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Mar 8, 2024 · Best Overall Barefoot Shoes. Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 5. $60 at Amazon. Read more. 2. Best Value Barefoot Shoes. Joomra Women's Minimalist Trail Running Barefoot Shoes. $42 at Amazon. Read...
- Best Overall Barefoot Shoe
- Best Bang For Your Buck
- Best Barefoot Boot For Hiking and Work
- Best Barefoot Gym Shoe
- Best Lightweight Barefoot Shoe
- How We Test Barefoot Shoes
- Why You Should Trust Us
- How to Choose The Best Barefoot Shoes
- Analysis and Test Results
- Conclusion
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Vibram V-Trail 2.0
One of the only drawbacks we experienced with the V-Trail was the difficulty of donning the shoe. The design makes it a bit of a challenge to get each toe into the right hole. With practice and experience, this does get easier. Another place this shoe fell short of the competition was in the upper's breathability. The more durable woven fabric is not as porous as other trail runners. Also, at 7.3 ounces per shoe, it isn't the lightest of those tested. All told, these minor drawbacks hardly di...
Whitin Cross Trainer
One thing we noticed when removing the insole to have more ground feedback is that the heel of the insole is actually thicker than the forefoot. This means that with the insole, these shoes aren't technically "zero drop" — they're slightly more raised in the heel. We didn't feel like this affected the performance much, but it is a technicality worth mentioning in a review of barefoot shoes. The rugged tread grips great on trails and soft surfaces but totally loses grip when wet; this isn't Vi...
Vivobarefoot Tracker II FG
Weight was the only metric where this boot did not perform at the top of the class. At 19 ounces per boot, the Tracker is considered a heavyweight among the barefoot class. This is easy to understand when considering the beefed-up construction and added material that constitutes a hiking boot. Among burly hiking boots, this one is still lightweight. We also found this to be an excellent work boot due to both the thick leather upper and the puncture resistance of the sole. It kept our feet hap...
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III
Unlike other options we reviewed, the Primus Lite III is made largely of recycled PET, a thermoplastic polymer resin. While recycled materials don't always hold up to rigorous use, we found the upper of this shoe to take everything we threw at it with nary a sign of wear. One weak point we did find was in the weld of the outsole onto the upper where it flexes at the toes. Because the upper is so rigid, this seam tends to separate, which could affect overall longevity. Another drawback is the...
Merrell Vapor Glove 6
Due to the thinness and type of rubber, we also found the sole of the Vapor Glove to be the most sensitive in terms of ground feel. In fact, they were toosensitive for some trails with sharp rocky ground, despite the fact that they seem to be built for dynamic terrain. This heightened ground feel will only appeal to the most diehard of barefoot fans. The sticky Vibram rubber outsole grips in most conditions and recovers quickly when wet. This is partly due to the lug pattern, which helps easi...
We purchase all of the models discussed in this article and put them through a rigorous testing process. Based on the fact that each shoe is designed for specific purposes — road running, trail running, hiking, or gym training — each pair is given preference in its respective specialty. We compile research, closely examine each shoe, and take a lot...
Our barefoot and minimalist shoe experts are Aaron Rice and Jon Oleson. Aaron grew up on the Atlantic coastline, spending his summers comfortably barefoot and only donning sandals to navigate hot pavement. One of his earliest coaches encouraged him and his teammates to go barefoot as much as possible, explaining the important role our feet play in ...
Here are four important factors to consider when looking for the best-fitting barefoot shoe for your personal needs.
A few things are worth pointing out before we dive into the metrics we used to score each shoe. First and foremost, all of the shoes included in this review comprise some of the best and most popular options for barefoot and minimalist shoes available on the market. Since our side-by-side testing is based on comparisons, a low score does not mean t...
We put each pair of these shoes through more than just their metaphorical paces. Even in a niche market like barefoot shoes, dozens of models are available each season, so narrowing down your options can be a real challenge. We hope that our extensive, side-by-side testing highlights key differences to make your selection process a little bit easie...
Compare the top nine minimalist and barefoot shoes for running, hiking, and training based on expert testing and reviews. Learn about the pros and cons, features, and specs of each model.
- Vibram
- Jon Oleson
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Apr 16, 2024 · By Laura Lancaster. Updated on Apr 16, 2024 10:31 AM EDT. 20 minute read. Experts weigh in on how and why to transition to barefoot shoes. Adam Tycaster. It was 2011 the first time I tried to run in barefoot shoes. I was in my mid-20s, healthy and averaging about 20 miles a week.
- Laura Lancaster
Jun 15, 2018 · Learn why walking barefoot can improve your foot mechanics, balance, and proprioception, but also expose you to risks of injury and infection. Find out how to start walking barefoot safely and gradually, and what activities you can do without shoes.
Barefoot is the state of not wearing any footwear. There are health benefits and some risks associated with going barefoot. Shoes, while they offer protection, can limit the flexibility, strength, and mobility of the foot and can lead to higher incidences of flexible flat foot, bunions, hammer toe, and Morton's neuroma.
Apr 30, 2024 · Learn how barefoot running could improve your running form, reduce injury risk and burn more calories. Find out the potential drawbacks and how to try it safely.
Mar 5, 2024 · Walking barefoot can improve posture, balance, and foot muscles, but also expose you to infections and injuries. Learn when and how to walk barefoot safely and what shoes to choose.
