Wear Shoes? Here’s Why You May Want to Go “Barefoot”.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

What questions do you have about barefoot shoes? What would you like to see in our follow-up video(s)? Tell us in the comments!

[@Marinaxp1]

I would like to see older people over 60 who can wear shoes with barely any support for the sole.

[@tiffanyhackerspace8377]

@@Marinaxp1 I'm 56 and I prefer barefoot shoes.

[@EliasMheart]

Is jogging/running in barefoot shoes sensible, or should you use "normal" shoes instead? In either case, what should you pay attention to? (Assuming you have somewhat sensible technique. Most arguments I have heard so far have been "Well, you heel strike with your padded trainers, you'd never do that if you were barefoot", but at the same time it can feel pretty bad if you are running on asphalt, or on rocky ground...)

[@ievadeltuvaite8413]

I work in a barefoot shoe shop and get lots of customers that are over age 60+ getting their first barefoot shoes!!

[@Dilmahkana]

"Being strong over being weak. Being comfortable over being uncomfortable; But not at the expense of becoming weak." I love this! Up there with 'Eat well. Move more. Worry less' and 'mildly unconventional'

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

🙌💖

[@luchewigg168]

I joined the barefoot shoe gang a year or so agro and I am never going back to regular shoes! Truly life changing, no foot pain.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That's wonderful. Wishing you many, many more years of pain-free feet 🙌

[@simonedeluxe200588]

Came across one of your videos about sitting on the floor and now I'm bingewatching the others, so much interesting content 🧡

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Thank you for watching!

[@alymar18]

I made the switch to barefoot shoes about five years ago and it was the best switch ever! Worth every penny. I love wearing barefoot shoes when I go hiking so I can feel the terrain under my feet, but still with some protection. My body is so grateful for barefoot shoes when I have to wear shoes! As always, loved the video! 💛

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Nice! Happy to hear that they've been benefiting your body. And thanks! 🙌💕

[@JamCamel]

I switched to minimalist running shoes 15 years ago, and it was the best decision ever. This is a great video, and encapsulates many of the reasons that got me switching to minimalist runners. I would have loved to continue by changing my other footwear, but have run into two issues that, 15 years later, I've still not found resolved. First is that minimalist footwear seems to be primarily marketed to and made for men. Men and women have different pressure points because they walk differently, and shoes should take this into account. Majority of manufacturers appear to treat women's footwear as an afterthought, and it'd be great if manufacturers offered as unique styles and options for women as they do for men. The second issue is finding minimalist footwear for cool and wet climates. You won't have a problem with cool temperatures in Singapore, but for me, I can wear sandals maybe 5 days in a year. I love walking everywhere, and in cool rainy climes such as mine, I need shoes that I don’t end up sloshing around in and freezing my toes off. I don't expect you to worry about those of us in colder climates, but since you do get tropical downpours in Singapore, I'd love to hear your discoveries for minimalist shoes that keep the rain properly out, rather than just sieve it. 😂

[@chrishbeatboxing2291]

Minimalist shoes saved my chronic knee issues after I started wearing them a year ago. I didn't expect seeing this from the floor sitting channel but I'm glad you guys discovered them too!

[@memori365]

Congratulations for getting to try on Feelgrounds shoes. They were on my radar when I was looking for barefoot shoes other than Xero. My everyday shoes now is Icarus (white leather). I also have Lems, Merrell, and Whitin. I’m a minimalist but I own several barefoot shoes as a trial and error. Some were just not comfortable and I can’t be bothered to go through hoops of returning the shoes. For beginners on a budget, I would recommend Whitin though I must say that it’s a bit narrow for my liking but it’s zero drop and durable and easy to clean. Xero is my go-to somewhat affordable shoes if I buy on sale. I buy at least two to make the most out of the shipping and duty/custom fee. I am grateful for those who have tried the unconventional way of wearing shoes. Because of them, I learned to unlearn the unhealthy treatment of my feet. I regret not trying it as soon as I watched it on KZbin. The price also discouraged me as a newbie. I’m excited for your upcoming videos especially about barefoot shoes. Take your time. Try lots of shoes. These days there are so many options. I hope barefoot shoes will be sold in stores and not just online. Cheers to happy feet!

