What shoes to wear?

BarefootLifeguard

Barefooters
May 7, 2012
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I am a barefoot runner, and only a barefoot runner. Don't confuse that with the title! I do although find that no shoes can be inconvenient in some gas stations and other public settings where shoes are required. I am mostly curious about VFF's, the Body Glove 3T and Zemgear's 360 series, but if you know of any others that fit the below requirements then please let me know!
Casual wear
Breatheable
Verrrrrry thin sole!
Generous toe-box

Thanks for looking!
 
The shoes previously known as Stems! Otherwise called Lemings nowadays. Despite the ridiculous name, they meet all your above criteria and then some! I've had mine for 3 months and wear them to work every day. I hate wearing shoes, but when I have to I go with these. They're much more comfortable and less hassle than VFF's.
 
VFF's can be tricky as your toes have to fit VFF"s particular shape, which I am one of the unlucky ones whose toes are apparently abnormal. I also recommend Altra Adams which are easy to slip on and look relatively normal and are just as thin as some models of VFF's and thinner than others. I believe they just lowered the price on them too not to long ago also. I have the Adams and I like them but they do have their flaws. I have to have the forefoot strap loosened up (irritates my pinky toe otherwise) to the point that it's pointless for the strap to even be on there. I am curious about the Zems so if you get those I am curious to hear what you think. They are really cheap also compared to other min-shoes. Mostly I just wear my homemade huaraches if I wear footwear. They allow my feet to be closest to barefoot and my feet don't get hot and sweaty and they cost me all of 10 bucks or so to make. I have tried on the Lemings that Patrick brought up, and while they are some of the most comfortable min-shoes I have ever put on, I am not sure that they will meet your thin sole standard. They have like an air cushioning or something in the sole that is very nice, but I think it kind of deadens the ground feel just a touch. The outsole I just looked up is 6mm, not sure on total stack height though. Anyhow, hope this is helpful. Good luck finding a shoe that is right for you!
 
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Sounds to me you'd rather something easily slipped on and off? If this is the case I wouldn't think Vibrams would work? How about just a simple pair of flip flops? Minimal shoes are insainly expensive (in my opinion,) but you can pick up a decent pair of flip flops fairly inexpensively.
 
If it is shoes you want, check out Sketchers casual shoes. A lot of them are fairly minimal if you take the insert out. Again, "true" minimal shoes are over priced, if you look around and take out inserts you can do better.
 
+1 on the flipflops.....I have an OLD pair that are worn super thin now.
Always in the car in case I need something to satisfy the shoe police =)
 
Unshoes Wokova Feather is a great runnnig sandal that I use a lot for casual wear. I just went to a wedding and wore some black zem360s and my feet were still comfortable by the end of the night at 4 am :). 360s are easy to slip on and have a thin sole, but as others have noted their construction makes durability an issue.
 
I love my Sockwa Amphibians. Very thin sole, 1.2 mm. Great ground feel. They advertise as the thinnest sole available. The toe box is a little narrow, but they supposedly remedied that problem with the new version the G3. I’ll be getting a pair of those as soon as my amphibians wear out. For a thin sole, it has lasted a long time. I don’t run in them often, but I wear them casually and wear them to the gym. I carry them when I run and was using them on colder days when I was starting out.

They look like a water shoe, so they maybe more casual then you are looking for.
 
VFF's can be tricky as your toes have to fit VFF"s particular shape, which I am one of the unlucky ones whose toes are apparently abnormal. I also recommend Altra Adams which are easy to slip on and look relatively normal and are just as thin as some models of VFF's and thinner than others. I believe they just lowered the price on them too not to long ago also. I have the Adams and I like them but they do have their flaws. I have to have the forefoot strap loosened up (irritates my pinky toe otherwise) to the point that it's pointless for the strap to even be on there. I am curious about the Zems so if you get those I am curious to hear what you think. They are really cheap also compared to other min-shoes. Mostly I just wear my homemade huaraches if I wear footwear. They allow my feet to be closest to barefoot and my feet don't get hot and sweaty and they cost me all of 10 bucks or so to make. I have tried on the Lemings that Patrick brought up, and while they are some of the most comfortable min-shoes I have ever put on, I am not sure that they will meet your thin sole standard. They have like an air cushioning or something in the sole that is very nice, but I think it kind of deadens the ground feel just a touch. The outsole I just looked up is 6mm, not sure on total stack height though. Anyhow, hope this is helpful. Good luck finding a shoe that is right for you!

I plan to obtain some zem's this winter so I don't lose toes to the snow! So it will be awhile before I get the chance to check those out. And for those of you who recommend sandals, I can only say that they mess with my skeletal alignment due to no backs (Interesting conversation with your chiropractor). But thanks! keep the suggestions coming!
 
Sounds like you just need a pair of flip flops. I keep a pair in my car when footwear is needed, you obviously will not run in flip flops so why make it all complicated with expensive minimal footwear?

Sandals without backs propose a problem with foot stability and are terrible for skeletal alignment. Ask your chiropractor about it sometime! Makes for a good conversation
 
I'm curious about that if you know of any links lifeguard. I too don't really like flip flops. I do on the other hand really like huaraches. I like being able to walk normal in them.
 
I'm curious about that if you know of any links lifeguard. I too don't really like flip flops. I do on the other hand really like huaraches. I like being able to walk normal in them.

If you mean links for sites that would back up what I said, I have nothing but the word of my chiropractor! Theres a chapter or two in Born To Run i believe about feet trying to find stability. Thats all I have though, Let me know if you want any links. I would certaintly be interested in doing a bit more research!
 
Yah, I agree BG. I've used sandals/flip-flops a lot over the past 30 years without any issues either. It's my preferred footwear by far, especially the kind where the strap goes over the forefoot instead of between the toes. I don't know anything about chiropractors--although my older (shoddie) brother swears by his (he's been dealing with the consequences of multiple college football injuries), but from my layman's perspective it's hard to see how a thin piece of rubber or plastic would affect stability or alignment. Would be interesting to read the explanation.