NEUTRAL SHOE RECOMMENDATIONS
(If you’re looking for recommendations on changing your workout or running shoes, check this blog.)
I find myself giving shoe recommendations quite a lot, so I wanted to write these out so they’re easily shareable!
Here are shoes (and companies) that I love and recommend. (They are coincidentally the shoes that my family wears.)
Xero Shoes – There are so many great options here. Don’t be afraid to go hiking in these, either! (They’re also great across the slackline.) Shop with Dr. Mumma.
Wildlings is a Dutch minimalist shoe company that’s on a mission to create a better world, starting with your feet. This certified B-Corporation makes unique shoes for adults, kids, and toddlers. Shop with Dr. Mumma.
Soft Star Shoes – I have these shoes for both boys, and my husband and I both have multiple pairs. They last forever (I have a few pair that are about 15 years old), are incredibly durable, and handmade.
FeelBarefoot is an Etsy shop that has some really incredible casual/dress shoe options.
Vibrams – Five Fingers are the shoes I typically work out in. These ones specifically are my favorites, which is saying a lot because I’ve owned a lot of Five Fingers since I started wearing them in 2009. Fun fact: I got married in a pair of white Five Fingers.
Vivobarefoot – Everyone in my family has at least one pair of these. They’re easy to slip on and occasionally I work out in them.
Altras – These have a lot of cushion, which is nice if you’re transitioning from a super supportive shoe to more neutral. They have a really wide toe box, which is excellent. I don’t have a pair, but my mother in-law swears by these. Stop by the office to get a 10% off coupon to use at a local Fleet Feet store or Run N Tri Outfitters in Wake Forest.
Stonz – Both boys love their rain boots from Stonz. They have liners that make them appropriate for snow, but we don’t use those much here.
I don’t own any of the shoes below, so I can’t personally vouch for them, but lots of friends and patients have these, and they meet the standards of what I look for in a neutral shoe.
Lems – They’re a great neutral shoe that can also be worn for a more professional look.
Feel Grounds – These meet all of the markers of great shoes and are a good-looking casual athletic shoe.
Splay Shoes- These are a great casual shoe, with a lot of color options!
Whitin Shoes - Lots of patients love these because they’re very reasonably priced, but still hold up over time.
Earth Runners - These sandals are super cute and have a copper piece on the bottom to allow a connection to the ground that is normally blocked by rubber soles. Some of their thicker sandals are much less flexible. They do loosen up over time, but I would recommend the thinner soles.
I won’t say that I specifically *recommend* Nike Frees, but if you’re going for a “regular” tennis shoe, these would be higher on my list.
You’ll notice that none of these shoes offer a lot of support.
The necessity for your feet (which comprise 33 joints each and therefore need freedom for mobility) to be supported by anything additional seems a little unnecessary to me, given that they’re situated in a way to support your skeletal structures.
Hopefully you can find something that suits your taste and supports your body’s design!
(And don’t forget to grab yourself a pair of Correct Toes to support this change to neutral footwear while you’re in the office! We’ll also use the ToePro in office, and you can grab one for home use to help strengthen your feet as well!)
To your happy feet! – Dr. Mumma