When I moved to Asia over a decade ago I was struck by how wide a lot of people's feet are, I later came to realize it was because flip flops are the primary shoe for most people here for most of their life. It's a very hot and humid place and rains like crazy for half the year so flip-flops make a lot of sense as they are just more comfortable in this climate. But that also means that most people have very functional feet. Having grown up in the West, I wore sneakers that crushed my toes together for most of my life. About two years ago I started working on a design project with a partner to make natural toe box motorcycle and hiking boots. My partner already had a background in making barefoot dress shoes, and my design studio had done boot designs before for several smaller brands so this wasn't too much of a departure for the two of us. We have iterated through several versions of our designs to get to the point we were satisfied. We had to design and manufacture a lot of the pieces ourselves like the outsole and the lasts that the boots are made on because they are not made for that shape toe box. But we got there in the end and hope to have a small-scale launch in Q1 next year... Hopefully LOL
Please keep us informed! As a motorcyclist I have not been able to find any barefoot boots made for that. I do have a pair of Vivo's that are pretty good, but they were not really designed for what you get into on a street bike.
@@IdeaStudioBKK what a wild observation and it’s so cool you have designed this! Let me know when it’s available, I would be happy to share it with the audience!
@@jeremykrall1694 Thank you, I will be dropping a documentary on my channel about the process of designing the boots and launching the brand sometime next year once we get through our official launch. We are pretty close, the next version we make should be our production model, we are just waiting to get it dialed in and tested. I ride my motorcycle daily and have worn the beta versions daily for 18 months. Each iteration gets way better and we are close to being market ready.
@@natashatheresa Thank you very much! When the brand is ready to launch I will be dropping a documentary on my channel about the process of designing the boots and starting the brand. We have been shooting since we started and have gone through many iterations to get to where we are at with the designs.
It's really sad what we do to our feet for the decades we walk on them. Every day. But fashion seems more important than healthy feet in our society. Don't want to be negative here, but the truth is out there and we all can do better. Every day. Thanks for your videos and greetings from southern Germany! ✌😊🦶
@@TimeToStartOver heyyyy thanks for watching! Yeah so many things that society embraces is the opposite of what actually is good for us hahahahhahahaha. But glad to finally have discovered a way to better foot health before it’s too late ♥️♥️
This is so true, and so important! I remember as a kid trying on shoes before school started and complaining they were tight. The salesman asked if I had been running around barefoot all summer (answer: yes). He said they would be fine, because the length was right. So we got them, and sometime in the fall they stopped feeling so tight, and I thought how “right” he was. 🙄 My mom also always had bunions, so when I started developing them I wasn’t surprised. Fast forward to my fifties and I had plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis is both feet! So painful I could only walk without pain in my Crocs! I was sent for PT, which helped, and got me to walk without pain, but it all comes back quickly if I don’t keep stretching, etc. So, thanks to videos like this, I began a journey to foot health. It is super important to take it super slowly, and let your feet build strength and flexibility. I started with Altra Via Olympus - wide toe box and zero drop, but a high stack height (cushion), to help my injured feet. Eventually I added lower stack height Altras and Birkenstocks to my collection. I wore these type of shoes almost always. I practiced spreading my toes (at first they would t even move!), etc. Slowly, I noticed improvements and my bunions have diminished. I’m still on the journey. I think toe spreaders and more flexible, wide toe box, zero drops shoes are next - but I still need some cushion (like a cheapo foam insert) or the plantar fasciitis starts up again. Do you know of any that might be good for me to try? Thanks!
@@SydHalley thank you so much for sharing your story!! As for inserts, I personally haven’t used any in quite a while, but this is something to consider and I am going to add it to my list of things to research bc I want to be able to recommend some for anyone who is making that transition and needs something to help!
@natashatheresa thanks! I love my Altras, but they do have a stiff sole. I got some flexible winter slippers, and at first I couldn’t wear them for long. Using flexible soled shoes uses so many more little muscles that haven’t done much for years lol!
