I Tried Backpacking in BAREFOOT SHOES for 3-Days…
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- Опубліковано 15 лют 2024
- 👟 MY FAVORITE BAREFOOT SHOES 👟
Xero Mesa: geni.us/XeroMesa (what I used on this trip)
Xero HFS: geni.us/XeroHFS (good walking/running shoe)
Lems Chelsea Boot: geni.us/LemsChelsea (my favorite chelsea boot)
Lems Primal Zen: geni.us/PrimalZen (good travel and around town shoe)
Trip Gear List: www.packwizard.com/s/gqo6x1C
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⭐ MY FAVORITE GEAR ⭐
Garmin InReach Mini: geni.us/InReachMini2
Decathlon Down Jacket - geni.us/Trek100DownJacketM
REI Flash 55 Pack: geni.us/Flash55
Enlightened Equipment Enigma Quilt: geni.us/enigmadown
Garmin Fenix Watch: geni.us/FenixWatch
Lanshan 1 Pro Tent: geni.us/Lanshan1Pro
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📷 MY FILMING GEAR 📷
Sony ZV-E1: geni.us/Sony-ZVE1
GoPro Hero 11: geni.us/GoPro11
Insta360 One X3: geni.us/Insta-360
Rode Wireless Mic: geni.us/Rode-Wireless
Komperdell Camera Staff: geni.us/CameraStaff
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CONNECT WITH ME!
Website: justinoutdoors.com
Facebook: / justinoutdoors
Instagram: / justinoutdoors
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This video description includes affiliate links. Affiliate links help support the channel at no extra cost to you!
👟 MY FAVORITE BAREFOOT SHOES 👟
Xero Mesa: geni.us/XeroMesa (what I used on this trip)
Xero HFS: geni.us/XeroHFS (good walking/running shoe)
Lems Chelsea Boot: geni.us/LemsChelsea (my favorite chelsea boot)
Lems Primal Zen: geni.us/PrimalZen (good travel and around town shoe)
Trip Gear List: www.packwizard.com/s/gqo6x1C
This is going to sound weird. But try walking toe to heel. Pad to heel actually. They think people who wore leather shoes prior to the middle ages all walked toe to heel.
Basically think of walking and your toes as your fingers and you are feeling the ground ahead as you put your feet down.
My favorite has been Altra TIMP,
but it is very different from my Xero Terraflex II.
They both have their advantages.
If I planned a long hike in the Xero,
I would buy new inserts often from Xero
as they are only 5 or 6 dollars.
I rotate between a couple pairs of Vibram Fivefingers Vtrail 2.0 for the past few years (and the Vtrek before that, but the Vtrail outsole is better in all aspects, everything improved especially arch protection); they're incredibly overkill for ordinary activities so they last forever. I have a hard time wearing down the soles, even at that. Vibram still makes the best outsole in any category they decide to make products in - in all its attributes, wear length, durability, comfort, maintainability, et al with pretty good QC that I've seen (I have a lot of different pairs, but they are only worn once in a while, the VTrail 2.0 pairs are the daily drivers (two pairs so I can rotate each day, thus keeping my shoes fairly ick free).
Great video. I switched to barefoot shoes the moment I got my Vivo's in. I wear them for running, hiking, every day activities. I was unable to look back at cushioned shoes ever again. All my pains and aches are gone, from my lower back to my toes. I am happy I did the switch!
Great work! I use Xero shoes for backpacking. But most of my hiking is in huaraches. All other training is barefoot. As a 59 year old, I feel a barefoot life has helped me a lot.
When did you transition to minimalist/barefoot?
@@ejaazzz I’ve probably been there all my life starting with karate as a kid. I’ve been a yoga teacher for a long time. So the barefoot life makes sense for me
I've been using barefoot shoes for about 12 years now and absolutely love them for hiking. I personally like to feel the terrain under my feet, I feel like I have better grip that way and when scrambling I feel very confident in my foot placements. This last year I've been using the Xero Mesa Trail v2 and they've been really awesome so far!
Hey! Have you ever tried the low scramblers? I’ve been debating between that and the mesa trail 2
@@UncensoredJAV no, so far I've only used the mesa trail and a pair of their sandals, I haven't tried any other Xero shoe yet!
