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Barefoot Shoes

GlitterGoldJem
GlitterGoldJem Posts: 73 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/womens_footwear.htm

Has anyone tried "Barefoot" shoes? I absolutely hate sneakers ... I mean I obviously wear them when I go for a walk or run but they are just so bulky feeling. (mostly due to the fact that I'm a flat or flip flop girl) I was thinking about getting these for my days on the treadmill. Any reviews? Good/bad ...

Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I haven't tried the vibrams myself but the whole idea behind the barefoot / minimalist shoes is to get people to run using a midfoot strike rather than heel striking (which is what most traditional running shoes do).

    I know runners who use them and love them. Would I buy them.....not sure yet (running in winter conditions helped me shorten my stride which results in a midfoot strike without spending the extra $$ and getting used to a different shoe)
  • xjackie83
    xjackie83 Posts: 23 Member
    I have Merrells with the vibram "technology" in them. They are kind of like a mary jane style shoe. I really like them. I have super bad feet and can't wear a lot of shoes due to a stress fracture in my one foot and the tendency for my ankle to roll on my other foot. With that said, it's a really unique fit. They have a super high built in arch, but it works for my foot.

    With that said, it seems when it comes to vibram people either really love or really hate them.
  • GlitterGoldJem
    GlitterGoldJem Posts: 73 Member
    The Shoe Dept. had FILA brand "barefoot" shoes but not in my size. I keep debating about ordering them ... all I can do is try them out!

    Thanks for the replies :)
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I have them and I absolutely LOVE them. I've always been a toe/mid-foot striker and find these to be great for the way I run.If you're a heel striker I would not recommend them.

    If you do get them you might want to buy the socks to go with them. I didn't and the first time I ran in them I got blisters on my big toes which wasn't a big deal just annoying. I wear the socks with the shoes whenever I run in them. Also you'll need to break them in slowly, like ten minute stints of running in them just to get used to them because it is a completely different feeling when your foot strikes in the 5-finger shoes vs. a regular running shoe because there is significantly less padding. I have not ran outside in them yet but from what I have heard you will feel every pebble, stick, crack etc in them because of the lack of padding. Now I'm not sure how they're going to effect my feet/legs in the long run but right now I'm enjoying running in them and as silly as it may sound I feel like I can run faster in them as well.

    Would I recommend them to you? Absolutely but only because I love them. Also a friend of mine who's a huge fitness guy (does tri-athelons, an iron man, marathons etc) did not have anything bad to say about them when I asked his opinion on them.
  • sanura
    sanura Posts: 459 Member
    thanks for the link! I've seen other people wearing these and didn't know where to get them. I used your link and found a store in my city! yay!!
  • gdunn55
    gdunn55 Posts: 363
    I have Vibram Five Fingers and New Balance Minimus shoes. They're both good, but you have to ease your way into them. I don't see me running more than a 5k in my Five Fingers at the moment.
This discussion has been closed.

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