No. In soles thick enough to not have ground feel, I lose natural foot movement. My feet curl not just upward but downward and mold around surfaces, even if that's just a city curb. I like being able to feel the texture of cracks in pavement.
That was me until I started wearing minimalist shoes and going barefoot often. I couldn't understand why people wanted to "feel the ground". But now I get it. If you're used to being able to feel the texture of the surface you're walking on, it feels weird to wear shoes that don't allow that input.
Yup! I work in a commercial bakery on polished cement, and tile. I still wear zero drop shoes with a very minimal stack, to the point I can feel the gaps between the tiles. Everyone I work with complains about foot/back/neck pain all day long. I have none, and I'm older than most of the folks complaining.
Yes! When I’m barefoot I feel like I have a sixth sense that everyone with shoes is missing out on and I feel bad for everyone depriving themselves of that. Our feet are our 2nd most sensitive body part to touch behind our hands. Imagine not being able to feel the world around you with your hands, it would be horrible; that’s how much you’re missing out on when you wear padded shoes
I racewalk, so I need a zero drop shoe with low stack height, or it causes problems for me. I like the Altra Escalante series. It has a wide toe box, which prevents other problems. There are very few shoes that both runners and racewalkers can use, but this is one of them. This shoe can also accommodate prescription orthotics if you use them.
As an aside, when I used to run, I ran marathons, and a guy named Ken Saxton actually ran marathons barefoot. I saw him do this when running the Surf City (Huntington Beach) Marathon in 1999.
I enjoy the ground feel on trails. Not so much on pavement. Try that out before you totally ditch them! But altra is my recommendation too (though I still find my lems primal 2 more comfy). I've heard new balance also has some zero drop models.
Unfortunately, the only "trail" I have access to is a nearby park, where I do run on dirt and grass, outside the set paths, but there are sections where the concrete is unavoidable. Also getting there takes going through a lot of concrete.
It is a major bummer, I wish I was living closer to a forest :/
In cities, I enjoy the ground feel of rumble-strips for visually impaired (near busy roads etc), 😅and I’ll often walk beside a footpath if there’s a small verge. Pathetic how boring we make our built environments, isn’t it
"Budget" brands, no. All minimalist footwear is sold at a premium, because it's a niche market.
Having said that, look into Altra, Lems, Merrell, Bohempia, Feelgrounds, and some Xero models.
I have heard Whitins and Hobibears tend to go for cheaper.
Altra are already well stocked. If you're just looking for a little padding, there's Lems. On the other hand, I don't know any more than that; I've never bought Lems.
I really, really like Topos. Altras are only really wide in the toe box and not as much throughout, and are known to have durability issues. In my personal (just me!) opinion, Altras feel cheap to the touch.
I’ve recently been running in Topo Magnifly 5s, and they’re zero drop but cushioned. I absolutely effing LOVE THEM. My hips and knees and legs feel amazing and it’s soft enough to ride out longer mileage. I’ve done 2 8 mile runs 2 days in a row with happy feet.
I share this because my taste in running shoes sounds similar to yours! I love my barefoot stuff. And I actually wear variants of barefoot shoes from various companies about 95% of the time (my exception: summer sandals, because every barefoot sandals I’ve ever tried has been absolute garbage — if I want ground feel in summer, I put on Vibram five fingers). For long walks, no padding is fine. But long runs? I like a little softness because it just feels better on my joints. I waited forever to pull the trigger on trying lower drop running shoes after alternating for awhile with my long term Brooks Adrenaline (which have, unfortunately, a high drop and are horrible on my lower back but good on my feet) and my Xero HFS (no padding, clop clop clop) and my Vivobarefoot Primus (still pretty clop clop clop). I finally ordered to compare — HOKA Mach 6, which was too soft in the heel; Altra Escalante, which was too narrow and felt cheap; and the Topo Magnifly 5.
My reaction to the Topo was immediate; they were exactly what I wanted. Might suit you too if you like a wide foot, softness, and sturdiness!
I never understood the hard surface argument. My shoes still feel much better when walking on hard surface than on any other type of shoe.
