As we’re getting more conscious of our health and well-being on a global level, it’s natural there are plenty of health trends that emerge. It’s true, some get more hype than others, and there’s a lot of misinformation going around what’s good and what’s not, but one of the trends I’m gladly welcoming in my lifestyle is the change of footwear.

Over these last two years, I’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of walking barefoot, and doing grounding. While I’m all up for reducing inflammation and supporting natural foot shape, it’s not possible to go shoeless 24/7, even if you work from home and you do most of the shopping online. That’s why I turned to the next best thing: comfortable barefoot work boots created to let your feet do their own thing, which is bend, flex, move and feel the world. 

And that’s putting it in Xero’s words, the brand that’s become synonymous with this type of footwear. I’m not saying you should give up on other types of shoes a woman should have in her closet, however if you care about your feet, and your health in general, it’s worth investing in quality footwear you’d get to wear most of the time. 

What’s the Point of Barefoot Shoes?

Glad you asked – these so called minimalist shoes are designed with your utmost health and comfort in mind, to offer you a range of benefits, such as: 

Foot Strengthening

It’s no secret there are some shoe models that can take their toll on our feet and health in general with their restrictive form and features. The case in favour of barefoot work boots is that they do the opposite – they hug your feet’s natural shape, leaving plenty of room for natural movement and proper alignment. 

Once the feet are properly aligned with every step you take, you can rest assured you’d experience muscle strengthening, and as a result you’d be more capable of absorbing impact. Another added benefit of this is toe strength, which is crucial for overall foot control as well as better posture and balance. 

Reduced Risk of Injuries and Aches

Most shoes come with a raised heel in some form, which isn’t the case with barefoot work boot designs. This ensures the proper placement of muscles and tendons, plus it makes the ankles stronger thus providing better control and stability. One positive impact of this would be a reduction in the risk of knee and hip injuries. Additionally, since these shoes make you use the mid- and forefoot when you run, instead of placing the impact on the heel, there’s less risk of joint injury. 

Now, in terms of aches and pains, as the design is made to provide natural positioning of the feet, there’s less impact on the toes too, so respectively there’s less risk of issues like bunions and hammertoes. As most of the minimalist shoes don’t have heels or extra support in the form of cushioning, they help your body stay more aligned, lengthening the achilles heels and calf muscles, so you can walk and move pain-free in general. You also won’t be going through any back pain when you’re wearing them.

Better Proprioception

This term is used for the body’s ability to sense its own position and movement through the nerves in the bottom of your feet that send information to the brain. By wearing barefoot footwear, you can improve the foot-brain connection since these shoes provide your feet with more sensory input. 

Walking and running more naturally aren’t the only benefits here; these are the kind of shoes that can significantly improve your overall memory too. The lesson in here is that if you want to get better outcome in your personal and professional life, be sure to walk and run barefoot, or do the next best thing – buy yourself a nice pair of barefoot work boots Australia retailers have. Xero is one notable brand to choose from, as are Lems Boulder and Vivobarefoot. 

Who Should Jump On Board the Barefoot Shoe Trend?

Basically, these shoes are great for everyone if you want to go back to basics, be proactive about your health, and feel what it’s like to have the barefoot walking sensation. One word of advice is to give them some time as it takes getting used to wearing them since they’re not your typical shoes. Trying out walking and running in them for short periods of time is more beneficial than wearing them for hours on end right away after buying them. 

Also, people working in industrial and high-impact environments require more cushioning than these shoes provide so they’re not ideal for every environment or scenario. If you still want to reap the benefits however, more so if you walk on concrete surfaces most of the time, it’s best to look for minimalist shoes with rugged outsole and a bit more cushioning.