How a Frugal Health Enthusiast Became a Grounding Shoe Convert

You know about the benefits of soaking up Earth’s natural energy, a practice known as grounding, or Earthing, and try to connect as much as possible. But going barefoot isn’t always in your cards. You learn (perhaps through this site) that you can get special shoes that keep you grounded on natural earth surfaces, so you do some shopping. And then you see the grounding shoe prices and have sticker shock. You might just decide to stop there and buy nothing.

I’ve been there, which is why I wanted to write this blog… As someone who’s been into grounding for the last 14 years, I’m crystal clear on why grounding shoes are good for my feet and whole body. But with all my research and experience, I was still taken aback by the prices the first time I shopped for grounding footwear online. I simply wasn’t accustomed to paying more than $75 for a pair of sneakers or sandals - even well-made ones, and had a hard time swallowing price tags of up to $220 per pair.

The turning point was when a friend gave me a new pair of Harmony 783 wool Joggers. I was thrilled at how nice they looked and well they fit (I have always struggled to find truly comfortable sneakers). Not to mention, I felt great wearing them. However, since these were now my “good shoes” (and I was aware of how much they cost), I didn’t wear them often because I didn’t want to get them dirty.

Then one day I went for a long hike in the woods with my dog, wearing my Joggers. I had an argument with my husband earlier that day and needed to blow off some steam. About 30 minutes into that walk, I started to feel a subtle wave of relaxation and calm flow through me. Yes, the exercise certainly was part of that, as was being out in the woods, but the shoes brought that exercise-in-nature high to a new level. From that day forward, I always wore those shoes when walking in the forest. And because nature can be dirty, muddy and ticky, I decided to buy myself another pair for around-town wear. I jumped the price hurdle, treated myself and invested in my health and wellbeing. I am now on my third pair of Harmony 783 Joggers.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links and we may earn commissions when you purchase via such links on this page. We only recommend brands we wear ourselves and have found to be effective. As grounding shoe converts, we will always choose grounding shoes over regular shoes whenever possible…because once you go grounded, it’s hard to go back to ungrounded shoes!

Over the last three years, my grounding shoe collection has grown to include two pairs of Groundz (Jeans Clay Sneakers and Canary Retro Sandals) and a pair of Harmony 783 Brown Leather Walkers. My kids and I all have pairs of Earthrunner sandals (which have proved to be worth their weight in gold when navigating wet conditions). I also have two pairs of Earthing flip flops, or Grounders™. Admittedly, I received some of these grounding shoes for free; others I paid full price for or bought when on sale or through a promotion.

All have become VIPs (Very Important Pedi-Wear) in my closet because they help keep me connected to that restorative Earth energy. I still go barefoot whenever possible, but cold weather and uncomfortable conductive surfaces often prove challenging.

I’ve now started donating my other, traditional shoes because I only want to wear grounding, or functional, shoes. Once I went grounded, regular shoes lost their allure..

Step’s in a similar place with several new pairs of custom, hand-made leather shoes that he bought in Florence, Italy.  He was living there for a spell and got to know the shoe makers, and even picked out expensive leather…but he has no desire to wear them anymore now that he’s got grounding shoes to choose from.

One of his favorite pairs is the Softstar Smooth Leather Roo Moccasins…he says the leather smells like the inside of a 1980s Porsche and the shoes are super-high quality. He’s now awaiting his second pair after trekking all over the globe in his first.

Although he goes barefoot more often than most, Step always chooses grounding shoes over regular shoes when shoes are in the cards. This is a simple decision - he knows regular shoes disconnect him from the earth energy that helps him feel his best.

So logic has made us grounding shoe addicts. Step had been pushing me to try the shoes for years because of the profound restorative impact grounding has had on his health. I’m glad I listened, even if I do pay more for shoes now. The price is worth it. Here’s why…

Grounding Shoes Are Made Using Revolutionary New Technologies

You likely know that things produced in mass quantities are much cheaper to make than small-batch products. This is because big manufacturers already have systems in place and production minimums that are much higher than what a niche market can support. It’s not worth their time and effort to bother with small shoe companies, let alone ones that require alternate materials and production methods to make ground conductivity possible.