I have quiet the opposite Problem. I can't find fitting shoes for me, i always wore like 3/4 sizes bigger (EU). My Problem was that the normal shoe that is sold in the shops are only for Fashion and the other factor; I have an foot that is more wide but shorter, no space between the 4 small toes. The reason is, like i've read in the internet, is that my foot is made for cold climate. No space between the toes means no heat loss and no lost toes due to Frostbite. Now i can't find any fitting shoe from any brand, even the barefoot ones because they aren't made for wider feet, only for the wider toe box.
Thanks for sharing! I'm glad to know that you are interested in more content like this, and that sounds awesome to be able to go barefoot a lot in Jamaica! I wish where I lived it were more socially acceptable to do that too, but I do when I can, especially if hiking or at a park :)
Nice video! Wish my 14yo daughter would like the barefoot shoes trend, or that it would become just a little bit more fashionable, bringing light to this issue is indeed what we need to get people more used to the idea and shape of these types of shoes. The more people see them, the more they might like them and be open to them. That's why the Crocs trend was not so bad I think, at least people are more used to seeing bigger toe boxes now. Now onto less cushioning and more flexibility!
@@AnotherCaroline176 yah for sure, it’s a whole thing especially when you go to school and there are fashion trends and all that social pressure to fit in. BeLenka has some cute options, maybe there is something in there that she would be open to hehehe
I think this was a VERY informative video. You are so right about shoes that are mass produced, it's all about the profit. no concern for the health of the foot. You make perfect sense about growing up and shoes forming our foot shape because the shoes are made weird. Most of us don't even think about it, it's what we know because that's what are parents knew. I am one with bunions from an early age and have a wide, chunky foot. I tried for over a year to find a pair that were wide enough and comfortable. I even tried the name brand sketchers and sent them back, not wide enough even though they said wide. I ordered from varies stores and Amazon and sent all of them back, for the same reason, not wide enough. I finally stumbled on a pair. about a year ago. that are wide enough. They are men's shoes, went that route to hopefully get a wide pair and they fit and comfortable. They are from Amazon and were around $30.00. I will certainly be checking out your brand suggestions. And.....yes, I would like to see a Part II on this topic and recommended shoes. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed this video Linda! My struggle growing up was finding a shoe that was "wide" but in the right areas... most shoes kept pinching my toes together and just didn't look good on me, but if I went with wide, it was too loose in certain areas and still not wide enough in my bunion area. I'm glad that I've found brands of barefoot shoes that allow me to have more space now and accommodate my bunions properly. If you are looking for especially wide shoes, this link might help too: anyasreviews.com/best-barefoot-shoes-foot-type/ I've also had custom shoes made via Etsy, you can send them your measurements and they can make them. It's more of an investment but it's truly made for your foot :)
Modern day foot binding :/ I have the same feet as you. Only found out it wasn’t hereditary when I looked into barefoot shoes. But I have flat feet and have to be careful of developing plantar facitis if I wear those. I’m also worried about the amount of concrete and unnatural hard surfaces we have to walk on which are hard to avoid. I feel like you also have to solely wear barefoot shoes to revert your bunions and that’s a big commitment 😭
The hard surfaces really are a problem with barefoot shoes. As Natasha says in the video, you have be gradual, you can't just jump in with both feet. 😉 I was getting used to different types of barefoot shoes at home, but then when I wore them into the office for well over 8 hours my dogs started barking. The worst part is that it is so hard to find wide toe box shoes that have cushioning so you can still get the toe splay, instead of going backwards when you have to put in a long day in regular shoes.
@@SSKTX21 yah it’s been like several years of me using barefoot shoes and trying to also walk around barefoot as much as possible, plus doing foot exercises, so be able to ALMOST reverse them, depending how far along they are. I do solely wear barefoot shoes at this point, but if I play too much pickleball my arches are sore the next day hahahahaha! An insole for arch support can help with the transition as well, I just haven’t really used them hahahaha
@@natashatheresa Thankfully I have a job that I can wear sneakers and don't need dress shoes. At least as long as the shoes aren't to flashy or "out there" like some of the brands make them.
