When I started to use barefoot, my knees and lower back pain have gone. And after that I can’t wear my new balance, Nike, Ecco and other shoes. So I need to replace them all and thanks to you, I can finally got something nice looking.
same. Zero knee issues since I started wearing them. I changed nothing else about my lifestyle other than wearing barefoot shoes, and no knee pain at all.
Dude, you are the BEST!!! I've been following you for a little bit now and I think I speak for everyone when I say you're doing the barefoot community a huge service. Your reviews are short and snappy, but very in-depth with a fun and friendly vibe to your presentations. Plus, you have a whole library of shoes you've tested and reviewed, and to put them all in this big compendium of a video? Mad props man haha, mad props 🙏
Thanks yo! "Shoe library" Yea, I'm going to need shelving soon, ha. But it's nice to have them around when people ask questions about how different ones fit/feel/compare. Glad you're liking the videos, I'll keep cranking them out. Cheers!
The definitive video! So cool someone like you exists and nurtures the barefoot shoe community with a ton of ultra useful content. Keep on the good work.
Fantastic video! I've never seen anyone cover a wide range of barefoot shoes broken down by category. Thanks for helping me make sense of what's available and where to start.
Thank you for this man! You're 100% the go to for barefoot shoes! I personally am a huge fan of Xero shoes. I currently use their HFS 2 & Zelen for road running, their Alpine boots for winter time, and the Mesa Trail 2 for trail. I have the RA 3 from vivobarefoot which is my office/dress shoe which are amazing! Along with a lot of Whitin shoes for casual everyday use. Love me my barefoot shoes!
Ha, they do accumulate fast, don't they? But like my coworker used to say "two shoes last twice as long." It's nice to have something that works perfectly for each different activity you do. Cheers!
Best review of barefoot shoes I’ve seen since researching this since I’ve had bad arch pain for the past year. Weirdly it was in one foot and I did some rehab on that one and now it’s in the other one
My favorite brands are Be Lenka, Lems, & Splay shoes. I own several of each. The Lem’s Chillum is probably my favorite. It’s perfect for work & casual wear. They have proven to be very durable & comfortable. That’s probably why I have purchased the Chillum’s in every color.🙏🏾
I've started my barefoot journey 10+ years ago with Vibram Five Fingers, which I still use for running. For running and walking and the office I now have several Freet models. All with the same sole, but with different uppers, from ground coffee grounds to leather. Next step: replacing my waterproof bad weather shoes for a barefoot style shoe.
Woah, congrats on ten years! I'm on my seventh with Vibram's. It's pretty cool what Freet does with recycled materials. For WP you can use the shoe finder tool on my website to filter options, which might help: www.barefootwear.org/finder/?sortId=e%2560g%253E_dsc&filterIds=LpqE%2Czgby&filterValueIds=%60Lmt%2Cfe073c1b-6ccb-4ef6-840e-e65ff5027432
Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make such usefull video, really apreciated! Im entering the barefoot universe and am in search for a winter boot. Been cheking vivo barefoot and lems but know, thanks to you, have a loooot more options and knowledge. It was great! Thanks again
You're welcome, glad it helped! I also just released and even better "Best 50" video that's more concise with footage and such. ua-cam.com/video/vBuIsama950/v-deo.html You can also use the shoe finder tool at my website to filter by width, activity, style, materials, etc, which is really useful, as well. If you want barefoot, I wouldn't recommend Lems, since they're either squishy or stiff (or both). My Mom got their Boulder boot and hated it. The thing was like a brick. For winter casual, my all-time fav is the Vivo Gobi Boot (either regular or Winterized). ua-cam.com/video/pP93IHsQua8/v-deo.html
You just answer my next question... About lems. :) Before I checked your video I was leaning towards lems.. But, again thanks to you, I discover a store in my City that has a lot of bareshoes.. For reference I live in a small city in Portugal (amazing how a lot of the top barefoot brands have their production here.. But the quality control makes it so that I have to buy them from other places... Eheh funny how business works..) anyway Im leaning towards belenka winter boots and they sell them here. Funny how things work out, an ocean between us and still I found this store after seen your video. Amazing I'll definitly check the other videos you recomended because I only plan on buying them for next winter. For reference I started with a freet pair 1 month ago and since have bought 2 xero hfs second hand, and now I see myself planning on getting rid of all my other shoes.. Also I have the solite surf boots, haven't try them in the ocean yet but they feel amazing compared to other surf booties (if you are not familiar the solite have a home process once you buy them with heated water to custom mold to your feet, revolucionary) Also been cheking your other videos and am really digging them, I relate to your questions. One thing that helps me a lot to avoid the Phone is a smartwatch! Sorry for the loooong comment but you really got to me, I don't have social media or anything and just look for themes I'm interessed on youtube sometimes. It is a very good feeling to find real people this way and just had to let you know. Best of luck from across the atlantic!
Glad it was helpful, Barbora! Props on getting into the barefoot world. You can always ask if you have questions about shoes (I answer all my comments) and I also have a barefoot shoe finder tool, which is useful for narrowing down you search by width, activities, materials, etc. bit.ly/49U1Ryo
Definitely gonna order be lenka winter shoe, vb Gobi, vb gobi winter and splay freestyle. I like that barefoot shoe have something casual for my wardrobe 🔥
Spot on about the V-Treck. Such an amazing and comfortable shoe. But after about a year of daily wear, including light trails, the grey "soft" spot on both my soles started to split open, exposing the footbed. By the sounds of it, I was just unlucky 😢 Still. They're amazing shoes.
Yea, love my V-Trek's! Bummer about the sole, though. It could be a manufacturing defect, it happens with glued soles. You could try some Shoo Goo amzn.to/3PBAdyO and clamp the separated part together while it bonds.
Before watching this epic vid... my favorite barefoot shoes, after trying about a dozen over 3 years: - For all-season running: Xero HFS (a better fit & value than Vivo Primus Lites, IMO) - For nasty winter: Xero Alpine (super-light and waterproof) - For summer chill: Xero Z-trek or Z-trail sandals (yeah, I'm a Xero fan; sue me) - For spring/fall/mostOfWinter casual: UNDECIDED, but leaning towards the Vivo Scott's thanks to your last review! Waiting to wear out my too-thick Lem Boulder Boot Mid's, and my "too-flimsy," ninja-sock-looking Wildling Flying Foxes.
You're welcome, Jimmy! Much appreciate the tip, it's really helpful in funding more videos like this. If you ever have questions, feel free to ask. Cheers!
What a great research on barefoot shoes! Somethings anyone would want to informed before getting into their barefoot shoes journey. Appreciate you sharing your personal thoughts and years of knowledge wearing them. It was Really helpful! Keep the good work. I have subscribed to your channel and getting into barefoot shoes.
@@AndrewFolts Hi Andrew, not a problem! I'm in a bit of a dilemma deciding between Xero 360, HFS 2, and Vivo's PRIMUS TRAIL KNIT FG. I regularly go to the gym for HIIT workouts and boxing classes. Any advice on which one would be the best fit for my activities? Thanks!
Sofstar, Switchback, primal-friendly, or wide soul, in fact, if I could just get that particular boot in a low-cut, like an approach shoe with the rubber bumper guard on it, the only thing they need to do is elevate the toebox in the very front about a half an inch. For me, it is the most bio-mechanically correct, anatomical & ergonomic, Oblique-toesply, and forfoot and toebox to fit a range of feet. In fact that particular boot‼️‼️ if I would’ve had it in that brown color, I would’ve wore it, in Afghanistan in 2006.🕊️ thanks for your service and information. They’re very informative.
Yea, a mid-cut Switchback could be really cool. I find the solution for the low toebox front is to just get a half size up, so your toes sit a little bit back and don't hit the angled material. You served in Afghanistan? If so, thank you. Glad the videos are useful. Cheers!
You're my go-to channel for barefoot. I'm into it for only a year but I feel a real improvement since. I only have a pair of Saguaro and want to renew the shoe dressing now. I gotta admit that I kinda like the Lems design but it seems that the outsole is a bit big if I understand well. What do you think about Lems ?
Yea, Lem's has a great toebox and they're zero-drop, so it's unfortunate that they don't make a "barefoot" un-cushioned version of their shoes/boots, since the soles tend to be quite thick and stiff or too squishy.
Hace you ever tried Wildling Shoes? I only were their shoes atm. Have 2 pairs, one higher fornthe winter and a low cut for summer and i love them! I use them ecerywhere, dailywear in the office, walks, hikes with The family …
@@AndrewFolts Absolutely! I just love wearing shoes but not feeling them. My favorites are the Tanuki; they are like going barefoot-you don't even feel them. This winter, I want to go for longer hikes in the Dolomites, and that's how I found your super cool UA-cam channel while looking for reviews of Vivobarefoots!
