How much shoe is between your foot and the ground?
Barefoot Run Review
Honest, in-depth reviews of barefoot and minimalist running shoes from a runner who actually uses them.
Latest review Altra Vanish Carbon 3 Review – A Barefoot Runner Tries a Super Shoe 4.0 / 10 Latest posts
- Oct 27, 2026 Altra Vanish Carbon 3 Review – A Barefoot Runner Tries a Super Shoe
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Oct 20, 2026 Altra Vanish Pulse Review – The Escalante Racer 2, Renamed? -
Oct 16, 2026 Altra Torin 9 Review – Faster, But Where Does It Fit? -
Sep 5, 2026 Xero Shoes Mesa Summit Review – More protection, less barefoot -
Aug 9, 2026 Altra Escalante 5 Review – And Why I'd Still Take the Escalante 4 -
Aug 8, 2026 Freet Tanga 3 Review – Wide, Comfy, and Demoted to Casual
The transition
Four phases, one step at a time
- 01 Foundation Typically 8-12mm drop down to 4mm drop.
- 02 Bridge 4mm drop to 0mm drop, but keep the cushion (15-25mm stack height).
- 03 Transition Stack height from 15-25mm down to 8-15mm. This is where ground feel starts.
- 04 Barefoot 0mm drop, 3-10mm stack. Maximum ground feel.
Reviews
- Altra Vanish Carbon 3 Review – A Barefoot Runner Tries a Super Shoe
- Altra Vanish Pulse Review – The Escalante Racer 2, Renamed?
- Altra Torin 9 Review – Faster, But Where Does It Fit?
- Xero Shoes Mesa Summit Review – More protection, less barefoot
Roundups
- Best Zero Drop Sneakers for Everyday Wear (Tested)
- Natural Running Shoes: What They Are and Which Ones Actually Work
- Best Barefoot Shoes for Gym & CrossFit: 4 Tested & Ranked
- Best Altra Trail Running Shoes (Every Model Compared)
Barefoot advice
- Why Do Barefoot Sandals Cost So Much? Here's What You're Actually Paying For
- Are Zero Drop Shoes Good for Flat Feet? (Yes, Here's Why)
- Barefoot Shoes and Plantar Fasciitis: Can They Help or Will They Make It Worse?
- The 4 Phases of Transitioning to Barefoot Shoes
Drop me a line
Have a question about barefoot shoes? Want to suggest a review? I'd love to hear from you.
Not sure where to start?
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