Barefoot Running/Shoes

airscotty

Just read an artical in this months 220 triathlon mag all about barefoot running. Does anyone on here do it? What are their favorite type of barefoot runners?! Vibram seem to be most popular but does anyone have some feed back on them?

RoyMcC

This thread might help

tunney

airscotty wrote: »

Just read an artical in this months 220 triathlon mag all about barefoot running. Does anyone on here do it? What are their favorite type of barefoot runners?! Vibram seem to be most popular but does anyone have some feed back on them?

Barefoot running runners?

Eh run barefoot on grass?

airscotty

tunney wrote: »

Barefoot running runners?

Eh run barefoot on grass?

Mmm..thats what I though

airscotty

Cheers RoyMcC...very interesting

Brianderunner

I use nike frees now and again, feels like i'm wearing nothing at all.

digme

Brianderunner wrote: »

I use nike frees now and again, feels like i'm wearing nothing at all.

are you sure your not talking about something else ? girl

Brianderunner

digme wrote: »

are you sure your not talking about something else ? girl

I was asking for that. It was a ned flanders reference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL4iVQyp9L4&feature=related

Talk about off topic!

johng14

i have a pair of the vibram five fingers. they take a bit of getting used to but i find they force you to run more on the front of your foot than landing heel first. i also find i have better technique.

digme

johng14 wrote: »

i have a pair of the vibram five fingers. they take a bit of getting used to but i find they force you to run more on the front of your foot than landing heel first. i also find i have better technique.

you cant run barefoot landing on your heel..... lol

BJohnson

I've been running in the Vibram Fivefingers for the past 8 months and love them. I've run about 500 miles in mine so far, and there's hardly any wear pattern at all on the tread. I throw them into the washing machine once a month and they come out looking nearly brand new. I bought a bunch of pairs for patients and have a few left - if you're interesting in trying some on, just let me know.

lazlo

I suffer from achilles tendonitis whenever I run in normal shoes. I was scheduled for surgery on my heel in late august but I got a pair of vibrams about 6 weeks ago and have started running around 3 times a week again and my achilles problems have been alleviated massively. so much so that I've cancelled my surgery. I couldn't recommend them enough.

Sport101

Some good stuff on barefoot running v traditional shoes here, especially their 5 part q&a section:

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

digme

lazlo wrote: »

I suffer from achilles tendonitis whenever I run in normal shoes. I was scheduled for surgery on my heel in late august but I got a pair of vibrams about 6 weeks ago and have started running around 3 times a week again and my achilles problems have been alleviated massively. so much so that I've cancelled my surgery. I couldn't recommend them enough.

that's how I began barefoot/minimalistic running,the shoes kept sticking into my Achilles.
do you find your feet now are strong and muscular now?

Mr Slow

Has anyone run in these? I'm intrigued.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_bikila_f.cf

littlebug

Bjohnson ran a marathon pb in them last week (hope he doesn't mind me saying).

Like you I'm intrigued. Looking at my marathon photos and videos I can see/ feel the damage I do with every heel strike :rolleyes: but I think I'd look a bit daft in the five fingers esp at my end (ie the rear end) of races:o

Mr Slow

Do you wear socks with them?

BJohnson

mrslow wrote: »

Has anyone run in these? I'm intrigued.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_bikila_f.cf

I ran the Dublin Marathon in my FiveFinger KSO's and actually set a PB! I tried on a pair of the FiveFinger Bikila's at the marathon expo, but wasn't as impressed as I had hoped. Everyone I know has the KSO's and they all love them!

BJohnson

mrslow wrote: »

Do you wear socks with them?

You can buy special socks for them, but I don't think they're necessary. The only person I know that bought the socks had trouble finding a pair of Vibrams that was a perfect fit - they were either slightly too small or too big. He wanted the socks to make them fit more tightly.

I've never found a problem with my feet getting cold in the shoes, and if the shoes get wet, the socks aren't going to make any difference.

robinph

I picked up a paid of the KSO at the expo. Had been curious about them before, but figured I needed to actually try the things on before buying to make sure I got the right size. Mostly just been wearing them around the house so far, although I did take a trip to buy a pint of milk in them at the weekend.

pgibbo

BJohnson wrote: »

You can buy special socks for them, but I don't think they're necessary. The only person I know that bought the socks had trouble finding a pair of Vibrams that was a perfect fit - they were either slightly too small or too big. He wanted the socks to make them fit more tightly.

I've never found a problem with my feet getting cold in the shoes, and if the shoes get wet, the socks aren't going to make any difference.

