Pretty much every pair of Sketchers shoes now has memory foam soles and everyone seems to think they are great but I hate them.

They are really hot, the foam is like a layer of insulation.

The top of the memory foam soles is somewhat elastic so it’s really smooth and slippery so your socks slide around inside

They are no more comfortable than regular shoes and in fact I think they provide less arch support since they are squishy compared to shoes with harder foam.

And most of all the memory foam gets smashed and wears out in no time with some shoes having the foam glued in so replacing the insole is impossible.

I just can’t fathom how they are so popular.

  • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    Whitin barefoot shoes on amazon are a great entry into the barefoot style, they’re very affordable and depending on the exact style you choose, actually seem to hold up surprisingly well for the price. Make sure you go for the ones that explicitly say they are Wide though, those have the most natural toebox shape.

    There’s also Splay! Shoes, which offer some affordable barefoot shoes that look like Vans.

    • bob@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      I can’t speak for other brands I’m afraid, only ever tried Vivo after taking the plunge. They are expensive so a cheaper one may be worth a shot if they’re more available now.