Stepping into Barefoot Shoes — My New Hobby

It started when I shoved everything I had into a personal-item sized backpack. The most cumbersome items were my shoes. My hiking boots were heavy duty, waterproof, and great for the trails. But when in transit, my feet roasted with them on. If I took them off, I tied them to my backpack where they flailed like leaden medieval weapons. My Birkenstocks were not much better, taking up valuable space with their thick cork soles.

I wanted everything I packed to have multiple uses, but the Birkenstocks didn’t fit the brief. I didn’t want to use them as shower or beach shoes because of the leather, so I bought some cheap flip flops, bringing my shoe count to 3.

I thought, there’s gotta be a better way. Then I started looking into minimalist shoes.

At first, when I saw the words ‘barefoot shoes’, I thought: no way. No way am I going to wear those weird five-toed Vibram things. As a Boulderite, I’ve seen folks in those shoes and marveled at their devil-may-care attitude towards fashion. It is an attitude I share sometimes, but toe-separated-shoes was one step too far. However, upon a bit more investigation, I found that there are more options than just Vibram Five Fingers (affiliate link). There is an entire world of fashionable and lightweight options to let your feet move more naturally.

What To Look For In A Barefoot Shoe

There are three main things to consider when going minimal: a wide toe box, zero-drop, and a flexible sole. These three elements are key to unlocking a natural stride.

Wide toe box

The most compelling reason to wear barefoot shoes is to give your toes the space they need. This helps your body move more naturally, in a balanced way. I had no idea before how crammed my toes were. It’s not just wedged business shoes and pointed flats— most conventional shoes curve too sharply for our feet. That’s one way to get bunions!

It’s a no-brainer to wear shoes that are ‘foot-shaped’ but surprisingly, shoes are often more fashion-forward than foot-forward.

Flat across, or ‘zero-drop’

Most conventional brands elevate the heel, which adds pressure to the ball of your foot. The idea is to cushion our heel-strike, but over time this can lead to overcompensation and can negatively affect our gait. When you’re looking for a minimalist shoe, you want to check for “zero-drop”, which means it is flat all the way across.

Flexible

Minimal shoes allow for natural movement of the foot. Your shoe should bend with the flex of your feet. To that end, flip flops are not quite barefoot, because they don’t move with your foot. Most barefoot shoes will have some sort of a strap to keep the shoe snug. This helps to heighten the sense of connection to the ground and fosters a deeper appreciation for the way your feet and body interact with the environment.

Down the Rabbit Hole

I was in luck because my shoe wardrobe had a lot of holes that needed to be filled (literally and figuratively). Little did I know this foray into a new hobby would result in me wanting to replace every shoe I had. I learned that many people who switch to barefoot shoes tend to find that their feet ‘grow’ when given the space. I was shocked to find out this also applied to me—after just a few months of wearing barefoot shoes, I could no longer bear to squeeze my feet into the tiny confines of my old shoes. My feet and ankles got stronger over time, and now I much prefer the flexibility of barefoot shoes. Now unable to stand my old shoes, I donated all of them.

Barefoot shoes are becoming more popular, which means there’s a great re-sale market on Facebook. This meant I could save some money by purchasing second-hand and also sell pairs that didn’t work for me. It is not a cheap endeavor to replace the shoes in my closet, but it was worth it to me.

I will share all of the shoes I love after my 10 months going minimal. By the way, only one of these links is an affiliate link, and I note when it applies. I bought each of these pairs with my own money with the express purpose to wear them in my own day-to-day life. I am not trying to sell any particular product here, just share my experience. I hope this might inspire you if minimal shoes sound intriguing to you too!

Sandals

First, I started with sandals. I initially decided on the Xero Z-Trails to wear while traveling in New Zealand and Australia. They do not have much support at all, so I learned the hard way that you need to ease into transitioning to barefoot shoes. I had some sore feet in New Zealand! The Xeros are similar to Chacos, but with a flexible sole. Another popular sandal I love is Earth Runners. I wasn’t sure about the style at first, but now I love them. They are so light to pack, durable, and I can take them hiking!

Sneakers

One argument for minimalist shoes is that it allows our feet to move in the most natural way, with our muscles, tendons, and gait all working as designed. However, one compelling reason to not wear minimalist shoes is that our environment is often not natural. Sadly, we walk more on concrete sidewalks than mossy forest groves. That’s why I think ‘transition’ shoes are great! They still allow for some of the benefits of minimalist shoes like wide toeboxes and flexible movement, but have a little extra padding for high-impact running or walking.

There are two well-known companies that make this type of shoe: Topos and Altras. I bought a pair of Altras for things like pickleball and running. I’ve read that people love their Escalantes, which have slightly less padding, but I bought a pair of Torin 6 because they were on sale at REI.

Daily Walkers

In the “Before Times” my daily shoes were red-knit Adidas shoes that my friend gave me because they were too small for her. I loved the maroon color and knit of the body, but after 5 years of constant use I did eventually wear two holes into them. By the time I found minimalist shoes, it was time to retire them and get new daily walking shoes.

