I have bunions and I have found that when I wear work boots or traditional shoes with a lot of cushioning at the end of the day the joint bone on my big toe is really sore. But if I wear barefoot shoes it's not sore. And as for rock climbing I find that even with the tight shoes it really helps my big toes cause you are standing on tiny holds with your big toe so it's never sore afterwards I think maybe it strengthens it. Does any of that make sense. Do you have any insights on why this might be the case for me? Thanks.
I wish a tennis/pickleball shoe manufacturer like a New Balance would make a court shoe shaped like a barefoot shoe, zero drop but with the padding and comfort of one of their regular court shoes. Basically take the shape of a Altra Escalante and combine it with a NB 996. It seems like you would have the best of both worlds, at least for some people. Thanks for the video.
After reviewing so many of these narrow, high heel lifted basketball shoes, I never thought I would see the day of Zach making a 30 minute barefoot shoe video. Been waiting for this day, to hear your opinion on it, so thanks for putting this video out Zach. ❤
As a podiatrist, I can 100% agree with you Doc. Great video btw Being in one style shoe only can limit overall athletic performance and a strong agile foot is one that's adaptable. I do wear barefoot shoes in certain circumstances but for sure in an athletic scenario, sport specific shoes seem to have the biomechanical advantage over "barefoot" styled shoes Every shoe has it's place.
I started using barefoot shoes for tennis since I saw your previous video. It was great. I’m number one senior in my state in Spain and a tennis coach. I’m 55 but thanks to you I’ve improved my speed. Thanks Doctor
By far the most objective opinion on barefoot shoes I've heard so far. I've been a huge proponent of barefoot shoes since I've had my Vivobarefoots for about a year and a half, and I feel super happy about it and became very reluctant to wear anything else. As big fan of Vans. But i think this is something that everyone needs to hear, whichever side of the fence you're on. In the end of the day, context matters and there's no such thing as a one size fits all solution to every problem and every person.
I use TYR zero drop wide toe box shoes in the gym for everything but squats. For squats I use squat shoes (Nike, not my favorite tbh). For my walks I use Brooks Glycerin running shoes. For Tennis I use Adidas Controls. My son wears New Balance 2ways for highschool basketball, loves them. He hated Jordan 37 (too narrow and boaty). All our decisions are based on content from this channel! Thanks Zach, great work
And both my son and I use Move Game Day insoles in our tennis/basketball shoes. The stock insoles do nothing (this is where the accountants draw the line I guess)
The TYR L-1 lifter is quite nice as far as weightlifting shoes go and they're anatomically shaped. I got mine last year during their black friday sale for I think $60 off, so they were 140 instead of 200. If you're just wearing them for squats, well worth the investment as lifting is one of the few areas that an anatomical foot shape is always best imo
@@GoufinAround_ thanks, I'll probably get a pair for myself and my son on Black Friday. We both don't like the Nike, too narrow toe box (as usual with Nike shoes)
Hi Dr. Zach! I wanted to share my experience with plantar fasciitis. I played football for many years and struggled with it the entire time. When I moved to Asia, I started walking barefoot every day, and my plantar fasciitis eventually disappeared completely! Now, I wear barefoot shoes for shorter walks, but my legs do get tired after a while. I consider myself an amateur athlete, and my lower body is in the best shape it’s ever been. I also play tennis and follow your recommendations for foot care and injury prevention, which have been really helpful. Recently, I started using the latest model of Adidas Barricade, and they’ve been a game-changer for me on the court! Thanks for all your great advice
Great video Dr Zach! I have a hip and femur replacement (2004) and bilateral navicular dislocations, after eight years of AFO bracing and two plus years of orthotics I am in a pair of Xero shoes with no orthotics, this direction feels much better for me. Thank you again for the wonderful video!🦋👣
I really value this video - the public needed less commercialised bias on the effectiveness of trendy athletic footwear. You cleared up so many misconceptions and went into a lot of detail. Have you considered doing physio therapist-ic deep dives into specific foot injuries, addressing causes and methods of improvement? I’ve been watching David Grey Rehab and some of his ankle/foot stuff is really fascinating. Very nerdy, but that kind of thing seems to do well.
As someone who has always been a fan of sneaker design and used to work at a podiatrist owned practice I like seeing your thoughts on different types of footwear products.
Totally agree with this video…Having different styles or pairs of shoes is like going in a toolbox because they all have advantages depending on what you’re doing…I have barefoot Vibrams and they give me an advantage in rock climbing, weightlifting, cross country (grass only), and driving whether it’s racing or just long distance traveling. I’m sure there is more but I’m still picking up hobbies 😊
Thank you for taking the time to do this video! I, like a lot of non professional athletes, have a lot of questions about the different types of footwear. It's great to have some questions answered by an expert.
Your work is invaluable. A video on barefoot shoes like this was much needed. Science-based, differentiated, and built on patient research and learning processes. It’s very easy to fall into the “regular shoes destroy your feet” lore when you first learn about barefoot shoes, because it sounds reasonable initially. Thanks for the closer look. Learning a lot from you, Doc.
Incredibly good video! Thank you for using your platform and expertise to create such a well rounded discussion on the topic. Far too often I see "foot doctors" on social media saying "never wear these 3 shoe brands" or recommending orthotics or one particular brand. There is something out there for everyone and variety in footwear is important as is choosing the right tool for the job.