@@jeremykrall1694 maybe look into Whitin - I mention it in my barefoot shoe guide as well. My hubby needed something with a thicker sole for pickleball, and so we tried them out from Amazon, they have the wide toe box but also have a more cushioned sole.. maybe even pair them with an insole if you need some arch support here and there. If this is what you might be looking for: amzn.to/41x5sAQ
I have been working from home barefoot for five years and while it hasn’t solved things, it has made me reassess my shoes. I made the mistake of thinking I could go straight to barefoot shoes without a transition because of all the barefoot time but I need to come up with a better transition plan. For now I’m trying to find zero or minimal drop but with some cushion.
That sounds like a good plan! Also, that’s quite interesting that even with all the barefoot time at home, it doesn’t translate directly to readily transitioning! Thank you for sharing this insight!
One thing I learned from a trainer to help is to "hold hands" (make your fingers the toe spacers) with your feet. This trainer does it for balance in workouts because the big toe is essential in squatting, etc. I've had barefoot shoes for idk how long now, and people often ask how to transition/if it's comfortable, and that's one step I would take, especially to get used to it.
This is such a good tip and something I plan to talk about in future videos about transitioning as I do it a lot whenever I am sitting around. And yes, when I was able to better engage my big toe it really helped me to squat better. Thanks for sharing!!
The most comfortable shoe i have ever worn were my Vibram 5 toe shoes. They are very similar to the shoes you showed, except they have individual spots for each toe.
@natashatheresa you definitely have to work up to wearing them all day but once you do it's wonderful. You also get strange looks but I don't mind that😀
Thanks to you I now have 2 pairs of barefoot shoes and will probably get a few more like some sandals and a pair of ballet flats as well. for something a bit more dressy and that I can slip on without having to lace up. I have been using toe spacers as well and it seems to have really helped my feet feel better. I have more space in between my little toe when there used to be none/very little thanks to wearing "regular" shoes. I too had the same problem with constantly twisting my ankle when I was younger nice to know the shoes I was wearing were the problem all along. I really hate the extremely pointed toe of some heels or flats my feet were always never comfortable and most of the time i avoided them. Thanks for the video Natasha. 💜 Happy Holidays. Plus this Might make a good gift for someone.
@@rebeccal.672 happy holidays to you too! And so glad that your feet are feeling better!! Check out the BeLenka ballet flats, I enjoy the pair have hehehehe
Thank you for this video. I've been looking at barefoot shoes for years, but I'm not sure of the best ones. I would love to see more videos about them.
@@Calichick67 glad you enjoyed this video! Def check out the barefoot shoe guide download if you want to know what brands have worked for me, there’s something for each price point!
Please, please, please.......make more vids about foot health 🥺🙏🏼 My husband & I are only in our early 40s, and both of our childhood foot problems have turned i to knee, hip, back problems & lead to weight gain. Our 5 children are also starting to have problem (rolling ankles, etc) and it makes them less active then they would like to be. I've been looking for ways to correct it while they are still young.
Thanks for your comment! I'm sorry to hear about the foot problems you have developed! But the good thing is it's not too late to do something about it, and it's especially good you are looking for ways to help the kiddos while they are little! Definitely check out Anya's Reviews - this FAQ page is great for learning a lot about barefoot shoes and seeing how they can help with your foot issues: anyasreviews.com/barefoot-shoes-faq/
Go to a physical therapist or a good podiatrist for a consultation. My podiatrist has really helped. He also gave me a list of exercises to do which has really helped. My feet get exercised daily with Sunday being "Spa Day ". They get a soak with Epsom salts and a nice massage with a special cream. It's half Vaseline, half foot cream. It helps.
Gah. I also believe the same things and have been all wide toe box shoes and zero drop for years now. I only use Altra’s cushioned shoes when I’m on concrete all day or out for a run, though, bc I don’t want too put so much strain on my joints. I still have really bad arch pain in my right foot. When I used to wear Nike’s or Pumas, the ankle pain was worse, Terrible. Finally moved on from those horrible shoes. I use toe spacer too LOl Now I need to go to a PT to strengthen my right foots’ arch. I want to be able to walk on my own when I’m old. That’s a huge goal of mine!
That’s awesome you have been into zero drop for a while! I hope your right foot starts acting right!!! And yes I too have then same goal for when I get older. I really want to be independent as long as possible
Yeah, I remember when as a child I have noticed that my Mother's pinky is going under this other toe, and I was affraid I will developed something similar. And yeah, I have quite developed that, but at least I have dis covered barefoot shoes couple of years ago and now i am wearing almost only them (unfortunately I am using bad weightlifting shoes :c). Oh gosh, I am too ill to write it wellxD.
