Reddit reviews Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear

Lots to unpack here but let me give you two main concepts to ponder that I do not believe anyone has addressed thus far.

1. An ankle can only be mobile on a strong platform. That means foot strength is paramount to ankle mobility.
   
   
2. Overworked calves that are usually a result of having weak glutes that is usually a result of being seated are another frequent offending party when it comes to ankle mobility. If your calves are busy trying to be your ass, they're always going to be tight, overworked, and holding on for dear life.
   
   So you can stretch all you want but until you assess the problem and likely strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles and strengthen glute muscles you are probably going to be fighting a losing battle.
   
   Foot strength ideas. Go barefoot more often, play foot games like moving marbles with your feet, splaying toes, etc or using toe spreaders like CorrectToes or the much cheaper ones I posted below. Follow GaitHappens on Instagram for more ideas.
   
   Glute strength ideas. Open hip flexors, strength train glutes - single leg glute bridges, hip thrusts, RDLs, kettlebell swings especially banded swings (done properly from the hinge and not a squat), sumo deadlifts, pistol squats, skater squats, etc.
   
   You would be the exception if you were a guy that was in the military and had to be in combat boots all the time or a figure skater that is in ice skates all the time. Even for these situations, the foot muscles would likely still be weak from being in shoe prisons and the calves and quads would still probably be more dominant than the glutes.
   
   Tldr: Assess where the weak areas are - you have a dorsiflexion assessment but have not tested foot strength and dexterity. You can test tib anterior strength by walking with on your heels with your toes extended (lifted). You can also palpate the muscle to see if it's hypertonic.
   
   My first step would be going barefoot more often and spending $5 on these toe spreaders. Those things will only serve to help even if they are not the only problem. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713S97J5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8pkCCbWP0A15W
   
   Link to GaitHappens
   https://instagram.com/gaithappens?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1xoed36orisgm
   
   Link to Katy Bowman's book on the foot. Whole Body Barefoot.
   Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989653986/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xfkCCb7QPWPP3
   
   Dr Stuart McGill has more info on foot strength or what he calls "foot athleticism" in his book The Gift of Injury.
   Gift of Injury https://www.amazon.com/dp/0973501863/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IskCCbCHDSXZP

A lightbulb went on in my head you said about your Achilles tendon, because yeah, that went nuts on me when I transitioned to zero-drop shoes, so I know exactly what you're talking about when it comes to wearing them when hiking up steep inclines. It's PAINFUL!

For what it's worth...

Transitioning to minimalist shoes is a months-long process. (Katy Bowman has an awesome and useful short book about it, which I found very helpful and recommend, Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear.)

Thankfully, there is a whole world of options along the spectrum between approach shoes and boots. Trail runners don't have to be minimalist or zero-drop. In fact, most aren't. For example, the Brooks Cascadia is one of the most popular shoes among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and has a significant heel-to-toe drop.

I just share all this because if you love hiking, trail runners truly are amazing, and it sounds like they would help a great deal with your packing problems (which is one of their benefits).

Upper body is on point, lower body will get there. Maybe take up barefoot/minimalist running (but [do so properly so you don't injure yourself] (http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1453880865&sr=8-6&keywords=Katy+Bowman)). It'll get the lower body shaped up.