Barefoot/minimalist footwear

ShaunaMcMac

I've got friends and family who are fanatical about them. Is this a fad, or are they really that great. Discuss.

KaleeCat

I've had my pair of Vibram Fivefingers for about a month now and I LOVE them! My feet and joints feel much better after wearing them than with traditional shoes!

KatLifter

I think like many things it depends on the person. I have flat feet so I can't wear them without doing more damage to my joints. In reality, flat/minimalist footwear have been popular for some time with weight lifting, the classic and most popular being Converse Chuck Taylors.

These have become so popular I've actually been criticized for wearing running sneakers to lift. Show me some minimalist footwear that can accomodate orthotic insoles and I'll be in.

sheleen302

I think like many things it depends on the person. I have flat feet so I can't wear them without doing more damage to my joints. In reality, flat/minimalist footwear have been popular for some time with weight lifting, the classic and most popular being Converse Chuck Taylors.

These have become so popular I've actually been criticized for wearing running sneakers to lift. Show me some minimalist footwear that can accomodate orthotic insoles and I'll be in.

^^This--right there with you! Now make them in a size 5.

san0322

I really like the idea. I have two pair of Vibram Five Fingers and everytime I wear them my calves seize up and I can't walk for a week.

kaleas

I've been wearing Merrell's Barefoot Trail Glove for two years, and they are my most favorite pair of shoes. I wear them to run, hike, lift, walk, or just to exist in. They did take some getting used to at first, but also keep in mind I'm someone who walks around barefoot on the norm. I do pronate inward and could use some inner support to keep my ankle from rolling, but I found that I actually correct this pronation in my barefoot shoes while I run.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I'm not into the five fingers, but I do like a minimalist shoe. I just bought a pair of New Balance Minimus, I've been going for a lower and lower profile shoe and was really excited to see these at TJ Maxx so I could try them for cheap. They felt good on Tuesday, but I need to hit a couple more miles with them before I really make a decision (my shin splints will tell me). I have to say, however, even if I can't wear them on the road they are heaven in the weight room.

ShaunaMcMac

I'm not into the five fingers, but I do like a minimalist shoe. I just bought a pair of New Balance Minimus, I've been going for a lower and lower profile shoe and was really excited to see these at TJ Maxx so I could try them for cheap. They felt good on Tuesday, but I need to hit a couple more miles with them before I really make a decision (my shin splints will tell me). I have to say, however, even if I can't wear them on the road they are heaven in the weight room.

It would be great to know how they hold up on the road. I do most of my running on the side of the highway.

majope

Can't wear the Five Fingers because they refuse to make them for long toes, but I do have a pair of Merrell Dash Gloves with Vibram soles. I'm transitioning into them from Saucony Kinvaras (4mm drop and some cushioning), and am up to runs of 4-5 miles in the Merrells. So far no real problems, although for the first mile or so they feel rather jarring. Then I get used to it and don't notice. But I've been in the low-drop running shoes for a year now, and almost always wear flat shoes (Converse, usually) for daily wear, outside, anyway--always barefoot in the house. Someone who wears a lot of heels and/or higher-drop running shoes would probably have a worse time switching.

bpotts44

I've got friends and family who are fanatical about them. Is this a fad, or are they really that great. Discuss.

I made the conversion to minimalism over the winter. It is no fad as evidence by ALL the big shoe brand making minimalist shoes in addition to the new brands that have come out. Minimalist footwear helps you maintain proper running form. Proper running form is the key to preventing injuries and getting faster. I run in Altra Samsons and love them.

bpotts44

I think like many things it depends on the person. I have flat feet so I can't wear them without doing more damage to my joints. In reality, flat/minimalist footwear have been popular for some time with weight lifting, the classic and most popular being Converse Chuck Taylors.

These have become so popular I've actually been criticized for wearing running sneakers to lift. Show me some minimalist footwear that can accomodate orthotic insoles and I'll be in.

My feet are dead pan flat and there are a great many excellent runners with flat feet. This should not stop you from running barefoot or minimalist. Unless you have a specific injury/deformation then probably your form is the problem.

