We at Peluva have worked hard for many years to research, develop, release (in 2023), and continually refine what we believe is the ultimate barefoot shoe. Here are some of the many design and functionality benefits of wearing Peluvas for all manner of daily activity:
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Five-toe functionality: Peluva offers the most authentic barefoot-style footwear experience, with five individual toe slots, and a zero-drop, flexible sole. You need five-toe functionality to truly qualify as a “barefoot” shoe. The highly touted “wide toe box” minimalist shoes are a great improvement from regular shoes that actively harm your feet, but they don’t relax, re-educate and realign your toes like Peluvas.
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Groundfeel: Your incredibly neuro-sensitive feet perceive feedback from every footstrike, then message the brain to achieve balance and initiate complex kinetic chain activity. Peluva’s customized low-durometer EVA midsole and minimalist tread pattern allows for maximum groundfeel. In contrast, restrictive shoes inhibit groundfeel and compromise balance and proprioception.
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Toe splay: Peluvas allow your toes to splay wide upon landing, an essential element of impact absorption and balance in every step that you take. Regular shoes inhibit toe splay, thus causing inappropriate dispersion of impact through the feet and lower legs.
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Big toe articulation: The big toe is the most important joint in the human gait pattern. It’s the primary trigger for glute activation and supports and balances your entire bodyweight on every stride. Peluvas allow the big toe to operate independently and through multiple planes of motion, something that’s impossible when encased with the other toes (yes, even with a wide box.)
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Cushion: Peluvas have just the right amount of protection (9mm in the Strand models, a bit more in the fashion and leisure models) to make you feel like you’re “walking barefoot on a putting green,” and achieve an easy transition from elevated, heavily-cushioned shoes. Peluvas help you safely navigate hard man-made indoor and outdoor surfaces, generally allowing more people to do more things with a barefoot-style experience.