Merrell - Barefoot

Barefoot

Barefoot is back and getting big. A growing number of people now believe not in running in heavy running shoes but instead running as nature intended, well almost, running as close to barefoot as possible in Merrell's Barefoot footwear collection.

Popular training methods like ChiRunning and the Pose Method that promote a more "natural" gait, as well as "Born to Run", a best-selling book about long-distance running by Christopher McDougall, have helped spur interest in barefoot running.

As the product of thousands of years of evolution, our feet are a perfect design matched to our unique stride. When we allow our feet to follow their natural instincts rather than control them, we find our body moves the way nature intended, stimulating our senses and unleashing the natural power within us.

Why Barefoot?

• Strengths the muscles in your feet and legs
• Amps up your agility, quickness, balance and aids in your body's ability to burn more calories
• Stimulates sensory receptors in your feet, some that you won't have felt since you were a child and allows you to engage with the terrain that you are running across
• Realigns your natural gait
• Prevents you from heel striking, instead giving you a mid-foot landing
• Lowers the force and impact on joints to reduce injuries and produce a more aligned body
• Improves posture

Merrell believes the closer you get to your bare form, your body's natural, optimal running form, the better you and your body will feel.

Barefoot running encourages you to run the way nature intended - landing mid-foot with your feet planted pancake flat. The result? An evolutionary running style that strengthens your muscles, improves your alignment and stimulates your senses from the ground up.