Stepping Into Wellness: The Benefits of Barefoot Shoes

In recent years, the barefoot shoe movement has gained significant traction among health-conscious people. These minimalist shoes are designed to mimic the natural shape and flexibility of the foot, offering a TON of benefits for both kids and adults. From improving posture to enhancing balance, barefoot shoes can fundamentally change how we walk and interact with the world. Let me share why incorporating barefoot shoes into your family’s wardrobe might just be a step in the right direction, and let me share some of my FAVORITE shoes that I have personally tried and loved (and maybe not loved so much)!

Why Choose Barefoot Shoes?

Natural Foot Shape: Barefoot shoes have thin, flat, and flexible soles that allow the feet to move as naturally as possible. A lot of brands might call this feature "zero-drop sole". Unlike traditional shoes, which often feature restrictive, tight designs and thick soles, barefoot shoes enable the foot muscles to strengthen by allowing them to splay and recoil naturally as you walk. Because of this, barefoot shoes are naturally wider, in the entire shoe, and definitely in the toe box.

Improved Posture and Balance: By aligning the feet in a more natural position, barefoot shoes can help improve posture and balance. The reduced heel height helps distribute your body weight more evenly, which can alleviate pressure on the spine and joints. If you're someone who typically has sore feet at the end of the day, barefoot shoes might be the right choice for you!

Enhanced Sensory Feedback: Barefoot shoes offer better ground feedback, which is crucial for adjusting walking and running gaits. This increased awareness can lead to more mindful walking and reduced injury rates.

Versatility: Many barefoot shoes are designed for a variety of activities, including running, hiking, and casual wear. This versatility makes them an excellent investment for anyone looking to simplify their footwear collection while prioritizing foot health. I'll be honest, some of the barefoot shoes look goofy due to the features I just mentioned, but honestly, I've found some great ones that you wouldn't notice are "barefoot" shoes if you saw me wearing them! At least I don't think you would...

Some of my Favorite Brands

Be Lenka

I LOVE my Be Lenka boots. They have a very wide toe-box and an extremely flexible, zero-drop sole. I can literally twist the entire bottom of the shoe and fold it in half.

I have a few different pairs of their boots, but I have worn my black ones the most. They are waterproof, so warm, and great for my wide feet. I have tried a few different barefoot boots and these are the best I've had by far!

I will say, if you know that you have narrow feet, they may be too wide for you. Seeing that they are already barefoot and I feel, a little extra wide, they might feel big for you. Definitely try them for yourself, but just know that going into it!

I also got these brown boots and love them as well!

Vivo Barefoot

Vivo Barefoot is one of the more popular brands of barefoot shoes. They have a lot of different tools and explanations for learning about barefoot shoes, so definitely check out their website!

Vivo Barefoot is also one of my and my husband's FAVORITES! The shoes we have from them are SO comfortable, truly barefoot with the wide toe box and room for your toes to be free.

I've had mine for about 3 years and they are just now starting to wear and rip. To me, that's worth the price, but my husband has worn through his so much faster, probably in about a year with each pair he's had.

We wear these shoes everywhere. When working out indoors and outdoors, on trails, daily walking, etc. They're amazing in every situation!

Alexander also has their hiking boots and has eventually worn through those as well. So if you're looking at the price point, I would say that they are probably not the most durable. Or maybe Alexander is just really hard on shoes haha!

Definitely try out these shoes for yourself, though, because I really cannot say anything negative about my experience!

Softstar

My slippers from Softstar are THE MOST COMFORTABLE shoes that I own. I've had them for about 2 1/2 years and they are still so amazing. I wear them ALL the time.

They are made of sheepskin and are super cozy and fuzzy, with a soft sole and room for my feet. They are AMAZING.

When I say I wear them all the time, I mean it. I wear them around the house, so I do all my chores in them, cook in them, clean, etc. The only thing I don't do is sleep in them!

A lot of slippers that I've had in the past have a hard sole and are super slippery. These are the total opposite of that. Soft, roomy, cozy, and comfortable.

Treat yourself and get a pair - you won't regret it!

Feel Grounds

Feel Grounds focuses on merging minimalist design with everyday practicality. Their slip-ons are perfect for those who value convenience but do not want to compromise on foot health!

These shoes, with their modern aesthetic, can seamlessly transition from nicer outings to casual/leisure activities, providing flexibility and style in equal measure!

These shoes kind of remind me of Vans or other similar slip-ons. And honestly, I LOVE THEM. I wore them practically every day of my pregnancy. And for all you mommas that have been pregnant, you know how important comfortable shoes are! You also know how quickly you can start hating even your favorite shoes. But, these are PERFECT for that everyday wear.

Oh, and I would say they are true to size! At least they have been for me.

One Brand That I Didn't Love

I want to be honest and transparent with you, so that means even sharing some of the bad experiences I have had with barefoot shoes. If I would even call it "bad"!

One of the first brands I tried was Origo. I got their white leather sneakers and initially really liked them. They had a wide toe box, but it felt like the leather did not have a ton of give. I actually wore those sneakers for a while, because they weren't totally uncomfortable! The more I tried some of the other brands, the more I liked them instead!

Feel free to give this brand a try if you want to. Everyone has a different style and feel that they like and these ones may work for you! I will say, they were very cute and casual shoes that were easy to pair with a variety of outfits.

Conclusion

All of this to say, adopting barefoot shoes into your lifestyle could be a transformative experience, promoting healthier walking habits and greater physical comfort! Whether for play, exercise, or everyday wear, brands like Belenka, Vivo Barefoot, Softstar, and Feel Grounds offer diverse options that cater to your needs and preferences.

I say, give barefoot shoes a try and feel the difference in every step you take! With their growing popularity, it’s clear that going ‘barefoot’ is more than just a trend—it's a return to a healthier, more connected way of moving through life.

Xo,

Jess