How Barefoot Shoes Change the Way You Walk and Run

[@nicksyoutubeaccount]

I've been walking on my Nike Roshes for so long they're practically barefoot shoes now.

[@andrew66769]

this comment hit too close to home

[@thaik56]

You got no sole left? xD

[@pawballer1964]

I had Nike Roshes long time ago and they look cool. But after entering in barefoot world i think they are garbage, too much heel :(

[@Juke172]

@@Black-Circle I've had Nike free shoes, they are not really that good. They have too much padding. Only good thing they have they are flexible. I've changed to barefoot shoes after those and my feet feel a lot better now after getting used to walking naturally. More space for toes and ankle is not getting hurt.

[@JJ-yi1nx]

Loool

[@shrey768]

Barefoot shoes keeps you on your toes

[@yantheyam5622]

You should sell this phrase to a barefoot shoe company for a slogan.

[@ChivasBarcelonaMex]

@@yantheyam5622 you should just steal his quote and sell it

[@yantheyam5622]

@@ChivasBarcelonaMex money ain't a thing to me. Have at it if you'd like.

[@greatwavefan397]

More like on the balls of your feet.

[@minimalisthealth]

Hey mate, a bit weird to connect here, but are you a resident Indian? If so, I want to ask if you know where we can easily purchase locally-produced barefoot shoes from, without heavy custom and shipping duties?

[@RDJ2]

If you want a cheap alternative, buy water shoes. Just about 5 bucks a pair, they come in all sorts of materials and colours.

[@Alphabet7]

Was considering this

[@faaaa__]

Would Jazz shoes or dancer shoes be similar to those? 🤔

[@Alphabet7]

@@faaaa__ no

[@jamespostle6894]

@@faaaa__ no

[@faaaa__]

Alphabet 7 :o why? Just out of curiosity

[@CatBloom42]

It's mainly thanks to your first video about barefoot shoes that I started wearing them as well, and now all my shoes are barefoot and I'm never going back. My lower back pain is gone, my knees hardly ever hurt anymore, no more sprained ankles and running injuries. It's a major health improvement, mostly thanks to you!

[@MD-cq4np]

What shoes do you own? And what would you recommend? I want to buy a pair too, since I already have problems with my lower back and hope this might help a bit too.

[@CatBloom42]

@@MD-cq4np My first pair were the Merrel Trail Glove 4, which are a good transition shoe imo, because they are a little more sturdy than other barefoot shoes. I still wear them for running. Nowadays I mostly wear TadeEvo shoes, which are some of the most minimal shoes out there. It's almost like wearing socks. I absolutely love them, but wouldn't reccomend them if you're not already used to wearing barefoot shoes.

[@CatBloom42]

@@MD-cq4np Forgot to say, the Vivo Gobi are also great shoes imo, but on the expensive side.

[@AR-ly5zt]

@@CatBloom42 I have checked Vivo Gobi but it seems there are not designed to run / do any kind of workout, if so do you recommend the Trail Glove for beginners?

[@CatBloom42]

@@AR-ly5zt Actually, after wearing the Merrells for a while, and reading lots of reviews, I wouldn't recomend them anymore, because they are notorious for coming apart after only a couple of months. It's not worth the money, unless you can find them for very cheap. Xero Shoes are affordable and pretty decent quality. I've got a pair of their hiking boots and they are holding up fine. If you decide to give them a try and you're in the EU, make sure you order from their UK site to avoid high shipping costs.

[@amywarren8380]

Another benefit he doesn’t mention is how much more toe room you have in barefoot shoes. Once you get used to your toes not being deformed and squished into narrow toe boxes you will NEVER want to go back. This is another reason to not go for the cheaper water shoes.

[@Brohan_69]

Just buy the correct size and you have to worry about that lol

[@MaaveMaave]

@@Brohan_69 depends on the shoe shape. Sneakers and and boots usually have good toe room but dress shoes and stylish shoes often make the toe box pointy.

[@nabranestwistypuzzler7019]

But if you get water shoes with a wide toe box or spaced out toes, it’s fine

[@Luka-cu8ep]

@@MaaveMaave I haven’t seen any sneakers with a wide enough toe part. Yeah they are better than dress shoes but better does not mean good. Goglee vivo barefoot shoes and find an image from the top, that’s how the toe part of shoes should be. Unfortunately it doesn’t look the best and that’s why you’ll never see em in commercial sneakers.

[@Gooberwoman]

Not when you have extra wide shoes I order size 12s that dont fit

[@Billytub3s]

Pretty well-thought out explanation of how barefoot shoes differ from regular shoes and I would recommend them but a note of caution: if you don't take time to adjust to them you do risk injuries such as achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis especially, I suspect, if you are walking/running on hard manmade surfaces (as mentioned in another comment).

[@sarunascerniauskas3614]

Agree! I had plantar fasciitis and the pain in my foot was unbearable... Needed 5-7 days to recover feet with medicine and exercises.

[@campkira]

it fine if you run on soft surface.. the problem is it is outside and soft surface... the risk just never made sense.. since if you injure your feet... you will be out for very long time for walking.

[@Andrew-it7fb]

I've had plantar fasciitis for over a year. Barefoot shoes are one of the few things that helped me. It's the heel lift in most shoes that bothers my feet. That and the fact that regular shoes weakened my feet.