@@SummitForWellness thanks for the reply
@@UncensoredJAV was it the low scramblers having longevity issues? I might be getting that mixed up. Looking for some hikers and was on xero, one of their newer hiker models was having issues right out of the gate, cracking or tearing right where the foot bends in front 😳 and at 150$ I'm a bit scared, I'm going to be putting some miles on these so I need them to last.
@@rebeccamueller8790my scrambler lows are 6 months old and still look new. REI has them online and you have a year to return if needed.
The Xero Mesa Trails are actually quite durable. I have a pair with about 1500 miles and there’s still lots of life left. Barefoot shoes seem to last me at least 2-3 times longer than cushioned shoes. Don’t need to worry about the foam losing it’s shape. Also, since my feet aren’t crammed into a tight toe box, there’s less of a chance of getting holes or having the upper separate. I love barefoot shoes and will never go back.
I have those exact shoes and I really love them for hiking. Maybe this is particular to me but due to a childhood ankle injury, my right ankle is less stable than my left. As such, I am prone to rolling my ankle on trail. For years, I used to be able to count on rolling my ankle at least once per day on trail. Since I switched to barefoot shoes, I have not rolled my ankle at all. The thin sole gives me a better feel for the trail and reduces the moment arm acting on my ankle. I dont know if this is a real solution for more serious hikers than me, but it works for me.
This is great to hear! I’ve had the same problem my whole life. I switched to barefoot 5 months ago and feel so much more secure. But I haven’t been on any rugged hikes yet. Good to know barefoot shoes help. It stands to reason in a way because being higher off the ground in hiking boots is bound to be less stable.
I’ve been hiking exclusively in Xero shoes and sandals for several years now, including a 30+ mile trip up Little Yosemite Valley with zero issues (catch the pun?). They aren’t for everyone, but if you’ve trained in minimalist shoes prior to backpacking then the advantages outweigh the negatives.
Edit: as far as the longevity point you mentioned: I’ve been minimalist footwear for 15 years both running and hiking, and I’m 52 now feeling as strong as ever.
I wear Xero shoes every day and have several pairs. I've backpacked in them, but never on really rocky trails like we have here in the Tetons where we recently moved to. I did a trip with my Xero shoes last year on these rocky Teton trails and was miserable. Totally beat my feet up. So, I went out and bought some Topos which maintain the wide toe box, but have a thick sole...much better! Still love my barefoot Xero shoes, just not for crazy rocky trails! Great vid Justin...thanks :)
Great torture test as usual Justin. Your point about paying attention to where you step taking away from the scenery is on point. I switched to exclusively barefoot shoes happened on 2020, and I quickly went on a 20+ backpacking trip in Earthrunner sandals with great success. My takeaway? It is much better to always pay attention to where I step regardless of shoes.
I am finding now the swap between barefoot shoes and crocs meets that diversity and utility, while being super ultralight. I had lower back pain before, it is nearly nonexistent now.
Daily wear and thousands of miles on barefoot shoes, I have no regrets. Looking forward to your journey if you decide to pursue it.
Thanks Justin!
Vivo barefoot tracker esc has a good michelín sole and gives you just that little bit more protection and is definetly my prefered barefoot shoe for hiking since I dont need to worry about getting pierced in the foot, but here in minnesota there isnt a whole lot to pierce the sole like there is where you are backpacking.
5.07 “lot’s of room for ‘activities’…”😉😉😉
Super informative video! I switched to Altra Lone Peaks (not quite a barefoot shoe, but zero drop and wide toe box) last year and found it to be a very comfortable change. Noticed you were using the Durston Kakwa backpack in this video, so hoping you've got a review coming out for it as backpack is something I'm looking to upgrade this year.
Hi Justin. Another youtuber I watch and enjoy often discusses the topic of caring for and strengthening your body for outdoors and hiking longevity, including shoes, stretches, etc. I figure you'd be interested, so look up Chase Mountains if you are.
Awesome video and thanks for sharing! I'm 55 and loving barefoot shoes. I switched about a year ago and have had similar results as others. Significantly less lower back and joint pain in general. Better balance, traction, foot and leg strength. It truly bums me out whenever I have to wear "regular" footwear for deep snow and other situations lol!! We just got back from a week trip in the desert too and my feet are happy.
