Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with barefoot

Alternatives to Nike Free shoes

dicetumbler — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:51:26 -0800

I've been hearing a lot about the benefits of walking barefoot, and barring that, wearing shoes like the Vibram Five Fingers or Nike Frees, which aren't padded. But are there cheaper alternatives? Wouldn't the lineup of Converse All-Stars and Puma shoes, to give two examples, have the same effect? Any others?

It all starts in the feet

GleepGlop — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:28:36 -0800

I am not a runner or long distance walker, but would I be less tired and achey at the end of a day spent generally on my feet in a 'barefoot' style pair of shoes such as Nike Free or Vibram Five Fingers, or in a regular pair of cushiony shoes? I can see an argument for both. I trust the millions of years of evolution in terms of body mechanics more than the last 50 years of shoe technology to 'correct' ourselves, but on the other hand standing on a cushiony surface seems intuitive for fatigue reduction overall. I mean they have anti-fatigue mats for this purpose in the workplace. Also evolution probably didn't account for the predominantly perfectly flat surfaces I inhabit.
What say you hive?

Better than Barefoot

zennoshinjou — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:38:54 -0800

Have any of you worn vivo barefoot shoes from terra plana? Do you like them? Is there something similar but better? I am intrigued by these shoes and think the concepts in this article make sense so I'd like to try these or similar shoes but am looking for more input before I plunk down a pile of cash. Reviews on the interwebs seem kind of scant.

I need recommendations for shoes for plantar fasciitis

IndigoRain — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:21:11 -0800

I need some shoe recommendations to help with my plantar fasciitis. Issue: a lot of sneakers/tennis shoes make my feet too hot. I have flat feet. I had orthotics briefly in high school due to foot pain - I hated them. For a short distance, they felt great, but by the time I walked across the school in them, they hurt so bad I cried. I stopped wearing them.

Cut to 10 years (of no foot pain) later... I've just been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in my right foot. The pain is actually more in my arch than my heel, and my arch has a small swollen area. The podiatrist gave me a foot brace and told me not to go barefoot, and to wear sturdier shoes. (I've been wearing canvas shoes from walmart, which he said are too flimsy.)

I have a pair of New Balance shoes that I wore when I worked on my feet all the time - the problem is, they make my feet way too hot. What kind of shoes should I look for that will be supportive enough, yet cooler? If I must wear socks in the summertime with the shoes, I'd like to wear the really thin kind... will this be a problem?

Also, previous questions mention not going without shoes even around the house, to the point of wearing them in the shower. Any recommendations for shower shoes made for this purpose? What about a good around-the-house, only-worn-inside shoe?

Give me feet of steel.

middleclasstool — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:42:23 -0800

Resources for exercises for my feet, arches, ankles, and lower legs? I'm a distance runner -- or, more accurately, was one until after my first marathon, when IT Band Syndrome finally caught up with me. I've done physical therapy but will have to go back to the doc's for more treatment. Right now I can't do more than three miles for fear of making things worse.

I'm told the ITBS is likely a result of my overpronation, which I'd like to correct. Inspired by this post, I ran a mile barefoot on the treadmill last night, then spent the rest of the evening walking around barefoot and paying careful attention to feedback from my feet, and learned more about my gait from that than six months of running prior. I found myself working muscles in my feet and lower legs that I didn't even know I had. It was, in short, awesome, and has encouraged me that maybe I can build up muscles to help at least partially correct my gait so maybe I can ultimately transition to a lighter-weight shoe.

Thing is, I'm not finding many resources for strengthening exercises that target ankles, shin muscles and feet for overpronaters, so I turn to you for help. Resources need not be online. Books are good too, though I'd prefer not to kill trees. Give me feet of steel, people.

And yes, I will check with the doctor, but it'll be a bit before I can get in to see her.

PU, smelly feet, but oh how I love being sockless.

Sreiny — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 07:41:39 -0800

It's getting warmer in georgia, and I love wearing my shoes around with no socks. My old chucks and my asics Onitsuka tigers are pretty great for that, any other suggestions? Shoes with decent ventilation. I'm not looking for sandal recommendations. Something in the same vein as my asics. Just shoes that I can throw on, roll up my pants and ride my bike around in the awesome Georgia sun. Is this a strange thing? Does anybody else prefer being sockless?

Recommend shiatsu in Southern Los Angeles area?

bephillips — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:19:59 -0800

Shiatsu recommendations in South Bay, L.A., California? Can anyone recommend a (+/- barefoot) shiatsu paractioner in the South Bay, Los Angeles area (Torrance/PV/Redondo/Pedro). My usual practioner here is away in Japan.