Really love this longform style of video where you go super in-depth. Would love to see this kind of style of video in the future if you feel there are any other pressing issues you want to discuss with your vast knowledge!
I find that rotating between different drops helped me avoid the kinds of injuries i incurred from being an obese person trying to get active. I was able to spread the load to different muscle groups throughout the day for different activity. Wide toe box anatomically shaped zero drop for walking (mix of stacks depending on the surface) and higher drop max stack for running. Its helped me avoid pain in my calves and hams.
more important than barefoot shoes, is exercising your feet. I have been suffering from severe plantar fascitis for two years. only thing helping is shock wave therapy and foot exercises. if your foot is healthy and you are doing foot exercises regularly, I think bareffot for casual use is great. Speacialist sports where your foot is under extreme strain, i think use proper sports specific shoes... and i go as wide as i can get
I really appreciate this and would love a video on a breakdown on what each type of component actually do for the shoe and feet. The benefit for people with wide or flat or narrow feet. People that need bounce etc etc.
I appreciate the insight and nuance to a recent fad that I had put some money into. I'm glad that I also saw your early videos as I became interested barefoot/anatomical shoes, as I had noticed that even with your "training tennis barefoot" video, you weren't pushing the same kind of narrative the shoe companies did. It made me consider that we have to adapt footwear to the specific circumstances we are in. Thus, I wear tennis shoes based on the need for supporting tennis performance movement, while I wear relatively minimalist shoes for everyday walking and weight training. Great stuff, Zach!
Great video. I’m a super pronator, orthodics since I was 12 but recently I’ve noticed how I wear all this support and I feel like my feet are just along for the ride. I’m not trying to jump into the barefoot life but I am trying to regain my toe/foot mobility with the help of mobility exercises(it took days practicing just to easily move my little toes independently of my big toe) and increased time barefoot. Like you said I think a strong base can then help utilize a shoe’s performance during activities.
Loved this breakdown!! I'm a CPT/CES and have been increasingly asked about barefoot shoes. As a former D1 squash player as well, I'd also love to hear more on your thoughts regarding anatomic shoes for court sports - I understand that from a performance enhancement standpoint stacking the metatarsal heads is necessary and certain shoe configurations can help towards that. But on the flip side of injury prevention however, would it not be better to have those wider toeboxes allowing toe splay so that deceleration can utilize the foot intrinsics better so as to spare the knees/hips/lower back unnecessary stress? Also, regarding heel drop in court shoes, it seems like it would aid in the landing phase as the lunging nature of most court sports requires heel striking, but at late stages of those big explosive lunges where the leading leg is fully in front and ankle is plantarflexed, would a higher drop not put excessive levels of compression on the achilles? Considering these it seems like anatomical toeboxes a la altra with a low to zero drop would be a great fit for court sports? I know there's no one size fits all answer, but curious to hear your take on these!
I'm a basketball player and a runner who wears barefoot shoes for my daily activities and lifting weight. Been more than 2 years now and I can feel that my ankle and feet are stronger, and my flat foot is getting better. There was one time when I landed on someone's foot after a jumpshot, and luckily I didn't experience any ankle sprain due to stronger ankle and foot
So glad you made a video on this topic. Questions: 1. I’ve read / watched that big toe alignment is critical for big toe engagement and function, which then helps to support the arch. With traditional shoes, the big toe is “asleep” thus resulting in less supported arch. Thoughts on this? 2. You mentioned you don’t think barefoot shoes are good for walking. Couldn’t a barefoot shoe still train and strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles during walking? Not just in athletic training? Especially if they’re on the weaker end of the spectrum to start?
Absolutely perfect timing on this. It’s so hard to find information from a Doctor on these types of shoes. I’d love to see you do an interview or content review of Squat University. He has a lot of amazing info, but his evangelical-ness on anatomical shoes was confusing to me after doing more research.
I've bought shoes from Vivo a couple times simply because they marketed products that were wide enough for my feet. But it's nice to have some level of padding when you're often walking on concrete
I am wearing Hykes Escapes barefoot shoes and best thing I ever did, my arches came back and foot pain is gone after getting used to them. Never going back to regular shoes.
I just always liked a bit of room in my non-sport shoes. I alway buy half or even a size bigger depending on the model and i found its much more comfortable for all day use.
I find the xero 360 with the move gameday insole a perfect basketball shoe for myself. Granted I've been wearing minimal shoes exclusively for the past decade. I must mention that using the included insole in a barefoot shoe on a hardwood court is not a good idea. The sport specific insole and becoming lighter on your feet are both important for making it work.
barefoot shoes for gym use is very practical (tho no protection) I can run it on treadmills and I can do weightlifting without switching shoes and its portable, tho bringing running shoes and weightlifting shoes is much better but not practical
In asia, specifically in the Philippines, we often start playing basketball and volleyball barefoot or wearing just sandals/slippers for years. Do you think those early stages positively affect the foot/leg health of our bodies?