LeenaRuns

I think like many things it depends on the person. I have flat feet so I can't wear them without doing more damage to my joints. In reality, flat/minimalist footwear have been popular for some time with weight lifting, the classic and most popular being Converse Chuck Taylors.

These have become so popular I've actually been criticized for wearing running sneakers to lift. Show me some minimalist footwear that can accomodate orthotic insoles and I'll be in.

My feet are dead pan flat and there are a great many excellent runners with flat feet. This should not stop you from running barefoot or minimalist. Unless you have a specific injury/deformation then proper your form is off.

I was thinking the same thing. I have collapsed arches from doing jumping events in track in high school, and almost 15 years later I'm wearing Vibram Five Fingers for running half marathons. And for lifting. Just sayin'.

lynn1982

Like others have said, it depends on the person. I love mine for shorter runs. If I run any longer than 5K in them then my calves tense up. I had this conversation recently with my chiropractor who is also a running coach. He also said it depends on the person - I have a good foot (I have a good arch and my foot doesn't roll), so he said for me, it's fine for short distances. He also mentioned that using them will help strengthen my calves, but he doesn't suggest using them more often than my regular running shoes or for longer distances.

ArroganceInStep

I use vibrams to lift. Best advice I can give if you want to try them out: wear socks.

Sabine_Stroehm

I think it depends.

I think they are definitely better for our bodies than some of the heels I see women wearing these days!

For me? I've been minimal for about 1.5 years now. I can run minimal or barefoot. I haven't gone this long injury free as a runner since my teens.
I think minimal/barefoot just works with my feet. ALL my treadmill runs are barefoot (socks). My outdoor runs are a mix of minimal and barefoot (on a synthetic track). 5-10K without any issues.
If I decide to do a half marathon at some point, I'll have to do some research.

My daily walk to work/wear at work casual shoes are New Balance Minimus.
My regular running shoes are Brooks Pure Connect.
My slightly dressier work shoes are the Merrell "mary janes".
My treadmill runners, as I said, are my socks.

I don't wear or own heels.
It just works for me.

rybo

Love my minimalist footwear. Depending on the person it can take a VERY long time to adapt your feet/muscles to that kind of stimulus. People try too much too soon, get injured and say it wasn't for them when 99.9% of the time, they just did too much too fast.

JustJennie1

I have a pair of the vibram 5 finger shoes and while I love them there's limited places where I can wear them when I run. Not all the surfaces I run on are asphalt and believe me it HURTS when you hit gravel!

DennyHodge

You have to ease into them. Get used to wearing them just walking around for a month or so. I have Vibram 5 fingers and love running in them. They will lock up your calves if you don't slowly work your way up to running in them. They make you run more natural, and almost completely reduce heel strike which cushioned shoes cause. The school of thought is all the cushioning causes injury instead of prevents it. The vibrams really help with running form though. They have helped me eliminate my heel striking a ton, and I land midfoot-balls of my feet much easier and naturally now. My times in my runs have went waaayyyy down and I've been injury free.

msb803

I started wearing minimalist shoes two years ago and I love them! I have vivobarefoot mary janes that i wear to work almost everyday, then I have several pairs of minimalist shoes I wear for Crossfit, running, etcetera. That being said, it is important to transition slowly. Now that I'm actually running(finished C25K earlier this year), I did get some Merrell Arc - they're a transitional shoe, and provide more support(which I need while running) since I'm still overweight. My back and knee pain disappeared when I started wearing this style of shoe more often. I love them!

camrunner

I'm a big fan of 0-4mm drop shoes, but I run on gravel a lot so I like a slightly thicker sole. I'm not really sure what the functional difference is between, say, my Saucony Virattas (zero drop) and my Saucony Kinvaras (4mm drop) but they're both lightweight with a decent amount of cushion for longer runs.