The grounding shoe companies we know are small businesses founded by grounding enthusiasts who are passionate about making shoes that help people look and feel their best. Their shoes aren’t produced in giant, overseas factories. The companies we recommend make their shoes in small batches with special materials using a revolutionary new technologies. They didn’t have the benefit of existing assembly line machinery and tools. They had to figure it out themselves, and they did.

Some Grounding Shoes Are Handmade Using High-Quality Materials

When is the last time you bought a pair of regular shoes that was 100% artisan made by hand? Until I got my Groundz pairs, I was in the “never” category too.

It’s hard to get a true sense of the craftsmanship of Groundz all-natural, handmade shoes when looking at them online. But when you see them in person, notice the meticulous stitching, and feel the soft suede and smooth leather in your hands and around your feet, you get a better sense of just how much work went into making them. They are truly special shoes. I was so impressed with their crafstmanship, I wrote this review. The fact that they help keep you grounded is icing on the cake!  

Learn more about Groundz’s shoemaking methods here.

In their Oregon workshop, Softstar also makes every pair of shoes by hand from eco-friendly, sustainably sourced materials (more on that later). Using age-old moccasin-style techniques, the Softstar “elves” take anywhere from 42 to 93 steps (depending on shoe style) to handcraft each pair. It’s a process with a capital P!

You can learn more about Softstar’s shoemaking techniques here.

Some Earthing Shoes are Made Just for You

In this age of consumerism, it’s challenging to buy products that aren’t mass produced. That’s what makes small businesses like Softstar and Earthrunners really stand out. Their grounding shoes are not only produced in the USA in their respective Oregon and California facilities; each pair is actually made to order! This means it might take a few weeks longer for your shoes to arrive, but they are truly one of a kind.

Other small business grounding shoe brands, like Groundz, produce their handmade shoes in very small batches, making them rarer commodities. Some, like Harmony 783 and Bahé, utilize pre-ordering of new styles to make sure they are only generating what is needed. Such helps reduce waste and keeps production sustainable, which leads me to my next point…

MOST Grounding Shoe Companies Are Committed to Sustainability

If you’re reading this, you’re likely into grounding, and thus probably have an appreciation and love for this healing Earth. Perhaps you feel a responsibility to live in ways that support Earth’s longevity along with your own. For many, grounding and sustainability go hand in hand. If we pollute the Earth with waste and toxicity, how will it continue to help us sustain our health and vitality?

The grounding shoe brands we feature all utilize methods to minimize their environmental footprint. As grounding enthusiasts, it seems to be in their DNA to do so. Whether it’s making shoes the old-fashioned way from the most natural and least synthetic materials available, using eco-friendly technologies, shipping in recyclable or reusable packaging, and/or donating a percentage of all sales to organizations that honor the Earth or its indigenous cultures, the grounding shoe brands we recommend are doing their part.

More on each brand’s sustainable practices here:

• Harmony 783 – utilizes eco-friendly Bloom technology and donates to the National Forest Foundation’s Sapling Program.

• Bahé – uses plant-based materials like corn, sugarcane and organic cotton, as well as recycled polyester mesh, to make their running shoes.

• Groundz – uses all natural materials, including vegetable-dyed leathers, clay adhesive and beeswax soaked cotton thread. No synthetic dyes, rubbers, plastics, fabrics or glues. We also love that Groundz shoes come in reusable canvas bags (perfect when traveling) and are shipped in a simple, compostable bag.

• Softstar – in addition to using natural, sustainable materials, Softstar sources 100% of their electricity from wind and solar sources. They upcycle, recycle and compost, and donate to various charities and schools. They even have created a resale page, accessible via this impressive list of sustainability efforts.

• Earthrunners – Besides making shoes that encourage people to spend more time in nature, Earthrunners donates a percentage of all sales to benefit the Tarahumara, from which their minimal sandal design originated.

Many Grounding Shoes Are Minimalist / Barefoot Design

Until Step turned me on to grounding shoes, I was unfamiliar with minimalist, or barefoot design, shoes. Then I tried on a pair of Groundz slip ons, and got the memo…it  was a very different and pleasing fit.

