Barefoot shoes are often subject to scrutiny and debate. Whether you’re a barefoot enthusiast or just considering making the switch to this lifestyle, it is important to know what is fact, and what is fiction. In this blog, we will debunk common myths about barefoot shoes and help you make an informed decision.
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Barefoot Shoes Are Unstable Because They Provide No Support
Contrary to this misconception that barefoot shoes provide no support, barefoot shoes are actually designed to develop and strengthen your foot muscles. The idea that our feet need support is all marketing. Like any other muscle in the body, our feet get stronger as we use them. If they’re supported for too long (like they are in regular shoes), they lose their natural ability to support our body, leading to long term problems. So barefoot shoes may not provide the “marketing support” but it gives you a better chance at being the most supported you have ever been.
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Barefoot Shoes Cause Injuries
The notion that barefoot shoes lead to injuries likely stems from users transitioning too quickly from traditional footwear, and the fact that they don’t have the cushion (that you don’t need.) Our feet have however gotten accustomed to walking on pillows. To go from that to actual ground takes some time and that is what you should be ready to invest in when you’re first starting out. It will only be a matter of time however and your feet will be stronger than ever. Several studies have actually shown how barefoot shoes prevent the occurrence of certain injuries. You’re in safe shoes. Listen to your body, believe in your body.
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Only For Athletes
Barefoot shoes are often sported by people who are into fitness. Now this is very true, but it is only because these people take time to research these topics. Not that they’re specifically made for sporting purposes. Our belief is that everyone should wear barefoot shoes at all times (unless you’re a factory worker, maybe.) Barefoot shoes are not a more advanced product, they are a more natural adaptation to today’s world to protect us from hazards. We should all walk barefoot technically. That is how we were designed. Barefoot shoes come as close to that as possible. So if it’s a walk to the office, a trail run, walking in the park, there’s barefoot shoes for every occasion.
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Not Suited For Hard Surfaces
The biggest concern for most people comes from barefoot shoes’ ability to protect them from walking on hard surfaces. The fear of striking their heel to hard, or plain old foot pain. Let me break it to you - that’s how we’ve evolved. Our ancestors didnot have pronation support, or 1 inch cushions under their feet when they walked the greenlands, the mountains, traversed through canyons, and climbed trees. After years and years of evolution having done that in all kinds of terrain, this foot design has seen it all. Believe in natural design, it is completely safe. Being barefoot actually gives you a better chance at understanding the kind of surface you are walking on and making amends before you injure yourself. This sensory feedback is super important for your balance and stability.
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Not For Flat Feet
Before we get into the orthotics debate and how they are completely useless, it is important to understand what flat feet as a problem is. Flat feet is a condition where your foot muscles are so weak that they cannot support you upright and your feet cave in. Now this one thing causes a lot of issues up the posterior chain, in the knees, hips, back and what not. The solution however is not more support that will make you weaker, but exercise and healthy walking. A way to engage those muscles and restore their function on a daily basis to bring them back to their actual use.
Walking in barefoot shoes may initially feel “wrong”, but it is your best bet at curing yourself of flat feet for good. A weak muscle does not need more artificial support, it needs to be trained.
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They Are Not Durable
Barefoot shoes have thin soles and that is where this myth comes from. Now most brands use rubber as their outsole material, including us at Zen Barefoot the same substance used in car tires. Even though the sole is very thin, depending on the grade of the material used. You can expect the shoes to last for a minimum 3-4 years before they need replacement. You can wear them just like any other footwear and you are good.
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They Will Cure All My Problems
On the other end of the spectrum are people who believe barefoot shoes are the answer to all health problems. As much as I would like to believe it, barefoot shoes are just one part of the puzzle. Barefoot shoes give you the best chance at understanding the problems that you may have, or the best chance at movement freedom, or the best chance at strengthening your muscles, but they are not the answer to everything.
One thing is for sure, with barefoot shoes, you will be walking like you were designed to.