Thank you for making this!! Im always a bit sad about the thought that ill never get ''normal'' looking feet again, bunion permanency, even thinking its too late to even try barefoot because ''whats the point'', but there are so many more points. Your leg health will be better, your knees will be better, you are supporting your weight better, balance gets better, and so your back gets better, it supports your whole body, excuse my french but fuck what my feet look like even if they have bunions, who cares, ill have strong feet.😂((bunions is sucha huge insecurity of mine even if i dont care at all if i see it on others, i suppose its just the jealousy of seeing others who dont have them i hope i one day will overcome that insecurity))
I'll add ive had barefoot shoes for about 3 months now, after using vans for 2 years (i didnt know it but they are also almost zero drop) and then my boss at work told me to get cusioning shoes and gave me a special mat to stand on when i worked... and my knees started hurting, bad. I am not even 30 yet. But all that sudden ''help'' for my feet was horrible. So i went back to vans.. and the finally got barefoot shoes.. and the moment i put on the barefoot shoes i never put on the vans again (I still fully support taking it easy but in my case i think my feet were already used to it)
@@Softlywool wow all your thoughts had been exactly mine throughout the years!!! At the end of the day I just am happy my feet feel good and don’t feel crammed into shoes, and yes I just am happy to have strong feet!
I was told by the MS team to not wear flat shoes as it’s not good for my drop foot. I walk my best bare foot. I’ve been hesitant to buy these but screw it. I’ll make the jump.
Maybe try a cheaper option and only wear it a little at a time to see how it goes. But if you are saying you walk best barefoot, maybe this is something that can help 🙏🏽♥️
Thankfully they do not. They only used to hurt when I would cram my feet into shoes that were not wide enough and the shoe would press against my bunion all day. But nowadays they don’t bother me
Thanks for the video! I learned some stuff! 😊 But question: are those types of shoes recommended for people who are on their feet all day (example: healthcare personnel)? I am needing to purchase new shoes and dont know what i should be getting now...
Hi! I think if you have not ever used them before it wouldn’t be good to try to use them all day. If your feet are used to more cushion, you’d have to maybe use them for a bit at a time. I’ve been using barefoot shoes for like 2 years now and so I would personally prefer to stand in these types of shoes all day but not when I first started. I’d consider at least getting a shoe with a wide toe box but still has cushion so at least your toes would have more space, but I wouldn’t go full zero-drop sole right away.
I transitioned to barefoot shoes and have been wearing them pretty exclusively for the past 2ish years. I used to have horrible plantar fasciitis pain which is now GONE! I’d love to watch more barefoot content, including maybe shoe reviews. I’ve enjoyed be lenka a lot and Muki shoes.
Oh wow that’s awesome that you were able to get rid of your pain!! I have a pair of dress shoes I like from BeLenka, but I haven’t tried Muki yet! Maybe I’ll reach out to them hahah
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3elMryUe4a4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/tr.png)
Download my Free Barefoot Shoes Guide: bit.ly/barefootTASHA
Feelgrounds Barefoot Shoes: bit.ly/feelgroundsTASHA
Correct Toes Spacers: bit.ly/correcttoesTASHA
When I moved to Asia over a decade ago I was struck by how wide a lot of people's feet are, I later came to realize it was because flip flops are the primary shoe for most people here for most of their life. It's a very hot and humid place and rains like crazy for half the year so flip-flops make a lot of sense as they are just more comfortable in this climate. But that also means that most people have very functional feet. Having grown up in the West, I wore sneakers that crushed my toes together for most of my life.
About two years ago I started working on a design project with a partner to make natural toe box motorcycle and hiking boots. My partner already had a background in making barefoot dress shoes, and my design studio had done boot designs before for several smaller brands so this wasn't too much of a departure for the two of us. We have iterated through several versions of our designs to get to the point we were satisfied. We had to design and manufacture a lot of the pieces ourselves like the outsole and the lasts that the boots are made on because they are not made for that shape toe box. But we got there in the end and hope to have a small-scale launch in Q1 next year... Hopefully LOL
Please keep us informed! As a motorcyclist I have not been able to find any barefoot boots made for that. I do have a pair of Vivo's that are pretty good, but they were not really designed for what you get into on a street bike.
