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
I’ve been looking at barefoot running shoes for years online too. I just can bring myself to take the plunge and buy them. I don’t know what I’m so hesitant about. Reading on the comments though has been encouraging. I may be ready to finally get my first pair of barefoot running shoes too.
I have too many knee and arch problems to even think about this.
Second year using NB minimus (vibram soles) and love them.
Those are cute! I am now inspired to get some for my summer adventures. I wonder if they can kind of double as water shoes and dry quickly? I am looking at the five fingers ones (even though when they came out I thought they looked so dumb and gimicky) because if I’m going to buy barefoot shoes I might as well go all the way and get the toe spreading action. I will just not have to worry about how ridiculous I look and how many weird looks I will get! 🙂
Actually, you’ll probably get more people telling you how cool they look! I’m surprised by how many people are constantly stopping me and my husband about our shoes!
I’ve been wearing my Vibram 5 fingers for a year now and after breaking each foot prior to purchasing them I must say I’m in love with these shoes! I feel I have less of a chance of slipping and the rocks I run on along the trails massage my feet, they don’t hurt!
The one thing I have discovered with these types of shoes from conversations with people I know in the fitness industry and in chiropractic fields is that for some people you have to allow yourself some adaptation time for your gait and foot contact with the ground,becouse your body has adapted to the thicker shoes over time. I know for me there was a noticeable adjustment for me with my calf muscles and achilles area, so I modified my exercise as far as running and sprinting I did. I also know some people might start getting plantar fasciitis issues if you go to hard to soon with these new types of shoes.
just some food for thought !
My husband is a sub elite marathoner….and we travel to runs and are very involved in serious running community. These types of shoes are either ok for you or not. If you are a biomechanically correct runner, you may get away with them, but if you aren’t, you may be opening yourself up to massive injury potential. Doctors, podiatitrists, and other health professionals are seeing a substantial increase in injuries of runners using these footwear. If you want to try them, start real slow and remember, if you step on a stone or a rock, you ARE going to feel it, bigtime……just because a Kenyan or Ethopian runner can run barefoot, doesn’t correlate to our north american body types (including foot structure) being able to…….
I couldn’t agree more. My son (15) is physically fit and a cross country and track participant. We tried barefoot runners to see if it would help a debilitating case of shin splints and it was a total failure. If injuries are already present, I would suggest getting professional help in selecting a shoe. Our son has had a miraculous turn-around (he was barely able to walk for months) by gradually stepping down through the Newton line of running shoes. These are designed to force the foot to land on the forefoot and no longer strike the heel. He hopes to eventually work his way down to their ultra lightweight racing flats, but for now we are delighted to see him painlessly running and bringing his PRs down. I cannot say enough good things about these shoes (Newton). And no I do not work for the company. I’m just a grateful mama glad to see her son no longer in pain. I’m delighted for everyone who is able to quickly transition to barefoot runners, but know that they may not be a good thing for everyone. By the way, I think yours are very cute Sarah.
I’ve got the NB Minimus ones … I LOVE THEM. I hated running, but at least when I wear these, I feel “fast” and “graceful” because I don’t hear that foot slamming like a herd of bufallos 🙂 Not to mention, spending the $100 on a pair of shoes sort of guilts you in to using them 🙂 I did find they run on the small side. AND my heels really gave me grief in the beginning but have mellowed out now. Just sayin … (and I am NOT a runner by nature)
According to my favorite biomechanics specialist, our unshod foot is capable of 8.6 x 10^36 unique positions. When we wear standard shoes our feet our limited to about 3 positions. We are capable of billions and billions of movements, so why limit our health to only 3? Heck, yeah, barefoot shoes make sense.
I love running in my Vibrams. I’ve had them for a few years. But I don’t like wearing them when I have a lot of standing and walking to do. I guess I just appreciate being able to heel strike when I walk, lol! And cushioning for standing in the kitchen.