I'm on the market for a pair of decent camping/hiking shoes/boots. I had been planning on getting some REI pair, but you've got me curious about these. It seems odd to me that something that claims to be thin and let you feel things would be good for hiking. Can you elaborate on that? I think I would want protection from rocks and stuff, so it seems bad for that?
Occasionally I'll be walking and step on a single pebble on the sidewalk in just the right place and I can feel that for sure, but on a trail that's less of a problem because you're not pressing that pebble against pavement, and the shoes aren't so thin that it's like there's nothing there – they definitely provide some protection. For larger rocks, like a rock scramble, I find it's nice to be able to feel it a little more – I'm not sure if it's true, but it makes me feel I have more control and better balance. Thus far the rare "single pebble on the sidewalk" has been the only issue.
I'm not exactly a shoe wonk, but I think the idea of barefoot shoes is to encourage you to put more force on the ball of your foot as opposed to the heel, which I think is meant to be better for posture and your knees. All I know is I love them, and I think I'd have trouble going back to shoes with thick outsoles.
If you're thinking of trying a pair, Vivobarefoot has a pretty good return policy (100 days no questions asked) so it might be worth giving it a shot. That said, it's definitely an acquired taste and I don't think they're better for everyone. My partner hates minimal shoes and just bought for herself a pair of Hokas, which to my eyes have a comically large outsole. Ultimately it's about finding the best match for your body.
I've been looking into minimalist/barefoot shoes lately and one thing that I found interesting is that, even though the plains First Nations of old (think Apache) wore thick, hard-soled moccasins, the woodland nations always preferred the soft, thin-soled pucker style.
The forest floor is littered with sticks, rocks, and other things, but clearly there was still some benefit derived from wearing what would now be termed "barefoot" shoes in the bush.
I am genuinely curious about these shoes but cautious as my left ankle gives me problems and I find that I'm most comfortable when I'm wearing my thick Merrel hiking books. I use insoles in all my shoes because of it and I feel like it would defeat the purpose if I used insoles in these.
Ankles can be tricky. Most "barefoot" style shoes have essentially zero ankle support. What ends up happening for most people is that if you ease into them, and use them regularly, you end up building up substantially more muscle in your foot and lower leg which ends up being the "thing that gives you ankle stability".
If you've got really serious ankle problems / past injuries / etc, that might not be a plausible approach for you. But if it's just a case of your ankle being a little unstable every so often, it might be worth trying the barefoot shoe approach, and treat it like building up new muscles in any other context: start slow and easy and try to be consistent about it.
I hike regularly with Vivo's - Also the Lems Boulderboot when the temperature permits.
Your feet take a beating in the first few weeks but you will build a tolerance.
In my opinion, they're fantastic for hiking as you feel the ground beneath you. Being more aware of the ground surface increases your step precision as well as your balance.
I wanted something more minimal than conventional boots but I knew I didn't want to go as far as Vivos. I settled on these Solomons[0], and they're possibly the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Not waterproof, no real ankle support/bracing, but very light with plenty of shock absorption and sole stability. I do have minimalist sandals from Xero[1], which are great for camp shoes.
I've got the same exact pair - they are awesome, super comfortable and flexible.
It's important to note that as for any thin-sole shoe, it takes time to get used to what is much more like walking barefoot - your foot placement and posture changes, as you use the ball of your foot and your calf more. Think of it as the difference between running with a heel/neutral strike with padded running shoes and a toe-strike when running barefoot.
Re. longer hikes and rocks, the sole is well protected and quite tough - they are indeed built for hiking; consider walking briefer hikes in them for a while so that your foot / calf muscles to get used to the difference before taking on long and more exhausting hikes that increase the chances of a twisted ankle.