All I need is zero drop because I use all my shoes for downhill skateboarding. Having the same heel and toe stack allows for equal turning leverage onto the board for both the heelside and toeside leans. In fact, I do want some impact protection for when I need to bail and run it out, so being fully barefoot isn't actually that great for my use. I wish shoe makers would specify the stack height for the heel and toe, so I will know that a shoe is zero drop or not. There are shoes like the Nike Ishod 2, which is zero drop if you change to a flat insole (instead of the stock Air Max insole). edit: The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is also another shoe that is not zero-drop due to its insole, so an insole swap can make it zero drop.
I think the number one thing that people, especially the people who say you have to wear only barefoot/anatomically shaped shoes or the people who say that those are to be avoided at all costs, forget that shoes just need to fit and work best for their designed purpose.
Hope they make basketball shoes with super wide toe boxes…..although I agree with Dr. Zach that anatomic toe box shoe is not efficient for court sports, the problem is that many basketball shoes today are just too narrow for the toes. I think they need to find a sweet spot in the shoe design 🎉
Some of them only have enough foam to serve as a buffer between the footbed material and the rubber. Without it, the friction could cause major problems and make the shoes less durable on the inside 2:40
I invest in Vivo (& Vibram FF) mainly because of the zero-drop footbed & virtually no cushion. Problem is, they’re not made for something like hoops, so traction is garbage & lockdown is severely lacking. I’d be swimming in those shoes, and obviously that would be problematic in a highly-dynamic environment. I hoop in Nike Blazers to resemble a “barefoot” shoe closest, even though there’s a bit of a heel stack. If some of these barefoot sneaker companies made hoops sneakers with tech that improves traction & lockdown (I can bare with a narrow forefoot if need be), and they look halfway decent, I’d probably take the dive.
Xero might be getting there. I haven't seen any reviews on their basketball shoes (not sure if they're even released yet), but they've signed Justin Holiday and afaik some WNBA players
@@tiefenverspannt yeah I seen Justin Holiday. They don’t look bad, but I think they would function better with a few changes. Make it low-top, separate the lace holes further from each other, and add a strap to increase lockdown, especially at the forefoot.
This is why I think a cohort study over time within a 10-year timeframe with kiddos as the main subject for the shoes argument would be interesting, but ethically, it'd be problematic though. Besides, as a med myself, we could only think of the patient in the present times.
Thanks for the video! So it sounds like you'd suggest doing some basketball training in barefoot shoes. Do you have worries about cutting and sudden movements in them? Also do you know of any low/no drop basketball shoes thay could help with the transition? Thanks!
I don’t think he should’ve mentioned playing tennis in them as anything but a novelty. You can practice athletic movements in barefoot shoes, but I, and I’m sure he, would suggest keeping it controlled in a gym environment (e.g. Lateral plyometrics) and not on the court. They’re for strengthening the feet and lower body chain in training.
@@LuZu_ appreciate the response! More for training than full play...So for basketball, maybe shooting and light movement, but stopping well short of game-speed drills? Is that what you (and Zach) are getting at?
I would be curious to know if you feel this type of shoes is a benefit for Cross Training? Also, is that the Frank Works shoe? Would love to see a review!
Do you think barefoot training is good after an ankle sprain to get a better ground feel to have better proprioception for the ankle to understand where it is
Good use case if you have adequate offloading so no barefoot style- unfortunately I don’t have a great option to recommend in that category as the ones our currently are either way unstable or are just no go running shoes - better off with a NB 2E to allow some expansion
What about people who lateral ankle stability isssues and/or peroneal tendonitis? There is conflicting studies whether barefoot footwear or cushioned neutral footwear is better for them even for just walking
The heel-to-toe drop in an AJ1 is horrendous, so unless your foot can properly function inside of the shoe, your foot is gonna slide forward & crash. And that leather is gonna stretch, so the lockdown is gonna suck. Or just wear an extra pair of socks.
Could you give recommendations for barefoot shoes? Or are they all pretty similar to the point where it doesnt make sense ro recommend one over the other?
Yeah you said it- if it’s barefoot is shouldn’t really have anything that differentiates it- that being said the uncivilized sneaker has the best uppers and lockdown I’ve seen on a barefoot shoe so if I were buying one it’d be those
They are the barefoot shoes I’d buy if I were in the market but it mainly comes down to the tread and uppers which I think theirs does the best - not much else to review about them tbh
"Someone buys barefoot/minimalist shoes and gets shin splits from going way too hard on them" ...oops! Yeah that was me initially. I used a few of those puma sneakers that where also really good for driving but barely had any sole, but I eventually wised up/stopped pushing too hard and had some success with using Nike Free runs...however living in the desert and sometimes just going on a few walks where sidewalks where not always well maintained or present, you have the possibility of some discarded big thorn lying around and poking through your foot, it happeened a few times to me and that eventually made me turn to slightly more cushioned shoes with more defined/tougher soles. Also since most of my walking is in unnatural settings, it makes sense to me to have some "unnatural" extra support/cushion to sort of gain back the squish/give of what should be more natural surfaces. As I mostly do either strength training or tennis on hard courts, I can't imagine not using appropriate court shoes (and very happily using Gel Res 9 after your recommendation Dr!) On the topic of issues with feet, the loved one who suffers most of that has largely been my MIL, but she tells stories of how she just had to re-use whatever shoe her older sisters used and that they would often fit poorly, I blamed her issues on that, and as my wife has none of those issues didn't give much more thought to it. After what you mention I do have to give some thought, at least to one of my kids, the one who LOVES being barefoot and has nice hobbit footsies *cough precious* with (slightly) splayed out fingers. This is very much something I'll be keeping in mind for her next check up to ask the Dr.
doc, i have a question, my left foot is kinda flat, but my right foot is a little bit high on the arch, so what do you suggest for me on what type of shoe for me to wear? (im a shifty player, my weight is about 55kg, and my height is about 5’4)
the most drastic case of a group of people whose feet physically changed due to the use of specific footwear are the old concubines who practiced foot binding. Absolutely horrific. It wasn't for sports performance but societal acceptance that women with smaller feet were more appealing.
