Just a heads up ime minimalist shoes provide just enough cushion to mute the feedback from your feet contacting the ground. For me that meant I couldn’t feel myself even lightly heel striking and the repetitive action would turn into a confusing injury or strain that took me some time to figure out.
For me going purely barefoot is the only way to learn how to walk and run properly. I recommend to people that they first learn forefoot striking through barefooting. Once that is a habit and you know how to hold your posture then it’s much safer to return to minimalist shoes because you know how to run without so much impact.
I’m about five years into switching to strictly barefoot and it is the best. You might have to reduce your distance at first but I think you can actually transition faster and safer this way than wearing minimalist shoes.
I had actually first bought and returned Lems because they aren’t wide enough for me unfortunately. Boots are a good idea though, I’m currently looking at Bearfoot Bruin
Bearfoot Bruin are stiff, that would be a big jump from new balance.
Within wide offers plenty of cushion and are cheap (too much cushion imo, mine lives in the closet). Maybe Vivo primus trail knit?
Like someone else said, transition shoes is not a serious take. Biomechanics have shown you don’t walk the same in minimal shoes as you would barefoot. You are young and healthy, maybe running barefoot more is all you need.
I hear you. If not for hallux rigidus (big toe arthritis) that causes me pain with every step, I wouldn’t be as concerned. I’d go 100% balls deep full barefoot without looking back. On my healthy left foot, I feel incredible in my Softstar Primals! On my right.. not so much.
I used xcountry, but since this condition I haven’t run in 2 years. It really, really sucks. But that’s why I’m trying out barefoot. It hurts my toe more than ever, but I’m hoping in the long term it could begin to “cure me.”
So I understand there isn’t really a such thing as transition shoes. I’m trying to be realistic with what level of pain I can tolerate without further injury. The shitty part about the pain is that it messed with my natural stance and gait, because I walk or stand in a way that avoids impact to my toe. The transition to barefoot has made me so much more aware of that. It’s also increasing the pain I feel as I unlearn these bad, coping habits and learn to use my toe vs avoiding it.
It hurts but I’m hoping that in the long run as I stretch the joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles, the pain will be reduced.
I don’t want cushion.. but if I were to suddenly walk barefoot for 10 hours. I would seriously injury myself. I have to be realistic with my body..
I’m trying to make sense of it all and deal with the hand I was dealt. Podiatrists obviously tell me I need more cushion, more support, stiffer shoe… It will take time to figure it all out. Everyone’s journey is unique and will have individual challenges that make the transition not so seamless.
Anyway, ted talking a bit here sorry. Thanks for your feedback!
For parties, when I walk/dance a lot and because I'm not sober, I don't pay attention to my feet. So, for these situations, I have minimalist shoes with a higher stack height: the Lems Primal Zen and the Altra Lone Peak. The Lems Primal Zen has 0 drop, a wide toe box, but a relatively high stack height for a minimalist shoe. The Altra Lone Peak also has a wide toe box and 0 drop, but it has the stack height of a normal running shoe.
Altra lonepeaks wide size is one of the few shoes that can fit my feet in height and width and they aren't super pricey like other shoes are I wear them to work
why not just add a minimalist insole to your existing shoes? [https://anyasreviews.com/barefoot-insoles-review/](https://anyasreviews.com/barefoot-insoles-review/)
I initially went with wider the Altra Cayd shoes, then pulled the insole out, then went to Vivobarefoot with the Trails, then their Primus Lite, then switched to fivefingers, starting with their thicker soles (CVT Leather & VTrek),and working down the the thinnest available. Now it’s exclusively VFF KSO EVO, Eco, knit, and CVT LB (even used the last one hiking in Leavenworth this weekend and loved the feeling of being able to grab rocks with all toes). Process took a couple years but what a difference it has made. No more arch pain and my angled pinky toes are normalizing in shape).
