Comments on: Barefoot Alternatives http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:24:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Cullen D. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-530181 Cullen D. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:42:52 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-530181 Minnetonka makes some relatively inexpensive (~$50-$60) moccasins. The moosehide softsole mocs, especially, are perfectly good and very soft right off the bat. My personal choice, albeit a little pricier, is Arrow Moccasin company. They hand-sew their mocs from very durable leather in their little company in Massachusetts, and they make all sorts of styles from the traditional canoe moc to full-blown sport mukluks. Great for kicking around or hunting. Plus, they have an adorable 90's-era website: http://www.arrowmoc.com The leather takes a bit of time to break in, but it's definitely worth it. Minnetonka makes some relatively inexpensive (~$50-$60) moccasins. The moosehide softsole mocs, especially, are perfectly good and very soft right off the bat.

My personal choice, albeit a little pricier, is Arrow Moccasin company. They hand-sew their mocs from very durable leather in their little company in Massachusetts, and they make all sorts of styles from the traditional canoe moc to full-blown sport mukluks. Great for kicking around or hunting. Plus, they have an adorable 90’s-era website: http://www.arrowmoc.com

The leather takes a bit of time to break in, but it’s definitely worth it.

]]> By: TK http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-530048 TK Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:49:51 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-530048 FWIW, I live in VivoBarefoot shoes. I have 5 pairs now (2 leather for work, 2 casual for play, and a pair of the new EVO running shoe). All but the EVO are cut pretty wide. They're super comfy, and have a very durable sole. They run a bit expensive, but they're having a 50% off sale right now, with discount code ENDOFSEASON if you're interested in trying them out. I'm not sure I'll ever wear another shoe again, though I may give a pair of FiveFingers a try, since the EVO is cut too thin to be comfortable. FWIW, I live in VivoBarefoot shoes. I have 5 pairs now (2 leather for work, 2 casual for play, and a pair of the new EVO running shoe). All but the EVO are cut pretty wide. They’re super comfy, and have a very durable sole.

They run a bit expensive, but they’re having a 50% off sale right now, with discount code ENDOFSEASON if you’re interested in trying them out.

I’m not sure I’ll ever wear another shoe again, though I may give a pair of FiveFingers a try, since the EVO is cut too thin to be comfortable.

]]> By: Ken http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-505339 Ken Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:48:59 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-505339 I've been wearing my VFF's everyday since I bought them last week. I alternate the KSO with the KSO Trek so they don't need to be washed as often. I tried wearing my Converse the other day and it was unbearable as they squashed my toes. I've noticed my feet are so much wider since converting to VFFs. Hooray primal! I’ve been wearing my VFF’s everyday since I bought them last week. I alternate the KSO with the KSO Trek so they don’t need to be washed as often. I tried wearing my Converse the other day and it was unbearable as they squashed my toes. I’ve noticed my feet are so much wider since converting to VFFs. Hooray primal!

]]> By: Andrew http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-498676 Andrew Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:10:08 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-498676 Whenever im not sporting my five fingers, I have a couple of Sanuk sandals that I wear. Its a shoe-like top with a flexible sandal bottom. I even wear them to ride my bike. I also wear them to work because my hr department told me to cool it with the five fingers. They say their shoes have bere foot un-technology. they were my favorites for over a year before I found VFF's Whenever im not sporting my five fingers, I have a couple of Sanuk sandals that I wear. Its a shoe-like top with a flexible sandal bottom. I even wear them to ride my bike. I also wear them to work because my hr department told me to cool it with the five fingers. They say their shoes have bere foot un-technology. they were my favorites for over a year before I found VFF’s

