When it comes to feet, the terrain or the environment is made up of two primary factors - the surface we’re walking on and our footwear (or lack thereof).

Footwear was invented to provide a layer of protection from dangerous elements of our environment - things that were sharp, hot or cold.

In modern times footwear has become a lot more about fashion than function.

Conventional modern footwear actually has characteristics that disrupt the natural function of our feet - things like thick cushions, elevated heels, rigid bodies and toe springs.

This drastically reduces the sensory inputs and the movement outputs that we’re able to experience through our feet.

Over time we lose our ability to interact well with the ground and become more likely to experience pain and tenderness without shoes on.

Natural footwear is best identified with the 5f’s - shoes that are foot shaped, flat, fixed, flexible and allow us to feel the ground

Foot-shaped means the widest part of the shoe is at the tip of the toes

Fixed means that the shoe is affixed to your foot properly so your feet don't have to grip to secure it. For sandals, ensure they have a heel strap.

Flexible means then can be bent, twisted, folded

Flat means no higher at the heel than the forefoot.

Feel means having thin enough soles allow us to feel the texture from the ground under us. This F is something people generally need to transition to if coming from very cushioned shoes previously.

We recommend a gradual transition towards more natural footwear, which is designed to allow your feet to function naturally.

Check out our free 'Guide To Foot Freedom' to learn more about how to transition.