You were born barefoot, and a increasing body of proof implies you need to have stayed that way. The know-how and padding of the fashionable shoe defend your ft, but protection isn’t really usually what you want. Toes were produced to stretch, flex, roll, and bend, and letting them do what they progressed to do can lower influence injuries and supply a host of other positive aspects.

That explained, be sure to do not purchase a pair of these barely-there footwear and begin going for walks or operating the way you usually have. That will never perform, and it can guide to injuries. You require to simplicity into all issues barefoot associated, and to some degree, you require to relearn how to stroll and operate. In this guideline, we have obtained tips on making the changeover from padded footwear to “barefoot shoes” (also identified as minimalist or zero-drop footwear), and we have rounded up our beloved footwear. They’re as shut as you can get to achieving that barefoot sensation with out operating afoul of “No shirt, no footwear, no service” indications.

Be certain to check out our other buying guides, such as our Finest Running Equipment, and Finest Snow Equipment roundups.