Great video, Justin. I have these shoes and concur. I’ll add my 2 cents for those interested in the shoes and minimalist shoe hiking (I also hike in Luna sandals and Shammas sandals).
1) you have to watch where you go - this is more a ‘feature’ than a ‘bug’ though, since you should already do that, to avoid snakes and other surprises. Rock plates can make people complacent. I wonder how many people got injured or died for not watching more carefully where they were stepping b/c they got used to maximalist shoes that let you be lazy and inattentive.
2) definitely go as light as possible with your pack, not just for minimalist shoes, but especially if wearing them.
3) The traction on my Xero Mesa Trail 2s are … ok. The best traction of any shoe I’ve ever worn is actually a minimalist sandal - Lunas. They have their own Vibram soles specially designed for gripping wet rock, which is the litmus test. Xeros are about as good as Lone Peak with traction, not as good as something like Salomon’s or the Olympus Vibram.
4) Justin - your calf issue isn’t the shoes, but I believe you that when you wear minimalist shoes you end up with some issues. For me, was the opposite. I had tight calves and plantar which was cured wearing minimalist shoes. I saw a lot of videos on barefoot walking and walking form, and i changed my walking form.
5) at times, you’ll walk more slowly with minimalist than maximalist shoes, as you notice. But you made a big mistake with the video in trying to speed up your pace. That’s what can increase chance of issues like tight calves - altering your pace from what’s comfortable. If you go with minimalist hiking shoes, plan ahead that you’ll go a shorter distance (at least until you naturally get used to it) or walk more hours (with a lighter pack).
6) long term, i really notice how great it is to have such light shoes on my feet compared to giant Altra Olympus. I think i feel that most in my ankles.
Would love to see you try these shoes out for other hikes and perhaps talk to somebody about your tight calves. if you want to go the next step in minimalist hiking, consider Luna sandals or Cairns or Shammas. They shocked me with how good their soles are on slick surfaces (esp Luna) and its total breathability. Great in the rain, through river crossings and whenever temperature is over 40 F. Below 40 F, and i need socks/shoes.
"your calf issue isn’t the shoes"
I've heard that for people going into zero drop shoes, some people do have slight calf issues.
This isn't a blight against zero drop shoes or barefoot shoes themselves, but because most people don't walk on a zero drop shoes but instead on shoes where the heel is slightly higher than the toe, so when they now walk all day on a shoe where it is level, the ankle and calf has to stretch slightly more for the same amount of time - once you ease into barefoot/zero drop shoes (key word ease - not buying zero drop and then walking 50km in 3 days or immediately doing a thru hike) then from what I've heard, the calf issues will go away.
This is just what I've heard from other videos, barefoot shoe communities etc. I haven't personally used them but want to at some point
Try walking toe to heel. You'll have to learn it but they think that's how people all walked before hard soled shoes were invented. You can look it up.
@@messagedeleted1922 yeah, I’ve seen this from a Czech barefoot walking pioneer (she’s from a long line of podiatrists/physiotherapists). She demonstrates it and compares this to walking like a cat - that the paw doesn’t drop to the ground it is “placed” on the ground. With toes spread open. Very cool.
Love my shammas
I’m looking at getting Luna sandals. Can you share which ones you use? I want to be able to hike in them, portage my canoe. I’m over 60 with 2 replaced knees so feeling secure is important. I’ve been loving my 3 Lems (Chelsea and boulder grip boots & Primal Zens), but I used to love hiking in Chacos because of the feeling of freedom. Unfortunately they’re no longer good for my feet.
Justin, I wear a barefoot shoe now as I developed a bunion after years of wearing crappy shoes with too much “ support “. I now stretch and exercise my feet and spend more time and attention on them. The support for your body should come from the strength of the tendons and muscles of the foot and not excessive shoe components which wear down with time. My bunion has improved. It no longer causes blisters on other toes (thanks to zen toes for a brilliant silicone spacer)! My circulation in my feet has improved- they are no longer cold all the time. No more cramping at night waking me up. I had a history of twisting my ankles and would lose time off trail due to injury. I haven’t had one since switching. I live in 🌵 cactus, goat head, and devils claw country too. But I will never wear anything but barefoot shoes again.