[@lhughes6656]

Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis are generally the result and symptoms of a much larger issue involving various muscle groups and their tightness or weakness. If your glutes are tight they pull on the hamstrings which can put strain on the calves down into the Achilles and so forth. Usually because the pain is felt in the foot people focus on the foot as the issue. But the body is all connected and by the time it gets to this point there has already been significant time passed where the knee perhaps is out of alignment or one's gait because of tight muscles or overly weak muscles that force the stronger muscles to do more work or bear more load than they should. Walking this way for months or even years is what causes the imbalances that lead to these issues. That's why thigh stretches, calf stretches, and glute stretches tend to relieve the pain, as well as leg strengthening exercises and with enough consistency can eliminate it altogether.

[@Andrew-it7fb]

@@lhughes6656 yep. I think mine was caused by an adjustment to how I walked as a result of hyper extending my big toe. In trying to avoid putting too much weight on my toe, I was walking with excessive supination.

[@FreakyBo0o]

Thank you for mentioning *walking* in barefoot shoes. I've watched several reviews/videos, but they're all a bout running. I don't really run, but was curious about walking in such shoes. You video was super helpful!

[@tatiaxyt8564]

Same! I can't run but I'm trying to retrain my flat feet and duck foot with barefoot shoes but I can't figure out how to walk 😅

[@spaceracer23]

@@tatiaxyt8564 I've been hiking in Teva sandals or Merrell trail gloves for years. I suggest walking around the house either barefoot or in house socks. Then walk around the yard barefoot. Pretty soon you'll get your natural stride back.

[@josiahward6319]

You should forefoot strike just like when running. Grown and healthy has some videos about how to walk properly

[@lizzagrace4630]

I've always ran on the balls of my feet? I've tried running heel to toe, and it feels soooo wrong haha

[@TrainingPal]

Yes! it feels wrong for me now too.

[@libraalibaba]

I used to think I was weird for running on my toes now I know I was the one that ran more natural.

[@eduardogutierrez8839]

I was the same way till I got on the track and field team. Coach made me run heel toe

[@hey-fv2gg]

Same, I have always ran on the balls because that was my body did naturally and I never thought about it One day someone notice and said I was running wrong and it was bad to me, but running using the heels is so uncomfortable

[@randyevermore9323]

@@eduardogutierrez8839 Yes, a coach told me when I was 15 years old that if I continued running on my forefoot that I would have achilles tendon problems. So I deliberately changed to heel striking -- and I've had recurrent achilles tendon problems/Haglund's deformity ever since (50 years). My coach was a wonderful human being and a great runner himself (4:01 miler in the 1960s), but I think he was wrong about forefoot running. And he had recurrent achilles problems himself. I think he just succumbed to the conventional wisdom of the times. You really have to decide for yourself what makes sense and what FEELS right. I'm really glad people are doing that now. The design of conventional shoes never did make any anatomical sense, which I suppose is why so many runners spend so much time injured. It's a tragedy that the shoe companies have profited so much from selling products that are actually harmful.

[@yessir.7937]

Anyone dealing with flat and/or duck feet: these shoes help. So does watching how you walk and run.

[@1810jeff]

Yup I used to walk duck footed and then I switched to simpler more flexible shoes and I noticed that my feet were straight when I walk.

[@mightypharaoh7586]

@@1810jeff I have very flat feet but i always just walk,run and stand on my toes.

[@redslasher8065]

@@mightypharaoh7586 same here. I practically walk on my toes.

[@mobiuscat-h3e]

2:59 just seeing this made my feet hurt so much I nearly started crying. You don't get any amortisation with flat feet!

[@therealchickentender]

Traditional footwear is actually a large part of the *cause* of flat-foot and duck-foot for *many* people over the course of many many years.

[@jonathandjing1065]

I grew up in Central American, the country side and we were walking , running and playing all the time barefoot on the mud, hills and climbing trees. I have always had one flat foot but never had problems as a child, since I became and teen and play sports and have to wear shoes for school and go out for social gatherings , i have had terrible pain and can’t do running anymore at 29, I will try barefoot shoes this year

[@SandwichMitGurke]

I bought my first pair of barefoot running shoes thanks to you Now I'm watching the ads at the end of your video so you get more money :D

[@TrainingPal]

Thanks :D

[@G-flo]

My dad has been running in full marathons barefoot for years, and I've been slowly following his footsteps along the way. At first it's definitely difficult getting used to the proper form. As well as with the condions especially during a sunny day when you take that first step on a blazing asphalt. But you'll get used to the heat eventually, it's the mix debris of broken glass and rocks you have to look out for. And the furthest I ran was about 10 that I plan to improve. But it's an experience I wouldn't trade back with regular running shoes. Very insightful video!

[@Komyets]

This feels like a thing they should have taught me at school...

[@leandrorandygantier5219]

Don't do that, i want to see this guy playing football on cement he's dead in 5 mins

[@evanbarnes9984]

@Murat Gadjiev you aren't wrong, but that guy may have been making a subtle comment about the sad stateof school play yards, most of which are open, hot expanses of asphalt or concrete. It really sucks, I wish they all were dirt and grass (I'm a teacher, can't help but think abouy this aspect)

[@sprocastersprocaster]

I actually had a whole hour dedicated to this topic in my gym class in high school where we watched a short video on barefoot running and it's benefits. Everyone ran laps in their socks for a couple days aswell

[@greatwavefan397]

@@sprocastersprocaster You have a great education program.

