Minimalist shoes are often thought of as a category of running shoes. But casual shoes can be minimalist, too.
Modern minimalist shoes are lighter, have less cushioning, are more flexible, and have less heel lift (or “drop”) than a typical shoe. They’re actually like the shoes we wore prior to the invention of thick, stiff, padded, motion control shoes back in the early 70s.
A truly minimalist shoe has other important characteristics that support natural movement
- A wide toe box to let your toes spread
- No unnecessary cushioning
- An extremely flexible sole that gives you protection but is thin enough so you can safely FEEL the ground.
All Xero Shoes products — casual and performance sandals, boots, and shoes for men, women, and kids — are “true minimalist shoes.”
Here are some best-sellers that will help you Live Life Feet First:
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We take our minimalist footwear seriously, but we don’t take ourselves that way. Besides, if you can’t laugh at yourself, something is VERY wrong. Enjoy a bit of barefoot humor in these videos.
Be sure to visit our YouTube page to see more.
Why "Natural Movement" minimalist footwear is catching on like crazy...
In almost every activity — running, walking, hiking, dancing, yoga, weight lifting, CrossFit, slacklining, rafting — people are RE-discovering the comfort and benefits of getting out of traditional shoes.
What’s wrong with regular shoes? Let me ask you this:
Do your feet feel better at the end of the day than they did at the beginning, before you put on your shoes?
If not, it’s because your shoes aren’t letting your feet do what’s NATURAL — bend, flex, move, and FEEL the world.
True comfort — and performance — come from letting your feet do what’s natural. No man-made material has ever improved over what nature has given you.
Don't I need arch support, and motion control?
In short, No.
Let’s start with support. You know that if you “support” a joint — imagine a cast on your elbow — it gets weaker over time.
Well, the same thing happens when you wear shoes that aren’t flexible enough to let you use your arches naturally.
When it comes to motion control, the research is pretty clear — pronation does NOT cause problems and injuries.
In fact, it’s a natural part of the spring-mechanism built into your feet and legs.
It may take a BIT of time to get used to doing what’s natural, but research shows that simly WALKING in a minimalist shoe builds foot strength as well and doing an actual foot exercise program!
We're creating a "MOVEMENT Movement"... want to join us?
We have a mission: Our goal is to make natural movement the better, obvious, healthy choice… the way natural food is now.
Remember the fun you had as a kid on a warm summer day… you would run outside, kick off your shoes and feel the grass, or the sand, or the water between your toes.
We know that you can have that feeling NOW, regardless of your age.
The way to start is getting out of stiff, thick, heavy, motion-controlled shoes. Get out of shoes that squeeze your toes.
If you don’t want to go barefoot, put on some shoes that let you Feel the Freedom and Feel the Fun of minimalist shoes, boots, and sandals.
Still Have Questions About Minimalist Shoes?
If you have questions what you can do in minimalist running shoes or sandals, check the Frequently Asked Questions, FAQs, below. If you still want additional help, reach out to our Customer Happiness Team. You can email them at [email protected] or call 303.447.3100 between 9-5, Mountain Time, Mon-Fri (calling is faster).
