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 think they look really cute. Hope they work out. I hate the big clunky athletic shoes and would love to have a good recommendation like these Merrells.
I like them! I bought a pair of barefoot running shoes, I actually ended up with the vibrams because I found them 40% off, even though I do think they’re funny looking. I love them, and my feet and back don’t hurt after running in them. Hope you enjoy yours!
Unfortunately, they’re not very good for people who need orthotics. 🙁
I got my Vibram five finger shoes in January. I love them and don’t ever want to wear shoes again. I just started running last September. I was wearing the normal running shoes. I was starting to have knee pain, foot pain, shin splints and back pain. Well, I’ve had back pain for the last 13 years, so that really wasn’t new, just a flare up. When first breaking in my legs to the new shoes and new way of running, I could immediately notice a difference. My calves hurt. Not pain, just like a really good workout. That’s when the light bulb really went on. God gave us a really big muscle on the back of our legs to absorb the shock when we’re running. Now that I am completely used to them I wear them for all my workouts, running or not. I am up to running 6 miles. I have no knee pain, no more shin splints, no more back pain, and my feet feel great. I even wore them to go trekking around the Mayan ruins in Mexico. My kids of course wanted some too. I could not, however justify spending $100 each for my boys who are growing like weeds. I found a good deal on the Fila Skeletoes. They are definitely not the same. Though I’ve worn my tons, even through a mud run/obstacle course, they are still in great shape. My kids shoes, not so much. They hardly lasted a month before getting ripped up. It also strikes me strange that they only have 4 toes. Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.
Where did you buy them?
I have been running in New Balance “Minimus” runners (minimalist, barefoot style shoes) for almost a year and I love them. They are comfortable, light and I’ve had no injuries. I just ran my first race yesterday (a 5km…at age 43…yay! ) and several runners asked me how I liked my shoes and told me that they wre in the process of transitioning to minimalist/barefoot shoes.
AND I think your new shoes are super cute 😉
Merrell has vibram soles and they feel marvelous
Bought VFF a couple months ago and LOVE them! My only problems with them are that they are a tad bit too small (I had myself sized by a guy who didn’t know anything about VFF… bad idea.), and they smell. My five finger shoes started smelling after about 2 months of frequent wear. They are washable, but it’s just kind of annoying. 😛
I NEVER ran before I had the VFF, and now I really enjoy it! Despite being the wrong size, they are super comfortable. I’m on my feet for ~30hrs a week at work, and I don’t have NEAR as many problems with my back and knees as I used too when I just wore sketchers.
I love all the attention they attract. I work at a grocery store and they cause a lot of comments! I’ve had people ask to touch them, I’ve given examples of how to run in them, etc… so much fun. 😀
All in all, I love the VFF, and I can see myself buying more pairs! I’m also looking to buy a pair of Softstars… has anybody else gotten them?
I was hoping to see someone else recommend Soft Star Shoes in the comments. They have some really cute mary-janes for women and other types for pretty much any feet (they can be custom made)! . http://www.softstarshoes.com
I have made the transition to these over the last year and am now literally either in them or barefoot. every time I put one of my “other” pairs I get some kind of foot pain…
Wow! Great testimonial Aimee. Thank you for sharing. I am excited about my new shoes. I go barefoot most of the time anyway, so am hoping the transition is easy. I will be sure not to overdo though and hurt myself.