In honor of Alexsander Skarsgård, here are some other clear shoes from YSL. Haven't seen the men's shoes on their website yet, but the Opyum pumps were on there a while ago. I'm finding them on resale sites for ~$500 usd.
Oh my god. Genuinely feel like crying everyday. Ever since I was little I've had short but wide feet. This led to me either choosing between pinched toes or too long shoes that had me slipping and sliding all over the place. I've been wearing skechers the last two years and have developed plantar fascitis. It got so bad I was limping after sleeping or sitting down. I also have hypermobility so wearing shoes with a heel causes me to slip forward and have developed hammer toes on several toes. It also hurts my ankles. I also have major supination leading to my little toe bending sideways and being kinda triangular. Along with this I have dyspraxia and fall over a lot. I've always felt unsteady going down hills and walking in general.
I thought this was normal for 30 years. I hated my feet because I have constant calluses and corns and my toes just grossed me out. My whole life I would immediately take shoes and socks off as soon as I got home and felt a huge sense of relief. I've always been completely barefoot at home and now I know why.
It's been a month since using these new shoes and my plantar fascitis is almost gone and I don't limp anymore. Going for a walk isn't painful anymore and actually 100% enjoyable! I don't have to accept pain as a necessary part of getting into nature. I have been working on the corns and calluses and they are almost gone. I bought some toe spacers and have been doing toe stretches. The guy in the stretching video said it might hurt to stretch my toes at first but it doesn't hurt at all lol. I can notice visible gaps between my toes already which is crazy because I thought it would take longer. The zero drop and feel of the ground helps me feel more secure and walking down hills no longer has me slipping. My ankles hurt way less. There is still some pain but I imagine I need to build more muscle there.
I've always hated the aesthetic of pointed shoes and strived to buy shoes that are round at the front. I wonder if this was my feet subconsciously calling for freedom lol. I really like the aesthetic of the wider toe box and I actually think my feet look nice now. The squished look was not it. I thought toe socks were kinda weird but after buying my first pair recently, I realised they actually look really cute.
Overall I'm really happy with how my introduction into the barefoot world is going. Now if only I could find some affordable mary-jane's that cater to the width of my foot...
I recently made myself a pair of zero-drop, barefoot-adjacent shoes for light hiking and "urban trekking" on a sneakers last I modified to fit my feet. Wallabies and Paraboots-style moccasins are a great and comfortable design, but finding them in a zero-drop and wide toe box configuration is not as easy as it seems. No bragging, but I'm pretty proud of the result.
Will we see you there? 😬👏🏻🦶
With just over a week left things are all falling into place nicely here!
Theres 15 more brands than last year 😬😬
Will drop a full list if anyone’s interested?
£15 a ticket, but you will not find a greater selection of barefoot brands from around the world with discounted stock 🙏🏼
Not to mention workshops and prominent figures/speakers from within the community, it’s set to be a great weekend!
Hopefully see you there! Any questions drop them here 👏🏻
Kind regards as always, Dan 🦶
@b2barefoot_dan
I'm looking for an insulated boot for snowshoeing and hiking in the Colorado high country in winter.
I'm very adapted to barefoot shoes but I'm not acclimated to Colorado winter anymore and my feet got cold when I was acclimated.
I need something that can take a snowshoe and can handle 12 plus mile hikes / hunting, often off trail.
Boots I'm looking at -
Meindl Comfort Fit hunter 400g insulation - I'm worried how stiff and heavy these will feel being so barefoot adapted
Lems boulder summit with an added wool insert
Altra mid all-weather with an added insert
Oboz bridger - I'm worried these will cramp with toes even though they claim to be wide
Vivo Tracker winter
I'd love to hear experience with these boots and anybother recommemdations you have!
I’m comparing two WHITIN models: the white pair is a size 11, and the green pair is an 11.5. In the insole photos, the regular socks with lettering are on the white insoles; the toe socks are on the green insoles.
The white 11s are too short—my right big toe hits the front when I walk. I could exchange them for a 12, but the side seam also sits directly over my bunion and puts pressure on it. The green pair has more flexible mesh in that area and feels a little roomier, though I’m not sure whether that’s because it’s a half size larger.
My bunion hangs over the side of both insoles. Is that common even in wide toe box shoes? The white model is supposedly one of WHITIN’s widest, so I’m wondering whether a size 12 would actually help or just leave me with shoes that look and feel too long.
Would you try the white pair in a 12, stick with the green model, or look for a wider shoe from another brand? Specific model recommendations are welcome.
I don’t traced my foot while standing and measured about 28.5 cm long and 11 cm wide across the bunion/ball of my foot. Does the tracing and measurement look right? It was surprisingly hard to keep the pen vertical—angling it inward or outward changed the outline quite a bit.
When comparing this to shoe size charts or insoles, how much extra room should I allow in length and width? I’m looking for a comfortable, fairly minimal gym shoe with room at the first MTP joint, preferably one that looks like a regular sneaker. Any models you’d suggest for this foot shape?
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes now for about 1.5 years and have been lurking here the whole time. Got some Panta sandals before the summer which I loved, but was intrigued to see if there were cheaper options so started looking. Ordered these no-name sandals from Taobao for $8.90 (plus shipping) out of curiosity to see whether cheap no-name sandals can actually compete with the established brands.
First impressions after unboxing:
- Fairly light: the pair weighs 370 g
- Thin, flexible sole, feels sturdy so far, need to see if they mold to feet
- Comfortable on my feet, though the sole runs a bit narrow (ok for my size EU46 female shaped feet :D)
- One quality issue: the velcro on one strap is slightly frayed and not stitched on well at one side
I'll wear them over the next week or two and post an honest update on comfort, fit and how they hold up.
