BAREFOOT SHOES GUIDE | Why Use Them, How to Acclimate, Sizing, and More!

READ BAREFOOT SHOES GUIDE: thatfitfriend.com/barefoot-sh...
TRAINING SHOES VS BAREFOOT SHOES: thatfitfriend.com/minimalist-...
As barefoot shoes continue to grow in popularity and be used as versatile tools for building one's feet and supporting natural movement I wanted to put together a barefoot shoes guide to answer questions I receive.
Unlike training shoes, barefoot shoes do require an acclimation period so it's a good idea to understand the "why" behind them to better utilize them with a strategy for your goals and needs.
In the barefoot shoes guide, I'm going to discuss a few of the most common questions I receive on this type of footwear.
0:00 Intro
0:27 What Are Barefoot Shoes
1:09 Why Use Barefoot Shoes?
3:58 How Should Barefoot Shoes Fit
4:46 When to Wear Barefoot Shoes
5:19 How to Acclimate to Barefoot Shoes
7:04 Barefoot Shoe First Time Wear Game Plans
Personally, I enjoy wearing barefoot shoes for a wide variety of activities and use them strategically with my cross-training shoes and weightlifting shoes.
Just like every piece of footwear that has a niche focus and intent, barefoot shoes have benefits that ebb and scale based on how we wish to use them.
If you've never worn barefoot shoes, then I can't stress enough the importance of a strategic acclimation plan. This will allow you to ease into this style of footwear without fatiguing the feet or making them super sore.
If you have questions on this barefoot shoe guide, hit me in the comments below or reach out to me personally via Instagram! (@jake_boly)!
CONNECT: / jake_boly
#barefootshoes #barefootshoe #minimalistshoes

Пікірлер: 48

  • @krakatoasundra
    @krakatoasundra2 жыл бұрын

    wow Jake. this is really nice barefoot shoes guide!!!! Also, acclimation also depends what shoes you used to wear. If one wore fat chunky shoes their entire life, acclimation will take a long time. if you wear old school Vans or Converse, acclimation is pretty short since they have zero drop so you’re not gonna be prone to calf/achilles strains (which for a lot of people is a problem). also, they old school Vans and Converse don’t have mid sole so you don’t have to acclimating to the lack of mid sole. all you really need to do is acclimate to more road feel and greater flexibility which is pretty easy.

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much and great additional points!

  • @3ggeckos519
    @3ggeckos519Ай бұрын

    Appreciate this video. I'm in my 50s and just beginning my barefoot shoe journey. I've got some Xeros headed my way and will ease into this as you suggest. Over time I hope to be able to include more barefoot shoe models into my collection. Liked, subscribed. Thanks again, very clear, informative video.

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Ай бұрын

    Heck yeah, ease in and listen to your body! Just like training, progressive overload is key and soreness/deviations in movement mechanics can suggest when to scale back frequency/volume/etc. Hit me if you have Qs! Just now catching up on comments, btw

  • @carlos002nz
    @carlos002nz Жыл бұрын

    Very didactic, Jake. Thanks and regards from Salamanca, SPAIN.

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for checking the video out! 🤝

  • @Furby2118
    @Furby2118 Жыл бұрын

    Hey Jake, love the video. Honestly kind of convinced me to grab them. My wife pointed out my foot shape has changed, my arch isn’t as great as once was, and man PINKY TOE PAIN. So I always considers vivo barefoot, would you say true to size? I’m a US 10.5 want to get the Primus lite

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! In that case, I’d go 10 for the Primus!

  • @axeldrane
    @axeldrane Жыл бұрын

    Hey there Jake , Great video- just discovered your channel ,love the content and subscribed-Defninitely should have more subs considering the quality of the vids, so I hope your channel will grow!! I have one question about sizing. I bought the Xero Prio recently for the gym and while its comfy, the tip of my toe actually touches the wall/end of the toebox even if the rest of the toes have 0.3-0.6 inches -enough room-as you recommend. Its a weird feeling i did not have with conventional sneakers. (The fact they end up more 'pointy' means the tip of your toe never touches anything really) so I'm wondering if that's how it should be or if all of your toes should actually have as much distance from the end of the toebox? I wear a US 12 Usually but had to switch to 11.5 as it felt super roomy but now wondering if that was the right call ?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey, thank you! Ehhh, that’s a good question. It really comes down to comfort and preferences here. If that amount feels fine and doesn’t hinder performance/cause your toes to scream then you’re probably fine! However, if it’s uncomfortable at all, then I’d go up a half-size and let your feet adapt to them.

  • @krakatoasundra
    @krakatoasundra2 жыл бұрын

    Abebe Bikila ran a marathon with barefoot (meaning no shoes or socks) in 2:15 during the 1960 Olympics. Running injuries were nearly as common as they are today. People use to run in canvas shoes like Chuck Taylors instead of these fat cushioning shoes we have now.

  • @corail53

    @corail53

    Жыл бұрын

    And people run ultra marathons in those cushioned shoes all the time as well. It is almost as though there are many options and everyone has their preferences.

  • @realchungy619
    @realchungy6192 жыл бұрын

    I have a pair of the PRIMUS 3's, looking to find the difference between that and the GEORACER 2. Whats your thoughts?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    I haven’t had a chance to review the Geo Racer ii yet! From the looks of them and from talking with friends, their upper is a bit thicker than the Primus model. Honestly, they both seem wicked similar to me! I’ll try to grab a pair and get a detailed review up on them 💪

  • @realchungy619

    @realchungy619

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend You are the man!

  • @brendanmaguire4042
    @brendanmaguire40422 жыл бұрын

    Have you worn the flux adapt shoes?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    I have I just reviewed them actually and have a video coming late next week. Check out my written review below 💪 thatfitfriend.com/flux-footwear-adapt-review/

  • @carrega0005
    @carrega000511 ай бұрын

    Hi, for upper body gym training wich shoes you use?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    11 ай бұрын

    Hit you back on IG!

