Footwear

Articles

• An Interview with Josh Stiles from Shamma Sandals - Shamma Sandals interview with Josh Stiles
• An Interview with Voycontigo - Voycontigo is a German retail and online store specializing in barefoot style shoes and producer of Chala Sandals.
• Minimalist Footwear in Technical Terrain - The benefits and limitations of minimalist footwear in technical terrain (i.e. terrain where a slip results in broken bones)
• The Best Exercise for Building Foot Strength - What is the best exercise for developing foot strength and flexibility?
• 2013 Readers Choice Award Winners - In 2013 Toe Salad readers voted on their favorite road running, trail running, outdoor, casual, and kids shoes. These are the results.
• Minimalist Footwear for Backpackers - Part 2 - What do we think the is optimum footwear for backpacking? You may (or may not!) be surprised.
• Toe Salad Readers Choice Awards - Vote Now! - Vote for your favorite barefoot shoes of 2013.
• Minimalist Footwear for Backpackers - Part 1 - Are burly boots required for backpacking? We don't think so.
• Nominate Your Favorite Shoes for Toe Salad's 2013 Readers Choice Awards - Nominate your favorite barefoot/minimalist footwear of 2013.
• An Interview with Christina Bracken from ZEMgear - Charity Johnson interviews Christina Bracken from ZEMgear.
• What’s Available for kids in 2013? - A market survey of what barefoot shoe products are available for kids in 2013.
• Preview of Merrell M–Connect shoes for Spring 2013 - A quick preview of Merrell's new M-Connect series coming out in 2013.
• Outdoor Retailer 2012 Round-Up - Part 3 - Part 3 in our 2012 Outdoor Retailer round-up.
• Outdoor Retailer 2012 Round-Up - Part 2 - Part 2 in our 2012 Outdoor Retailer round-up.
• Outdoor Retailer 2012 Round-Up - Part 1 - Part 1 in our 2012 Outdoor Retailer round-up.
• Are Your Children’s Shoes Creepy? - The things people say when they just don't understand.
• Freedom for a Child's Feet - Summer barefooting with kids.
• When it Comes to Kids, Minimal can be Affordable - How much will it cost? This was my first question when our family chose to switch our children from standard to minimalist footwear.
• Feelmax is Back! - For those of you who have been waiting patiently, your wait is almost over.
• An Interview with Andrew Rademacher from Lems Shoes - We interview Andrew Rademacher, the CEO and chief product developer for Lems Shoes.
• The Treadmill Desk - Part 1: Why? - Improve health, combatting excessive sitting by using a treadmill desk.
• So What's Up With the Shoes? - Damien's wife Renee talks about her perspective on minimalist footwear.
• Making the Transition [Part 6 in The Case for Minimalist Footwear] - So, maybe you are at the point now where you think that you would like to give this minimalist footwear theory a try. Where to next?.
• Selecting Minimalist Footwear [Part 5 in the Case for Minimalist Footwear] - What are the characteristics of the ideal barefoot/minimalist shoe?.
• What Does the Research Show? [Part 4 in The Case For Minimalist Footwear] - A smattering of research articles that indicate less footwear is better.
• How Footwear Affects the Way We Move [Part 3 in The Case For Minimalist Footwear] - Now that understand how we were designed to move, how does footwear impact our movement?.
• How We Move [Part 2 in The Case for Minimalist Footwear] - The first step in understanding what kind of shoes are best for your feet involves learning about how our body is designed to move.
• My Journey to Discovery [Part 1 in The Case for Minimalist Footwear] - My journey towards the discovery of minimalist footwear started with a desire to manage pain.
• Shoes are Tools - To barefoot or not? If barefoot is best, then how should we approach footwear?.
• Can't Find Minimalist Shoes that Fit? Make Your Own! - Sometimes the best option for footwear (not to mention the most rewarding) is to just make your own.
• A Comparison of Five Different Athletic Shoes - A video comparison of the Altra Adam, the Merrell Trail Glove, the Merrell True Glove, and the New Balance Minimus.
• How do I Transition My Running to More Minimal Shoes? - This is a great question and one I get asked frequently. There isn't a set formula that can be applied to all situations.
• Proper Fit and Finding What's Best for You - Improper shoe sizing and shape is the primary cause of ingrown toenails, bunions, corns, hammer toes, and hallux valgus.

Reviews

• A review of the ZEM Gear 360 XT - The ZEM Gear 360 XT is an all-purpose shoe that can be used for anything: hiking, running, daily use, or camp shoes. For all these purposes there are better options, but the ZEM Gear 360 XT is one of those shoes that does them all.
• A Weekend Trip with the Z-Trek and Oxygen 2 - Review of the Xero ZTrek and ZEMgear Oxygen 2
• Joe Nimble Wingster Lotuss Protected
• ZeaZoo Kids – Hand-Made Shoes for Little Feet - A review of ZeaZoo Kid's Manga and Moccasin
• A Review of the VIVOBAREFOOT Saddle and an Interview with it's Designer - A classically designed oxford shoe
• Feelmax 2013 Barefoot/Minimalist Shoe Preview - A video preview of four Feelmax shoes: the Niesa, the Osma, the Vasko, and the Kuuva.
• Trail Shoes on Test for 2012 - Trail shoes I will be testing during the spring of 2012.

Snippets

• DIY Winter Moccasins from Lure of the North - Here is a great minimalist option for winter footwear. DIY Winter Moccasins.
• Hoping for a new day and a fuller life; Altra Lone Peak 2.0 - "The name Altra came from the desire to alter shoes." Golden Harper told me, quite matter-of-factly. What music to my ears!