As someone who learned barefoot running over a decade ago and who's worn Xero shoes most days out for almost that long...I realize I never learned how to walk with barefoot style, only run. Gonna try to learn this, thanks for the vid!
I once read about that technique of walking up hill effortlessly, but the explanation was very convoluted. Seeing it in a video is much clearer and now I need to find a hill to try it. 😁
so I strolled around the house using this technique and found it reminds me of being a kid who doesn't want to go to their room, that reluctant defiant walk. Also I noticed my core engaged as it hasn't in years and my back is much straighter. WOW. After 3 strides it feels like this makes complete sense as a natural gait. I knew my walking was off for years but there was no info offered from 3 physiotherapists, doctors and a Pilates coach.
Very nice. you seem like a trustworthy person who really wants to share experience and teach the viewers! I can share my main 2 points about the whole barefoot-walking/hiking, which I love. A) if you walk barefoot in nature it will take many kilometers until the software in your brain has updated itself that you don't have to have your eyes glued to the ground to avoid stepping on something like a sharp rock. That will come with time, but it will come! B) When walking on soft ground, I find myself walking just as I would with shoes on concrete. The whole heel-/barefoot-stuff and which one is more natural is only because in the human ancient past there were no concrete sidewalks, that is the unnatural part here. But also, landing in an exagerated manner on the frontfoot is best for waking on sharp rocks or unsure terrain. Anyway, walking barefoot feels so good. especially after having spent the day walking around in shoes : )
At 67 with acquired foot problems started wearing Luna sandals a few months ago and able to walk/hike 5-6 miles without excruciating pain (most of it at night trying to sleep. Saw you on a Zoom with someone challenging some barefoot shoe claims and ordered a pair of Xero Ridgeway Insignias which I love! It’s taking me longer to adjust to them because my feet are happiest in an open sandal but I’m able to maintain 5-6 miles and enjoying every minute. I will definitely start practicing these walking tips you’ve outlined. You’re saving the life of feet! Thank you❤
I recently read the Xero Shoes written guides for walking and running barefoot. I love that you made a video of it now! Keep on being the barefoot advocate that we need you to be! I go all around town and also work as a courier totally barefoot. When people ask questions or make comments, it is really helpful to be able to tell them to check out Xero Shoes to learn more about why they should rethink their foot coffins, and why they should then never think about them again! 😄
"walking is a series of controlled falls" --> learning how to fall It is beautiful how to the extent that you are given genetics with "problems" it calls you to heal, and you end up with knowledge that you would never have acquired if it were not for the injury... the magic of real medicine
As a fairly athletic person who herniated a disc last year - this sort of foundational info is so important! Poor shoes, flip flops, etc and no extra coaching can lead to weird body habits that definitely lead to injury. Very helpful video, thank you!
Thanks so much. I struggle with knee /muscle problems due to an unnecessary knee operation a long time ago. I changed to minimalist shoes...it went better, but oh goodness, I recently experience injuries
Great teaching video. Your explanations and demonstrations are clear. I’m usually sore after walking, hiking and backpacking and didn’t understand why. I’m looking forward to practicing your technique. BTW … I love my Xeros!
Love the video and digestible explanation. One thing I'd like to add about the idea of walking as controlled falling is that comfortable and efficient walking has a lot to do with elastic recoil. When one leg lengthens back and tensions the hip flexor the opposite arm going forward lengthens the ex. Obliques creating a twisted spiral in the fascia and muscles trains. As the body swings to the opposite leg and arm that tensioned energy releases and propels you forward using less muscle power and again, more of an elastic recoil and release. That's way the ability to rotate the ribcage and swing the arms freely is such an important part of gait. Often people think of driving their arms forward in running and walking which creates more of a flexed spine and possible over striding. If you think or imagine gently driving the elbow back and finding that oppositional twist in the worse, you might find that you stay more erect with the foot underneath in the stand phase as you are illustrating here.
