There are many myths surrounding barefoot shoes, so in this article we'll take you through the most important things to know about barefoot shoes.
Content of the article
- Who invented barefoot shoes?
- What do barefoot shoes look like?
- Why do people wear barefoot shoes?
- Who to trust about barefoot shoes?
- Where to find out more about barefoot shoes?
Who invented barefoot shoes?
They wanted to move as naturally as possible but protect their feet, so they invented barefoot shoes. It's hard to say who, because people have known "barefoot shoes" for at least 10,000 years. In modern civilization, however, fashion suppresses naturalness. That's why in recent years barefoot manufacturers have sprung up all over the world, united by the desire to give their children and themselves healthier shoes than the conventional footwear. The lack of such on store shelves has prompted them to produce their own barefoot shoes, but based on long-established methods.
Walking in such shoes reminded their wearers of barefoot movement, and so they came up with the English term "barefoot", which they gradually began to use to refer to all similar shoes. It is only recently that an official definition of barefoot footwear has emerged.
What do barefoot shoes look like?
Barefoot shoes are nowadays almost indistinguishable from regular shoes. Manufacturers produce stylish models for all seasons and all purposes, and it's no longer just about string sandals and five-toed monsters. A trained eye will still detect barefoot shoes at a glance because they are:
- wider at the toe - giving the fingers plenty of room
- with flat sole - providing better stability
- with a thin and flexible sole - for better surface feel and response to unevenness
Why do people wear barefoot shoes?
Most people are led to barefoot shoes because of their health concerns, for two main reasons:
- they want to prevent health problems - they realise the importance of prevention especially in their children, for whom they seek the best for the proper development of the foot, but adults themselves rarely take care of their own health, so over time...
- they need to address health problems - collapsed arches, flat feet, heel spurs, hallux valgus, valgus ankle, destroyed joints, back pain and other problems caused by years of wearing inappropriate footwear
When they first experience the comfort of a wide toe, they no longer want to squeeze into narrow shoes, so they gradually switch to barefoot shoes altogether. They often recommend barefoot shoes to everyone in their neighbourhood, so the positive experience of loved ones is also a way for some to get into barefoot shoes.
Who to trust about barefoot shoes?
Trust especially your own experience. Others may tell you a lot about barefoot shoes, but they often have extreme opinions. Some people praise barefoot shoes on principle without ever having tried them, others praise them too much without considering the disadvantages. Give barefoot shoes a chance to see for yourself and see if this shoe design suits you.
In 10 years of wearing and selling barefoot shoes, we have tried so many models on ourselves and our children that we wouldn't want another. Plus, the more we delve into the physiology of the human body and consult with foot experts (which we recommend to everyone), the more we become confirmed in our direction. On the other hand, there are many different models and brands, and not all of them fit us. That's why we always advise customers to choose shoes with their specific foot type in mind.
Where to find out more about barefoot shoes?
We discuss the issue of barefoot footwear and human health in more detail in a separate section of the Barefoot Academy. We compare the differences between models of individual brands in regular reviews. We answer the most common questions here, for individual questions you can contact our customer support.
But personal experience teaches you the most. Go through your first barefoot shoe purchase, you'll discover that barefoot shoes need to be fitted to your gait, you'll gradually strengthen your feet through natural movement, and with the right care, your chosen pair of barefoot shoes will last longer than you'd expect. And maybe after a while, you will become a barefoot shoe expert too. Just give them a chance!