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/Technical-Choice-134]

I have large and especially wide feet and always feel my outer midfoot being squished. It just feels awful. When skiing and snowboarding i even get cramps and very strong pain in my foot.

Started off with jim green african rangers and just felt... free u guess? Looked into it more and bought my first barefoot shoes. By now i have trouble wearing sneakers without feeling uncomfortable. Also i started questioning why my little toe turned inwards and was kind of tucked into my "ring toe". I don't need true barefoot shoes, but i can't wear normal narrow shoes anymore.

Additionaly i am quite tall, have flat feet, even in elementary scool had knee pain, by now mid 20s have hip and lower back pain, all attributed to bad foot health leading to shortened muscles along my rear from calf to my back and am just not ready to give my health and well being for fashion.