Editor’s Note: Last week we featured a contribution from Dr. John Baker which offers several in-depth explanations and exercises, if you’re interested in further reading, you can read it here..
Years ago I was introduced to the concept of barefoot shoes and grounding via a friend in Encinitas who was wearing a sleek pair of slip ons made by a brand called Raum (pronounced Roam). While it was the aesthetics that got me into my first pair of Raums, it low key changed my life and the way I think about footwear. The philosophy behind going barefoot wasn’t exactly a secret but it wasn’t exactly common knowledge either.
A few years later John John Florence released his collection with Vivo Barefoot shoes and voila, validation and exposure from one of the world’s most respected and accomplished surfers. If you were raised barefoot, your feet may be in great shape, but many people don’t know that their shoes aren’t doing them many favors. Let’s drop in.
“Surfing demands strength, balance, and adaptability–and without strong, tuned-in feet, you’re in real trouble.”
Moana-Jones Wong
Today, “barefoot shoes” are made by several brands and have two main things in common: a foot-shaped outline with a wide toe box, and a zero-drop sole that keeps your foot on an even plane as if you were walking on a flat surface. For this piece, we will focus on Raum, a small business that offers a unique line of barefoot shoes with grounding properties, and Vivo, which offers a more robust line spanning from casual to performance.
While barefoot shoes have great benefits for our foot health, strength and dexterity, wearing any type of shoes disconnects us from the Earth’s inherent electrical charge, something we absorb when we’re barefoot. To walk barefoot on grass, sand, or dirt, intentionally is a wellness practice known as “grounding” and has been endorsed by many surfers in addition to JJF like Laird Hamilton, and even mainstream athletes like NFL star Tom Brady, and Red Sox pitcher Adam Ottavino.
Chris Dodds
Raum’s slip-on shoes enable grounding by placing a 100% Copper Rivet conductor in the sole or by a unique rubber soul. The team at Raum says, “In our Mecca and Solace models, we have carbon black powder mixed in with rubber making the sole conductive. The footbed is real cork + sustainable bio-EVA (bagasse sugarcane) foam + 99.9% silver stitching thread that runs through touching your foot and onto the sole. This is what creates the “grounding” technology similar to touching the earth with your bare feet.”
Vivo’s entrance into the surf world made quite the splash thanks to the collab with JJF and the ongoing video series detailing his mobility and fitness practices (excellent example above). We recently caught up with the crew to learn more about what’s going on from the ground up. They said the brand was born from a simple idea, “modern shoes do too much” and limit our feet from performing how they should (if you don’t believe this Google “Lebron James feet, but be forewarned–they’re gnarly). “Our founders — cousins Galahad and Asher Clark, seventh-generation cobblers — set out to make footwear that’s designed for natural fit, flex and feel so your feet can move, feel and strengthen naturally.”
SURFER: How common is it in the modern world for people to have foot problems without even knowing it? “Very. 95% of us are born with healthy feet.77% of adults have foot problems. Population studies suggest ~17–30% of adults report foot pain at any given time, often accepted as “normal.” Bunions (hallux valgus) alone affect ~23% of adults, rising with age — many don’t seek help until symptoms are obvious. Plantar fasciitis has a ~10% lifetime prevalence. Put together, quiet issues with toe alignment, arch control and foot muscle weakness are widespread — even in active people. Watch Shoespiracy or Unbound on Youtube to learn more.
SURFER: What do people, especially athletes (like surfers), stand to gain from embracing barefoot philosophy and freeing their feet? “1. Stronger feet = better balance & control. Six months of daily activity in minimal footwear increased intrinsic foot strength by 60% — stronger feet underpin stability on unstable surfaces (think boards, uneven trails, gym).
2. More sensory feedback (proprioception). Thinner, flexible soles let the foot “read” the ground, helping quicker, more precise adjustments — valuable for board sports, stability and agile movement.
3. More natural posture and mechanics. A foot-shaped toe box lets toes splay for a wider base; zero/low drop encourages a more neutral alignment from foot to hip.
SURFER: Let’s say someone has never heard of the barefoot philosophy, or is skeptical that it could help then, what signs would there be that their feet and performance could benefit? “Common red flags: Bunions. Toes that can’t splay or a big toe drifting toward the others (early bunion). Single-leg balance feels wobbly, or feet fatigue quickly on long days. Callus patterns on the tips/sides of toes from them gripping for stability. Tight big toe (limited dorsiflexion) that changes your push-off. Foot pain that eases when you go barefoot or switch to wider, thinner shoes. Shoes that show heavy forefoot/outer-edge wear from compensation. You don’t need all of these — even one is a nudge to try letting your feet do more.
SURFER: How long does it take after switching to more accommodating footwear for the foot to start to adapt and benefit? It varies, but a good evidence-based benchmark is around six months for meaningful strength gains with regular daily use of minimal footwear (and sensible progression). Many people feel changes (more toe splay, balance, foot awareness) within weeks, but tissues adapt over months — go gradually. Start with short, easy wear (at home, easy walks), add simple foot exercises (toe splay, short-foot, calf/ankle mobility), and build up time and activity. If you’ve got a current injury or significant pain, work with an expert while you transition. Learn the fundamentals on transitioning and moving barefoot from our leading barefoot movement coaches with this online course
Moral of the story, don’t put fashion first and do whatever you can to free your feet.