I started new job at Costco in middle of my barefoot change due to over 5 months with plantar fasciitis which got better every day I stayed in earthrunners and used toe spacers. So I decided to go for it and wear my vivo's the whole 6 hour shift. By last 3 hours the bottoms of feet, most in contact with concrete floor, were really hurting, so much that I thought someone is going to call me out for walking funny. My calves hurt like HELL the next day which I had off, 2nd day also off and not nearly so bad, 3rd day almost nothing before night shift, hurt a little once I got home but nbd still took dog for walk in them, now I am adjusted, and hooked. I am more comfortable in barefoot shoes now than I ever believed was possible, truly amazing. I still have more strengthening to do, and I have Altras coming because I thought on concrete all day I would want them, now I think I will return them. I'm blown away at how my body adjusted. If I can at 49 years old, 6'3", 220lbs, so can you! You'll never regret it. I'm crazy strong in my feet, ankles and calves now, never going back.
This reminds me so much of my experience back when I was a shoe salesman. It seemed impossible that a thin soled shoe could feel better on concrete, but the speed at which my PF healed and my body strengthened was just astounding. I'm so glad you had similar results and were able to clear up your PF naturally. Bravo!
@AndrewFolts kudos to you, and Angela Walk, and barefoot strength project. I am now in a new type of comfort during walking that I cannot totally describe. You and others literally saved me from many years of pain and misery!!! I met a sweet older lady at Costco she wanted help getting something because she said her PF hurt so bad, I told her I know the pain and hope it heals and I regret not sharing my barefoot strengthening with her (it was busy), but that could have been me in pain and misery like my parents with twisted up ugly toes. I thank God for you, sir, and hope you keep helping others.
I can't argue whether barefoot shoes are good for you or not. You're the expert. What I can say, unequivocally, is that all barefoot shoes are uglier than sin. It's just incredible to me how there's no artistry. The DLD Perception is the best of the lot here. They are minimalist but real leather sandals have been made like this for decades. The good news is that gifted shoe designers have an opportunity to make beautiful barefoot shoes, that's if the bean counter managers don't get in their way.
You could say the same about normal shoe brands. Just look at some of the monstrosities Nike puts out, ha! But yea, the more popular barefoot shoes become, the more high quality designers will be attracted into the space, which will def be fun to see.
Hey Adam, you can also use my barefoot shoe finder tool bit.ly/49U1Ryo, which makes it really easy to narrow down your options by width, activities, materials, price, etc. Or you can always let me know what you're looking for and I'll give you some suggestions. (:
Great channel! I'm new to the barefoot shoe world & am finding your videos really helpful. What's your recommendation for rocky trails/hikes and in cases where you might need some grip for scrambling? I saw a FB post mentioning saltic's shoes but wasn't sure how they held up to others like: Vivo trail fg Vivo tracker, decon, forest Merrell trail glove Belenka Trail Walker Softstar Jim green x anvil African ranger
Any of those would be great, except for the Trailwalker, which might be too minimal for scrambling on rocks. Just depends on what upper height and material/width you like. Mesh is more breathable, leather is more water-resistant.
Mind Blowing, I have had almost every shoe here but don't use any of them now. I use LEMS shoes. For me Lems are the best all around. I train chinese kungfu 4-5 hours a day in Lems primal 2 and they hold up extremely well with all that twisting, torking, spiraling, kicking, stance work. cheers
I love that they are not only healthy for your feet but healthy for the planet. I hate shoes that are all plastic and synthetic materials that will never biodegrade. Foot heath is important and so is natures health💚
I wonder what the Saltik outdoor resoled with like a Vibram Kletterlift would be like..Im planning on moving back to the Cordillera blanca and think that combo would be awesome but will probably take my primus íī trail fgs
Hi! I’m looking for a pair of hiking shoes, as I went on a hike last week with Saguaros, but my feet ended really bad as loose stones stuck into my feet. Also, I think I couldn’t have walked through some stony and rocky paths due to that. In fact, my feet soles got in pain and a bit inflamed for some days. So, I’m between Be Lenka Trailwalker or Vivobarefoot Trail Knit Fg. I love the Trailwalkers but I am not sure if its thin sole is suitable to these kind of terrains and I will end up having the same problems. That is why I am considering the vivos as they seem to be more tough and polyvalent. What would you recommend me? Thx!!
If you had issues with a thinner sole, then I'd go with the Trail Knit. I love that shoe. It's more protective, but still has some great flexibility and breathability. Plus the Knit is really comfortable and convinient to slip into. Here's my full review of it: ua-cam.com/video/W4wikuqPHZ0/v-deo.html
Thanks!! Yeah! I saw your videos on the knit fg and the trailwalkers too. Just chose this one to ask XD. I think I’ll go for the knit’s then! Maybe my feet need more training with thinner soles in less agressive terrains first…
When I say, elevate the toebox box, I don’t mean(turntup, toes, or what it’s called spring toe) I mean the internal elevation on the top of the toes. So there’s more vertical lift for my toes internally. , I have those boots now from 2022 but there’s a little bit of exaggerated tapering down word on the very front. Thanks to the Marino wool. I don’t have to use socks so they fit just right. 🕊️👋🏼Thanks.
I am so confused, just 2 seconds into this . I have only one barefoot shoe and I dont understand how anyone can have more . I was born with them, the shoes that protect my feet , they are resilient, waterproof, selfhealing, and free
Yes, barefoot is the way to go whenever possible! But it's not always possible, for example, going into stores or walking through an area with gasoline or broken glass on the roads, etc. That's where "barefoot shoes" are nice, because they keep you very close to being fully barefoot, so you can still move naturally and feel the ground beneath you. (:
Any suggestions for a business casual barefoot shoe? Brown-leather looking kind of thing? For example, I used to wear the Xero "alston" model, but they've been discontinued.. although you can still find images online (brown, a strap around the sides, and virtually no sole!). Their newer shoes, like the Glenn Casual Leather models, seem to have rather thick soles by comparison. I found some other shoes that look promising, but they're only available in Europe (ahinsa Ananda Light Brown, Groundies Palermo Barefoot+).. other similar looking shoes are also discontinued (Vivobarefoot RA II 8996426 , WHITIN Extra Wide Minimalist Barefoot Zero Drop Sole shoes). Any thoughts on the Saguaro Noble II or the tadeevo Derby Light Brown Minimilist shoes? Be Lenka Cityscape - Salted Caramel Brown?
Hey Ben, you can use the shoe finder tool on my website to filter by "Business," or even leather, etc, to narrow things down. bit.ly/49bVSoc Haven't tried Saguaro or Tadeevo yet, so I couldn't say. Be Lenka's are really comfortable and flexible, although they have an extra wide toebox. The Xero Denver Leather is fairly classy.
I have never understood the speculation that barefoot shoes won’t last as long. The arch support in non-barefoot shoes typically breaks down in six months. The cushioning also breaks down with use. You don’t have those issues with barefoot shoes.
I’ve been considering buying five fingers shoes from Vibram. Specifically the KSO ECO with a polyester hemp, but I’m a bit hesitant since I’ve heard the seams on the sides doesn’t hold very well. So after seeing you use the five fingers a lot I’d like to hear your perspective on this matter and how your overall experience is with the shoes. And also are they water resistant to some degree? I’ve watched your Chanel for a while; especially the ones about the Light phone and some shoe videos. Great stuff man and keep it up! Cheers and have a good day sir!
I've always wanted to try the KSO's. Vibram, unfortunately, never replies tho. My V-Trek's are still mostly fine after six years, so a big part of durability is how you treat them. Using a shorter stride (less bending) and avoiding scraping rocks/thorns, etc, will give you a lot more milage.
I’m an older woman who mostly wears flat wide slippers around the house for the last 4 years. I am looking for new low impact aerobics shoes that I can also wear for strength training. I have minor bunions and mortons neuroma. I do need some cushioning but definitely need that forefoot flexibility to do calf raises. I was just sold Altra Torino, but they really are a running shoe and not flexible. They will probably be fine for outdoor walking. Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Sharon, I'd recommend the BeLenka Dash, since it's nice and flexible with a wide stretchy toebox to prevent pressure on your bunions, plus enough room where you could add a padded insole for some extra cushion, if needed. ua-cam.com/video/35YNL1iB5mk/v-deo.html
Since i switch to barefoot (xero) shoes my plantar faciaitis and heel spur pain have almost completely gone away, i can walk without pain now, and the balls of my feet are much stronger
Would you recommend the Saltic one size smaller than Vivobarefoot? I have Vivobarefoot EU 43 and according to the Saltic size chart, I need a 42 for the Vintero. I am hesitant to order now. Maybe you know if Saltic has a different size chart. Thanks in advance!
