whitin on Amazon to try out. Loved them! Legitimately my feet basically stopped hurting, my knee pain went from severe 40% of the time to mild 10% of the time. I have since gotten the new boulder boots for winter per your recommendation (wish they were wider!) and a pair of Lems primal zen. I'm teacher on my feet all the time and my feet feel great!

[@seanwillan5369]

So topo does in fact have a lot of zero drop options, and so does my personal favorite brand Altra and then they are varying degrees of thicknesses. But this is my most anticipated video for a while now and I am loving it!!!!!

[@ninemimesleft]

Many people who want zero drop want a durable leather option! I would love to see you do a collaboration with a boot company to make a nice, leather resoleable barefoot hiking boot like Russell used to offer.

[@andreahighsides7756]

You can’t re-sole a barefoot shoe without unstitching and restitching the whole thing. Vivo has a couple different leather shoes, I like my magna fg

[@ninemimesleft]

@@andreahighsides7756 Softstars are resoleable. I don't see why one couldn't be made that's resoleable.

[@PanchromaticNoise]

I just got LEMS this week based off your review from a month ago. I love them so much, thanks!

[@ek-nz]

Same, first walk in them today. Yay for toe freedom!

[@DangerDavez]

I've had leather Vivo Primus Trails for almost 7 years. They are my every day shoe and I've put em through the wringer. Portages, 25km hikes as well as non court sports. The leather isn't super nice anymore (though that's my fault for not treating them) and the lugs are basically non existent but they are still in good shape. I figure I can get another 2 or 3 years out of them but they're no longer trail/hike worthy. Still, I really don't mind paying the money for something that lasts and feels great and these have easily been the best shoes I've ever owned. As for the hiking thing, I would definitely not hesitate to bring these on some class 3 hikes. It's something you just have to build up to. Did the Kalalau Trail which is super sketchy in some far worst shoes.

[@mckingery21]

I love the class system to describe hiking, it indicates that you were pulling from surprisingly experienced and knowledgable sources regarding how non-supportive footwear is to wear on more rugged hikes. I put in a minimum of several hundred miles of rough terrain on and off trail in a steep and rocky region. Several years back, I transistioned to minimalist footwear which started as barefoot. I wanted to share my experience. First off, the thin soles are great and shockingly hard-wearing. They last longer than my sneakers or hiking boots ever did. I would walk holes in the bottom of the soles of my Merrells and Keens in under a year every time. Not the case with barefoot shoes. Rocks suck. Cannot recommend hiking rocky trail in anything marketed as barefoot. Use 'minimalist' with at least some degree of cushioning. Especially ones designed for trail. Those Vivos don't belong in the Rocky Mountains. Even minimalist footwear took three years before I stopped regularly bruising my feet. That was a brutal process. No bruises anymore. I also now sometimes choose to wear a veg-tan leather insole on the rockier hikes. You can't walk as far if carrying a load as you can with more supportive footwear. The support counts. I can put in a 30 mile day with an 80 pound load with more supportive footwear. I start feeling the pain bigtime at around 20 miles in minimalist. The difference gets less significant as your load weight decreases. My feet grew a full size and two full widths. Stability, body health/ergonomics, twisted ankles, toe joint pain, knee and back pain, everyday health all changed very noticeably for the better. My feet getting crazy wide made it impossible to find traditional footwear style shoes. I need work boots for work and haven't found anything that works and is cost effective. The Red Wing H width is wearable but sucks, surplus xw is wearable but sucks. I'm going to swing by a couple of the PNW joints when I'm in Spokane next, but would be surprised if anything came wide enough.

[@io_noise]

I usually wear camper shoes. They have quite a few wide models.

[@mckingery21]

@@io_noise those look like great shoes, I bet they would work great for casual wear. Sadly, they stop short of my foot size.

[@jgsk78]

I know a lot about barefoot shoes not now I've learned something. Thanks.

