Bare Minimum

According to a Harvard study, running barefoot or in minimal footwear makes landing more comfortable and safer for your feet. On the flip side, traditional running shoes cause your heel to hit the ground first, making the heel absorb more of your body’s weight. After receiving this information, running “barefoot” has become a popular trend for us runners. Now when we say barefoot, we don’t really mean barefoot. We mean running in minimalist or barefoot shoes. REI offers a ton of barefoot and minimalist shoes including Vibram, New Balance, Keen, Saucony, Merrell, and Teva. Choosing the right shoes for running can be very time consuming, but REI makes it easy by providing information about the 2 types of minimalist shoes: Barefoot running shoes and minimalist running shoes. Yes, you may be asking, “What’s the difference?” Barefoot running shoes provide minimum protection from hazards on the ground and are great shoes for those who have high arches in their feet. These shoes can be tossed right in the washing machine for easy care. Minimalist running shoes are great for those who are looking to transition to barefoot running with their lightweight construction and they encourage natural running motion. These shoes can be worn with or without socks depending on your comfort preference. So what ever you are looking for in minimalist shoes, REI has got you covered. From trail running to cross training, REI provides tons of information to help you pick the best shoe. Why should anyone have to run in heavy, non-heel friendly shoes? For more information on minimalist running, visit http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/basics-of-barefoot-minimalist-running.html

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