I am using Altra Lone Peak zero drop shoes but it takes about 6 months for a person to adapt to those type of shoes, feet will be very sore after a couple miles until feet adapt. There are 28 bones in the foot and walking distance, carrying weight, cause the bones in the foot to spread out and flatten, this will make your feet larger. My feet grew from 9.5 D to 12 Wide, this adaptation is painful for some. I switched to zero drop shoes last July to deal with a knee issue, coming down on heels, the leg is straight and causes shock to knee joints, but with zero drop shoes I come down on my forefoot, knee is bent and absorbs shock more easily. That switch took about 6 months to adapt but now they are not sore anymore and my stride is longer.
I had similar sensitivities with barefoot shoes when I first got into them. I've done a lot of general foot strengthening and myofascial release work and my feet can now pretty much step on anything (except LEGOs... they're still sharp!). I'm happy walking on sharp chunky gravel rocks and can easily put my whole weight on one foot balancing on a lacrosse or racket ball. Humans used to walk barefoot on all manner of terrains. I still do hit some points where I hurt the sides of my feet (in trail runners or barefoot shoes) when stepping in those awkward V-shaped spots between two large stone surfaces (as we have a lot of up here in the White Mountains). The side of your foot just doesn't like being stuffed down into a wedge. The bottom of my foot can handle pretty much anything in barefoot shoes at this point.
Thanks for the tips on xero drop shoes and stretching ideas.
Another great video!
I'm in barefoot shoes 99% of the time, 1% are specific work situations. Love the xeros around town at home but nothing compares to my Vivo Tracker Forest ESCs.
Friday, February 16: Every day appears a new technology item. New does not necessarily mean better, but almost always means expensive. Thanks for testing. Interesting tent. Happy Trails! Ross08
Well this is new, never knew there was such a thing! Thx for doing this
I'm a big fan of the Mesa Trails ❤
Xero came through with their warranty,
and I just got the replacement pair a few weeks ago.
This really impressed me, but I don't know
if the warranty carries over for the new pair.
J Money Gangster! Great vid, as always. As a long time sufferer of plantar fasciitis I would caution you against overconfidence with this one long trek test. You were very, very diligent in your stretching and that is absolutely crucial for the prevention of the dreaded PF. Never lose sight of that. Stretch all day, several, even dozens of times a day. And again in the evening as you're eating and relaxing. There is nothing that will prevent or treat plantar fasciitis besides deep, regular stretching like you were doing. But it's easy to lose sight of that and think "hey! My feet feel great! " until you forget or neglect your stretches and then BAM! Wrecked.
I’ve been hiking in barefoot shoes for a year now. I’ve tried the Xero Mesa Trail 2 and the Vivo Primus trails and both are great for all day hikes. I wouldn’t hesitate using them for multi day hikes.
I’ve take. My Mesa Trail on several multi day backpacking trips as well as trail runs and they performed great.
It takes weeks for your legs and feet to build up weakened muscles from wearing shoes with a heel rise.
I've found that lightweight barefoot shoes work fine until the pack weight goes up. With a light pack, I can stay on my toes and midfoot more and allow my feet to naturally absorb or avoid shock. Once a heavier pack starts driving your feet down in rocks and pokey things, I can't keep doing that.
There are many brands making waterproof barefoot boots too. IMO the boots are better for hiking as they're tougher.
I just like feeling the ground that I'm walking on.
I like that feeling more than I lioe seeing the views.
I did this loop last month and loved it. I went clockwise though and was glad I didn’t have to come up the redtanks trail the way you went. So overgrown and rocky, but beautiful. This would be one of the last places I would want less cushion on my shoe, so good place to review.
I've been wearing barefoot shoes for some years now and my feet are pretty strong. My balance and posterior chain are solid now. I've had the Mesa Trail for 2 years now. I'll take them out on trips when my pack is 25lbs or less. Hiking long hours with a heavy pack on small rocks or roots takes a toll on my feet. Once my feet become fatigued, I don't trust my foot placement as much. Recovery doesn't take long though. These days I'm mostly wearing the Topo Athletic Runventure 4's with 20mm stack height. I'll probably use the Mesa Trail more if I try bivy camping or fastpacking.
That slanted rock was also perfect for doing reverse stretches, which do a lot of activation from toes to hips - knees over toes guy has some routines using the forward slanted block to heal/rehab/strengthen/prevent injury/increase usability.