Well I'm a 44 in Vivo's and the Saltic 44 fit me perfectly, so I probably would get your normal size. You usually want extra space in boots for warm socks anyway. They haven't changed their sizing that I know of, but you could contact customer service if you're not sure.
I'm new to barefoot shoes and interested in the Vivo Primus Lite III for everyday casual wear in crowded urban areas. I'm recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture, so just walking in barefoot shoes will be a great rehab for me to build strength in my feet and toes. But I'm worried that the thin soles might be painful. Should rather go with the Vivo Trail FGs to begin with even though the Primus Lite seems more suitable for rehab work in terms of flexibility? Where did you usually run when you say road running? Aspalt pavement or school track? I think that relates to the durability too because yours still have good soles after running in them for several years. I will also start to run in them when I am able to run again. Can you help me choose the right one? I need barefoot shoes.
Your first instinct was right, a thin 3-4mm sole is what you would want for walking on roads/urban terrain. The FG would be overkill and feel clunky on pavement, unless you need them for hybrid road/trail use. When I had plantar fasciitis I wore the original 3mm Vivo Primus Lites and they felt amazing workin as a shoes salesman on concrete 8 hours a day and running too. Obviously take it gradually at first. For casual you might want the Primus Lite Knit ua-cam.com/video/pMqB21BdMGw/v-deo.html, Asana ua-cam.com/video/dLtqaedAp4M/v-deo.html or Sensus ua-cam.com/video/ARV_lCuxrco/v-deo.html instead of the original Primus Lite, which ihas more upper support for intense cross-training. The key is to practice walking smoothly and touching your heel down gently as you land. You can check out my Zero-Drop video for stride tips. ua-cam.com/video/i2D7BUOAe8g/v-deo.html
@@AndrewFolts Wow, thank you for your detailed reply! That was really helpful. I will choose one with the original thin soles. Asana looks pretty good too.
Great video for medium feet, but... Barefoot shoes have rescued my feet and back. I've been wearing them for 3 years now and I threw away my other shoes. I wore Correct Toes toe spreaders for the first year to realign my toes to their correct position. They both made a HUGE difference. My foot pain is gone, and back pain greatly reduced. And my toes are realigning to their natural spread. As you wear barefoot shoes, your feet will widen - a LOT. So they need to be wide in the toe box and sole to begin with and also fit the curvature of your toes. Don't buy a shoe where your feet hang over the sole or any of your toes hit the front. I had wide feet with a high arch to begin with - AKA "high volume feet". Only certain make and style shoes work. Vivos are way too narrow. Wider shoes with a fixed tight "sock" won't work either. I can't wear any of the brands he's discussing except Freet because he has medium width feet. I've found that Freet laceup shoes work well for me. I've got several models now. I love their fit and quality. I prefer their trail tread models with a deeper grip sole for everything but indoor wear. (Just avoid the Richmond which has a poorly designed rear seam that causes blisters.) Their other models are fantastic. I also only wear Injinji toe socks because they're made incredibly well and are really comfortable (just avoid the wool ones because they wear out overnight). Luna Sandals with wide straps are my choice for summer because they're wide and fully adjustable and comfortable. I also get their deeper trail tread. Other folks with wide high volume feet also wear Softstars but I find them unattractive. I'm still waiting for the big barefoot shoe companies to start selling wide width shoes. I might try the Mukishoes Jasper. Great find! I love to go barefoot when possible as well on pavement, grass, and sand. Still not up to rocks or mulch trails. It's the most natural thing for your feet and you should always go barefoot in the house and yard to feel the ground and spread your toes.
Yea, Freet has a great toebox! Mukishoes is even wider, as well as Be Lenka ua-cam.com/video/35YNL1iB5mk/v-deo.html and Realfoot. ua-cam.com/video/lVXd_SlFnhM/v-deo.html You can also browse/filter extra-wide shoes and brands with my shoe finder tool: bit.ly/3RrSa3l I'm tempted to try Correct Toes again. Did you wear them 24/7?
Ayo my back and knee are healed, I've been using a national barefoot shoe (I'm Brazilian), it's called vita minimalista, the model is cachorro do mato, they are very nice, but too long, currently I'm looking for a five finger, such a shame they don't sell your black/gum color for v-trek anymore.
@@AndrewFolts hope they hear from you, I would be able to buy two of them currently if they were to come back, the only problem is the sizing, I'm not sure which one to get, 43 European seems to be it.
@@AndrewFolts Hey if you've got European friends in their eu website they still have 42 and 44 of these color in the winter sale tab, go for it my friend. After measuring my feet with a physicist friend of mine (what do I know 🤣🤣) I decided to buy the 42 and give it a go.
WOuld the flyingfoxes be suitable for lifting weights indoors? Currently I am lifting with my xero treks, exactly like the ones you have here. I'm thinking about gettting the tanukis(flying fox but low top) for the gym.
No, since they're a winter model and have a water-resistance membrane that would be hot in a gym, but any of Wildling's summer shoes would work fine. bit.ly/3JYfSzt
I'm moving to Mongolia and will be walking to the office everyday in the capital city where the temperatures drop below -40 degrees C . What work shoe boot do you recommend ?
The two warmest barefoot boots I own are the Be Lenka Winter Boot ua-cam.com/video/_YV0OlwZ6Y0/v-deo.html and the Softstar Switchback ua-cam.com/video/ybp_g-8z2vo/v-deo.html, which are both lined with wool and have a thicker sole to keep your feet warm. I'd also recommend Injinji merino wool toe socks ua-cam.com/video/_e6BC2vfl4w/v-deo.html with thick Smartwool's over top amzn.to/47ZyCZJ and a wool felt insole if needed. bit.ly/46EsKEu
Yea, that could be really cool! If you want a lower cut option, the the Saltic Outdoor also has some great toe protection and a tough sole: bit.ly/3Xxbgok
Hi! Do you know something that waterproof but low? Waterproof hiking sneakers? I plan day hikes on wet grass, hills and wet rocks in warm rainy day. I hate when my feet are wet and I need something waterproof but boots to warm for summer days. I bought Vivobarefoot Magna Forest ESG for this purpose but I don’t like them at all. I have wide toebox but low foot volume and a narrow heel, Magna doesn’t have too much space in toebox, but they loose around my heel and ankle and this sock that Vivo use instead of the usual tongue doesn’t let you tighten the shoes well on skinny low volume ankle. So I really prefer to find something low like sneakers but still waterproof and with greed that good for hike on wet, rock grass and hills
The Xero Mesa WP bit.ly/4b48IWA is the only true low option I know of, but the Saltic Vintero is semi low and also great for WP hiking ua-cam.com/video/uEOqm4GEFq8/v-deo.html.
What’s a good barefoot soccer shoe? You mentioned around 52:40 you went to a soccer game. I need a good soccer shoe cause the ones I have are so darn narrow!
The Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG might be a good option, because it's wide, but not awkwardly wide, with an aggressive tread that will grip on a soccer pitch. I've played in the old Trail SG's, which worked pretty well. bit.ly/4an56ic
Yea, any time you spend barefoot or in thin barefoot shoes will help your feet recover from more restrictive shoes/boots. Just be mindful of not overdoing it at first. Also, massaging your arches and calves with a tennis ball after work is great.
No doubt, I'm going to do a more fancy 50 Best Barefoot shoes in the spring probably. Some of the shoes I've mentioned I do have fancy reviews for already, tho.
Yea, the canvas version (what I have) can handle a bit of wet grass and such and the Denver Leather is even more water-resistant, although neither are 100% waterproof. The Saltic Vintero is waterproof: ua-cam.com/video/uEOqm4GEFq8/v-deo.html.
Haven't tried them. The sole's probably great, given that it's Vibram, but the toebox looks kind of narrow, which is odd, because their toe shoes are all wide or wxtra wide.
@@AndrewFolts Can confirm - the toebox is narrow but elastic. Still, correct "mounting" of those shoes causes the toes to be additionally pressed together, although it is not neraly as rigid, as regular narrow-toe shoes.
The Saltic Vintero's are excellent. Probably my all time most useful barefoot shoe if I only had one for all seasons. Does get warm in summer with the insulation, tho. Another one I use a ton is the Vivobarefoot Magna FG. ua-cam.com/video/NYIWI47hooA/v-deo.html Similar concept, but uninsulated, so it's more breathable for summer and you can stack socks in the winter for extra warmth.
