Comments on: My Journey to Strong Feet & Barefoot Shoes

By: samantha

samantha — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:41:37 +0000

In reply to Rhona. Hi Rhona, those T-Straps are specifically only available from Zlatush so there are no other places to get them. But, I encourage you to check out these other resources to help you find more options for your feet: Best Women's Dress Best Extra Wide Options

By: Rhona

Rhona — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 01:50:23 +0000

I have short, wide feet. Most shoes, it seems are designed for elegant, long feet. I tried to contact your source for t strap flats but the language barrier made that impossible. Can you suggest a way that I can find those lovely reddish t straps I have seen you wear as nothing stateside has accommodated my wide feet?

By: Tania

Tania — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 01:05:36 +0000

I have been told for 20 years by both podiatrists and foot surgeons that I had to wear only stiff, rocker-style shoes because of osteoarthritis in my big toe joints. For the last 2 years, I have been wearing almost exclusively barefoot shoes, (and being barefoot at home) and my feet have never felt better. I am very physically active, and use only barefoot shoes for weight training, interval training, and cardio. It took a few months to transition, and I have never looked back. I now have no tolerance for any footwear that squeezes my toes, or makes me unable to feel the ground beneath me. I am VERY thankful for this website, and Anya’s store – and have purchased a couple of pairs of shoes that I love (fashionable, which matters to me). I have also realized that nothing is more stylish than feeling good – your whole body emanates confidence and you can focus on living your best life!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:17:34 +0000

I really appreciate this website. I didn’t have foot pain when I started switching over to barefoot shoes, I just thought they seemed like a good idea. But I’ve always had some weakness and occasional pain in my lower back, and now after several years in barefoot shoes, my lower back is stronger and there is no pain. When I run, I’m very aware of connections between underside of foot and lower back. I would never go back to conventional shoes. I use this site as a roadmap to all the many kinds of barefoot shoes out there.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 02:41:06 +0000

In reply to Bella. Hi Bella. I am 67 and started my barefoot journey two years ago. My ankles have been weak since I was two years old due to emergency surgery. I had broken purple veins in both ankles as a child, with multiple sprains. Both ankles have been broken. One ankle has pin & plate hardware. I hadn’t stood on my tip toes in a long time. I had a sedentary job, and mostly rode my bike for exercise. I rarely enjoyed walking. While son & brother introduced me to barefoot style shoes in 2022, Anya was and is my main resource. I am so grateful that she shared her experience and recommendations! I won’t ever go back. I now wear very thin soles, from soft leather soled moccasins up to 9 mm thick soles. I moved to a city this year and gave up my car to try an even more minimalist approach. Walking on cement can leave my feet sore, so I rest and massage as needed. I walk in grass medians when possible. Grass feels so luxurious; the uneven surfaces exercise my feet and ankle muscles. I look forward to patches of gravel too. Super massage! Oh yes, now I can stand and balance on my tip toes. I hope to hop again too! Take care.

By: Anya

Anya — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 17:56:24 +0000

In reply to Bella. I do know other oldies (or goldeners, as Katy Bowman puts it) who started wearing barefoot shoes! Especially with a low step count I think it can be worth a try. If things start feeling bad then you know you can back track. And thanks to the different cushioning options available, you don't have to go hardcore thin soles.

By: Lara

Lara — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:52:45 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your story, truly transformational. I’ve been blessed with strong and healthy feet but on a recent hike I noticed how much knee pain my shoes and my unnatural walking was leading to. As I was going down the hill agonizing with knee pain (which I normally never had) my travel friend commented “I used to have the same type of pain going down the hills, but I got rid of it once I switched to barefoot shoes”. It lit the spark in my curious mind. Just 2 days ago I got my first pair and I can definitely say “I’m hooked”. Even my 76 years old mom who does suffer daily with foot pain felt instant relief trying my new pair. I’m now on a mission of switching mom and husband to barefoot shoes. Your blog is an oasis of info for the newbie. Thank you!

