You have been born barefoot, and a rising physique of proof suggests it’s best to have stayed that manner. The expertise and padding of the fashionable shoe defend your toes, however protection isn’t always what you want. Toes have been made to stretch, flex, roll, and bend, and letting them do what they advanced to do can reduce impact injuries and supply a bunch of different advantages.
That stated, please don’t purchase a pair of those barely-there footwear and begin strolling or operating the way in which you at all times have. That will not work, and it could actually result in accidents. You must ease into all issues barefoot-related, and to some extent it’s essential relearn stroll and run. On this information, we have got recommendation on making the transition from padded footwear to “barefoot footwear” (also referred to as minimalist footwear or zero-drop footwear), and we have rounded up our favorites. They’re as shut as you will get to reaching that barefoot sensation with out operating afoul of “No Shirt, No Sneakers, No Service” indicators.
Make sure to take a look at our different buying guides, together with our Best Running Gear and Best Snow Gear roundups.
Up to date July 2024: We have added Lem’s Boulder boots, Vivobarefoot’s Tracker FG boot, and Xero’s scrambler mid footwear. We have additionally up to date costs and hyperlinks all through.
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