Thank you for the very good explanations. You are the first one who is able to explain all those points in one video. I am a physical therapist and I try to teach this to my patients, too. Now I can give them your video.
Thank you so much for this video. I’m currently suffering from knee pain and realized I’m going to have to start to learn to walk again… I’m only 28 and never had pain like this before until this year. I’m a pretty active person, but realized something’s not going right. I decided to consider barefoot shoes and took so much from this video. Hopefully I can change the way I walk, correct my muscle imbalances, and be free of pain!
Love the Contrabody Xero Uphill Strut 😅 No, seriously wonderful video on barefoot gait deconstruction and its cognitive benefits by learning to "live life, feet first" 👣Would be a smart QR code to the shoe box.
Aaaaah, mentioning David Sedaris makes you even more likable! Also- I've heard you explain the falling forward method two years ago, when I started my Barefoot(Shoe) journey and still use it from time to time to check if I'm walking "correctly" - this was the most helpfull advice I did find when researching how to walk in barefootshoes💜
Still adjusting to the barefoot shoe experience and enjoying it for the most part- takes a bit of time to adjust and trying to stay consistent every day, but really beginning to notice the difference and feeling much better while walking. Hoping to be able to run in good form as well but trying to stay with a natural pace of adjustment. Thanks for sharing some good advice on this! 👍☮️
With the hiking tip, I recently started doing that on my own uphills, or something similar. Will try that specific method soon! By the way, just got my first pair of zero shoes. The Mika boot in brown. I like them!
i bought 3 pairs of Xero shoes during your amazing 70% sale a month back , i got the prio neo , HFS2 and the low scrambler . really nice shoes very comfortable ....but alas i did too much too soon , even running just 1 km in the prios injured my achilles and heel
We are happy to hear that you have been enjoying your new shoes! Here are some helpful links that may help you as you transition into them: xeroshoes.com/barefoot-running-tips/do-not-transition-slowly-to-barefoot-running/ xeroshoes.com/barefoot-running-tips/how-to-run-barefoot/ xeroshoes.com/running/tips-how-to-walk-barefoot/
Now that I complain about the music and listen to a little more I can tell you that I have walked that way in my life. I remember walking just for fun through downtown cityscape for an hour plus and feeling like all I’m doing is falling forward. Walking is effortless.
Great video. Wearing xero shoes for two years . Went hiking on rocky and rooty terrain on Appalachian trail, and got sore on lower part of ankle, top of foot around where ankle and foot meet. Why is that? Otherwise, walking with minimalist shoes got rid of other foot related aches and pain. Maybe I just get fatigue, but wondering why that spot gets sore on the trail and if there’s something I can do about it. I get sore after 10 miles hiking. But plenty of other hikers can go 20+ miles before getting sore feet. And I have an ultralight backpack and am not overweight.
We recommend reaching out to our support team at support@xeroshoes.com about this and they can provide more guidance or point you towards more helpful resources.
Why do mountaineers wear stiff boots? Is there an advantage of a stiff shoe in a technical/ mountainous terrain that is rocky but not snowy as i understand why boots are required for winter conditions in terms of crampons etc but they still wear them in summer mountain conditions.
We've been told for decades (or longer!) that you need stiff supportive boots with heavy loads as when you are backpacking. That's being challenged now with shoe companies making "approach shoes" that are lighter weight but still have "support." I'll be hiking up 4,000 ft with 55+ pounds in early July and plan to wear my Xero hikers with one important addition. On rocky terrain the sharp edges of rocks can be felt through a shoe with a thin sole and or heel. Over time this is quite uncomfortable and I'm sure could lead to injury. Some shoes have a "rock plate" so the impact isn't transmitted to the foot. I've added Superfeet insoles to my hikers. Then there's the question of how long will it take for your feet to be strong enough to handle the extra weight you carry when climbing.
