Best Shoes and Sandals for Walking, Hiking, Running, Barefoot, Strolling and FUN!
David Weck, developed the BOSU ball and is all about helping people maximize their health and performance.
What shoe does David, and his team at weckmethod.com wear?
Check out the video, below, for the answer to that question plus his great (and FAST) advice on how to make the transition from a “normal” shoe to a minimalist, lightweight shoe that lets your feet do what’s natural.
What can you do in the Speed Force?
Well, it looks like almost anything according to this video:
It’s summertime and that means some of us are hitting the trails in our hiking sandals. Travel + Leisure listed the Z-Trail EV as the best lightweight sandal in their roundup of Best Hiking Sandals for Men.
Runner’s World lists Xero Shoes’ Prio as the Best Stylish Comfort Minimal Shoe and Xero Shoes’ Mesa Trail as the Best Road-to-Trail Shoe in their article featuring the Best Minimal Shoes.
When I talk about natural movement and the footwear that does, or doesn’t, support it, I’m often asked “Where’s your proof?”
In fact, if you look at the comments on many of the videos I’ve made that show how padded, stiff, thick, motion-control, elevated heel shoes with pointy toe boxes don’t allow the foot to move naturally, you’ll hear from people who agree that each of those characteristics can be bad.
I’ve even had employees of “Big Shoe” companies concede that their products don’t allow the foot to move the way, well, feet are meant to move.
But then when I show how the design of a truly minimalist shoe, like Xero Shoes, can allow for natural movement which can be beneficial, some of those same people think I’m merely spouting an opinion and not synopsizing a LOT of research.
So, if you’re one of those people who wants “the proof,” I can’t think of a better starting point than this paper, published by the American College of Sports Medicine: Stepping Back to Minimal Footwear_Applications Across the Lifespan (clicking the link opens the paper in a new tab).
Read the paper, of course, but if you want to have fun, look at the notes so you can see the amount of research that backs up the paper.
And if you want to have REAL fun, search for and read the papers listed in the notes.
I often call some of that research “The Dumbest Science Ever Done.” I’m being deliberately tongue-in-cheek when I use that phrase, but I use it to get people to think about why those of us who promote natural movement need to do serious scientific research to demonstrate something as obvious as “use it or lose it.”
We all know that if you DON’T USE your muscles, ligaments, and tendons, you LOSE strength, flexibility, function.
And, equally, we all know that the way you build strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, and agility is by USING your body.
Anyway, enjoy the paper, and leave your thoughts about it in the comments, below…
Is modern footwear, with all the “technological advances,” better than ancient footwear?
We like to think so, but what does the EVIDENCE say?
Recently, a 1,500 year old sandal was found during an archeological exploration in Norway. There’s a great article about it here.
I have a comment about it (what a shock 😉 ) in the video below.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
While we update the Oswego for next season, we’re out of stock at XeroShoes.com
BUT you can find the Women’s Oswego at some REI stores and REI.com…
And they’re ON SALE at 25% off!
So head over to https://www.rei.com/product/177358/xero-shoes-oswego-shoes-womens to pick up a pair.
Because they only have a limited number of pairs left, if you want a pair:
a) Don’t delay
b) If you want to get them in-store, I’d recommend calling to see if your local store still has them in stock.
With 5 years on the national Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America, Feel The World, Inc. (dba Xero Shoes) adds another feather in its cap, ranking #39 for fastest growing private companies in the Rocky Mountain region.
Co-founders Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix say, “We are SO grateful to our customers and employees who’ve helped Xero Shoes not only grow at this rate, year after year, but who’ve discovered the benefits, comfort, and FUN you experience when you get out of ‘normal’ shoes and Live Life Feet First!
See more about the Rocky Mountain region’s fastest growing companies here > https://www.inc.com/regionals/rocky-mountain
And check out Xero Shoes’ profile at https://www.inc.com/profile/xero-shoes
Steven and Lena love to show what the company looked like at the beginning, back in late 2009, in this artist’s rendering:
Sashen points out, “This is not totally accurate… we only had 2 cats.”
