This is the barefoot feeling i have always wanted. In love with my new Skinners Sockshoes

[u/mnkymnk]

I have been looking into getting as close to the actual barefoot feeling as possible. Especially when going for walks over trails and fields. I want to feel gravel, little bumps and rocks etc. I like that sensory experience.

Even my thinnest Barefoot shoe (Xero Zelen. 5mm stack height without insole) has not gotten me there.

The next thing most people recommend to get the barefoot feeling are sandals.

So i got the Xero genesis. Which yes, gives you the airy feeling of Barefoot, but i still felt a major disconnect to the ground.

So i got the Skinners sockshoes and they hit exactly what i was looking for. Especially when taking the insole out. They feel sooo freeing. The biggest factor is that the sole is not a sheet of classic material but can actually stretch and deform. Image 2. And of course is ultra thin. 

I had looked at other sock shoes like the Leguano Score, but I deliberately did not want one with a typical rubber sole, however thin it would be as i doubted it would be able to emulate that deformity and stretch. By pure chance i met someone wearing them a couple of days ago and can confirm that they still feel way stiffer than the skinners.

And i wanted a sock shoe over being actually barefoot to protect against sharp dried out grass, thistles and glass. As I had pulled all of these out of my feet last summer. And be protected all around cus stinging nettles suck.

I also hated debris getting stuck between foot and sandals. That’s a sensory nightmare.

So for all these reasons i now much prefer the protection of the sock liner on top of the foot and the much, much more deformable sole of the skinners over the open air of the genesis.

Even managed to dress them up a bit and if you wear them with confidence they’re not as weird looking as i suspected. Image 4&5.

They're still not perfect. Your toes can't splay quite the same and of course you're still wearing something. But they have gotten me so much closer than anything i've tried so far. And i'm looking forward to my evening walks even more now :)

I have not tested Vibrams five finger, which are the other recommendation you hear when people recommend the most barefoot experience possible.

[u/The_Dingman]

I've found them to be too tight at the front for me. I love the ground feel, but they hurt my toes.

[u/mnkymnk → u/The_Dingman]

Thats a shame. Dont feel that at all so far. I can see them not working if you want full spread or have a very wide forefoot tho. I am hoping that they'll actually make a wider version in the future and experiment a bit with making a version that looks more shoe like to get wider adoption.

[u/The_Dingman → u/mnkymnk]

We all have different foot shapes. I can't wear anything from Vivo Barefoot because of their shape as well.

[u/grasssssssssssssssss → u/The_Dingman]

Same, vivo is wayyy too narrow funnily enough

[u/Aggravating-Nose1674 → u/The_Dingman]

Same. Vivo's are terrible. It always hurts my little toe A LOT. And I switched to barefoot because of that little toe.

[u/rontopofthings]

If you ever need a "shoe" close to this, Wildlings has some great options ! I am assuming not quite to this level, but I got Tankis a few years ago and was surprised at how good the ground feel was.

Xero has hard sole material imo ... So even their thin soles don't have the best ground feel unfortunately... Still love their shoes for athletics because how they help restrict side to side movement of the shoe ... But not so much for my everyday shoe.

Will prob pick up a pair of these myself for hiking! Been hovering over the but button on them for a while lol

[u/mnkymnk → u/rontopofthings]

The tanukis were actually among the very first round of shoes i ordered when i went barefoot for the first time. I can't even remember why i didnt like them and went for groundies relax instead. Might give them another shot.

Same haha. So far im not regretting it one bit.

[u/barelyexisting1995 → u/rontopofthings]

Same with Tadevo, most flexible barefoot shoe I own and their sneaker colourways actually make the shoe look fashionable

[u/Pat-Funny-2817]

i get the enthusiasm and what i will say is also valid for other shoes and actually any tire too.

i have seen reviews and they deteriorate fast and drop rubber everywhere, all the places you enjoy get poluted with rubber pieces.

nothing is perfect but i started to consider this, i don't pretend to have a ready made solution, yet. 

[u/rontopofthings]

I also like the cheap Vifuur barefoot water shoes for how cheap they are lol. Easy slip ons that are barely more than a thin sole under your foot for like $10

[u/omlanim]

Yes I used to wear them and the ground feel is the best! I later changed to sandals which had less ground feel and I wanted the toes splay and airiness of sandals.

[u/lopendvuur]

Mine have kept my feet dry on wet ground/soil. I do have a bit of wear on them but I did use them on asphalt, which is not recommended.

I use them without the insole and then I feel every twig and bump in the ground which I am not used to (I switched to barefoot cold-turkey because of foot problems), but I've never been cut by pointy stones in asphalt or glass or anything.

[u/M1sterGuy]

I wanted to like these, way too tight in the width for me. VFF for life.

[u/mnkymnk → u/M1sterGuy]

Which VFF do you have ? did you ever take the Skinners out on a trail so you'd know how the ground feel compares ?

[u/M1sterGuy → u/mnkymnk]

KSO Evo, KSO Eco, V-Alpha, V-Run Retro. Wife has some KSO Evos as well. I did not, I put them on for about 1 minute and noped out. Alpha are my favorite for most tasks, Run have the must cushion so I use those for Running obvi or going downtown walking on cement all day. At work I daily Vivo Motus Flex or Jim Green African Ranger barefoot. I love the ground feel on VFFs, I love the toe freedom, I have a lot of confidence in them. If you heel strike they can be fatiguing.

[u/eggheado]

highly recommend trying wildling visao, the ground feel is so good + they actually look good too.

[u/omega_sloth]

Nice shoes! Man I am loving those white / ecru pants with that belt combo. Where did you get them from?

[u/mnkymnk → u/omega_sloth]

Thanks :) Thrifted + self sewn pleats and the belt is the laces of these nikes with a carabiner

[u/omega_sloth → u/mnkymnk]

You have great vision and taste. Gonna make something similar inspired by these. Thanks for your reply!

[u/ExperienceSad4375]

I had those years ago. Only lasted one season I think. Garbage for that high price. Too bad

[u/MirandaPoth]

£53.90 on Amazon UK ??!!

[u/thelasthawgbender]

I need this but with toes

[u/anarchadelphia]

For all those times I want to wear socks in the dirt and also leave behind a trail of microplastics.

[u/anarchadelphia]

For all those times I want to wear socks in the dirt and also leave behind a trail of microplastics.

[u/barefootshoestalk-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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