[@jgsk78]

@@leandrorandygantier5219 nonsense, I play basketball on concrete in barefoots, best thing ever!

[@andreigabrielion9575]

I did gymnastics for about ten years when I was a kid. This taught me to how to run barefoot. Even though it's been 7 years since I've quit I still run on the balls of my feet, I still do all the things that are shown in the video.

[@jgsk78]

That's a very important remark because we forget that how much damage we carry from development phases of our lives i.e. When we still growing. If for example your feet and joints grew properly and strong like in your case thanks to your sport where you functioned barefoot, you are a lot less likely to be so negatively damaged by conventional modern footwear in adulthood. I only knew growing up in modern shoes, plus played basketball in usual narrow toe boxed thick padded shoes and my feet were a disaster for as long as I remember. I'm trying to fix it now but obviously if had grown up running barefoot in Africa or at least doing gymnastics instead of basketball i wouldn't be in this situation.

[@aphleesegurtra2820]

I love the point you made about being present while hiking with the minimalist shoes. It's absolutely true. You must scan and move ie: Agility

[@jgsk78]

Yeah, it's beautiful, it consumes your mind to perceive and focus on what's around you. So relaxing!! No thoughts!

[@Who_Does]

Now I understand how those anime characters been running and tiptoeing at the same time.

[@tktspeed1433]

what kind of hellish shoe do you have to have to not land on the ball of the foot while sprinting? since anime characters don't really jog they also never land on the heel even in normal shoes.

[@Luisventuralaw]

Love your vids. I've been wearing Xero Prios for a year+ and now have two pairs. The switch to "barefoot" shoes has been awesome. Never going back to the nonsense of thick shoes. From what I understand, the history of the heal in shoes goes back to its utility with controlling the stirrups while in the saddle and was then popularized by French kings of way back b/c they liked the way it made their calves look. So, it has nothing to do with bio-mechanics or what is best for the body. The mindless use of the heal has exacted a large price that most people will not even care to consider when you tell them that heals are bad. It's much the same when one comments that it is better to sit on the ground than in chairs, but, hey, most want to be part of the heard and only a limited few will contemplate what is truly best for the body.

[@sidilicious11]

I love my Prios!

[@luisventura5159]

@@sidilicious11 Right on. I am on my third pair.

[@kaigordon2900]

I love how you explain the pros and cons and allow people to make their own decision :)

[@Minister_of_Magic_1997]

I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for a year now. And I absolutely love them.

[@MikeHaggarKJ]

As great as they can be, I've never seen a pair that don't look horrendous.

[@jesa92]

Vivobarefoot looks really neat

[@tuttititari]

Check out Groundies

[@Betterthangoldandsilver]

Lems

[@warhammer1]

Vaporglove don't look bad

[@Jadinandrews]

@@jesa92 Nice with a 100 day free trial

[@cmfsobl]

Dude, this makes sooooo much sense. I have wide flat feet and I’ve ALWAYS ran on the balls of my feet. For the longest time I thought I had a fucked up running gait because of my wide flat feet. But I’ve experienced everything you’ve said with running on the balls, literally felt like I was too toe running sometimes. Incredible video!

[@simplee_shannon8252]

I'm new to barefoot shoes. This video has been the best at explaining walking ....so many are just about running but like you cover it all. Thank you.

[@hamzahaytham3940]

As an obese guy I would never use barefoot shoes until I lose some weight (l already lost 20kgs, 50 to go) as you’ll need that extra cushion to support your weight... Although when I want to run I use the barefoot methood, even with 70kgs extra weight the back of my leg didn’t store that much of fat compared to other obese people or other body parts

[@holdingspace]

Hamza Haytham you got this bro!Incredibly happy for you that you already lost 20. I also went from morbidly obese to a bmi of 25 but I didnt like how it felt so I hover around the 26 zone. YOU GOT THIS!!!!

[@MarkStringer96]

Great work toward your goal! Keep it up :D

[@hamzahaytham3940]

Thank you all...

[@SpicyPupu]

I'm late but there are some running shoes like "altra" or "topo athletic" that have zero (or near) drop, i love it. Maybe you will :)

[@stefan1924]

You can start adjusting a little bit by simply walking around in socks or barefoot sometimes when you're at home. Great succes btw, keep it up!!

[@exhaustedsprout1734]

As someone who walks both barefoot and in high heels I must say that walking quickly on the pads of your feet only looks strange if you don't know the correct technique.

[@blitva1]

Can you explain a bit more, please? I'm trying to transition by walking in barefoot shoes and i'm basically practicing the toe step until I get tired and then switch back and forth. I never really learned to walk in high heels, it always hurt too much and i only managed a few halfway elegant steps and then just looked ridiculous and clumsy. Is there overlap between barefoot walking/running and walking in heels? Pls help ;)

[@exhaustedsprout1734]

@@blitva1 I'm not sure how well I can explain it, but basically I just engage the same muscles as I would if I were walking in heels; keep my knees very slightly bent and held mostly stiff with minimal movement, swinging my entire leg from the hip instead of knee

[@vgamedude12]

I've tried walking without using rocking and heels and for me it just feels weird. Even watched a vid on it. Even in sandals like genesis or barefoot I still do some heels and rocking. Been wearing barefoot shoes for about 2 years now.