[@MikePanian]

I have been using barefoot shoes for a long time now...I think since vivobarefoot began 2012. Brands that I have tried and used extensively are vivo barefoot, Lems, Xero, and Fivefingers. I don't notice anything particularly painful or tiring at this point though initially...and maybe for a few years I could feel my feet working hard after a long day. You really do get used to it. It really is more natural. If you take up barefoot shoes, your feet will not ever want to be in narrow heavy shoes again once they have adjusted. I mean this in all seriousness...it means you will forever be focused on barefoot shoes. My feet grew a size in length, thickened in the instep and are very strong. They just dont fit in narrow toe box shoes any more. Of all of them I like the Lems the best I think but I still wear all of them depending on what I am doing. I use fivefingers for deck shoes and light hikers, vivos for casual and dress shoes, Lems for hiking and martial arts. The limiting factor for vivos, Lems and Xeros are often the insole. Once the custom insole starts to degenerate, replacing them with anything except the insoles that come from the companies just doesnt work. Earlier versions of vivos seem to be more long lasting. I use the desert chukka style boot for a lot of casual work...They are super comfortable. For light hiking they all are ok. For more challenging terrain, Lems. Another company that I have used is Russell Moccasins. This is a custom bootmaker and they will make their boots as minimalist zero drop boots russellmoccasin.com/collections/boots/products/thula-thula-ph?variant=43965709713621 These boots are expensive but they custom make them...or at least they did. I think that they will make any boot a zero drop and they will stretch and soften areas of the boot if you have issues like old bunions. You can send them back and have them resoled. Cheers!

[@mateobarroetavena3469]

Great vid! IMO you should've included the Lems Outlander Waterproof considering you had already done the leather ones. They are right in between the 3 "true" barefoot and the 2 "standard," but same style as the ones in this video. So excited for this series!!!

[@rayparnellbsnrn8925]

Wow! Great choice! As much as possible I use very minimal sole. Previously my #1 shoe was Addis Volley White. It was a very minimal shoe. It allowed me to be lite and swift on my feet which was a plus on crisis psych unit.

[@wwehht]

This is a dream come true! Years ago I requested a dissection of Vivobarefoot Gobi II shoe and and now we’re getting a whole barefoot playlist of videos! So excited!

[@popuppete]

I’ve had Gobi II’s for 3 or 4 years and wear them a lot. There isn’t much to them but they have held up wonderfully. I don’t know if it has to do with leaving the EU but the price to get them in my country has doubled in 4 years.

[@wwehht]

@@popuppete With the prices going up, good thing your shoes have held up wonderfully. I’ve had mine for almost 6 years and they’re still good too. That’s what I like about barefoot shoes; there’s not much to them, but also they don’t take up a lot of space when traveling. You can always take multiple barefoot shoes without much compromise.

[@PARAMONARIOS]

Please do “vivobarefoot magna forest esc” tracking shoes next! They are the most rugged vivobarefoot shoes I’ve ever tried. Micheline outsole

[@Styrleden]

I've used a few pair of hiking boots for 5+ years for both hiking and daily but I've realized that the my style of walking worn down the heal super fast. My conclusion was that i need a flatter shoe and a want something with a wide toe box. The shoe that matched my needs were Altra and i love them as my daily and light hikes but in rougher terrain I'll still use my hiking boots

[@iRayJ]

Not much of a hiker, but I've been looking for more of a relaxed shoe to do most of the daily stuff and have been curious about barefoot shoes. Found the Vivo's on sale on their site and it'll be my first foray into the segment! Thanks for the quality uploads as always!

[@bernardweaver2416]

I'm super excited for this series. I've been rocking Xero for a while specifically the pair in this video. They're good shoes but delamination is definitely an issue. Every pair of Xero or Altras I've had eventually have this happen after a year or so of regular (1-2 days a week) hiking on grade 1 and 2 trails.

[@BiggiN483]

I had an ankle operation some years back and i got really conscious of walking after. Meaning when hiking, i had to look down at my feet to see where i'm going. I started wearing barefoot shoes (vivos for hiking) and it's gone. I can feel my way around and can actually look at where i'm headed instead of down. And i've gotten a lot better at not just stepping on everything that might hurt (which i might have ignored before) and that has stopped my clumsy self from stumbling around. They're not for everyone but i just find i walk better, lighter and less like a rhinocerus stomping up a hill and i see more of my surroundings.

