Barefooting is a very personal journey. You must be the one to set your own standard of what's barefoot and what's not. I do have a few suggestions for you to consider. A few of my own personal standards and why I hold on to them.
First note, and it goes without saying: when it comes to barefoot shoes, the more naturally it mimics actually going barefoot - generally - the better. It's in the name: “barefoot” + “shoes.” Traditionally our ancestors wore moccasins and simple sandals when the ground was too harsh for bare feet. These shoes were thin and were intended to provide the bare minimum amount of protection needed without compromising the structural integrity of the human foot. Modern barefoot shoes try to continue this philosophy while using modern materials to provide longer lasting shoes (this has mixed results, buy that topic is outside of the scope of this blog article).
Here's the important parts:
Zero-Drop:
This is by far the most important part to make a Barefoot shoe “barefoot”. Though the brand Altra has trademarked the term to use on their new uber-cushy shoes, barefooters have been using it much longer to meet a shoe that doesn't have any heel lift. It's pretty simple to check. Just look to see if the sole and foot bed you stand on is the same thickness all the way across from heel to toe. This allows for proper skeletal alignment and healthy body movement that won't wreck the back and joints going down. Almost all shoes today have some sort or heel lift - reminiscent of the past sentry of high fashion shoes - so finding a truly Zero Drop shoe can be a challenge.
No Cushion:
For me, This is what I most look for in a shoe. Many so-called barefoot shoes still have some sort of cushy insole that is eternally working against you. We humans evolved standing, walking, running on the hard ground with no cushion. Our Bodies learned to move certain ways to move safely and comfortably, so all was dandy. Until the invention of padding in our shoes. Shoe cushion allows our body to move incorrectly without immediate problems, but bad biomechanics build up over time to wreck us.
By using shoes with a hard sole (or just no cushion between you and the ground) your body is forced to move in ways that save your (probebly by now) wreaked joints. This is often uncomfortable in the beginning but after your body adapts it will save you in the long run. The best part? With no foam to break down your body mechanics can stay the same and maintain even wear in your shoes and body.
Naturally wide toe box:
This is a matter of comfort and foot health. Nobody enjoys squished toes. Your feet like to move!
We barefooters have discovered that after switching to barefoot more, our feet get wider, our toes strengthen and lengthen out, and we even can get natural healthy space between our toes.
Over the past century most shoes have gotten narrower and narrower forcing our feet to get more and more constricted. This prevents your foot from flexing the way it should, and also reduces blood flow to the whole body.
Often a great way to judge if your toes fit is if you can walk in the shoe comfortably while wearing a pair of Correct Toes - a tool many people use to help transition to barefoot. Correct Toes are a gel insert you wear in between your toes to help space them out. They are often uncomfortable the first week or so you wear them (so is any kind of physical therapy fixing your skeletal alignment), and they don't allow for much toe flexion so they should be paired with regular toe strengthening exercises. If you are not yet barefoot, wearing correct toes you will quickly discover that most of your shoes are suffocating your feet and toes with a lack of space.
I promise, you will love barefoot shoes with their more naturally spacious toe box!
Flex Your Arch:
This goes without saying into the zero drop category. Your arch should not be supported. Contrary to popular belief, our foot arch is supposed to be able to flex and touch the ground with our natural movement as a form of shock absorber. You would be surprised at how many supposedly barefoot shoes still have some form of arch support. For me, I want a flat sole that doesn't reach upwards to the soles of my feet. Let my arches flex naturally!
Other???:
Many barefoot enthusiasts swear they need a thin flexible sole to allow for ground feel. While this is good for our proprioception, it is not necessary. A thick soled zero drop work boot would be flexible enough for foot flexion, without needing to feel sharp rocks - nails - or glass underfoot. So-to some stress about ‘toe lift’ being an important issue. If the shoe is zero drop, all is good. Most shoes naturally start flexing upwards with time as our feet roll off our toes.
What are your personal standards on barefoot shoes? What makes a barefoot shoe “barefoot” to you? Share in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook!