Comments on: Are Barefoot Shoes The Solution To Your Foot Pain?

By: Anya

Anya — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:49:08 +0000

In reply to Thomas.

Always good to listen to your body if it’s saying no to the concrete! I’ve found myself that certain extra hard floors are too much for lots of standing without cushion – there’s no need for an all or nothing approach, you can wear more cushioned shoes or slippers sometimes and barefoot shoes other times.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 03:13:21 +0000

In reply to Anya. I was about to ask the same question about concrete. Many of us live in homes with concrete foundations and work in buildings made of concrete, both of which are surrounded by concrete and pavement . I don't think our feet are properly equipped to handle walking and standing on perfectly flat, rock hard surfaces all day every day. And it's probably bad for the entire body. I definitely need some wide toe box shoes but I don't know if I'm ready to go no cushion. I feel like that would be bad for my whole skeleton.

By: Anya

Anya — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:18:14 +0000

In reply to Miri. Hi there - have you seen this article on chelsea boots? The Lila and the Mukishoes Chelsea would be ones to consider.

By: Miri

Miri — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:45:03 +0000

Hi Anya, I’v been exploring barefoot shoes thanks to your website! I already have a pair of sneakers and I love the feeling of not feeling my feet all the time. All my life I’ve heard that “the shoes will get wider while wearing them” but it was never true. As I would like to only wear barefoot from now, I am desperately looking for the most elegant dressy chelsea that would fit my wide and high arch feet… I had the opportunity to try the Koel and the Ayyla in a real shop but had to admit that they were not matching my high arch. The shopowner seems to think that chelsea is just not suitable for my feet, but I was hoping that you could guide me to a matching dressy pair… Thank you!

By: Anya

Anya — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 17:34:15 +0000

In reply to Angie. Wow good for you! So glad you are finding some relief.

By: Angie

Angie — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:57:58 +0000

Anya, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you and your site. I have had foot and hip pain for so many years. When my back started hurting a few years ago, I never considered my shoes. My newest structured shoes were recommended by a running shoe store specialist. He also never considered the rigid GFS insoles that I reminded him I wore every day. After purchasing a replacement for those, same model but even more supportive, I realized that my back and knees were aching constantly. I tried another pair, but “neutral”, haha. Now, different pains. I began investigating “shoes cause back pain” and I found you. Thank you so much for this site. I so appreciate your insight and experience. I have been angry for practically my entire life that my feet don’t fit into most shoes. I have thick, wide, sturdy feet and ankles. I am always bare foot when I’m at home. I would garden barefoot if I could get across the gravel and use a shovel! I have been so offended by GFS and other foot “specialists” telling me that I should always be supported. It just doesn’t make sense! Since finding your site, I haven’t been back to those supportive shoes. I am doing foot exercises and starting my collection of barefoot shoes. My chiropractor has noticed a difference in the tension in my back and hips, as have I. Thank you, thank you!!

By: samantha

samantha — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 23:37:41 +0000

In reply to Yumchief. Hi! We have a whole list of our favorite affordable options here.

By: Yumchief

Yumchief — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 02:24:33 +0000

Anya, do you have any recommendations for affordable barefoot shoes for everyday wear?

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:13:18 +0000

Thanks) Nice shoes

By: frankie

frankie — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:59:59 +0000

Commenting on WHITIN Women’s Transitional Barefoot Shoes.I have only worn them for a week (daily for a 5 mile walk) and I find my foot pain is almost gone. I walk daily (15 years) and was a long distance runner for 30 years and always wore traditional running shoes. I was never able to find a shoe with a wide enough toe box so my feet always hurt (45 years..ouch!). After my first walk wearing these shoes I didn’t notice any foot pain that evening or the next day…and it continues. I am a convert! The shoe is lightweight, true to size (7.5 women’s). An unexpected result was also noticing my back pain (I am 75 and chalked this up to my age) was lessened . I attribute this to the lengthening of the spine as the hips drop due to the zero rise and, for the feet, the stretching of long held contracted fascia. Another plus? Ankle strengthening because there is more movement. I also appreciate the feel of the heel strike for encouraging stronger bones (mild impact).

By: Anya

Anya — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:15:50 +0000

In reply to Susanne. Hi Susanne! I love your story, it's a winding road for a lot of us! I hope that your foot continues to heal.

By: Susanne

Susanne — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:15:35 +0000

Thanks for all the info you share on this website! I became interested in this topic in January after experiencing some foot pain after a lot of hill walking, and my personal trainer recommended walking barefoot at home (which I already was doing most of the time, I’m Scandinavian, it’s the norm!). Shortly after, my husband started looking at barefoot shoes after having read “Born to run” and he’s 100% using barefoot shoes now, and Altra for running.
Fast forward to March, I bought a pair of cheap Saguaro to try them out, but thought they were so odd-looking that later instead I bought a pair of Xero.
My ugliest foot saga yet started in late March with a metatarsal stress fracture (from running, using standard supportive, ultra-cushioned running shoes). Before I got help I really struggled with shoes and although barefoot shoes would probably not be recommended in that situation, my Xero were the ONLY shoes I could wear because of my swollen foot. I started realising that basically all my shoes (except my running shoes and maybe some Doc Martens) I’ve bought in the past are too small around the toes. Even on my good foot, all my old shoes seemed generally too small! What was I thinking when I bought them??!
Now, 5+ months later (it was a much longer lasting injury than it should have been), my foot is healed but still in rehab. The only shoes I wear now are Altra Lone Peak, and I will use these for the foreseeable future but will start easing into the Xero when my physio thinks it’s safe to do so. Most of my old shoes will go to a second hand shop!

By: Copen

Copen — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 01:06:45 +0000

In reply to Anya. Hi Anya, I now have neuropathy and my feet seem to be wider and feel like they have padding in different places under my foot , they to me feel like those clown feet you showed

By: Anya

Anya — Fri, 19 May 2023 21:32:46 +0000

In reply to Reinout van Rees.

Gee thanks! I’ve just got that link updated. I also have this FAQ on Military approved shoes that I’ve updated as well: https://anyasreviews.com/ufaq/are-there-barefoot-shoes-for-the-military/

By: Reinout van Rees

Reinout van Rees — Fri, 19 May 2023 20:27:08 +0000

The military boot link in section three gives a 404, here is the current one: https://www.bellevilleboot.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=98 (“mini-mil boot”).