Recent research suggests that we may have been better off staying barefoot from birth. While modern shoes provide protection, they may not always be what is best for our feet. Our feet are designed to move and flex naturally, and allowing them the freedom to do so can reduce injuries and offer various benefits.
When transitioning to minimalist or barefoot shoes, it is essential to ease into them and relearn proper walking and running techniques. In this guide, we provide advice on making the switch to barefoot shoes and highlight some of our favorites. These shoes offer a close-to-barefoot experience without violating any “No Shoes, No Service” policies.
For more buying guides and gear recommendations, be sure to check out our Best Running Gear and Best Snow Gear roundups. We have recently updated our top picks to include the Xero Scrambler Mid boots and Vivobarefoot Pluma Knit baby shoes.
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