Barefoot Shoes (time sensitive discount code)

In the last two years I have done more lower-body and foot workshops than any other workshops. Amongst all the alignment info, corrective exercises, advice on how to sit, how much to walk, how to breathe etc, I have generally not always voiced my preference or recommendation for shoes, mainly because I think before one moves on to wearing barefoot shoes, one needs to work on alignment and mobilising and strengthening their feet, hips, legs and core. .

What are "barefoot" shoes anyway?

Barefoot, also called "minimal" shoes, are shoes that do not alter the biomechanics of the foot while you are wearing them. Barefoot shoes have:

1. Totally flat sole with no elevation at the heel. So they do not shorten with every step the calves that you work so hard to stretch :)

2. Wide toe box. The natural shape of the human foot is widest at the front. Shoes that are narrow squish your toes (and they take an important part in the gait cycle), interfere with balance by making the area of your feet smaller, inhibit circulation and many more.

3. Flexible sole. The foot has 26 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. They are all designed to accommodate movement, but of course, if you put on them a stiff and rigid sole, this isn't going to happen. So, do your exercises and change your shoes, and your feet and your whole body will thank you.

4. Attach well to the foot. If a shoe is not going to alter the function of the foot, said shoe shouldn't be hanging off your foot, as your toes and your whole foot really is going to flex in order to prevent that from happen. And that definitely changes the way you use your foot and whole body overtime. So save your flip-flops for around the pool, the bathroom and other instances where you don't have to walk for more than 50 steps.

Health and Safety, or you have to condition your feet and your whole body before removing your regular, supportive shoes and going in bare feet or minimal shoes.

1. Wake up your feet and start with only wearing your barefoot shoes for parts of the day.

2. Work on your alignment all of the time.

3. Spend time at home in bare feet everyday, go out on the grass, walk on sand, rocks and other uneven terrain to expose your feet and the many structures in them to different loads.

If you have been doing lower body work and foot mobilisiation and strengthening work with me and hopefully by yourself too :) you can benefit from this discount code that Vivobarefoot Australia and New Zealand have just sent VAS753829. You can enter that code while checking out from https://www.solemechanics.com.au for a 25% discount between June 17th and June 23rd.

I have had some questions about more affordable barefoot shoes options.

Fitkicks are a slipper-like shoe and are more affordable than most other barefoot options.
Paperkrane is an Australian minimalist shoes company that make baby, kids and adults shoes that seem to be of good quality and more reasonable prices. Check them out. They also appear to have an EOFY sale right now (June 2021).

Other brands that I have tried over the years include:

Zeazoo - hand and custom made in Bulgaria. They make kids shoes and adult shoes.
Soft Star shoes - hand and custom made in the USA.

The drifter leather - hand and custom made in Greece.

Unshoes - hand and custom made in the USA.

Tadeevo - made in Poland and free shipping to Australia - the most minimalist (thinnest and most flexible sole) of all the shoes that I have seen.

Leguano - made in Germany. They have slightly thicker and more cushioned sole (nevertheless super flexible and totally flat), so might be a good first minimalist shoe, and also better for running on harder surfaces. They go to markets around Brisbane and have a shop in Newstead, so you can try them on.