By: Bella

Bella — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:47:24 +0000

Hi Anya
I’m starting out barefoot after 10 months resting tendinitis of my ankle, only to discover in an MRI that it’s arthritic cysts in my ankles. I’m 70 and have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia amongst other things. . I’ve been given temporary orthotics over these months and they started to hurt, like a golf ball under my arch. Taking my shoes off was bliss, so I’ve gone that way and bought some barefoot foot ware. My orthopaedic surgeon (who offered to fuse my ankle) and the podiatrist both think barefoot is only ok for young healthy feet. I’ve got this painful arthritis kicking off, and bunions and painful toes. But I’m going to try this. Do you think I’m mad? I’ll take it gently. 1000 steps for me is out of the question, but I want to try. I’d value your opinion, or to know if you’ve heard of any other oldies starting out with barefoot? Thank you

By: Aime

Aime — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:44:16 +0000

I am currently at the beginning stage, I started switching to barefoot shoes in november of this past year 2023. and I am at that point of wearing altras and whitin shoes because I am not at the full capacity of adjusting yet, currently my left foot is in so much pain from plantar fasciaa pain but my foot is wider then it was in november and feels better in zero drop shoes….it’s painful but i’m slowly getting there, that transition picture of your foot through out the years is helping me see i’m getting there, thank you.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:53:53 +0000

Fellow connective tissue disorder person here. I’m the kind of person who never leaves comments or reviews…but boy, reading your story, I felt as though you had put into words my own journey! I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type, as well as osteoporosis, at the age of 18 (although I’d probably had both for much longer). After trying the whole “let’s immobilize / put orthotics on every part of your body and you’ll feel better” thing for 20+ years, my husband and I decided enough was enough. He encouraged me to go furniture-free, and now, we’re looking into making the barefoot transition (I have a toddler who also has foot issues, with another baby on the way). Honestly, this is the only blog-type site that I ever wanted to follow. Thanks for your informational posts and for sharing your story!

By: Deb C

Deb C — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 03:55:08 +0000

Anya, thank you for your story. My fairly fit, 79 year old mom has been wearing custom orthotics for decades, has begun having trouble walking safely and has had pelvic floor issues for umpteen years. I had no clue these things could all be connected. Off to go research now….thank you so much for mentioning this!!!! You give me hope of helping her heal.

By: Anya

Anya — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 01:24:53 +0000

In reply to Christina. Hi Christina - you can find the foundational exercises I used in this Foot Exercises article. There is one more important one that I need to add to that article that you can find explained in this social media post. Regarding Pilates, I started primarily with mat pilates which was so good for my overall strength. Then I added in reformer which does a lot more direct strengthening for your feet and ankles. So if you want to focus on improving your foot function I would recommend Reformer or a combo of Reformer and Mat.

By: Christina

Christina — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:10:56 +0000

Hi Anya, thank you for sharing your story. I am moving through some things with my body and started pilates a few months ago to strengthen my body. I would also like to strengthen my arches and no longer need the use of orthotics. I am curious about your pilates experience. Did you do a combination of mat and reformer work? And what exercises did you find best to help build your arches? In gratitude.

By: Anya

Anya — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:47:52 +0000

In reply to Hadley L. I did get a thickening of my joint capsule and the bone, so the whole area is bigger than on my left foot. It does irritate me occasionally, but as long as I continue the lifestyle and check in with that foot every so often (sometimes my right big toe needs some extra massage and stretching) I am not hindered by it. My right foot is definitely my pickier foot when it comes to shoes, which can be annoying. But thankfully there are lots of wide toe box shoe options.

By: Hadley L

Hadley L — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:48:37 +0000

I’ve been struggling also with Hallux Limitus, since 2014. Unfortunately I also started out treating it by wearing stiff shoes and orthotics. I did also work on increasing mobilization with stretches etc, but my R toe has developed the bony growth on top which apparently will not go away without surgery. I’m now having treatment with a Gonstead chiro, and my toe mobility has improved a lot! I walk outside and inside barefoot whenever possible, and have plans to transition to barefoot shoes. I’m curious if you also had the bony growth on your big toe, and if so did it go away on it’s own, or were you able to improve your feet before it got to that point? Thanks!