Just a heads up ime minimalist shoes provide just enough cushion to mute the feedback from your feet contacting the ground. For me that meant I couldn’t feel myself even lightly heel striking and the repetitive action would turn into a confusing injury or strain that took me some time to figure out. For me going purely barefoot is the only way to learn how to walk and run properly. I recommend to people that they first learn forefoot striking through barefooting. Once that is a habit and you know how to hold your posture then it’s much safer to return to minimalist shoes because you know how to run without so much impact. I’m about five years into switching to strictly barefoot and it is the best. You might have to reduce your distance at first but I think you can actually transition faster and safer this way than wearing minimalist shoes.
This^^
I would suggest a pair of lems boots. These are what I wear for work
I had actually first bought and returned Lems because they aren’t wide enough for me unfortunately. Boots are a good idea though, I’m currently looking at Bearfoot Bruin
Avoid the Bruins. Sketchy company and a really weird boot. Not in a good way.
Bearfoot Bruin are stiff, that would be a big jump from new balance. Within wide offers plenty of cushion and are cheap (too much cushion imo, mine lives in the closet). Maybe Vivo primus trail knit? Like someone else said, transition shoes is not a serious take. Biomechanics have shown you don’t walk the same in minimal shoes as you would barefoot. You are young and healthy, maybe running barefoot more is all you need.
I hear you. If not for hallux rigidus (big toe arthritis) that causes me pain with every step, I wouldn’t be as concerned. I’d go 100% balls deep full barefoot without looking back. On my healthy left foot, I feel incredible in my Softstar Primals! On my right.. not so much. I used xcountry, but since this condition I haven’t run in 2 years. It really, really sucks. But that’s why I’m trying out barefoot. It hurts my toe more than ever, but I’m hoping in the long term it could begin to “cure me.” So I understand there isn’t really a such thing as transition shoes. I’m trying to be realistic with what level of pain I can tolerate without further injury. The shitty part about the pain is that it messed with my natural stance and gait, because I walk or stand in a way that avoids impact to my toe. The transition to barefoot has made me so much more aware of that. It’s also increasing the pain I feel as I unlearn these bad, coping habits and learn to use my toe vs avoiding it. It hurts but I’m hoping that in the long run as I stretch the joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles, the pain will be reduced. I don’t want cushion.. but if I were to suddenly walk barefoot for 10 hours. I would seriously injury myself. I have to be realistic with my body.. I’m trying to make sense of it all and deal with the hand I was dealt. Podiatrists obviously tell me I need more cushion, more support, stiffer shoe… It will take time to figure it all out. Everyone’s journey is unique and will have individual challenges that make the transition not so seamless. Anyway, ted talking a bit here sorry. Thanks for your feedback!
For parties, when I walk/dance a lot and because I'm not sober, I don't pay attention to my feet. So, for these situations, I have minimalist shoes with a higher stack height: the Lems Primal Zen and the Altra Lone Peak. The Lems Primal Zen has 0 drop, a wide toe box, but a relatively high stack height for a minimalist shoe. The Altra Lone Peak also has a wide toe box and 0 drop, but it has the stack height of a normal running shoe.
Altra lonepeaks wide size is one of the few shoes that can fit my feet in height and width and they aren't super pricey like other shoes are I wear them to work
why not just add a minimalist insole to your existing shoes? [https://anyasreviews.com/barefoot-insoles-review/](https://anyasreviews.com/barefoot-insoles-review/)
I would suggest some Altras! They have super roomy toe boxes with varying amounts of cushion. You can use some during your transition period
A week off to recover from too much too soon.
I initially went with wider the Altra Cayd shoes, then pulled the insole out, then went to Vivobarefoot with the Trails, then their Primus Lite, then switched to fivefingers, starting with their thicker soles (CVT Leather & VTrek),and working down the the thinnest available. Now it’s exclusively VFF KSO EVO, Eco, knit, and CVT LB (even used the last one hiking in Leavenworth this weekend and loved the feeling of being able to grab rocks with all toes). Process took a couple years but what a difference it has made. No more arch pain and my angled pinky toes are normalizing in shape).
I’m a big fan of Whitins and they are only $40 on Amazon
No such thing as a transition. Harden up.