Footwear: Barefoot shoes get put to the test

Barefoot bliss

I'm a sucker for shoes. There’s a shoe for everything, I believe. Even if it’s the anti-shoe. Enter barefoot sneakers: lightly padded sheaths offering next to no support. I recently tried a pair, and I love them. L-O-V-E. I wouldn’t wear them everywhere. But for the right place, the right activity? I’m 100 percent on board.

Barefoot style’s ardent believers think it’s better for you to hoof it au naturel. If you’re a runner, it helps you land on your forefoot rather than on yourheel, reducing impact and musculoskeletal stress injuries (though you may want to consult a barefoot-running coach before you begin, to learn proper posture). If you’re a walker, it shortens your stride, which also lessens the impact, says Stephen Bloor, a podiatrist and avid barefoot walker based in Helston, England. “And the foot is strengthened by walking on variable surfaces. This helps protect against heel pain, bunions and many more problems.” Just go slow: Ease into it to avoid injury. Others, like Vancouver podiatrist Sue Turner, say traditional shoes are better for most walkers, especially those exercising on concrete and asphalt. “Shoes with thick soles and solid, raised heels help feet absorb shock and function with optimal biomechanics,” she explains.

There’s no argument, however, that barefoot shoes are popular. “Tons of people wear them now, from kids to seniors,” says Placido Circe, a shoe specialist at Toronto’s Mountain Equipment Co-op, where they’ve been selling out of these It shoes. My pair have become my trail-walking BFFs (although I’ll  cede Turner’s point on pavement — the unyielding sidewalk made walking unpleasant). I’ve had zero blisters, and no muscle or joint pain. And, unlike my trail runners, they let me feel leaves rustling underfoot, the satisfying crunch of gravel and the refreshing cool emanating from dirt trails. It’s like being barefoot. Only better.

Vibram Fivefingers

Pros: These are the quintessential barefoot shoes. Picture gloves for your feet, and you’ve pretty much got the idea. VFFs offer an ultraslim, aqua-shoe-like fit and thin, super-flexible rubber soles. VFFs hit it big in 2010, following the success of Christopher McDougall’s bestseller Born to Run (which is about more than just barefoot running, in the same way that Eat, Pray, Love is about more than just going on vacation). Now, VFFs — formerly popular with hard-core runners — have trickled down to all sorts, who walk, hike or downward dog in them.

Rebecca Horan of Winnipeg has practically lived in her VFFs since 2008. “I fell in love with how they make the ground feel beneath my feet, and started wearing them for jogging, yoga, lifting weights, hiking, boating...and even shopping! They’re so much more versatile than a pair of regular runners,” she says. She even took hers to Brazil last summer. Because they weigh just ounces and can be easily folded or rolled, VFFs are also catching on as travel shoes. “They’re an awesome conversation starter too,” adds Horan. Just in case things do get a little, y’know, Eat, Pray, Love...

Cons: It takes some tugging and adjusting to wiggle in and out of the tight-fitting shoe. And be prepared for odd glances from passersby.

Jaya LR shoes, $100, Vibramfivefingers.com.

We tried it!
“The feeling between my toes took a little getting used to, but they were incredibly lightweight and surprisingly cushioned.”
- Sydney Loney. Contributing Editor

Nike Free series

Pros: For those wanting a more traditional look and the comfort of a padded sole, check out Nike’s Free series. The outsoles are sliced, so they’re more flexible and have a barefoot-like freedom. And they offer zero ankle or arch support, making them solidly non-interventionist.

Cons: Don’t be fooled by their athletic-shoe esthetic — if you’re a newbie and working out a lot, you could have muscle pain or strains when transitioning into these. Aficionados like Rebecca Horan suggest keeping walks on the shorter, less vigorous side until you know how your body responds to barefoot walking and you can build strength and endurance.

Free tr fit shoes, $120, Nike.com.

We tried it!
“I liked the flexible sole and breathable upper, but my feet were a bit sore after my run.”
- Stacy Lee Kong, Assistant Editor

Terra Plana's Vivobarefoot

Pros: If you’re not into the athleisure look, consider an office-friendly sneaker or Mary Jane from the VivoBarefoot collection instead. The ultra-thinsoled slip-ons allow for a near-barefoot experience that will take you from street to yoga studio and back in style. Bonus: Terra Plana makes its shoes partially from recycled rubber and plastic, nylon and vegetable-tanned leather, so you’ll tread lightly on the earth in more ways than one.



Cons: You can’t toss these into the washing machine the way you can the others. Only the insole is washable, so cotton socks may be called for — which could detract from the “barefoot” experience.


 Dalston shoes, $130, Vivobarefoot.com.



We tried it!
“These retro high-tops were so bendy and lightweight, they made me want to dance.”
- Alex Laws, Associate Editor