Initially, shoes were used to protect the feet. Unfortunately, our world is no longer safe or designed to walk and run barefoot as our ancestors did. Because of modern hazards such as debris, chemicals, pollution, disease and skin-penetrating infections, we can't go back to the days of walking barefoot.    

That is, until we discovered this product-barefoot shoes. Barefoot shoes provide much-needed protection for the soles of our feet. They have the ability to protect your feet while still giving you the true feeling of walking barefoot. When walking in shoes and the barefoot experience reaches stable harmony, imagine how perfect it will be!    

If you want to engage all the muscles in your feet and legs, feel more connected to Mother Earth, reap the benefits of superior grip and traction, and explore your world with greater awareness, then you are ready to try barefoot shoes!

What are "barefoot shoes"?

They are called "barefoot" shoes because they simulate the feel of walking/ running barefoot due to the very minimal, thin covering within the sole of the shoe. This minimal sole does not interfere with the connection between your foot and the ground. All barefoot shoes regardless of the type of model or brand that you choose should permit complete and total free movement for each individual toe. Your feet are working and moving as if you were truly barefoot. The toes can bend and grip with each foot strike providing better stabilization, balance, and support.

Unlike traditional athletic shoes that can influence your posture and foot strike due to the design of the cushioning of the shoe's sole, the zero drop that is ubiquitous among barefoot shoe styles and brands allows your body to maintain proper alignment of the spine, hip, knees, ankles and feet. This more natural unimpeded posture while walking and running can help to minimize injuries that are purely caused by forcing the body to angle inappropriately for long periods of time as in negative heel drops or heavily padded forefoot shoes.

Any shoe that adds extra padding to the sole on either the front or back of the shoe is going to inevitably influence the way that you walk, run or stand. And only you can determine how that will make you feel over time. Zero-drop shoes, like all barefoot shoes, provide a neutral posture and will not interfere with your own body's natural posture and alignment.

Generally speaking, the main features of barefoot shoes are the following 5 points:

• ZERO DROP

Zero drop means that the sole of the shoes is the same thickness from heel to toe, with no drop. This means that you have the same experience wearing shoes as walking barefoot on flat ground. This is the biggest difference between barefoot shoes compared to regular shoes.

• THIN SOLE

The lightweight sole allows you to sense every stimulus from the ground to your feet and experience everything.

Ps. There is an adaptation phase from normal shoes to barefoot shoes, and the moderate 0.5cm sole thickness of SAGUARO barefoot shoes solves this problem perfectly.

• WIDE TOE BOX

The wide box gives the toes room to move freely, greatly avoiding the possibility of developing bunions.

• LIGHTNESS & BREATHABLE

Lightweight upper can effectively cope with foot sweat, to achieve the effect of efficient breathable perspiration.

• FLEXIBLE

The flexible design is enough for you to roll it up and put it in a pocket!

How to pick the right barefoot shoes for you?

How do you decide which barefoot shoe is right for you? Luckily, awareness about moving like our ancestors did thousands of years ago has seriously caught on and people have realized the importance of trying to be able to walk and run as free from restrictions and impediments as possible. The barefoot shoe boom benefits consumers by allowing the freedom to choose from various styles and designs that fit your particular needs.

When considering the design of the shoe, you need to consider where you will be wearing the shoe, what type of terrain you will encounter and what environmental conditions you will be exposed to too. These criteria will help dictate the style and design of the barefoot shoe you should choose.

For example, if you plan to go trail running over rocky terrain, you might want to choose a shoe that has some toe coverage and a sole that provides the necessary traction and tread that will help you enjoy your off-road adventure. Keep in mind, the minimal sole allows for a very natural connection to the ground and that includes experiencing the sensation of stepping on pebbles, rocks, sticks or any other hard objects. One of the benefits of choosing barefoot shoes to do trail running is that the toes can really grip the terrain and push off roots and rocks for better leverage leading to more forceful forward propulsion.

If you intend to stroll along city streets during the hot summer, the barefoot shoes that might be right for you are open toe sandal style shoes with minimal tread. For the adventurous type who like to brave the cold and go for a winter run, you might want to choose a pair of low-cut boot style barefoot shoes with a waterproof exterior and an interior that provides some added warmth while not sacrificing the natural feel of running barefoot.

(Dive in and explore the different options that are available to you in the world of barefoot shoes. It is so fun to have such a variety of shoes that truly can accommodate almost any environment and activity.)

The final points to consider when choosing a barefoot shoe is really about comfort. Do you want to wear socks or no socks with your barefoot shoes, it's up to you. Different brands typically focus on utilizing specific materials to construct their shoes. Some are made exclusively of natural fibers like hemp, while others are made of leather or synthetic material. Choosing a shoe based on the material that they are constructed from can either be for personal reasons or your decision may be driven by the need for a specific function and performance.

Conclusion

The brand, the material, and the design of the barefoot shoe doesn't matter if the shoe is not comfortable for you. Find the barefoot shoe that makes you feel comfortable both physically and mentally. Yes, I said mentally. You should feel comfortable with how your shoe looks. You need to feel confident about how your shoe is going to perform for your desired activity. Quality of materials is key to helping provide that necessary confidence you need to create a lasting and secure relationship between your shoe of choice.

When you embark on a journey wearing barefoot shoes, you will find that you are more connected with Mother Earth, and the deeper connection with the physical ground will create a greater awareness of your surroundings. This greater awareness of your surroundings can create a different and deeper relationship with the world around you. So, the relationship that you develop with your barefoot shoes is important and can profoundly affect your experience of any activity you choose. 

Broaden your horizons by trying different barefoot shoe styles and designs for all of your activities. Welcome to the fun, exciting and adventurous world of barefoot shoes, see where your feet can take you!