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Happy feet 🦶❤️

[@angie20de06]

I started to wear barefoot shoes in may 2023 and I feel like I'm not going back to regular shoes ever! Do you need a pair of dress shoes for women? Try Shapen. Do you need gym barefoot shoes? vivo, be lenka and xero are plenty of choices. Do you need casual barefoot shoes? Look at any of the companies, pretty much. I am personally a fan on Be Lenka, because they have the most large toe box and their shoes are super squishy on my feet (the winter boots feel like slippers on my feet all day). This said, i bought 2 pairs of high top sneakers from Groundies last year and, even though they don't fit my "correct toes" as well as Be Lenka's boots, those sneakers are still very breathable and comfortable on my feet. When I look back at my beautiful platform white sneakers from adidas and puma, I can´t help but wonder who in their right mind would wear that kind of shoe instead of using them as shelf decor... So much can change in 1 year i guess ^-^

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We get what you mean; more people need to know about barefoot shoes and at least give them a try 🙌

[@jayathome2898]

I took up running two years ago as an almost 60 year old. After several mistakes and lost toenails and other foot problems I landed on Altra Escalante zero drop wide toe box runners and voila. No more toe or foot problems! Now they are my go to shoe.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Good to hear they're working out well for your feet! 🙌

[@HOUSEMDSB7]

Your videos are so well made!

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Thanks! Appreciate that 😊

[@Rose-kt5hn]

I finally bought Xero barefoot shoes this past summer and I am in LOVE with them. I want to wear them to sleep, honestly. I wore them for 5 or so hours my first day, hiking up and down a mountain. I wear them for everyday, for hiking, walking, and casual adventures. My knees feel so much better and my feet never hurt. I'm now on the hunt for barefoot boots to replace my Doc Martens. These shoes are just so good for you!!

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Great to hear!

[@Sixbunnyears]

When I was 16, there were some sneakers I liked, but there was only one pair in a size larger than what I wore. And I bought them anyway. Since then (I'm 33) I've never been able to wear a size smaller, even though everything indicates that I'm "a size smaller" I'm too used to my toes "not being stacked" or tight in shoes. I never have foot problems. But my family does, and even though they know that a slightly larger shoe would solve their problems (some even very painful that require medical attention) they refuse to do it "for the aesthetic issue"🙄 (when in reality no one notices that the shoe is a size larger) ... Anyway, I'm going to try to choose flatter and more flexible shoes, but sometimes it's hard because shoes are expensive here (more than 100 dollars for an average shoe) but it's something I would like to invest in in the future.😊

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Yeah don't think we would notice if someone was wearing shoes one size too large, even if they told us! 😄

[@gerriebell2128]

I’m 73 and have always had a bad sense of balance, and have had to be careful what shoes I wear, because shoes affect how well I walk. 7 years ago I had both knees replaced, and am finding shoes actually affect how well I walk. At home I am in bare feet or just socks, and my walking is much better. I got Softstar ballerina flats shoes as dressy shoes, which are handmade, leather, and might be considered barefoot shoes. But for every day in fall and winter, I’ve been wearing Kizik step-in shoes they have a very wide toe box and are flat, so I walk ok in them. But after seeing this video I’ll check out the brands you showed. I’ve been wishing I could just tape a flexible “sole” to the bottom of my foot for protection and go outside like that. Maybe one of their shoes will be like that. Thank you for this video.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We hope you'll find shoes that help you walk well and keep your feet healthy!

