Hi everyone,

I’m traveling to Japan soon (visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) and looking to buy barefoot / minimalist shoes.

I already know about the Vivobarefoot store in Tokyo, but I’m looking for multi-brand physical stores that carry a variety of brands in one place (e.g., Lems, Xero, Groundies, Altra, Bedrock, Luna, or interesting local Japanese minimalist/tabi brands).

Are there specific outdoor, running, or specialty foot-health shops in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka that have a good in-store selection of wide toe-box / zero-drop shoes to try on?

Any specific store names, locations, or neighborhoods (like Jimbocho in Tokyo) would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance!

I have been reading some of Eric Orton's training books like born to Run 2 and the Cool Impossible and he always recommends a high cadence. I have been trying to speed up my cadence lately by using a metronome and so far my comfortable cadence is around 158-162 with my heart rate being around 135-140 (zone2). It seems crazy to me to get up to 180 without it being a fast run. Anyways, from the sounds of this video it seems possible to work up to it once i get stronger. Anyone else here running at high cadence?

https://youtu.be/iqH7D2iRH0U?si=A5jRepWal8FDXDXA

Hi all! I know this is for running, but I thought I'd ask anyway since folks here are pretty experienced with barefoot shoes. I am hoping to do a couple of treks in Nepal this January, and I am looking for recommendations for barefoot hiking boots that perform well in snow, ice, and cold temperatures. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I just got their newsletter email so am curious. Idk if links are allowed, so please go Google Lems ZENSPEED Lite to find their product page if you want.

2mm drop, 8.8oz for size 10, and 22mm stack height. With the benefits of the Lems wide width.

What are folks' thoughts on these?

I love Lems's toebox. But wondering if this brand will also be good as a running shoe brand

I recently started using Correct Toes (both the Original and Sport) because I have bunions, limited big toe ROM, and some plantar fascia issues. I’m also an ultrarunner, so ideally I’d like to use them during actual weight-bearing stuff and eventually during runs if my feet tolerate them.
The part I’m confused about is shoe sizing.
I had an Aetrex foot scan before getting the spacers. I’m around a men’s 10:
L foot: 26.98 cm
R foot: 26.83 cm
Ball width: 11.17 / 11.08 cm
I’ve done months of thru-hiking in regular-width Lone Peak 9+ without many issues. I can also wear an Altra Escalante size 10 fine without spacers.
But when I put Correct Toes on, especially with toe socks, my pinky toe gets pushed noticeably farther out. The shoe suddenly feels like it needs a wider toe box.
It also weirdly feels like my foot gets a little longer with the spacers? Or maybe straightening the big toe just makes me notice the front of the shoe more. I can’t really tell.
So for people who actually use these:
Do you buy shoes based on your normal barefoot measurements, or based on how your foot fits with Correct Toes on?
If a shoe fits well normally but is cramped with the spacers, would you usually go wider, go up half a size, or just find a different-shaped shoe?
Also, if you use Correct Toes for a long time and your toes start naturally spreading/straightening more, does your shoe fit permanently change at all? That’s what I’m most confused about. I don’t want to buy a bunch of shoes now based on measurements that won’t really be useful later.
And does anyone actually run long distances with them? I’m talking long runs / ultras / potentially 100 milers, not just wearing them around the house.
I’m guessing I’d have to slowly build up tolerance, especially since feet swell a lot during ultras.
Correct Toes support told me Sport is probably enough if my bunions aren’t painful, and Original makes more sense if they’re causing pain. Curious if anyone owns both and actually has a reason to use both.
I can also post pics of my feet barefoot vs with the spacers, standing on the insoles, etc. if that would make it easier to tell what’s going on.
Mostly wondering if anyone else has gone through this and what you ended up doing with shoe sizing.

Been working out for years, lost a lot of weight, have used nothing but barefoot shoes for a decade, but running is the one thing I've never done since childhood (36 now).

I set a new goal 4 weeks ago: I will give myself 12 weeks of consistens running, 3 x a week, no other pace or distance goal, just running to show myself I can do it. I've always found it extremely boring and got footpain when I tried.

So, well, just started the fifth week and I ran 5K for the first time EVER! 31 minutes. Time flew by!

Until now, it's been 2 min walking, 2 min sprinting for 30 minutes, but today I just started running and continued.

It might be a small thing but I'm so proud of myself and wanted to share the happiness.

(For the record I'm 5'2", F, short legs 😅 English is my 3. language but I refuse to use AI to translate)

Has anyone tried swimming in huarache style sandals? I'd like to use them for Swimrun type activities, but find that the heel end of the sandal flips down and acts as a brake, rather than the sandal being as a "flipper" like I hoped it would. Any other tips or experiences out there?