What exactly is “barefoot design”? Minimalist shoes have thinner, “zero-drop” soles and wide toe boxes. Zero drop means there’s no height difference between sole of the heel and front of foot – essentially a flat sole with zero arch support. A wide toe box offers more room for the toes to all spread out instead of cramming them into a pointy, slimmer toe box. The soles are also thinner and more flexible so you can better feel the ground beneath your feet. Barefoot design is the diametric opposite of women’s slingback heels and a world away from orthopedic shoes.

Is barefoot design necessarily better for you? Proponents argue, yes, because regular, long-term use can help strengthen the feet and make people less prone to flat foot. Research supports these claims, and also shows that minimalist shoes are associated with better mobility and stability in people with a history of falls (see references 1-5).

As for running in barefoot design shoes, there’s some evidence to show reduced risk of injuries; however, per a 2014 systematic review (reference 6 below), the evidence isn’t strong enough to draw any conclusions about safety – more research is needed.  

Having walked all summer in my Groundz shoes and Earthrunner sandals, I have come to very much enjoy barefoot design shoes and am curious to see if donning them will make my low back happier in the long run – time will tell.

For those who prefer a cushioned sole with more arch support, barefoot design may seem like a recipe for discomfort - a huge step away from the norm. Many Harmony 783 shoe styles offer medium arch support and are great options for people who want that extra cushioning (I still love wearing mine because they’re so comfortable and stylish).

Of the grounding shoe brands we recommend, three are dedicated to making shoes that are barefoot design – Groundz, Earthrunners and Softstar (though not all of Softstar shoes are grounded). Our newest recommended brand, Bahé, has taken a dual approach to grounded running shoes, and currently offers one style that is barefoot design and one that is regular-fit with more cushion and arch support.

At the end of the day, since barefoot design isn’t quite mainstream, it can mean a higher price tag due to increased production costs. Couple that with grounding functionality, and you can see that these small shoe companies have made leaps and bounds to help bring you the healthiest shoes possible. They spend more to get these functional shoes made than bigger shoe brands, and as a result, need to charge more.

It's important to note that not all grounding shoes are barefoot design, and not all minimalist shoes deliver an infusion of earth energy into the feet similar to going barefoot. If having both weighs into your decision to purchase a particular pair of shoes, be sure to read product pages closely.

Grounding Shoes: A Valuable Investment 

We hope this page has helped shine light on grounding shoe costs and the value of these shoes as investments in your health and wellbeing. Superior materials, sustainability, and novel designs and functionality are just some of the reasons why you really get more for your money with grounding shoes. More importantly, if wearing grounding shoes instead of non-conductive footwear actually improves your health, isn’t that result worth far more than the price paid?

We choose to promote various grounding shoe brands, not just because we love their shoes, but because we appreciate their small business values:

• Providing superior quality products that support good health

• Getting back to nature while protecting the environment

• Offering products they (and we) can feel great about, and

• Living the dream through passion, hard work and ingenuity.

If the shoe fits your value system too, then…well, you get the picture :>)

Happy trails…they’re better when grounded!

References:

1.      Curtis R, Willems C, Paoletti P, D'Août K. Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength. Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 20;11(1):18648. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-98070-0. PMID: 34545114; PMCID: PMC8452613.

2.      Cudejko, T., Gardiner, J., Akpan, A. et al. Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls. Sci Rep 10, 21755 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78862-6

3.      Holowka, N.B., Wallace, I.J. & Lieberman, D.E. Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations. Sci Rep 8, 3679 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7

4.      Miller E., Whitcome K., et al. The effect of minimal shoes on arch structure and intrinsic foot muscle strength, Journal of Sport and Health Science, Volume 3, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 74-85, ISSN 2095-2546, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2014.03.011

5.      Ridge ST, Olsen MT, Bruening DA, Jurgensmeier K, Griffin D, Davis IS, Johnson AW. Walking in Minimalist Shoes Is Effective for Strengthening Foot Muscles. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 Jan;51(1):104-113. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001751. PMID: 30113521.

6.      Perkins KP, Hanney WJ, Rothschild CE. The risks and benefits of running barefoot or in minimalist shoes: a systematic review. Sports Health. 2014 Nov;6(6):475-80. doi: 10.1177/1941738114546846. PMID: 25364479; PMCID: PMC4212355.