Minimal/Barefoot style running shoes . . .

What a cool thread!

Veronica - Great dress! And that sounds like a fabulous occasion! I would be curious which styles of Merrell's you have, and how you like them. I'm fine in them for casual wear. I expect I need a wide (or another shoe) for running. Whenever I am allowed back to that.

GLC - I thought I remembered that you liked the wide NB. I have very wide toes now too from barefoot shoes. In fact, I may have to get new bike shoes.

Lovelygamer - those Correct Toes look cool! I'm sure I'm still re-training my feet (and my toes may spread even more). I still get some pain in the little toe with 5 fingers - I think because it's not used to spreading. I've been wearing a combination of merrell's, 5 fingers, flip flips (plain old rainbows) and chacos for most of a year. It's made a huge difference in my foot comfort.

Limewave - if you don't have to dress up too much, look at Soft Star. I really want to order their Mary Jane's and their Rambler. They're made in the USA, and I think cute (though my DH does not agree....). Come to think of it, I probably would have worn the MJ with my suits when I had to wear them (but I worse Danskos to work every day).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lovelygamer

This link http://www.lemingfootwear.com/Foot-E...n_ep_71-1.html found off of the first link on this thread is SO interesting. Foot Education. There is a product there I would love to try: Correct Toes.

I don't run but I have foot pain. There are several reasons I have it. It's highly annoying. I feel better when I am barefoot but society doesn't really go for that. I love the thought of this product correcting or easing other foot pain and issues such as PF, which I also have.

---

Correct Toes was invented by my podiatrist. I have a pair! They work great, but he also admitted to me that wearing VFF's would serve the same purpose (assuming all your toes make it into the pockets). I had a very hard time finding shoes that would fit over my Correct Toes (hence my foray into all things from Vivobarefoot) and I think that's partly why my doc went into partnership with Lemmings. I was clearly not the only one!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Veronica

Slight hijack

This is the front runner dress currently.

I have these. But I'm not sure they'll do.

My sister insisted I should get heels. No freakin' way. I'm going to be dressed up for at least 8 hours and on my feet.

Veronica

---

Beautiful gown! A flat metallic would look great with that dress. I'm sure you can find one. How about the Naturalizer Cadence (multi-colored metallic); looks comfy too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blueberry

GLC - I thought I remembered that you liked the wide NB. I have very wide toes now too from barefoot shoes. In fact, I may have to get new bike shoes.

---

Heh, me too! I can't wear my bike shoes (mens for width) for more than a couple of hours before my feet really start to cramp up. Once I get back into shape (and get my screws out), I'm really going to have to work on finding a suitable shoe solution. My feet have spread quite a bit in the last three years of my barefoot experience! The podiatrist I mentioned above said that he's actually cut cycling shoes for clients with the same problem to make them work, so I may have to let him at mine. ;)

One thing I noticed about going barefoot is that although my feet haven't gotten bigger my arches seem to have gotten stronger.

I used to wear full length orthotics supposedly to help knee problems. After a PT told me I didn't need them and I was reading about the barefoot movement I eased myself off the orthotics and went back to going barefoot. To take up some volume in my cycling shoes I got E-Soles with various arch heights.

At first the lowest arch felt too high and uncomfortable, especially when standing or walking in my bicycle shoes. Odd because I have a pretty good arch. This year I noticed that I didn't feel the arch support at all. Thinking the original support was just broken down I put new ones in. Amazingly, the new ones are the next to the highest level provided by E-soles. Unlike when I first started using E-Soles I hardly notice the arch support. I tried changing the metatarsel pads but my feet didn't like that at so I went back to using the old ones.

The only thing I can figure out is that having the arch support of the orthotics for so many years weakened my arches. I'm sold on being barefoot as much as I can.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kathi

The only thing I can figure out is that having the arch support of the orthotics for so many years weakened my arches. I'm sold on being barefoot as much as I can.

---

I would completely agree with this and it is funny you should post this today. Earlier this morning when my PT was looking at my recovering foot, she mentioned that the screws made my foot look like I had fallen arches. I said 'well, I kind of do...look at my other foot" and I pulled off my shoe. We both noticed immediately that I do have a nice arch in my good foot. That's new! Three years ago (after years with custom orthotics), my feet were literally like flippers. Wide toes, flat arches and narrow heels. Not anymore -- now I have an arch!

