By Senior Coach Pax
Approximate Reading Time: 3-4 min
As part of the process of ‘restoring my human’ I spend much of my time completely barefoot. Going shoeless has allowed my feet to maintain mobility, strength and suppleness over the years, but being absolutely barefoot isn’t always possible or safe—just the other day I punctured my foot on a stick that was hiding in the grass at the park where we were running! I love doing run repeats on grass, playing barefoot soccer or Spike Ball against Coach Gabo, and generally enjoying the feel of my feet on the ground, but there are definite risks in doing this. It’s easy to step on sharp objects, slip from less traction, smash your toes into things, or step in something yucky. Shoes offer good protection from these things, but at what cost? Not all shoes are created equal.
Growing up in the Andes Mountains in Chile I wore a variety of different trekking and outdoor shoes which protected my feet and ankles from potential hiking injuries but didn’t offer a lot more. Once I began playing soccer, I stuffed my feet into cleats for many hours a week, developing bunions without even knowing it. In my teens in an effort to look cool, I wore skate shoes and other urban styles that had a lot of cushioning, air pockets, arch support and so forth. I didn’t think twice about it, I just pretty much got whatever looked cool to me at the time.
During those years my feet seemed alright, but I had my fair share of aches and pains which I ignored. I definitely suffered from the bunions I got from my soccer cleats. I was once diagnosed with ‘flat feet’, so I spent years trying to find the right arch support, but it never felt right either. I took up running in my twenties and decided on a super cool and super cushioned big-brand shoe which caused me to learn how to heel-strike, a bad habit I luckily unlearned once I started working with Coach K at Restore Human.
Then I found Vivobarefoot shoes. As far as minimalist shoes go, Vivos are the creme de la creme! I’ve been wearing Vivo shoes for years now and I don’t plan on going back. I’ve loved each and every one of my many, many pairs and I now have a set for each and every purpose so I never need to force my feet into conventional shoes. I have styles for hiking, trail running, indoor gym environments, and urban styles that would fit just fine into the business casual category.
Vivos promote healthier, stronger feet via the main features that all their styles have in common. Here’s what makes them so special:
Foot shaped (not shoe shaped—think of the extreme shape of a stiletto) to let your feet do their natural thing
Wide toe box to allow for natural muscle lengths, weight distribution and stability
Flexible to enable all natural ranges of movement
Thin to enable you to feel more. You have about 7000 nerve endings in each foot! These nerves are constantly telling the rest of your body how to react to the ground you move on, let’s not inhibit that!
Image Credit: Vivobarefoot Normal vs Natural
The differences between each style of Vivos has to do with the type of sole for different terrains, the breathability or resistance to the elements depending on the activity, and of course the aesthetic. If you’re wondering about getting into a great pair of Vivos but don’t know where to start, here are my suggestions based on function, from the Vivobarefoot Canada Spring collection.
For hiking: Magna Trail FG
This is the boot I use for hiking. The high-rise covers my ankles, keeps heat in and nature’s debris out. The FG firm ground sole has performed well for me in slippery conditions and even decently in light snow. The upper resists light rain so it’s perfect for a spring hike around Vancouver!
For trail running: Primus Trail II FG
My performance shoe for trail running, beach days, and summer hiking, these shoes have the same strong FG firm ground sole as the Magna boots, but are much lighter and breathable. My feet never get too hot when adventuring in these. Note, there is also a Primus Trail II All Weather which will be warmer and dryer, so if your feet get cold easily this is the version for you.
For city life: RA II
Wearing this shoe is like wearing a sock, but way more stylish! These are the minimalist shoes I wear to business meetings or special dinner parties. It’s not an outdoor or performance shoe. It’s just a slick Oxford lace-up that you can dress up or down.
Let us know if you have any questions about grabbing some new Vivos and don’t forget to use the discount code we’ve got for you.
