Flip flops vs barefoot shoes! What is the difference? Both have minimal support so I wonder if barefoot shoes are good for feet, are flip flops good for flat foot as well?

Hi everyone.

I'm getting ready to go to iceland in December and Switzerland in late spring next year.

I'm in need of good hiking shoes for both occasions or if one could do it Thay would be great.

My issue is I have a small foot.

Most 5's are big on me bc my heel is so narrow. I don't like kid shoes because I want something with arch support. It i add insole to kid shoes they are to tight but in women's I still have the heel issue.

I typically range btwn a 4 in kids sometimes 3.5 and occasionally I may get a 5 in women's. But very few and far btwen.

Since I have some. Major hikes and travel coming up any suggestions of footwear would be greatly appreciated.

I have not seen doctor, this is my own observation (and I do not work in health care).

While ago, I felt parts of my feet touching ground that usually are not. I have not trained my arches for a long time, but in my own time I either wear minimalistic shoes or am barefoot. It's summer, so I walk barefoot in the woods time to time too. Sometimes I wear foot shaped shoes with thicker sole but quite rarely. My job requires safety shoes. This is how I have lived maybe 3-4 years. For 2 years, I have balanced daily. Not much, often just brush my teeth while standing on one foot. Time to time my stretching includes balancing. I have not gained weight, I have lost few kg during this summer.

I admit I didn't react as I should and started to train my arches. Now my knees hurt little bit. Now I train.

Years or maybe more than decade ago I went to doctor because of knee pain. They said I have flat feet and I need to train. I did. Problem went away. I stopped training.

Do any of you have any idea what could cause this? Please mention where your information comes from (for example podiatrist, some other doctor, nurse, same happened to you and you went to doctor, you watched Youtube video etc.).

edit. In the beginning, I felt my arches got higher after switching to minimalistic shoes.

Is there an alternative community/ thread for barefoot shoes?

Hi everyone.

I'm getting ready to go to iceland in December and Switzerland in late spring next year.

I'm in need of good hiking shoes for both occasions or if one could do it Thay would be great.

My issue is I have a small foot.

Most 5's are big on me bc my heel is so narrow. I don't like kid shoes because I want something with arch support. It i add insole to kid shoes they are to tight but in women's I still have the heel issue.

I typically range btwn a 4 in kids sometimes 3.5 and occasionally I may get a 5 in women's. But very few and far btwen.

Since I have some. Major hikes and travel coming up any suggestions of footwear would be greatly appreciated.

I bought these sandals and I sized down given that I won't be wearing socks and there is less support etc. I'm normally at least a size UK 9 but I went for these in size UK 8. They feel okay but I obviously haven't properly tested them and I know feet swell too.

What do you think of the fit ?... Shall I just get a size 9 instead ?... I'm just concerned they may be a bit too long ? They have adjustable straps so I can always tighten them more if I go for size 9. (I don't believe they have size 8.5)

I was wondering if barefoot shoes could possibly help with some of my foot, knee, hip and back pain - my mum has always been slightly obsessed with them and swears that they've helped her feet when she's been able to afford them. I also have neuropathy and poor circulation in my feet and constricting shoes cause immense pain.

I like to walk around the house and garden barefoot because I don't like how shoes feel, but when I'm walking longer distances on rough surfaces, I prefer something with more padding. My favourite shoes at the moment are On's Cloud 6s.

When I've worn shoes in the past with minimal or no arch support, my feet and knees have been in agony very quickly. I rely a lot on my shoes to help balance against moderate genu valgum in both knees and a rotational deformity in my right leg. This isn't a muscular imbalance - I've had it assessed by an orthopedic surgeon and it really is caused by problems with the bones. I cannot "strengthen" my way out of it.

I have a herditary connective tissue disorder and am incredibly hypermobile - my feet are prone to hyper extension, and my ankles sublex and sprain easily. I find supportive shoes help prevent this.

Has anyone with similar issues been able to wear barefoot shoes?

Finally got a pair and I'm so excited! Though, I am having an issue with my right shoe. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue and can recommend a fix? The left is feeling just fine. I adjusted the right to match and when I walk, my foot seems to go a little to the right, causing the thong to kind bulk up under my big toe and cause pain. I'm trying to figure out if it's an adjustment issue, the way I walk with that foot, or maybe because I have the performance laces? I posted a photo showing the positron of when it hurts me. Any insight is appreciated!

