Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Wear Barefoot Shoes

By Alex Assoune Aug 26, 2021

There are so many benefits of wearing barefoot and minimalist shoes. Whether you enjoy running, hiking, or wearing lightweight, flexible shoes, switch to footwear with less cushion that is truly good for you.

Minimalist, barefoot shoes help you feel the ground and, at the same time, keep your feet safe. They specifically have a thin sole to give a good ground feel and provide enough cushion.

Footwear designed with thin soles is naturally lightweight and zero-drop. It has no raised heel bed or added padding around the arch but still looks great and feels comfortable to wear.

If you are new to barefoot and minimalist shoes, make sure to transition slowly to this type of footwear. Consider wearing your new shoes on alternate days for shorts periods to let your feet and body adapt to the changes.

To help you decide to transition to minimalist and barefoot footwear, here are some of the fantastic benefits of wearing barefoot shoes.

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1. Ground feel

The number one reason to consider wearing minimalist and barefoot footwear is a better ground feel. Shoes with thin soles let you sense the Earth under your feet to feel liberated and more connected to nature and your surroundings.

Conventional shoes have broken the connection each human needs with the planet for too long. So switching to lightweight and flexible shoes offers a more natural experience and better lifestyle.

Feel the ground truly brings you joy and relieves stress accumulated in your day-to-day life. It allows you to relax, let go of negative thoughts, to focus more on the present moment.

Walking, slow jogging, or running with barefoot and minimalist shoes is an easy exercise that offers fantastic benefits. Flexible, thin soles bring freedom, comfort, energy, and a better mood.

Going barefoot is a true joy and brings awareness to your body and the environment. It's not only truly effective at reducing anxiety and stress but also helps you stay grounded and present.

2. Better posture and balance

Wearing lightweight, flexible, zero-drop footwear with a wide toe box and low elevation helps your body health. Switching to barefoot and minimalist shoes is becoming increasingly popular for better posture and balance.

Conventional shoes with a heel-to-toe drop aren't natural and bring your body out of alignment. In particular, a raised heel shortens your calf muscles, reduces your range of motion, and can be painful for your lower body.

On the other hand, zero-drop shoes help your body with better posture and balance. They allow you to stand upright in a more natural fashion. Some people even notice improvements in knee, hip, and back health.

If you suffer from lower back pain or have difficulty staying balanced or maintaining an upright posture, consider minimalist, barefoot shoes. They have positive effects on your muscles and tendons and lead to less stress on your spine.

3. Stronger feet and legs

Barefoot and minimalist footwear leave room for your feet and legs to get stronger. Your lower body doesn't need to be supported as much as you would think.

Shoes with too much cushioning or support lead to weakening tissues and bones. You will grow stronger feet and legs and eliminate the need for support while switching to natural footwear.

It can take a few weeks to many years to build your strength back up. But the transition is worth it to ensure better body health while aging. Healthier feet and legs are essential to living happy, healthy, and longer.

Feet are too often a seriously underestimated body part. We put them in shoes and forget them for good, but better foot function and strength have tremendous benefits for the whole body.

If you've ever experience foot pain, you know how bad it can affect your life. Free feet are naturally strong and in better shape. They have carried humans through life without additional support for over 2 million years.

Ditch your conventional shoes and choose the natural, barefoot route. Minimalist shoes offer numerous advantages similar to being completely barefoot with more social acceptance and protection against the hazards of modern life.

4. More space for your toes

If you feel like your feet are getting crushed by your new shoes, you are not alone. So many people experience footwear that is constricting and uncomfortable every day.

Regular shoes squash your foot nerves, muscles, ligaments, and bones together. They don't offer enough space for toes to thrive and stay in good shape.

Barefoot, minimalist shoes, however, have a wide toe-box. They mirror the natural shape of the foot and are surprisingly comfortable. There are many benefits of wearing them, including being good for your feet.

Pain and malalignment are often the results of restricted feet in conventional footwear. So give your feet better posture, function, enough room to play, and don't force them to point inwards.

Minimalist and barefoot shoes don't compress your toes as much and allow them to act in their natural function to stabilize and balance your whole body.

5. Natural walking style

A thin sole under your feet not only provides an instant ground feel but also allows a natural range of motion. Barefoot shoes slightly change your foot's movement for the better.

