Pretty much every pair of Sketchers shoes now has memory foam soles and everyone seems to think they are great but I hate them.
They are really hot, the foam is like a layer of insulation.
The top of the memory foam soles is somewhat elastic so it’s really smooth and slippery so your socks slide around inside
They are no more comfortable than regular shoes and in fact I think they provide less arch support since they are squishy compared to shoes with harder foam.
And most of all the memory foam gets smashed and wears out in no time with some shoes having the foam glued in so replacing the insole is impossible.
I just can’t fathom how they are so popular.
We don’t need foam or arch support or any of that shit in our shoes, it’s all marketing nonsense. We’ve got muscles in our feet for a reason. Save your feet, knees etc. and buy something like a pair of vivobarefoot shoes.
Foam I agree that is a bad idea.
Arch support? Yeah you might want to do a little more research.
Happy to be provided some. I got told I needed arch support after I’d been fairly inactive for over a year due to injury. I went barefoot style instead and my feet have never been happier.
It’s different for everyone my dude. You probably have a naturally flexible flat foot, which tend to do well with little or no arch support. Some people have varus or valgus hindfoot deformities that can damage tendon or ligaments without orthotic bracing.
Soft foam like memory foam tend to not work very well as they’re too soft and can actually allow people with deformities to exceed their healthy range of motion.
Every foot is different, and for some, like those who experience a lot of supination or high arches, arch support is likely the best way to go.
But there does seem to be a growing body of evidence that modern shoe design seems to promote weak arch muscles, and thus lead to pronation and flat arches, where as shoes with zero drop and no arch support, if transitioned to slowly, will eventually build up those muscles and no longer require support. I think there’s also a strong case to be made in favor of shoes with a large toebox that doesn’t squeeze the toes together.
You got anything lower-end that are similar but not as expensive to try out?
Xero shoes are popular and more reasonably priced though I have no experience with them myself.
Whitin barefoot shoes on amazon are a great entry into the barefoot style, they’re very affordable and depending on the exact style you choose, actually seem to hold up surprisingly well for the price. Make sure you go for the ones that explicitly say they are Wide though, those have the most natural toebox shape.
There’s also Splay! Shoes, which offer some affordable barefoot shoes that look like Vans.
I wouldn’t recommend barefoot running shoes unless you are running on soft surfaces. I am a provider who specializes in orthopedics and rehabilitation, specifically orthotics and prosthetics at a university hospital.
Our clinic is mainly patient care oriented, but we do get to do some research. The barefoot running fad was kicked off by from what I believe to be a purposely clumsy interpretation of some really interesting studies.
Mostly an investigative study about the bio mechanics of tribes in Africa who traditionally ran long distances without foot wear. The study is actually really great, but a lot of the proclaimed benefits aren’t really applicable to other environments or cultures.
These tribes had their runners training without shoes at a very young age, and always on soft surfaces. If you take away any of the preconditions and the benefits also disappear.
I’ve lived in 7 US cities and I wouldn’t go barefoot in any of them. I like socks. They keep my feet warm and my shoes from stinking. I require support in most shoes due to a plantar fasciitis injury and my knees appreciate the extra shock absorption from shoes. I also work in a place that requires proper foot protection. This isn’t something everyone can or should do.
This is why barefoot shoes exist, e.g. Vivobarefoot. Thin, puncture-resistant soles that prevent puncture and slice damage while still allowing your feet to remain connected with the ground and get stronger.
Hadn’t heard of those, they look comfy at least, although I’m not sure if I would call that barefoot, but of course I haven’t tried them
Memory foam anything is terrible.
Memory foam shoes are terrible for the environment too. Natural cork soles do just as well of a job for 99% of people and are actually biodegradable. Memory foam is more comfortable out the box but gets worn out within months and is usually non-replaceable.
A nurse friend of mine told me that Sketcher are one of the most popular shoes in that profession. He recommended them if you had to be on your feet a lot.