But the company did start on the floor of a corner of a spare bedroom, making DIY barefoot running sandal kits that quickly sold to customers in more than 90 countries.
Things have changed quite a bit since then (no more cats 🙁 ) … Xero Shoes still sells the do-it-yourself sandals, but the product line now includes casual and performance shoes, boots, and sandals that people wear for almost every imaginable activity, from a stroll on the beach to climbing Kilimanjaro, to running ultra marathons, to a night on the town, or a day on your feet at work.
Denver-Based Footwear Brand Offers Support to Those Struggling in the Aftermath of the Deadly Boulder County Fires
Broomfield, CO (February 15, 2022) – Xero Shoes, a Colorado-based footwear manufacturer, has made a $20,000 donation to the Marshall Fire Recovery in support of the Boulder County community and the many who tragically lost their homes over the holidays. With more than 1,000 homes lost and nearly 10,000 people displaced, Xero Shoes hopes the funds can help recover from the devastating impact on local families. Additionally, Xero Shoes will also be taking applications from victims to receive a special 50 percent discount off a pair of Xero Shoes.
“Xero Shoes’ donation will provide health, hope and a ‘home away from home’ for those who are getting back on their feet,” said CEO Steven Sashen. As a local to Boulder, and with nearby Denver the hometown of the Xero Shoes’ headquarters, the team is stepping up to serve others. “Throughout this devastating time, our team is working with local organizations to help those who lost everything in this fire. We depend on our community, and without the help of local companies like Xero Shoes, we would not be able to provide the love and support these families need each day.”
Those who are interested in applying for a discounted pair of shoes can visit: https://ctdev.guruslabs.com//were-you-affected-by-the-marshall-fire/
The Marshall Fire Recovery with the Boulder County Wildlife Fund has assisted victims by offering a range of access to services including property loss and filing claims for assistance, financial and food assistance, mental health supports, transportation, and more.
To learn more about Xero Shoes and its corporate philanthropy initiatives, please visit https://ctdev.guruslabs.com//.
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About Xero Shoes
Founded in 2009, Xero Shoes manufactures comfortable, lightweight, performance and casual footwear built with a “foot-first design”. The company’s mission is helping people rediscover the comfort, fun, and benefits of natural movement so they can “Live Life Feet First”. Their goal is to get people out of thick, padded, motion-controlled shoes and into natural, barefoot-inspired footwear with their patented FeelTrue® soles. Xero Shoes was born out of necessity when its co-founder and CEO, Steven Sashen, discovered barefoot running as a solution to his constant running-induced injuries. Now a Masters All-American sprinter, Steven immediately recognized the value of natural movement and was determined to share that with the world. Xero Shoes launched in December 2009 and now has customers ages 1 to 92 in 97 countries who wear their shoes, sandals, and boots for all kinds of activities.
I'm an international ultramarathon athlete and I wear Xero Shoes for races. No blisters. No smelly feet. But I also use them as my everyday sandals (they look way cool!) and I recommend Xeros to everyone.Melissa Gosse
As a barefoot runner I’ve heard lots about huaraches but it wasn’t until Steven made me my first pair (I have two) that I understood how much fun they are to run distances in!Scott McLean
Thank you for making these amazing huaraches. I love how they feel. I forget they are there so much so I have worn them to bed a few times!Tasha Riggs
If you somehow manage to wear through the outsole on your Xero Shoes, we will replace them for a nominal cost. 
Fostering honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers.
If you somehow manage to wear through the outsole on your Xero Shoes, we will replace them for a nominal shipping & handling fee.Fostering honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers.
I'm an international ultramarathon athlete and I wear Xero Shoes for races. No blisters. No smelly feet. But I also use them as my everyday sandals (they look way cool!) and I recommend Xeros to everyone.Melissa Gosse
As a barefoot runner I’ve heard lots about huaraches but it wasn’t until Steven made me my first pair (I have two) that I understood how much fun they are to run distances in!Scott McLean
Thank you for making these amazing huaraches. I love how they feel. I forget they are there so much so I have worn them to bed a few times!Tasha Riggs
