"Barefoot" Running

[Susan]

I love to run barefoot but couldn't find a route where I can do it easily so far. I like to run trails in the wood, and those that I know are sometimes small sharp gravel or covered with leaves so that you can't see the ground. I don't like to go and run on asphalt just to be safe running barefoot.

I bought the Vivo Barefoot Lucys to run in. I like that they have such a wide toe box (because I have duck feet). They are quite sturdy and look nice.
However for me the feel in any kind of (barefoot) shoes doesn't even come close to really running barefoot, this happy light feeling is just missing.

I think I haven't found the best for me in terms of running shoes. Ordinary running shoes have such a big heel/thick sole and so don't feel safe offroads and often no room for my toes. The Vivo barefoots are ok offroads and fit me nicely but make running really harder on my feet on asphalt (even when watching my technique, but you don't get feedback from your sole like when really running barefoot). I guess a shoe with just a little padding but not too thick sole and no built up heel would be the best for me.

[KnottedYet]

I guess a shoe with just a little padding but not too thick sole and no built up heel would be the best for me.

Saucony Kinvara might be worth a try.

I like to run barefoot (that means NO SHOES... NAKED FEET*) on dirt, but was having trouble finding a shoe that worked well for me on unnatural man-made surfaces. I ran in Chaco sandals for a long time, then got a pair of Kinvaras and I'm very happy with them.

*don't get me started on the "barefoot shoe" B.S. If it's on your feet, you're not barefoot. And the "barefoot" and "minimalist" shoes are not revolutionary, they are simply a return to the shoes we ALL wore 30 years ago. We all had soft heel counters and thinner soles and less heel-forefoot drop back then, and many of us STILL got injured and had sucky running form. Everyone should just wear whatever shoes work for them and try not to join a religion over it. /rant

[Susan]

Knotted, do you have nice dirt trails where you can actually see the ground or without having to cross fire roads with gravel? Or do you risk stepping onto something that you can't see? I'm asking because I am still fighting with myself if I should just risk stepping onto glass or sth. (and hope it just won't happen) because I really like going barefoot.
I did some barefoot running on asphalt when I started running, but since I discovered the dirt trails near my home I never wanted to go back to the streets

Something about my feet seems just not to be made for shoes. Maybe because as a child I was going barefoot a lot. My toes don't have space in shoes and I get blisters just about everywhere. But the worst is that I sprain my ankle easily, and it seems to me that the bigger the heel the more often it happens.

Thanks for the shoe tips. Actually the Merrell shoes appeal to me because of the wide toebox and grippy sole.

[KnottedYet]

I stop and walk across gravelly bits or iffy spots. Pebbles and bits in the trail can be a bit startling, but your foot will cup around them a little and your stride will adapt to get you off the pebble (less push-off with the toe if the pebble is under the ball of your foot, for example). Usually I can see what I'm running on. If I can't see it, it's probably under enough dirt that it's not likely to hurt me much.

I'm running on packed duff and dirt for the most part (under cedar and fir trees mostly) Have squished more than a few slugs between my toes. They pop. It's kind of icky. Some parts are reclaimed rail bed, those tend to be harder and have more gravelly personalities so I'm slower there.

Snow is just too cold for me to run far. Out the door, around the house, and back inside! I do like running on fresh snow, though. Briefly.

Every year I have a full check with a dermatologist, and he's always surprised by the bottoms of my feet (which are quite lovely and healthy and hard). Like you, I was barefoot most of the time I was a kid. I also have a hard time finding shoes wide enough at the toes.

[GLC1968]

Has anyone tried the Altra line? Totally new, zero drop, supposedly a very wide toe box. A local store carries them but I haven't made it down there since they arrived. Might be a good option for some:

http://altrarunning.com/

Personally, I'm making due with the Evo II from VivoBarefoot for now even though they aren't truly wide enough for me. Once the roads dry up a bit, I'm going to transition back to fully barefoot (even on pavement). My soles are not very tough at the moment though, so it'll take awhile. I also like using the huaraches on occasion for sole protection but plenty of room to wiggle my toes (in dry weather).

http://www.invisibleshoe.com/

[Dogmama]

I bought some Saucony Kinveras & liked them so much I bought a second pair. They are light as a feather & remind me of bedroom slippers because the material is soft & very pliable. I've only used them on the dreadmill because I know there will be a big learning curve for my feet & legs. So far, they are extremely comfortable and really facilitate landing on the ball of your foot. I can feel that my calves are working and my entire body flexes more to absorb the landings. Highly recommended if you have a Saucony foot.

[jessmarimba]

I just bought the Kinvaras, too...I'm so used to my NB WT101s that these seem like a huge amount of shoe to me. But I'm getting to some pretty long runs and needed a little more squish for when I get tired and my form starts to suck. And man are these shoes ugly. Oh my goodness.

I have my eye on the NB minimus shoes...WT10 or whatever number they just gave them.

[KnottedYet]

The Kinvarra comes in so many colors. I've got the solid black ones, which I thought looked much nicer than some of the multi-color schemes.

I do have to wonder what kind of liquor is kept in the design office of the folks who choose shoe colors.... (and can I have some?)

Dogmama, I'm glad to hear they are good for fore-foot strikers. I'm a heel-striker through and through and love them, but was hoping someone would pipe up on their fore-foot striking experience.

[OakLeaf]

I did try on a pair of the Kinvaras when I was at the LRS. Just as I thought I remembered, a pointed toe box that crammed all my toes together. Oh well. I'm really looking forward to trying on the Intuition.

[KnottedYet]

I did try on a pair of the Kinvaras when I was at the LRS. Just as I thought I remembered, a pointed toe box that crammed all my toes together. Oh well. I'm really looking forward to trying on the Intuition.

That link to the Altra Intuition you gave made me drool, and the shoe looks great in the toe box. Please, please, please post a review after you try them! I've got some folks who I think would really benefit from the Intuition's toe box.

I'd also be interested in what you think of the outsole. I have a bit of concern that around here (where we have patches of a thin layer of slippery mud on all the trails just about year-round, and where algae can grow on the sidewalks) the smoother outsole would be a bit slick.

I hope you get a pair, cuz I wanna know!