[@iberiksoderblom]

I fully agree with you. And I would say, that when running on "natural surfaces" it makes absolutely sense. But running on hard concrete surfaces or other man-made unforgiving surfaces, I anyway recommend some cushioning. Just loose / minimize the stupid heeldrop (that the heel i raised xx mm) and have a roomy toebox. I have a very high arc and wide front foot. When in the army, I once walked myself to a broken bone in my left foot and the foot collapsing. It took some time to get well again. After that I have always worked to strenghten my feet. That takes a lot of "no shoes" work and time. Whenever I can, I walk shoeless. I can recommend sand, walking/running in sand. I've taken up ultra-running. My experience is, that after 6 hours, I need a higher arch support and a toebox that gives play for natural movement, but keeps the foot from flattening.

[@turtleflipper9935]

Bigger range of choice? too bad Vivo keep discarding their good designs and replacing them with things that look like arse.

[@angrytrees7519]

☝️

[@b2f2]

I like the New Balance Minimus line. The soles have outlasted the shoe though haha. I've had them for maybe eight years or so.

[@StapledArsonist]

As a kid I always got yelled at for walking flat foot or on my toes. Still do it as an adult. I hate how it feels when my heel hits the ground first so I 'don't walk properly' (heal, toe movement)

[@ronjoseph8334]

Wow same

[@blitva1]

It's just important to drop the heel all the way, so you're not literally tiptoeing. Otherwise you strain your calf muscles and can tighten and ultimately shorten your Achilles tendon.

[@victorvaughn2]

this is the best and most intelligent overview of barefoot/minimalist running on youtube.

[@bradstevens2581]

Great info! I was forced to switch to barefoot shoes after conventional padded footwear caused severe plantar fasciitis. It was a long road of healing and adaptation, but now my feet and ankles are much stronger, more stable, and noticeably more muscular.

[@Mr.Autodelete]

Xero terraflex is a supreme shoe along with "as nature intended" (ani) shoes both have lasted me three years now and my feet went from being sore to so so strong

[@gitouttamyway7611]

Wow! I watched a KZbin video a year ago that had a medieval reenactor demonstrating how people in those times walked, on the balls of their feet. I thought, "What bullshit!" He didn't explain the way you just did. Now I get it!

[@jimb1580]

I saw the same or a similar video...

[@johnskolness1378]

To anyone getting bare foot or minimalist shoes I suggest alternating regular shoes and barefoot shoes for about a week or so. I noticed a extra soreness in my calves when I first started. Pay attention to this and do not be afraid to give a rest day if it is severe. Also do not assume your barefoot shoes distance/pace/duration should be the same as your normal routine (especially if you go a long distance or 1 mile or greater). I love barefoot shoes for walking/moving but do prefer regular shoes at my work (I stand almost 8 hours out of my 8 1/2 hour day). I were bare foot shoes to/from work and wear sneakers at work. Also one thing he does not mention is that the shortening of your running stride means your calf is straighter up and down when your weight is shifting to the leg I think this is better as well. Keep in mind the angle is only shorted by maybe a few inches, so its impact may be small.

[@4impact]

Since I got my barefoot shoes, I feel like a Ninja, sneaking thru the world!

[@carpepedes3520]

i like the way he thought out every thing he presented and said so clearly. never leaving out any detail or syllable (the way he says “feet” and “toes” has an ASMR affect to me). very helpful information. his beautiful blue eyes and his nice healthy looking bare feet kept me locked in. i expect those ankle tan lines are long gone by now after all the great barefoot running. great content and great vid!

[@fletcherriverwood8964]

I love running shoes for more than 10 years,not just running,I wear running shoes all the time everywhere until recently I switched to barefoot shoes.I can feel that my walking is slowly getting more stable more confident, I still wear running shoes while running,but that will end someday.Thank you.

[@jenniferma1982]

Thanks for this informative video! I had to stop wearing my regular running shoes after I rolled my ankle, because those shoes hurt my ankle even more. I found so much comfort in wearing my sandals...when I realized this, I started researching on barefoot shoes. Just ordered one pair last night! Looking forward to receiving them & starting to wear them!

[@ecstatic7548]

What are your thoughts after a year?

[@jenniferma1982]

@@ecstatic7548 For me personally, not good at all. I was getting back pain and messed up my joints with the barefoot shoes. Ended up back with regular shoes and my sandals that has support.

[@macmiddlebrooks1]

Thank you so much for this thoughtful, concise and informative explanation. I knew something felt "off" with traditional running shoes, and you did a great job of explaining why.

[@terwils7492]

The biggest difference I immediately noticed when switching to barefoot shoes was the power of the push off from my toes. Heel striking, we tend lift the foot at each stride instead, which is a huge waste of energy. It took quite a while to change my gait, as I had become lazy with cushioned shoes. It has also taken me a while to strengthen my calf muscles, which get used more now. Also, for my Achilles tendon to stretch a bit as it had shortened due to the heel rise. And to loosen up my hips which had become stiff from constant sitting. What helped a lot for the transition was morning and evening foot release with a lacrosse ball or cork ball per Dr. Splichal's recommendation. Then I realized, when walking barefoot or in barefoot shoes, walking on roots or other variations in the terrain provided a similar release, stretching the foot naturally.

