Shoes are like good lollipops… Ok I don't know where that metaphor was going, but if shoes are like lollipops, then the Merrell Vapor Glove is like lemon swirl flavor. The very best I’ve had my Merrell Vapor Glove (4th Gen) for over a year now. I have clocked way more than 500 miles in them and they have held up incredibly well. I recommend these shoes to anyone that likes durable barefoot shoes. Story time! I got these shoes just after I moved back to the US from Europe (best place ever to live!), replacing my Vibram Furoshiki wrap shoes (review coming. Not my favorite shoe). I read somewher ..read more

In order to gain super powers, or at least overcome one's own weaknesses you got to embark on your own quest. Congratulations! By reading this post you have started on your journey to greatness! Fame, Glory, Honor are waiting for you along the way, so stick with it. Whispers: “I believe in you!” To start, we must recognize the problem at hand: in developed countries there is a very high likelihood of injury while running, and walking. You may have noticed this from your own experience or from the experiences of others. The solution? Learn to run like our ancestors, with bare feet or very thin ..read more

I need new shoes. My current pair of barefoot shoes have been warn into a beautiful oblivion. So in an effort to expand my horizons I opened up Etsy.com and started looking for more “alternative” solutions. Modern shoes are garbage. I'm not even talking about the trashy over-cushioned Nike trainers that are even worse, but modern barefoot shoes in general! Most half decent barefoot shoes are made from petroleum products, are made with a short shelf life in mind, and are destined for the dumpster! This is adding to our growing toxic trash problem. Plasticky footwear has not always been the soc ..read more

Barefoot walking is singly one of the greatest things you can do to gain and maintain mental clarity. If we exercise for the brain the Body will follow. I was first introduced to the concept of barefoot walking a few months into my recovery from a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). As I have shared in other posts, I started barefoot walking for the physical benefits. I had wrecked my knees in a separate accident and was struggling to run or even walk anywhere without pain. As I discovered that the exercises my physical therapist recommended for my knees were the same as those recommended fo ..read more

Intro: In the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall, Chris introduces us (the readers) to the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyons. A whole culture of ultra marathon running people. The Tarahumara, in turn introduce us to there hand made sandals the "Huaracha". They make there sandals out of old tire tread and leather laces to protect their feet on long runs from sharp rocks and cacti. When I read that book, I was absolutely inspired to make my own DIY Huaraches, and walk/run in them daily. Over four years and five hundred miles later, this review is ready! I reviewed my favori ..read more

Hello Clan Barefoot, How are your feet? Summer is here again, and with it comes the time to grow things like leaves, calluses, and even this blog. Having been away for a while, you're probably feeling a little neglected like a garden patch after a long winter. So, talk to me, how are you growing? In the spirit of June, while I wait patiently for your response to the aforementioned question, let's talk about gardens, fresh starts, and new growth. Honestly June should be the month we all make those pesky new year's resolutions. In January, the middle of winter here in the northern hemisphere, w ..read more

Barefooting is a very personal journey. You must be the one to set your own standard of what's barefoot and what's not. I do have a few suggestions for you to consider. A few of my own personal standards and why I hold on to them. First note, and it goes without saying: when it comes to barefoot shoes, the more naturally it mimics actually going barefoot - generally - the better. It's in the name: “barefoot” + “shoes.” Traditionally our ancestors wore moccasins and simple sandals when the ground was too harsh for bare feet. These shoes were thin and were intended to provide the bare minimum a ..read more

We barefooters are great people. We heal our minds by fixing our bodies. We tread lightly on our mother earth. We even help other people achieve their best selves by making them become barefoot! So often though, we have a fatal flaw that we like to pretend isn’t ever a problem: we refuse to wear shoes, even when we really should. For most of us, we are perfectly fine (and in fact should) going barefoot 90% of the time. Our feet develop beautiful calloused soles, strong flexible arches, and sensitive receptors to protect us from almost all dangers to our feet. Sometimes, however, we really nee ..read more

By Benjamin Boden Theirs no time to lose! Lets get started! #1 Take off Shoes Start your journey right by taking off your shoes. Simple right? Shoes are a hindrance to your life. By taking off your shoes you are saying you will only settle for the best life possible! #2 Love your nude feet Podophobia = the fear of feet. This is a widespread mental health disorder in today's society. By taking off your shoes you must come to terms with your feet. They are beautiful and need love! Do something nice for your feet, like getting a massage, or painting your nails. Make sure to tell yourself how wo ..read more

Scared of transitioning to barefoot? Why? Podophobia: The fear of feet is a wide spread mental health disorder in our modern society. In order to sustainably transition to barefoot one must overcome this fear. Do you ever feel judged for going barefoot in public? Are you afraid or embarrassed of the way your naked feet look to the world? All these are mild cases of podophobia, or fear of feet. It’s a basic false self image issue that almost everyone in developed societies deal with. It usually stems from being scolded for taking our shoes off as a child by other adults who were treated simila ..read more