[@tx1hawkins357]

I use the Vivo Tracker Forest with the Michelin © ESC Sole. Id say that it will take some time to transition to having less drop. However I will say that hiking over wet tree roots and slick rocks the ability to use your toes to naturally grip gives me a bit more confidence. I have very $$$$ hiking boots with all the bells and whistles. However as far as traction it’s been hard to outdo that Michelin lug sole.

[@methodsocratic]

Surprised Softstar wasn’t included. They do the Switchback barefoot boot and made in the USA.

[@missfireandice1]

Agreed, I really love my Softstar Primal Runamocs (talk about clown shoes!) and I don't need hiking boots yet, but I've definitely had my eye on the Switchback. I'd be really interested to hear his opinion on their "Superfabric" upper.

[@mariusjenkins7294]

For flexibility and barefoot feel, the best boot Xero makes is the Denver... They have been my daily shoe for the past 3-4 years... I have tried some other barefoot brands during that time (including Vivo), and none of them nail the barefoot feel as well as Xero imo...

[@thomasstropes4835]

I have vivo's and they have good grip, ground feel, and they do protect your foot well. You don't step down as hard in a barefoot shoe/boot because you feel the ground. This will prevent many of the punctures that can happen.

[@ek-nz]

The comment section here is pretty helpful. Since I recently wore out my first pair of barefoot walking boots, I guess maybe someone will find my input informative too. Freet Mudee are properly barefoot with great ground feel and I have been wearing them for about a year and half. The soles are falling off and I’m very sad. I was kind of sceptical so I made sure to buy cheaper boots as my first pair, but I have to say that these boots made me enjoy walking a lot more. You definitely have to walk differently, pay attention and think about how and where you place your feet, but I experienced a lot less injury on grade 2 hikes (e.g. 20,000 steps up and down a mountain) because of how flexible they are. I get hotspots and blisters from all other hiking boots. With the Freets on a longer hike early on in my barefoot journey, I did feel like my ankles had a workout. But the amount of surface area contact with the ground also make soles with shallow lugs surprisingly grippy, making the hike safer as well. So I will agree that grade 2 and 3 hiking is definitely a good idea in barefoot boots if you’re being careful, and in fact overall safer for you and your feet. But don’t stomping over rocks! Today is my first day in Lems Boulder Summit. They feel very thick and cushy in the soles, but comfortable and just about flexible enough. Toes are happy and zero drop is great for my poor stressed shoulders. I might try some glue on the Freets because I’m missing the ground feel.

[@therealdeal3672]

I have a pair of black Xeros with some white accents that are the hiking style. They have a higher top above the ankle than the model that you show. Mine are very comfortable and I think that they are approaching the cool looking style. Great first foray into barefoot-style shoes. I wouldn't take them on anything past a Level 2 hike. I mostly wear them around near the beach. Love the wide toe box.

[@manjil1234]

Love your work! I think this is a really good way for people to manage their expectation from boots. I have been searching for class 3 boots that has wide toe box. All other boots squish my pinky toes and it gets really painful.

[@Riname-K]

I love/hate my Xero Xcursions. When I still used them (in higher frequency), I would take them on rocky class 2-3 hikes with the weekly farm usage and they worked very well. The stiffness and sole height is quite nice to have all while being zero drop and all. Pretty perfect for someone making a transition from tactical/military kind of footwear. However I do have issues with it. The first thing is is the cemented construction especially right above the toes, which tends to peel off the upper. Additionally the upper is a mesh construction which is very prone to collecting grass seeds and debris, and that’s all a pain to remove with a brush and some tweezers. The Chevron treads are good while they last and that’s it. The treads wear out fast. The Xero Xcursion Fusions are supposedly waterproof but I’ve found the water resistance to be short lived after a few outdoor excursions, and eventually become a sweatbox that doesn’t keep water out. If I were to recommend a Xero footwear I would recommend just the Daylite hiker. They’re basically the Xcursion Fusion without the bs mentioned above for a lower price point and just as good durability if not longer. Quite honestly I’m on the edge of just going to modern combat boots. Perhaps take a jab at Altberg which I’m confident will last for years but also oriented for moving, because the while the minimalist zero drop stuff is nice they just don’t inspire long term durability for their value and I believe part of that is just the technological limitations of being thinner sole footwear but also the whole hippie material thing just not lasting as long as leather and stitches.

