"Barefoot" Running

[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.

[OakLeaf]

The NB toe box is much pointier than the Altra's.

FWIW, Altra is supposed to be coming out with a more trail-oriented shoe this summer. The model name will be Lone Peak in both men's and women's. The shape looks the same as the Instinct/Intuition, but with a more deeply lugged sole and more overlays.

I'll post a review whenever I get my feet into the Intuition. I'm pretty much set on giving them a try.

[jessmarimba]

Not the shoe I was talking about, but I wouldn't notice the toe box anyway - both too wide on me

I was thinking this one: http://www.newbalance.ca/Product/WR10OG

[colby]

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.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking - the extra reinforcement IS structural.

I am probably going to get some knobby vibrams for running trails, and to do the dirty dash in August. They may not help a huge amount in that quantity of mud, but the regular vibrams will definitely not help in mud

Related, Kayak Shed has 20% off Merrell "Barefoot" shoes right now, http://www.kayakshed.com

[jessmarimba]

What kind of mud? With stickier mud, the knobbier the shoe, the more mud you carry with you, the heavier your shoes get through the race. Just something to think about

[OakLeaf]

Interesting and pretty sensible article about transitioning to barefoot or minimal shoes.

I'm still waiting to try those Intuitions ... backordered 'til they don't know when, it being a really small company whose product has taken off like wildfire. I promise a review whenever I get them!

[sundial]

Speaking of going barefoot, has anyone watched Dual Survivor on the Discovery Channel? Cody walks barefooted everywhere, whether it's in the Amazon jungle, a Louisiana marsh filled with snakes, or on a remote Pacific island.