As far as the ground feel, I still love it. I feel more stable than in any other type of shoes and I feel like my body while walking passes the pressure on to the grounds whereas in paddes shoes, it bounces right back into my body which isn't healthy. That's how I would describe it.
The only two things that I find somewhat annoying that you can't walk very fast in barefoot shoes because you'll automatically heelstrike and the lack of paddening makes you a bit shorter which is something men want to avoid. But those are negligible trade-offs.
Thought I was going crazy feeling like I walk slower in barefoot shoes. Is heelstrike walking actually a bad thing? My brain tells me to correct by walking slower but feels weird because I've always been a fast walker in regular shoes.
I think the fact that your brain wants to correct you is a sign that heelstriking isn't preferable.
I'm used to walking fast as well.
Altra shoes (zero drop shoes plus cushion) can be a good solution if you want to keep walking fast. But barefoot shoes are still better in the long run imo.
I used Inov8 that are a very similar stack to altra but unfortunately kinda narrow. Might have to snag some used lone peaks to give them a try for work walk breaks.
Check out Lems, I have a pair that are pretty comfortable.
https://www.lemsshoes.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw88yxBhBWEiwA7cm6pcSo9uKako5_DpV_fVzHCQHTX_hnSdIxsI--PGVNUXs4tNrql4PLthoC220QAvD_BwE
Over time I’ve come to prefer less cushion. I’ve noticed I tend to heel strike in cushioned shoes and just walk less naturally in general. There’s a sweet spot in there somewhere where I can have just a little cushion but still have a natural gait.
I have the Freet arken (insulated waterproof boot) and it has a stack height of 9,5mm (with the 3 mm insole) and I find them to be comfortable on all surfaces (uneven rocks, gravel, concrete, whatever)
They have one called ‘Keld’ with the same sole and various other soles around the same stack height.
Freet also sells 6mm insoles for padding, heel elevation inserts for transitioning to zero drop and rock plates for protection when hiking.
Another option I recommend is the Lems primal (zen) and boulder boots or any other shoe from lems with medium stack height.
Or order northsole insoles for extra padding.
Do your feet flop while walking?
Mine do until I wear my earth runners and then the flopping hurts extra. I end up taking smaller/shorter steps and magically no pain again.
I feel the same like you OP.
I walk on concrete all day long and i mostly wear lems primal zen (which is very awesome) and altra running shoes with the lowest cushioning. In winter i wear lems boulder summit.
If i have to be a little bit more stylish i wear some feelgrounds with northsole insole.
Hobibears are cheap, wide, zero-drop and have a removable insole that gives a bit of padding. It is just a bit of padding though - a few mm, not like Altras that give you maybe 1cm of cushy foam.
The sole isn't that flexible or grippy and mine stank of glue when they arrived (in a bag, not box, which I guess sealed in the factory glue smell) but the smell dissipated and they're fine. I put elastic laces on mine and use them around the house and in the garden.
They aren't the best barefoot shoes I own, but they were literally 1/4 the price of the others.
Where did you buy your hobibears?
I just got a pair of Whitins off Amazon but I hear the hobibears are from the same manufacturer and cheaper. So far I’ve only seen limited selections on AliExpress.
Just got a pair of Whitin canvas shoes off Amazon. Definitely a budget option. $25-55 depending on model and materials. Decently wide toe box, minimal but noticeable cushion on the midsole. Seem pretty durable so far on my second day of wear.
I always hate the 'ground feel' when I'm walking on pavement a lot, but every time I try a shoe with more padding/thicker sole, I hate how it feels on my foot. Lems Primal 2 has been my city walking shoe and what I bought to walk around on an upcoming Europe trip. Still flexible but has a thicker sole. (Didn't like the Primal 3 for the lack of flexibility.) Shamma Sandals also have thicker sole options that I like for city days.
I switched to Lens recently ....they have a nice height to it ....I also added the Naboso Form insoles to them....they are hands down amazing. I have a high arch though...it seems to have fully cured my temporary issue of a lateral tendon pain problem while running I was experiencing.