[@volyota3117]

A great start to a very interesting series! I'm moving towards barefoot footwear. Would be great if you can do a barefoot work/safety boot episode. I'm keen to see a review on the Birkenstock QS700, which is wide toe box, and becomes zero drop once the insole is taken out.

[@BriansFarmingVideos]

I started wearing Altra lone peaks 5 years ago and it ruined me from wearing traditional boots. Lems Boulder summit for the win

[@rodgerbright3764]

I’m a Topo guy almost exclusively. I’ve got the trailventure 1 and trailventure 2. Though not the WP version of each. I do lots of class 3 scrambling in them and they’re a perfect blend of comfort and capability IMO. For serious 3+ or harder scrambles I wear approach shoes, but that’s when you’re on rock pretty much the entire time.

[@QuickQuips]

Runventure is 0mm iirc. Trail may be 2. Their toe boxes have gotten wider over time.

[@horse14t]

Thank you for this series! As someone who's current boots are falling apart and wants to try barefoot shoes/boots for the first time this information is great! I am actually shocked by how affordable some of these are for me!

[@alyssapenfound5544]

I really wish he’d talk about the depth fit as well. I’ve worn keen, Topo, merrell, oboz, and new balance while hiking. Topo is the only brand I never felt like my foot was going to slide sideways in. Definitely felt the most stable while hiking

[@MillieMoses]

Salomon are the absolute kings of lateral stability, worth a look if that's a feature you find important. Salomons would break your ankle before they would give up and slide off the side of your foot. They don't make barefoot style shoes, but their mentality is generally "your feet are narrower than you believe, and soft foams are why your endurance sucks"

[@nsiebenmor]

You’re assuming everyone’s foot shape is the same

[@MillieMoses]

@@nsiebenmor I'm not assuming anything, I'm not Salomon product development.

[@alyssapenfound5544]

My foot is super shallow with a wide forefoot and narrow heel. So Topo fit that shape pretty well

[@bultvidxxxix9973]

February is already over, but I was wondering if you are willing to do another episode with barefoot dress shoes. Especially with your expertise in leather this could be interesting. I personally like to wear Zaqq and think they are comfortable, real leather and look like a double wide surprise. But I wonder how they would stack up against other options. Also yes, it's amazing how expensive minimal shoes are.

[@GGLiEx]

did level 3s for a whole wwek in the vivos and they were awesome. with the new michelin sole i slipped only very rarely in comparaison to my friends in high end traditional boots. really impressive..never going back to standard shoes. obviously if you are not wearing barefeet shoes every day, this is not a good idea, you need healthy feet for vivos but they really are incredibly durable and well made

[@gabrielharter1658]

I've been hiking barefoot for over 15 years and in barefoot sandles for 5 or 6 years all the way up to hard class 4 terrain and I will say, to this day, I will still remove my shoes for difficult sections on class 3 or 4 terrain for the added responsiveness and grip, especially on the large exposed granite slabs of my homeland - nevertheless I recently bought my first pair of barefoot hiking shoes for a few chossy hikes this year and the adjustment from barefoot to even 10mm or so is significant. Proud to say I've never twisted an ankle in my life also - never thought much of it until recently when a friend of mime started complaining about ankle pain so I loaned him my sandles

[@thomasdurant7907]

I wore packers for about 10 years and now minimal support shoes for nearly 15, five fingers for at least half of that. The Algorithm has been pushing this channel on me for probably a full year, but I have resisted. I admit the last few videos got my attention, but it was actually some of the older videos that has kept me watching. I think it's nostalgia for me, I still have a pile of Packers packed away. Oh, I always have a pair of Keens around for dry weather abuse, I have LaCrosse rubber boots as my wet weather equivalent. Great channel!

