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. 😁
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!
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❤
"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
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! 😄
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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! 👍☮️
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.
As one who walked barefoot thru college, and earth shoes for years. I wanted to like Xero shoes, but they don't hold up (2 pair of Prio). The last pair i was babying, to be nice looking when i went somewhere, and the sides support split, I was also on a regular basis using shoe glues to reattach the soles (especially at the toes). I contacted support and didn't like what they told me either. I have a pair of sandals (z-trek) too, but i don't like the fit. Too bad, because i would have stuck with them if i thought i had fair value.
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!
When actually barefoot, I walk naturally and lightly without thinking or heel-striking on any surface. But as soon as I put on barefoot shoes, I don’t know what’s going on. Suddenly my feet are slapping into the ground and everything is off, and then it starts hurting.
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! 🍁
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3elMryUe4a4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/tr.png)
Showed this to a newborn and he's already walking! Such a good guide
LOL
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. 😁
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!
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❤
"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
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
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💜
I appreciate how you showed us how to walk - one step at a time.
Very interesting video! Learned a lot
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.
Excellent instructions!
LOVE my Xero shoes! I have at least 6 pairs! Great video! Thanks!
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! 👍☮️
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.
As one who walked barefoot thru college, and earth shoes for years. I wanted to like Xero shoes, but they don't hold up (2 pair of Prio). The last pair i was babying, to be nice looking when i went somewhere, and the sides support split, I was also on a regular basis using shoe glues to reattach the soles (especially at the toes). I contacted support and didn't like what they told me either. I have a pair of sandals (z-trek) too, but i don't like the fit. Too bad, because i would have stuck with them if i thought i had fair value.
Great video. 👍🏼
Thank's well placed words and imagery.
Wondering if this is
Something that happens when nortic walking.
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!
But I like my bouncy walk! I’ll try this though, to see if it protects my joints.
When actually barefoot, I walk naturally and lightly without thinking or heel-striking on any surface. But as soon as I put on barefoot shoes, I don’t know what’s going on. Suddenly my feet are slapping into the ground and everything is off, and then it starts hurting.
You may find some useful information to consider on our website here: xeroshoes.com/running/tips-how-to-walk-barefoot/
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…
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/
I would love to be a “chief barefoot officer” someday!
Sounds a lot like Danny Dwyer teaching chi-walking.
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! 🍁
Why the annoying background "music"? Is this also "American"?
Yeah, sure is stupid...