You’ve landed here because you’ve heard about barefoot shoes and likely thinking to yourself...
"Why should I swap out my trusty old kicks for the barefoot shoes everyone seems to be wearing these days?”
Beyond a little extra breathing space for your toes, barefoot shoes have many benefits. If you’re thinking about making the switch here are a few reasons why you should say yes to more FREEDOM for your feet.
Move Naturally
When you think about it your feet are pretty impressive bits of natural engineering. They have over 100 muscles and around 26 bones working together to help them flex, stretch, and adapt to the ground beneath them.
Your feet are the foundation of your entire body’s structure, so it’s no surprise that what you put on them can affect your whole body.
Think about your conventional shoes now. They’re rigid-soled, heavily padded, and suspiciously un-foot-like in shape, like straight jackets for your feet.
Most “normal” shoes restrict your foot movement, weaken muscles, and over time change your gait. Leaving you with feet that end up looking more shoe-shaped than foot-shaped.
Not the look anyone was hoping for!
Barefoot shoes, though, with their wide toe box, zero drop (that's a fancy way of saying no heel elevation), and flexible soles let your feet move the way nature intended.
When you go barefoot your toes experience the luxury of spreading out. Your feet naturally flex. And the 100 or so muscles we mentioned become stronger and more stable.
Barefoot shoes allow your feet to move the way Mother Nature intended.
Feel More: Move Well
Still not convinced to don a pair?
Another reason barefoot shoes are, well, awesome, is because of the hundreds of thousands of sensory receptors in your feet thirsty for input.
These receptors help tell your body and brain where you are in space and provide proprioceptive input that keeps you upright and balanced. The stiff and cushioned soles of conventional shoes put an obvious damper on this sensory feedback.
Barefoot shoes, with their extra flex, invite your feet’s sensory receptors back to the party and give your brain a whole lot more feedback. Helping you move more naturally and efficiently.
Natural fitness starts with your connection with the ground. So it makes sense that barefoot shoes help you experience better balance, improved posture, and more awareness of your body in space.
You fall less, perform better, and become more in tune with your own movements.
Reduce Pain
If you're still not won over how about giving pain the heave-ho? The stability and strength gained from barefoot shoes doesn’t stop at your ankles. It ripples through your entire body improving your posture which helps to reduce pain.
Get the foundation right. Improve your gait. Naturally, align your feet. And you'll notice your whole body has less dysfunction and pain.
Think happy knees, happy hips, and happy backs.
You’ll finish that 8-hour shift with a skip and a hop instead of desperately wanting to pull the shoes from your tortured feet.
Give ‘em a go.
If you’re new to barefoot shoes our advice is simple: just try them.
Then notice what happens to your feet and body when your shoes get out of the way. We offer some tips on how to make the transition a smoother one HERE
Want to know where to begin or feeling confused by all the options? Our FREESTYLE 3.0 and STREETSTYLE Slip-on models are firm favorites for those just dipping their (scrunched-up) toes into the world of barefoot shoes.
We know we could have summed up this whole post in a sentence: Barefoot shoes give you the FREEDOM to Move, the FREEDOM to Do, and the FREEDOM to Be. But, honestly, we’ve enjoyed spending this time with you.
Give them a go, your feet will love you for it!
Still have questions? Or need help finding the right pair for you, get in touch.
