Im Just curious because people seem really passionate on this sub.

I know I didn’t print it out but made sure my ruler matched the screen. This might not be an accurate representation but I don’t have access to a printer. First two pics are size 10 and last two are 9.5. In normally a size 10 in other shoes but I do usually have a good amount of extra room. Am I 9.5? Or am I 10? Should I consider going even lower to maybe a 9? I’ve seen people go as far as 2 sizes lower for earth runners versus regular shoes in this subreddit.

Update: I’d also add that my left foot is about a full centimeter longer than my right foot. But my right foot is wider. The sizing guide only has R foot models so I had to use that.

I just bought my first barefoot shoes in a long time. I usually run in altra or Saucony. I generally size for a 9.5 or 10 and I got these new shoes (xero hfs 1) in a 9.5. They fit properly based on traditional sizing guides and i have about a thumbs width of space between my big toe and the end of the toe box. BUT, what I've noticed is that because the sole is so flat it feels like I could easily catch the toe box on the ground. Essentially imagine walking with clown shoes but nowhere near that extent, it's just a hyperbolic metaphor. Just curious if other people feel this way and if it's common to actually size down because of it.

Hey everyone,

Looking for community feedback comparing the Altra Escalante 4 vs. Escalante 5, as well as the Escalante 4 SW (Smartwool).

Context & Daily Use: What originally pushed me away from mainstream shoes toward Topo and Altra was Dr. Courtney Conley’s discussion on The Diary of a CEO YouTube channel about natural foot function—prioritizing an anatomical toe box, zero/low drop, and moderate cushion for high-mileage walking on paved sidewalks and roads so the foot can load naturally. I log 10,000+ steps every day across hard paved surfaces, and the shoe doubles as my everyday lifestyle sneaker.

My Biomechanics & Fit Experience:

• Feet: Flexible flat feet and narrow heels (~68 mm).
• The Problem with Arch Contours: Because my arches naturally collapse and lower under body weight, I believe any built-in medial structure creates pressure points—which is why the arch contour in Topo (I tried the Fly-Lite 6) didn't work for me at all, as I could feel the arch support digging into my foot while walking.
• Escalante 4 Fit: The Escalante 4 felt much better underfoot because of its flat, planar platform, though I did notice the lower forefoot volume/ceiling (RunRepeat confirmed the 4 sits quite shallow at 25.4 mm toe height vs 26.9 mm on the 5). I tried removing the stock insole to gain vertical space, but it made walking very uncomfortable, and I really don't want to tinker with aftermarket thinner insoles given Altra's unique FootShape geometry. I’ve instead tried to improve the fit via custom lacing, but there is still slightly snugger forefoot volume across the right pinky toe.

Escalante 4 vs 5 Trade-offs: Reviewers have noted a stiffer midfoot and a subtle medial foam "guardrail" on the 5 that feels like arch support. Looking at the other RunRepeat lab trade-offs, the 5 actually narrows the forefoot base (down to 99.1 mm from 101.0 mm on the 4; 80.8 mm vs 82.4 mm at the big toe), gains weight (+32g), stiffens up from the full-rubber outsole, and scored a 1/5 on heel padding durability.

Questions for the Community:

1. Escalante 4 vs 5: For anyone with flexible flat feet, does the 5’s narrower base or raised medial foam wall cause any arch irritation compared to the planar bed on the 4, or would you definitely recommend sticking with the 4 over the 5?
2. Regular Escalante 4 vs Escalante 4 SW (Smartwool): How does the overall fit, feel, and upper durability compare? (Particularly forefoot volume / pinky toe slack).
3. Climate & Pavement Durability: I'm based in Alberta, Canada, where year-round weather spans dry, freezing sub-zero winters with gritty pavement, shoulder-season chill, and mild summers. Given our temperature swings and daily pavement use, would the Smartwool version hold up well as a 3-season walking shoe, or would you stick strictly to the standard synthetic knit?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Hello ! 👋
Je cours en Panta Boreas et en montée technique, les sangles se détendent petit à petit. Résultat : mon pied glisse vers l'arrière et finit le talon presque dans le vide 😅
J'ai testé les laçages du site Panta, et leur SAV m'a conseillé le montage standard + un double nœud côté intérieur. Pas encore testé
Vous avez déjà eu ce souci ? Une astuce qui marche?
Merci d'avance, j'adore ces sandales et j'aimerais vraiment les garder ! 🙏

Ci joint des photos lors de ma dernière course et du montage actuel.

When I got into minimalist running in 2022, I bought a decently rated pair of minimalist shoes off of Amazon for about $25. I retired my first pair after 400 miles, my second pair after 600 miles, and I'm finally retiring my most recent pair (which I've had for a year and some change) after 1000 miles (price has gone up, and my most recent pair cost $35). They have a small amount of padding/arch support (which I think has pretty much completely worn down for me), but you can remove the insoles if you want even less between you and the road. I've hiked, biked, and run (trails, streets, and treadmills) with them.

