I finally bought myself a pair of barefoot running shoes yesterday after thinking about it for literally about 2 years!
Aren’t they purrrdy?
So what took me so long? It’s not like this is such a big decision after all.
Paula Jager, the Fitness Editor for this blog, wrote a post not too long ago about barefoot running and the benefits of shoes designed to mimic how we walk and run naturally.
Here’s a snippet of what she wrote:
- The big fat cushiony heel support found in modern day running shoes goes against our natural gait and can result in a shortened Achilles tendon and calf muscle
- It takes more energy to run with the extra weight of the shoes
- Worst of all, they are designed to make you land with your heel while we are designed (by nature) to land on our forefoot. The repetitive strain of slamming on your heel results in undue shock and potential joint injury. By landing on the ball or forefoot with light steps allows our arch to act like the natural spring that it is.
- By wearing all that fake support our muscles, tendons and ligaments have weakened. And that’s not only the ones found in our feet but also in our hips and legs. This will also decrease coordination, agility and balance.
Well said Paula! I find the reasons for barefoot running to be rather compelling too which is why I’ve been considering these new types of shoes for quite sometime.
My holdup with getting my first pair of barefoot runners was actually my husband who doesn’t at all like the look of the Vibrams Five Fingers models which were some of the first barefoot runners on the market.
“They look really weird” he would say whenever I brought up the possibility of buying a pair for myself.
I figured the problem was just that it was a new fashion trend and he would eventually get used to it, so I just waited.
And waited.
And waited some more!
No chance. After all my waiting, he still hated the look of those shoes and so did all 3 of my kids!
“Don’t get those Mom, they look like frog feet” my boys would tell me.
As luck would have it, something else happened in recent months to change the deal in my favor.
Barefoot runners were introduced to the market that look more like a regular sneaker. Hurray!
When these new barefoot runners first came out, I was ready to bite, but they were a bit too expensive for my taste. I can’t justify spending $100+ for a pair of sneakers when it comes right down to it.
It just seemed excessive to me.
But yesterday, I found a pair that were an excellent price and they were snazzy and cute looking to boot.
So I snapped them up as we have a bunch of outdoor hiking type of activities coming up this summer and I need a really good pair of shoes anyway as my sneakers are pretty beat.
My question to all of you is, are these shoes really worth it? Did I succumb to marketing hype by buying a pair or will I be nothing but thrilled in the coming weeks as I wear them for my outdoor excursions?
Please chime in as I would really like to get your opinion. And, if you think my new sneaks are ugly (or cute), feel free to mention that too!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I have had the five fingers for over a year and love them. I walk to work in them every day (45 minutes each way).
Mine actually just got a hole in the sole so have had to go back to my old normal running shoes – really don’t like having to use the old ones anymore!
My only suggestion would be to get ones for trecking (as in not the water ones, as I did) if you are walking a lot, as replacing every year due to holes could get expensive!! The only reason I didn’t get trecking ones is because I live outside of the US and these were the only option in the shop. Now I know my size in them I am thinking I will just order my next ones online to avoid the lack of choice.
I didn’t find them hard to adapt to but I have always preferred to go barefoot so that probably helped.
Hey Sarah, I purchased a similar pair for hiking and trail running – the Merrell Trail Glove (men) – and have fell in love. While I need to wear a thin smartwool sock to keep the smell at bay, these shoes are just what the doctor ordered. For months now I have been using them to retrain myself how to walk, hike, and run correctly (landing on my forefoot). My advice is to break yourself in slow so you can train your ligaments – the advice is solid, and important. Welcome to the barefoot community, you’ll never go back.
PS… for those wondering about using barefoot shoes for long, rigorous hikes, I wore mine on a 2-day 30+ mile hike of the Art Loeb trail earlier this spring. My feet ached, as did the others who wore running shoes, but I was the only one with zero blisters. The shoes performed beautifully and I believe I may wear them (and ask for an endorsement) for hiking the entire AT next year. Hope this info helps and God bless.
I have been eyeballing some Merrel Wonder Gloves for some time now… they are so cute, I know I would wear them constantly!
My son bought a pair of these last summer for running. Then he ended up doing the Presidential Traverse (White Mountains of NH) in them and said they were great. He preferred them over regular hiking shoes, even though they are not really recommended for that type of sport. They also held up well to some pretty fast-paced grueling hiking/rock climbing. He said he will definitely buy another pair when these wear out.
I’m really intrigued by the responses here – especially about strengthening the lower back. My problem is that I have really wide feed (2E) with a very low arch. I have a horrifying time trying to find shoes that fit. Do they make these for someone with a wide foot like mine?
I have them about 3 years now and I have mixed feelings for them. Good thing is that there are so light and small you can always carry easily with you. Certainly need getting used to. Read all the comments and I feel that don’t work on me as well as on other excited people. I believe it’s best to get used to them between the age of 20-30, later is getting more difficult. Possibly the lighter you are the better. One certainly needs to change the way he runs, I felt that (although I don’t run regularly). However, I don’t understand what to do while standing, I feel I am doing something wrong and feel pain that otherwise I wouldn’t.
Love love love my Vibram five finger shoes. Will never walk trails and rocks in anything other!
My husband bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers a couple years ago after lots of research and loves them. Being in the Air Force, he does a lot of running and we are pretty active in our off time as well. These have been great for his feet and I will probably break down eventually and buy a pair as well. Can’t justify the cost until I’ve worn through my current running shoes though!
Spent 4 years in the USMC and destroyed my knees running incorrectly. Now i’m a barefoot runner and it works great for me. I tried the invisible shoe ’cause the price of vibram was just too much for me, and I love ’em.
I’m in a position in my social circle that a number of people come to me for fitness questions, etc, and on this topic, I always tell people to go to a park or ball field and try running barefoot for awhile. Sprints, jogging, etc, just run. And of course take notice how you naturally do it when you don’t have shoes on.
Heel strike will completely disappear when you’re running truly barefoot, as you’ll be almost completely on the balls of your feet.
I did some short sprints tonight in my barefoot runners and wow did it feel different! My achilles as stretching much much more. I see how folks can really hurt themselves if they don’t transition slowly.