Barefoot Running

[Jolt]

Those of you who are switching to barefoot and/or VFFs: beware! You will find yourself not wanting to wear other kinds of shoes, even when you're not running. They begin to just not feel right. Given the number of situations where going barefoot or wearing VFFs is not considered acceptable, this is a bummer. Especially since just about any "acceptable-looking" shoe (for anything other than very casual situations) will have some degree of an elevated heel, stiff sole, not enough room for the toes to spread out naturally, or some combination of the above. Hopefully this will start to change soon with all the current interest in going barefoot/wearing minimal shoes.

[KnottedYet]

Jolt - have you noticed any cross-over between VFF and Birkenstocks? I have the perfect Birki feet - it's like those suckers were made for ME. (and, oh, do I feel special!) But I wasn't able to fit VFF at all because my great toe is so huge compared to the rest of my toes that to get a size that felt right left me with floppy flaccid toes everywhere else.

Mostly, I'm wondering if the neutral heel, straight last, and broad toe box of Birkis translate well to the neutral heel, straight last, and unlimited toe box of the VFF.

[colby]

I didn't have any trouble going to Keen sandals after wearing the VFFs for a couple weeks pretty much straight, but Keens are well known for their toebox and foot-friendly shape. ANY shoes that squash my toes feel absolutely wrong - even my bike shoes.

I feel like the VFFs are one of those toe aligner dealies that you see in the SkyMall catalog or in the back of magazines. My left pinky toe always feels funny the first time I put it back in the VFFs after wearing other shoes, like it's being put back where it belongs. I wear them for a while, my toes feel great and the shoes go on super easy, then I wear regular shoes, even just for a night, come back to the VFFs, and I have to argue with my toes to get in them.

[Jolt]

Jolt - have you noticed any cross-over between VFF and Birkenstocks? I have the perfect Birki feet - it's like those suckers were made for ME. (and, oh, do I feel special!) But I wasn't able to fit VFF at all because my great toe is so huge compared to the rest of my toes that to get a size that felt right left me with floppy flaccid toes everywhere else.

Mostly, I'm wondering if the neutral heel, straight last, and broad toe box of Birkis translate well to the neutral heel, straight last, and unlimited toe box of the VFF.

I haven't worn Birkenstocks but I would imagine you're right. They're one of the very few shoes shaped like a real foot, and are flat from toe to heel. The only potential problem with them is that they aren't flexible. Check out this link http://barefootted.com/2008/08/my-huaraches.html for sandals you can make yourself (for running or otherwise) that fit all the criteria for staying out of the way of the natural functioning of your feet.

[KnottedYet]

I run in Chaco sandals, and have recommended Chacos to a lot of patients (not necessarily for running, just in general). Birkis seem to only really fit a specific type of foot, so I don't direct patients to them unless they already know they've liked them in the past.

If I could wear VFF I'd buy a pair just so I could experience them and pass the info along to my foot people. I can rationalize a lot of shoe purchases that way...

Neutral heel and straight last AND wide toe box are rather hard to find, and I'd like to be able to add a few more shoes to my recommendation toolbox. (Even though I haven't worn them myself, I did suggest them to a patient with great foot posture barefoot, kinda iffy posture in regular shoes, and who prefers sports sandals and moccasins. They seemed like a reasonable match, and she was quite excited about how funky they look.)

[Red Rock]

With all of this talk on shoes....well I added some Chacos to my collection this week. My shoes are becoming like my bike collection. A big Thank you goes out to Knott on these. Its nice to know that they are recommened by the Podiatry Association. They have a great arch support and hold by big bunioned toe in place. One foot is worse than they other.

Now I am either in my Danskos or Chacos.

GLC1968-thank you for your eval on the VFF's and toe placement.

I think with the Chacos having the toe "strapped in" actually feels better.

Red Rock

[KnottedYet]

With all of this talk on shoes....well I added some Chacos to my collection this week. My shoes are becoming like my bike collection. A big Thank you goes out to Knott on these. Its nice to know that they are recommened by the Podiatry Association. They have a great arch support and hold by big bunioned toe in place. One foot is worse than they other.

Now I am either in my Danskos or Chacos.

GLC1968-thank you for your eval on the VFF's and toe placement.

I think with the Chacos having the toe "strapped in" actually feels better.

Red Rock

Chaco has finally done it right! After flailing around with Merrell (for the disasterous hiking boots and shoes in the early 2000's) and the appalling sneakers (mid 2000's) they've taken a cue from Birkenstock. Basing a heel-strap clog on their fabulous Z1/Z2 footbed (like Birkenstock did with the Tokyo) to make the "Toe-Coop" and a closed-heel clog (like Birkenstock did with the London) to make the "Ped-Shed." These won't be available until July 2010. $110 for the heel-strap clog (Toe-Coop) and $120 for the closed-heel clog (Ped-Shed).

And they will be resoleable like the Z1 and Z2!

Yay!

ETA: Serendipity - I run barefoot in the snow (truly barefoot, not with training flats like VFFs). It's good stuff. Give it a try over a short distance.

[Serendipity]

ETA: Serendipity - I run barefoot in the snow (truly barefoot, not with training flats like VFFs). It's good stuff. Give it a try over a short distance.

Wow, KnottedYet, I have never considered running barefoot in the snow.
You inspire me, but for next year
Actually we've lost all the snow we had over the past week or so and unless we get a major snowstorm (and that entirely possible), it looks like next winter....which will give me time to build up my courage!

[Selkie]

I capitulated and just ordered a pair of the KSOs from REI. My feet are "pre-bunion," according to a podiatrist I saw a few years ago. If I love these shoes, it's going to be very difficult not to wear them to work....