@StevePastor50 I think another reason they cite is that with a stiff shoe, you can edge on small foothold whereas with a flexible shoe, you have to smear to ensure you have enough friction when traversing vertical/scrambling terrain. When I did my 1-week mountain leader training, I was told off for wearing approach and fell running shoes (VJ xtrm 2) and that a mountain leader needs to wear a stiff boot which i disagree unless it is snow. But I wanted to know other people's experiences
Steven, you've said that when running it's better to lift the foot with the hips rather than pushing it or pulling it, but here you mentioned (at 1:50) that the hip flexor isn't a very strong muscle. Is there a contradiction here or only an apparent one?
The body is an amazing construction and small adjustments at the foot can ripple into bigger effects up the change. Also, something like the SI Joint has a very small amount of movement. Like goldilocks too much and too little can cause problems. If it is locked and doesn't move your pelvis cannot move properly. If it moves too much then your pelvis may not have the control it needs. Just an example of how really small movements have a big effect in the body.
Thank you. At 68, I had to click on a video explaining how to do something I greatly enjoy. I will try it out. One small criticism if you don't mind: I found the background music extremely distracting/annoying. Cheers from Germany! 🍁
Showed this to a newborn and he's already walking! Such a good guide
LOL
As someone who learned barefoot running over a decade ago and who's worn Xero shoes most days out for almost that long...I realize I never learned how to walk with barefoot style, only run. Gonna try to learn this, thanks for the vid!
I once read about that technique of walking up hill effortlessly, but the explanation was very convoluted. Seeing it in a video is much clearer and now I need to find a hill to try it. 😁
so I strolled around the house using this technique and found it reminds me of being a kid who doesn't want to go to their room, that reluctant defiant walk. Also I noticed my core engaged as it hasn't in years and my back is much straighter. WOW. After 3 strides it feels like this makes complete sense as a natural gait. I knew my walking was off for years but there was no info offered from 3 physiotherapists, doctors and a Pilates coach.
Very nice. you seem like a trustworthy person who really wants to share experience and teach the viewers!
I can share my main 2 points about the whole barefoot-walking/hiking, which I love.
A) if you walk barefoot in nature it will take many kilometers until the software in your brain has updated itself that you don't have to have your eyes glued to the ground to avoid stepping on something like a sharp rock. That will come with time, but it will come!
B) When walking on soft ground, I find myself walking just as I would with shoes on concrete. The whole heel-/barefoot-stuff and which one is more natural is only because in the human ancient past there were no concrete sidewalks, that is the unnatural part here. But also, landing in an exagerated manner on the frontfoot is best for waking on sharp rocks or unsure terrain.
Anyway, walking barefoot feels so good. especially after having spent the day walking around in shoes : )
At 67 with acquired foot problems started wearing Luna sandals a few months ago and able to walk/hike 5-6 miles without excruciating pain (most of it at night trying to sleep. Saw you on a Zoom with someone challenging some barefoot shoe claims and ordered a pair of Xero Ridgeway Insignias which I love! It’s taking me longer to adjust to them because my feet are happiest in an open sandal but I’m able to maintain 5-6 miles and enjoying every minute. I will definitely start practicing these walking tips you’ve outlined. You’re saving the life of feet! Thank you❤
I recently read the Xero Shoes written guides for walking and running barefoot. I love that you made a video of it now! Keep on being the barefoot advocate that we need you to be!
I go all around town and also work as a courier totally barefoot. When people ask questions or make comments, it is really helpful to be able to tell them to check out Xero Shoes to learn more about why they should rethink their foot coffins, and why they should then never think about them again! 😄
Where do I find the written guides?
Go to xeroshoes.com, click on the Learn More link in the top nav, then the Walking the Natural Way link
"walking is a series of controlled falls" --> learning how to fall
It is beautiful how to the extent that you are given genetics with "problems" it calls you to heal, and you end up with knowledge that you would never have acquired if it were not for the injury... the magic of real medicine
As a fairly athletic person who herniated a disc last year - this sort of foundational info is so important!
Poor shoes, flip flops, etc and no extra coaching can lead to weird body habits that definitely lead to injury.
Very helpful video, thank you!