Hiked the Colorado trail in vivos last year. Used their run/swim shoe because it rains so often in Colorado. 10/10 recommend barefoot shoes for backpacking. Just be sure to train your feet/legs for many months prior to the journey
What a fun video!
I have worn barefoot shoes exclusively for the last 5 or so years, for hikes, runs, workouts, and day-to-day wear. Traditional shoes feel like I'm wearing climbing shoes on stilts now, tight around the toes and unstable. I notice that when backpacking, I feel like I have a stronger sense of the ground beneath me. I feel naturally safer from injuries like rolled ankles or slips. Part of that is certainly because you're naturally more conscious of where you're stepping.
Plus, I've never had a blister, nor sore or achy feet at the end of the day. I don't need "camp shoes" because I don't feel uncomfortable when I get to camp.
Justin has it right-I think the key is transitioning to it first, and then doing it all the time. If you only wear barefoot shoes when you hike, you're probably going to notice those sore calves.
All of that said, barefoot shoes across the board are still pretty ugly. Which doesn't matter while you're hiking, but for day-to-day stuff it kind of does. Vivobarefoot is the best brand, IMHO, but you do pay for it.
Loved the video as always, Justin!
Justin, Love the coverage on the barefoot shoes and your trip in AZ(?)
Barefoot shoes require a transition from “Normal” shoes especially those that are super cushioned like your Hoka’s. I transitioned to barefoot shoes in 2009 and it took several months (9 months in total). Can’t imagine running in anything else now (yes, I have other variations for kicking around town too). 🤣
i see the kakwa 55 in this trip, would love to hear your thoughts on it!
Ditto! I have this backpack as well.
Thanks for making this video :)
Just thinking.. Could walking on rocks/bumps become like foot massage in away, and because of that recover faster?
I wear Xero shoes on trail, and yes, it feels like a foot massage with the rocks and uneven ground. 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience with barefoot shoes. I just bought my first pair of Hoka and wore them yesterday for a lot of town walking. Feel great today, better than my prescription insole shoes. I grew up wearing moccasins or going barefoot as much as possible. As an adult I love going barefoot but not outdoors. These zero shoes would be great, even better if they earth grounded at the same time.
Hi Justin, in my case and this is just my case, I'm not a doctor or anything health related, this is just something that happens to me, I start using barefoot shoes because my plantar fasciitis was awful, 8 years before I don't have any pain on my feet, ankles or knees and I don't use normal shoes any more, only barefoot and without any drop, xero is a brand that I really like and strongly recommend. I went for the boots the xero xcursion fusion and they are amazing, but I think gonna give a try to shoes next time, was thinking to go with the scrambler low. take care amazing video.
The only thing I've had poke through my barefoot shoe's sole is a tent stake that I was pushing into the ground.
I've worn barefoot shoes for years. Most of the time they are my daily shoe. Granted I don't do long miles - typically under 10 miles, most of the time under 5. I have several Vibram 5 Fingers, a couple Xero Shoes sandals, and a Merrel Vapor.
Great video
My experience almost 10 years ago when I made teh switch permanently pretty much echoes yours.... My feet get MORE tired during the day and end of day, but they are far less tired the following days.. e.g. they recover easier with barefoot shoes.
My 2cents - like you alluded to ---- NO ONE should attempt backpacking in barefoot shoes unless barefoot shoes are already a part of their everyday, regular wear and their feet and musculature have adapted and are comfortable... The more specific tailored types (like Xero Mesa or Vivo Forest Tracker) for this kind of activity are for people that USE barefoot shoes already and want something with those benefit but a bit more protection. Switching between Xeros and Hokas is kinda silly IMO - wearing Hokas is anti-barefoot beneficial. :) Please don't just into a 27 miles (or even 7 mile) load backpack trip in barefoot shoes unless you're already accustomed to them.
There are articles by podiatrists debunking a lot of absurd claims made by barefoot-style shoe corporations. Main one being that earlier humans had healthier feet than modern humans. Just a complete and total lie they make to sell people on a trendy shoe type. Awesome if they work for ya, but just know they are not truthful about a lot of claims they make.
