Barefoot Shoes

[Kalidurga]

I might have to break down one of these days and get a pair for warm weather use. I used to hike in soft-soled suede moccasins and it felt so good. These sound as if they would give a feeling somewhat along those lines.

[sfa]

I wanted to get a pair of these, but when I went shopping I found that there wasn't a shoe that would fit my unnaturally long toes AND unnaturally narrow heels--it was one or the other, so I just skipped it. My husband was shopping with me and decided to get himself a pair, though, and he loves them!

Sarah

[OakLeaf]

Aw, bummer sfa, sounds like you and I have the same feet. I might try some of them on anyway just to be sure... was there a model that was closer to fitting you than the others?

[sfa]

The store I went to didn't have any of the fuller-coverage shoes--it was just the moccasin type with nothing on the top of the foot, so there was no good way to adjust the fit. I'm thinking the Mary Jane style (sorry, I don't know the actual style names--the one with the strap over the top!) would work better because then I could get it to fit my toes and the strap on top would let me adjust it to stay on my foot.

Here we go: the Sprint, Flow, or KSO models look like they could be adjusted a lot better to fit my weird feet. http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...s_Sprint_f.cfm I need to find a local shop that sells them--I like doing most of my shopping online, but shoes are the one thing I have to try on before buying.

Sarah

[TrekTheKaty]

Thanks for the link.

I'm definitely interested. I know when I used to run, the 5-toe socks were the only thing that got me through a marathon without blisters on my small toe. The running store says I have wide feet, so I've been sticking with Sauconys, Keen and Dansko.

I'll have to ask my chiropractor. He doesn't like my birks, but gave a thumbs-up to my Keens.

Too bad you can't wear these to work. I'm interested in the black ones.

The kayaking reference did it for me--I almost bought water shoes last summer, and these will be a perfect multi-use summer shoe.

[KnottedYet]

The video on this page (youtube from Nature) is utterly fascinating.
http://birthdayshoes.com/results-of-...ning-to-emerge

Don't be confused by the fact that the barefoot runner has a higher point pressure than the shod runner. What is cool is the difference at initial impact. I want to find the paper and see if the higher point pressure is windlass rebound, essentially recycling the energy from mid/fore foot impact into a more powerful or more efficient toe-off.

I can't wear VFF, which was a huge disappointment. My toes and the VFF toes don't match. But I run in Chaco Z1 and Z2 sandals, which allow me to midfoot strike and solved a lot of my running troubles.

ETA: Ooooh, science nerd heaven! Looky! http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/

[marni]

both my son and daughter wear VFF pretty much all the time although they originally bought them for running. My daughter found a store model pair for me that I am still trying to get used to. My son gave me some five toe socks which are about the only thing I have found besides custom fitted hand knit socks that fit and keep my feet warm. My feet look very much like the shoes, wide short and short toes. I may work up enough courage to wear them to the gym one of these days for cardio work and intervals on the treadmill, once I get used to them and have them stretched out and broken in a bit.

marni

[arielmoon]

Thanks for all the links! I have been fascinated by the movement of barefooting! I hope to visit a store near me and check it out!