Depends on what you want. Either the Monk Ruivo or Xero Z-Trek for casual running and the Shamma Warrior's for technical running (hills, etc) where I need a tighter lockdown. DLD Perception is a mix of both (comfort and lockdown) and allows you to customize the sole/straps, which is cool.
@@prytud I'd recommend the Vibram V-Trek, not sandals, ha. I just don't find sandals to be comfortable or secure enough for long distance running in technical terrain, That said, if you're sure you want sandals, then maybe the Shamma Trailstars. They have the toe loop, which is more secure, a thicker sole to handle the roughest terrain, and the Power Strap system, which distributes tension to avoid rubbing as much as possible.
personally i disagree with the durability thing… i got my feelgrounds about a year ago and after that amount of time the sole is almost flat in the critical places and they got a little hole in the front from playing basketball xD
Feelgrounds is mainly a fashion brand. So, like any other industry, if you want durability, then it would be better to go with brands like Vibram, Xero, Vivobarefoot, and Freet that are made to take more of beating while training and out on the trails.
@@AndrewFolts i agree and its funny because i mainly walk in streets and almost never in trails and rough terrain but i will keep it in mind when i end up going for sportier shoes.
Vivo barefoot shoes look so cool but I see the prices and they DISGUST ME. I can’t see how they have any customers that aren’t rich assholes lol I’m checking out Freet and glad I did. They do have shoes 100$ which is awesome! My first pair is Xero prios because I like how they have sales! Lol even “ revivo “ is a joke! When groceries are enough to bankrupt a person…. I’m not spending 175$ on any shoe let alone a paper light one that someone else owned first! There is NOTHING minimal about inflated costs and wasting money. That goes against everything this type of footwear represents.
My original Vivo Primus Lite's are still going after seven years, which works out to $2/mo. That seems more than reasonable to me, but I can totally understand it being hard to afford at the time of purchase. Freet's a great affordable option, although I find myself almost always wearing my Vivo's. They're more durable, lightweight, and flexible with a better design, so it makes sense that they should charge more.
@@AndrewFolts thank you for the reply! As I kept watching I was impressed when you said you’d been wearing yours for 6 years! Also you brought up about scuffing, I broke my ankle long ago and I’ve never been the same. I started considering barefoot style because literally nothing else works. I basically have two different feet and I’m experimenting now with just letting them be different and using shoes to develop the muscle instead of protecting it. I’m finding my whole body loves these shoes just my ache after a while but no mechanical pain! I’m thinking the feet ache is just adjusting to less padding. Thanks so much for your great content.
@@Msasha2727 Yea, going minimal can def make it easier for your body to compensate for imbalances. There's an old Xero video where Steven (the CEO) talks to a guy who has a significant different in leg length and how he changed his stride to adapt. ua-cam.com/video/--EWR8aoYNA/v-deo.html&ab_channel=XeroShoes
What socks to you wear with bear foot shoes , no one really seems to talk about this.. Please say there is ‘normal’ type socks, i cant stand the look and feel of those horrible looking toe socks things.
Yup, I wear Injinji merino wool toe socks, ha. ua-cam.com/video/_e6BC2vfl4w/v-deo.html Like you I absolutely HATED them the first time I tried them, but a few months later I gave them another try and after a week I was in love with them and couldn't stand normal socks anymore. The main reason is that toe socks spread out my toes slightly, which creates airflow, whereas my feet always got sweaty and disgusting in normal socks, because they cramped my toes together. Trust me, just try a pair for a week and you'll never go back to normal socks for the rest of your life.
Bro, why are all your shoes so dirty? I take care of my shoes b/c they take care of me. I love the barefoot shoes (Xero, ein) and I’m offloading all my trad shoes. Good vid. Care for your stuff though.
I leave them dirty for the video on purpose, so that people can see they're actually being used. That said, I've actually not found dirty to much difference in terms of the longevity of the shoe. I literally never cleaned my V-Trek's once and they've lasted me seven years with no signs of wearing out. Road salt is important to clean off, tho.
Unfortunately, they’re all ugly. I wish some of the juggernaut footwear brands could bring their design flair to barefoot shoes. The current offerings are fine for people who don’t really care about style, but for fashion conscious sneaker-heads, the aesthetics of barefoot shoes just don’t cut it.
@@AndrewFolts Afraid so. I’ve seen most of the various offerings. The only similar Nikes would be the basic tennis shoe style, or the cheap dad shoes. Barefoot will never hit the mainstream until the shoes start to look cool and drop considerably in price. The current price of Vivo’s is insane.
@@-The-Golden-God- It's all perspective. I used to love Adidas, Nike, etc, but when I started wearing barefoot shoes, even Vibram toe shoes, it switched, and I found regular brands to be ugly as hell. You don't think it'll happen, but it will, ha. It happens for everyone who gets into barefoot shoes. As for Vivo's prices, they make premium shoes that feel great and last for years-way longer than any regular cushion shoes I've ever owned. So the prices are justified, imo.
@@AndrewFolts Your last comment sounded like cliche marketing drivel. I’ve had enough experience with sales and marketing to spot it. It’s essentially the ‘trust me bro’ approach and that’s extremely off-putting.
Thanks, yo! Yea, there are more and more every year. I also made a "Best Fifty Barefoot Shoes" video recently with other options too: ua-cam.com/video/vBuIsama950/v-deo.html
When I started to use barefoot, my knees and lower back pain have gone. And after that I can’t wear my new balance, Nike, Ecco and other shoes. So I need to replace them all and thanks to you, I can finally got something nice looking.
same. Zero knee issues since I started wearing them. I changed nothing else about my lifestyle other than wearing barefoot shoes, and no knee pain at all.
Yea, same story for me. Never in my life has something so simple fixed so many problems. Props for making the leap and happy barefooting!
@jorgeenchilada If only every problem in life were this simple, right?
Dude, you are the BEST!!! I've been following you for a little bit now and I think I speak for everyone when I say you're doing the barefoot community a huge service. Your reviews are short and snappy, but very in-depth with a fun and friendly vibe to your presentations. Plus, you have a whole library of shoes you've tested and reviewed, and to put them all in this big compendium of a video? Mad props man haha, mad props 🙏
Thanks yo! "Shoe library" Yea, I'm going to need shelving soon, ha. But it's nice to have them around when people ask questions about how different ones fit/feel/compare. Glad you're liking the videos, I'll keep cranking them out. Cheers!
The definitive video! So cool someone like you exists and nurtures the barefoot shoe community with a ton of ultra useful content. Keep on the good work.
Thanks, yo! I have fun making them, so i'm glad they're useful. If you ever want to request a video, feel free.
Fantastic video! I've never seen anyone cover a wide range of barefoot shoes broken down by category. Thanks for helping me make sense of what's available and where to start.
Yea, it's crazy how many barefoot shoes and brands there are now. Appreciate you stopping by, yo! (:
just ordered the primus lite knits, super excited for them to arrive!
Oooh, yea, I love the Knit's. Have fun!
Thank you for this man! You're 100% the go to for barefoot shoes! I personally am a huge fan of Xero shoes. I currently use their HFS 2 & Zelen for road running, their Alpine boots for winter time, and the Mesa Trail 2 for trail. I have the RA 3 from vivobarefoot which is my office/dress shoe which are amazing! Along with a lot of Whitin shoes for casual everyday use. Love me my barefoot shoes!
Ha, they do accumulate fast, don't they? But like my coworker used to say "two shoes last twice as long." It's nice to have something that works perfectly for each different activity you do. Cheers!
I'm glad you mentioned the mulesing! I always check!
Hey props, it only takes a few seconds, but makes a big difference for sheep around the world. (:
I have the Hykes Pinnacle barefoot shoes and love them, also love the fact they donate a pair when you buy.
Interesting, do you know how thick they are? Website doesn't seem to say.
Best review of barefoot shoes I’ve seen since researching this since I’ve had bad arch pain for the past year. Weirdly it was in one foot and I did some rehab on that one and now it’s in the other one
Ah bummer, the body can sometimes do that when compensating for an injury on one side. Have you tried barefoot shoes yet?
My favorite brands are Be Lenka, Lems, & Splay shoes. I own several of each. The Lem’s Chillum is probably my favorite. It’s perfect for work & casual wear. They have proven to be very durable & comfortable. That’s probably why I have purchased the Chillum’s in every color.🙏🏾
Ha, I get it. Some days I wish I was a centipede, so I could wear all my favorite barefoot shoes all at the same time.
I've started my barefoot journey 10+ years ago with Vibram Five Fingers, which I still use for running. For running and walking and the office I now have several Freet models. All with the same sole, but with different uppers, from ground coffee grounds to leather. Next step: replacing my waterproof bad weather shoes for a barefoot style shoe.
