The barefoot shoe – less oxymoronically known as the minimalist or zero drop shoe – is currently trending in the world of running. Designed so that the heel and ball of the foot hit the ground at the same level, the shoes enable their wearers to move as naturally as possible (imagine a caveman chasing a Smilodon wearing goatskins on his feet and you’ll get the idea). It’s also a trend currently running out of the locker room and pounding a course for your feet.
At the athletic end of the spectrum is Vivobarefoot. The company produces ultra thin-soled shoes designed to be worn while jogging (mercifully devoid of the defined toes found on their counterparts) as well as barefoot desert boots and loafers. The brand’s strapline: “Reconnect your feet with the ground, and move in the ways that nature intended.”
