My journey into barefoot/minimalist shoes - Feel free to share yours

[BertDaKat]

Nicks are another option, that would come with either of the soles you’re looking for. I don’t have a pair but I do plan to try them. The JG is still cheaper even if I bought them to immediately resole.

On the side hills, without snow I had zero issue with the JG. The sole is enough to kick in, and bites. My issue was with snow, just having that rigid edge on a traditional mountain boot is enough to grab where my JG didn’t want to. I’d reccomend carrying micro spikes. I didn’t this year and was in a few dangerous spots where a fall would have been bad. Ended up using a trekking pole to keep my feet from sliding every step. I did use microspikes on the stock sole doing some mountaineering, they worked well and didn’t slip around. The stitch down construction really makes for a boot that holds spikes more like a traditional boot.

I’d also get a pair of waterproof socks and some thin liners for them.

The factory Jim green outsole is okay on dry terrain but I couldn’t stand it on any mud, snow or longer grass.

I've looked at getting my JK fire boots rebuilt by Nick's on the Thurman Zero Drop last, I'm just waiting to torch my current outsoles and I want to get measured at the factory. Can confirm those types of boots are expensive.

All good info to know on the JGs though, thanks! Sounds like I can get what I want out of them with the accessories you mentioned.

 

[Ranchhunter]

im surprised to see several people who have had plantar fasciitis get better with barefoot shoes. That has not been my experience. That being said I think I caused it by wearing riding boots with very high underslung heels for everything, all day for decades. Everyone I hung around with did. Now, as soon as the last calf is branded we all hobble to our trailers to put on our comfy shoes.
My wife got some barefoot shoes about the time Foms podcast about barefoot shoes came out. I was wearing a pair of Salomon’s when I wasn’t riding. I forget the name but very light mid hikers. I loved those because they were light and flexible. So when they wore out I got some Vivo forest escs. The front half of my foot loves them. But within a few months I could barely walk on my heels in the morning. I quit them and went to another hiker and my heels got better. Lately I’ve been wearing my Hoffman guides because they are insulated.
The winter has been so nice that I thought I would give the vivos another go. It’s been 2 days and my heels hurt again. I found this thread because I was looking to see if there were any vivos in the classifieds.
Any advice would be great. I would like them to work. That being said there are a lot of days, especially in the spring when I have to wear a heeled riding boot. And I have to get down and take my turn on the ground too and cannot go change my shoes. So several days a week I wear boots with a near 2 inch heel all day. The rest of the year is not as much. Maybe 1 day a week sometimes I might not wear them for 2 or 3 weeks. The fall I ride a lot again, trying to get cows off the mountain.
Sometimes I think the going back and forth is worse.
Anyway like I said if anyone has any suggestions I would like to hear them.

 

[River Reaper]

Recently tore my Achilles tendon playing basketball. I think it was due to months prior wearing nothing but stiff hiking boots with a heel while doing tons of hiking, then switching to flat, flexible shoes I hadn’t worn in a year with no build up. I plan to go to barefoot style boots moving forward. The brands and options are a little overwhelming, but threads like this are very helpful.

Any advice or other threads to read is welcomed and would be helpful.

 

[Lawnboi]

Recently tore my Achilles tendon playing basketball. I think it was due to months prior wearing nothing but stiff hiking boots with a heel while doing tons of hiking, then switching to flat, flexible shoes I hadn’t worn in a year with no build up. I plan to go to barefoot style boots moving forward. The brands and options are a little overwhelming, but threads like this are very helpful.

Any advice or other threads to read is welcomed and would be helpful.

Just start slow. Your going to feel sore in places you havnt from just walking around. To get to the point of being barefoot all the time it takes years in my opinion.

 

[Gripen]

Switched completely over to zero-drop shoes and boots a couple years ago - not necessarily minimalist footwear because mine are mostly Jim Greens. I can hike all day without foot pain now, no way I'll ever go back. Only issue is my feet are stupid wide (6E) and even my barefoot African Rangers aren't quite wide enough in the toebox, I preordered their new AnatomX version and if those work out I'll probably get a few pairs to replace my old ones. Probably too late to fix the bunions I developed over a lifetime of painfully narrow shoes, but at least my feet don't hurt any more.

