The Wind Between Your Toes: Barefoot Running

Barefoot running is a trend and a life style taking the nation, and the world, by storm.  If you think about it for a minute, it really makes sense.  Humans are not born with shoes on, so why do we invest in little devices that do nothing but protect the supple skin on the bottoms of our feet and trap a very useful muscle group in a small, stylish, cushiony prison?  Half the time,  our toes are smashed together; they are forced to fit the shoe rather than the opposite.

Now what if I told you that new shoe technology has given us an alternative solution to this dilemma, as opposed to walking around with nasty bare feet all day?  Too good to be true?  False.  The company Vibram has created a line of footwear call Five Fingers which allows the user to feel as though they are barefoot, while still maintaining the protection from the environment that wearing shoes provides.  Think of it more as a toe sock with a sole.  That’s right; it’s a shoe that has toes!   Rather incredible to look at.  There is nothing but a thin (2-7 mm) rubber sole between you and the ground.  This enables the foot to flex while running, walking, or whatever you choose to do in them.  This also means that it becomes very dangerous to plant most of our weight on our heel as we are forced to with traditional shoes.  Instead of the heel, most of the weight is placed on the arch of the foot.  Miraculously, the arch coupled with the ankle, and knee, are the best set of shock absorbers to date.  A slightly bent leg absorbs much more shock and does less damage to the body compared to a straight, locked knee.  Read on to hear about my experience switching over to these new shoes:

I have been running in my Five Fingers for over 6 months and have yet to develop any sort of running related injury where as in the past I would have to take a few days to a few weeks off of training due to unexplained pain in my foot or leg.  The ability to train for months on end has been the best thing about these “shoes”.  I am faster, feel better, and have more endurance than ever before.

Vibram has many models of the Five Fingers.  The most popular model the is the KSO (Keep Stuff Out).  It utilizes a Velcro strap to literally keep stuff out and keep the shoe on.  I have been using this for running until today, when I upgraded to the running model, Bikila.  Here’s my review:

So I got the latest and greatest pair of “footy” shoes from www.citysports.com a few days ago.  All I can say is wow.  Not only are these the most comfortable things that I’ve ever had on my feet, but they actually STAY on my feet! Vibram has incorporated more of a “sole” design into the Bikila model which provides more cushioning for the runner than their previous models. Please note that there is still zero arch or any kind of other support, just added cushioning that allows the runner to have a more springy step whilst still being able to feel the ground and use the inner muscles of the foot. Honestly, it feels like I’m carrying around a rubber track on the bottom of my feet…and that’s when running on concrete. There is also a  polyurethane arch cushion which prevents rocks from impacting the oh so delicate arch. Great additions.

The first thing that I noticed when putting on the Bikilas is that there was little or no break-in period. I didn’t have to jam my toes into their respective slots, nor did my pinky toe feel smashed like it did when I first tried on the KSOs. Maybe this is because my feet were already used to how FiveFingers are supposed to feel, but either way, the “shoe” was significantly easier to get on my foot. This was partially due to a larger ankle opening. I fact, the entire opening is looser and more comfortable. Hell, the entire inside of the shoe feels like a velvet carpet that Aladdin could ride around Arabia! Its great! The looser ankle design allows for more comfort around the ankle as well as less pressure on the Achilles tendon, producing an even more natural running feel. The strap on the forefront of the foot is where things get awesome.

You may be thinking, “If the ankle is looser, how does this thing stay on my foot?” I have no clue, but it just does. The toe portion of the shoe fits much more snugly that the KSOs ever did. Uncomfortable? Not at all. Remember kids, the whole inside of the shoe feels like Aladdin’s carpet. The extra hug that the balls and toes of the shoe give to your feet is a much welcome one. The strap on the Bikilas (unlike the KSOs) provides no arch support and no pressure on the tendon, and is only there to make sure the thing stays snug around the front portion of the foot. With these features combined, you foot does not seem to slip and slide (ouch!) around the inside of the shoe. At high speeds in the KSOs, my foot would slip and I would feel both unstable and afraid to run any longer. Conversely, with the Bikilas, there is ZERO slip at a full sprint. I have absolute confidence in my foot. I would compare the Bikilas to a sports car shoe. Great for everything, both slow or fast. I have yet to put them through any serious cornering, but the few turns that I did take in them felt great.

I’ve been waiting for a shoe design like this for years. No more foot or leg pain. No need to take days or weeks off of training to heal from a running related injury. For those of you who own a pair of FiveFingers, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you who don’t, I highly recommend investing in a pair. Avid runners, it will change the way you run forever. Not so avid runners, it will improve your over all posture, strengthen your feet, and you’ll never have foot pain again!

I hope you join me in the bareofoot running movement!