The Dark Side of Barefoot Shoes

Flux Footwear (Code: "SHERVIN"): flux.rfrl.co/yqxgx Vivobarefoot Discount Code (10% Off): "SHERVIN10" tidd.ly/3aCRQbP ** Watch More Videos ** I Wore 23 Barefoot Shoes... This One's Best: https://youtu.be/GrC8YQh9_7Q I Bought 16 Vivobarefoot Shoes (so you don't have to): https://youtu.be/UmmTH2BEC4M 1,000 Days in Barefoot Shoes. It Changed My Life: https://youtu.be/q6TFVRskT5c

Still don’t understand why shoes aren’t shaped like feet. Why would we smash our feet into weird shapes?

I went completely barefoot for 8 months. No, I didnt work at the time. Long story. But the point is this: My balance imroved, my feet loosened up, back and knee pain were negligible. The minute I had to wear boots again knees, feet and back hurt again.

I recently started using the five fingers and people have openly mocked me, it’s fun, I’m out there walking super comfortable and that’s all that matters

For two years I have suffered with increasingly severe, debilitating pain from plantar fasciitis. It's only been a few weeks since I started going barefoot and wearing barefoot shoes when I go out, and the difference is night and day. I used to be in such pain when I woke up that I would have to roll and massage my feet for 5 minutes each just to be able to walk. I was temporarily immobilized. It was embarrassing to gasp in pain when I was with friends. But by going exclusively barefoot and wearing minimalist shoes when I go out, I have reversed two years of foot trauma. The conventional wisdom of physical therapists told me to buy shoe inserts to support my feet, but they only ended up making the problem worse. The exercises worked, but the orthopedic inserts counteracted any good it did. What I'm saying is that strengthening and stretching my feet has put me on a surprisingly fast path to healing. Praise God!! ❤🙏🙌❤

Bought my first pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes in August 2021 and now I have a total of 4 pairs (for different occasions). For 30+ years I had flat feet and no natural arch in my foot, since wearing barefoot shoes I have developed an arch, my posture has improved and my feet feel so much better.

My understanding is Vibram settled the lawsuit (without accepting any fault) because they didn't have the scientific evidence to back up the claims they were making, that doesn't automatically mean that those claims were false. Very few minimalist shoes studies existed at the time. The people bringing the lawsuit also had no proof that the claims were false, just that they had no scientific merit behind them. The previous CEO of Vibram, who had left before the lawsuit was filed, said he wouldn't have settled, he would have fought it.

The more I've been looking into getting barefoot shoes, the more I realize I already use something kind of similar. I used to skateboard a lot in my teens, and for the most part I've worn skate shoes ever since. They tend to have no height difference from heel to toe, are wider in the toes, and they're relatively thin and flexible so you can feel the board better underneath you (depending of course on which ones you get, but I'd say the majority and the ones I get especially are like that). They do give a bit more cushion for impacts than I believe a barefoot shoe would of course, but they seem to be a good middle ground from what I can gather, and might even be the better option for certain people from a budget angle and a transition point.

Was not prepared for all these Tarantino foot shots, you've definitely made someones day with this vid.

There's definitely a health benefit in wearing the footwear that is most comfortable to you. I was yelled at a ton as a kid for walking outside without shoes on, so I naturally enjoy barefoot shoes, minimalist sandals, five fingers for walking, hiking, working out. But you really have to ease into minimalist footwear if you aren't used to walking without support. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR GAIT and that is an uncomfortable process for many people. You have to build up the muscles that you weren't using, and people tend to fatigue during this process and just slam their foot into the ground when fatigued. This can easily cause ligament strain and shin splints.

I think the most important thing is to listen to your body. If you're in pain even if you've followed all the "right steps" in transitioning into barefoot shoes, then maybe don't force it!

Somehow humans survived for hundreds of thousands of years without wearing wedge shaped marshmallows on their feet.

Great video. I enjoy listening to people who also like minimalist shoes. Good content and good information. I've been wearing Vibrams since 2013 and I absolutely love them. I would wear them every day when I took my walks, which were anywhere between 4 and 12 miles a day. Of course I had to transition into them properly, which I did on a treadmill in my Ohio basement. The rest of the time I had to wear shoes appropriate for an office environment, or NB sneakers, which were recommended by my FIL who was a podiatrist. He used to be totally against minimalist shoes, but after examining my feet after the first year, he started to understand the benefits. I now live in Florida and since Covid made everyone homebodies, I've been working from home and really have very little need to wear actual shoes at all. When I do go out anywhere, I wear my Vibrams. So basically for the past 3+ years, I've worn either Vibrams or went barefoot almost exclusively. My feet are definitely stronger and much wider than before. I don't ever want to go back to "traditional" shoes.

When Shervin drops on the weekend, the weekend is better!

I’ve been wearing my creepy toe shoes (vibram 5 fingers) for a decade now! I love ‘em. I feel awesome and am never going back. For reference, I’m 48, CrossFitter, yoga practitioner, and generally feel awesome most of the time. Longest run in vibrams: 10 miles. Longest hike in vibrams: 50 miles in mountain terrain.

Barefoot shoes cured my cancer!! [I'm kidding, of course, but it IS related!] I had neuropathy following chemotherapy twelve years ago. The pain and tingling when walking was annoying at best. I switched to barefoot-style shoes (Vibram Fivefingers in my case), and my feet felt MUCH better almost immediately. I've been wearing barefoot-style shoes ever since. Thanks so much for the informative video!!

Very helpful vid. I had loads of problems moving to bare foot runs but I accept I did too much too quickly. I’ll still be sticking with my cushioned shoes but I found this vid helpful. Thank you.

There is a whole difference that should be made between "unsubstantiated claims" and "wrong claims". Vibram settled the class action because they were a bit reckless in their claims while they have no actual proof to defend them. Nothing says these claims were right or wrong. Now, if you think about the biomechanics of feet and legs, what they say makes a lot of sense : having shoes compressing the toes distorts feet over time (just look at the feet of women in their 50's who have worn "sexy" shoes for most of their life… nothing sexy to look at after a couple of decades) and it's just common sense that reducing foot surface reduces stability. Then, thick soles only dampen "wrong" (brutal) foot strokes and surely makes leg muscles lazy while letting people take wrong habits. Human have evolved to be moving mechanics, and it turns out that most technologies allowing human to avoid effort and reduce motion are actually detrimental to our well-being because… we just need to activate those muscles to be well, since a lot of biochemical reactions depend on juices flowing. Motion is life and muscles are the way to move. Vibram marketing and their lack of scientific background doesn't mean they are wrong, they are most likely too forward and should probably invest more in research and less in advertising.

Awesome video man, all I know of I've been struggling with osteoarthritis in my right ankle, it even started messing with my knee and hip. I started noticing a difference in my pain while working from home being barefoot all day. I just bought some Xero shoes and wore them out yesterday. It felt amazing!! The toe box and 0 drop I believe make a huge difference for walking and daily activities. I'm sore today haha gonna go do some mobility and stretching now. I look forward to seeing if this improves my chronic pains 🤘🏼

I loved my barefoot shoes. I started them into my run rotation on the shorter runs, and then slowly but surely into the longer runs (5k+). I ended up using them for most runs within a few months. I backed off initially during the transition due to over use pain in my feet. While I have good arches, I don't think my feet were ready without any support. Once I got over that I really enjoyed them. It was weird having your toes separate on uneven terrain at first. Once they got stronger though it was very noticeable for stability and mobility as a whole. I will be getting another pair.