Woah, congrats on ten years! I'm on my seventh with Vibram's. It's pretty cool what Freet does with recycled materials. For WP you can use the shoe finder tool on my website to filter options, which might help: www.barefootwear.org/finder/?sortId=e%2560g%253E_dsc&filterIds=LpqE%2Czgby&filterValueIds=%60Lmt%2Cfe073c1b-6ccb-4ef6-840e-e65ff5027432
Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make such usefull video, really apreciated!
Im entering the barefoot universe and am in search for a winter boot. Been cheking vivo barefoot and lems but know, thanks to you, have a loooot more options and knowledge. It was great! Thanks again
You're welcome, glad it helped! I also just released and even better "Best 50" video that's more concise with footage and such. ua-cam.com/video/vBuIsama950/v-deo.html You can also use the shoe finder tool at my website to filter by width, activity, style, materials, etc, which is really useful, as well. If you want barefoot, I wouldn't recommend Lems, since they're either squishy or stiff (or both). My Mom got their Boulder boot and hated it. The thing was like a brick. For winter casual, my all-time fav is the Vivo Gobi Boot (either regular or Winterized). ua-cam.com/video/pP93IHsQua8/v-deo.html
You just answer my next question... About lems. :) Before I checked your video I was leaning towards lems.. But, again thanks to you, I discover a store in my City that has a lot of bareshoes.. For reference I live in a small city in Portugal (amazing how a lot of the top barefoot brands have their production here.. But the quality control makes it so that I have to buy them from other places... Eheh funny how business works..) anyway Im leaning towards belenka winter boots and they sell them here. Funny how things work out, an ocean between us and still I found this store after seen your video. Amazing
I'll definitly check the other videos you recomended because I only plan on buying them for next winter.
For reference I started with a freet pair 1 month ago and since have bought 2 xero hfs second hand, and now I see myself planning on getting rid of all my other shoes.. Also I have the solite surf boots, haven't try them in the ocean yet but they feel amazing compared to other surf booties (if you are not familiar the solite have a home process once you buy them with heated water to custom mold to your feet, revolucionary)
Also been cheking your other videos and am really digging them, I relate to your questions. One thing that helps me a lot to avoid the Phone is a smartwatch!
Sorry for the loooong comment but you really got to me, I don't have social media or anything and just look for themes I'm interessed on youtube sometimes. It is a very good feeling to find real people this way and just had to let you know.
Best of luck from across the atlantic!
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! Love you man!
Right back at'cha! Appreciate you always showing up to give the videos some love. (:
This guy is a beast in the barefoot scene
If only I had the views of Mr. Beast, ha. Maybe some day barefoot shoes will blow up and I'll get to go on Joe Rogan. (:
Very informative and great introduction for someone not sure what to get for the first time (like me) :) Thank you 👍🏼 great job!
Glad it was helpful, Barbora! Props on getting into the barefoot world. You can always ask if you have questions about shoes (I answer all my comments) and I also have a barefoot shoe finder tool, which is useful for narrowing down you search by width, activities, materials, etc. bit.ly/49U1Ryo
Definitely gonna order be lenka winter shoe, vb Gobi, vb gobi winter and splay freestyle. I like that barefoot shoe have something casual for my wardrobe 🔥
I'm amazed at how far barefoot shoes have come. Five years ago there were hardly any options and now it's a problem of too many great options, ha.
Spot on about the V-Treck. Such an amazing and comfortable shoe. But after about a year of daily wear, including light trails, the grey "soft" spot on both my soles started to split open, exposing the footbed. By the sounds of it, I was just unlucky 😢 Still. They're amazing shoes.
Yea, love my V-Trek's! Bummer about the sole, though. It could be a manufacturing defect, it happens with glued soles. You could try some Shoo Goo amzn.to/3PBAdyO and clamp the separated part together while it bonds.
Before watching this epic vid... my favorite barefoot shoes, after trying about a dozen over 3 years:
- For all-season running: Xero HFS (a better fit & value than Vivo Primus Lites, IMO)
- For nasty winter: Xero Alpine (super-light and waterproof)
- For summer chill: Xero Z-trek or Z-trail sandals (yeah, I'm a Xero fan; sue me)
- For spring/fall/mostOfWinter casual: UNDECIDED, but leaning towards the Vivo Scott's thanks to your last review! Waiting to wear out my too-thick Lem Boulder Boot Mid's, and my "too-flimsy," ninja-sock-looking Wildling Flying Foxes.
Those are some great picks! I should have like a People's Choice Awards for barefoot shoes, ha.
Thanks!
You're welcome, Jimmy! Much appreciate the tip, it's really helpful in funding more videos like this. If you ever have questions, feel free to ask. Cheers!
What a great research on barefoot shoes! Somethings anyone would want to informed before getting into their barefoot shoes journey. Appreciate you sharing your personal thoughts and years of knowledge wearing them. It was Really helpful! Keep the good work.
I have subscribed to your channel and getting into barefoot shoes.
Hey thanks, yo! Appreciate the subscribe. I have fun trying them, so I'm glad other people enjoy hearing about the journey.
@@AndrewFolts Hi Andrew, not a problem! I'm in a bit of a dilemma deciding between Xero 360, HFS 2, and Vivo's PRIMUS TRAIL KNIT FG. I regularly go to the gym for HIIT workouts and boxing classes. Any advice on which one would be the best fit for my activities? Thanks!
@@TruthHunter10 Probably the 360, since it's designed for cross-training.
@@AndrewFolts thanks for the recommendation!
Sofstar, Switchback, primal-friendly, or wide soul, in fact, if I could just get that particular boot in a low-cut, like an approach shoe with the rubber bumper guard on it, the only thing they need to do is elevate the toebox in the very front about a half an inch. For me, it is the most bio-mechanically correct, anatomical & ergonomic, Oblique-toesply, and forfoot and toebox to fit a range of feet. In fact that particular boot‼️‼️ if I would’ve had it in that brown color, I would’ve wore it, in Afghanistan in 2006.🕊️ thanks for your service and information. They’re very informative.
Yea, a mid-cut Switchback could be really cool. I find the solution for the low toebox front is to just get a half size up, so your toes sit a little bit back and don't hit the angled material. You served in Afghanistan? If so, thank you. Glad the videos are useful. Cheers!
You're my go-to channel for barefoot. I'm into it for only a year but I feel a real improvement since. I only have a pair of Saguaro and want to renew the shoe dressing now. I gotta admit that I kinda like the Lems design but it seems that the outsole is a bit big if I understand well. What do you think about Lems ?
Yea, Lem's has a great toebox and they're zero-drop, so it's unfortunate that they don't make a "barefoot" un-cushioned version of their shoes/boots, since the soles tend to be quite thick and stiff or too squishy.
Excellent review(s)! Saving this vid for future reference! New to barefoot. 1st pair, Vivo Maga Forest ESC. Love em.
Nice! That's a great boot to start with. Very rugged tread, but also surprisingly flexible and the slip-on upper is my fav. Have fun out there!
Hace you ever tried Wildling Shoes? I only were their shoes atm. Have 2 pairs, one higher fornthe winter and a low cut for summer and i love them! I use them ecerywhere, dailywear in the office, walks, hikes with The family …
Yea, I love my Flying Foxes (now the Atmo) and North Wolf boots. They're like wearing nothing in the best way possible.
@@AndrewFolts Absolutely! I just love wearing shoes but not feeling them. My favorites are the Tanuki; they are like going barefoot-you don't even feel them. This winter, I want to go for longer hikes in the Dolomites, and that's how I found your super cool UA-cam channel while looking for reviews of Vivobarefoots!
I think the primus íī trail is where its at for an all arounder.... they look cool & black...
Yea, a very light and tough shoe, for sure. I used the original Primus Trek for six years before getting the new FG.
I started new job at Costco in middle of my barefoot change due to over 5 months with plantar fasciitis which got better every day I stayed in earthrunners and used toe spacers. So I decided to go for it and wear my vivo's the whole 6 hour shift. By last 3 hours the bottoms of feet, most in contact with concrete floor, were really hurting, so much that I thought someone is going to call me out for walking funny. My calves hurt like HELL the next day which I had off, 2nd day also off and not nearly so bad, 3rd day almost nothing before night shift, hurt a little once I got home but nbd still took dog for walk in them, now I am adjusted, and hooked. I am more comfortable in barefoot shoes now than I ever believed was possible, truly amazing. I still have more strengthening to do, and I have Altras coming because I thought on concrete all day I would want them, now I think I will return them. I'm blown away at how my body adjusted. If I can at 49 years old, 6'3", 220lbs, so can you! You'll never regret it. I'm crazy strong in my feet, ankles and calves now, never going back.
