My Favorite Minimal Shoes-Video

A one-minute video breakdown of my favorite minimal shoes.

Minimal shoes have a thin, flexible sole that lets you feel and respond to the ground, stones, roots, and whatever else you may be walking on. I think it feels pretty dang good. I seek out stones and lumpy surfaces to walk on just because it feels so good. It’s like a natural reflexology treatment.

Before you jump into a pair of minimalist shoes, consider this: your feet have probably been cast in narrow-toe-boxed, elevated-heeled shoes for decades, so it’s best to transition slowly into minimalist shoes to give your tissues time to adapt. A good place to start is by reading Katy Bowman’s book Whole Body Barefoot, transitioning to minimal footwear.

Correct Toes™ spread your toes so they are in the correct position relative to each other and the ground. They are great for bunions, neuromas, hammertoes, plantar fasciosis and more. For more information on Correct Toes™ click HERE.

Toe Socks with and without Correct Toes™ toe spreaders.

To review, this is what to look for in minimal shoes:

Look for a shoe that is flat (heel and ball of the foot are at the same altitude)
Shoes that are flexible (they let your feet be feet)
minimal to no toe spring
a wide toe box. Wide enough to wear your Correct Toes™ if needed.

4 Comments

Natasha on March 15, 2015 at 2:50 pm

I walked on tiptoe as a kid so I’m dealing with some major calf shortness. In addition to loads of stretching, my physical therapist recommended using adjustable heel lifts in flat shoes so I can work down through the last 3/8th inch slowly, 1/8th inch at a time. These are the ones I’m using:
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004JMG3C4

Once I get off of them I want to try these Lems! I like my Vivobarefoot, but it looks like their new shoes are going narrower in the toe box…

Barbara Loomis, LMT, RES on March 15, 2015 at 2:56 pm

Hi Natasha, Thanks for sharing, that sounds like a great plan! I hadn’t heard of adjustable heel lifts before.

Vicki on April 7, 2015 at 9:36 pm

Hi Barbara, I just ordered my first pair of lems and am awaiting their arrival. I’m hoping that they will come out with a boot style that is not for hiking soon. I was wondering how you would rate Toms shoes. They seem fairly flexible and flat, although the toe does taper a bit. Sacrificing the wide toe box would be better than using a positive heel, right? Thanks for all the important info!

Barbara Loomis, LMT, RES on April 8, 2015 at 4:07 pm

Hi Vicki,
I’m not familiar with Toms shoes, although I did just do a quick look at their website. It does look like some of their shoes have a wider toe box. Personally, a wide toe box is the first thing I look for. A narrow toe box has the greatest impact on foot deformation.

Natasha on March 15, 2015 at 2:50 pm

I walked on tiptoe as a kid so I’m dealing with some major calf shortness. In addition to loads of stretching, my physical therapist recommended using adjustable heel lifts in flat shoes so I can work down through the last 3/8th inch slowly, 1/8th inch at a time. These are the ones I’m using:
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004JMG3C4

Once I get off of them I want to try these Lems! I like my Vivobarefoot, but it looks like their new shoes are going narrower in the toe box…
Barbara Loomis, LMT, RES on March 15, 2015 at 2:56 pm

Hi Natasha, Thanks for sharing, that sounds like a great plan! I hadn’t heard of adjustable heel lifts before.
Vicki on April 7, 2015 at 9:36 pm

Hi Barbara, I just ordered my first pair of lems and am awaiting their arrival. I’m hoping that they will come out with a boot style that is not for hiking soon. I was wondering how you would rate Toms shoes. They seem fairly flexible and flat, although the toe does taper a bit. Sacrificing the wide toe box would be better than using a positive heel, right? Thanks for all the important info!
Barbara Loomis, LMT, RES on April 8, 2015 at 4:07 pm

Hi Vicki,
I’m not familiar with Toms shoes, although I did just do a quick look at their website. It does look like some of their shoes have a wider toe box. Personally, a wide toe box is the first thing I look for. A narrow toe box has the greatest impact on foot deformation.