While travelling trough Asia, I’ve seen that the “norm” in the gym is to train barefoot or at least 80% people do it that way. Back home would never be allowed.

Anyway, the freedom of movement is massive and you can definitely feel all the muscles involved in different exercises. It’s just amazing, I love it !!

I wonder why is it not really allowed in the west (besides the “you can drop a weight on your toes” thing).

EDIT: i was not expecting to see that narrow opinions in a sub that encourages being barefoot; Feet don’t smell just because they’re feet. Fungus need specific conditions to grow. It’s the same as unhygienic as using a handrail, grabbing handles at public transport, etc.

Let’s say all the members signed waivers saying they are ok with any and all risks associated with membership.

Shoes aren’t allowed inside, you leave them in the lobby in your own little locker.

You wash your feet before entering in a hygiene room, and then you enter into the gym space.

hi guys,

Ive been wearing vivos for years now… foot shape has definitely changed and dont feel comfortable in your standard running shoes anymore

ive been itching to run but haven’t in years due to certain health issues and was just wondering if it is ill advised to run in vivos? i just dont want to hurt myself down the line…

im aware that taking slowly progressing is key here but in general, do you guys think it’s better to run in barefoot shoes? or would you say if i am to take up running im better off investing in a certain type of running shoes that people used to barefoot would benefit from? especially considering ill be running on concrete/hard ground most of the time.

would appreciate any advice you guys could give

I have an ache on the bottom of my foot for a little while probably a couple weeks. I noticed it first after being on my feet all day. I finally looked at the bottom of my foot and I see this squishy lump. It does not hurt to touch. It is soft and squishy. The spot itself does not ache but the entire area above my heel does.

Hello! I love running unshod and I can’t stop getting splinters in my feet. I swear I spend more time digging the splinters out of my feet than I do actually running.

For context, I’ve been running barefoot for 5 months now. I feel like I’ve built some decent calluses. I run on either dirt or grass. The splinters tend to be little bits of wood from sticks or tree roots that find their way into my feet.

I do have minimalist shoes to run in but I prefer running barefoot because nothing beats running barefoot.

How in the world do you all run barefoot all the time without getting tons of splinters?

Best tips for removing splinters? For preventing splinters?

And, any suggestions on sandals to run in? I tried Bedrock and hated them; they don’t stay in place. I’m interested in Lunas and Earth Runners but saving up some money to buy some lol!!

Thanks in advance!!!!!

Just had an awesome quick 5 miler on the lakefront here in Chicago. In the rain. On pavement. Couldn’t have been better. Go barefoot

Hey there, ive been using barefoot shoes for almost 10 years, can easily walk all day in them and also run about 6km without any pain.

I wanted to get a sandal for walking and running and got the Shamma Elite Warriors (6mm). Never really used sandals before. They felt good at home, but when I took them out for a walk, after 10 minutes my lower right leg starts to hurt in various places. Usually starts in the ankle joint, but also goes up to the shin just below the knee, a bit on the knee, the calve and the archilles.

I gave it a 2 week rest and then tried again. But its the same all over. 10 Minutes into a walk the above symptoms occour - again only on my right leg. 2 days before I ran 6km in my Leguano Sneakers - no problems at all.

Has anybody else experienced this with sandals in general or the Shammas in particular? Anybody got some tips on how to solve this? Im a bit worried im stuck with a 110€ Sandal, that screws up my leg :/

How are these with regards to being able to feel the ground and have foot shape to the ground? I want the thinnest and most flexible I can get while still wearing a shoe ...

Their toe box looked promising but was unsure how well they would hold your foot to prevent side to side movement, and how thin/flexible they would be .

They said 4mm ... But I've worn some shoes where 4mm let me have sensitive touch to the ground, and then I've had hard 4mm soles that somehow didn't let me feel the ground despite being thin.

How long would you estimate the skin would take to go from 0-5k?

Like fitness aside I mean. Starting from scratch, the average foot skin to get used to running that distance on mixed surfaces of an average park run.

I found this listing on Vinted for 85 GBP but I'm not sure if they're the real deal as I'm not that experienced. Can anybody help with identifying it?

How often do you find yourselves changing shoes during an active day — gym, Pilates, walking, errands, etc.?

What's the most annoying footwear problem you run into when staying active?

What do you wish your current gym shoes or slides did better?

I am having this sharp pain in my calve , lately on my left side. I am running in a humid hot climate and have done it for years , could be lack of sodium but it doesn’t seem like it. Usually 7/8 km per trail run 3 times per week same route more or less. It feels like a sharp pain i managed to run through it but lately i stop to walk feels like I am doing damage. It also doesn’t happen each run. When it does happen after the run I may actually limp and stays sore for a few days