r/BarefootRunning

Community Overview

About r/BarefootRunning

A community of barefoot and minimalist runners.

The community at a glance

r/BarefootRunning is a Subreddit for Fitness Enthusiasts and Runners with roughly 82K members. It uses a forum format for communication.

Roughly 11K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Barefoot, Shoes, and Running. Product recommendations often mention barefoot shoes, running shoes, and sandals.

On Reddit
82K Members

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +11K members
Growth: +15.4% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 2K members
  • 2014: 1K members
  • 2015: 232 members
  • 2016: 968 members
  • 2017: 2K members
  • 2018: 2K members
  • 2019: 4K members
  • 2020: 6K members
  • 2023: 24K members
  • 2024: 13K members
  • 2025: 13K members
  • 2026: 7K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Sep: 957 members
  • Oct: 871 members
  • Nov: 895 members
  • Dec: 1K members
  • Jan: 834 members
  • Feb: 841 members
  • Mar: 983 members
  • Apr: 955 members
  • May: 933 members
  • Jun: 805 members
  • Jul: 911 members
  • Aug: 684 members

Topics

  • Barefoot
    100 posts in the past month
    #1
    Barefoot
    100
  • Shoes
    98 posts in the past month
    #2
    Shoes
    98
  • Running
    79 posts in the past month
    #3
    Running
    79
  • Shoe
    41 posts in the past month
    #4
    Shoe
    41
  • Barefoot Shoes
    35 posts in the past month
    #5
    Barefoot Shoes
    35

Flair

  • question
    43 posts in the past month
    1. Bedrock Cairn Evo Pro fit check
    2. Toe Spreaders worth it?
    3. first real running shoe purchase - HALP
    #1
    question
    Bedrock Cairn Evo Pro fit check · Toe Spreaders worth it? · first real running shoe purchase - HALP
    43
  • minimalist shoes
    17 posts in the past month
    1. XeroShoes Genesis sandals, closest to barefoot I’ve felt wearing anything
    2. First vibram fivefingers
    3. Earth Runner Sizing
    #2
    minimalist shoes
    XeroShoes Genesis sandals, closest to barefoot I’ve felt wearing anything · First vibram fivefingers · Earth Runner Sizing
    17
  • unshod
    11 posts in the past month
    1. Nothing hits like early morning runs when whole city is deserted. Anyone else enjoy doing this?
    2. A man on the train told me I was okay biking in flipflops because I had "real flintstone feet"
    3. What the specific properties of foot skin tells me about running
    #3
    unshod
    Nothing hits like early morning runs when whole city is deserted. Anyone else enjoy doing this? · A man on the train told me I was okay biking in flipflops because I had "real flintstone feet" · What the specific properties of foot skin tells me about running
    11
  • discussion
    8 posts in the past month
    1. Footshape change
    2. Sharing my RunSafe Clinic Experience (highly recommend)
    3. Zapatos de seguridad tipo barefoot
    #4
    discussion
    Footshape change · Sharing my RunSafe Clinic Experience (highly recommend) · Zapatos de seguridad tipo barefoot
    8
  • VFF
    6 posts in the past month
    1. I didn't think this through 😅
    2. Why does it look like his foot is leaning to the inside in Vibram V-Run? (repost with more pictures)
    3. Did a bit of lightly muddy trail walking today.
    #5
    VFF
    I didn't think this through 😅 · Why does it look like his foot is leaning to the inside in Vibram V-Run? (repost with more pictures) · Did a bit of lightly muddy trail walking today.
    6

Product recommendations

  • barefoot shoes
    14 posts in the past month
    1. Best barefoot shoes for hiking?
    2. My dads (65) is suffering from knee joint pain in his old age, I suggested barefoot shoes as a possible 'remedy', but he has shown me his orthopaedic has explicitly stated barefoot shoes are bad for him. What's best for my dad?
    3. Best Minimalist Running Shoes – Which Ones Feel the Most Natural?
    #1
    barefoot shoes
    Best barefoot shoes for hiking? · My dads (65) is suffering from knee joint pain in his old age, I suggested barefoot shoes as a possible 'remedy', but he has shown me his orthopaedic has explicitly stated barefoot shoes are bad for him. What's best for my dad? · Best Minimalist Running Shoes – Which Ones Feel the Most Natural?
    14
  • running shoes
    8 posts in the past month
    1. best running shoe with zero arch support and enough room for toes to fully spread freely, but not 5 finger shoes as they dont fit my feet, and not sandals.
    2. Which Altra running shoes are best for daily use? I just bought the Olympus 2.
    3. Best shoes for running/weight lifting
    #2
    running shoes
    best running shoe with zero arch support and enough room for toes to fully spread freely, but not 5 finger shoes as they dont fit my feet, and not sandals. · Which Altra running shoes are best for daily use? I just bought the Olympus 2. · Best shoes for running/weight lifting
    8
  • sandals
    8 posts in the past month
    1. Best Sandal for Long Distance Train Running & Road Running?
    2. What’s the best barefoot sandals brand to you, based on performance and looks?
    3. I recommend @Earthrunners for sandals
    #3
    sandals
    Best Sandal for Long Distance Train Running & Road Running? · What’s the best barefoot sandals brand to you, based on performance and looks? · I recommend @Earthrunners for sandals
    8
  • toe socks
    5 posts in the past month
    1. Best size 15 (uk 48) toe socks?
    2. Best socks for five finger shoes for more cushion and more of an hermetic grip of the shoe over the foot
    3. Best toe socks?
    #4
    toe socks
    Best size 15 (uk 48) toe socks? · Best socks for five finger shoes for more cushion and more of an hermetic grip of the shoe over the foot · Best toe socks?
    5
  • minimalist shoes
    4 posts in the past month
    1. Can anyone recommend me a pair of minimalist shoes for OCR/trail running/muddy conditions in general?
    2. Looking to get Some recs for different occasions (uk)
    3. Looking for recs on minimalist shoes
    #5
    minimalist shoes
    Can anyone recommend me a pair of minimalist shoes for OCR/trail running/muddy conditions in general? · Looking to get Some recs for different occasions (uk) · Looking for recs on minimalist shoes
    4

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/BarefootRunning for?
Best for Fitness Enthusiasts and Runners enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/BarefootRunning free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/BarefootRunning have?
Roughly 82K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/BarefootRunning on?
r/BarefootRunning runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/BarefootRunning cover?
On the Hive Index, r/BarefootRunning is organized under Fitness Enthusiasts, Runners.
How do I join r/BarefootRunning?
You can join r/BarefootRunning by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Fitness communities like?
One of the larger topic areas on the site, covering lifting, running, yoga, calisthenics, and pretty much every other form of exercise. Reddit has massive communities for general fitness and specific disciplines, with Discord servers for accountability and program sharing. Good for program recommendations, form checks, and finding training partners.