Thanks so much. I struggle with knee /muscle problems due to an unnecessary knee operation a long time ago. I changed to minimalist shoes...it went better, but oh goodness, I recently experience injuries
I appreciate how you showed us how to walk - one step at a time.
Great teaching video. Your explanations and demonstrations are clear. I’m usually sore after walking, hiking and backpacking and didn’t understand why. I’m looking forward to practicing your technique. BTW … I love my Xeros!
Awesome! I was just trying to figure out how to explain all this to someone last night but wasn't able to really articulate it very well.
Love the video and digestible explanation. One thing I'd like to add about the idea of walking as controlled falling is that comfortable and efficient walking has a lot to do with elastic recoil. When one leg lengthens back and tensions the hip flexor the opposite arm going forward lengthens the ex. Obliques creating a twisted spiral in the fascia and muscles trains. As the body swings to the opposite leg and arm that tensioned energy releases and propels you forward using less muscle power and again, more of an elastic recoil and release. That's way the ability to rotate the ribcage and swing the arms freely is such an important part of gait. Often people think of driving their arms forward in running and walking which creates more of a flexed spine and possible over striding. If you think or imagine gently driving the elbow back and finding that oppositional twist in the worse, you might find that you stay more erect with the foot underneath in the stand phase as you are illustrating here.
Nice video. Padding is shoes allows us to use the foot and leg in an unatural way. Removing the shoes forces our biomechanics into the evolved gait.
Thank you for the very good explanations.
You are the first one who is able to explain all those points in one video.
I am a physical therapist and I try to teach this to my patients, too.
Now I can give them your video.
Thank you so much for this video. I’m currently suffering from knee pain and realized I’m going to have to start to learn to walk again… I’m only 28 and never had pain like this before until this year. I’m a pretty active person, but realized something’s not going right. I decided to consider barefoot shoes and took so much from this video. Hopefully I can change the way I walk, correct my muscle imbalances, and be free of pain!
Love the Contrabody Xero Uphill Strut 😅 No, seriously wonderful video on barefoot gait deconstruction and its cognitive benefits by learning to "live life, feet first" 👣Would be a smart QR code to the shoe box.
Aaaaah, mentioning David Sedaris makes you even more likable!
Also- I've heard you explain the falling forward method two years ago, when I started my Barefoot(Shoe) journey and still use it from time to time to check if I'm walking "correctly" - this was the most helpfull advice I did find when researching how to walk in barefootshoes💜
Still adjusting to the barefoot shoe experience and enjoying it for the most part- takes a bit of time to adjust and trying to stay consistent every day, but really beginning to notice the difference and feeling much better while walking. Hoping to be able to run in good form as well but trying to stay with a natural pace of adjustment.
Thanks for sharing some good advice on this! 👍☮️
With the hiking tip, I recently started doing that on my own uphills, or something similar. Will try that specific method soon! By the way, just got my first pair of zero shoes. The Mika boot in brown. I like them!
i bought 3 pairs of Xero shoes during your amazing 70% sale a month back , i got the prio neo , HFS2 and the low scrambler .
really nice shoes very comfortable ....but alas i did too much too soon , even running just 1 km in the prios injured my achilles and heel
We are happy to hear that you have been enjoying your new shoes! Here are some helpful links that may help you as you transition into them:
xeroshoes.com/barefoot-running-tips/do-not-transition-slowly-to-barefoot-running/
xeroshoes.com/barefoot-running-tips/how-to-run-barefoot/
xeroshoes.com/running/tips-how-to-walk-barefoot/
Excellent instructions!
Very interesting video! Learned a lot
LOVE my Xero shoes! I have at least 6 pairs! Great video! Thanks!
This is very helpful thank you
Now that I complain about the music and listen to a little more I can tell you that I have walked that way in my life. I remember walking just for fun through downtown cityscape for an hour plus and feeling like all I’m doing is falling forward. Walking is effortless.
