What I REALLY think about Barefoot Shoes

I’d had lower back pain my whole adult life - I’d been told it was inevitable due to a sit down job and being tall - it got very very bad, I tried chiropractors, shoe inserts - I was proscribed pain killers . I tried vivo’s 7 years ago and after 6 months switched 100%. My back hasn’t hurt since - I mean at all, ever. Never ever going back.

I've never been camping nor ever wanted to, but have watched your videos and found them interesting. I don't know why it is but I found the way you talk quite soothing and relaxing. Good to have found you 👍

I love my vivobarefoot trackers. They are so comfortable. I have completed Hadrians Wall Path in them and a week hiking in the Lake District. I am currently backpacking The Coast to coast in them. I'm in my 60s. ❤

I've been converted to barefoot shoes for over 2 years now. I was involved in a hit and run and ended up with knee and ankle ligament / tendon damage, I tried the more support route and my knee pain got worse. Did some research and reading and went barefoot style and haven't looked back! They are so comfy once you are used to them

I bought Altra Olympus 5 GTX after your first Olympus 5 video last year. 600 miles later they’ve been great. Two long backpacking trips with 10kg plus and no issues. Still waterproof too with no treatments at all. Never let anything in. Just invested in Altra Olympus 6 GTX for next year. Main difference for me is that the 6 has fixings for the Altra gaiters to keep stones out. Thanks so much for introducing me to Altra, zero drop and a wider toe box.

I live vivos. Its essential that people transition slowly. Once you're used to them you feel like you're walking with super comfortable slippers on all the time

On transitioning... It only takes transitioning because we have been deconditioned by over-restrictive footwear. Its not because we are not meant to allow our foot to work properly, its that we are not supposed to restrict our feet!

Best boots I've ever had. Comfort, knees are absolutely loving these boots and I definitely feel the science behind them. Would never go back to normal.

I started wearing Freet shoes at the beginning of last year and haven't looked back. I've always suffered from my knees and I have to say, the barefoot shoes have been a godsend!

Paul, I'm grateful to you for making me aware of zero drop footwear. I've switched to Altra Timp boots and Altra Lone Peak trail runners for my hiking and general wear and it's really helped reduce my knee pain. I was lucky that I have quite strong calfs anyway but there is a bit of extra effort required from the calfs but for me it's been a very positive move. Another benefit of trail runners over traditional boots is that they're so light. Over the course of a long day it must be the equivalent of several tonnes less lifting, that means my legs are less tired at the end of a day hiking. Thank you.

Love barefoot shoes. I started in them a few years ago while I was still serving in the army and it helped me with my knees so much. I actually started running with nothing on my feet for a while, just on camp mind you. But year i love them. Quick shout out for the thumb nail Paul, really cool. 🤙🏻

I very much enjoy my Vivobarefoot Primus summer thin-sole trainers. I wore a pair out and bought some more. I love feeling the ground beneath my feet. My knees are fine now, and they have played up in the past, but I've no idea if that's the vivo's or my better diet (no wheat or alcohol, swapped most of my carbs for healthy fats and protein). I also have spoon-like feet, and vivo's help them spread out and not get squashed.

I swear by my Altras. I definitely agree that you need to take time to adjust but for me it was simple enough. I suffered with foot (bunion) and knee pain from walking and spent years buying increasingly cushioned and high drop shoes thinking the answer was more cushioning and arch support. It just made things worse because my toes were cramped into a narrow toebox and my toes, arch and calves had less to do so they weakened which then made me heel strike sending the shock through my heel to my knees and hips. Someone said to buy foot shaped shoes instead of shoe shaped shoes and they were right! Free toes, no heel strike and stronger arches. I would say if you experience pain or breathe a huge sigh of relief when you take your shoes off chances are zero drop barefoot will help 🙂

I've a pair of Vivobarefoot shoes as my day to day shoes. Walking to the shops, going to the gym etc. They are fantastic, I absolutely love them. I've had foot pain forever, and standing for a while and my arches would be killing. Never had it in my Vivos.

I've got achilles tendonitis and barefoot shoes have been a heaven sent. I can hike for a day and not wake up to excrutiating pain having to stretch a rock solid tendon for half an hour before I can walk anywhere. Vivos are way too expensive, so I get Saguaro with some discount codes. My feet ruin shoes too fast for me to afford spending 500 quid a year just for shoes/boots.

55yrs old with lots of arthritis, however, 18 months ago I heard of barefoot shoes for the first time. I tried the Hobibear brand on Amazon. I know they are a budget brand but after spending a couple of weeks getting used to them I would never go back to regular shoes for my everyday. On occasion I still use my very trusty army patrol boots but I have to say, my feet have never been better and I find barefoot shoes outlast traditional footwear by miles.

I started wearing five finger shoes about 15 years ago. Been wearing minimalist footwear ever since. I second advising newbies to spend a few weeks getting used to minimalist footwear. Your calf muscles will start working much harder than you will be used to.

I'm 29, weigh 155, I have a host of lower leg issues. Been wearing zero drop for over a year, and "barefoot" zero drops for about 6 months. Stack height shoe used depends on activity. But I have yet to find any relief from pain or any improvements in strength etc. I still will continue to follow this path though due to the wide toe boxes - which is almost exclusively associated with these types of shoes and helps comfort for my wider, stubbier feet. So far, the topo athletics are the best i've used and actually verge on providing some relief though they are 5mm drop. I wear xeros around daily. Altras occasionally. It's an interesting trend but I'm not sold on the benefits that are touted by most of these retailers... at the end of the day you need to exercise and do strength and conditioning training adapted to the activity you are trying to consistently do, things like these shoes beyond that are negligible to me thus far. The only real difference I notice is the lack of energy return. Fatigue comes quicker in barefoot shoes, immensely quicker. The energy return provided from "regular" shoes is noticeable when it is not present. Also when a rock jams into your foot wearing xero shoes lol.

Wow. For years I’ve been wearing rigid walking boots & every few miles have had to remove them & massage my feet because they seem to get locked & become V painful. Think some of it is arthritis as I’m now 70. But, this has really opened my mind. Will have to try a pair. Thanks for the advice.

Also ex-light infantry here. I’ve been wearing these for the last couple of years. My experience is that sore knees are now a thing of the past. The soles have unbelievably good grip; I reckon I could follow a gecko up a vertical wall; they stick like the proverbial to a blanket. The biggest problem with these is finding stock - they always seem to be out of stock.