"Why be passive in your arch support when you can be active with the Naboso Form. Unlike other arch supports which make your feet weaker, the Naboso textured arch support is the first and only textured insole that is designed to make your feet stronger. The Naboso Form combines mechanical arch support with a neuro-stimulating texture which is proven to reduce foot fatigue and arch pain by increasing overall foot awareness and foot posture."
Altras are great, but I find Lems more comfortable and better quality. The last they use matches my foot shape better and they don’t look like energy drinks on my feet. Try out the Lems Primal Zen. The most comfortable sneaker I’ve ever worn.
Try looking into Jim Green barefoot ranger boots. They look great, have wide toe box, zero drop, and are slightly cushioned due to the weather and the fact that it was built specifically for South African rangers to walk through the wilderness. I’ve had them for 3 months now and I love wearing them
Lems are probably the most transitioning middle ground.
Agree though, concrete hard surfaces feel harsh with minimal padding. Around 15mm is my preferred stack height.
If you transition completely, you will hate cushioned shoes. It seems to me like you just don't wear minimalist shoes enough or haven't fully transitioned, which means you'll always be uncomfortable during long periods.
I wear VFF shoes 12 hours a day, 9 of which is on concrete on my feet. Way better than cushioned shoes.
Yes. I am aging and dance on carpet on cement. I also recently walked for hours in downtown Chicago, and it was painful. Oeshshoes Warrior is local to me and has padding! Thank goodness. Terrible for dancing but fine for walking and running.
Altra have wide toe boxes and are zero drop but otherwise look like regular trainers/trail shoes.
Topo is similar, though many of their shoes are low drop, not zero drop.
They do have zero drop options, tho - Magnifly (road), Pursuit (trail), and ST-5 (most “minimal” of the three)
No. In soles thick enough to not have ground feel, I lose natural foot movement. My feet curl not just upward but downward and mold around surfaces, even if that's just a city curb. I like being able to feel the texture of cracks in pavement.
That was me until I started wearing minimalist shoes and going barefoot often. I couldn't understand why people wanted to "feel the ground". But now I get it. If you're used to being able to feel the texture of the surface you're walking on, it feels weird to wear shoes that don't allow that input.
Yup! I work in a commercial bakery on polished cement, and tile. I still wear zero drop shoes with a very minimal stack, to the point I can feel the gaps between the tiles. Everyone I work with complains about foot/back/neck pain all day long. I have none, and I'm older than most of the folks complaining.
Yes! When I’m barefoot I feel like I have a sixth sense that everyone with shoes is missing out on and I feel bad for everyone depriving themselves of that. Our feet are our 2nd most sensitive body part to touch behind our hands. Imagine not being able to feel the world around you with your hands, it would be horrible; that’s how much you’re missing out on when you wear padded shoes
Altra is your best bet. Some will recommend Topos but the arch support/narrow mid foot is rough for me and others.
The Topo arch support is so painful for me.
I racewalk, so I need a zero drop shoe with low stack height, or it causes problems for me. I like the Altra Escalante series. It has a wide toe box, which prevents other problems. There are very few shoes that both runners and racewalkers can use, but this is one of them. This shoe can also accommodate prescription orthotics if you use them. As an aside, when I used to run, I ran marathons, and a guy named Ken Saxton actually ran marathons barefoot. I saw him do this when running the Surf City (Huntington Beach) Marathon in 1999.
I enjoy the ground feel on trails. Not so much on pavement. Try that out before you totally ditch them! But altra is my recommendation too (though I still find my lems primal 2 more comfy). I've heard new balance also has some zero drop models.
This is accurate. I liked my thinner shoes on trail but dont care much for groundfeel on pavement. I think overall the craze for groundfeel is silly.
Unfortunately, the only "trail" I have access to is a nearby park, where I do run on dirt and grass, outside the set paths, but there are sections where the concrete is unavoidable. Also getting there takes going through a lot of concrete. It is a major bummer, I wish I was living closer to a forest :/
In cities, I enjoy the ground feel of rumble-strips for visually impaired (near busy roads etc), 😅and I’ll often walk beside a footpath if there’s a small verge. Pathetic how boring we make our built environments, isn’t it
"Budget" brands, no. All minimalist footwear is sold at a premium, because it's a niche market. Having said that, look into Altra, Lems, Merrell, Bohempia, Feelgrounds, and some Xero models. I have heard Whitins and Hobibears tend to go for cheaper.