4_Lisa

I'm not into the five fingers, but I do like a minimalist shoe. I just bought a pair of New Balance Minimus,

Me too, just got mine but so far I LOVE them.

contingencyplan

Is it a fad? Yes. Will it die down? Yes. That's not to say there won't be people who keep it going after it's not popular anymore, and it also does have its advantages. I find them particularly good for strength training. For everything else though I prefer traditional cross trainers.

msrootitooti

I also wear the Saucony Kinvaras because they still give a bit of cushioning but are lightweight. I came across them by accident not realizing they are minimalist and don't want to switch back.

DrBorkBork

I think they're wonderful. My ACL problems went away with them and I set a PR in the first race I wore them in, so you decide. They're super comfy. I never want to go back to regular shoes. I have 4 pairs of vibrams-- 2 komodos, 1 kso trek sport, and 1 bormio. I run in the komodos (and I've done half marathons in them, so don't let anyone try to convince you they're not okay for long distances)

KatieSeratt

Both my sister and I have the Vibram Five Finger shoes (I have 2 pairs, my sister has 5 pairs)...They are awesome! Most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I have very high arches and it is hard for me to find shoes that support that and fit properly. I don't have any joint pain, foot pain, or anything with these shoes. They don't always seem to look right with the clothes I wear on a daily basis or with my scrubs, but they are so comfortable, I don't really care what they look like

camrunner

I also wear the Saucony Kinvaras because they still give a bit of cushioning but are lightweight. I came across them by accident not realizing they are minimalist and don't want to switch back.

I don't blame you for saying this, as the term minimalist is by no means used consistently, but Kinvaras are really not minimalist. Minimalism is about the stack height of the shoe moreso than the heel-toe drop. I guess they are kind of towards the minimal end of the spectrum, but the sole is still way too thick for them to be considered minimalist.

vistajay

I have consistently run for over 30 years, so I have a lot of miles on my legs. The last five years have been disrupted by injury as I round into my mid-40s, mostly to my calves and hamstrings. I started running with Vibrams about 6 months ago. My form has improved tremendously, I am running more than I have in ten years, and (best of all) am finally injury free. It does take a couple of months to ease into them. Start with just a walk. The next week, run a light 3 miles. Do that again for a few weeks. Even if they feel great, resist running too far in them the first month. If you have too much pain the next day, give your body a few days rest before tackling again. Keep running with your regular shoes in between Vibram runs. Eventually you will be able to run just in the Vibrams. I am running 4-5 times a week, 4-6 miles at a time, in my Vibrams currently. I cannot remember the last time I ran in regular shoes, and I cannnot imagine going back. Vibrams do such a great job of mimicing barefoot running, that I feel 10 years old again when I run in them!

freindsofmine

Love them wouldnt wear any thing eles

SToast

I've been wearing 5 fingers for 4 years now. They are my favorite footwear by far. I do run in them. My only suggestion to people starting out running in them is to watch your form. Make sure your heel taps the ground with each stride. Don't run only on the balls of your feet. Also, your calves are going to be SORE for the first couple of days. Barefoot running changes your stride from a heel strike stride to a toes first stride. It's like doing thousands of calf raises.

Due to the changed stride I do not turn my feet out when I am running in my V5F shoes. Since you lead with your toe it corrects your stride and is lower impact. I can't run in regular running shoes without my knees hurting.

The reason I bought V5Fs is because I always go barefoot. I bought them when they only had 2 styles. Classic (no strap) and Sprint (with a strap). I think a lot of the hype now is fad. They have over 40 styles I think. IMO that is overkill, but I love my classics so who am I to say someone doesn't need V5F boots?

icjason

I've been running minimalist for a while now as well. My current rotation includes Altra Adams, some Kigos, SoftStar Dashes, and NB Minimus. I also keep a couple pair of more 'traditional' padded shoes around.

I love running with minimal (read: no real padding, and just enough material to protect my feet from sharp gravel) footwear. The biggest deal for me was changing from heel-strike to a mid-foot strike. If you're running with minimal gear and heel-striking, you're likely to end up with problems. Read up on it and give it a shot!

OkieTink

I can't drop the cash on 5 Fingers yet, I run barefoot at a track and can't get over a mile in before my calves seize up. When I can run 2-3 miles barefoot I'll pay money for the shoes.