Five Finger Shoes

It depends on why you have back pain.

If you are a heel striker, then you are going to have issues with running in them. You need to have a mid foot or fore foot strike to run in them. Without aches and pains.

I have a pair. I am a heel striker. I couldn't switch my foot strike. I don't run in them now.

I recently bought some!! They're amazing for running outside. I have run with them on the tredmill a couple times now and my calves kill afterwards. I think when I'm running outside I strike more on the ball of my foot, but when I'm on the tred I strike more with my heel.
Also, they take a couple weeks to get used to simply cuz we're not used to running basicslly barefoot. So if you do buy some I would start with just wearing them for everyday stuff for a bit before you try running in them.

I loved mine. They helped a lot with my knee and back pain, because they change the way your foot hits the ground - as therealangd said, they help you switch from hitting the ground heel first to hitting it mid-foot. They were the only shoes I was able to run in.

i can't run, but my son does and he has those shoes. He runs flat footed so they work well for him. He uses them every day and really likes them. He has also run marathons in them without any issues.

I bought a pair of the Fila Skeletoes, I'm only using them to workout. I am more of a forefoot striker when I run, but just by jogging around a little in my Fila's I didn't like the pull on my achilles (they aren't made for running, just wanted to check them out with a short, light jog before investing in the Vibrams) so I'll stick with the regular running shoes.

I love mine; I have two pairs, one for the treadmill and one with thicker soles for outside. I've always walked and run on the balls of my feet, so they were perfect for me with no real adjustment period needed.

I would recommend trying them on in a brick-and-mortar store before deciding to purchase. Because of the variety of foot shapes, they are very difficult to size without trying on. The store I bought my first pair from let me try on a few pairs, and then once I found my size in the style I liked, they allowed me to walk, jog, and irish dance around the store for 15 minutes before I decided to buy them.

Good luck!

LOVE MINE...I've had them for almost two years. Do yourself a favor (your body will thank you!) and start SLOWLY. You need to strengthen tendons, muscles and ligaments in your foot that are weakened from lack of use. They are great!

Yes! I have a funky shaped pinky toe and couldnt get comfrotable in 5 fingers. So I got Merrell Pace Gloves. They are "barefoot" technology shoes and sole is made my fivefingers. Plus they aren't butt ugly LOL!

I am heel striker trying to get back into running after an injury and trying to be a midfoot striker.

I have not been able to use mine on the treadmill. One of my feet is a bit bigger than the other and I have constant irritation on the heal of the smaller foot. They are great for doing work out videos though! I would also suggest any type of neutral foot bed, low profile shoe. I have a pair of Saucony Shadows that are awesome!

YES!!! I love my Five Fingers!

I've been running for years, have done a marathon and multiple half marathons. I always had low back pain, particularly if I was logging 10+ miles in a day. I decided to enlist a running coach to help me be more efficient. I was scrutinized for my poor running form!! I was told that my leaning backwards and hard heel strike were likely causing all of my low back pain and shin splints.

I did a bunch of online research and attended a 'barefoot running' seminar shortly after getting the running coach's advice. I was convinced that I needed to get myself into a minimalist running shoe. I had already been running in Injinji socks, and because I was used to have fabric between my toes (they're great for preventing blisters!) I decided to purchase a pair of Komodo Sports within one week of that seminar. Today, I do everything in my FiveFingers. Honestly, I have a really hard time running, lifting weights or doing any other workout in 'regular' running shoes! The only time I wear my old shoes is if I'm running outside when it's wet or below 40 degrees. Winters in WI is a little too extreme for me with FiveFingers.

* Note, I have no more back or shin pain, and my hips and glutes are much stronger.

Be warned, that you need to start slow with FiveFingers, or any other minimalist running shoe. If you're naturally a heel-striker, your calves will be sore until you completely and effectively change your running form. Minimalist shoes force you to lift your knees higher, making you a mid-foot striker by default. Best of luck to you!

No opinion, but I had to laugh because my sister in law is scared, YES scared of those shoes. When she sees someone wearing them she screeches, points, and runs. LOL She's 41 years old. :laugh:

I recently picked up a pair (which I walk around in) but I run completely barefoot. The transition from shoe to the vibrams is actually a very delicate process and you can really hurt yourself if you just plow into it.

If you run barefoot, then the bottoms of your feet will make you stop before you hurt the internal structure of your foot. You are working a whole lot of stuff that didn't have to be worked before. So, I would say begin transitioning now without the shoes. If you want to run barefoot GO SLOW. The recommendations I got said begin with only an eighth of a mile and move up from there.

i love mine.

as far as how they will work with you, it depends. Treadmill running isnt the best for any kind of pain, soft surfaces (grass, etc) are best. Secondly, what is your back pain from? Thirdly, the five finger shoes demand that you run on the balls of your feet rather than your heals as with traditional shoes...it takes some adjustment but has worked very favorably for me. I had chronic joint pain in my left knee and since switching shoes, it has completely gone away!

I've been using them for about 5 years running on treadmills and outside. Generally they have improved A LOT since there initial release of them. I got them for shear fact that I was in the military and we were traveling a lot and they take up no space in your pack compared to normal running shoes. Otherwise I am been running in them for quite awhile, I would recommend them but they take some adaptation if you are running in them, due to the fact that it utilizes more muscle groups in your calves. Some people might find that there run times will be affected, due to the fact there is no "spring board" support compared to normal running shoes, its just purely using your muscles to spring each stride