Discover how to safely transition from regular sneakers to #barefoot sneakers and be part of the movement.

When choosing a sneaker, what do you take into consideration when purchasing?

Besides style and brand, is there anything else that influences your decision?

As we move into a world that is increasingly focused on health and wellness, many are rethinking their footwear choices.

This is where barefoot sneakers come in, a revolutionary alternative to conventional sneakers that promises a completely different experience.

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of barefoot tennis versus traditional sneakers, and how this choice can impact not only your feet, but also your overall health and well-being.

The benefits of #barefoot

Before we talk about the benefits and the ideal barefoot sneakers for transition, we will point out some super important characteristics of #barefoot.

• Weight

Barefoot sneakers were developed to adapt to the shape of the foot and its structure naturally, reducing the volume of materials in their composition.

In addition, they provide an “almost barefoot” experience when walking and also reduce energy expenditure, as the shoes do not have much weight to carry.

What we can understand in this case is that while barefoot provides more lightness in its structure and connects us more to our normal, conventional sneakers still focus on providing comfort with larger structures, even reducing their weight.

• Format

The shape of barefoot sneakers was developed to respect the natural shape of the feet.

If you look at them, you will notice that the widest part is in the toe area. This is because they respect the spacing of the feet, giving freedom of movement to the toes without compressing them.

Furthermore, there is no heel at all. This can improve posture, balance and the way you step on the ground.

It may seem obvious, but the lack of a heel adjusts your step , reducing the impact on the heel only.

Conventional sneakers (talking about toe space) generally do not respect the spacing of the widest part of the foot. In addition, the excess “heel” in the heel area causes the feet to lose sensitivity to what they are stepping on, modifying the structure of their step.

It obviously provides more comfort, but using it over time can cause chronic injuries, both to the feet and legs.

Damping

All barefoot sneaker soles are zero drop, and this characteristic is largely responsible for creating the impression of an “uncomfortable sneaker” .

Which is completely wrong. They literally make you feel more with your feet, putting less interference between you and the surface you're walking on.

Feeling every part of the ground beneath your feet provides an additional level of stimulation for the brain - which will react to changing conditions and relay messages to your feet to stabilize.

Conventional sneakers aim to provide greater comfort through super soft soles full of cushioning.

In theory, it is wonderful to use. In practice, when you want agility and control - in a race, for example - it is not the best option.

Not only do these technologies compress upon impact to absorb shock, but the most innovative foams will return to their original shape more quickly and responsively, taking all the “responsibility” off your body for neutralizing the impacts of your steps. This may seem like a good thing, but over time, your feet will become weak and your body will feel more achy and tired.

Protection and Durability

The flexibility of barefoot sneakers gives your feet the freedom to move all your muscles without restrictions.

Just like your hands, your feet have sensitive nerve endings, and barefoot shoes allow you to use your body's natural tools to enhance sensory feedback.

By using the right materials, your steps are protected from any external factors with each step. In addition, the durability of sneakers wears out just like any other shoe, and it all depends on how long you use them and how you take care of them.

Conventional sneakers vary in durability, but protect against impacts and scratches, such as stones and glass.

However, the downside is the weight they add to the shoes. Additionally, excess cushioning in the soles can increase the risk of injury because it results in increased impact loading and stiffness in the legs.

The transition starts now

Starting out in the #barefootmovement requires some special care. Wearing barefoot shoes overnight, after years of wearing conventional sneakers, can harm the health of your feet.

They need time to gradually improve their mobility and strength.

To make this transition in a healthy way, we have put together some super important tips to help you get started on the right foot.

1)  Patience and self-knowledge!

The time to complete the transition correctly varies from person to person.

As the feet have many joints and muscles, after years of being squeezed into tight shoes, they undergo a process of deformation, preventing them from developing correctly and weakening their muscles.

So start slowly. Every day, stand with your feet on the floor without shoes and increase it a little each day.

The transition takes, on average, 2 to 3 months to complete. During this process, you will notice that your feet are wider and your toes have more space, which is completely normal, as they are returning to their natural shape.

2)  Analyze your walk

When choosing conventional footwear, we always opt for those that offer us more comfort.

And what makes these shoes comfortable are the soles, which are often very thick. And that's where the big problem lies!

With these shoes, our feet lose the ability to feel the ground and the force with which they are touching the ground.

And from there begins the development of injuries, chronic pain, incorrect walking, misaligned posture, among others.

Therefore, when using barefoot, it is necessary to relearn the correct way to walk.

We start slowly thinking about how we walk, our step should be soft and gentle. The heel is the first to touch the ground, but this contact should be soft and the full load on the foot should only be applied when the entire foot is on the ground.

3)  Live healthy

The use of chairs and the amount of time we spend sitting, or in a forced posture at the computer and in front of the phone, has a profound effect on the mobility of our hips, posture, strength and alignment of the entire body.

Our feet are the only surface of the body that is in daily contact with the ground, and any imbalance in this area affects the balance of the entire body.

RUDO - No More Excuses

To help you through the transition process, we present Rudo, the new #barefoot sneaker from Feet of Tomorrow.

With it, your transition will be much smoother, without giving up the freedom and natural functionality of your feet.

Rudo is wider, more comfortable and has its own style. It is the ideal shoe for anyone who wants to start in the barefoot movement.

JOIN THE #BAREFOOTMOVEMENT

With Rudo, Feet of Tomorrow helps you transition to a life with more freedom and protection for your feet.

So, you no longer need to suffer with the conventional things that take you away from living your normal life.

If you've made it this far, we're sure barefoot has already won your heart.

How about going back to living naturally, with freedom and protection?