Barefoot Hiking Shoes: Pros and Cons

When we think of hiking footwear, we imagine massive hiking boots made of leather with thick rubber outsoles. It has long been so: if you are going on a hike, you need reliable hiking boots with a sturdy design that will offer the highest level of protection.

However, today, hiking boots are not the only option. The market of footwear is overflown with different products – hiking boots, shoes, trail runner shoes. There are even hiking sandals that can come in quite useful if you need to cross a stream.

Among all the vast variety of hiking footwear, there is an interesting type of shoes – minimalist hiking shoes. They are also sometimes called barefoot hiking shoes. Such a name may puzzle you – how can there be “barefoot” shoes. You can either be barefoot or wear shoes. However, thanks to the unique design, they make you feel as if you are not wearing any shoes at all.

Barefoot hiking shoes have very thin and flexible outsoles. Wearing them, you will literally feel every rock and every stick underneath the soles of your feet. They will help you stay more aware when on a hike and choose your path more carefully. At the same time, they are great for improving the sensitivity of your feet.

Minimalist shoes, although having thin outsoles, offer a decent grip. They have lugs, small but steady, that will give you stability on different trails and different kinds of surfaces.

They have thin uppers, as well. Thanks to such a construction, barefoot shoes are very breathable and comfortable on the feet. They are also very lightweight, meaning your feet will not get tired from the weight of the shoes.

Some barefoot shoes have different compartments for each toe. Such shoes have a very funny design and look just like socks.

These have been the advantages of minimalist hiking shoes. What are the disadvantages?

• Barefoot shoes are not suitable for hiking in rocky terrains. For that purpose, it is better to choose the hiking boots. It will offer a good ankle support and prevent you from spraining the ankles or cutting them on stones.
• Minimalist shoes have very thin outsoles, as well as insoles. That means almost no padding, so you’ll have to choose a very reasonable pave to minimize the shock on your bones and joints.
• They are not the best option for people suffering from foot pain. If that is your case, choose hiking footwear with better cushioning.
• Minimalist shoes are not very durable. Because of the thin soles and uppers, they tend to show the signs of wear and tear very quickly.