I really like Lems as an entry point brand. You can swap out the insole for your own supportive one if you feel the need, but otherwise the fit and cushion make for a really smooth transition to a wide toe box shoe. The Primal Zen, Eco, and 3 all fit most foot types and shapes.

It can be really helpful to work on the strength of function of the entire lower limb! Some cushion can help in the short term, but if they are recurrent then it may have something to do with your gait. Adding in some of these foot/ankle/calf exercises can help balance things out.

Do you have Birkenstocks available close to you? If not, I really like the Lems Shoes listed in this FAQ. They have retailers around the world so you might be able to find something a little closer than their main shop in the US. It’s a challenge when you have to shop internationally!

Depending on the size your child wears I would suggest the Lems Primal 2 – they go all the way down to a women’s 4.5 which is small enough for a lot of school aged children. You also can get a NorthSole insole and add it to the Xero Prio, which is a durable sneaker (or if you just want durability and not cushion then you could try the Prio without the insole).

Since Altra discontinued kokiri there are no good shoes for really active kids. I hate to do it but I might have to go back. Any ideas ??

I really like Lems as a beginner shoe, they have some over the ankle options and are available in Europe through Mugavik Barefoot. You can use code ANYASREVIEWS to get 5% off there. I would also recommend doing leg and foot exercises to help strengthen your ankles.

Many of the brands listed here have good options for the gym, specifically the Lems Primal 2, the Oesh Warrior, and Altra Running. Flux Footwear also has a new sneaker called the Adapt that is wide and zero drop for the gym, but I feel that they have too much toe spring (where the front of the shoe lifts up).

I’d love to hear additonal recommendations on athletic/gym shoes with some cushion but still barefoot. After years of wearing xero shoes I find I need some cushion when walking on pavement for example. Thx!

Yes, Altra and Barebarics both tend to work well for low volume feet because they are close fitting around the arch and heel (and you can remove the insole if you need). Lems are pretty high volume, unless you get the Primal 2 sneaker which works well on shallow feet.

Thank you for this! Xero Jessie or Z-trail or TipsyToes sneakers are my go to shoes but sometimes I just want something squishy especially when I’m going to be moving around a bunch but I didn’t know where to start looking.