This reminds me so much of my experience back when I was a shoe salesman. It seemed impossible that a thin soled shoe could feel better on concrete, but the speed at which my PF healed and my body strengthened was just astounding. I'm so glad you had similar results and were able to clear up your PF naturally. Bravo!
@AndrewFolts kudos to you, and Angela Walk, and barefoot strength project. I am now in a new type of comfort during walking that I cannot totally describe. You and others literally saved me from many years of pain and misery!!! I met a sweet older lady at Costco she wanted help getting something because she said her PF hurt so bad, I told her I know the pain and hope it heals and I regret not sharing my barefoot strengthening with her (it was busy), but that could have been me in pain and misery like my parents with twisted up ugly toes. I thank God for you, sir, and hope you keep helping others.
I can't argue whether barefoot shoes are good for you or not. You're the expert. What I can say, unequivocally, is that all barefoot shoes are uglier than sin. It's just incredible to me how there's no artistry. The DLD Perception is the best of the lot here. They are minimalist but real leather sandals have been made like this for decades. The good news is that gifted shoe designers have an opportunity to make beautiful barefoot shoes, that's if the bean counter managers don't get in their way.
You could say the same about normal shoe brands. Just look at some of the monstrosities Nike puts out, ha! But yea, the more popular barefoot shoes become, the more high quality designers will be attracted into the space, which will def be fun to see.
I have Whitin. Wear them at the gym. They are comfortable.
Nice! Glad you found a pair that works for ya,
I think I expected a 1 through 10 when you said ranked.. this is too much information for someone with ADHD, I trusted you...
Hey Adam, you can also use my barefoot shoe finder tool bit.ly/49U1Ryo, which makes it really easy to narrow down your options by width, activities, materials, price, etc. Or you can always let me know what you're looking for and I'll give you some suggestions. (:
Great channel! I'm new to the barefoot shoe world & am finding your videos really helpful.
What's your recommendation for rocky trails/hikes and in cases where you might need some grip for scrambling? I saw a FB post mentioning saltic's shoes but wasn't sure how they held up to others like:
Vivo trail fg
Vivo tracker, decon, forest
Merrell trail glove
Belenka Trail Walker
Softstar
Jim green x anvil African ranger
Any of those would be great, except for the Trailwalker, which might be too minimal for scrambling on rocks. Just depends on what upper height and material/width you like. Mesh is more breathable, leather is more water-resistant.
@@AndrewFolts Good to know. Thanks!
Saltic Voltero looks rad, but I couldn’t find a way to get in the US.
They ship to the US, don't they?
Mind Blowing, I have had almost every shoe here but don't use any of them now. I use LEMS shoes. For me Lems are the best all around. I train chinese kungfu 4-5 hours a day in Lems primal 2 and they hold up extremely well with all that twisting, torking, spiraling, kicking, stance work. cheers
My Mom has the Lems Primal's a likes them a lot. The toebox is great. I just wish they made a barefoot version without cushion.
I'm surprised you haven't tried Toetems, secretly top tier.
Right? I wish I'd known about them seven years ago!
hey Andrew, great video, subscribed.
One thing can you please put time stamps in your future videos.
Oh weird, I do have timestamps if you look at the description, but for some reason they're not showing up as Chapters.
I love that they are not only healthy for your feet but healthy for the planet. I hate shoes that are all plastic and synthetic materials that will never biodegrade. Foot heath is important and so is natures health💚
Agreed! I always feel better in shoes with natural materials.
I wonder what the Saltik outdoor resoled with like a Vibram Kletterlift would be like..Im planning on moving back to the Cordillera blanca and think that combo would be awesome but will probably take my primus íī trail fgs
Probably great! The Outdoor's upper is tough as nails and any shoe can benefit from a Vibram sole. Have fun out there!
Hi!
I’m looking for a pair of hiking shoes, as I went on a hike last week with Saguaros, but my feet ended really bad as loose stones stuck into my feet. Also, I think I couldn’t have walked through some stony and rocky paths due to that. In fact, my feet soles got in pain and a bit inflamed for some days.
So, I’m between Be Lenka Trailwalker or Vivobarefoot Trail Knit Fg.
I love the Trailwalkers but I am not sure if its thin sole is suitable to these kind of terrains and I will end up having the same problems. That is why I am considering the vivos as they seem to be more tough and polyvalent. What would you recommend me?
Thx!!
If you had issues with a thinner sole, then I'd go with the Trail Knit. I love that shoe. It's more protective, but still has some great flexibility and breathability. Plus the Knit is really comfortable and convinient to slip into. Here's my full review of it: ua-cam.com/video/W4wikuqPHZ0/v-deo.html
Thanks!! Yeah! I saw your videos on the knit fg and the trailwalkers too. Just chose this one to ask XD.
I think I’ll go for the knit’s then!
Maybe my feet need more training with thinner soles in less agressive terrains first…
When I say, elevate the toebox box, I don’t mean(turntup, toes, or what it’s called spring toe) I mean the internal elevation on the top of the toes. So there’s more vertical lift for my toes internally. , I have those boots now from 2022 but there’s a little bit of exaggerated tapering down word on the very front. Thanks to the Marino wool. I don’t have to use socks so they fit just right. 🕊️👋🏼Thanks.
Yea, merino's so breathable I love it. Great to have your "sock" already inside the boot!
I am so confused, just 2 seconds into this . I have only one barefoot shoe and I dont understand how anyone can have more . I was born with them, the shoes that protect my feet , they are resilient, waterproof, selfhealing, and free
Yes, barefoot is the way to go whenever possible! But it's not always possible, for example, going into stores or walking through an area with gasoline or broken glass on the roads, etc. That's where "barefoot shoes" are nice, because they keep you very close to being fully barefoot, so you can still move naturally and feel the ground beneath you. (:
Any suggestions for a business casual barefoot shoe? Brown-leather looking kind of thing?
For example, I used to wear the Xero "alston" model, but they've been discontinued.. although you can still find images online (brown, a strap around the sides, and virtually no sole!). Their newer shoes, like the Glenn Casual Leather models, seem to have rather thick soles by comparison.
I found some other shoes that look promising, but they're only available in Europe (ahinsa Ananda Light Brown, Groundies Palermo Barefoot+).. other similar looking shoes are also discontinued (Vivobarefoot RA II 8996426 , WHITIN Extra Wide Minimalist Barefoot Zero Drop Sole shoes).
Any thoughts on the Saguaro Noble II or the tadeevo Derby Light Brown Minimilist shoes? Be Lenka Cityscape - Salted Caramel Brown?
Hey Ben, you can use the shoe finder tool on my website to filter by "Business," or even leather, etc, to narrow things down. bit.ly/49bVSoc Haven't tried Saguaro or Tadeevo yet, so I couldn't say. Be Lenka's are really comfortable and flexible, although they have an extra wide toebox. The Xero Denver Leather is fairly classy.
I have never understood the speculation that barefoot shoes won’t last as long. The arch support in non-barefoot shoes typically breaks down in six months. The cushioning also breaks down with use. You don’t have those issues with barefoot shoes.
Right? I've been telling people this for years, ha.
I’ve been considering buying five fingers shoes from Vibram. Specifically the KSO ECO with a polyester hemp, but I’m a bit hesitant since I’ve heard the seams on the sides doesn’t hold very well. So after seeing you use the five fingers a lot I’d like to hear your perspective on this matter and how your overall experience is with the shoes. And also are they water resistant to some degree?
I’ve watched your Chanel for a while; especially the ones about the Light phone and some shoe videos. Great stuff man and keep it up!
Cheers and have a good day sir!
I've always wanted to try the KSO's. Vibram, unfortunately, never replies tho. My V-Trek's are still mostly fine after six years, so a big part of durability is how you treat them. Using a shorter stride (less bending) and avoiding scraping rocks/thorns, etc, will give you a lot more milage.
@@AndrewFolts Thanks!
I’m an older woman who mostly wears flat wide slippers around the house for the last 4 years. I am looking for new low impact aerobics shoes that I can also wear for strength training. I have minor bunions and mortons neuroma. I do need some cushioning but definitely need that forefoot flexibility to do calf raises. I was just sold Altra Torino, but they really are a running shoe and not flexible. They will probably be fine for outdoor walking.
Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Sharon, I'd recommend the BeLenka Dash, since it's nice and flexible with a wide stretchy toebox to prevent pressure on your bunions, plus enough room where you could add a padded insole for some extra cushion, if needed. ua-cam.com/video/35YNL1iB5mk/v-deo.html
Since i switch to barefoot (xero) shoes my plantar faciaitis and heel spur pain have almost completely gone away, i can walk without pain now, and the balls of my feet are much stronger
Hey Danny, that's amazing! Great work! Worked for me too and now I've been free of PF for almost seven years. (:
@@AndrewFolts been a solid year for me
Any idea of the Saltic return policy (US)? Do they fit true to size? Thanks!
Yep, they fit true to size. I know they have a return policy, but I'm not sure on the period. I 'd recommend emailing customer support.
Would you recommend the Saltic one size smaller than Vivobarefoot? I have Vivobarefoot EU 43 and according to the Saltic size chart, I need a 42 for the Vintero. I am hesitant to order now. Maybe you know if Saltic has a different size chart. Thanks in advance!
Well I'm a 44 in Vivo's and the Saltic 44 fit me perfectly, so I probably would get your normal size. You usually want extra space in boots for warm socks anyway. They haven't changed their sizing that I know of, but you could contact customer service if you're not sure.
@@AndrewFolts Thanks for your fast reply!
I'm new to barefoot shoes and interested in the Vivo Primus Lite III for everyday casual wear in crowded urban areas. I'm recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture, so just walking in barefoot shoes will be a great rehab for me to build strength in my feet and toes. But I'm worried that the thin soles might be painful. Should rather go with the Vivo Trail FGs to begin with even though the Primus Lite seems more suitable for rehab work in terms of flexibility? Where did you usually run when you say road running? Aspalt pavement or school track? I think that relates to the durability too because yours still have good soles after running in them for several years. I will also start to run in them when I am able to run again. Can you help me choose the right one? I need barefoot shoes.
Your first instinct was right, a thin 3-4mm sole is what you would want for walking on roads/urban terrain. The FG would be overkill and feel clunky on pavement, unless you need them for hybrid road/trail use. When I had plantar fasciitis I wore the original 3mm Vivo Primus Lites and they felt amazing workin as a shoes salesman on concrete 8 hours a day and running too. Obviously take it gradually at first. For casual you might want the Primus Lite Knit ua-cam.com/video/pMqB21BdMGw/v-deo.html, Asana ua-cam.com/video/dLtqaedAp4M/v-deo.html or Sensus ua-cam.com/video/ARV_lCuxrco/v-deo.html instead of the original Primus Lite, which ihas more upper support for intense cross-training. The key is to practice walking smoothly and touching your heel down gently as you land. You can check out my Zero-Drop video for stride tips. ua-cam.com/video/i2D7BUOAe8g/v-deo.html
@@AndrewFolts Wow, thank you for your detailed reply! That was really helpful. I will choose one with the original thin soles. Asana looks pretty good too.
Great video for medium feet, but...
Barefoot shoes have rescued my feet and back. I've been wearing them for 3 years now and I threw away my other shoes. I wore Correct Toes toe spreaders for the first year to realign my toes to their correct position. They both made a HUGE difference. My foot pain is gone, and back pain greatly reduced. And my toes are realigning to their natural spread. As you wear barefoot shoes, your feet will widen - a LOT. So they need to be wide in the toe box and sole to begin with and also fit the curvature of your toes. Don't buy a shoe where your feet hang over the sole or any of your toes hit the front.
I had wide feet with a high arch to begin with - AKA "high volume feet". Only certain make and style shoes work. Vivos are way too narrow. Wider shoes with a fixed tight "sock" won't work either.
I can't wear any of the brands he's discussing except Freet because he has medium width feet. I've found that Freet laceup shoes work well for me. I've got several models now. I love their fit and quality. I prefer their trail tread models with a deeper grip sole for everything but indoor wear. (Just avoid the Richmond which has a poorly designed rear seam that causes blisters.) Their other models are fantastic. I also only wear Injinji toe socks because they're made incredibly well and are really comfortable (just avoid the wool ones because they wear out overnight).
Luna Sandals with wide straps are my choice for summer because they're wide and fully adjustable and comfortable. I also get their deeper trail tread.
Other folks with wide high volume feet also wear Softstars but I find them unattractive. I'm still waiting for the big barefoot shoe companies to start selling wide width shoes. I might try the Mukishoes Jasper. Great find!
I love to go barefoot when possible as well on pavement, grass, and sand. Still not up to rocks or mulch trails. It's the most natural thing for your feet and you should always go barefoot in the house and yard to feel the ground and spread your toes.
Yea, Freet has a great toebox! Mukishoes is even wider, as well as Be Lenka ua-cam.com/video/35YNL1iB5mk/v-deo.html and Realfoot. ua-cam.com/video/lVXd_SlFnhM/v-deo.html You can also browse/filter extra-wide shoes and brands with my shoe finder tool: bit.ly/3RrSa3l I'm tempted to try Correct Toes again. Did you wear them 24/7?
Ayo my back and knee are healed, I've been using a national barefoot shoe (I'm Brazilian), it's called vita minimalista, the model is cachorro do mato, they are very nice, but too long, currently I'm looking for a five finger, such a shame they don't sell your black/gum color for v-trek anymore.
Hey congrats, that's great! Yea, I should have bought five of those gum color, I'll mention that to my Vibram rep. Hopefully they'll bring it back.
@@AndrewFolts hope they hear from you, I would be able to buy two of them currently if they were to come back, the only problem is the sizing, I'm not sure which one to get, 43 European seems to be it.
@@polares01 I'm usually a 43 or 44. The Vibram 43 fits snug like a sock and the 44 has a little bit of room at the toe.
@@AndrewFolts Hey if you've got European friends in their eu website they still have 42 and 44 of these color in the winter sale tab, go for it my friend. After measuring my feet with a physicist friend of mine (what do I know 🤣🤣) I decided to buy the 42 and give it a go.
WOuld the flyingfoxes be suitable for lifting weights indoors? Currently I am lifting with my xero treks, exactly like the ones you have here. I'm thinking about gettting the tanukis(flying fox but low top) for the gym.
No, since they're a winter model and have a water-resistance membrane that would be hot in a gym, but any of Wildling's summer shoes would work fine. bit.ly/3JYfSzt
I'm moving to Mongolia and will be walking to the office everyday in the capital city where the temperatures drop below -40 degrees C . What work shoe boot do you recommend ?
The two warmest barefoot boots I own are the Be Lenka Winter Boot ua-cam.com/video/_YV0OlwZ6Y0/v-deo.html and the Softstar Switchback ua-cam.com/video/ybp_g-8z2vo/v-deo.html, which are both lined with wool and have a thicker sole to keep your feet warm. I'd also recommend Injinji merino wool toe socks ua-cam.com/video/_e6BC2vfl4w/v-deo.html with thick Smartwool's over top amzn.to/47ZyCZJ and a wool felt insole if needed. bit.ly/46EsKEu
have a recommendation for breathable work shoes? I’m thinking of vivo Scott IV and perforating the leather to make it more breathable
Yea, that could be really cool! If you want a lower cut option, the the Saltic Outdoor also has some great toe protection and a tough sole: bit.ly/3Xxbgok
Hi! Do you know something that waterproof but low? Waterproof hiking sneakers?
I plan day hikes on wet grass, hills and wet rocks in warm rainy day. I hate when my feet are wet and I need something waterproof but boots to warm for summer days. I bought Vivobarefoot Magna Forest ESG for this purpose but I don’t like them at all. I have wide toebox but low foot volume and a narrow heel, Magna doesn’t have too much space in toebox, but they loose around my heel and ankle and this sock that Vivo use instead of the usual tongue doesn’t let you tighten the shoes well on skinny low volume ankle.
So I really prefer to find something low like sneakers but still waterproof and with greed that good for hike on wet, rock grass and hills
The Xero Mesa WP bit.ly/4b48IWA is the only true low option I know of, but the Saltic Vintero is semi low and also great for WP hiking ua-cam.com/video/uEOqm4GEFq8/v-deo.html.
What’s a good barefoot soccer shoe? You mentioned around 52:40 you went to a soccer game. I need a good soccer shoe cause the ones I have are so darn narrow!
The Vivobarefoot Primus Trail SG might be a good option, because it's wide, but not awkwardly wide, with an aggressive tread that will grip on a soccer pitch. I've played in the old Trail SG's, which worked pretty well. bit.ly/4an56ic
@@AndrewFolts well thought of on this! Thank you so much I was between those and the Esc Tempest. They have good grip it seems like
Any comments on those for women?
Most barefoot shoes are unisex, so it would just depend more on what style you're looking for and the width of your feet.
I wear slip on traditional work boots for work, their required, but want to get into barefoot, will they help if still wearing trad boots for work?
