Why Go Barefoot?

Think about it, we were born barefoot, so why not continue that form?

Don't get us wrong, there are many reasons for cushioned shoes, including fused joints, arthritis, impact absorption, long distances and so many other factors, but there can also be huge benefits of going barefoot.

In short, barefoot shoes simulate barefoot walking, allowing your feet to move naturally. They are known to strengthen muscles and improve body posture and balance.

Let's get into some more detail...

Natural Movement:

Humans, like other animals, create different shapes (kinematics) as the speeds and hence the forces (kinetics) change. Humans naturally display three forms of locomotion: walking, running and sprinting. Each form has a distinct biomechanical characteristic in terms of posture and the loading of the bodies structure.

Take away this feedback (by wearing padded ‘normal-shaped’ shoes) and the brain finds it harder to make appropriate shapes (which is why so many people move so awkwardly - walking or running). This disconnect created by padded shoes will lead to a person striking the ground harder (brain in search of information) and with an over-stride, whether walking or running.

Three Key Factors:

SENSORY (Thin Sole)

The part of the brain that gets information from the feet is the same size as the part of the brain that gets information from the hands. Take away this feedback and the brain gets confused, resulting in unskilful movement and pain.

STABLE (Wide Fit)

The foot is the body’s base of support. The arches act like springs and when ‘unloaded’ the intrinsic muscles and ligaments provide arch support. When ‘loaded’ the arch collapses and the ligaments, muscles and tendons provide elastic recoil.

STRONG (Flexible)

The flexibility and strength of the big toe is crucial for healthy, natural locomotion, the human foot is designed to push off from the ball and big toe (the axis of leverage). It’s all about the big toe!

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Now, these are just some basics, but there is SO much more research you can do to see if going into a barefoot shoe might be a good option for you.

You can drop in-store to chat to our staff about what could work for you... but in the meantime, browse our range of barefoot options below.

Per Gender: 
Womens / Mens
Brands:
Vivobarefoot
Xero
Vibram Five Fingers