Are barefoot shoes healthy or not?

Barefoot shoes are now on everyone's lips. However, opinions differ on the health benefits of barefoot shoes. Are barefoot shoes healthy or not? We provide some insight.

Walking barefoot is now on everyone's lips. In particular, the purchase of barefoot shoes has not only increased in recent years among nature and outdoor enthusiasts, but has also become part of everyday life for health-conscious people. Also known as minimalist shoes, wearing barefoot shoes still attracts skeptical looks from time to time. So are barefoot shoes healthy or not? Basically, it can be said that barefoot shoes, with their minimalist design, are a way back to the natural form of human movement. Walking barefoot—whether with bare feet in summer or in comfortable barefoot shoes—creates more direct contact with the ground and more room for the toes than would be possible with stiff footwear.

Modern footwear vs. flexible barefoot shoes—which is healthier?

Modern footwear, whether sneakers, boots, or pumps, are extremely fashionable accessories. However, tight shoes, stiff soles, and high heels severely restrict the freedom of movement of our feet and toes. The heavier and stiffer the footwear, the less our feet can perform their natural rolling motion. Thick soles in particular cause us to strike the ground too hard with our heels. This puts more strain on our joints, bones, and tendons than necessary. This often results in increasing pain in the knees, hips, and back, as well as an overall deterioration in posture. Barefoot shoes have the advantage here that their thin and flexible soles support the natural rolling motion of the feet and, thanks to their flat soles, enable straight body alignment.

Minimalist shoes are trendy—how healthy are barefoot shoes?

It is well known that barefoot shoes have "less going for them" than cushioned shoes. So what makes a good
Barefoot shoes? At Groundies, barefoot shoes have three main features:

  1. A zero heel and thus a flat sole without a heel for straight body alignment
  2. A thin and flexible sole for greater contact and sensitivity
  3. A wide toe box for greater stability and freedom of movement

As you can already see from these three characteristics of barefoot shoes, Groundies follows the principle of "less is more" in the production of everyday shoes. Why can walking barefoot be healthy? Five health benefits of barefoot shoes provide the answer:

  1. Barefoot shoes promote the natural rolling motion of our feet.
  2. This strengthens the foot muscles and the arch of the foot.
  3. Greater sensitivity, promoting mindful and conscious walking
  4. Flat standing and walking enables straight body alignment.
  5. Barefoot shoes can also prevent or counteract foot deformities.

As a general rule, the following applies to healthy barefoot shoes: the more the foot itself
has to work, the more actively it is trained over time. Modern, stiff shoes in particular are often counterproductive here, as the foot is usually so "cramped" or over-stabilized that it atrophies over time. Barefoot shoes, with their flexibility, provide targeted training for the foot muscles. This also makes barefoot shoes ideal for children.

How healthy are barefoot shoes really?

Healthy barefoot running #1 – the rolling motion

One of the most important differences between barefoot shoes and conventional shoes is the rolling motion of our feet. The sole of barefoot shoes is significantly thinner and more flexible, allowing the feet and toes to perform their natural function better when walking. Because the sole is also thin in the heel area, the rolling motion is not determined by the shape of the shoe or sole, but follows its natural course. A well-trained foot will therefore cushion a step just as well as a thick sole would. However, this has the advantage of putting less strain on the joints in the long term.

Healthy barefoot walking #2 – strengthening the foot muscles

Minimalist shoes and barefoot shoes have significantly thinner and more flexible soles. However, this also means that the foot has to work harder, whether walking normally or balancing on uneven ground. Both the foot and leg muscles are used much more when running in barefoot shoes, providing targeted training. For people with flat feet, for example, this has the advantage of allowing them to rebuild their arches in the long term. In general, stronger foot muscles can also significantly reduce the risk of twisting your ankle. In addition to adults, barefoot shoes are also well suited for children to counteract foot deformities at an early age.

Healthy barefoot walking #3 – greater sensitivity and mindfulness

The thin sole in barefoot shoes provides more ground contact and thus also more sensitivity. All our Groundies are equipped with a minimal sole, which allows you to feel the ground particularly intensely with your heel, ball, and toes when running. Grass, roots, stones, and even the temperature of the ground are transmitted directly and noticeably to your feet, giving you a new awareness of the ground. This also leads to a more mindful gait, as you are now paying more attention to the ground. Experience with barefoot shoes has also shown that runners slow down when wearing them.

Healthy barefoot walking #4 – straight body alignment thanks to flat standing

Wearing barefoot shoes is also healthy because they enable a straight and upright posture. Groundies barefoot shoes have no heel-to-toe drop, meaning no heel. By allowing the feet to stand flat on the ground from heel to toe, the body assumes a straight alignment. Standing and walking upright is the most natural form of movement, which also has a positive effect on joints, knees, hips, and back. In the long term, barefoot shoes can help reduce or even prevent back and joint pain.

Healthy barefoot walking #5 – Preventing and counteracting misalignments

Once you've discovered the benefits of healthy barefoot shoes, Groundies offers a wide range of barefoot shoes for women and barefoot shoes for men. All our models feature a wide toe box, giving your feet plenty of freedom of movement. There's also plenty of room for your big toe, which is usually cramped in conventional shoes. Hallux vagus or hammer toe are just two examples of typical foot deformities that can be attributed in part to wearing shoes that are too tight. Barefoot shoes have the advantage that all toes can spread evenly in all directions. This not only ensures a healthy foot position, but also provides more stability and balance in everyday life.

Walking barefoot – but please do so healthily

Walking barefoot is a healthy pleasure. However, there are a few things to consider when transitioning to barefoot shoes. Because minimalist shoes place more strain on the feet, beginners should start slowly when wearing barefoot shoes. To avoid overloading the feet, beginners should only walk short distances in their new barefoot shoes during the first few weeks. The length of the distance and the time spent in barefoot shoes can be increased gradually. Running technique, intensity of exercise, and activity should also be approached gradually. Even the best barefoot shoes cannot offer the full health benefits if the runner is too ambitious. It makes sense to be mindful and patient with your own body so that starting barefoot running becomes a healthy and sustainable pleasure.