@@IdeaStudioBKK what a wild observation and it’s so cool you have designed this! Let me know when it’s available, I would be happy to share it with the audience!
@@jeremykrall1694 Thank you, I will be dropping a documentary on my channel about the process of designing the boots and launching the brand sometime next year once we get through our official launch.
We are pretty close, the next version we make should be our production model, we are just waiting to get it dialed in and tested.
I ride my motorcycle daily and have worn the beta versions daily for 18 months. Each iteration gets way better and we are close to being market ready.
@@natashatheresa Thank you very much! When the brand is ready to launch I will be dropping a documentary on my channel about the process of designing the boots and starting the brand. We have been shooting since we started and have gone through many iterations to get to where we are at with the designs.
It's really sad what we do to our feet for the decades we walk on them. Every day. But fashion seems more important than healthy feet in our society. Don't want to be negative here, but the truth is out there and we all can do better. Every day. Thanks for your videos and greetings from southern Germany! ✌😊🦶
@@TimeToStartOver heyyyy thanks for watching! Yeah so many things that society embraces is the opposite of what actually is good for us hahahahhahahaha. But glad to finally have discovered a way to better foot health before it’s too late ♥️♥️
This is so true, and so important! I remember as a kid trying on shoes before school started and complaining they were tight. The salesman asked if I had been running around barefoot all summer (answer: yes). He said they would be fine, because the length was right. So we got them, and sometime in the fall they stopped feeling so tight, and I thought how “right” he was. 🙄 My mom also always had bunions, so when I started developing them I wasn’t surprised. Fast forward to my fifties and I had plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis is both feet! So painful I could only walk without pain in my Crocs! I was sent for PT, which helped, and got me to walk without pain, but it all comes back quickly if I don’t keep stretching, etc. So, thanks to videos like this, I began a journey to foot health. It is super important to take it super slowly, and let your feet build strength and flexibility. I started with Altra Via Olympus - wide toe box and zero drop, but a high stack height (cushion), to help my injured feet. Eventually I added lower stack height Altras and Birkenstocks to my collection. I wore these type of shoes almost always. I practiced spreading my toes (at first they would t even move!), etc. Slowly, I noticed improvements and my bunions have diminished.
I’m still on the journey. I think toe spreaders and more flexible, wide toe box, zero drops shoes are next - but I still need some cushion (like a cheapo foam insert) or the plantar fasciitis starts up again. Do you know of any that might be good for me to try? Thanks!
@@SydHalley thank you so much for sharing your story!! As for inserts, I personally haven’t used any in quite a while, but this is something to consider and I am going to add it to my list of things to research bc I want to be able to recommend some for anyone who is making that transition and needs something to help!
@natashatheresa thanks! I love my Altras, but they do have a stiff sole. I got some flexible winter slippers, and at first I couldn’t wear them for long. Using flexible soled shoes uses so many more little muscles that haven’t done much for years lol!
I have quiet the opposite Problem. I can't find fitting shoes for me, i always wore like 3/4 sizes bigger (EU).
My Problem was that the normal shoe that is sold in the shops are only for Fashion and the other factor;
I have an foot that is more wide but shorter, no space between the 4 small toes. The reason is, like i've read in the internet, is that my foot is made for cold climate. No space between the toes means no heat loss and no lost toes due to Frostbite.
Now i can't find any fitting shoe from any brand, even the barefoot ones because they aren't made for wider feet, only for the wider toe box.
Oh wow!! Have you followed Anya's Reviews yet? Maybe something in here can help: anyasreviews.com/best-barefoot-shoes-foot-type/
more plz
I have a single barefoot shoe that I use for exercise (walking)
I live in jamaica tho and we go barefoot a lot and that def helps
Thanks for sharing! I'm glad to know that you are interested in more content like this, and that sounds awesome to be able to go barefoot a lot in Jamaica! I wish where I lived it were more socially acceptable to do that too, but I do when I can, especially if hiking or at a park :)
Nice video! Wish my 14yo daughter would like the barefoot shoes trend, or that it would become just a little bit more fashionable, bringing light to this issue is indeed what we need to get people more used to the idea and shape of these types of shoes. The more people see them, the more they might like them and be open to them. That's why the Crocs trend was not so bad I think, at least people are more used to seeing bigger toe boxes now. Now onto less cushioning and more flexibility!