[@DimitrosSJ]

Thank You for being METRIC! I really like the tendency that more and more americans are getting rid of those stupid inches, yards, feets, F°, miles, ounces, poubds and other no linear shitt.

[@nintom]

very happy to see you guys tackle this topic ❤

[@MortenVoigt]

Thanks a lot for this video! To cut them in half so we can see what's actually there I hope your expenses are covered 😊

[@adamstanton8736]

Love seeing different kinds of boots and shoes now, since I’ve watched you I’ve always wondered what protective motorcycle boots/shoes would look like cut in half. I have a pair of Dainese street rocker d-wp boots and would love to see something like that cut in half. Keep up the good content!

[@benphillips7289]

Rose Anvil should design a barefoot leather boot after this series

[@MarkHorningJazzer]

Would've been nice to see the Lems Boulder Boot compared as well. I love the vivo's. Next to my Russell Moccasin BF shoes, they are my favorite.

[@adagoikhman3122]

I wish all boots were complete barefoot. Really intriguing brands are groundies and windling. The are manufactured in Europe and Not in China. And use leather and felt and wool

[@erinparker4085]

I love my vivos! I wear through the sole before there are any major failures in the shoe, I'm in the process of wearimg through my second pair. Theyre easy to get a deal on since a lot of people do not end up liking barefoot shoes so they sell them barely used on eBay for about half price!

[@krisjonesuk]

I don’t think you can do a barefoot series without including Vibram’s “Five Fingers” shoes - the only time Vibram have ventured beyond soles into actually making footwear. It would also be interesting to hear from a professional podiatrist about the relative merits of barefoot versus traditional footwear. To some extent it may depend on the type of feet people have.

[@georgeaguirre5437]

Agreed. A friend of mine has webbed toes and can’t wear the five finger shoes but would probably do well in a pair of VivoBarefoot shoes

[@loboalamo]

My core and back from my tailbone to the base of my head like me more.

[@KTzu213]

Every single podiatrist I've spoken to (about 3) wants to sell you arch supports and heavily supported shoes or boots. They are 100% against the barefooted running or hiking. You'll have a hard time finding one who recommends most of the boots in the video.

[@WujiKami]

The Vivobarefoot would be my choice here.

[@dahotrod1533]

Thought I would have a go with barefoot shoes, I've been on a quest for the most comfortable shoes for a long time, bought different types like adidas ones that are really soft and bouncy etc and all of them kind of hurt one way or another. I grew up with cheap (sports direct specials) canvas shoes which were pretty much zero drop hard rubber with a narrow toe box 😬 Best hiking boots i currently have are grafters sniper (combat boots i bought for cadets years ago) The problems i am having are supposedly what barefoot shoes should help with. So hopefully my quest somewhat will come to an end. I ordered vivobarefoot tracker decon fg2 jjf boots this morning and wasn't expecting a video from this channel i have watched many times. Nice to see they are well constructed and I am really looking forwards to recieving them.

[@beedosbackyard6341]

I work construction as a carpenter on builds finished and framing. I wore Vivo geo racers until my foot ball started to get major pain due to being on flat concrete most days. I lasted several months until the pain kicked in and came close to injury. The shoes actually held up exceptionally well, the soles still have most of the grip left, and the tops held up just as well. I wore them due to our exceptionally hot Texas summer to keep my cool and aired out. I would still be wearing them if it wasn’t for the pain. Was wearing cowboy construction boots prior to that. They started causing me lower back pain. When switching to the Vivos, by lower back pain actually went away. But, it was eventually replaced by foot ball pain. Also, had to be extra careful to keep my toes intact. As I was working construction sites with all the hazards. I just recently got a pair of moc toe wedges from Nicks, and look forward to breaking them in. That being said, I still have various Vivos and will be wearing them on the trails and short store adventures in the future. Thank you Rose Anvil for all your informative and entertaining videos.