[@Jewdew18]

I love you guys. Thank you for bringing peace

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

😊🫶

[@josephbailey4463]

Barefoot shoes lead to better posture. I switched a year and a half ago and noticed improvements in posture and agility. I’m 66 years old, so it’s never too late.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Great to hear! Glad it's been working out great for your feet 💪

[@ImNotAYoutuber0]

Hi there, I just subscribed to your channel and because of this video that I watched like 4 days ago, my barefoot shoes have arrived. I bought the "Move" ones and the first time wearing them (today) it's a very weird feeling, because my feet aren't weak, I always looked for wider shoes and they usually were pretty cheap but not really as wide as the barefoot shoes but much better than the normal Nike or Adidas. After walking, even the first 10m I walked I realized how much my feet are working and I'm really happy about getting them. They aren't cheap, don't look fancy but damn it feels good to walk in them.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Enjoy your new shoes! Make sure to listen to your body and transition to those shoes slowly 🙌

[@aoreliasamantha5339]

Thx for sharing

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Thanks for watching!

[@marianabahamonde1994]

I know this is a great idea for people who have relatively good feet. My husband has a wrong way of walking, which is a from-birth condition. These shoes would kill him. We had to buy a good pair of Asics with good support and good ankle grip. Don't go for these shoes unless you know your pain and discomfort isn't cause by another undetected medical issue

[@sandrah4358]

Agree! I had a bought of Plantar Fasciitis and discovered that to heal my feet I needed a truly comfortable and aggressively supportive shoe. After my feet got better I was able to transition to Birkenstocks which are wonderful for me. I also love the flip flops made by Reef that have arch support. As a child, I participated in modern dance classes which were always done barefoot and I’m now looking to find a similar class in my area for adults! Thanks for the encouragement to “use it or lose it” ✨

[@MaxForsey]

I've been wearing barefoot shoes for the past 2 years and now only wear shoes with zero drop and a wide toe box. Transitioning takes time when doing running. Can go never go back!

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Yes, definitely need to take time to transition when running 👍

[@tricksykenbbit1997]

I've been wearing barefoot shoes for years now and they're the best. My only gripe about them is that I got a job recently that requires steel toe shoes for safety, and I haven't found a barefoot version that I can order to Canada. My feet hurt so much now at the end of the day from being in inferior 'normal' steel toes.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That's unfortunate, hope you can find something comfortable for your feet soon 💪

[@tbc9096]

I go barefoot as often as possible. I hate shoes and socks. I actually went to a friend’s house and asked permission to take my shoes and socks off at the door. Permission was granted! It just takes the edge off and creates a more relaxed environment and it’s healthier for your feet.

[@whitneybrown4067]

This is Gonna b Extremely Helpful TWC🎯🗣🦶🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Monday😀!!!….

[@Con-Pin-]

I have specific shoes for long distance walking with special made insoles they are only meant for walking do have another pair of shoes for gym, and another pair of shoes for more formal/events with quite a significant leg length difference I can't use barefoot shoes sadly

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We all got to find what works best for us! 🙌

[@jimbagsh9569]

At least most manufacturers are starting to make wide versions of their footwear which helps. After years of wearing sandals, my feet naturall spread out and that made buying things like running shoes difficult. But I have been able to find some wide shoes that don't try to squeze my toes back into their old shape.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Glad you found options that work for you!

[@Daniel_Ho_Status_101]

Boat shoes and driving moccasins have almost all the benefits of minimalist shoes except for the wide toe box. Add a terry cloth insole, and it's an ideal sockless shoe to wear with shorts.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

For sure. Though a wide toe box is an important characteristic for a good shoe too 👍

[@Everydaykaen]

Nice i wanna try this. Currently on my new balance era 😅

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That'll be a big change, going from NBs to barefoot!

[@eclipse_eternal8178]

After being barefoot at home all the time and wearing barefoot shoes whenever I go out for a few months now. I can say that my feet are already wider in the toe area and I feel more stable and don't almost fall over as much whenever I'm bouncing and jumping around in my garden, which I do often to let off steam.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That's great! We wish we had a garden to let off steam in, too 😁

[@Hugosnow942]

It took my feet a very long time to adjust but completely worth it.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Good to hear!