I went barefoot in spring and summer growing up, so using barefoot shoes feels so much better to me. I have trouble walking in the high lift shoes, to me. It's comparable to walking in a pair of high heel shoes. I lose my balance easier in hiking shoes that have a lift under the heel, and my toe jams into the end of the shoe even when I wash a size larger
I’m just bought the Xero scrambler mid.
I have been using Xeros for weight training and always zero drop altras for running and backpacking. We will see how the Xeros work on a couple trips. Doing the west coast trail this year so wanted the Michelin soles. Are those the mesa’s you had on? For me, my knees were 80 percent better since switching to a zero drop shoe. Edit: sorry I didn’t read that u said mesa above so ignore that question lol been trying to get that chair. How did u get it. I can’t find it anywhere.
I live in Mexico so this video was timely. Poky things are everywhere.
Great video, thanks. I live in Tucson, AZ. Where were you for this video? It looks familiar to me.
Rocken the kakawa 55. Nice.
I climbed mt fuji along with hiking the kumano kodo and all of okinawa in xero barefoot shoes. Road walking was the only thing that made my feet hurt.
I always way barefoot shoes when hiking. They honestly have made my foot pain much better
I think of the rocks and uneven terrain as an ongoing foot massage.
I've done all day hikes in rocky areas in NJ, NY and PA (think the rocky parts of the Appalachian Trail in PA which everyone complains about) with Vivo and Xero. Going minimalist made my plantar fasciitis and knee problems go away, but also makes my descents slower, since I now have to deliberately lower myself as the shock absorption is now just muscles and tendons. I prefer Vivo with ESC Michelin soles, since I find it has better traction on wet and muddy rocks.
Me too! 😁
I had similar issues when first hiking in zero drop minimal shoes, plantar and achilles tightness, consistently and mindfully stretching my calves got rid of those issues completely.
What’s the little triangle dangling from the back of your backpack? Looks kind of like a Kula cloth, but not sure what you’d be using one for. Nice video, btw.
I wear Xero and Lem's for all activities and like them both.
I've been wearing barefoot shoes for years. It took a couple years to strengthen my feet (including 1 year of plantar fasciitis, from ignoring the start of pain and running through it). No problems for a long time now. As long as the rocks aren't sharp enough to bruise my bone, I don't think I would have any problems backpacking with barefoot shoes.
Can you make a video about your thoughts on the Durston kakwa?
I lived in Oregon off the PCT. I hiked (w/ day pack) in Teva(s). They helped regulate my body temperature and I was more comfortable.
I've been wearing barefoot shoes ever since Vibram first came out with their Five Fingers, and after that it was the Merrel Trail Glove, and for many years the New Balance Mimimus. I hiked in them all over the place in the mountains here in Japan, and never had a problem with foot pain from most mountain walking. The only times when barefoot shoes do, however, seem to struggle is when I'm wearing a bigger pack and scrambling amidst boulders and the sharp edges of rocks dig into the soles all day. Even then, though, my feet have grown tough enough that as soon as the scrambling is done, the pain disappears.
I'm very curious about the selfie stick setup you have in your right side pocket. Is that the selfie stick you use for the Insta360 shots? May I ask which make it is, and what you use for the camera mount? Are you using an arca-swiss ballhead? I'm trying to dial in my camera gear so that it is as light as possible for hiking, with as little fiddling and extraneous gear as possible. I take it you also use your trekking pole as a monopole?
Also, you mentioned a pot lid in the video. May I ask what it might be?
I been using zero drop for years now, I am very very happy with Altras, Xer Shoes as well as Vivo. Even though it last shorter
Glad these worked for you! People they work for swear by them. But I know a lot of people who have serious (and now chronic) injuries as a result of switching to these. Side note: I thought the desert was supposed to be dry. Every time I go, it rains too. :) PS - We should chat about these shoes on the pod.
Shoes look interesting, the tent though no wouldn’t work at all here in the U.K. winds would destroy it only any good in fair weather.
I'm about where you are: wearing barefoot shoes day to day, a little reticent about wearing them on long hikes, and also with concerns about PF. So this is a helpful video. One shoe I'm looking at that's a bit of a compromise is the Topo Runventure. 0-drop, wide toe box, and a thinNER sole, though not quite in Xero/Vivo territory. I'd trust the durability there a little more than I would Xeros.