  • @Insolation1
    @Insolation12 жыл бұрын

    I can tell you two things from a life time of running in all different kind of terrains, once your knees are damaged (like mine with cartilage damage). 1st: if you continue running, you'll end up semi crippled, 2nd: if you use shoes without cushioning (even for walking after the damage) you'll make the damage even worse. The other bit of advice is give up running when your 50 and use bike instead, I kept on running until I was 62 and then next day after a good 8 mile run (last 4 miles 7 min/miles) I could hardly walk. No indication, no prior warning, they just went; sometimes you get a warning that something is going wrong (which many fanatical runners like me would have ignored anyway, I suspect). A year after that my left foot arch collapsed, probably due to the compensating way I was now walking. The next mistake I made was following the suggestions of another runner and use bare foot shoes for walking, this exacerbate everything and then some. Six years later and now I require the support of shopping trolley to get round the supermarket to make it tolerable, I can walk on pavement for around 5 minutes, I can walk on soft surfaces like grass and sand for a couple of miles but that's about it. I bought a pair of Cloudmonster running shoes a month back and found that they make it significantly easier to walk on hard surfaces, you can draw your own conclusions from that, Cloudmonster are about the most cushioned shoes you can get.

  • @notsomuchhere1387

    @notsomuchhere1387

    Жыл бұрын

    Do you think this would have been prevented had you not been a runner in the first place?

  • @Insolation1

    @Insolation1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@notsomuchhere1387 Running on tarmac or pavement is the killer of knees. Trail running is kinder but even then if you do a lot of descents (like in hill running) your knees will eventually give out. The fact that I can walk on grass significantly easier than walking around the city tells me something, along with the fact that walking with heavily cushioned shoes allows me now to walk for much longer than non- cushioned soles.

  • @bennymarty6972
    @bennymarty6972 Жыл бұрын

    Do normal brands make wide toe box shoes but with the usual cushion sole? Like for a long day of walking. Thx!

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    Look into the Altra Solstice XT 2 - that's been one of my go-to zero-drop trainers if I want a barefoot-esque fit/feel!

  • @bennymarty6972

    @bennymarty6972

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend I'll def check those out, but I meant not zero drop. I don't know shoes enough but meant with a little bit of height/cushion for comfort.

  • @chellsee4167

    @chellsee4167

    Жыл бұрын

    @@bennymarty6972 If Altra's aren't you're thing you could check out Topo Athletic. Some of their shoes are 5mm drop and they have an anatomical toebox.

  • @thenoblesavage
    @thenoblesavage2 жыл бұрын

    *The moment you realise that you can just forward this video to everyone who keeps asking you about how to get into barefoot shoes* Literally Covered All Bases. Thank you jake!

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hell yeah! I’m stoked this video was easy to understand and makes sense. I appreciate your feedback as always 💪

  • @SLouiss

    @SLouiss

    2 жыл бұрын

    Nice points in low, medium and high threshold

  • @m3kan1cal
    @m3kan1cal2 жыл бұрын

    I have a question for anyone that has time to answer. I’m just getting into barefoot shoes and I’m wondering what kind of socks do you wear in these? Or do you just go barefoot in them? I’m just wondering with the wider shoe do you end up sliding around inside a little bit if you’re wearing socks?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hey Mark! I typically rock no-show socks with my barefoot shoes and I'll go barefoot here and there depending on the context in which I'm wearing models. No-show shocks are typically the play though and you can find some super minimalist pairs that don't show even with lower boot barefoot shoes. In re: sliding: not really, but there are some models where you may find slide during certain activities. It really depends on the model you go with and how it fits!

  • @m3kan1cal

    @m3kan1cal

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend Thanks for taking the time to reply and the info. The no-shows are kind of what I figured. I snagged a pair of the Lululemon active grip no-shows and we’ll see how those work out.

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@m3kan1cal those are solid! There are also some stellar pairs on Amazon that are pretty cheap if you ever need recs/more socks!

  • @eduardoperez7797
    @eduardoperez77972 жыл бұрын

    How true are they on size? Thanks

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    Which model?

  • @eduardoperez7797

    @eduardoperez7797

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend the primus trail II fg

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@eduardoperez7797 run small, size up!

  • @cyb3rjake735

    @cyb3rjake735

    Жыл бұрын

    im US size 12 on normal shoes so like 12.5 on these?? normal foot width too

  • @jtravel80
    @jtravel80 Жыл бұрын

    If I wear a size 11 normal shoe, what would my barefoot shoe size be? would i size down?

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    Do you normally have a good amount of room at the end of your 11's toe box?

  • @jtravel80

    @jtravel80

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend Ya Id say so. I normally wear the Altra Lone Peak 6 Trail Running Shoes

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jtravel80 got you! It will vary based on brand, want to shout some options you’re looking at and I can suggest accordingly?

  • @jtravel80

    @jtravel80

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend Im looking to get the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jtravel80 in that case, I’d consider the 10 if you’re normally swimming in your 11s! The Primus line tends to run long.

  • @PaulHo
    @PaulHo2 жыл бұрын

    I don't know man, I'm not seeing enough individual little piggies.

  • @thatfitfriend

    @thatfitfriend

    2 жыл бұрын

    😂😂

  • @PaulHo

    @PaulHo

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thatfitfriend I actually got the Vibram Five Fingers when I was starting my lifting years ago. These Crocs kids just don't know. 🤡

  • @KoFanMomBangedByPigs

    @KoFanMomBangedByPigs

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@PaulHo V-Train 2.0 is a nice shoe , trained in it since January