[@Prizzy999]

I'm a woman with large feet, and I've always worn large shoes as I can't walk otherwise, I get joint pain and blisters straight away if the shoes aren't right. I find these barefoot shoes very nice but too flat, I need support on the heels as I walk a lot, and I usually wear sport shoes made for Padel, runners cause me heel inflammation. I walk barefoot all the time in the house, even in winter (with socks on), and I guess that makes up for my barefoot daily dose 😊

[@sdb9884]

I’m barefoot 99% of the time because I don’t leave my house unless I absolutely have to. I drive barefoot for short distances. I bought a pair of wide width Scechers a few years ago that are more comfortable than regular shoes, but still have a high sole. I am wondering, though, is arch support necessary? A lot of the barefoot shoes (sandals, primarily) look like the thin, flat soles of Walmart sandals.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Unfortunately experts with different backgrounds will have different opinions on this. We're no experts, but from what we've read, we don't think they're necessary for the majority of people, although they can be helpful as short term relief. Maybe we can dive further into this in a future video.

[@frangipanisandgirl]

Yeah the barefoot sandal thickness does look similar to cheap regular sandals, but I think the difference is barefoot's are thin and flexible, while the cheapies are thin and stiff, which probably makes all the difference 🤷‍♀ I wouldn't know though as I haven't tried any yet, just diving into the barefoot shoe world myself.

[@nekoalexx]

Loved the barefoot shoes forever 😭 finally theyre more mainstream

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

😄

[@jayemover_16]

I'd love it if barefoot shoes actually came in my shoe size. My feet are too small for most shoes just in general, on top of being weirdly tall. It's helpful since my feet haven't deformed very much (most is my big toe, but that's more my socks than my shoes. thanks, autism.), but less helpful when the shoe is supposed to be the shape of your foot. I found some nice cheap ones on Amazon that I'll try out. Let's hope they're not too skinny.

[@joshuazalamea1477]

switching to barefoot shoes because of this video!! question, what socks do you use?

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We just use conventional socks at the moment since we don't wear covered shoes that often. Be safe with your transition to barefoot shoes!

[@dino130395]

It makes NO sense to me that “minimalist” footwear is so much MORE expensive than regular shoes. I was watching a lot of these videos and got convinced to get give it a try only to found out that the cheapest pair I found was $200

[@corbinnewman8886]

I agree that there are many shoes on the market that are very overpriced. However, there are a lot of shoes out there that check a lot of the boxes and would certainly be of benefit. Some models from Lems come to mind. I’ve found it helpful, too, to be barefoot around the house as much as I can comfortably stand at the moment, throughout the day. Well wishes to you; I hope you can find something that works for your circumstances.

[@krazypandaman]

Lot of cheaper brands coming out nowadays like saguaro or whitin. Decent quality

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

There are lots of cheap barefoot shoes on Amazon.

[@DavidCruickshank]

The reality of supply and demand. Barefoot shoes can't enjoy the economies of scale that regular shoes do. Also you clearly didn't look hard if the cheapest you found was $200. There are loads in the $100's range and some brands (mostly on amazon) that are sub $100.

[@magnoliagrey8659]

Water shoes work in a pinch!

[@salmasaad198]

So what do you think of new balance 530?

[@rancor1223]

I would be careful recommending walking barefoot at home, on hard flat floors. My physiotherapist very specifically told me not to, I will trust him over a YT video. With that said, I got myself a nice pair of barefoot shoes simply because I couldn't find a comfortable shoes of my preferred style and I love them. Only issue seems to be winder. Cold ground really saps the warmth from my feet. And it hasn't even started snowing yet.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

It should be noted there are many cultures where the default is to be barefoot at home on hard flat floors (like we've done all our lives without issue). Then again, yes, we agree you should generally listen to your physio over a YT video. 👍

[@nicteal]

Was considering trying barefoot shoes but I only saw shoes that were $200+ range. But thanks for sharing that doesn't feel excessively expensive. Will give it a try. Thanks for the recommendation! But I don't supposed they have a store locally to try right? :x

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Unfortunately they don't have stores locally. Yes, also unfortunate that niche products typically come with that pricey niche tax!

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

There are plenty of cheap barefoot shoes on Amazon.

[@nicteal]

@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou Is that the case? I guess I should look there first. Thanks for the reco!