Great video. Wearing xero shoes for two years . Went hiking on rocky and rooty terrain on Appalachian trail, and got sore on lower part of ankle, top of foot around where ankle and foot meet. Why is that? Otherwise, walking with minimalist shoes got rid of other foot related aches and pain. Maybe I just get fatigue, but wondering why that spot gets sore on the trail and if there’s something I can do about it. I get sore after 10 miles hiking. But plenty of other hikers can go 20+ miles before getting sore feet. And I have an ultralight backpack and am not overweight.
We recommend reaching out to our support team at support@xeroshoes.com about this and they can provide more guidance or point you towards more helpful resources.
Great video. 👍🏼
Love your shoes. I need this
Thank's well placed words and imagery.
Wondering if this is
Something that happens when nortic walking.
Why do mountaineers wear stiff boots? Is there an advantage of a stiff shoe in a technical/ mountainous terrain that is rocky but not snowy as i understand why boots are required for winter conditions in terms of crampons etc but they still wear them in summer mountain conditions.
We've been told for decades (or longer!) that you need stiff supportive boots with heavy loads as when you are backpacking. That's being challenged now with shoe companies making "approach shoes" that are lighter weight but still have "support." I'll be hiking up 4,000 ft with 55+ pounds in early July and plan to wear my Xero hikers with one important addition. On rocky terrain the sharp edges of rocks can be felt through a shoe with a thin sole and or heel. Over time this is quite uncomfortable and I'm sure could lead to injury. Some shoes have a "rock plate" so the impact isn't transmitted to the foot. I've added Superfeet insoles to my hikers. Then there's the question of how long will it take for your feet to be strong enough to handle the extra weight you carry when climbing.
@StevePastor50 I think another reason they cite is that with a stiff shoe, you can edge on small foothold whereas with a flexible shoe, you have to smear to ensure you have enough friction when traversing vertical/scrambling terrain. When I did my 1-week mountain leader training, I was told off for wearing approach and fell running shoes (VJ xtrm 2) and that a mountain leader needs to wear a stiff boot which i disagree unless it is snow. But I wanted to know other people's experiences
I walked and walk a lot in the Alps, always on fivefingers. Never had problems.
LOVE the shoes…
But I like my bouncy walk! I’ll try this though, to see if it protects my joints.
Steven, you've said that when running it's better to lift the foot with the hips rather than pushing it or pulling it, but here you mentioned (at 1:50) that the hip flexor isn't a very strong muscle. Is there a contradiction here or only an apparent one?
You can find more information on these mechanics here: xeroshoes.com/running/tips-how-to-walk-barefoot/
Do you have a video on climbing stairs and descending to use glutes more?
We do not, however we can pass this idea to our team, so hopefully we can put up more informational videos like that in the future.
I've always walked mostly on my toes. Years ago a biokineticist said I must walk he toe. Needless to say, I got an injury. 😅
I would love to be a “chief barefoot officer” someday!
Sounds a lot like Danny Dwyer teaching chi-walking.
I have plantar fasciitis- I need thick soles and support. Barefoot shoes would kill my feet
This link might provide some useful information to you in regards to plantar fasciitis: xeroshoes.com/running/tips-cure-plantar-fasciitis-barefoot/
This is how humans supposed to walk.
I have no real objection to this other then in the back of my mind, I feel like it would only make a very very small improvement. Just being honest.
Depends on how much/often you walk
Give it a shot and see what you discover
@@xeroshoes Thinking about it.
The body is an amazing construction and small adjustments at the foot can ripple into bigger effects up the change. Also, something like the SI Joint has a very small amount of movement. Like goldilocks too much and too little can cause problems. If it is locked and doesn't move your pelvis cannot move properly. If it moves too much then your pelvis may not have the control it needs. Just an example of how really small movements have a big effect in the body.
Thank you. At 68, I had to click on a video explaining how to do something I greatly enjoy. I will try it out.
One small criticism if you don't mind: I found the background music extremely distracting/annoying.
Cheers from Germany! 🍁