Justin Holiday and Xero Shoes are about to bring a barefoot basketball shoe to the market. Justin already wore them in the playoffs as a proof of concept.
I play in my barefoot shoes exclusively. Cushion and supports offer performance benefits, but there is no actual need for anything of the sort if you're conditioned for it.
@@rydakule I’ve got a feeling they’re not going to be very good but we’ll see. To be clear, as someone with bunions, I still rely on Wade’s for their more anatomical shape. If these Xero’s have limited cushion at the heel and lack support, performance will be hindered. Do you agree that these are necessary components to a court shoe, not considering stacked metatarsal propulsion?
@LuZu_ I'm thirty with a day job. I don't care if I'm "hindering performance" because I'm just trying to play a game of pick-up ball. And if you can tell me exactly how I'm increasing my risk of injury, I'd love to see it. I've yet to get injured in barefoot shoes since I've switched and I was constantly injured beforehand
They're "right" for just about anybody, but what they ARE is a training tool. They allow you to train on some weak points that other shoe's bandaid. Which is great, but you should treat them as such, with PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD. It's not a lifestyle overhaul, it's not your new you, it's a training tool.
.... barefoot shoes great for Strength training and casually walking around...running though I'd just go with either running on grass or buying some Altra or Topos or even some 4e new balance with 4-6mm drop, concrete and asphalt is way to hard for feet long term .... Personally in the gym on leg days I'm in barefoot shoes on upper body days I'm in vibram 5 finger because most of the floor is rubberised mat, so I can get away with it. Running is varied but it's all low ish drop but with cush. Controlled(form) sessions on a track I use an Altra escalante Racer, to work on my gait. Faster or longer sessions, I'm going with more cush but still low drop so Topo, new balance fresh (4e cos I got froddo feet and quite wide toes) 1080s and more v4s, and I just wear 'normal' basketball, shoes when I play ...I've learnt barefoot shoes is a tool
I’ve been learning the opposite about efficient push off. When a foot can be in anatomical position then the transverse tie bar mechanism of the foot can work as it is intended to. It is this mechanism that stabilizes and allows for efficient and powerful push off. Tapering the toe box disrupts this. Also, blisters, ingrown toenails, neuromas, bunions and many other issues happen in pointed athletic shoes. Isolating and strengthening intrinsic foot muscles is no harder then isolating and strengthening any other muscle group….not sure why we treat feet differently then other areas of the body. Wear shoes shaped like feet people. Irene Davis research is excellent on this topic.
My biggest issue with barefoot shoes is that they always look like the people wearing them. I want to see ones that have style to them like air max or yeezy
![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)
FREE Updated shoe anatomy guide: geni.us/freeshoeguide
I have bunions and I have found that when I wear work boots or traditional shoes with a lot of cushioning at the end of the day the joint bone on my big toe is really sore. But if I wear barefoot shoes it's not sore. And as for rock climbing I find that even with the tight shoes it really helps my big toes cause you are standing on tiny holds with your big toe so it's never sore afterwards I think maybe it strengthens it. Does any of that make sense. Do you have any insights on why this might be the case for me? Thanks.
I wish a tennis/pickleball shoe manufacturer like a New Balance would make a court shoe shaped like a barefoot shoe, zero drop but with the padding and comfort of one of their regular court shoes. Basically take the shape of a Altra Escalante and combine it with a NB 996. It seems like you would have the best of both worlds, at least for some people. Thanks for the video.
After reviewing so many of these narrow, high heel lifted basketball shoes, I never thought I would see the day of Zach making a 30 minute barefoot shoe video. Been waiting for this day, to hear your opinion on it, so thanks for putting this video out Zach. ❤
As a podiatrist, I can 100% agree with you Doc. Great video btw
Being in one style shoe only can limit overall athletic performance and a strong agile foot is one that's adaptable. I do wear barefoot shoes in certain circumstances but for sure in an athletic scenario, sport specific shoes seem to have the biomechanical advantage over "barefoot" styled shoes
Every shoe has it's place.
I started using barefoot shoes for tennis since I saw your previous video. It was great. I’m number one senior in my state in Spain and a tennis coach. I’m 55 but thanks to you I’ve improved my speed. Thanks Doctor
Hi Eduardo. I am considering this too. Which Barefoot shoe are you using for tennis?
Shoutout to @FootDoctorZach. Best shoe reviewer out there.