[@InYourFaceMoFo]

For the everyday office: merrel vapor glove 3. For running: vibram fivefinger v-trail Be aware that after 8 months you can put them in the trash bin. Still they are great to wear.

[@scottydoo919]

I’m glad you explained I can gently heal strike with short steps. I’ve been landing on my toes while walking. Great stuff. Thanks

[@angrytrees7519]

You didn't really mention hip and pelvis problems but that's why I started wearing barefoot shoes. They helped tremendously with my daily pain levels.

[@MaceWinduDuHuen]

it is amzing, absolutely amazing to run in them, like really sprinting. take some with a thicker and comfy sole and you can run everywhere. and the bounce is incredible. you suddenly use your foot and your body moves so very different

[@litchtheshinigami8936]

wait so i've always been running on my toes and have joked around saying i run like an antilope before.. but that's actually how you are supposed to run? i can actually not run on my heels at all if i try i'll just trip over my own feet and end up on the floor before i've even gotten a meter.. on top of that i run much faster on my toes and running on my toes has allowed me to catch many a bus where i would have missed that bus if i hadn't ran on my toes. now the shoes i mainly wear are sketchers with memory foam.. mainly because i can't stand for too long and this helps me a little (my back is slightly twisted causing me to get fatigued in my legs quicker as i tend to overuse one over the other due to only standing on one leg or using more muscle in one leg and letting the other drag behind by swinging it along )

[@nabranestwistypuzzler7019]

Then go to the doctor for your back, but wtf don’t wear MEMORY FOAM. LEGIT THAT’S THE WORST, PLUS YOUR FOOT IMPRINTS INTO THE FOAM the most, so it legit messes it up even worse if you walk wrong.

[@litchtheshinigami8936]

@@nabranestwistypuzzler7019 well that's the thing the doctor can't do shit because it's too minor. i only have one small part of my back that is twisted ever so slightly. a doctor that looks at it will just say oh yeah take a painkiller if it bothers you believe me the reason i know i even have the twist is because i've been to the doctor for it before.. on top of that i was born with flat feet meaning i physically need a shoe that forms to my feet. if i don't i'll be sore after walking 2 metres. i've actually had less pain while wearing these shoes as it gives me the dampening my own feet cannot give me

[@smedentsev]

A must see introduction into barefoot running/walking. Thanks a lot for making it!

[@darktoranaga]

I bought a pair of cheaper, Chinese made shoes, a couple of month ago. The intention was to use them for running. It turns out that now i'm using that pair almost exclusively, and when i'm forced to use something else, the "regular" shoes, sandals, whatever, just feel very uncomfortable. Even shoes that are well broken in and i really loved before. I'm now a bit worried about the winter, because i don't know if i will find good winter barefoot shoes. Another annoyance is that it's very hard to find really small ones for a 2 year old kid. Not a huge problem yet, as there are shoes with thin soles and quite flexible available, but no true barefoot shoes. One thing to be aware of: I am a heavy (read fat) guy, and because of a knee injury i wasn't really fit when i started using these shoes. As a result, a lot of pain in my ankles and feet muscles at first. After a little while, the muscle pain went away, but the ankles still hurt a bit after a long, fast walk on concrete. It is, however, getting better. The bigger surprise was that without changing anything else in my lifestyle, eating habits, etc., I did lose some weight. My guess is it's because it encourages a better posture and higher cadence while walking, so a lot more muscles work a bit harder during walking. You don't really notice it at first, but the body is a bit tenser, the core muscles are used a bit more, your legs get used a bit more, so overall walking has a stronger effect on your fitness than it used to. I've heard doctors advising against this type of shoes because your body is not strong enough, your feet are not used to it. I think that's very wrong. You can still walk barefoot around the house or on the beach, so just take it one step at a time and you will get strong enough in no time. Unless you have a very specific condition, a disability of some kind (i'm not a doctor, so i don't really know what that could be), there is no real health issue with barefoot shoes that i could see.

[@foreveronmywaytofuckyourbi5567]

link to the cheap shoes?

[@MKBlackcollar]

I bought these. Really comfortable to walk in and I have started to run in them. www.amazon.co.uk/WHITIN-Unisex-Minimalist-Running-Barefoot/dp/B07KN4NF44/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=whitin+shoes&qid=1566940698&s=gateway&sprefix=whitin+&sr=8-3

[@MetalMario137]

"Doctors" not recommending it? Doesn't sound like a real "doctor" to me.

[@michelleandrijich4214]

Check out Lems and Xero shoes. Lems Primals have been my staple enclosed shoe for years, and I also have some of their boots and marine shoes. I use Xero DIY huaraches instead of flip flops, but I tie them like sandals

[@probablyyou]

Is there that much of a difference between "cheaper Chinese shoes" and any others? I have a pair of Xero's and they're made in China also.