How are the arches on the Topo Runventure? I love Xeros and take out the insoles. I really like Topo, but got annoyed by the high arch “support” and find it hard to go back to them now that I’m a minimalist shoe junkie. When i tried going back to normal trail runners (Lone Peaks), i ended up with my first blister in ages on a week long hike - under the arches. My feet are strong and tough, but used to flat shoe bottoms. Anyway, I’d appreciate more in depth views on Topo Runventure - I’m looking for something in between a Xero shoe and a Lone Peak, and that’s what the Runventure seems to be.
I’m impressed by the strength of his feet. Well done Justin.
Minimalistic shoes are great, but I’d not use the one he used. I’d use Topo, which have space for all my toes but also some cushioning.
Saying that, one day it would be great to be able to at least survive a day hike in so thin shoes.
All about having room for activities!
First night of camp is near reeds water?
Minimal shoes give a great feel on the terrain. When I was younger I had strong legs and feet, I could walk all over a suburban landscape barefoot no problem. I no longer have that, if I did I’d be all over barefoot shoes. Good idea to push yourself and see in my opinion.
As a kid a long, long time ago, I was raised out in the country where there were rivers and puddles. A pair of sneakers was expensive, I had only one pair allowed for the summer so I got into the habit of going out there in naked feet. I never wear shoes in my home. As I got older I was required to wear shoes at all time but when I found out about thin flat soles I was hooked.😊
I've been wearing Xero shoes for years now. I have multiple pairs for different functions. TerraFlex trail shoes, I LOVE them! I need to feel the ground under my feet. I feel *very* unsure of myself if I can't feel the ground. All the pokey bits, too! (Of course, I've never hiked in the desert, so I can't comment on that specifically).
I can't even wear "traditional " shoes anymore. They hurt my feet and legs. So, the theory of switching it up isn't true for everyone. My toes are too splayed out now to squeeze into traditional pointy toed shoes. And I tried on a pair of Altras once, but I didn't like them. Not one bit. I'll stick with Xeros. I always check their annual sale, because they are pretty spendy 😮
I have terraflex but switched to Mesa Trail 2 - even more groundfeel.
How much
weight in camera gear do you typically carry?
I know this is about shoes but all I can think is "What trail is this? This is definitely in the Superstitions, which is my backyard practically, but WHICH TRAIL?" LOL!
Where was this beautiful hike?
Tried three different styles of barefoot shoes. Never got the fit I was looking for. I do like trail gloves by Merrell. If ur interested in those.
I love barefoot shoes. I have several xero pairs. However, hiking on trails with rocks just hurt my feet too much. Probably, my feet aren’t accustomed or adapted enough.
My only problem with packs is the real amount of tent pegs needed. 8-10 pegs is just a pita at the end of a long day.
I walked REAL barefoot on the West Coast Trail - too slippery. And barefoot on Section E in the marshy grass - that was great.
When you described what makes a barefoot shoe at the beginning I wish you'd highlighted zero lift as well I'm making this comment only 2 minutes in so probably you touch on it in the next twenty.
Currently I wear Lems for all my casual shoes but haven't hlyet switched for the office or hiking... But I think that'll happen this year
I completely agree with that conclusion. I am only an r of 1 but after many years of experimenting with max to barefoot my feet are much better with mixing it up.
All about those calf stretches brother
Calf stretches help but there must be some other issue causing the problem in the first place. Walking form, his other normal shoes, perhaps sitting too much (though he doesnt seem like the sedentary type). I had tight calves and discovered it was caused by heal-drop ‘nice’ work shoes for the office. They had a little extra heel on them and it messed up my walking form. I got rid of those shoes during covid and went minimalist. Problem solved. Tried wearing them again for a fancy event, and immediately felt discomfort all over and in my calves. Calves didn’t get ‘tight’ b/c i only wore them for one night, and I’ve since gotten much stronger. But no way I’m wearing those shoes again, not even for one night.
I've had too many injuries to even think about that... I wear 7 inch hiking boots... bad nerve problems since breaking my foot in 2015...
Where was this hike?
What part of Arizona was this in?
What chair were you using? It was listed in Packwizard.
It wasn't listed in Packwizard.