Absolutely
By far the most objective opinion on barefoot shoes I've heard so far. I've been a huge proponent of barefoot shoes since I've had my Vivobarefoots for about a year and a half, and I feel super happy about it and became very reluctant to wear anything else. As big fan of Vans. But i think this is something that everyone needs to hear, whichever side of the fence you're on. In the end of the day, context matters and there's no such thing as a one size fits all solution to every problem and every person.
I use TYR zero drop wide toe box shoes in the gym for everything but squats. For squats I use squat shoes (Nike, not my favorite tbh). For my walks I use Brooks Glycerin running shoes. For Tennis I use Adidas Controls. My son wears New Balance 2ways for highschool basketball, loves them. He hated Jordan 37 (too narrow and boaty). All our decisions are based on content from this channel! Thanks Zach, great work
And both my son and I use Move Game Day insoles in our tennis/basketball shoes. The stock insoles do nothing (this is where the accountants draw the line I guess)
The TYR L-1 lifter is quite nice as far as weightlifting shoes go and they're anatomically shaped. I got mine last year during their black friday sale for I think $60 off, so they were 140 instead of 200. If you're just wearing them for squats, well worth the investment as lifting is one of the few areas that an anatomical foot shape is always best imo
@@GoufinAround_ thanks, I'll probably get a pair for myself and my son on Black Friday. We both don't like the Nike, too narrow toe box (as usual with Nike shoes)
Hi Dr. Zach! I wanted to share my experience with plantar fasciitis. I played football for many years and struggled with it the entire time. When I moved to Asia, I started walking barefoot every day, and my plantar fasciitis eventually disappeared completely! Now, I wear barefoot shoes for shorter walks, but my legs do get tired after a while. I consider myself an amateur athlete, and my lower body is in the best shape it’s ever been. I also play tennis and follow your recommendations for foot care and injury prevention, which have been really helpful. Recently, I started using the latest model of Adidas Barricade, and they’ve been a game-changer for me on the court! Thanks for all your great advice
Great video Dr Zach! I have a hip and femur replacement (2004) and bilateral navicular dislocations, after eight years of AFO bracing and two plus years of orthotics I am in a pair of Xero shoes with no orthotics, this direction feels much better for me. Thank you again for the wonderful video!🦋👣
Really appreciate the fairness and attempt to be as unbiased as possible
I really value this video - the public needed less commercialised bias on the effectiveness of trendy athletic footwear. You cleared up so many misconceptions and went into a lot of detail.
Have you considered doing physio therapist-ic deep dives into specific foot injuries, addressing causes and methods of improvement? I’ve been watching David Grey Rehab and some of his ankle/foot stuff is really fascinating. Very nerdy, but that kind of thing seems to do well.
As someone who has always been a fan of sneaker design and used to work at a podiatrist owned practice I like seeing your thoughts on different types of footwear products.
Totally agree with this video…Having different styles or pairs of shoes is like going in a toolbox because they all have advantages depending on what you’re doing…I have barefoot Vibrams and they give me an advantage in rock climbing, weightlifting, cross country (grass only), and driving whether it’s racing or just long distance traveling. I’m sure there is more but I’m still picking up hobbies 😊
Thank you for taking the time to do this video! I, like a lot of non professional athletes, have a lot of questions about the different types of footwear. It's great to have some questions answered by an expert.
Your work is invaluable. A video on barefoot shoes like this was much needed. Science-based, differentiated, and built on patient research and learning processes. It’s very easy to fall into the “regular shoes destroy your feet” lore when you first learn about barefoot shoes, because it sounds reasonable initially. Thanks for the closer look. Learning a lot from you, Doc.
Incredibly good video! Thank you for using your platform and expertise to create such a well rounded discussion on the topic. Far too often I see "foot doctors" on social media saying "never wear these 3 shoe brands" or recommending orthotics or one particular brand. There is something out there for everyone and variety in footwear is important as is choosing the right tool for the job.
Really love this longform style of video where you go super in-depth. Would love to see this kind of style of video in the future if you feel there are any other pressing issues you want to discuss with your vast knowledge!
I find that rotating between different drops helped me avoid the kinds of injuries i incurred from being an obese person trying to get active. I was able to spread the load to different muscle groups throughout the day for different activity. Wide toe box anatomically shaped zero drop for walking (mix of stacks depending on the surface) and higher drop max stack for running. Its helped me avoid pain in my calves and hams.
Great video! Thank you for clarifying the whole debacle. Coming from a third year DPT student, this video will help me become a better clinician.
more important than barefoot shoes, is exercising your feet. I have been suffering from severe plantar fascitis for two years. only thing helping is shock wave therapy and foot exercises. if your foot is healthy and you are doing foot exercises regularly, I think bareffot for casual use is great. Speacialist sports where your foot is under extreme strain, i think use proper sports specific shoes... and i go as wide as i can get
I really appreciate this and would love a video on a breakdown on what each type of component actually do for the shoe and feet. The benefit for people with wide or flat or narrow feet. People that need bounce etc etc.
I appreciate the insight and nuance to a recent fad that I had put some money into. I'm glad that I also saw your early videos as I became interested barefoot/anatomical shoes, as I had noticed that even with your "training tennis barefoot" video, you weren't pushing the same kind of narrative the shoe companies did. It made me consider that we have to adapt footwear to the specific circumstances we are in. Thus, I wear tennis shoes based on the need for supporting tennis performance movement, while I wear relatively minimalist shoes for everyday walking and weight training. Great stuff, Zach!
