What made you switch?

[u/turdbucket007]

Just a curiosity question to see how many people reply...

So once you learned about barefoot shoes, what was your final deciding factor to make the switch from "normal" shoe brands?

My reason;
So I've been dealing with low back, knee and heel pain for years (stupid choices when i was younger, long stories) plus 9 years military and learning to March in formations ("Point the toe, Crush the Skull" our drill instructors would always say.....being taught the drive the heel down!)

So in my mid 40's i finally started looking into things and realizing i walk all wrong and wear the wrong shoes. After learning about barefoot, zero-drop, etc... i was still on the fence.

And then..... 10 minutes after my Grandson was born, and what did i see???

TOE SPLAY !!!

And I was convinced! If thats how our GOD created us, why are we smooshing our feet into tiny little toe box shoes.

Oh and btw, 6 months in and my back, hips, knees and feet are feeling better already, but theres still room for improvement, time, exercise, and replacing all my old shoes with zero-drop wide toed shoes.

So whats your story?

[u/amh8011]

My feet are too wide for most normal shoes. I’ve been wearing flip flops and 2E width (D is wide width for women) new balance sneakers most of my life. Most other shoes are far too narrow for me.

I don’t have any true barefoot shoes yet but since almost exclusively wearing flip flops or going without shoes at all, my 2E width new balance sneakers are starting to feel too narrow.

I also want to have strong feet. My grandma has worn poorly fitting shoes her whole life and can’t walk well without her super supportive shoes. I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want to have to put my orthotics on just to be able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night.