[@mattgreen753]

I'm coming up on 2 years wearing only barefoot shoes. I am psyched to see the upcoming videos!

[@Meleny95]

Maybe it has been said before, but the key to the claims of high arch and zero drop is probably the proper foot alignment when walking. Both put the weight distribution mostly on the outer part of the foot.

[@coffeedudeguy]

When I was a hiking noob I took my work Blundstones up a Class 3 New Zealand mountain trail. Boots were destroyed after, but the journey was worth it. Wish I had these shoes back then

[@jaysonmoore5166]

I hike all the time in a pair of Merrell trail gloves. I did a 16 mile overnight recently, and I still chose the trail gloves, even with a 30ish pound load. If your feet are conditioned, the shoes are gives work fine on most grades. I think I may eventually get some Altra Lone Peaks, but they're still zero drop and relatively flexible. They'll just provide some cushion on longer hauls

[@MRBarton369]

Lems were great for casual...but the king is still tracker 2. I wore my LeBrons a few days ago and considered cutting my feet off. Trackers are amazing for outdoor and indoor. Besides my mucks I have completely switched over. And my feet are very happy that I have. Awesome video brother... great information

[@sm_Llama]

I'm in love with Vivos, they're just so well made and feel great on feet

[@Bshwag]

I have a lot of foot pain from being in the army, not from arch problems my feet are just sensitive to hard surfaces (heals mostly). The only shoes I have found to help would have fit right in this list, they are ALTRA lone peaks they have zero drop and the foam midsole is so soft that it is nice on my heals but I feel almost everything on the ground. Edit very wide toe box as well.

[@_bats_]

There must be some good compromise - not in terms of design where it's halfway between a big chonky supportive boot and a very thin barefoot boot, but in terms of materials/construction quality. Instead of all the cemented construction with synthetic materials, what about something like a handsewn moc with a very thin lugged rubber sole (or even rubber lugs attached to a thick chromepack sole like a hobnail boot or something). So still totally barefoot but made of natural, biodegradable materials and repairable/rebuildable.

[@MrHepcat34]

I’m really excited about this series. I have gone to Xero for my daily wear. I have the Denver leather’s for work & they are great. I really want to get a pair of the vivobarefoot, but $ is a concern. Great vid!

[@popuppete]

I mainly have vivos and love them. The price increases over the past 4 years means I will likely look elsewhere when it is time to replace them. They hold up well and look good but the price is just too high. Xero is what I’m likely going to try next.

[@kylehazachode]

barefoot for the win! Vivobarefoot and Xero are my favorite brands, but I bought a pair of Origo's barefoot casual shoes and they are insanely comfortable. Hope you get a chance to cut a pair of Origo's in half. I had them for like a year and I'm still mindblown on how comfy the soul is. So this channel and my Vivobarefoot Ra III's shoes and Gobi II's made me appreciate really good leather. I started leathercrafting lately. The only other leather shoes I ever owned were Bostonians from the mall. I think I bought five pairs of Bostonians in my lifetime. They scratch so easily. I also own a pair of old Crocs leather work/hiking boots, yes Crocs made a leather boot.

[@PONO-go3ee]

I have Berkinstock in a Zerodrop wide toe box in a Chuca boot style all leather Rubber bottom with a stitch 360 stitch around the side never worn them yet 3-4 years old found them at Ross

[@dcpayne5264]

Reassuring to see the quality of Vivos. I have quite a few pairs, but they don’t offer too much in terms of super minimal styling / classi styling (I don’t always want hi tech looking shoes) but other barefoot brands are a bit of a mine field. Here in the UK, most barefoot brands require importing and are significantly more expensive than non barefoot shoes, so knowing the quality that brands offer is a huge plus. Thank you for your time and presentation

[@Andy-br1hq]

I just bought a pair of Lems boulder nylon boot. Wore them all day today walking around in the rain and they are pretty comfortable

[@spartanB0292]

I believe in the anatomical shape far more than the zero drop or ground feel. Most people, especially these days, aren't spending the whole day on their feet. So the zero drop and ground feel aren't as significant IMO. But people have shoes on their feet even while sitting down, so not having your shoes constantly squeeze your toes makes a huge difference. That said, I am considering trying a barefoot shoe. I work from home the whole week and wear Birkenstocks almost every waking minute, so I feel it wouldn't be such a huge difference.