30 minutes of my favorite doctor!! Great video, very clear and facts🤞
I was just thinking "When is Doc Zach bringing out a new review" and here we are! We appreciate you Doc, thanks for what you do!
Great video. I’m a super pronator, orthodics since I was 12 but recently I’ve noticed how I wear all this support and I feel like my feet are just along for the ride. I’m not trying to jump into the barefoot life but I am trying to regain my toe/foot mobility with the help of mobility exercises(it took days practicing just to easily move my little toes independently of my big toe) and increased time barefoot. Like you said I think a strong base can then help utilize a shoe’s performance during activities.
Love your passion and thank you for spreading your knowledge…I really enjoy your videos
Loved this breakdown!! I'm a CPT/CES and have been increasingly asked about barefoot shoes. As a former D1 squash player as well, I'd also love to hear more on your thoughts regarding anatomic shoes for court sports - I understand that from a performance enhancement standpoint stacking the metatarsal heads is necessary and certain shoe configurations can help towards that. But on the flip side of injury prevention however, would it not be better to have those wider toeboxes allowing toe splay so that deceleration can utilize the foot intrinsics better so as to spare the knees/hips/lower back unnecessary stress? Also, regarding heel drop in court shoes, it seems like it would aid in the landing phase as the lunging nature of most court sports requires heel striking, but at late stages of those big explosive lunges where the leading leg is fully in front and ankle is plantarflexed, would a higher drop not put excessive levels of compression on the achilles? Considering these it seems like anatomical toeboxes a la altra with a low to zero drop would be a great fit for court sports? I know there's no one size fits all answer, but curious to hear your take on these!
I'm a basketball player and a runner who wears barefoot shoes for my daily activities and lifting weight. Been more than 2 years now and I can feel that my ankle and feet are stronger, and my flat foot is getting better. There was one time when I landed on someone's foot after a jumpshot, and luckily I didn't experience any ankle sprain due to stronger ankle and foot
I'm still wearing basketball and running shoes for those activities, but most of the time I'm in barefoot shoes or sandals
Been waiting for this video from Zach!
Great insights. Thanks Dr. Zach.
So glad you made a video on this topic. Questions:
1. I’ve read / watched that big toe alignment is critical for big toe engagement and function, which then helps to support the arch. With traditional shoes, the big toe is “asleep” thus resulting in less supported arch. Thoughts on this?
2. You mentioned you don’t think barefoot shoes are good for walking. Couldn’t a barefoot shoe still train and strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles during walking? Not just in athletic training? Especially if they’re on the weaker end of the spectrum to start?
I love walking on sand, great workout. Andy Murray did a lot of that after his hip replacement to get back on the court
Absolutely perfect timing on this. It’s so hard to find information from a Doctor on these types of shoes.
I’d love to see you do an interview or content review of Squat University. He has a lot of amazing info, but his evangelical-ness on anatomical shoes was confusing to me after doing more research.
I've bought shoes from Vivo a couple times simply because they marketed products that were wide enough for my feet. But it's nice to have some level of padding when you're often walking on concrete
I am wearing Hykes Escapes barefoot shoes and best thing I ever did, my arches came back and foot pain is gone after getting used to them. Never going back to regular shoes.
Great video very informative. Thanks doc
I just always liked a bit of room in my non-sport shoes. I alway buy half or even a size bigger depending on the model and i found its much more comfortable for all day use.
I can't wait for those Xero wide toe box basketball shoes to become available (and to go under the doctor's knife).
I find the xero 360 with the move gameday insole a perfect basketball shoe for myself. Granted I've been wearing minimal shoes exclusively for the past decade. I must mention that using the included insole in a barefoot shoe on a hardwood court is not a good idea. The sport specific insole and becoming lighter on your feet are both important for making it work.
barefoot shoes for gym use is very practical (tho no protection) I can run it on treadmills and I can do weightlifting without switching shoes and its portable, tho bringing running shoes and weightlifting shoes is much better but not practical
In asia, specifically in the Philippines, we often start playing basketball and volleyball barefoot or wearing just sandals/slippers for years. Do you think those early stages positively affect the foot/leg health of our bodies?
All I need is zero drop because I use all my shoes for downhill skateboarding. Having the same heel and toe stack allows for equal turning leverage onto the board for both the heelside and toeside leans.
In fact, I do want some impact protection for when I need to bail and run it out, so being fully barefoot isn't actually that great for my use.
I wish shoe makers would specify the stack height for the heel and toe, so I will know that a shoe is zero drop or not.
There are shoes like the Nike Ishod 2, which is zero drop if you change to a flat insole (instead of the stock Air Max insole).
edit: The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is also another shoe that is not zero-drop due to its insole, so an insole swap can make it zero drop.
I think the number one thing that people, especially the people who say you have to wear only barefoot/anatomically shaped shoes or the people who say that those are to be avoided at all costs, forget that shoes just need to fit and work best for their designed purpose.
Would you recomment barefoot & anotomic toe box for everyday wear/play for children?
