Minimalist Footwear for Multi-Day Backpacking

Course Details

Overview: Explore minimalist footwear for backpacking in this new online course. Delve into the anatomy of minimalist shoes, gear selection, and best practices for on-the-trail performance, while gaining essential skills for proper shoe testing, maintenance, and retirement. Learn how to prevent musculoskeletal foot injuries and safely transition to minimalist footwear for backpacking.

Enrollment Information

• Access to this education course is FREE for Unlimited Members. Gain access to Backpacking Light’s entire online education course library with an Unlimited Membership (Learn More).

together with:

Xero Shoes

The widest selection of barefoot-inspired, casual and performance shoes, boots, and sandals for everything you do. Live Life Feet First in Xero Shoes.

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Injinji

Injinji toe socks minimize friction between the toes to help mitigate blister formation. A variety of styles can be worn as standalone socks or as liners in combination with conventional socks for hiking and backpacking.

See it at Injinji See it at REI

Kahtoola

Born from a near-fatal accident in the mountains, Kahtoola builds innovative stretch-on traction, hiking crampons, and gaiters that make people more capable in the outdoors.

See it at Kahtoola See it at REI

Enlightened Equipment

Enlightened Equipment specializes in ultralight, customizable quilts, sleeping bags, and apparel designed for backpackers and adventurers seeking ultralight performance and versatility.

Shop Enlightened Equipment

Goosefeet Gear

Goosefeet Gear is a cottage manufacturer of custom ultralight down socks, waterproof shells, down pillows, down pants, and more. Handmade in the USA.

See it at Goosefeet Gear See it at Garage Grown Gear

Ultra Gam Gaiters

On Etsy since 2013, ultrarunner Teresa makes gaiters, sunsleeves, and more from fun and stylish fabrics! Keep Sh!t out of your shoes!

See it at Garage Grown Gear See it at Etsy

Sponsorship Information: Backpacking Light provides trusted education to highly-engaged user communities of backcountry enthusiasts, industry professionals, land management agency staff, trail advocacy groups, and more. If you are interested in sponsoring this online education and gaining access to these communities to increase your brand awareness or reach please complete our partnership intake form.

Detailed Description

Minimalist footwear offers significant advantages for outdoor athletes and enthusiasts seeking to enhance performance, reduce weight, and optimize natural movement. Whether you’re a fastpacker, FKT (Fastest Known Time) athlete, ultralight backpacker, guide, or outdoor industry professional, understanding the biomechanics and design of minimalist shoes is critical to making informed footwear choices.

This Minimalist Footwear for Backpacking Online Course is a comprehensive program designed to meet the needs of outdoor educators, backpackers, athletes, footwear designers, and marketers. It delivers an in-depth look at the relationship between footwear design and real-world performance in demanding environments.

Why Minimalist Footwear?

For athletes pursuing multi-day fastpacking and FKTs, as well as ultralight and long-distance backpackers, minimalist footwear presents a lightweight, flexible solution that enhances agility, reduces fatigue, and promotes natural movement. However, optimizing performance with minimalist footwear requires a solid understanding of biomechanics, careful selection of design attributes, and a structured approach to transitioning.

Who Should Enroll?

This course is targeted to:

• Ultralight Backpackers: If you prioritize weight savings and performance, this course provides a science-based framework for selecting and using minimalist footwear effectively.
• Long-Distance Hikers: Learn how to enhance foot health, reduce fatigue, and boost comfort during long backpacking trips with minimalist shoes.
• Fastpackers and FKT Athletes: Discover how and why minimalist footwear can be used to mitigate the extreme stress of long, intense hiking efforts.
• Footwear Design Professionals: Understand how specific design features translate into real-world performance, helping you create footwear that meets the demands of serious hikers and athletes.
• Footwear Marketing Professionals: Build more accurate marketing narratives by gaining a deeper understanding of minimalist footwear’s benefits, backed by biomechanical research and real-world testing.
• Outdoor Educators, Guides, and Journalists: Develop more authoritative teaching materials and messaging to help your clients make informed footwear choices and increase your authority for your audience.
• Other Outdoor Industry Professionals: Researchers, product testers, and educators seeking a comprehensive understanding of minimalist footwear’s biomechanical and performance impacts will benefit from this course.

Course Benefits

• Evidence-Based Content: The curriculum is grounded in current biomechanical and footwear research, ensuring participants gain an accurate understanding of minimalist footwear and its impact on performance.
• Practical, Actionable Insights: Whether you’re an athlete, backpacker, or industry professional, the course offers practical strategies for transitioning to minimalist footwear, designing better products, or teaching others how to make informed footwear choices.
• Expert-Led Instruction: Taught by professionals in biomechanics, outdoor education, and footwear design, this course blends scientific theory with real-world application to give you a well-rounded perspective on minimalist footwear.
• Live and Self-Paced Learning: After the live event, you can access all course materials—including video modules, research summaries, and practical guides—on your own schedule. The live event will allow you to engage with peers and instructors through real-time discussions.

Course Curriculum