Yea, any time you spend barefoot or in thin barefoot shoes will help your feet recover from more restrictive shoes/boots. Just be mindful of not overdoing it at first. Also, massaging your arches and calves with a tennis ball after work is great.
Love the long video, but miss on feet footage, also see shoes from different angles
No doubt, I'm going to do a more fancy 50 Best Barefoot shoes in the spring probably. Some of the shoes I've mentioned I do have fancy reviews for already, tho.
Curious, do you run another UA-cam channel too? Or someone is copying your videos? I just got recommended channel called ‘FOLTSY’?
I just realized that you seem to post there other content - however I got recommended from that channel the only barefoot shoe video there 😅
Ha, yea, that's my vlog channel. (:
What size do you wear in the Vibram five finger shoes?
Usually 43. I'm 43-44 generally, but I like sizing down for Vibram's, because they feel better snug.
Is the Xero Denver water resistant?
Yea, the canvas version (what I have) can handle a bit of wet grass and such and the Denver Leather is even more water-resistant, although neither are 100% waterproof. The Saltic Vintero is waterproof: ua-cam.com/video/uEOqm4GEFq8/v-deo.html.
Havd you tried the Softstar Primal Runamoc?
Yep, love the toebox and sole options. Here's my review video: ua-cam.com/video/-e3j2_Zn8Lo/v-deo.html
@@AndrewFolts Awesome. Thank you.
Have you tried or at least seen Vibram Furoshiki? What do you think?
Haven't tried them. The sole's probably great, given that it's Vibram, but the toebox looks kind of narrow, which is odd, because their toe shoes are all wide or wxtra wide.
@@AndrewFolts Can confirm - the toebox is narrow but elastic. Still, correct "mounting" of those shoes causes the toes to be additionally pressed together, although it is not neraly as rigid, as regular narrow-toe shoes.
How wide are the Saltic in comparison to others?
The Saltic Vintero's are excellent. Probably my all time most useful barefoot shoe if I only had one for all seasons. Does get warm in summer with the insulation, tho. Another one I use a ton is the Vivobarefoot Magna FG. ua-cam.com/video/NYIWI47hooA/v-deo.html Similar concept, but uninsulated, so it's more breathable for summer and you can stack socks in the winter for extra warmth.
Then what's the best sandal you own ? I really like running in sandals
Xero z track is my first and favorite for all day long, but I don’t run in it. I use just other xero shoes for running.
Depends on what you want. Either the Monk Ruivo or Xero Z-Trek for casual running and the Shamma Warrior's for technical running (hills, etc) where I need a tighter lockdown. DLD Perception is a mix of both (comfort and lockdown) and allows you to customize the sole/straps, which is cool.
thanks !@@AndrewFolts
@@AndrewFoltsfor hard trail running (in mountains, off road, rocky hills) if you had to recommend me only one pair of sandals what would it be ?
@@prytud I'd recommend the Vibram V-Trek, not sandals, ha. I just don't find sandals to be comfortable or secure enough for long distance running in technical terrain, That said, if you're sure you want sandals, then maybe the Shamma Trailstars. They have the toe loop, which is more secure, a thicker sole to handle the roughest terrain, and the Power Strap system, which distributes tension to avoid rubbing as much as possible.
personally i disagree with the durability thing… i got my feelgrounds about a year ago and after that amount of time the sole is almost flat in the critical places and they got a little hole in the front from playing basketball xD
Feelgrounds is mainly a fashion brand. So, like any other industry, if you want durability, then it would be better to go with brands like Vibram, Xero, Vivobarefoot, and Freet that are made to take more of beating while training and out on the trails.
@@AndrewFolts i agree and its funny because i mainly walk in streets and almost never in trails and rough terrain but i will keep it in mind when i end up going for sportier shoes.
Vivo barefoot shoes look so cool but I see the prices and they DISGUST ME. I can’t see how they have any customers that aren’t rich assholes lol I’m checking out Freet and glad I did. They do have shoes 100$ which is awesome! My first pair is Xero prios because I like how they have sales! Lol even “ revivo “ is a joke! When groceries are enough to bankrupt a person…. I’m not spending 175$ on any shoe let alone a paper light one that someone else owned first! There is NOTHING minimal about inflated costs and wasting money. That goes against everything this type of footwear represents.
My original Vivo Primus Lite's are still going after seven years, which works out to $2/mo. That seems more than reasonable to me, but I can totally understand it being hard to afford at the time of purchase. Freet's a great affordable option, although I find myself almost always wearing my Vivo's. They're more durable, lightweight, and flexible with a better design, so it makes sense that they should charge more.
@@AndrewFolts thank you for the reply! As I kept watching I was impressed when you said you’d been wearing yours for 6 years! Also you brought up about scuffing, I broke my ankle long ago and I’ve never been the same. I started considering barefoot style because literally nothing else works. I basically have two different feet and I’m experimenting now with just letting them be different and using shoes to develop the muscle instead of protecting it. I’m finding my whole body loves these shoes just my ache after a while but no mechanical pain! I’m thinking the feet ache is just adjusting to less padding. Thanks so much for your great content.
@@Msasha2727 Yea, going minimal can def make it easier for your body to compensate for imbalances. There's an old Xero video where Steven (the CEO) talks to a guy who has a significant different in leg length and how he changed his stride to adapt. ua-cam.com/video/--EWR8aoYNA/v-deo.html&ab_channel=XeroShoes
@@AndrewFolts omg thanks for drawing my attention to this! You are a sweetheart ❤️🥾🙏
I'm surprised that you don't have Lem's
Lem's aren't a barefoot shoe, since they have cushion, so they fall outside my channel.
What socks to you wear with bear foot shoes , no one really seems to talk about this.. Please say there is ‘normal’ type socks, i cant stand the look and feel of those horrible looking toe socks things.
Yup, I wear Injinji merino wool toe socks, ha. ua-cam.com/video/_e6BC2vfl4w/v-deo.html Like you I absolutely HATED them the first time I tried them, but a few months later I gave them another try and after a week I was in love with them and couldn't stand normal socks anymore. The main reason is that toe socks spread out my toes slightly, which creates airflow, whereas my feet always got sweaty and disgusting in normal socks, because they cramped my toes together. Trust me, just try a pair for a week and you'll never go back to normal socks for the rest of your life.
Bro, why are all your shoes so dirty? I take care of my shoes b/c they take care of me. I love the barefoot shoes (Xero, ein) and I’m offloading all my trad shoes. Good vid. Care for your stuff though.
I leave them dirty for the video on purpose, so that people can see they're actually being used. That said, I've actually not found dirty to much difference in terms of the longevity of the shoe. I literally never cleaned my V-Trek's once and they've lasted me seven years with no signs of wearing out. Road salt is important to clean off, tho.
@@AndrewFolts That makes sense. Thank you for explaining. I’m new to barefoot shoes, so your video was very helpful.
Unfortunately, they’re all ugly. I wish some of the juggernaut footwear brands could bring their design flair to barefoot shoes. The current offerings are fine for people who don’t really care about style, but for fashion conscious sneaker-heads, the aesthetics of barefoot shoes just don’t cut it.
Really? Have you seen Vivobarefoot? If anything I get comments from people complaining that some of their styles look too much like Nike.
@@AndrewFolts Afraid so. I’ve seen most of the various offerings. The only similar Nikes would be the basic tennis shoe style, or the cheap dad shoes. Barefoot will never hit the mainstream until the shoes start to look cool and drop considerably in price. The current price of Vivo’s is insane.
@@-The-Golden-God- It's all perspective. I used to love Adidas, Nike, etc, but when I started wearing barefoot shoes, even Vibram toe shoes, it switched, and I found regular brands to be ugly as hell. You don't think it'll happen, but it will, ha. It happens for everyone who gets into barefoot shoes. As for Vivo's prices, they make premium shoes that feel great and last for years-way longer than any regular cushion shoes I've ever owned. So the prices are justified, imo.
@@AndrewFolts Your last comment sounded like cliche marketing drivel. I’ve had enough experience with sales and marketing to spot it. It’s essentially the ‘trust me bro’ approach and that’s extremely off-putting.
@@-The-Golden-God- It's just a fact. Ask anyone who's transitioned, and they'll tell you the exact same thing.
Tha k you learn alot
Will watch again
😊
Glad it was useful, appreciate you hanging out! (:
Great video buddy, I never heard of these companies 🥹👋🏼
Thanks, yo! Yea, there are more and more every year. I also made a "Best Fifty Barefoot Shoes" video recently with other options too: ua-cam.com/video/vBuIsama950/v-deo.html
Thanks!
Thanks so much, yo! Contributions like this help me keep putting out more videos and improving the channel .Really appreciate it. Cheers!