Cant wait for you to do a video on Nike LeBron TR1
Hope they make basketball shoes with super wide toe boxes…..although I agree with Dr. Zach that anatomic toe box shoe is not efficient for court sports, the problem is that many basketball shoes today are just too narrow for the toes. I think they need to find a sweet spot in the shoe design 🎉
Yup right there ☝️
Some of them only have enough foam to serve as a buffer between the footbed material and the rubber. Without it, the friction could cause major problems and make the shoes less durable on the inside 2:40
Hi Zach. Greeting from Norway. Would you recommend barefoot type of shoes to toddlers?
I invest in Vivo (& Vibram FF) mainly because of the zero-drop footbed & virtually no cushion. Problem is, they’re not made for something like hoops, so traction is garbage & lockdown is severely lacking. I’d be swimming in those shoes, and obviously that would be problematic in a highly-dynamic environment. I hoop in Nike Blazers to resemble a “barefoot” shoe closest, even though there’s a bit of a heel stack.
If some of these barefoot sneaker companies made hoops sneakers with tech that improves traction & lockdown (I can bare with a narrow forefoot if need be), and they look halfway decent, I’d probably take the dive.
Xero might be getting there. I haven't seen any reviews on their basketball shoes (not sure if they're even released yet), but they've signed Justin Holiday and afaik some WNBA players
@@tiefenverspannt yeah I seen Justin Holiday. They don’t look bad, but I think they would function better with a few changes. Make it low-top, separate the lace holes further from each other, and add a strap to increase lockdown, especially at the forefoot.
Can you plz review more barefoot shoes Zach like the feel grounds sneakers, and the origo sneakers 🔥🔥
This is why I think a cohort study over time within a 10-year timeframe with kiddos as the main subject for the shoes argument would be interesting, but ethically, it'd be problematic though. Besides, as a med myself, we could only think of the patient in the present times.
Thank you.
Great info as always. Does anyone make barefoot shoes for pickleball and would you recommend them as a training tool?
30 mins? Yes lawd ❤
As you mentioned in the video that you tried barefoot shoes , wich barefoot shoes (brand from EU) would you recommend for tennis training?
Thanks for the video! So it sounds like you'd suggest doing some basketball training in barefoot shoes. Do you have worries about cutting and sudden movements in them? Also do you know of any low/no drop basketball shoes thay could help with the transition? Thanks!
I don’t think he should’ve mentioned playing tennis in them as anything but a novelty. You can practice athletic movements in barefoot shoes, but I, and I’m sure he, would suggest keeping it controlled in a gym environment (e.g. Lateral plyometrics) and not on the court. They’re for strengthening the feet and lower body chain in training.
@@LuZu_ appreciate the response! More for training than full play...So for basketball, maybe shooting and light movement, but stopping well short of game-speed drills? Is that what you (and Zach) are getting at?
FDZ disrupted the shoe youtube game!!! Ive noticed im only watching his channel when it comes to shoes
I would be curious to know if you feel this type of shoes is a benefit for Cross Training? Also, is that the Frank Works shoe? Would love to see a review!
The video i secretly always wanted!
Do you think barefoot training is good after an ankle sprain to get a better ground feel to have better proprioception for the ankle to understand where it is
Can you review Cypher Pickleball shoes?
can you please review shoes by Serious Player Only?
What about anatomic shoes for pickleball when you have Morton's Neuroma? If so, Which ones?
Good use case if you have adequate offloading so no barefoot style- unfortunately I don’t have a great option to recommend in that category as the ones our currently are either way unstable or are just no go running shoes - better off with a NB 2E to allow some expansion
I feel like a lot of people don't want to admit that they need wide shoes. We need more wide shoe options in the industry in general.
I don't mind a high angled taper.
What I don't like. Is that ridiculous amount of inflare on shoes that puts a strain on my lateral toes
What about people who lateral ankle stability isssues and/or peroneal tendonitis? There is conflicting studies whether barefoot footwear or cushioned neutral footwear is better for them even for just walking
Do you think jordan 1 as a barefoot shoe is just rubber and an insole? Do you think these shoes would work for training those muscles when barefoot?
The heel-to-toe drop in an AJ1 is horrendous, so unless your foot can properly function inside of the shoe, your foot is gonna slide forward & crash. And that leather is gonna stretch, so the lockdown is gonna suck. Or just wear an extra pair of socks.
Please breakdown the li ning liren assassin 1
Thanks for breaking this down for us novice sneaker heads ! Lol
What about high cush / cushioned zero drop shoes like Altra?
jordan 38 low or gt cut 3🙌
Would you be interested in reviewing a basketball shoe from an Indonesian brand? I would be very curious to see your opinion!
Could you give recommendations for barefoot shoes? Or are they all pretty similar to the point where it doesnt make sense ro recommend one over the other?
Yeah you said it- if it’s barefoot is shouldn’t really have anything that differentiates it- that being said the uncivilized sneaker has the best uppers and lockdown I’ve seen on a barefoot shoe so if I were buying one it’d be those
What do you think about uncivilized sneaker 2.0 by kneeovertoesguy ??? Can you do a performance review ???