Your feet can twist, bend, and extend to balance your whole body while you stand, walk, and run. So give them enough freedom to move and work as nature intended and restore your natural range movement.

If you wear shoes with a thick, rigid, and stiff sole, you keep your feet restricted and don't let them move freely. The flexibility of minimalist shoes is crucial to walk and run the natural way.

Zero-drop, lightweight, flexible shoes give strength and balance to your lower body and allow you to move in a natural pattern. Having less cushion under your feet puts them to work as they reduce impact while walking or running.

6. Lighter to wear

Minimalist and barefoot shoes are naturally flexible and lightweight. While wearing them, you can almost completely forget you have shoes on. They allow your feet to wake up, regain function and strength while feeling super comfortable.

Changing your footwear alters a lot of things about your body. And wearing barefoot shoes or no shoes at all can be a healthy practice to feel liberated and free from constrictive footwear.

While picking out your first pair of minimalist shoes, make sure to choose a long-lasting, lightweight, comfortable, and sustainable pair. Prioritize comfort, durability, and eco-friendliness for footwear that naturally feels better and stands the test of time.

Check out our selection of affordable, vegan, minimalist and barefoot shoes from some of the best sustainable footwear brands.

It's particularly challenging to go back to regular footwear once you've experienced a great pair of barefoot shoes and noticed how much better your feel with almost nothing on your feet.

7. Less painful

Barefoot, minimalist shoes are super comfortable and less painful than regular footwear. They are shaped anatomically and don't restrict your feet' natural range of movement.

A thin, soft, and lightweight sole is better for body health, and it looks and feels better. Flexible, natural materials give maximum comfort and allow your feet to move freely.

It's common to experience pain in your feet, legs, and lower back while wearing conventional footwear. So listen to your body telling you that something is wrong and ditch these uncomfortable shoes.

Choose shoes that are better for your feet and better for the environment than traditional shoes. Many manufacturers make responsible, minimalist footwear from natural or recycled materials and help you feel better.

Experienced runners and athletes especially prefer barefoot shoes as they make their run healthier. Soles with less cushion decrease impact on the legs as they allow a mid or forefoot strike.

Landing on the balls of your feet while you walk and run reduces stress on your knee and hip joints and lowers the risk of injury. Wearing minimalist footwear also reduces back pain as it encourages better posture.

8. More sensory input

While wearing barefoot or minimalist shoes, your brain receives more sensory input from your feet. Each foot contains a large number of nerves that aren't allowed to function correctly in conventional footwear.

Pediatricians recommend young children to walk and run barefoot as much as possible to allow sensory play. This practice develops their brain, strengthens their feet and ankles, and improves balance and posture.

For the same reasons, adults also benefit from being barefoot and wearing minimalist shoes. The many acupressure points on the feet connect to different parts of the body and are very stimulating.

Developing the nerves in your feet and the foot-brain connection revitalize the entire body. The ground offers a good massage while wearing barefoot shoes.

While traditional footwear doesn't allow for electro-stimulation, minimalist shoes activate the feet let your brain receive the necessary information from the nerves to adjust your muscles and joints and keep your body aligned.

9. Greater flexibility

You can wear minimalist, barefoot shoes everywhere on concrete, rock, sand, soil, water, and uneven surfaces. This type of footwear is very flexible and is ideal for every occasion.

Barefoot shoes provide traction, protection, comfort, and breathability. You can wear them to the gym, for walking, running, or simply relaxing.

Connecting to the ground is always a good experience. It's a great way to develop foot strength, stability, and flexibility naturally. Lightweight, flexible shoes are well-known for increasing mobility and health.

10. Something new

Switching barefoot shoes is a great way to challenge yourself and try something new. Change can feel uncomfortable at first, but it's highly beneficial to step out of your comfort zone from time to time.

People very rarely regret trying minimalist footwear. On the contrary, most people have difficulties going back to regular shoes once they've experienced how fantastic lightweight, flexible, zero-drop shoes make them feel.

Wearing barefoot shoes is a safe and effective way of committing to feeling better and experiencing life to the fullest. Meaningful change takes time, but new shoes can be the first step of a lifelong practice for better health.

Check out our selection of minimalist barefoot sandals that could change many things positively about your body.

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.