Apologies! It is now in there under "Ditties". It's the Nemo Moonlite Elite chair
If you planning on just staying on trail I think barefoot shoes will work out fine as long as you take care of yourself. But off trail hiking like hunting or mountaineering will always need tall boots with good ankle support. And in the end everyone is different so it may work for some and not for others.
My partner jokes that I have hobbit-feet! I have pretty tough feet and between yoga and my mostly-barefoot life, I feel like my feet are pretty strong and I have good balance. I do like cushion though, so I mostly choose shoes with a wide toe box and low or no heel drop. I find that a lot of trail runners are light weight, flexible, and soft enough that I still feel nimble. I have a lot of barefoot hiking shoes, but I've been reaching for the speedgoats. I have a few pairs from Vivo, but I only have non-hiking shoes from Xero! I love my barefoot shoes for everyday walking and especially for my gym workouts. The one activity I don't wear barefoot shoes in is for running. I have tight calves and pretty poor ankle mobility, so while I can tolerate sore calves on a hike, the lack of cushion and lack of heel drop makes running a lot harder on my body. I just try for shoes with a wider toe box. I wonder if the benefits from mixing your shoes is actually just, the feet are stronger! Varying the shoe, I imagine that makes your feet more adaptable.
Lol I usually hike in my steel toe work boots. Couple pounds hahah but I love never worrying about my feet
If you move to a forefoot strike or a midfoot strike you’ll stop having any problems with barefoot shoes. Made years of plantar fasciitis disappear in months. Backpacking with them my feet are less sore at the end of the day and recover better over night. Plus I’m more agile and even though I’m not a runner, I sometimes just start running in them. It’s baffling.
I work on my feet in a trade and have been wearing exclusively barefoot shoes for over a year. My feet have never been stronger or more dexterous, and thats from someone who ran for 12 years.
I wish my foot structure and fat pads would allow for that. If you've got it, appreciate it!!
I did the Tour du Mont Blanc with 15 kg on my back for 5 days in my barefoot shoes. No problems.
Purple pants
I think it is a mistake to switch to "barefoot" shoes for a trip; you need to adapt slowly, particularly to two main differences from "standard" shoes: lack of drop may harm your calves, and minimal cushion. After a while, your feet become stronger and more flexible, and you can walk, without noticing it, on grounds that would have harmed your feet and legs few months earlier.
Main drawback from switching to "barefoot" shoes is that it is very difficult to switch back to rigid, narrow, higher heel shoes... First point: you don't want to !
I feel like evolution is on the side of our shoes lol
Ive never worn shoes my entire life. I even inspired cody lundeen.
Yo, I camped there on 2/17!
Yes!! Who the hell wants to watch every single step like that? If you’re under 28, you can probably wear anything and be comfortable:)
There are some obstacles no shoe can handle so you should always know where you are putting your foot.
they're not for everyone. i have the extremely flat feet and haven't worn anything other than Samba's in my day to day life in 20 years because arch support actually hurts my feet. the work for me.
I'm surprised you keep the Decath down jacket. You test the limits of weight yet keep that clunky down jacket instead of going with montbell, goose feet, timmermade, enlightened equipment
These shoes might work for some folks but for me with poor feet, I definately need more support. I think barefoot shoes are useful in some cases but backpacking on rocky terrain with very thin soles seems quite risky.
You really do have to train your feet for quite a while in barefoot shoes before you try any long hikes. Most zero drop shoe makers (should) suggest that you try them around the house for a few minutes each day. Then, for short walks outside, then work your way up to long hikes, and all day every day wear. I can't even squish my foot into "traditional " shoes anymore.
There’s plenty of 70yo that blaze past me on the trail, you can basically do it until your joints give out. 😂
I've tried a lot of barefoot shoes and found that they just aren't right for me. Even though most of them claim a wider toe box, they are still not correctly shaped, and the complete lack of cushion is very lacking on harder surfaces or under heavy loads. I've found the Altra Lone peak with the insole removed to strike a great balance. It's actually foot shaped instead of pointed like a lot of so-called barefoot shoes. With the insole removed, it gives just enough cushion to help with walking on hard surfaces or with heavy loads. The biggest aspect to using barefoot shoes or any minimalist shoe is to ease into wearing them. It's just like overworking your body in the gym. If you cold turkey switch to a minimalist shoe, you risk causing injury because your feet aren't used to doing so much work.