[@The_Winsome_Pixie]

I was just diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. I was told never to walk around barefoot, and to wear inserts in my shoes. Anybody with experience to share healing these issues with minimalist shoes?

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

You should check out "Gait Happens", they have some great resources :)

[@The_Winsome_Pixie]

@@ThoughtworthyCo Thank you!

[@jacobcosquer]

been part of the barefoot gang for 6 years and its now impossible for me to wear normal shoe prisons. I hope that the industry catches up soon and starts making more fashionable ones that aren't obviously sporty or super plain though. Also some barefoot shoes simply aren't wide enough either as I mostly wear Vivos widest silhouette

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Agreed, hope to see more nicer-looking (and affordable) options soon 👍

[@quietfont]

Can those shoes be bought offline in SG? I want to try them first 😊

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Unfortunately the shoes in our video are not available in retail stores in SG, but a couple of other major barefoot shoe brands are!

[@FitNishM]

Yesss! Hate those shoes with so much padding and high heels and squashed toes :/ Barefoot is the way to go.. Except when long distance running :)

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

👍👍

[@byshagi]

curious about the mat you have with the elevated bumps ?

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Check out our previous video here for more info! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKO4qatsr8iWoZo

[@loovthejungle]

I went barefoot cold turkey and couldn't go back since minute one

[@lvs6775]

The only conventional shoes I love are crocs lol I've had my pair for close to 5 years. Besides that, I stopped wearing conventional shoes in 2015. My feet don't even fit in my old shoes they've gotten so wide. I buy from a company who makes leather shoes by hand in the states. They are expensive. My daily shoes are Xero Jessie sandals which were $50 USD. I don't like that the synthetic materials as they can get a but smelly. I've had leather shoes for years that have a neutral smell so it's not an issue I had before.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

Sounds like you have wide, healthy feet now! 😁

[@johntay3831]

Dear singapura couple, how Long did it take for your feet to become like hands?

[@Andy-zv4gj]

Eh for a while I thought it was necessary to go barefoot shoes and this is from someone who lifts barefoot but you reap most of the benefits from getting a zero drop and wide toe box and having that as your daily while going barefoot once in a while for sensory stimulation and feet muscle strengthening

[@penguineatingfish]

Do you find your feet hold up walking 10k steps with barefoot shoes? I’m worried about the impact on man made surfaces like concrete.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We were careful to transition slowly while being more mindful about how we walked, and so far it has been okay. We'll test further and share more about our experience in a future video :)

[@DavidCruickshank]

Yeah it's crazy how bad modern shoes are for your feet. Why aren't shoes made to fit feet like the rest of our clothing is? Barefoot shoes are definitely the way forward.

[@SimplyK888]

I'm not sure if people who suffers from fat pad atrophy are able to wear Barefoot shoes that do not looked like it has any cushioning?

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That's definitely a valid concern worth looking into further!

[@jonathanmelendez2828]

I hate chunky soles but I still haven’t wore barefoot shoes .

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

They're worth a try!

[@giancarloespejo2223]

Most peoples feet are weak strengthen them peeps 😊

[@jaewalkker]

Maybe barefoot rock climbing is the way to go too considering how restrictive rock climbing shoes are >

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

We've actually seen one model of climbing-specific barefoot shoes on the market while doing our research for this video!

[@zojirushi1]

So you talk about going barefoot. But do you wear socks or not?

[@childlikejoy]

There are places I have to wear shoes and I do, (nice bendy shoes) but let me take them off and yes please! Folk seem to find bald, 46 year old women with tons of tattoos and barefoot to be most interesting! :P

[@qwabXD]

I wore them for 3+ years, all they did was cause me plantar fasciitis.

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

That's unfortunate.

[@johnduty4505]

You don't need wifi 5g ... Use GSM ... Minimalism😂😂

[@ThoughtworthyCo]

😂 I don't even get the joke tbh, just love how jolly you are 👏

[@giancarloespejo2223]

Most peoples feet are weak strengthen them peeps 😊