I hear a lot of negative opinions about JG's barefoot soles, but so far I haven't had any traction issues in terrain like this:
View attachment 989183

My AnatomX boots arrived about a week ago - they're quite possibly the ugliest shoes I've ever owned, but the ultra-wide toebox is amazingly comfortable. Really hope Jim Green offers this new last on other models soon.

 

[nm.otter]

I've looked at getting my JK fire boots rebuilt by Nick's on the Thurman Zero Drop last,

Is there such a thing as zero drop fire boots? Department will reimburse me if I can find something.

 

[BertDaKat]

My AnatomX boots arrived about a week ago - they're quite possibly the ugliest shoes I've ever owned, but the ultra-wide toebox is amazingly comfortable. Really hope Jim Green offers this new last on other models soon.

Do you have any on the original barefoot last to compare to? I picked up some of the barefoot Chelsea boots, and they're a bit narrow on me. I was thinking of getting the BFATs custom built with the AnatomX last if they don't end up making those in the new last soon.

 

[BertDaKat]

Is there such a thing as zero drop fire boots? Department will reimburse me if I can find something.

Oh yeah

If you call them they can probably do the Thurman FireTrooper in a zero drop sole.

Also, I have no idea if your department wants them to be NFPA rated, USFS and the DOI agencies don't require that. I think we only need lug sole, 8" high (from the heel?), and leather construction.

 

[Gripen]

Do you have any on the original barefoot last to compare to? I picked up some of the barefoot Chelsea boots, and they're a bit narrow on me. I was thinking of getting the BFATs custom built with the AnatomX last if they don't end up making those in the new last soon.

I do, the AnatomX toebox is significantly wider. I'll try to remember to come back and add a few pics later.

 

[nm.otter]

USFS and the DOI agencies don't require that. I think we only need lug sole, 8" high (from the heel?), and leather construction.

The local store has a blanket PO for these torture devices, so it looks DOI rules apply. If the lugs will pass muster, these should work.

 

[BertDaKat]

The local store has a blanket PO for these torture devices, so it looks DOI rules apply. If the lugs will pass muster, these should work.

Yeah those should be fine.

 

[BBob]

Barefoot ish has hit the cycling world. The road shoes have been out for a bit and they just released the MTB.

 

[cwitt]

Looking at diving into the barefoot stuff, particularly the boots a bit more for hunting. Mainly would be for early season archery. Something I haven’t really seen anybody mention is how much more quiet they are. I’m assuming it’s a lot, correct? Are guys still switching to socks or moccasins on stalks or are they quiet enough to keep on the entire time?

Currently I have only hiked/hunted in Crispis for the last 8 years. But casually I only ever wear and work out in Vans. For work I am on my feet 12+ hours a day in flat bottomed moc toes, currently Whites. I am hoping the transition shouldn’t be too hard but planning to ease into it. Appreciate everybody’s info

 

[kcm2]

I wear Crocs to stream fish, crossing creeks and rivers and also, walking over scree slopes. Not a problem for me. My wife looks at me going over rocks like a mountain goat and shakes her head.

 

[twall13]

Looking at diving into the barefoot stuff, particularly the boots a bit more for hunting. Mainly would be for early season archery. Something I haven’t really seen anybody mention is how much more quiet they are. I’m assuming it’s a lot, correct? Are guys still switching to socks or moccasins on stalks or are they quiet enough to keep on the entire time?

Currently I have only hiked/hunted in Crispis for the last 8 years. But casually I only ever wear and work out in Vans. For work I am on my feet 12+ hours a day in flat bottomed moc toes, currently Whites. I am hoping the transition shouldn’t be too hard but planning to ease into it. Appreciate everybody’s info

Yes, they are significantly more quiet than traditional boots. I no longer strip down to socks on a stalk. I've only been using them a few seasons for hunting so a limited number of stalks but I'm happy with them in that regard.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Lionheart]

Barefoot ish has hit the cycling world. The road shoes have been out for a bit and they just released the MTB.
View attachment 1063905View attachment 1063906

$550 shoes. I’m into some Vivo esc trackers and LEM Boulders. Love em.
But dang.

 

[BBob]

$550 shoes. I’m into some Vivo esc trackers and LEM Boulders. Love em.
But dang.

If you think those are spendy check out these customs. These have been in the works for awhile. You scan your bare feet from an athletic stance they then 3D print to your foot. ~$1600-$2100 depending on model and on or off road. Real people have gained 10% in sprint power and more power overall through their power curve. No messing with insoles or any shimming or wedging needed.

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