@@AnotherCaroline176 yah for sure, it’s a whole thing especially when you go to school and there are fashion trends and all that social pressure to fit in. BeLenka has some cute options, maybe there is something in there that she would be open to hehehe
I think this was a VERY informative video. You are so right about shoes that are mass produced, it's all about the profit. no concern for the health of the foot. You make perfect sense about growing up and shoes forming our foot shape because the shoes are made weird. Most of us don't even think about it, it's what we know because that's what are parents knew.
I am one with bunions from an early age and have a wide, chunky foot. I tried for over a year to find a pair that were wide enough and comfortable. I even tried the name brand sketchers and sent them back, not wide enough even though they said wide. I ordered from varies stores and Amazon and sent all of them back, for the same reason, not wide enough. I finally stumbled on a pair. about a year ago. that are wide enough. They are men's shoes, went that route to hopefully get a wide pair and they fit and comfortable. They are from Amazon and were around $30.00. I will certainly be checking out your brand suggestions. And.....yes, I would like to see a Part II on this topic and recommended shoes. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed this video Linda! My struggle growing up was finding a shoe that was "wide" but in the right areas... most shoes kept pinching my toes together and just didn't look good on me, but if I went with wide, it was too loose in certain areas and still not wide enough in my bunion area. I'm glad that I've found brands of barefoot shoes that allow me to have more space now and accommodate my bunions properly. If you are looking for especially wide shoes, this link might help too: anyasreviews.com/best-barefoot-shoes-foot-type/
I've also had custom shoes made via Etsy, you can send them your measurements and they can make them. It's more of an investment but it's truly made for your foot :)
Modern day foot binding :/
I have the same feet as you. Only found out it wasn’t hereditary when I looked into barefoot shoes. But I have flat feet and have to be careful of developing plantar facitis if I wear those. I’m also worried about the amount of concrete and unnatural hard surfaces we have to walk on which are hard to avoid.
I feel like you also have to solely wear barefoot shoes to revert your bunions and that’s a big commitment 😭
The hard surfaces really are a problem with barefoot shoes. As Natasha says in the video, you have be gradual, you can't just jump in with both feet. 😉 I was getting used to different types of barefoot shoes at home, but then when I wore them into the office for well over 8 hours my dogs started barking. The worst part is that it is so hard to find wide toe box shoes that have cushioning so you can still get the toe splay, instead of going backwards when you have to put in a long day in regular shoes.
@@SSKTX21 yah it’s been like several years of me using barefoot shoes and trying to also walk around barefoot as much as possible, plus doing foot exercises, so be able to ALMOST reverse them, depending how far along they are. I do solely wear barefoot shoes at this point, but if I play too much pickleball my arches are sore the next day hahahahaha! An insole for arch support can help with the transition as well, I just haven’t really used them hahahaha
@@jeremykrall1694 yes the struggle is real! are you looking for dress shoes or like sneakers with more cushion and wide toe box?
@@natashatheresa Thankfully I have a job that I can wear sneakers and don't need dress shoes. At least as long as the shoes aren't to flashy or "out there" like some of the brands make them.
@@jeremykrall1694 maybe look into Whitin - I mention it in my barefoot shoe guide as well. My hubby needed something with a thicker sole for pickleball, and so we tried them out from Amazon, they have the wide toe box but also have a more cushioned sole.. maybe even pair them with an insole if you need some arch support here and there. If this is what you might be looking for: amzn.to/41x5sAQ
I have been working from home barefoot for five years and while it hasn’t solved things, it has made me reassess my shoes. I made the mistake of thinking I could go straight to barefoot shoes without a transition because of all the barefoot time but I need to come up with a better transition plan. For now I’m trying to find zero or minimal drop but with some cushion.
