r/barefootshoestalk

Does anyone wear shoes with arch support while driving?

I think I’m overextending/overusing my arch while driving. It’s resulting in mild plantar fasciitis that I would like to resolve before it gets worse. I only have pain in my right foot. I have tried adjusting my seat many different warts no avail. I’m not sure what else to do. If you wear specific shoes for driving, do you have recommendations?

Thank you!

They're really light. To the point that regular sneakers or running shoes (Altras included) feel heavy and clunky to me. It really feels like I'm walking on clouds with barefoot shoes lol. I also feel more stable when walking in them. Stable walk, stable life, is the signal my sub-conscious seems to receive.

Another benefit is that they fit better. In regular shoes I always have to size up which is uncomfortable but still better than not having enough room.

Just something I noticed recently

Just ordered my first pair of barefoot shoes and are looking forward to them coming in. I plain on wearing them when going for walks or heading to the grocery store, etc. I’m curious though - I’m a blue collar worker who is on a concrete floor for 8 hours a day and am wondering if anybody has any experience with wearing barefoot shoes in a similar environment? Have you had success or are you better off wearing properly cushioned work boots to combat the harsh floor?

I'm 66 and I use to roll my ankle too often, twice it had resulted in a fall. That's when I decided to try barefoot shoes as falls become increasingly dangerous with age. I've been wearing them for 2+ years with no problems. Until now.

I recently saw a podiatrist because I was having pain across the top of my foot during push off when walking. From what I've researched my symptoms are pointing to a stress fracture of the metatarsal bone, most likely the second. She agrees and is sending me for an X-Ray and ultrasound to confirm.

I'm a little devastated. I LOVE my barefoot shoes and so much has improved since I've been wearing them. My toes have visibly splayed, I feel I have more strength and balance, and I haven't rolled my ankle since longer than I can remember.

If it turns out I do have a stress fracture, she will give me an orthotic insole to help it heal. During our discussion, while she believes barefoot shoes are great, for an older women whose bones are becoming more brittle, the minimalist sole may be doing more harm than good. (I do A LOT of very brisk walking, up and down hills, several miles a day; it's my main cardio.)

Does anyone have any thoughts on this as well as a recommendation of a good barefoot shoe, but with a bit more cushioning?

I’ve spent 2 years in barefoot shoes for daily life, hiking and lifting, which I feel has improved my balance, ankle stability and grip on the ground. I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, both of which are trained barefoot, and I feel that wearing barefoot shoes in my daily life has improved my performance in terms of balance and stability. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the overlap between this community and combat sports more than I expected.

Most striking/grappling arts have you training barefoot, so wearing zero-drop, wide-toe-box shoes regularly feels like a pretty logical extension rather than a separate "thing." UFC legend Georges St. Pierre has talked publicly about training his feet specifically because they're the first point of contact with the ground, which is basically the whole barefoot shoe philosophy applied to fighting.

A few things I'm curious about from this crowd specifically:

1. Are there any other martial artists here? What do you train, and how'd you first hear about barefoot shoes? Was it through training, or a totally separate path that later connected back to it?
2. Since you can't really train in them on the mats, did switching to barefoot shoes in daily life change anything about how your feet/ankles felt or performed in class? Balance, stability, recovery from rolls or sparring, anything like that?
3. What's actually missing from the current barefoot shoe lineup for combat sports specifically? I know Xero has a martial arts line, but I'm curious if it's hitting the mark or if there are gaps (better/cleaner designs, low-profile enough for footwork, toe protection, etc.)

I’m just trying to figure out if this is a real niche within the community or if I'm overthinking a coincidence.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on whether switching to barefoot or minimalist shoes is a good idea given my history.

About 15 years ago, I had surgery for severe flat feet (I actually have an arch now), and 3 years ago I fractured my tibial plateau in a motorcycle accident and got reconstructive surgery. Lately, standard shoes have been causing me frequent foot pain, my balance feels terrible, and my toes are starting to crowd together with bunions forming.

I really want to try barefoot shoes to give my toes room to spread out, fix my balance, and stop the bunion progression, but I’m nervous about how the lack of cushioning might affect my knee or old foot surgery.

Has anyone with a similar background made the switch? I’d love to know if this sounds safe, what kind of transitional shoes you’d recommend (or if I should dive straight into full barefoot), and if there are specific foot or ankle exercises I should do first.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I have a wide toe-splay due to never wearing restrictive shoes.

I’ve been trying to find some wide-toed snowboots.

I’m looking at a pair of Xero boots. The sole is very thin though. I’ve read that they wear out fast and I walk multiple miles a day on asphalt and concrete. I’d prefer something with a much thicker sole, but this is one of the only brands available to me.

Does anyone have any experience with them? They’re not cheap and I need them to last many years to justify this kind of purchase to my parents.

ETA thank you so much everyone for your insight and suggestions - all hugely helpful!

Hi all

I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with my 14 year old second cousin. Her ankles roll in severely and she is hyper-mobile, causing her to destroy her shoes and trip often. She's been advised by medical professionals that due to the hyper-mobility the muscles in her foot will never be strong enough to support the joint. She has been given arch support insoles but I can see that she's still rolling inwards and tripping occassionally - she was wearing Doc Marten style boots with a zip on the inside and rolling off the heel.

Has anyone had experience specifically with hyper-mobility and barefoot? Or recommendations of places to find information or people to speak to (they're based in Cheshire, England). Her mum has barefoot shoes so is converted to the concept, it's just whether the hyper-mobility will allow her foot to strengthen enough.

Or recommendations of exercises to strengthen the ankle to support the roll?

TIA!