I bought myself a birthday present: a pair of Wildling Tanuki Nijis. The company operates out of Germany and sells what I consider to be the pinnacle of barefoot shoes. I absolutely adore my pair, complete with a tiny little pride flag. They are not good for wet weather (luckily I don’t have much in California) but as a comfortable, extremely flexible and light shoe I am so so happy with them. The only downside is that the price tag matches the quality ($$$), otherwise I would probably have a few more pairs from this company.

I like mine so much that I am considering buying myself a winter pair as a Christmas present. I might be running out of occasions to treat myself to new barefoot shoes 🙈. For beginners looking for a more affordable option, the brand Whitin (affiliate link) is often recommended online, though I have yet to try them!

Hiking

I had the same hiking boots for 10 years. I purchased them for my trip to Nepal to hike the Annapurna circuit. They were blue, and apparently leeches loved them, scaling up my ankles when we hiked through muddy trails. I wore them for thousands of miles in their lifetime, until holes wore through and the tread flattened completely. Before I left for my 6 month travel adventure, I donated my faithful boots and bought a new pair… but they weren’t minimalist.

The Oboz held up great during my trip, but, as I mentioned earlier, they were big and bulky. I also realized that—again!— I had bought a shoe that was too narrow and short for my foot. Before, I ignored when my pinky toes were scrunched, but now I can’t stand that sensation. Luckily, once I began transitioning, the newer boots were still within the return window at REI. I brought them back to hunt for something better.

I tried out three different pairs of minimalist hiking shoes: the Vivobarefoot Magna Forest ESC, Altra Lone Peaks, and the Freet Tundra/Ibex.

I wanted to love the Vivobarefoot, as they come highly recommended as a popular barefoot brand, but the women’s version is simply too narrow for me and the wider men’s sizes don’t come short enough. I returned them easily, as the company has a generous 100-day return policy (even if they have been worn!)

The Altra Lone Peaks were amazing, specially selected by an REI associate as a favorite of thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. They are not water proof so they are better for dry days. They also have some cushion, so they are good to have while transitioning to barefoot hiking.

The third option, the Freets, come from a UK-based company. They are one of the most expensive options, and perhaps the least fashionable. However, they are completely waterproof, super flexible, and one of the wider options available. I kept the Altra Lone Peaks and Freets, which I intend to hike in for the next decade! It’s nice to have options for different types of trails, and hopefully leeches don’t like pink.

Chelsea

I loved my pair of Blundstones I received as a gift while living in Amsterdam. But—shocker—When I pulled them out for this autumn season, I realized that they were now too short for me! They rubbed the wrong way and gave me blisters. So I sold them to a happy lady and bought myself a replacement minimalist option called Mukishoes Chelsea boots. I really like them so far!

Another Blundstone alternative is the Lem’s Chelsea boots, which I’m intrigued by, but haven’t tried myself. As you might have noticed by now, this is starting to become an expensive hobby!

A blog I’ve found incredibly helpful is Anya’s Reviews. She writes reviews for nearly every barefoot shoe known to humankind. She shows below the difference of fit for Lem’s vs. Blundstone Chelsea boots:

When I first learned about minimalist shoes I was a bit skeptical. But now I am convinced. Having shoes that have enough room for toes is not too much to ask for! I didn’t realize before how many hours I was spending on my feet, crammed into too-tight shoes. I even have relatively narrow, small feet, but it doesn’t matter. Most conventional shoes simply don’t have enough space for a foot to splay! Now, shoes that cramp my toes cramp my style.

Fancy Shoes

I’ve always been a bit of a fashion rebel. Long term readers will know I don’t shave my legs, and I also hate wearing high heels. I decided officially— to hell with high heels and got rid of every pair in my closet. Instead, I bought two pairs of dressy minimalist shoes to wear when I go out. For a snazzy close-toe option I bought the Origo Derbys. For sandals, I got Lisbeth Joe’s Ostini Sandal. Both pairs have served me well when I go on fancy outings.

Another company that comes recommended to replace high heels is Shapen, especially the Shapen Poppy. If I didn’t already have two shoes that fit the ‘fancy’ category I might have tried them.

An Unfrugal Hobby

At the end of the day, this blog is mostly about finance. These shoes add up, and I’m not going to pretend that this is a frugal hobby. However, I was in a position where most of my shoes were worn out and ready for a replacement. In addition, along with going to the gym, I’m interested in ways to take care of my body—from my head to my (previously) cramped little toes!

In this journey, I learned that fashion and functionality need not be at odds. Embracing barefoot shoes is not just a stride towards more natural movement; it’s a leap into a more comfortable and health-conscious lifestyle. My perspective has shifted so much I’ve even started to wonder if I should try a pair of Vibram Five Fingers…. or is that taking it one step too far?

What about you?

Did you know anything about barefoot shoes before this?

What fashion rules did you stop following?

Should I give in and try Vibram Five Fingers?

Share in the comments below!