This link dave submitted about "barefoot footwear" is odd but interesting. Apparently a company called Vibram has what is basically a rubber skin/sole that you can wear so you can walk around barefoot while protecting the bottom of your feet from stray pebbles and dirt.


At first it seems like some clever marketing for what are essentially sandals, but with covered toes. After browsing the site it still kind of seems like it's not much more than odd-looking/different sandals (maybe with a couple of benefits...I'm skeptical):

FiveFingers footwear connects you to the earth and your surroundings in a way that is simply not possible in conventional shoes. It puts you in touch with the earth beneath your feet and liberates you to move in a more natural, healthy way. FiveFingers stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve range of motion. Our customers report an increased sense of balance, greater agility, and visibly improved posture.

The "Surge" design looks a little less like a sandal and more of something that only covers the bottom of your feet, but apparently to prevent all the straps from tearing up your foot, the whole foot is covered by foam, which seems to defeat the whole purpose.


Given the fact that they don't seem substantially different or better than sandals, I'd see no way to justify the $70+ price tag they've attached to these things. Maybe if they were $30 or something I could see someone (not myself) getting them.