That sounds like a good plan! Also, that’s quite interesting that even with all the barefoot time at home, it doesn’t translate directly to readily transitioning! Thank you for sharing this insight!
One thing I learned from a trainer to help is to "hold hands" (make your fingers the toe spacers) with your feet. This trainer does it for balance in workouts because the big toe is essential in squatting, etc. I've had barefoot shoes for idk how long now, and people often ask how to transition/if it's comfortable, and that's one step I would take, especially to get used to it.
This is such a good tip and something I plan to talk about in future videos about transitioning as I do it a lot whenever I am sitting around. And yes, when I was able to better engage my big toe it really helped me to squat better. Thanks for sharing!!
The most comfortable shoe i have ever worn were my Vibram 5 toe shoes. They are very similar to the shoes you showed, except they have individual spots for each toe.
I have been looking into them for a while, but just haven’t gotten any yet! Glad to hear you like them!!
@natashatheresa you definitely have to work up to wearing them all day but once you do it's wonderful. You also get strange looks but I don't mind that😀
Thanks to you I now have 2 pairs of barefoot shoes and will probably get a few more like some sandals and a pair of ballet flats as well. for something a bit more dressy and that I can slip on without having to lace up. I have been using toe spacers as well and it seems to have really helped my feet feel better. I have more space in between my little toe when there used to be none/very little thanks to wearing "regular" shoes. I too had the same problem with constantly twisting my ankle when I was younger nice to know the shoes I was wearing were the problem all along. I really hate the extremely pointed toe of some heels or flats my feet were always never comfortable and most of the time i avoided them. Thanks for the video Natasha. 💜 Happy Holidays. Plus this Might make a good gift for someone.
@@rebeccal.672 happy holidays to you too! And so glad that your feet are feeling better!! Check out the BeLenka ballet flats, I enjoy the pair have hehehehe
@@natashatheresa Thanks for the ballet flat recommendation. Youre the best! 😘💜 You saved me from having to search for a pair.
Thank you for this video. I've been looking at barefoot shoes for years, but I'm not sure of the best ones. I would love to see more videos about them.
@@Calichick67 glad you enjoyed this video! Def check out the barefoot shoe guide download if you want to know what brands have worked for me, there’s something for each price point!
I love barefoot shoes! More content & channel recs, pls!
🙏🏽♥️
i love this video!!! i have bunion as well from bad shoes in my childhood and really high heels in the workplace.
the struggle is real! glad you enjoyed the video!
Please, please, please.......make more vids about foot health 🥺🙏🏼
My husband & I are only in our early 40s, and both of our childhood foot problems have turned i to knee, hip, back problems & lead to weight gain.
Our 5 children are also starting to have problem (rolling ankles, etc) and it makes them less active then they would like to be.
I've been looking for ways to correct it while they are still young.
Thanks for your comment! I'm sorry to hear about the foot problems you have developed! But the good thing is it's not too late to do something about it, and it's especially good you are looking for ways to help the kiddos while they are little! Definitely check out Anya's Reviews - this FAQ page is great for learning a lot about barefoot shoes and seeing how they can help with your foot issues: anyasreviews.com/barefoot-shoes-faq/
Go to a physical therapist or a good podiatrist for a consultation. My podiatrist has really helped. He also gave me a list of exercises to do which has really helped. My feet get exercised daily with Sunday being "Spa Day ". They get a soak with Epsom salts and a nice massage with a special cream. It's half Vaseline, half foot cream. It helps.
@@renel7303 Thanks for the tips. Greatly appreciated 👏 💐
@@natashatheresa My sista.... Thanks 💐
Gah. I also believe the same things and have been all wide toe box shoes and zero drop for years now. I only use Altra’s cushioned shoes when I’m on concrete all day or out for a run, though, bc I don’t want too put so much strain on my joints. I still have really bad arch pain in my right foot. When I used to wear Nike’s or Pumas, the ankle pain was worse, Terrible. Finally moved on from those horrible shoes. I use toe spacer too LOl Now I need to go to a PT to strengthen my right foots’ arch. I want to be able to walk on my own when I’m old. That’s a huge goal of mine!
