You might have heard about barefoot or minimalist shoes, but what exactly are they?
A barefoot shoe gives feet plenty of room to flex and for the toes to spread the same way they would when walking barefoot. They generally have neutral arch support and thin flexible soles. Advocates of barefoot shoes claim that they make the foot stronger and help prevent injuries that can arise from a less than ideal walking or running pattern.
If you have fairly healthy feet and are looking for something more, then you might enjoy trying a barefoot shoe. However, if you have had issues or wear custom orthotics, barefoot shoes might be uncomfortable.