Footwear has become an integral part of our lives. Wearing suitable footwear for occasions has been a crucial decision for humanity since the middle ages.
Are Barefoot Shoes Good For Hiking? Many shoes and boots are on the market to provide comfort and durability while you run errands or decide to go on hiking. There are many options in statement shoes designed specifically for fashion, so you can have them if you want to look chic and classy.
One of the hottest topics in hiking dilemmas is finding the perfect footwear that provides traction o the terrains and is easy on the feet. Surely, you want a pair of shoes that can easily carry you on rough or wet terrains while enduring harsh weather.
Most people wear hiking boots on hiking terrains because these boots are specifically made for hiking and are durable. With time people have realized that hiking boots are heavy-duty, and they should switch to lighter options.
With this wave of change, manufacturers made trail hiking shoes and hiking sandals a light-duty option for people who wanted to hike but with more comfort. Now, on the radar is the topic of barefoot shoes, and recently people are more inclined towards hiking in these shoes.
Are Barefoot Shoes Good For Hiking?
If you are one of them, or you are thinking of buying barefoot shoes for your next hiking trip and wondering if barefoot shoes are good for hiking, then this guide is for you.
What are Barefoot Shoes?
Barefoot hiking shoes are lightweight, and their main feature is low-rise soles or zero-drop styles. It means that there is no added cushioning in the heels, and the toe and heels are aligned with each other as of you are walking barefoot hence getting the name. Their front toe box is wide like the shape of feet so that your foot feels relaxed and you can have room inside the shoe.
Having a low-rise heel makes the feet straight like they would be if you are barefoot, and therefore they feel relaxed, and you can walk or hike for long hours. Moreover, your posture and body alignment get better, so you don’t have to face heel pain or back pain issues.
Barefoot shoes are the most functional shoes because they are lightweight and provide traction on the terrains like hiking boots. The manufacturers categorize them, and you can get running barefoot shoes for running and hiking barefoot shoes for hiking purposes. The reason for these specifications is their functionality and the type of terrain you’ll be running or hiking on.
Are barefoot shoes good for hiking? Yes, you can wear them on the hikes; they are very comfortable and functional. You can even hike for long hours and will feel at ease. They are extremely breathable and perfect for summer hikes.
However, on some terrains, you might need the support of a hiking boot because they have a better grip and provide more protection. For instance, hiking with barefoot shoes may not be a good choice for hiking downhill or climbing rough, bumpy terrains.
Now that you know barefoot shoes are suitable for hiking and you can buy them or wear them during your next hiking venture, the next thing is to dive deeper into the pros and cons of barefoot shoes so that you can be certain about choosing to buy them or not.
Barefoot Hiking Shoes: Pros and Cons
Pros
Stable Movement
Barefoot shoes provide a hiking experience such that you feel like you’re moving naturally without carrying extra weight as hiking boots. Less rigid shoes have benefits than very low flexibility because the feet and heels can pinpoint the uneven surfaces, and your body can then prepare itself according to the alignment you need on the trail.
However, if the ground is too bumpy or rocky, then barefoot shoes can cause problems such as heel pain or food aches. If you have no history of previous foot pains or ankle injuries, barefoot shoes are best for you because you have strong muscles to react to whenever there is danger on the terrains.
Increased Sensitivity To The Ground
As mentioned earlier, the low rise heels or zero heel cushions in the barefoot shoes make them nearest to natural feet walking, making them very comfortable to wear. On trails, they align with the foot anatomy so that you can have a seamless hiking experience while feeling no weight of shoes.
Moreover, you will feel free to move your feet wherever you want. This added feature also makes the barefoot shoes quick reciprocators so that whenever you get your feet on a bump or tiny rock, your body can show a sudden reaction, and you can handle it accordingly.
Improved Body Posture
When we don’t use certain muscles, they get useless or weak. When you are in barefoot shoes, you have the added benefit of getting all the weak muscles involved in providing the support you need on the trails. Since all the muscles are engaged to protect you from twisting or slipping, you have better body posture and perfect strong feet.
Calves and ankles get naturally stronger and improve balance and stability. If you do cardio exercises to train your muscles, then hiking in barefoot shoes will be a piece of cake for you because you’ll get the necessary support from the stronger muscles and traction from the shoes.
Lightweight & Easy To Carry
Since barefoot shoes have no added cushions or water-resistant properties, they are lightweight. Also, they are manufactured with the lightest materials, so they are breathable and simultaneously functional.
Being lightweight makes them light as feathers, and you can hike for long hours without having to drag your feet all along. Moreover, when you carry extra backpack weight, adding the boot weight will make your hike a tiring experience. In contrast, with barefoot shoes, you’ll not have to worry about that extra 3lbs weight and notice extra stability.
Cons
Transition Is Difficult
If you are a person who is switching from wearing cushioned footwear such as hiking boots or sports shoes, then barefoot shoes may cause foot pain, and you will have a long time figuring out the anatomy of these shoes working perfectly with your feet. However, if you spend most of your time barefoot or prefer staying in lightweight natural shoes, then barefoot shoes will be like a miracle.
Breaking into barefoot shoes will take some time, shorter for you, and may be longer for others or vice versa. These shoes don’t have much heel support, so you’ll be figuring out working with these boots and how to make the feet last longer.
You can get injured in the beginning because of the soft insoles where you’ll be feeling very rough, bumpy rock on your way. Most beginner hikers get ankle pains or calve pains because their muscles are not much stronger, and they need to practice in these shoes before going on hiking ventures.
Some pro hikers don’t like swamping into barefoot shoes, saying that beginner hikers must stay away from them. It is so because the newbies need traction and are in the struggle phase to maintain their body posture and avoid injuries to their feet or ankles.
At the beginning of your hiking ventures, you may also need hiking tools which is why having good pair of hiking boots will help you carry the extra weight or body weight around.
Signs Of Wear And Tear
Bodies of barefoot shoes are made of a lighter material, and they are prone to get creased or show signs of wear and tear earlier than in hiking boots or other heavy-duty boots. Moreover, barefoot shoes are flexible and provide freedom to feet so they can move in any direction.
The signs of wear and tear may be due to external reasons such as rough bushes or tiny rocks entering the shoes, or it may be due to flexing the feet and boot. If not corrected on time by you, these tiny holes may create bigger holes, and all the water and debris can easily enter the shoes. The best thing is to immediately clean and repair them so you can enjoy your hiking ventures tension free.
Final Thoughts
Are barefoot shoes good for hiking? They are good for those who love to hike while enjoying free feet and lightweight footwear. Once they start wearing barefoot shoes, the added features they get will make them obliged to wear these shoes every day or on every hike.
Having something that makes you near to mother nature is good for you, whether it’s food or footwear. Barefoot shoes are comfortable, functional, and flexible footwear that you can use without trouble. You’ll feel like having no shoe on your feet while climbing the trails for longer hours.