[@JamesFromCanada]

Love your information however I gotta say - I take Vivobarefoot Primus Trails on Class 4 scrambles and climbing ascents and they're nothing short of stellar.

[@danielfernandez634]

Yes! I’ve been asking for this for years. I’ve had my sage green bel minimils since graduating basic and they are still going after miles of use. New uniform and I have those coyote ones and still love them. The best part is they pack down tiny! Thanks for the video. Please do Corcoran Marauders next!

[@2_shanks]

I went on an all day 20+ mile hike with 4000+ feet of elevation change, and did that in the Xero boots. I would call it a getting into the class 3 territory. It went really well. I'd only recommend it for people that wear mostly barefoot shoes. Your feet need to be used to it. However, if that is the case then it is the best hiking experience. No blisters and feet feel great.

[@believeinjesus8300]

One time I bought these expensive logger boots and they absolutely killed my knees. The had that heel and high arch. I gave to a buddy who I noticed as excited as he was about getting them didn’t wear them much.

[@keithjackson4985]

How dare you not rate the Vivos as supremely cool! I love the look of those boots.

[@firstlast2386]

In 2 years my feet went from 265 mm and now I wear 280 mm (size 8.5 to 10 US mens) thanks to barefoot shoes. No more blisters and my ankles are stronger than ever. Definitely recommend them to people with wider feet.

[@mccoyburgess844]

Didn’t really know anything about barefoot shoes/boots except that as a kid I preferred to be barefooted. Thank you for the education. I look forward to the sandals reviews? I know that Chacos Z1s don’t fit your specs for zero drop, but I hope to see you review and Keen Newport as well. For foot comfort I prefer Chacos, except for when I might experience dropped tools from a workbench or walking where there are lots of sticks, stones, etc. to endanger my toes. So, the sandals reviews are definitely on my radar. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

[@anadeweerd]

I would love to see a Lems regular Boulder boot cut in half! I saw you cut the summit in half and it wasn’t zero drop, but they claim that it is on their website. Now wondering if the regular Boulder has a heel drop.

[@aaronlatif52]

I dont claim to know for sure, but Vivo Tracker Forest Esc Mens are probs the best I know of hiking barefoot shoes. Hope you get a chance to cut them in half this month too.

[@joebop6849]

Looking forward to seeing more barefoot shoe content. Also, the editing has gotten better and better.

[@DRum886]

I will always use Vivos. They are superb shoes for daily wear. I use the Magna FR for workouts, and they are just comfortable.

[@alaskabornheathen8902]

I have never been able to tolerate shoes with narrow toe boxes. I probably did in school but when I started working I never did. I’ve mostly worn Keens because they have a wider toe than most brands. I’ve also worn Ariat square toes but I just don’t think they’re quite as comfortable after a long day of work. My current Keens are some version of the Targee, not a fan of that series of shoe. Not very durable and the comfort wears out pretty quick. But my first Keens were Austin’s about 10 years ago. They were the most amazing shoes I’ve owned. Comfortable and durable, lasted me probably 3 years. I work on my feet all day. That said, I’d love to see a series where you find common shoes like Keens and compare them to zero drop standards. I think there may be a few rare pairs of shoes that can wade into the zero drop wide toe category without trying.

[@ArmanSaunders]

really happy ur making vids on barefoot shoes! I've been a total convert over the last 3 or so years and I could never see myself going back

[@akashmakkar7187]

Check out the Ecco Biom range. It's supposed to support natural movement of the feet and provide ground feel too. The drop is also not lower than the Keen variant.

[@andyArt5]

I love the idea of these companies saying they are environmentally friendly so they don’t use leather and instead they use plastic. Way to go!

[@John_Lucky]

I've found with wearing mostly barefoot style shoes my ankles are a lot more sturdy and less susceptible to ankle rolls even with a foam midsole.