"Barefoot" Running

[OakLeaf]

As many people have pointed out in the other thread, it doesn't matter how minimal the shoe, if it's a shoe, it will affect your body mechanics, and it's not barefoot. That said ...

Has anyone tried the new Inov-8 Evoskins yet? They have much longer toes than VFFs and look like they might actually fit me.

I almost taught my aerobics class in my VFFs last night ... decided against it since it was my first class after several months, I felt really rusty and didn't want to change too much. But even having taught the class with my regular shoes, I'm noticing this morning that my Achilles and calves aren't bothering me as they have in the past, and I totally attribute that to all the foot work I've done over the winter.

From my experience, I'd say that if you have very rigid feet as a result of wearing orthotics for years, it may take more than just easing into barefoot - I've been doing a lot of massage, self myofascial release and yoga, going barefoot around the house more, and paying attention to my feet pretty much ANY time I'm on them, trying to get four corners down and the arches lifted. Just a few weeks ago I've been able to see my TMT joints actually move for the first time I can remember in my 51 years. It's been slow, hard work, and I'm nowhere near being able to run barefoot yet, but it's really, really paying off in terms of my Achilles, hips and spine.

[Jolt]

Has anyone tried the new Inov-8 Evoskins yet? They have much longer toes than VFFs and look like they might actually fit me.

I hadn't heard about those until this thread...given your comment I probably won't try them since I have wicked short toes that don't even go to the ends of the VFFs. They should be good for some people who don't fit into VFFs though.

[MCAP]

I run in VFF Bikila LS and love them. I've only been running in them for about a month or so. Before that I tried switching to a more minimalist style by running in old school cross country flats. They were wonderful and (with research on form and totally restyling my running) I was able to go from extreme pain after 1/4 mile to now comfortably running 6 miles. I'm going to keep building my base up now.

I like doing drills totally barefoot in grass, but I don't do regular runs totally barefoot. I just don't want to.

I did have to stretch the pinkie toe pocket on my shoes to make them fit correctly and now they fit like a dream. I'll be wearing them in my triathlon on the 22nd. It's amazing to me that I can finally run without pain!!

[nscrbug]

I'm curious if anyone here with hammertoes has been able to successfully wear VFF? I have h-toes, and bought a pair of Bikilas last year. I started out mainly just wearing them on the treadmill at the gym, slowly adding some short jogs. But after a month of wearing them, I found that my little toes (4th & 5th) didn't want to stay in the toe pockets securely. I could feel them slipping out during my runs, and would often have to stop and reposition them back into the pockets. I ultimately wound up selling them to someone on this forum. But I miss wearing them and have considered giving them another shot. I was thinking of trying a different style - the Komodo Sport, but I'm not sure if I'll end up having the same exact issue. Any thoughts or comments?

Linda

[OakLeaf]

I'm curious if anyone here with hammertoes has been able to successfully wear VFF? I have h-toes, and bought a pair of Bikilas last year. I started out mainly just wearing them on the treadmill at the gym, slowly adding some short jogs. But after a month of wearing them, I found that my little toes (4th & 5th) didn't want to stay in the toe pockets securely. I could feel them slipping out during my runs, and would often have to stop and reposition them back into the pockets. I ultimately wound up selling them to someone on this forum. But I miss wearing them and have considered giving them another shot. I was thinking of trying a different style - the Komodo Sport, but I'm not sure if I'll end up having the same exact issue. Any thoughts or comments?

Linda

You might take a look at the Fila shoes. I haven't seen them IRL and honestly the reviews aren't that great, but they have a single pocket for the 4th and 5th toes. That's exactly why I wouldn't even try them ... but maybe they might work for you.

I visited the LRS the other day and asked about the Inov-8 Evo Skins. The sales guy went to the back to ask the shoe buyer, who came out with a big rant about how they'd sent him a pair to try and they were awful, he'd never consider carrying them, Inov-8 had really jumped the shark with this one, and oh BTW if I wanted his sample pair I could have them.

I can definitely see where he's coming from with these - they're really so minimal that you wouldn't want to run in them any place where you wouldn't run completely barefoot, and in that case, why not just run barefoot and avoid problems with sweating and blistering? Since I was curious about them for hiking and hanging around, not for running in, I'm going to give them a try. The longer toes definitely fit me, and although there's not enough adjustment in the straps for my low insteps, I'm pretty sure I can modify them, do without them, or just substitute laces for the straps.

But looky what I did try on! The Altra Intuition. Zero heel-to-toe drop, and look at that square toe box! Oooooh, aaaaah. Unfortunately they were out of stock in the sizes most likely to fit me, but they're expecting some more next week. I'm a little concerned about the overlay at my problematic 5th MTP joint, but wondering whether that's any worse than smacking my heels every step the way I do with the high heeled Nikes I'm running in now. Just running around the store in a pair of Altra Instinct shoes (the men's version of the Intuition) felt soooo nice - zero drop, but a little bit of cushion under my midfeet.

I'm wondering too whether I could just pull the overlay off at that one point. I do plan to ask them at the LRS when I go back to try them on, but any shoe experts here have an opinion on that?

[colby]

But looky what I did try on! The Altra Intuition. Zero heel-to-toe drop, and look at that square toe box! Oooooh, aaaaah. Unfortunately they were out of stock in the sizes most likely to fit me, but they're expecting some more next week. I'm a little concerned about the overlay at my problematic 5th MTP joint, but wondering whether that's any worse than smacking my heels every step the way I do with the high heeled Nikes I'm running in now. Just running around the store in a pair of Altra Instinct shoes (the men's version of the Intuition) felt soooo nice - zero drop, but a little bit of cushion under my midfeet.

Nice and foot shaped! Funny how all these shoes look like old school shoes.

The New Balance trail shoes have a plastic overlay on the shoe that takes a fairly flexible shoe and makes it less comfortable. Maybe there's a stability or longevity reason, but I wish they could use something softer.

[jessmarimba]

Which ones are you talking about, Colby? The WT101? I'd imagine it's because the shoe is so thin in the forefoot that you couldn't run rocky trails without it. They'd fall apart. After wearing mine for about 5 months (~200 miles?) they feel pretty flexible. But as I have to wear insoles in them to make them fit, I can't really tell you how the shoe itself really feels.

The NB WR10 (the new minimal road shoe), to me, seems pretty similar to the Altra Intuition.

I'm a little frustrated b/c I haven't found a minimal shoe yet that I don't have to add insoles to just to take up room. Need to take care of my tendonitis so I can get some distance in my vibrams.