Minimalist Running in the winter

raige123
raige123 Posts: 352
in Fitness and Exercise
I am a minimalist runner, running in my Vibram Fivefingers and absolutely love them. Since I started using them my shin splints have completely gone away. I am in the process of training for a Hypothermic Half marathon right now ... it will be run March 2nd and here in Canada, it will be cold. I see that Vibram has a cold weather runner called the Lontra and I am wondering if anyone has used them? If so, how were your feet after? Did they stay dry as the shoe advertises and were your feet warm? Because of the neoprene cuff, did you find them anymore difficult to put on?

Replies

  • brunotolosa
    brunotolosa Posts: 18
    Hey there

    I'm too a proud owner of Vibram Bikila and love running in them. I also run with Luna Sandals sometimes and completely barefoot if the weather allows.

    I saw the Lontra but I didn't try it yet. Instead, what I normally do is to get some heavy socks and I hope my feet won't get wet. I actually enjoy the whole feeling of running in the winter and I play a game with myself during long runs- the "let's not get our feet wet" game and I find myself running like a madman out in the streets dodging some obstacles here and there.

    Let me know if you try Lontra as I am also curious to see how effective it is. If it is, I hope Santa could bring me one this December.. I've been a good guy this year :)

    Keep in touch and nice to another member of our growing minimalist running community!

    Cheers from London
  • sarah456s
    sarah456s Posts: 98 Member
    I'm just switching out of my fivefingers, into something a bit more cushioned (Brooks PureConnect). I'm not sure if this will just be for the winter, or a permanent thing. We'll see. I haven't tried the Lontra.

    Anyway, I wanted to put in a plug for Injinji toe socks if you've never tried them. I used them in the cold weather previously with my fivefingers, and they worked well for me. Although...caveat...I live in Florida, so my idea of cold is not going to be the same as Canadian cold, but then again, I'm not adjusted to the cold at all, so I am a complete and utter wimp at temperatures you would consider to be balmy.
  • PixieGoddess
    PixieGoddess Posts: 1,833 Member
    I have a pair of Sprints for warm weather and a different pair (I wanna say KSOs?) that cover my entire foot for cold weather, and it's a larger size so that I can wear Injinjis underneath. And to expound on sarah's post: I'm in the Denver area and the Injinji+Vibram combination works GREAT! I hate pavement, so I always run in the grass - and in winter, that means snow! My feet are generally cold for a little while after I first hit snow, but between the moisture wicking from the socks and the heat generated by my body, my feet are still warm by the end of the run. :smile:
  • LishLash79
    LishLash79 Posts: 562 Member
    I just bought my vibrems.. love them... just am starting to run in them.. major calf muscles pain the day after.. ;) which i was warned about.. how long did you find it lasted till you got used to running in them? thanks ;)

    PS.. canada winter running vs Florida winter running.. no comparison.. lol.. friggen cold here in canada in the winter.. (ontario here)
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Sorry, can't help out in the minimalist shoe dept but thanks for the reminder about the Hypothermic Half, I just signed up for the Ottawa one (my 3rd) - I had thought about skipping it this year but couldn't as it's on my birthday!
  • tappae
    tappae Posts: 568 Member
    The Injinji socks work great with the 5 fingers, especially if you do get your feet wet, since they wick very well. When it was sub-freezing, though, I still lost the feeling in my toes, but was okay as long as I stayed dry.
  • raige123
    raige123 Posts: 352
    I just bought my vibrems.. love them... just am starting to run in them.. major calf muscles pain the day after.. ;) which i was warned about.. how long did you find it lasted till you got used to running in them? thanks ;)

    PS.. canada winter running vs Florida winter running.. no comparison.. lol.. friggen cold here in canada in the winter.. (ontario here)

    I found the pain was there only a few days and then everything felt better than it ever had on a run. I find now if I wear sneakers, everything hurts. I'll stick with my Vibrams. :)
  • raige123
    raige123 Posts: 352
    Hey there

    I'm too a proud owner of Vibram Bikila and love running in them. I also run with Luna Sandals sometimes and completely barefoot if the weather allows.

    I saw the Lontra but I didn't try it yet. Instead, what I normally do is to get some heavy socks and I hope my feet won't get wet. I actually enjoy the whole feeling of running in the winter and I play a game with myself during long runs- the "let's not get our feet wet" game and I find myself running like a madman out in the streets dodging some obstacles here and there.

    Let me know if you try Lontra as I am also curious to see how effective it is. If it is, I hope Santa could bring me one this December.. I've been a good guy this year :)

    Keep in touch and nice to another member of our growing minimalist running community!

    Cheers from London

    I'll have my Lontra's in the next month so I will let you know for sure. There is no avoiding getting my feet wet here in winter.
  • raige123
    raige123 Posts: 352
    Sorry, can't help out in the minimalist shoe dept but thanks for the reminder about the Hypothermic Half, I just signed up for the Ottawa one (my 3rd) - I had thought about skipping it this year but couldn't as it's on my birthday!

    How have you found the HH? This is my first one.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I don't mean to change the subject at all, but what do you runners do about ice in the winter?

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