That’s awesome you have been into zero drop for a while! I hope your right foot starts acting right!!! And yes I too have then same goal for when I get older. I really want to be independent as long as possible
This was so informative and I'd love to learn more!
Okay awesome glad you enjoyed!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! 🎉❤
🙏🏽♥️ thanks for watching!!
Yeah, I remember when as a child I have noticed that my Mother's pinky is going under this other toe, and I was affraid I will developed something similar. And yeah, I have quite developed that, but at least I have dis covered barefoot shoes couple of years ago and now i am wearing almost only them (unfortunately I am using bad weightlifting shoes :c). Oh gosh, I am too ill to write it wellxD.
I understood you Jakub! Thanks for sharing this, and I hope you feel better ASAP! Thanks for watching!
@natashatheresa Thank You.
get those feets moving! I would say ethically sourced leather is way more enviromentally friendly than somthing that will never break down though.
@@allysonvollmer7223 thank you for sharing your insights!! Definitely something to consider as well!! ♥️♥️
Thank you for making this!! Im always a bit sad about the thought that ill never get ''normal'' looking feet again, bunion permanency, even thinking its too late to even try barefoot because ''whats the point'', but there are so many more points. Your leg health will be better, your knees will be better, you are supporting your weight better, balance gets better, and so your back gets better, it supports your whole body, excuse my french but fuck what my feet look like even if they have bunions, who cares, ill have strong feet.😂((bunions is sucha huge insecurity of mine even if i dont care at all if i see it on others, i suppose its just the jealousy of seeing others who dont have them i hope i one day will overcome that insecurity))
I'll add ive had barefoot shoes for about 3 months now, after using vans for 2 years (i didnt know it but they are also almost zero drop) and then my boss at work told me to get cusioning shoes and gave me a special mat to stand on when i worked... and my knees started hurting, bad. I am not even 30 yet. But all that sudden ''help'' for my feet was horrible. So i went back to vans.. and the finally got barefoot shoes.. and the moment i put on the barefoot shoes i never put on the vans again (I still fully support taking it easy but in my case i think my feet were already used to it)
@@Softlywool wow all your thoughts had been exactly mine throughout the years!!! At the end of the day I just am happy my feet feel good and don’t feel crammed into shoes, and yes I just am happy to have strong feet!
@@Softlywool people think cushion is helping but it’s actually just making us weaker it’s crazy!!
I was told by the MS team to not wear flat shoes as it’s not good for my drop foot. I walk my best bare foot.
I’ve been hesitant to buy these but screw it. I’ll make the jump.
Maybe try a cheaper option and only wear it a little at a time to see how it goes. But if you are saying you walk best barefoot, maybe this is something that can help 🙏🏽♥️
Do your bunions hurt?
Thankfully they do not. They only used to hurt when I would cram my feet into shoes that were not wide enough and the shoe would press against my bunion all day. But nowadays they don’t bother me
@@natashatheresa That's good to hear! Is it still tender to press on it?
@ not at all :)
Thanks for the video! I learned some stuff! 😊
But question: are those types of shoes recommended for people who are on their feet all day (example: healthcare personnel)? I am needing to purchase new shoes and dont know what i should be getting now...
Hi! I think if you have not ever used them before it wouldn’t be good to try to use them all day. If your feet are used to more cushion, you’d have to maybe use them for a bit at a time.
I’ve been using barefoot shoes for like 2 years now and so I would personally prefer to stand in these types of shoes all day but not when I first started. I’d consider at least getting a shoe with a wide toe box but still has cushion so at least your toes would have more space, but I wouldn’t go full zero-drop sole right away.
That makes a lot of sense and I will do that! Thanks so much for your input!😁😁
Your children have an amazing toe flexibility! Keep their toes free and move them a lot ...
🦶🦶♥️♥️
aww baby feet
I transitioned to barefoot shoes and have been wearing them pretty exclusively for the past 2ish years. I used to have horrible plantar fasciitis pain which is now GONE! I’d love to watch more barefoot content, including maybe shoe reviews. I’ve enjoyed be lenka a lot and Muki shoes.
Oh wow that’s awesome that you were able to get rid of your pain!! I have a pair of dress shoes I like from BeLenka, but I haven’t tried Muki yet! Maybe I’ll reach out to them hahah