They are the barefoot shoes I’d buy if I were in the market but it mainly comes down to the tread and uppers which I think theirs does the best - not much else to review about them tbh
"Someone buys barefoot/minimalist shoes and gets shin splits from going way too hard on them" ...oops! Yeah that was me initially. I used a few of those puma sneakers that where also really good for driving but barely had any sole, but I eventually wised up/stopped pushing too hard and had some success with using Nike Free runs...however living in the desert and sometimes just going on a few walks where sidewalks where not always well maintained or present, you have the possibility of some discarded big thorn lying around and poking through your foot, it happeened a few times to me and that eventually made me turn to slightly more cushioned shoes with more defined/tougher soles. Also since most of my walking is in unnatural settings, it makes sense to me to have some "unnatural" extra support/cushion to sort of gain back the squish/give of what should be more natural surfaces. As I mostly do either strength training or tennis on hard courts, I can't imagine not using appropriate court shoes (and very happily using Gel Res 9 after your recommendation Dr!)
On the topic of issues with feet, the loved one who suffers most of that has largely been my MIL, but she tells stories of how she just had to re-use whatever shoe her older sisters used and that they would often fit poorly, I blamed her issues on that, and as my wife has none of those issues didn't give much more thought to it. After what you mention I do have to give some thought, at least to one of my kids, the one who LOVES being barefoot and has nice hobbit footsies *cough precious* with (slightly) splayed out fingers. This is very much something I'll be keeping in mind for her next check up to ask the Dr.
Love Nike free run… hope they make some free run shoe with tougher outsole for hiking😅
doc, i have a question, my left foot is kinda flat, but my right foot is a little bit high on the arch, so what do you suggest for me on what type of shoe for me to wear? (im a shifty player, my weight is about 55kg, and my height is about 5’4)
I recommend David Grey Rehab
This video has confirmed FDZ has gotten his hands on the weird Frankworks tennis shoes 👀
Yep - have had them for a while
Should I wear barefoot shoes at weight training?
10:30 nice demos
the most drastic case of a group of people whose feet physically changed due to the use of specific footwear are the old concubines who practiced foot binding. Absolutely horrific. It wasn't for sports performance but societal acceptance that women with smaller feet were more appealing.
To reiterate the Doc, BAREFOOT SHOES ARE FOR TRAINING AND STRENGTHENING. NOT FOR THE COURT.
Justin Holiday and Xero Shoes are about to bring a barefoot basketball shoe to the market. Justin already wore them in the playoffs as a proof of concept.
I play in my barefoot shoes exclusively. Cushion and supports offer performance benefits, but there is no actual need for anything of the sort if you're conditioned for it.
@@barefoot-gibb i respect it but, you’re hindering your performance and likely increasing risk of injury.
@@rydakule I’ve got a feeling they’re not going to be very good but we’ll see. To be clear, as someone with bunions, I still rely on Wade’s for their more anatomical shape. If these Xero’s have limited cushion at the heel and lack support, performance will be hindered.
Do you agree that these are necessary components to a court shoe, not considering stacked metatarsal propulsion?
@LuZu_ I'm thirty with a day job. I don't care if I'm "hindering performance" because I'm just trying to play a game of pick-up ball. And if you can tell me exactly how I'm increasing my risk of injury, I'd love to see it. I've yet to get injured in barefoot shoes since I've switched and I was constantly injured beforehand
Hi doc
Coffey!?❤
They're "right" for just about anybody, but what they ARE is a training tool. They allow you to train on some weak points that other shoe's bandaid. Which is great, but you should treat them as such, with PROGRESSIVE OVERLOAD. It's not a lifestyle overhaul, it's not your new you, it's a training tool.
.... barefoot shoes great for Strength training and casually walking around...running though I'd just go with either running on grass or buying some Altra or Topos or even some 4e new balance with 4-6mm drop, concrete and asphalt is way to hard for feet long term ....
Personally in the gym on leg days I'm in barefoot shoes on upper body days I'm in vibram 5 finger because most of the floor is rubberised mat, so I can get away with it. Running is varied but it's all low ish drop but with cush. Controlled(form) sessions on a track I use an Altra escalante Racer, to work on my gait. Faster or longer sessions, I'm going with more cush but still low drop so Topo, new balance fresh (4e cos I got froddo feet and quite wide toes) 1080s and more v4s, and I just wear 'normal' basketball, shoes when I play ...I've learnt barefoot shoes is a tool
The ASICS metarise 2
I lift in barefoot shoes as far as Deadlifts and Bulgarian split Squats so im not hopping aroubd
I’ve been learning the opposite about efficient push off. When a foot can be in anatomical position then the transverse tie bar mechanism of the foot can work as it is intended to. It is this mechanism that stabilizes and allows for efficient and powerful push off. Tapering the toe box disrupts this. Also, blisters, ingrown toenails, neuromas, bunions and many other issues happen in pointed athletic shoes. Isolating and strengthening intrinsic foot muscles is no harder then isolating and strengthening any other muscle group….not sure why we treat feet differently then other areas of the body. Wear shoes shaped like feet people. Irene Davis research is excellent on this topic.
3rd?
👏👏👏
Algorithm comment.
Barefoot shoes are mostly ugly can’t wear them
Rather ugly shoes than ugly feet.
My biggest issue with barefoot shoes is that they always look like the people wearing them. I want to see ones that have style to them like air max or yeezy