[@sazji]

I’ve been wearing Xero Prio All-Days for about 6 months and I love them. First walking only, which I adapted to very quickly. Like, in a day (because I spent most of my childhood barefoot). I also can’t stand wearing shoes with lifted heels anymore. Running took longer; I practiced over a couple of months. I understood it in principle but it felt weird at first, and it took some time to strengthen my calf muscles. So many things at play and habits to overcome, but once it clicked, it felt so nice! Still, take it slow. The biggest challenge was something I haven’t seen much about - you really need to make sure you bend your knees to lift your feet at the back end of the stride. Of course because you want to come down in a good position to start with your toe and let your arches and knees disperse the impact, but there’s another issue too: When you heel strike, you tend to automatically keep your foot a little higher so you can get that reach. That spreading of your center of gravity also gives a bit more time to deal with your momentum, so it’s a little easier to save yourself if you trip, and it feels easier to slide along with bad running technique. But when you’re landing almost directly below your center of gravity, if you don’t lift your feet you run the risk of catching a foot on something like a heaved concrete joint on a sidewalk etc. I learned this the hard way…always when I was running carelessly/preoccupied, like running to get across a crosswalk before the light changed. I fell flat on my face a few times. I wasn’t hurt thank goodness but it was embarrassing, and could have been a lot worse. But the silver lining was, it did make me MUCH more conscious about lifting my feet and running with a better technique. Now any time I need to run spontaneously, I get an instant reminder to be conscious of bending my knees to lift my feet!

[@franciscoguerra5765]

Great video man!! I been using barefoot shoes for running for four years now and I can't use regular shoes any more, even at work, but as you said nowadays is easier to find zero drop shoes for the office. I think you just forgot to tell how hard the transition could be, becase with "low tech feet" the muscles, mostly the calves, are weak and lazy, and sometimes is hard to get them in shape.

[@nat6106]

Thank you for this very good video on the WHY of barefooting. I've so far only run and walked using common, padded shoes. Your explanation (and contrasting) of the mechanics of both styles helped me understand the benefits of switching. Thanks!

[@kolec76]

To be exact when you land on the heel the impact goes all the way up to the hip bone, when you shift your landing too much to the toes the knee gets a beating, "middle" foot is the optimal way to run, just like seen in the vid.

*Szoterr Jason:* _"… when you shift your landing too much to the toes the knee gets a beating,…"_ - That's inaccurate. Fore-strike running overloads the foot arches and ankles, not the knees. How do I know? I've read several papers and other articles about this topic (which I could provide references for if required). In addition, I also have some direct personal experience. Fore-strike running doesn't do a thing to your knees.

[@danielickert4498]

Excellent! I noticed the same positive differences after switching to barefoot shoes. Your walking technique looks great by the way. No bobbing of your torso, which usually comes from landing on heels. Instead, your body flows smoothly in an efficient forward trajectory.

[@davidfilestra8826]

"you get punished by the feeling of pain" :))) lmao

[@jolohobby1966]

Really good demonstration and summary of the topic TP. Love the live segments that really show the difference :) Good camera work as well!

[@mykevin1122]

This really helped a lot since I have jumpers knee mainly due to how I land on my feet when jumping in sports.

[@ThePathOfEudaimonia]

I just bought my Merrell Vapor Glove 4 shoes and will try them out soon! For walking, at first.

[@hanskazan7403]

How's it going

[@thesii213]

Hey mate, you might try Huaraches if you haven't already! A traditional leather laced huarache sort of floats underfoot while running and feels even more minimal than minimalist shoes. I'd recommend the Luna Venado or Gladsoles for the best sole materials. I'm not as big of a fan of Xero or Bedrock's models.

[@clarkemidgley9485]

Great video, especially your comments about making running interesting. I have found this since starting running in Vivobarefoot and Fivefingers back in 2016. The increased proprioception means it's as much a workout for the brain as it is for the body.

[@UhhhhhnooOOo00oO]

Absolutely amazing video! Exactly. (You covered every detail)

[@animeam2724]

Thank you sir I have covered only half of the video byt still I know that I'm gonna watch the whole video, very interesting and informative Have a good day

[@ericlaird7600]

Been wearing the vibrant five fingers for the last 11 years. I give that speech about every other month. Look up the fox run technique. It demonstrates how to properly run in barefoot shoes. This technique hurts for a few weeks as you build up the muscles in your feet that you’ve never used. But I am faster and can go farther than I ever did in conventional shoes. My heels never touch the ground. Thanks for making this video

[@gt_oliver]

Thanks for sharing, during my primary school days, we rarely (most kids at my school) ever wore shoes inside or outside and during outside activities, running or sports. Any plans on going back to Malta again? I can't believe I haven't seen this Barefoot video of yours in the past two years.

[@cedric4928]

"Stiff of the board, soul of the shoe" - Confucius

[@nefarious8987]

I've been at it for a few weeks now and it sucked but its getting so much better and i cant wait to see the results going forward

[@r0xdab0x96xo]

I don't get barefoot shoes but I really love the $20 converse knockoffs because of how thin and pliable they become after a couple weeks wearing. I love how much I can feel the ground and that my feet are very content with the freedom, but also the slight bind at the ankle for support. Shoes have always been an issue. My feet just don't do well in them and probably never will

[@Tethysmeer]

Very good remarks! I once moved in socks through very steep forest terrain and had the best grip ever, never slipped once.

[@istp1967]

This is the Best explanation Ever!! Definitely Liking and Sharing 😁💕👍👍👍

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

I recently ordered a pair, so this advice is very timely for me. Thanks.

[@GTE_Channel]

After starting running on Merrell's I never had knee pain again and, it also helped increasing mobility for Crossfit. No more normal running shoes for me

[@kingbran923]

I've been running for years and developed shin splints, the doctors never could explain what I was doing wrong since they always just kicked the can down the road so to speak and would just tell me to stay off of it for a week. Never got better, and I realize now it might be because of how I was running for those years. I always landed really hard on the ground when I ran, my steps were so impactful they were loud. I just ordered a new pair of running shoes that are barefoot ones, I'm going to start slow and see if this helps.