[hijack] GLC - How's the recovery going? I've been thinking about you this summer! [/hijack]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blueberry

[hijack] GLC - How's the recovery going? I've been thinking about you this summer! [/hijack]

---

OK, I guess. I'm still experiencing quite a bit of pain and swelling and it's making it hard for me to truly recover. BUT, I have surgery day after tomorrow to remove the offending screws, so I'm hopeful it will go quickly after that. We'll see. I really should dig up my old thread about it and update it!

I was actually thinking about you the other day when I got my new kayak delivered! We need to figure out how we want to transport kayaks on the MINI and I immediately thought of you guys in the Element with kayaks on top and bikes inside. I think we'll go kayaks on top and bikes on the back (dogs inside!) if we ever need to carry both types of gear at once.

I absolutely LOVE my Merrell Bare Access Arc running shoes. These aren't the super-minimal ones like the Pace, but they are minimal enough for me. After wearing Nike Free Run shoes for years, I have to say that the Merrell is way more accommodating and comfortable for my feet. And FWIW, I have hammer toes that splay out really wide...and the Bare Access Arc fit my crazy feet superbly.

Linda

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GLC1968

OK, I guess. I'm still experiencing quite a bit of pain and swelling and it's making it hard for me to truly recover. BUT, I have surgery day after tomorrow to remove the offending screws, so I'm hopeful it will go quickly after that. We'll see. I really should dig up my old thread about it and update it!

I was actually thinking about you the other day when I got my new kayak delivered! We need to figure out how we want to transport kayaks on the MINI and I immediately thought of you guys in the Element with kayaks on top and bikes inside. I think we'll go kayaks on top and bikes on the back (dogs inside!) if we ever need to carry both types of gear at once.

---

Ugh! I think the last update I saw things were going better than expected. I hope the surgery helps!

Heh on the kayaks. We traded the element for a Jetta Wagon. Love it, but can't do bikes and boats anymore (at least until we get a trailer). We really want to do that, but with selling the house, moving into a rental, my going back to school, etc. the toy budget is more limited:)

What boat did you get?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GLC1968

I would completely agree with this and it is funny you should post this today. Earlier this morning when my PT was looking at my recovering foot, she mentioned that the screws made my foot look like I had fallen arches. I said 'well, I kind of do...look at my other foot" and I pulled off my shoe. We both noticed immediately that I do have a nice arch in my good foot. That's new! Three years ago (after years with custom orthotics), my feet were literally like flippers. Wide toes, flat arches and narrow heels. Not anymore -- now I have an arch!

---

My arches are also very rigid. Makes it hard to put on ski boots and my KSO's I also can't wear certain kinds of shoes or boots.

I also can't figure out why I see recommendations for "high arch" feet to have arch support. It looks like the support didn't help my arches at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blueberry

What boat did you get?

---

I bought a used Nigel Dennis Romany from a friend. I haven't gotten out on the water in it, but I did sit in it on the front lawn and it fit well and felt comfy. Every time I've kayaked, it's been a different boat (rentals), so I think I should adjust to this one fairly quickly. I hope to take it out to play around on a local lake next weekend for the first time!

We need to find a boat for Rick next!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blueberry

I would be curious which styles of Merrell's you have.

---

Pace Glove
Train Pure Glove
Lithe Wonder Glove
Mighty Glove


I've been happy with all of them.

Veronica

GLC, good luck with the surgery and the last phase of recovery!

I have a pair of men's wide NB Minimus cross-trainers, so I don't know if they're on the same last as the trail or road shoes? Anyway they are wide enough in men's wide, but the toe boxes are pretty pointy. Lemings are actually shaped like feet!

I've seen CorrecToes in a lot of drugstores with the foot care stuff, you might check. But, IMO it all comes down to shoes that fit. If your shoes are forcing your toes together, then it seems to me that trying to force them apart from the inside is just going to aggravate any trouble you have with ingrown toenails, bunions and bunionettes. Once I finally found shoes that fit (plus started work on foot strength, mobilization and flexibility), my toes have reshaped themselves quite a bit all by themselves, even after 50 years of wearing shoes that were too small.

Oak, I think those NB shoes you have must be on a different last - or maybe on the same one as the Minimus road? I couldnt' wear the road - it was too narrow.

This is a little comparison I did when I was trying to talk a friend into considering the Leming:
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/u...comparison.jpg

(NB Minimus left, Leming right)
For me, the way the NB Minimus flares out a little on the big toe side was critical to my running comfort.