Yes, this is the right approach to shoes. It protects your feet, but leaves the suspension function to your legs, which have been perfected by evolution over a million years.

I tried VFFs the first time when I was in the desert for a week, walking hard baked ground for miles a day. I am not a hiker, but I did get into bare feet system really quickly.

Results: – Despite walking way more than I am used to, on a hard surface, I did not have sore feet – I did not have sore legs. Not even once! – I had a much better posture. The posture one is “supposed” to have, except without even trying. – I could run faster – at least it felt like it – I could feel things under my feet, which greatly helped balance. This is less pronounced with the thicker-sole VFFs but the originals are perfect. It’s like a 6th sense under your feet.

So now whenever I have to walk a lot, it’s VFFs. Running is probably even better but I am not a runner. Love them when traveling too – if you’re at that airport for 4 hours, and walk on the tiled floor for long periods, the VFFs never let me down. Again, no sore feet, no sore legs, and good pace.