[@razendar]

As soon as it gets warm I throw out the shoes and don't look at them for the rest of the warm seasons. I walk barefoot everywhere and I'm used by now to the weird looks while I don't care. It's pretty cold in Germany during the winter so I wonder if those shoes are also protective from that

[@tomaszjaschke631]

they do if you have real wool (filz) insole, 100%woolsocks(no cotton or syntetikmix), and keep them dry like take second pare socks and soles with you if for changing if wet. I am wearig the soleRunner Trainer". they are slippy on snow but snow in germany??? my old solerunners (holes in the soleafter 3 years using) will become a new 3mm sole with profile for winter,I will glue by my self(sole+glue=15 euro). regards:)

[@razendar]

@@tomaszjaschke631 Thanks for the answer, it's pretty helpful. And I will definitely try it

[@tomaszjaschke631]

Very helpfull and big adventure is to read the book "born to run". this give answers for i think every question...no joke! :) regards

[@blacklite911]

I’m not a runner but I just picked up some Merrell gloves for gym training and I’m never going back. I also have some vibram 5 fingers

[@jpersa7747]

Agree,but not with xero shoes being affordable, they are usually very expensive, as 95% of other minimal footwear companys

[@MetalMario137]

Yeah, smaller companies just don't have the 'economies of scale' that bigger companies do unfortunately. But if they keep getting better, then they may have an opportunity to produce more for less cost. But I will say, a short-term price for a long-term benefit was definitely worth it for me!

[@teasippingguy9316]

I've been doing this when I was younger until I got told that the heel should touch the ground first. Great to hear that I wasn't doing anything wrong but now I need to get used to doing it again when running

[@grolfe3210]

Many of us walk or run in normal shoes landing on the front of the foot so the need is not really there.

[@nabranestwistypuzzler7019]

You still need regular (barefoot) shoes though

[@g8805]

I have 2 pairs of vibram five finger shoes for 5 years now...plan on buying more to replace old ones

[@dominikunteregger5248]

I played football a lot and my knee got injuries everytime. Nowci tried to run barfoot sometimes and my knee and I really liked it.

[@cmoniz905]

I have the Merrell Trail Glove Barefoot shoe and I absolutely love them. I use them primarily for working out and rowing. The shoes feel really good when I do squats, lunges, etc. I no longer feel off balance and my knees don’t hurt as much. I say that because my knees make this wonderful grinding sound but at least they don’t hurt as much. I just need to switch to barefoot shoes for my everyday life also.

[@Breeski1]

I've had two pairs of xero shoes for over a year and I've found that over time I've started to walk heavy with my heels. Especially in my xero sandals the bottoms of my feet start to burn in pain after hiking. My body is thinking backwards lol

[@michelleandrijich4214]

Do you lean back while walking? I have that bad habit. To prevent it I focus on bending my foot behind me, and putting it down under me instead of in front

[@jesusbarriuso]

Great video, with a very clear explanation, thanks a lot!

[@Daniel_Cooley]

Why is he running in dress shoes? 😂

[@michaelsmith9714]

Daniel Cooley probably the only other pair of shoes he has I guess

[@MrEazyE357]

Doc Martins are dress shoes?

[@HowsDaMonsoon]

you ever miss the bus on the way to work...

[@shakeob]

I was wondering the same thing. As a long time distance running I could literally feel his foot and ankle pain. I can't. hahaha

[@renoalkonga2619]

Idk James Bond does it

[@t-photographer]

A well told film about going barefoot. I made my first bearfoot purchase today. The impression from measuring is that it is the beginning of my great adventure with barefoot. Greetings!

[@pro12312]

You can be aware of that all and change you running/walking style without getting rid of the cushioning in your shoes. That's a better deal for me

[@MetalMario137]

It doesn't feel the same though. I understand that people don't want to drop a bunch of $$ on another pair of shoes, but its worth it. I will gladly pay a short-term price for a long-term health benefit.

[@maccollo]

3:32 This is wrong. When running at a constant speed your are not generating any forward force besides what is necessary to overcome external resistance. If you did you would be constantly accelerating. This is basic mechanics. You are leaning forward more because the contact with the ground is further forward (ball of the foot instead of the middle of the arch). Leaning forward moves your center of mass forward forward, and thus you remain balanced while balancing on the ball of your feet. Not saying that the change in posture isn't more efficient, it might be. Leaning forward could potentially let the hips act more effectively as a spring, and thus take some of the load off the knees. Also the muscle leverages might possibly be more favorable.

[@tktspeed1433]

what he means is when you run on the balls you don't generate any extra force except for the ones to overcome external resistances, while running on heels makes you slightly slow down every step where you do have to then accelerate again. also, humans don't run at a constant velocity, it always goes up and down a bit. To add to this, humans aren't quite simple enough objects that it would be wise to use just simple force calculations for running.

[@kaassaus4230]

I got flat feet. That is a problem... 😓

[@Diego-he1ku]

kaas saus I feel u bro

[@ameenahsf]

Same man same

[@FacePullTiToX]

My feet are as flat as a pancake. The Romans forgot to build arches down there 😅

[@kaassaus4230]

@@FacePullTiToX haha i feel you. My feet is like a hanging bridge, that is how flat my feet are. 🤣

[@guyedwards6696]

Walking barefoot and in minimal shoes has been show to increase arch strength. In populations with flat feet.

