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
going barefoot is best, lose the shoes and get your running form correct.
I have used the Merrell barefoot shoe for over a year.
Yesterday I switched over to a Brooks PureConnect.
Merrell’s are ok for distance running, but I need more cushion for the sprinting style that I am accustomed to. The Merrell’s hurt my knees and shins. They hurt my calves when I jog, so I figured I could only sprint in them, but that hurts the other parts of me.
So off to a more cushioned shoe.
You have to break them in just like other shoes, so that your muscles get used to running with a new form. Your calves and big toes are going to ache but you can work through it. Start with one or two mile runs and work up to longer ones. It’s taken me about six weeks, but I’m up to seven miles now. I’m in a transition shoe, though, not a full-on barefoot shoe yet.
Please be very careful with these shoes. I discovered the hard way that my Vibram FiveFingers are not meant to be worn for long periods at a time. It’s a long story, but the gist is that I was left with these as my only shoes on a walking-and-hiking trip, and after a week of wearing them for about 12 hours a day, my big toes started to go numb. It really freaked me out since I had, up until that point, never experienced any kind of foot pain or injury ever. Apparently the nerves were getting pinched. I stopped wearing the shoes as soon as I returned home, and the sensation gradually returned to my big toes over the course of about a month. I haven’t worn them since. I’m kind of afraid of injuring myself again.
I’ve got a pair of Vibram FiveFingers Treksport shoes (for hiking or trail running). I’ve had them about 8 months now. Although I got them with the intention of using them for hiking or possibly starting to do some light running, mostly I just wear them around the house and around town when I’m in casual clothes (i.e. not dressed for work or anything like that). I’ve got them on now and put them on before walking my dogs. I think they’re incredibly comfortable, and I really do intend to use them more on the trails, but want to be careful about that, too because even though I’m used to wearing them for hours at a time, I haven’t really gone any great distances in them, so I’d still like to build up more strength, first.
Even with my relatively limited use of the shoes, I think they have had some impact on how I walk. Last weekend I went for a hike of approximately 7 miles but instead of wearing my Five Fingers I wore some hiking boots. I ended up being very sore afterward because I hadn’t been especially active since my last hikes in September. What struck me, though, was that I was even sore in my lower back, and I figured out that that was probably a result of the way the hiking boots had me putting more weight on my heel. Depending on the length of this weekend’s hike, I might have to try the Five Fingers this time.
As a personal trainer and Crossfit coach and can def say the barefoot shoes are def worth the money and hold up to the truth. I personally train in Vibram’s Five Fingers and love them. The human bodies natural alignment is the one that you’re born with, shoe free. I hope you love them and you gain the full benefits of them.
You look fabulously fit in them! It was the first thing I noticed when I saw you on Tuesday. I think you will be very pleased the more you wear them during all activities, even everyday walking around. As far as marketing hype goes, that’s always going to be there. I have tried many styles/brands and have 19 pairs in my collection. A woman can never be too fit or have too many pairs of shoes, you deserve them:)
I think if you want less of a shoe, and one that is made with leather and vibram, and that is made in the USA, (I know – all this is too good to be true!), you should check out Soft Star Shoes, especially the RunAmoc Dash. I don’t own a pair, but have been eying them for over a year now. They come is crazy color schemes too! How fun. http://www.softstarshoes.com
Rey,
I commented above your comment, and Soft Stars are awesome. I highly recommend you take the plunge and get a pair of RunAmocs. That’s what I’ve got (2mm street sole), and they’re simply amazing.
I’ve been working up to “barefoot” running since January. I had been running in traditional running shoes for over a year, and developed knee pain and a nagging problem where my right foot would fall asleep while running!! Makes it very hard to keep going, needless to say. So, I made the plunge into “barefoot” running shoes after extensive research to see if I could return to a more normal, natural form of running. I can say that it has made a huge difference. I no longer experience any knee pain or foot numbness, and my running has become more efficient. I can run faster now, as well, since my stride has changed. If you don’t like the look of Vibrams or even other minimalist shoes on the market, I would highly recommend Soft Star shoes. They are made by a small company in Oregon, and you can custom order for sole thickness and color of shoe. My husband runs in Soft Stars as well, and has been doing so since October. He loves his and has actually spent some time running completely barefoot because his feet are much stronger and healthier.
Of course podiatrists hate these shoes. You are more likely to need their services when you wear conventional shoes all of the time…
Welcome to capitalism…
It is challenging to find a progressive podiatrist or a podiatrists to think outside of the box.
And our bodies and feet have not evolved as much over the past 500 years as one might think.
Consistently, many of the best long distance runners come out of Kenya, Nigeria, and other African countries. Ever wonder how they train? Many of them often train barefoot and along with cultural influences, never learned to strike the ground with their heel when running or walking. They run with the proper form; striking with the forefoot….
That is exactly right Grant.
Great choice, Sarah! I run in Newtons (http://newtonrunning.com/) which are seriously expensive, but great shoes. The most important thing about barefoot-style running isn’t the shoe, it’s the technique. I run barefoot-style even in my big clunky runners, and that’s what makes a huge difference. Lighter shoes with less of a heel pad make it easier to use proper technique, but you certainly don’t need them to gain many of the benefits of barefoot-style running. Your best bet is to spend some time reading, watching video, maybe even taking a class on barefoot-style running to make sure you have your technique right. Newton also has fantastic resources on their website that teach about proper running form. http://www.newtonrunning.com/run-better/optimal-running-form
Good luck!