I have the KSO's and find that the rubber around the arch cause blisters on one of my feet. It's damn annoying. I'm thinking of getting a pair of the socks to see if it will help. As a result I've done more barefoot running the with the Vibrams

BeepBeep67

robinph wrote: »

I picked up a paid of the KSO at the expo. Had been curious about them before, but figured I needed to actually try the things on before buying to make sure I got the right size. Mostly just been wearing them around the house so far, although I did take a trip to buy a pint of milk in them at the weekend.

Do they help with lactic threshold?

InTheTrees

Sign me up as intrigued as well.

I'm very close to giving them a try. I talked to a guy at the gym over the weekend who was enthusiastic. Last year my doctor gave me the go ahead to give them a try.

but I've hesitated. I'm 47 and I've used my age as an excuse (why change now etc etc), but i'm teetering now...

sarsfieldsrock

I found that the KSO tended to chafe as well so I got the Injinji toe socks and find them very comfy.
I ran the Clontarf half in them but hadn't done enough running in them at the time and my calves were killing me for the next few days.
What I do find them very good for is wearing them after a marathon instead of the running shoes. They allow the feet to relax walking around as you are using different muscles in the feet than you were when running. Also the feet just feel freer and not constricted at all.
I looked at the Bikele at the expo but even the guys demoing them said that there wasn't much difference between them and the KSO's.

robinph

It doesn't feel like there would be enough room in my KSO's to put on a pair of socks as well, they are pretty damn snug without the socks.

pgibbo

Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the socks around the Galway area? Or do I have to go online for them?

tunney

Anyone know of somewhere in Dublin I can try a pair on for size?

Also KSOs or sprints? Which are preferred?

clubcard

you can get them in Runways and Wheelworx and Great outdoors i think.
I got the KSO'S,guy at the expo said they are alot better because they keep stuff out hence the name kso.

lazlo

digme wrote: »

that's how I began barefoot/minimalistic running,the shoes kept sticking into my Achilles.
do you find your feet now are strong and muscular now?

yeah, I've noticed a big change, moreso in my calves than anywhere else.

lazlo

the only thing about the running in the KSOs without socks is that they will start to stink very quickly. I'm thinking of buying a second pair because of that alone

BJohnson

lazlo wrote: »

the only thing about the running in the KSOs without socks is that they will start to stink very quickly. I'm thinking of buying a second pair because of that alone

I've noticed that as well, but once a month or so I throw them into the washing machine on their own, and they come out looking (and smelling) pretty close to brand new.

BJohnson

pgibbo wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the socks around the Galway area? Or do I have to go online for them?

Someone told me that they got a pair at the €2 shop in town - he said they weren't very good quality, but if you want to see what socks feel like in the shoes, you might want to give them a try.

Orion

tunney wrote: »

Anyone know of somewhere in Dublin I can try a pair on for size?

pgibbo wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can get a pair of the socks around the Galway area? Or do I have to go online for them?

http://www.barefoot.ie/page.asp?id=130

[edit]Sorry - misread the Galway one. afaik the distributor in Cork will be doing the socks in the next few weeks. The shops he deals with should have them then.

d.runs

I'm looking to buy the vibrams, probably the Bikila.
Do I buy a size smaller than my normal shoe size of 43?
(best value seems to be at http://www.53degreesnorth.ie, I've rung them up and they only have euro sizes on the box).
Thanks. D.

pgibbo

d.runs wrote: »

I'm looking to buy the vibrams, probably the Bikila.
Do I buy a size smaller than my normal shoe size of 43?
(best value seems to be at http://www.53degreesnorth.ie, I've rung them up and they only have euro sizes on the box).
Thanks. D.

I'd recommend trying them on. My KSO's are a different fit to my Asics. So bricks and mortar is safest for your first pair anyway.

d.runs

I'm over 100 miles away! Is your KSO's a size smaller than asics. Thanks.

InTheTrees

From what I'm reading its pretty important with the first pair to try them in the shop so you can get the sizing perfect. Because the sizing really needs to be spot on.

robinph

Definitely would suggest buying from a real shop. I normally wear UK 10's, which would be EU 44's. I think they first tried me in a pair of 43's, but they were far too loose so I'm now in a pair of 42 KSO's.

d.runs

Thanks for advice. I'll probably go for one size smaller. They said I can post them back if size is not right (cheaper than driving there!).