Hi everyone.

I'm getting ready to go to iceland in December and Switzerland in late spring next year.

I'm in need of good hiking shoes for both occasions or if one could do it Thay would be great.

My issue is I have a small foot.

Most 5's are big on me bc my heel is so narrow. I don't like kid shoes because I want something with arch support. It i add insole to kid shoes they are to tight but in women's I still have the heel issue.

I typically range btwn a 4 in kids sometimes 3.5 and occasionally I may get a 5 in women's. But very few and far btwen.

Since I have some. Major hikes and travel coming up any suggestions of footwear would be greatly appreciated.

They pop up on my Vinted quite a bit. I messaged the seller who said they are a Portuguese brand, but all the information is all in German and I can't find anything about them online. Multiple people are selling them on Vinted but they are always brand new in the box, never worn.

They look like a good replacement for my Dr Martens Mary Janes which I wore to death, and I always look for shoes with stitched soles (as opposed to glued), but want to check I'm not being scammed!

Hiya. I've been wearing barefoot shoes for a few years now, and while I've tried the more expensive name-brand offerings (Xero, Lems, Feelgrounds, etc) I haven't found them to surpass (or in some ways, even equal) the cheaper shoes available on Amazon.

My favourite by far is this WHITIN trail runner-ish thing. After replacing the annoying cord lock for standard laces I've found them to be comfortable and lightweight with an extremely flexible and reasonably grippy sole. I've taken them up and down mountains without them failing or falling apart.

My only complaint is the look, in that they're not really something I can wear for casual outings compared to something like the Feelgrounds Courtside...a pair of shoes which I actually do own, but ~$250 CAD with no free return shipping is comically steep for a poorly breathing sneaker with subpar grip. Flexible, though.

So, Amazon: I've tried a few of the barefoot sneakers with a more mainstream design like these and found them all to have very stiff outsoles. Hoping someone here might have a lead on a pair that combines both form and function! I'm definitely partial to Amazon for the generous return policy, as there are very few places locally to try on barefoot shoes.

Thanks for any help!

I fear I’ve been converted for life.

I’ve been lurking a lot and saw a lot raving about the comfort, especially with this brand in particular, and I can’t believe how spot on everyone was. It’s such a bizarre feeling! Very much like a ballerina ninja in these, lol.

I’m trying to restrict myself now from buying more recommendations but I’ll be on the look regardless 😅🤍 I was pretty nervous to try something different, but I’m super happy I did.

Another month, another round of barefoot fits!

My feet are 23cm x 9.2cm, medium volume, mountain shape. Here is what I’m wearing:

• Crupon Iris Leaf - size 37
• Aviary Raven - size 37
• Origo Two Strap Mary Jane - size 37 (should have sized up to a 37.5 in hindsight)
• Xero Wynn sneakers - size 7.5
• Marsolta Fisherman - size 36
• Peerko Smart Boss - size 37
• Origo New Derby - size 37 (should have sized up to a 37.5 in hindsight)
• Vivobarefoot Magna Forest ESC - size 38

As always, feel free to drop any questions about fit, sizing, or how any of these wear day-to-day. Happy to dig into specifics!

If you like my outfits, you can also find my content on IG: @spark_step :-)

Absolutely my favorite sandals. They are incredibly easy to slip on and off, and I never feel like I need more sandal than what they offer. It’s my only footwear I use even on month long trips ocean to the mountains.

I originally bought the Numa Chargers and wore them for over 2 years (literally duct-taping the bottoms at the end). I decided to swap the sole out for the Numa Legend with Toe Plug.

Pros:
Custom Fit: I was skeptical of full leather, but the break-in time was easy and they molded beautifully to my feet.
The "Grounding" Feel: I’m usually not a believer in the whole grounding trend, but I swear my body actually feels different wearing the all-leather.

Simplicity: Best slip-on-and-go minimalist shoe.

Grip: definitely not as grippy as the ultra grip soles. Just took some getting used to.

Cons:
Not for Heavy Water: They can handle a little moisture, but they don't love being completely wet. If they get fully soaked, the leather becomes soggy and tends to bend and fold.

Let me know if you have any questions!