By Matthew Karsten in Travel Gear | I’ve been traveling with a pair of Luna barefoot sandals for over a year now, wearing them for running, hiking, and everyday use. Here is my review. For the majority of human history, we haven’t needed sneakers. In fact they’ve only been in use for the past 70 years. It’s a modern product created to solve a problem that never really existed. Research is starting to show that heavy over-padded footwear actually helps contribute to shin splints, knee injuries, and back problems. Luna Sandals offer a fantastic lightweight & minimalist alternative to running sneakers. You may or may not already know about the barefoot running movement. But it’s really taken off in the last 5 years. People from all over the world are re-discovering the benefits of running with minimal footwear (or none at all). What are the benefits? More efficient movement and less injury. A barefoot shoe or sandal is one with very little padding on the sole.

This enables you to feel the ground while strengthening and toughening up the foot. Without extra padding in the heel, we’re able to run naturally. The way we were made to. Striking the ground with the ball of our foot rather than the heel. So I got into the action a few years ago with a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. While I enjoyed the benefits of the Vibrams, they had a smell problem and stood out a bit too much for my tastes. Especially in foreign countries. A friend and fellow long-term traveler Richard Garcia recommended I check out a pair of Luna Sandals. They were created by a guy named Barefoot Ted. He based the design on traditional huarache sandals worn by Mexico’s native Tarahumara people for centuries. You may have read about his journey in the book Born To Run. I’ve been wearing Lunas for over a year now while traveling through Mexico, Canada, Fiji, Thailand, and the US. So what do I think of them? While I really love these sandals, nothing is perfect.

Here are some of the issues I’ve found with them. If you’re looking for comfortable barefoot sandals to provide minimalist protection for your feet while running, walking, or on easy hikes, a pair of Lunas is the way to go. Useful Notes: There are a few different styles available — I currently own the Mono with traditional red leather laces. They’re kind of tribal looking. Espresso Bamboo BlindsBut you need to tie them to your foot, rather than simply pulling a strap like other versions.Patio Table Leg Replacement READ NEXT: Ultimate Travel Gear GuideGay Pride Lion T-Shirt Do you pack sandals when you travel? Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.Odds are that you own more than one outfit; after all, you’d never wear a suit and tie to a tailgate, or a T-shirt and jeans to an important client meeting. But we’re also willing to bet that you have only one pair of shoes in your gym bag. Here’s why that’s a problem: What you put on your feet can determine how fast you see results, and when it comes to training, one size doesn’t fit all. To maximize your performance and optimize your gains, you need to match your shoes to your workout. Pick the Right Tool for the Job If you’re doing Body Beast in your living room, you probably don’t want a pair of high-top basketball shoes, which can restrict ankle mobility and reduce range of motion. Likewise, you won’t do yourself any favors by wearing running shoes (their elevated heels can sap power and strength). Instead, invest in a pair of flatter-soled athletic shoes.

“For Beachbody programs, court shoes are best because they’re made to support multi-directional movement, whereas running shoes are only designed for moving forward,” says Beachbody Vice President of Fitness and Nutrition Steve Edwards. “Cross-training shoes also work well.” Ideally, you’ll have a different pair of shoes for each type of exercise you do (basketball, running, strength training, etc.). “But unless you have an injury, you should never allow a lack of the ‘right’ shoes to prevent you from working out,” Edwards says. Bottom line: If you don’t have enough dough to expand your training shoe quiver, sweat in whatever you have. Another option: Go barefoot. “First-time exercisers should generally wear shoes, but once your feet become strong, it can make sense to train barefoot, especially if you’re doing non-explosive training,” says Edwards. Here’s why: The soles of your feet are packed with microscopic sensors called “proprioceptors,” which provide feedback about joint angle, muscle length and tension, and body position and alignment.

Optimizing that feedback by putting your feet in direct contact with the ground can boost muscle activation, mobility, and coordination, ultimately leading to greater gains in strength, stamina, and performance. “Barefoot training became popular on the heels of the exact opposite craze, in which people were wearing over-supportive shoes that actually made their feet weaker,” says Edwards. If you’ve never trained barefoot before, begin with low-intensity activities to help your muscles, joints, and connective tissues warm up to the idea. “Yoga and Pilates are good places to start,” says Edwards, adding that as your feet become stronger, you can build up to more demanding exercises and workouts. “While your feet can get strong enough to handle plyometric (ballistic) training, I would rarely recommend doing it barefoot.” The increased risk of injury isn’t worth the potential gains. Know Your Tread Life The life cycle of running shoes depends on a number of factors, including workout intensity and frequency, as well as gait and body type.