I have been using zero drop, wide toe, barefoot shoes for the last 2 years as my daily shoes. That’s one of the best decisions that I’ve taken in my entire life.

If you need a formal shoe, Birchburry makes a high quality and super comfortable wide toe box dress shoe. I love my pair. I can go formal for work and still have happy feet.

I’m with you on this. I have a spinal injury (repaired) and peripheral neuropathy. I started wearing Altras about a year ago for the wide toe box. Great if you can deal with flat shoes. Also they are thin so I can feel the ground better. Great video!

Hobibears are pretty reasonably priced. I’m size 15, so usually I can only find basketball shoes, but Xero actually has 15 in some of their shoes and they occasionally have 50% off

Lems is a company that makes a great wide box, Zero drop shoes. And based out of Colorado.

I have a pair of Hobibear in black. Excellent shoes for the office as they are more discreet with the odd looking shoes. Been wearing wide toe box for 2+ years.

Been yep to wide toe box before I became aware of you so I can only agree with you! I'm a small guy, 5"6' if I "stand all the way up" yet big guys say I am not small because of how wide I am. I know they are being kind yet due to the widness of my foot I cannot wear shoes with a normal toe box. Luv the wide toe box!

definitely they are better try Altra if you still want cushion

Nice to see Vibram getting some visibility finally - Vibram has a HUGE variety of minimalist footgear for all conditions, not just the FiveFingers - there are also Furoshiki wraps and ankle/calf high models more appropriate for wet conditions. I even have a pair of FF wool with ice soles - they grip like mad and look like monster feet. Oddly enough the worst reaction was only confusion - most people ask what they are, where to get them, and a few want to try them on (I say no, of course lol). I frequently get compliments - but I wear V-Trail 2.0 most of the time, which look more like "real" shoes as far as the soles and upper. I also have V-Alpha for "lighter" wear and several pairs of "casual" FF that are incredibly comfortable, made sustainably, and look sharp - they feel like foot gloves with armor on the bottom. The only models I don't recommend are the V-Run (zero lateral stability, I put a pair on and almost blew an ankle on the spot) and the V-Trek (perfect except for they put a soft vinyl insert in the sole that under my rough usage eventually some of them came out, leaving a literal HOLE under the arch - the V-Trail use the new outsole, which has a clear hard rubber plate molded into the sole where that weak insert was, now it's the toughest part of the sole); everything else is golden as long as you match the model to your use case/application. They're a little overpriced in my opinion but I have pairs I've been beating on for over three years now and they're still going strong, so when people are paying 500 bucks for this sneaker or that boot I don't feel bad paying a c note for footgear I *know* (was a Danner boi before FiveFingers) could run them all into the ground, easily. You should always use gaiters any place you don't want stuff getting in your boots and shoes, like ticks or blackberry thorns. The spot between the big toe is vulnerable but after a while you learn to pick your feet up in taller grass and don't rake/drag your toes on take off. The way the sole is designed is that if you do get your foot flat on the ground it presses together fitting very well and I've literally never got stabbed on the inside of the toes and only rarely on the upper (the nylon seems to be tougher than most running or hiking shoes).

Xero shoes are my choice. They have it all - zero drop, wide toe box, flexible sole. They are very durable and great quality and also have reasonable prices, especially if you catch a discount. Xeros cover a wide range of shoe types, from sandals to trainers to boots. I think I have around 10 pairs at the moment. However, getting used to zero drop takes time, and it took me literally months to a year to completely pivot to them.

Shout out to Lems

I use shoes that look identical to these hobibear...but they are a different brand I got on Amazon. I use them for work doing massage exclusively and have another pair for lots of other daily stuff including KB. I needed to add a thin layer of cushion for my feet but it's minimal. And my feet felt immediately 100% better when i started using them. However, it did then take my knees and hip/back about 6wks to adjust. I was not actively doing KB at the time ( only minimal) so muscles had to relearn stuff. I rotate different shoes to keep the feet and knees and all the other stuff actively stabilizing. Keeps pain down.

They look exactly the same as WITHIN shoes that I've bought from Amazon, a year ago, but twice a price

This company kept showing up in Facebook ads and they were 50 bucks Canadian. I figured worst case I've wasted 50 bucks instead of well over 300 for Vivo barefoots. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd I love them! Incredibly light, I normally wear a 15 in nikes, I ordered a 14 with these hobi shoes thinking the extra width would let me move down a size because of the width. They sent me a 13....However, they fit perfectly! The magic of foot shaped shoes rather than shoe shaped feet i guess

Thanks for the tip Mark. I normally wear Vivobarefoot Primus Trails but they are quite pricey. Hobibear could be a decent more affordable option. Have you tried Vivobarefoot's hiking range? The Tracker Decon FG2 JJF etc?