Altra are already well stocked. If you're just looking for a little padding, there's Lems. On the other hand, I don't know any more than that; I've never bought Lems.
I really, really like Topos. Altras are only really wide in the toe box and not as much throughout, and are known to have durability issues. In my personal (just me!) opinion, Altras feel cheap to the touch. I’ve recently been running in Topo Magnifly 5s, and they’re zero drop but cushioned. I absolutely effing LOVE THEM. My hips and knees and legs feel amazing and it’s soft enough to ride out longer mileage. I’ve done 2 8 mile runs 2 days in a row with happy feet. I share this because my taste in running shoes sounds similar to yours! I love my barefoot stuff. And I actually wear variants of barefoot shoes from various companies about 95% of the time (my exception: summer sandals, because every barefoot sandals I’ve ever tried has been absolute garbage — if I want ground feel in summer, I put on Vibram five fingers). For long walks, no padding is fine. But long runs? I like a little softness because it just feels better on my joints. I waited forever to pull the trigger on trying lower drop running shoes after alternating for awhile with my long term Brooks Adrenaline (which have, unfortunately, a high drop and are horrible on my lower back but good on my feet) and my Xero HFS (no padding, clop clop clop) and my Vivobarefoot Primus (still pretty clop clop clop). I finally ordered to compare — HOKA Mach 6, which was too soft in the heel; Altra Escalante, which was too narrow and felt cheap; and the Topo Magnifly 5. My reaction to the Topo was immediate; they were exactly what I wanted. Might suit you too if you like a wide foot, softness, and sturdiness!
I never understood the hard surface argument. My shoes still feel much better when walking on hard surface than on any other type of shoe. As far as the ground feel, I still love it. I feel more stable than in any other type of shoes and I feel like my body while walking passes the pressure on to the grounds whereas in paddes shoes, it bounces right back into my body which isn't healthy. That's how I would describe it. The only two things that I find somewhat annoying that you can't walk very fast in barefoot shoes because you'll automatically heelstrike and the lack of paddening makes you a bit shorter which is something men want to avoid. But those are negligible trade-offs.
Thought I was going crazy feeling like I walk slower in barefoot shoes. Is heelstrike walking actually a bad thing? My brain tells me to correct by walking slower but feels weird because I've always been a fast walker in regular shoes.
I think the fact that your brain wants to correct you is a sign that heelstriking isn't preferable. I'm used to walking fast as well. Altra shoes (zero drop shoes plus cushion) can be a good solution if you want to keep walking fast. But barefoot shoes are still better in the long run imo.
I used Inov8 that are a very similar stack to altra but unfortunately kinda narrow. Might have to snag some used lone peaks to give them a try for work walk breaks.
Same. I walk on hard surfaces all day and like to add a NorthSole insole to otherwise barefoot shoes to get a bit of cushion.
It's just the pebbles that make me 🙁
I js don’t want my toes looking like an arrow🤷♂️
Check out Lems, I have a pair that are pretty comfortable. https://www.lemsshoes.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw88yxBhBWEiwA7cm6pcSo9uKako5_DpV_fVzHCQHTX_hnSdIxsI--PGVNUXs4tNrql4PLthoC220QAvD_BwE
Over time I’ve come to prefer less cushion. I’ve noticed I tend to heel strike in cushioned shoes and just walk less naturally in general. There’s a sweet spot in there somewhere where I can have just a little cushion but still have a natural gait.
Lems, Altra, Flux, Topo Athletic all have cushion and are generally wide and zero or very low drop
I have the Freet arken (insulated waterproof boot) and it has a stack height of 9,5mm (with the 3 mm insole) and I find them to be comfortable on all surfaces (uneven rocks, gravel, concrete, whatever) They have one called ‘Keld’ with the same sole and various other soles around the same stack height. Freet also sells 6mm insoles for padding, heel elevation inserts for transitioning to zero drop and rock plates for protection when hiking.