[@catdogmom155]

Great video! Very thorough and easy to understand.

[@sycamorevalley8580]

I see my own barefoot shoes. Most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.

[@auds9738]

How? I'd love to make a pair on my own

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

HAHA I never even gave it a thought, but I bought barefoot shoes about 3 months ago and I AM IN LOVE with the feel. I just realized in this video, why it feels so different and good, because (you are correct) I land with the front of my feet, instead of the heel. The feedback when running obstacle courses is PHENOMENAL and so much more fun. At first it hurts more, especially on large gravel and rocks, but you actually learn to enjoy the amount of flex and response your foot receives. Anyway, I also started switching my other "daily shoes" to the barefoot option.

[@uriel9758]

Never ran and landed on my heel tho..

[@RocLobo358]

I don't run in barefoot shoes but I walk in them every chance i get. The mindfulness aspect of feeling the ground is huge. I also have bunions and have found that regular long walks in barefoot shoes has reduced my foot pain and encourages my toes to move and stretch out shortened ligaments

[@gordonchen9533]

Thank you for this video. I wish I encountered this video sooner. Running barefoot is straight forward but walking barefoot is not. And I couldn’t find any good explanation online so I had to experiment myself. My conclusions ended up being the same as yours but had I seen this video earlier, I would’ve saved myself months of exploration (and pain).

[@viktoriag6206]

Same here! Many people say you have to walk by the forefoot strike technique. I often tried it but it didn't feel right and looked weird. Now I feel reassured concerning my own thoughts about walking in barefoot shoes.

Running barefoot isn't "straightforward" either. There's a percentage of people that "naturally" heel-strike when running barefoot, including people who have never worn shoes. It's worth to mention that heel-striking while running is more energy efficient running at low to mid speed. Only at relatively high speed fore-striking becomes more efficient. That may well explain why some people "naturally" heel-strike running barefoot. Energy scarcity has traditionally exerted a huge selective pressure.

[@Sarah-gx8lr]

Thank you for your video I have recently started the transition to barefoot and I love them. No issues at all so far. My one concern was the potential of twisting an ankle on my trail runs. Thank you for clearing that up. It just makes so much sense

[@regprofant6984]

What about arch support? Plantar fasciitis?

[@Shorn_]

Arch support is something that's made up by shoe companies to shore up the problems caused by regular shoes. As he said, you use your arches in walking/running barefoot, so "supporting" them is counterproductive. Instead you gradually transition into minimal shoes to strengthen your feet to not need support to function. I used to get plantar fasciitis regularly, and after walking mostly in vibrams for a year, it's never returned. YMMV.

[@chaseduncan4510]

I just got some Xeros and I immediately fell in love with them. I have flat feet/knee issues and being forced to consider the integrity of my feet with every step is helping me so much.

[@frozenwalkway]

please try on ultraboost and tell me what you think about them for impact

[@TheFire1202]

Hey Mate, a year ago I watched this video and order barefoot shoes. Thank you, I was having foot problems and knee problems. Some stuff went away but I know it takes time.

[@romanblecha1102]

When I bought my 1st 5-finger shoes I immediately tried them on 5km running trail .... couldnt walk next 2 days ....modern boots makes your leg muscles weak + seeing other ppl around me most of them have weak ankles which cause them to walk funny since the weight twist their ankles inwards. you ll never see any orthopedic disbalances in poor countries like india or in africa .....no shoes = strong legs / feet

[@Adriana.Gabriela]

Yup. After spraining my ankles a number of times and breaking my foot, I went on long barefoot walks on grass to make my ankles strong enough again

[@tomaszjaschke631]

"couldnt walk next 2 days"....I know:) after running only barefoot now my calf muscles are nice looking and stronger than ever bevor

[@honeyb2827]

erm africa is a continent...

[@rico9163]

Roman Blecha survivor bias - you only see the people with strong legs and ankles because the ones with weak legs and orthopedic issues died as a result

@@honeyb2827: _"erm africa is a continent..."_ *Roman Blecha:* _"in poor countries like india or in africa"_ Meaning in poor countries like India and in poor countries _in_ Africa, not that Africa is a poor country (otherwise, Roman would had written "like India or Africa", without the latter "in").

[@janswimwild]

I am in my 60s and walk my dog every day on varying terrain and have been wearing barefoot shoes for well over a year and they have made such a difference to my joints and to my feet themselves. I love them.

[@BlankHero]

This one video will change my shoedrobe. SOLD!

[@animistde]

in physio school we learned that its necessary for joint stability (mechanical stress) to land on the heel (initial contact). This is because the joints and bones in our feet are designed to roll, thus when coresponding muscles are working together take alot of mechanical stress of the joints. Also because the calcaneus bone is the most dense. HOWEVER ive been running on balls for my whole life and everytime i accedently did a deep dive somewhere with my heel it ended up hurting my ankle. Definetly some clearing needed

[@jojuca92]

A man's confidence can be judge by his ability to show is bare foots to the world.

[@Arpin_Lusene]

Interesting. Thanks for putting bullet point information in the first 3 minutes. I often do running at morning, I will see how often I land on my heel while running.