]]> By: Pete http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-498661 Pete Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:44:50 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-498661 These mainstream (and inexpensive) Minnetonka Mocs http://tinyurl.com/ycm658j are very unstructured. I live on the beach in North Carolina and can get by for most of the year barefoot (even at work and in most stores--I carry a pair of flip-flops just in case). For the wet winter I found a pair of Teva Proton 4 water shoes (which I think have been discontinued): http://www.trailspace.com/gear/teva/proton-4/ They're also good for footbiking, my favorite sport and transportation. In general I like moccasins, which can look almost like dress shoes for those occasions they're needed--but soft-soled, of course. These mainstream (and inexpensive) Minnetonka Mocs
http://tinyurl.com/ycm658j are very unstructured. I live on the beach in North Carolina and can get by for most of the year barefoot (even at work and in most stores–I carry a pair of flip-flops just in case). For the wet winter I found a pair of Teva Proton 4 water shoes (which I think have been discontinued):
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/teva/proton-4/

They’re also good for footbiking, my favorite sport and transportation.

In general I like moccasins, which can look almost like dress shoes for those occasions they’re needed–but soft-soled, of course.

]]> By: Grok http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-496316 Grok Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:36:18 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-496316 Damn I'd like to have a pair of those or the "Russell Tracker." Perhaps I'll put a pair in the budget for next hunting season. I hate boots and shoes anymore! I wore Vibrams for a good part of this year, but got lucky with dry conditions. Damn I’d like to have a pair of those or the “Russell Tracker.”

Perhaps I’ll put a pair in the budget for next hunting season. I hate boots and shoes anymore! I wore Vibrams for a good part of this year, but got lucky with dry conditions.

]]> By: Gina http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-496221 Gina Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:10:27 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-496221 Wish I could come up with a fancier alternative for those special occasions. Perhaps I can just glue some rhinestones to the slippah :) Right now my most worn "shoe" is a purple pair of "Locals" slipphas 1.99 at Longs drugs. And even these get parked at the first sign of sand. Wish I could come up with a fancier alternative for those special occasions.
Perhaps I can just glue some rhinestones to the slippah :)
Right now my most worn “shoe” is a purple pair of “Locals” slipphas 1.99 at Longs drugs. And even these get parked at the first sign of sand.

]]> By: Ethan House http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-496191 Ethan House Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:44:21 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-496191 Check out the following http://www.russellmoccasin.com/boots_safari/thula_thula.html. This company makes all kinds of moccasin style boots. Both stylish, functional and still allow your feet to feel and move as they should. Check out the following http://www.russellmoccasin.com/boots_safari/thula_thula.html. This company makes all kinds of moccasin style boots. Both stylish, functional and still allow your feet to feel and move as they should.

]]> By: chris http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-491662 chris Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:57:12 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-491662 I used to have flat feet from pre-teen to about 40. Then I dropped a brick on my foot and broke one of the bones. After the break had healed (about 6 weeks) the doc said that I could strengthen my feet by going barefoot. Since then I am barefoot about 95% of the time. The arches have returned and my little toe has straighened out. I used to have flat feet from pre-teen to about 40. Then I dropped a brick on my foot and broke one of the bones. After the break had healed (about 6 weeks) the doc said that I could strengthen my feet by going barefoot. Since then I am barefoot about 95% of the time. The arches have returned and my little toe has straighened out.

]]> By: LadyGrok http://www.marksdailyapple.com/barefoot-alternatives/#comment-491645 LadyGrok Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:31:39 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=3758#comment-491645 Toms have kind of become a fashion trend at my school, which is great. The only problem is they will fall apart in six months if only worn on flat, "safe" surfaces like concrete and flooring. They will fall apart faster should you choose to be adventure. They are a little expensive for the lack of quality, although they are comfortable and good-looking shoes. Happy Grok-walking, everyone! Toms have kind of become a fashion trend at my school, which is great. The only problem is they will fall apart in six months if only worn on flat, “safe” surfaces like concrete and flooring. They will fall apart faster should you choose to be adventure. They are a little expensive for the lack of quality, although they are comfortable and good-looking shoes. Happy Grok-walking, everyone!

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