Why are feet in Finland healthier than in Spain?

The photo below speaks for itself.

Two backpackers touring Spain.

He, blond, strong, with a winter fleece, sweatpants, toe socks and Vivobarefoot Ultra II.

She, blonde, slim, also with a winter fleece, sport leggings and Merrell Vapor Glove 3 Luna.

From Finland.

They start talking funny. Fortunately Angel is a polyglot man and understands them.

They are surprised at how difficult it is to find healthy shoes in Spain.

Only in their city there are 5 minimalist shoe shops. More than in the whole of Spain.

They ask why there are not more. In Finland people are very aware of the importance of footwear.

Maybe that's why they don't have problems.

Their feet are healthy.

Wide, robust, full of life. They look like the roots of an oak tree.

Not so their shoes. Their Vivobarefoot Ultra are totally broken in, like those of the Japanese man who visited me years ago and who was also backpacking around the world.

I continue to be amazed by these people.

I admire their courage.

They set out on the road with little baggage and no specific objective.

They seek contact with nature, to find themselves again, with the animal in us.

And the less layer there is between you and nature, the more you can feel it.

Is that why they wear minimalist shoes?

To feel more alive, more connected?

I had a phase of doing the animal. We called it animalism, because we used to run off-road, climb trees and run downhill as far as our legs would carry us.

Always with minimalist shoes.

Don't ask me why, but when I reached the summit I would let out a wolf howl.

My friends laughed and joked with me, but at that moment it came from inside me. It was like a kind of liberation or fusion with nature.

Back to the Finns.

He wanted to repeat model, he had a special affection for the Ultra III, but when he saw the Lems Primal 2, I can say that he fell in love, even if it sounds corny.

He took his size and went out wearing them, leaving his old shoes behind.

His face, a mixture of joy and relaxation, was like a child with new shoes.

That's why your feet are important. They are the travelling companions that will take you wherever you want to be.

"The lighter the luggage, the lighter the journey".


Health starts with your feet.

Antonio Caballo