Orion

There's a sizing guide on the Vibram site:
http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/eng/kso.aspx - click on Size conversion chart. I tried on some in the shop and I was a 43. I take size 8 Asics if that helps.

RacoonQueen

I'm actually considering a pair of these now. Lots of minimalist shoes around now. Have just ordered a pair of Saucony Kinvara not exactly barefoot running but from reading reviews it's a lot more minimalist than the other shoes I have.

dna_leri

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I'm actually considering a pair of these now. Lots of minimalist shoes around now. Have just ordered a pair of Saucony Kinvara not exactly barefoot running but from reading reviews it's a lot more minimalist than the other shoes I have.

Let us know how you get on with the Kinvara's. Read the review on runblogger a while ago and am considering them.

Gear Freak

Got my pair of KSO's in www.53degreesnorth.ie and they fit like a glove. The guys there measured me up using two different devices and gave me some great advice on breaking them in and barefoot running in general. Plus I got a nice membership discount too.

I absolutely love them and I’ve been running 4-5 times a week.

My recommendation is to get fitted in a specialist store like 53 Degrees North, peace of mind and all that jazz, and to take it easy at the start until you adjust to them. You won’t look back.

Is it bad if I wear my pair to work on Fridays?

ronanmac

dna_leri wrote: »

Let us know how you get on with the Kinvara's. Read the review on runblogger a while ago and am considering them.

I bought a pair of Kinvara's a few months back, and I really like them. There's a bit of midfoot cushioning but no real stability additions to the shoe. They are very light (compared to what I was used to) and actually feel like slippers when on. Very comfortable. I had considered wearing them for DCM, but found my soles a bit sensitive after 20 mile runs in them, so went with the Asics Noosa on the day. I would say it's more my running technique than the shoe, as I saw a German guy at the start of the marathon wearing the Kinvara's.

I wore them last night for the first time, post-marathon, and had forgotten how comfortable and light they are. Two thumbs up!

shels4ever

Whats the grip like in these things, can you get a spiked version for XC too

BJohnson

shels4ever wrote: »

Whats the grip like in these things, can you get a spiked version for XC too

The grip on the FiveFingers is good - there are a lot of little grooves on the underside of the sole that you can only see if you bend the shoe backwards - you can't see it in pictures. It's a clever design.

pgibbo

shels4ever wrote: »

Whats the grip like in these things, can you get a spiked version for XC too

I ran close to 4 miles on a very wet and muddy Galway Racecourse during the week and I had no issues. The grip was fine

mo_bhicycle

I picked up a pair of aqua-shoes in Aldi for €10 a while back and took the insoles out. I can't imagine how much better the Vibrams can be ... certainly not 10 times better.
I totally believe in the basic concept behind the Vibrams ... but not the price. I think they've done a great job in marketing something that should really be 1/5th of the price.
Question for the Vibram wearers, what's the point of the individual toes?

BJohnson

mo_bhicycle wrote: »

I picked up a pair of aqua-shoes in Aldi for €10 a while back and took the insoles out. I can't imagine how much better the Vibrams can be ... certainly not 10 times better.
I totally believe in the basic concept behind the Vibrams ... but not the price. I think they've done a great job in marketing something that should really be 1/5th of the price.
Question for the Vibram wearers, what's the point of the individual toes?

I know a guy that runs in some sort of water shoes too, and he really likes them. Anything that takes away most of the cushioning under your foot will give you a similar experience. One thing I've been impressed with is the build-quality of the Vibrams. After running about 1000 miles in mine so far, there's hardly any noticeable wear pattern at all on the sole - it's thin, but very tough. It'll be interesting to see how long they last, but so far they're in great shape. Compared to the New Balance shoes that I used to run in, by the end of the year they would be in pretty rough shape and need to be replaced.

I don't find the price too bad - any running shoe that I buy is going to cost me around €100 anyway, and if I get one that lasts twice as long, that's a bonus.

The idea with the individual toes, I would guess, is to make it feel as much like a bare foot as possible. They were originally intended as a shoe for working on the deck of a boat, but got popular with runners somewhere along the way. To each their own, I guess!

robinph

The separate toes might be something to do with compensating for your foot being squished inside a regular shoe for years and the toes being too close together.

Or it could just be to make them look a bit funny.

Peetrik

mo_bhicycle wrote: »

Question for the Vibram wearers, what's the point of the individual toes?

Grip. On muddy/wet grass, especially downhill, your toes are able to splay out and stop your foot skidding forward.

Well thats the effect anyway. No idea if it was intentional or not. I suppose thats just how bare feet work anyway