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Comment by dmos62 | Hacker News Reader

Take this with a bag of salt, but I've heard people get notable improvements in joint, feet, leg health from switching to barefoot shoes. They also tend to be extremely comfortable. I've been using them exclusively ~5 years and ran a half-marathon in them. For what it's worth, a physical therapist told me my feet are remarkably muscular. I like the UK manufacturer Freet, btw.

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Consider my perspective: I switched to barefoot shoes to prevent problems I didn't have and wrecked my knee to where I had to quit running entirely for ~6-7years. I'm finally able to run now again though but I'm never trying that experiment again.

+1. I gave them a try during the pandemic and it led to some knee pain. Thankfully I switched back before causing serious damage. I’m sure that they work well for some people but they can also hurt.

People go too hard. If you're in your 20s, starting at ten minutes a day and working up to 90 minutes over the course of 18 months is a reasonable rate of change.

Tendons and ligaments do not adapt at the same rate as muscles. Nor do articulation patterns.

I never it past twenty minutes and have myself plantar fasciitis with barefoot shoes.

My god, yes. I had knee and ankle pain while running, then also while walking. Too much padding was allowing me to walk incorrectly. After being ‘prescribed’ flat, flexible, low-stack shoes, all the pain went away. My toes are more spread out and my abductors are thicker. Nice gains!

(Still, your mileage may vary, I included lots of exercise specifically for the transition. And still run in Altras.)

In Born To Run they cite a study that surprised it's own authors. The more expensive the running shoe, the higher the rate of injuries i.e. the better the damping the weaker the foot and legs. And another one that showed the impact on the leg is 7 times higher in running shoes than barefoot. On mobile may provide links later.

[edit] Unable to find the one i searched but found this article claiming a 2-3x times bodyweight impact on the legs when wearing shoes.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/01/barefoot-runn...

[edit]

Another great study found while searching

> A large majority (68%) of runners participating in the study experienced no new injuries after starting barefoot running. In fact, most respondents (69%) actually had their previous injuries go away after starting barefoot running.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209525461...

I know! This and ‘Exercised’ are what got me running. Both excellent, evidence-based books. I run in Altras for the transition, but hope to eventually have the legs for running in something that qualifies for barefoot (rise/stack/flex).

I am not an avid runner or hiker, but I do both occasionally. I find that I am far more comfortable after a day of walking or hiking on level ground if I'm barefoot. However running barefoot on any surface other than sand is painful in both my feet and knees.

I suppose that different activities require different footwear.

> I like the UK manufacturer Freet, btw.

Thanks for the recommendation, might give em a try. Tested some brands so far, stayed with Vivobarefoot.

[edit] Disclaimer: Repeat customer

There is no surer way to destroy my feet than to walk around barefoot in even my house.

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