In case you haven’t heard, barefoot shoes are having a moment in style. Designed to mimic the feeling of walking barefoot, they typically have a wide toe box and a thin, flexible sole that lets your feet move more naturally. But unlike most trends, there may actually be some health benefits to going barefoot-ish. According to experts, these shoes can help improve balance and stability, particularly as you age. So if you’re looking to try the trend, we found a pair on Amazon for as little as $20 right now. Reviewers call them a “jackpot” find for their comfort and lightweight feel, with some even saying they’ve helped with fall prevention.
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Folks are switching to these funky-looking shoes to improve stability and work on fall prevention. They also have a wide toe box!
With a wide toe box, zero-drop sole and flexible design, this minimalist pair from Eleton is surprisingly supportive. The thin sole keeps your feet closer to the ground, which can “allow the foot to move more freely and encourage greater engagement of the foot’s natural shock-absorbing structures,” according to experts previously told us. The idea is that keeping your feet in a more natural position, rather than relying on the thick, highly cushioned soles found on many modern sneakers, can encourage your feet to engage more of their natural muscles and structures as you stand and walk.
“I have trouble walking and fall sometimes,” one reviewer says. “I can tell where I step [in these], and so far, no slips. They’re cute too.”
“I feel more sturdy on my feet nor do I feel like I’m going to fall,” says a 79-year-old shopper. “When I tried them on and walked around the nonslip felt great. I sit down and forgot they were on, not like my normal shoe that I’m ready to take off immediately. Lots of room in the toe area.”
“I have trouble walking and fall sometimes,” one reviewer says. “I can tell where I step [in these], and so far, no slips. They’re cute too.”
“I feel more sturdy on my feet nor do I feel like I’m going to fall,” says a 79-year-old shopper. “When I tried them on and walked around the nonslip felt great. I sit down and forgot they were on, not like my normal shoe that I’m ready to take off immediately. Lots of room in the toe area.”
Unlike socks, these have traction for indoor surfaces and can even handle some hiking. They also double as water shoes, with a quick-drying design that lets you go from land to water without changing footwear.
The perforated upper lets water drain out of the shoes, helping prevent that soggy-foot feeling, which reviewers appreciate at the beach and while fishing. The wide opening also makes them easy to slip on and off, which has earned them fans at airports and among travelers.
“I bought these to wear as water shoes while hiking at/in the creek,” reports one user. “I ended up wearing them on a moderate 6-mile hike this past weekend and was amazed at how comfortable they were! This was the first time I’ve ever hiked without pain in my feet, and it blew my mind! […] I can feel the ground under my feet, but the little bit of padding is just enough that I was able to comfortably walk over gravel, big rocks, and rugged forest ground without issue.”
“I have been wearing these shoes every day since the day I received them and am very pleased with them,” says another user. “I have a balance problem so I have started to walk barefoot to feel more secure when walking around the house. Socks were my thing, but not very safe. These shoes give me the traction I need comfortably.”
Grab a pair of these shoes for as low as $20.21 on Amazon right now, and take a look below for some more rave reviews about these flexible, barefoot-styled kicks.
“I’m 79 years old and I fall off and on so I thought I would give this shoe a try. This shoe does not feel like a shoe.. it is very comfortable, the colors I got will go with everything.. I feel more sturdy on my feet nor do I feel like I’m going to fall. When I tried them on and walked around the nonslip felt great. I sit down and forgot they were on, not like my normal shoe that I’m ready to take off immediately. Lots of room in the toe area.” — Oscargrinch
“I bought these to wear as water shoes while hiking at/in the creek. I ended up wearing them on a moderate 6-mile hike this past weekend and was amazed at how comfortable they were! This was the first time I’ve ever hiked without pain in my feet and it blew my mind! These shoes allow my feet to move naturally and my toes to splay freely when necessary. I can feel the ground under my feet, but the little bit of padding is just enough that I was able to comfortably walk over gravel, big rocks, and rugged forest ground without issue. I felt more connected to the ground and more sturdy/balanced than usual! The grip is great too!
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I usually get pain in the ball of my foot/big toe joints and in my ankles when hiking/walking but I always push through and ignore it. I’ve been wearing pricey, name brand trail running shoes for years and even with those I’d still be in pain.
Washing them was super quick and easy! I just took out the liner and washed them by hand with soap, then left them in front of a fan and they were completely dry within an hour! You also can’t beat the price! I will definitely be buying more of these in other colors!” — Margaret
“Just got these shoes yesterday and I’m in love. They feel just like they claim…barefoot. They do not touch my toes, thank goodness. I ordered my regular size. They hug my narrow heels and do not rub to cause blisters. Very comfortable, do not feel like I’m trying to balance on platforms. Yes they have holes in the soles….they’re also water shoes. I only walk on concrete so no idea how they’d feel on anything else. Well made, support my high arch, I can say they aren’t slip on. I don’t know if this was a claim but I just grab the heel and they pull off. Not a big deal for me. I will definitely purchase another pair” — Celsworld
If you’re looking for foot pain relief, check out some of these goods from previous HuffPost reporting.
An easy-grip clipper, perfect for thick, though toenails (15% off)
When writing about the above $9 aloe vera gel toenail softener, a loving reviewer swore by the softener, plus this special toenail clipper from Wanmat. From that mention alone, the clipper has taken off with HuffPost readers. Designed for especially thick toenails, these clippers are loved by older reviewers and reviewers with arthritis for making toenail clipping not just easier, but possible. Get it for 15% off.
An aloe vera toenail softner for “rock hard” toe nails
With the gift of aging, you may notice your fingernails are getting thinner and more brittle, while your toenails get thicker and harder to trim. If you’re looking for a way to make toenail cutting easier, we spotted a user-loved aloe vera-based cream that temporarily softens toenails.
Shoppers with “extraordinarily long” toenails that felt “almost impossible to cut,” even after soaking for hours, are amazed by how effective the cream is at making their toenails easier to trim. The cream is especially loved by older reviewers and those caring for elderly parents for relieving discomfort and aiding in maintaining thick, ingrown, curved or just dense toenails. As a reviewer in their late 70s wrote: “Rock hard nails? Yeah, this will work.”
A heavy-duty emollient
You may be used to putting lotion on your feet after a shower or before bed, but Dr. Michelle Castiello, a podiatrist at Scarsdale Medical Group, an affiliate of White Plains Hospital, recommends giving your piggies a little product before hitting the streets. “Moisturize your feet before a long walk,” she previously told HuffPost. “Apply creams or ointments to areas that are at risk for blisters, such as bunions and hammertoes.”
Per Castiello, having moisturized feet can help prevent blisters, cracking, corns and calluses while you work out. One possible option is O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet foot cream, an unscented and non-greasy lotion intended to keep your feet from cracking or drying out. Castiello recommends putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the back of your heels to prevent blisters or discomfort.
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)
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