Not sure if anyone actually wants to buy shitty Amazon shoes, but in case you do, here is my review:

Pros:

1. Covers your feet
2. A little bit of support but not too much. Can take out insoles if you'd like
3. Cheap as hell
4. Durable enough to survive 1000 miles for a 120 lb casual runner (could probably keep wearing them for a while longer, but the soles are starting to wear through, and they're pretty smelly)

Cons:

1. Have had issues with velcro wearing out in the past (haven't had that issue with this pair)
2. Not exactly luxurious, but idk why you're trying to buy a pair of $40 minimalist shoes off of Amazon if you're aiming for luxurious

I have been using the Shamma Elite Maximus sandals for the last 5 months. They’re my first pair of running sandals.

At first, I didn’t wear toe socks. It resulted in bloody blisters between my 2nd toe and big toe. Also, there was a small notch where the straps come together on the top of the foot. It dug into my skin and started bleeding as well.

I switched to wearing Injiji toe socks. It did help, but the pressure point with the big toe is still a huge problem when going over 15k.

Do you have any recommandations for sandals with better straps for long distance running? Or other solutions?

I just look and pay attention to a certain thing at a distance people say it gives me an odd look so maybe people are discouraged or interact with me.

I was new last year to these kind of shoes, originally looking for something for my very sweaty feet (even when I don't run - and I always use socks) and the concept of "walking barefoot" resonated with me. I hate thick soles and I also have large feet.

Last year I purchased the Xero Zelen. I absolutely loved that the sole was very thin, the shoe was light and airy. I have never been happy with purchasing shoes in my life except that day.

Of course, they stopped making that model. What is the closest to the Zelen that exists?

Initial impressions

• The TrailFly Zero Wide has a very anatomically designed toebox, with an even wider toebox than Lone Peak's.
• The TrailFly Zero Wide has a bit of an aggressive tapering at the outer toes, similar to the tapering of Vivo shoes. Still, compared to the insoles against the Altra's, the Inov8's insoles are actually wider than Altra's, which was a pleasant surprise.
• The TrailFly Zero's cushioning feel a bit stiffer than the Lone Peak's, but I have not broken them in yet.
• I prefer the outsole design of the Lone Peak's on paper, but I haven't actually tested them out.
• I love that the Inov8s are 23g lighter than the Altras.

Inov8 TrailFly Zero V2 Wide vs. Altra Lone Peak 9+ (size 44) comparison table

Context

I ran a 128K ultra in Altra Lone Peak 9+s (link) two weeks ago, where I was able to finish the ultra but ended up with huge blisters on my big toes. Despite really liking the shoes otherwise, I decided I needed to find an alternative ultra shoe that hopefully won't give me the blistering issues I faced with the Lone Peaks.

To find alternative ultra shoes, I tried to find trail running shoes that:

• Are zero drop
• Have anatomical toe boxes
• Have enough support (around 20mm) to last ultra-distance runs past 100K

Excluding Altras, there actually weren't that many, and I only found two other brands that made shoes that fit the bill:

• Topo Athletics, Pursuit 3
• Inov8
  • TrailFly Zero V2 Wide
  • MudTalon Zero V2 Wide
  • TrailTalon Zero

I tried out the Topo Pursuit 3 in person at a local running store, but I didn't like the arch support and how tight they felt at the midfoot, presumably due to the arch support. I also didn't like the rounded & elevated design of the front, instead of the shoes sitting flatter on the ground like a neutral shoe should. The toebox also felt much more narrower than I liked, and it didn't feel like my toes had enough room to splay out naturally.

On the other hand, I used to really enjoy trail running in Inov8 shoes back in 2016 (previously used Terraclaw 220 and Trailroc 245), so I wanted to give Inov8 another shot, especially with their move back into natural running-inspired design philosophy called NATURALFIT:

Our new design and fit ensures the foot controls the shoe, not the other way round. It's as nature intended.

The Talon shoes seemed to be a bit more niche and specialized, while the TrailFly shoes seemed to cover a wider range of terrain variety, so I decided on the TrailFly shoes.

While I haven't taken them out for a test run yet, I love how they feel on my feet. I am especially impressed at the anatomical design of the toeboxes, and I did not expect them to actually be wider than the Lone Peak 9+s. I just hope that I won't have similar blistering issues with them.

Side note, the shoes were strangely quite difficult to find, and I only found 2 pairs left in stock in my local running store, 1 of which miraculously happened to be my size in the wide version. If I like them, I may need to stock up on them when I next visit the UK, Inov8's home domicile.