Maybe this could help someone out here.
Would you buy something like this over Shamma, Xero & co.? The cheaper sandals are also made in china or overseas mostly and probably have the same quality I feel like. Or would you never buy a no-name sandal from the start?
I’m honestly pretty shocked by this.
I’ve been wearing Vivobarefoot Trackers since the first model and my previous pairs usually lasted 1 to 2 years. I used them a lot for hiking and also as everyday outdoor shoes around our farm, so they definitely were not treated gently.
I bought a new pair of Tracker Leather ATs and after around 7 days of hiking I noticed that pieces of the outsole are already breaking off in several places.
These were normal hiking trails. Some rocky and stony sections, of course, but nothing technical or extreme.
Now after returning my Trackers, I’m wondering if I just got a bad pair or if there is an issue with the material/lower quality of the newer model...
In other words: I'm thinking whether I should get a new pair of Trackers or start looking for alternatives?
Has anyone else had issues with the Tracker Leather AT?
Which barefoot hiking shoes would you suggest as alternative?
I’m really done with the maximalist sneakers. Hoka Cliftons hurt the top of my foot and Brooks Glycerin Max made me feel like I had PF. Both squished my toes. The problem is, I walk on concrete all day and have joint / pain issues.
Are there barefoot shoes that have padding for standing long periods / walking on concrete? Or does that defeat the whole purpose? I’m tired of buying shoes that either squish my toes and give me blisters or are wide and slip off my foot entirely.
I’ve worn zero drop shoes for daily use for about 10 years, including WHITIN, Vivobarefoot, and Xero. I usually wear a 10.5. They’ve been great for everyday life, though I’ve learned that daily wear and sports are different things.
I have what I call the Disneyland test. I used to go about twice a month, and after a full day in running or walking shoes, my feet would always ache when I got home. One day I accidentally wore my WHITINs instead, and my feet felt fine at the end of the day. That was the pair that sold me on barefoot shoes for daily use even though they were, to me, by far the ugliest shoes I owned.
Tennis was a different story. I played in Vivobarefoots and threw out my back. I remember seeing a tennis player in their marketing at the time, so I thought they might work for me on court. Now I stick with conventional athletic shoes for tennis and other explosive sports. They might work for lower level tennis players, I cant imagine it working for high level play especially if you slide on court.
For everyday wear, my biggest gripe with barefoot shoes has always been their appearance. The Xero Prio Neo became my usual compromise because it looks presentable and fits my feet well.
I’ve always liked ASICS, so I bought the HYPERSYNC as soon as I saw it. I’ve worn it daily for about a month, and it’s become my favorite everyday pair. I’ve also worn it for a full day at Disneyland, and my feet felt great afterward.
The toe room feels about the same as my Xero Prio Neos on my feet. The HYPERSYNC feels low to the ground, with what seems like zero toe drop, though I haven’t measured it. It has a bit more cushioning than the barefoot shoes I’m used to, so there’s less ground feel. I’ve found it very comfortable.
For me, that’s a tradeoff I’m happy to make. I get much of what I like about minimalist shoes in a pair I also enjoy wearing out. If you need more toe room than Xero gives you, these probably aren’t the answer. But if Xeros fit you and you want another low-profile everyday option, the HYPERSYNC is worth a look.
I don't normally post, but I want legacy brands like Asics to dive into this market a bit more. I know they have been vocal about being against minimalist shoes in the past, so its shocking to me to see that they came out with the Hypersync's. I started hunting for any kind of review on them and of course there is nothing. I bit the bullet, and I'm glad I did, they nailed it.
First day wearing Barebound. Too early to give much of a review. But they are definitely lovely. 💛
I've been looking for a barefoot/wide toe box skate shoe for a long while but haven't found anything that scratches that Vans itch. These Vans wide look interesting, but they still seem narrow in the toe box. They look to be in that "better than regular, worse than barefoot" style.
There is Splay shoes but they're always out of stock on my size (11.5/45) or don't even carry the size, which is super frustrating because I'd jump on them instantly. I've been wearing Whitins for the past few years, which are great for toe box feel but they're definitely cheap quality and a bit thin for my preference.
Anyone have any experience with these?
A while ago I saw this video essentially saying "Vibram is ruining FiveFingers." Coincidentally, around the time I saw this video, I wanted to buy a pair. For a few months I've had my eyes on the V-Runs but I don't want to purchase uninformed. Would any of you (if you've bought a pair in the last few months) be willing to share y'all's experiences with your V-Runs? Thanks and much love :)
tl;dr: I have wide toes, a very narrow heel, and a medical issue triggered by too much pressure on the top of the foot
I've always had trouble finding shoes because my feet are wide at the toe but my heel is so narrow that I step out of a lot of shoes. I also developed a chronic pain issue in one foot that seems to be triggered by close-toed shoes that are too tight (it goes away in the summer when I wear Tevas every day and comes back in the fall when I go back to Converse/Oxfords). It's somewhat unpredictable but the problem seems to be a combination of being too tight in the toe box as well as putting too much pressure on the top of the foot.
Any brand recommendations that would fit these specs? I wear a women's size 9 but I wear unisex/androgynous-looking shoes. Would also prefer ones that look nice-ish and appropriate for office wear, so either fashion sneakers or leather (real or faux).
ETA approximate measurements: 9.5 cm wide, 24 cm long