I've been wearing exclusively barefoot style shoes for about four months, and it hasn't been easy, but I can tell that my feet are getting stronger. I feel more comfortable walking long distances when I let my toes stretch out. I get more than 10k steps almost every day. Yesterday I got just short of 30k-13+ miles to kick off an extended fast and empty my glycogen reserves. My feet are still a bit sore, but I just got back from a 2.5-mile morning walk and it felt good to get the blood pumping through them again. Fortunately, I work at home and can go casual just about all the time, and haven't had to consider wearing other shoes for the time being. PS: The motif of the ones I'm wearing is similar to the five-fingers ones you have there, but frankly, I haven't noticed any heat difference with color, and I've walked in midday sun for more than five years.

i just bought them and they're great. Almost exactly the same sole shape as some vivobarefoot casual slides I used to have. These are a perfect fit. I can even go down a size as the toebox is so accommodating. Currently wearing them with the insoles but I'm sure they'd be great without too for more ground feel. Now the only test is longevity. Can I put them through their paces and will they hold up? Hopefully as everything else about them (including the price) is fantastic.

Your link in the description for the Adex club is broken

I could never wear Nike, Adidas, Asics, or Chucks. They squished my feet instantly before I even laced them up. The little indent by the arch on most soles was deeply felt and my balance was always affected. I wore skate shoes instinctevly because they were wider (straighter from big toe to inside of heel). They felt more comfortable but still not right. I was always barefoot at home. I was told I was a poser for not skating but always wearing these shoes. I felt like an outcast on account of my feet coffins throughout schooling. Then I watched some videos on youtube and I first bought some Vivo Primus' but my little toe was hurting a lot (almost completely off the sole) and my mid foot was squished. I liked them as they felt freeing after wearing shoes that made my little toe feel disconnected and non-responsive. I could wiggle my toes a bit while wearing shoes! I started my fitness journey with these and bought several pairs after wearing them out. Most succumbed to water or tread wear. Looking back I stayed with the brand because they looked fashionable. My midfoot/arch was always in need of a good rubbing. I didn't realize this till I got a pair of Xero Prio's. The Xero's are a bit wider than the Vivo's, but not by much. My little toe is still very much off the sole and I feel my feet rolling over the edge causing discomfort. The strap design also makes my ankles stiff and pulls the shoe so, that my toes are curled a bit all day while wearing them. I will try to order a half size bigger to see if this will rectify the problem. I ordered Wildlings on a whim and found them to be even narrower than the Vivos. The concept is good, but it's not designed for ergonomics. It's more about material sustainability. The shoes had holes after only a month. I sold my second pair and still wear the first pair occasionally for quick errands. My foot is fan shaped as in, its wider in the midfoot and then even wider toward the toes. I wish more wide box shoe companies talked about foot shapes to educate on which type of shoe/boot to get. If anyone has suggestions on which brands to buy, please reply. I would like zero drop and durable enough to stand on my feet for 12 to 16 hour shifts. Hoka boots look so fashionable but I know it won't be good for my foot health. Thanks for reading. I don't know how this became a whole essay, when I just wanted to ask for a shoe company that doesn't have the indent on the sole, almost straight from big toe to the inside of the heel with enough space for the little toe as well. 😂 It seems companies do one or the other. I haven't found my perfect pair, but reviews like these definitely help the search! I appreciate you making these videos and for everything else you have done! I hope to become beastly with your guidance and shake your hand one day!

Too bad those toe separator shoes don't accommodate those of us who have the second toe longer than the big toe.

What is the width? I wear a 4E for width. Will that shoe be wide enough? Also, do you have a link?

Can you please list all 3 shoes and the names on the description? Even with website addresses? Thank you so much.

I like how many new companies making wide toe box shoes appear on the market.

Any suggestions for barefoot safety toe boot? I have been wearing barefoot shoes off work but my job requires them.

There are a lot of good minimalist shoes for ~$40-50 now. I have a pair of Saguaro I like and I've heard Whitin is pretty good. For better, more expensive shoes I've found Xero and Lems to be good. From the reviews I've seen Whitin and Xero are a bit narrow, while Lems is the widest. Saguaro is middle of the road.

