Why Don't Big Brands Make Barefoot Shoes

This is a question that comes up quite often when someone talks about barefoot shoes and its benefits -
"If barefoot shoes are so good, why don't big brands make them?"

It is a fair question. At the end of the day, they have the resources and the audience to make what they want to, and do the right thing.

The answer has more to do with finance and psychology than true value for the people who are going to be wearing them for runs, at the gym, going about their day.

One, barefoot shoes once you've worn regular shoes all your life, are not exactly comfortable in the beginning. Once you start to feel the ground a lot, it feels scary, so adoption needs education.

Two, when people see that there is less material used to make a shoe, it is obviously more difficult to extract more money from them. When you sell people their own foot ability and not support, nobody wants to pay as much.

Three, it is simply a slow process adapting to barefoot shoes and much easier to just add cushion so people don't hurt themselves or atleast don't feel like they are.

Till date, not a single footwear brand has conclusively proved that their shoe helps in preventing injuries in any way. On the other hand, there is mountains of evidence that proves that cushioned shoes, and narrow shoes actually increase the chances of injury in runners and even with lifestyle usage. 

Fortunately, over the last few years, we do see some big brands like Belanciaga and even Adidas come out with barefoot style shoes. 

People ask for it, brands deliver. 
Ask for what is good for you, not just what feels comfortable.