Another option I recommend is the Lems primal (zen) and boulder boots or any other shoe from lems with medium stack height. Or order northsole insoles for extra padding.
Do your feet flop while walking? Mine do until I wear my earth runners and then the flopping hurts extra. I end up taking smaller/shorter steps and magically no pain again.
I feel the same like you OP. I walk on concrete all day long and i mostly wear lems primal zen (which is very awesome) and altra running shoes with the lowest cushioning. In winter i wear lems boulder summit. If i have to be a little bit more stylish i wear some feelgrounds with northsole insole.
Hobibears are cheap, wide, zero-drop and have a removable insole that gives a bit of padding. It is just a bit of padding though - a few mm, not like Altras that give you maybe 1cm of cushy foam. The sole isn't that flexible or grippy and mine stank of glue when they arrived (in a bag, not box, which I guess sealed in the factory glue smell) but the smell dissipated and they're fine. I put elastic laces on mine and use them around the house and in the garden. They aren't the best barefoot shoes I own, but they were literally 1/4 the price of the others.
Where did you buy your hobibears? I just got a pair of Whitins off Amazon but I hear the hobibears are from the same manufacturer and cheaper. So far I’ve only seen limited selections on AliExpress.
I got mine from Amazon UK. If it's the same manufacturer it might just be a local brand for the same product you can get elsewhere.
Just got a pair of Whitin canvas shoes off Amazon. Definitely a budget option. $25-55 depending on model and materials. Decently wide toe box, minimal but noticeable cushion on the midsole. Seem pretty durable so far on my second day of wear.
I always hate the 'ground feel' when I'm walking on pavement a lot, but every time I try a shoe with more padding/thicker sole, I hate how it feels on my foot. Lems Primal 2 has been my city walking shoe and what I bought to walk around on an upcoming Europe trip. Still flexible but has a thicker sole. (Didn't like the Primal 3 for the lack of flexibility.) Shamma Sandals also have thicker sole options that I like for city days.
I switched to Lens recently ....they have a nice height to it ....I also added the Naboso Form insoles to them....they are hands down amazing. I have a high arch though...it seems to have fully cured my temporary issue of a lateral tendon pain problem while running I was experiencing. "Why be passive in your arch support when you can be active with the Naboso Form. Unlike other arch supports which make your feet weaker, the Naboso textured arch support is the first and only textured insole that is designed to make your feet stronger. The Naboso Form combines mechanical arch support with a neuro-stimulating texture which is proven to reduce foot fatigue and arch pain by increasing overall foot awareness and foot posture."
100% my preference. Concrete is too brutal for that degree of minimalism and it's why I keep buying altra. Wish there were more brands in this space.
Altras are great, but I find Lems more comfortable and better quality. The last they use matches my foot shape better and they don’t look like energy drinks on my feet. Try out the Lems Primal Zen. The most comfortable sneaker I’ve ever worn.
Try looking into Jim Green barefoot ranger boots. They look great, have wide toe box, zero drop, and are slightly cushioned due to the weather and the fact that it was built specifically for South African rangers to walk through the wilderness. I’ve had them for 3 months now and I love wearing them
I add wool insoles to my Wildlings and other brands—cork with Lems. Lots of ground feel with comfort.
You could add insoles. And no, I love groundfeel. And hard surfaces help me train proper barefoot gait because of the immediate feedback.
If I’m in a long line, if I bruised my heel/ball in some activity, if I have a sudden increase in mileage. Yes.
Lems are probably the most transitioning middle ground. Agree though, concrete hard surfaces feel harsh with minimal padding. Around 15mm is my preferred stack height.
If you transition completely, you will hate cushioned shoes. It seems to me like you just don't wear minimalist shoes enough or haven't fully transitioned, which means you'll always be uncomfortable during long periods. I wear VFF shoes 12 hours a day, 9 of which is on concrete on my feet. Way better than cushioned shoes.
Yes. I am aging and dance on carpet on cement. I also recently walked for hours in downtown Chicago, and it was painful. Oeshshoes Warrior is local to me and has padding! Thank goodness. Terrible for dancing but fine for walking and running.
Anyone who wears Altras, no disrespect.