Dunlop Volley shoes. Been on the Australian market forever. Really good and really cheap.

Whitin makes the same shoe as the Hobibear I believe. Just different name. Very comfy. I have those same boots with a slightly different outer and they are almost the only thing on the market in that style. If someone wants a boot with the chat soon the Hobibear or a Xero, I recommend the Bellevilles.

The best ones I know are called „wildling“ 😁produced in Germany. Best fit, thinnest sole ever.

I am on my 2nd pair of Splays and they are good but the soles really dont hold up well at all.

I have been wearing Vibrams for fifteen years now and swear by them, but Mark is spot on about them having some drawbacks - I would add being very bad in wet conditions to that list. I am currently shopping for some Vivo Barefoots and a pair of Bellevilles to keep my options open. Anyone who likes the Belleville boots and works military or emergency services - be aware that they also do them in regulation black.

bohempia, if you’re in europe, are chef’s kiss as daily driver

I just got a pair of Hobibears, solid build, the sole has a really great traction for such an inexpensive e non-specialized shoe.

Thinking of buying garmont nfs, i currently have been useing a no-drop regular style shoe for about two weeks now. My feet are sore tired and through at night after casual use... I see there is this tr105 military boot*** should i continue my journey and get the tr105 or get the nfs and every now and then use the no drop shoes to strengthen the feet

Thanks for the very useful and important info, Mark. The human foot is a marvel of evolution designed for structural strength, balance and agility... essential qualities for safety, health, and well-being that are all significantly compromised if we never go barefoot and always wear "dumb shoes". Many and multitude indeed are the bad backs of the world that can be directly attributed to bad "foot posture".

These Hobibear seem to be what I wish Feiyue would do but doubt they will given they went the direction of offering dozens of colors but only with narrower toe box.

Gotta get some five toe sox. I wear them inside every pay of shoes (particularly wide toe box). Super comfortable. Great for my feet. No one knows. All good.

A while back I saw your vid on FeiYue shoes and ordered a pair. I wear a size 12. They showed size 12. I ordered size 12. If those shoes were any bigger than size 9, I'd be shocked. I couldn't get even the front half of my foot into them. So, trying to be delicate here, how closely do the shoes shown in this video adhere to their nominal size designations?

💪🏽🔥🔥🔥🔥

I can't find any mfg that makes a wide wide-toe-box shoes. I normally wear a 4E shoe, which I need for by heal, but have been looking for a wide-toe-box. Furthermore, I have tried a pair of 6E shoes and my toes and ball area of foot feel great, but my heel is swimming, and the shoe wouldn't stay on. I guess what I really need is 4E shoes with a 6E toe box.

How are the Hobibears holding up? Are they durable? And do they run true to size?

Having many pairs of vivos over the years .i can say these hobibears are wider in the toe box .they dont have the slope in at the little toe as many other shoes.they are lightweight and so far just as durable if not more then some other b/ft shoes ive had .with no sole seperation glueing issues yet.around 20 gbp fro m a firm called shein. .i walk 12 miles per day in my job and 3 months in there is still plenty life in the sole. However as an ethical company vivos and other small companies like freet should be considered if you can afford.

Great video. Don't know why but this setting just made me think you were gonna start cooking at some point. People what about wide toe box shoes that aren't zero drop? I sometimes think zero drop on a pavement or concrete floor setting isn't how our bodies were designed to move either and we should have some level type of cushion absorption because accumulative forces don't seem that great as you add up either.

When i saw the combat boot in the thumbnail i knew i should click

Why not find us a good tabi shoe? Seems like they have all the benefits and none of the downsides of toe shoes.

Yes; Kalso's negative heel was an interesting idea, but her wide toe design was perfect for the human foot--most of our foot problems stem from the narrow toe design of most footwear. Look at your foot--the front is widest, the back is most narrow. It's common sense! Of course, fashion has nothing to do with common sense nor comfort.

I've wanted to try five finger shoes. I wonder how well those work for partner dancing actually LOL

“Blade magazine”.

the best barefoot shoe is the merrell vapor glove👍

I use the zero shoes sandals and the freet light boot type things. Would never go back to traditional shoes

follows every fad.....reason why thousand years of man protecting his feet shoes are what they are....n

Altar has ruined their own design. Apparently got bought out and decided to go for looks over function and have narrowed their toe boxes. Absolutely stupid choice.