What comes to your mind when we mention flexibility or zero drop in barefoot shoe reviews? We'll explain these concepts using photos and simple experiments to show you why barefoot shoes are the right choice for you and your loved ones.
1) Flexibility
Shoe flexibility is essential for the foot to perform its natural functions:
- properly roll through each step,
- adapt to various surfaces,
- use muscles and tendons to maintain full-body balance.
These functions are significantly limited in stiff, conventional shoes. The foot weakens because it starts relying on the external support of the shoe. To prevent foot and ankle injuries, we need trained muscles and tendons — which we develop by wearing soft, flexible shoes. This is one of the key features of barefoot footwear.
Flexibility: Regular vs. Barefoot Shoes
We performed a dynamometer experiment, which confirmed that bending a conventional shoe requires fifteen times (!!!) more force than a barefoot shoe (5.65 N vs. 0.36 N).
In everyday life, that’s like holding 9 pieces of 10c coins (about 36 g) vs. 68 pieces of 2€ coins (over 500 g). You’ll definitely feel the difference — especially after wearing the shoes for several hours.
2) Zero drop
The second part of our experiment focuses on a part of the shoe that may be hidden to the eye — the elevated heel.
Many regular shoes appear to have a flat sole, but inside, there’s often padding under the heel (and sometimes the toes too), which causes the foot to "drop."
- Even a small heel shifts body weight forward onto the toes
- Frequent toe-heavy walking shifts your body’s natural center of gravity.
- This shift can negatively affect your overall posture.
Real sole comparison: Regular vs. Barefoot
The upper shoe (regular) may look flat on the outside, while the lower (barefoot) may seem elevated at the heel. However, a cross-section reveals that the regular shoe hides an internal lift under the heel and slight elevation under the toes, while the barefoot shoe offers a truly flat surface inside.
Thanks to these benefits, barefoot shoes are suitable not just for adults, but especially for young children — they support healthy foot development during the first years of walking. In our experiments, barefoot wins hands down!