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Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

timesonline.co.uk

21–30 of 43 posts

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#21
post #6

Can't buy? Perhaps not actually barefoot, but my wife got a pair of these [1] and I'm planning on getting some soon myself. (For those not interested in clicking, think toe-socks with +5 armor rating) [1] http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ edit: as to starkfist's comment, these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while. Maybe if there were more correlation, but as-is I don't see any marketing stunt…

I'm a huge fan of VFF. Extremely comfortable (I dislike the pressure most shoes/socks put on forcing my toes together laterally), and great for running. I've been running with these on asphalt for the past six months, and feel the best I have in years.

And I get comments/questions about them all the time on the train, welcome attention :)

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#22

WRT healthier walking and posture: what shoes can be purchased that don't look completely ridiculous?

You know what looks ridiculous? Hobbling because cool looking shoes have smashed your feet and wrecked your knees.

some of us have jobs where we cant wear toe shoes. be realistic.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#23
post #20

That article has some good points, but I'm really frustrated by this sort of thing: Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. “Most never wore shoes until their late teens,” he says. “They have few foot defects.” World class athletes have few foot defects? Can you say selection effect? My biggest criticism of the barefoot running crowd is that they usually treat it as a way of life. They al…

> My biggest criticism of the barefoot running crowd is that they usually treat it as a way of life. They always run barefoot, when that's not really necessary. Disagreement about the validity of the "lifestyle" argument aside: when is it necessary to wear shoes? What are the disadvantages, apart from "massive callouses"? > I forgot to explain the non-obvious disadvantages of barefoot running. While humans ran barefo…

What are the disadvantages, apart from "massive callouses"?

I can't edit my comment anymore, but my dad loves to run barefoot. I mentioned callouses as an excuse to link to a blog post where he shows off his Fred Flintstone feet.

As to the disadvantages... what if you're fighting Hans Gruber and he shoots a bunch of glass windows?

I think being barefoot all the time is very different from just running barefoot. A barefoot life is rather unsanitary and unsafe (there are lots of dirty pointy things on the ground). Shoes offer protection from cold, heat, physical trauma, sunburn, moisture, and social embarrassment. They also provide better traction on many surfaces.

I'm too lazy to go searching for sources that justify my claim, but you don't have to look far to find some weaker evidence. Look at people who have the muscular strength but not the structural support necessary to walk: they use braces to help restrict motion or devices to reduce weight on their joints (walkers, crutches). Look at anatomy: ligaments don't thicken along with one's waistline. Even if they did, they wouldn't keep up with the square-cube law.

I guess a more concrete example would be this: If you had to wear a weighted vest while running, would you rather be barefoot or wearing supportive shoes? If the vest is heavy enough, your calves won't support you and you'll be forced to heel-strike. At that point, a supportive and cushioning shoe would be less stressful than barefoot running. That's basically what people with weak calves or large guts experience. And most people in that situation aren't going to train enough to get to the point where barefoot running is better for them.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#24
post #6

Can't buy? Perhaps not actually barefoot, but my wife got a pair of these [1] and I'm planning on getting some soon myself. (For those not interested in clicking, think toe-socks with +5 armor rating) [1] http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ edit: as to starkfist's comment, these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while. Maybe if there were more correlation, but as-is I don't see any marketing stunt…

I'm a huge fan of VFF. Extremely comfortable (I dislike the pressure most shoes/socks put on forcing my toes together laterally), and great for running. I've been running with these on asphalt for the past six months, and feel the best I have in years. And I get comments/questions about them all the time on the train, welcome attention :)

After reading a HN linked article on barefoot running I did some research and bought my first pair of VFF about 2 months ago. Bought my second pair, Treks, two weeks ago for every day and use the first pair for running only. For me it has been a lifestyle changer. My feet and legs want to walk or run all the time. I'm frustrated by rainy days that leave me cooped up in the office. My wife says I get grumpy if I don't wear my "duck shoes".

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#25

WRT healthier walking and posture: what shoes can be purchased that don't look completely ridiculous?

I compared my chuck taylors to a pair of nike frees and thought the soles were equivalently flexible. Looking ridiculous is a matter of taste, but any plimsoll-inspired sneaker will probably work the same as a nike free. Vans, Chucks, Keds, etc. Even soccer trainers like adidas gazelles have hardly any sole to them. Haven't seen a "dress" shoe with these concepts that didn't look orthopedic, though.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#26
post #6

Can't buy? Perhaps not actually barefoot, but my wife got a pair of these [1] and I'm planning on getting some soon myself. (For those not interested in clicking, think toe-socks with +5 armor rating) [1] http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ edit: as to starkfist's comment, these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while. Maybe if there were more correlation, but as-is I don't see any marketing stunt…

Another anecdote for these. I started running regularly a year or so ago. I'm no natural athlete, and even with relatively short runs of just a few miles, I would struggle with knee pain. (I'm quite tall.)

After reading some of these articles, I decided to give the five fingers a try. At first, my hamstrings and feet were so tired I could hardly walk after running. (You don't realize how many muscles you have in your feet, because you don't use them unless you land on the balls of your feet.)

Now, at about the 1 month point, my hamstrings have strengthened, I still feel a lot of soreness in my feet, but the issues with my knees are completely gone.

Maybe placebo, I know, but I don't mind placebo if it works...

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#27
post #6

Can't buy? Perhaps not actually barefoot, but my wife got a pair of these [1] and I'm planning on getting some soon myself. (For those not interested in clicking, think toe-socks with +5 armor rating) [1] http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ edit: as to starkfist's comment, these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while. Maybe if there were more correlation, but as-is I don't see any marketing stunt…

these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while

so have the articles about barefoot running.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#28

That article has some good points, but I'm really frustrated by this sort of thing: Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. “Most never wore shoes until their late teens,” he says. “They have few foot defects.” World class athletes have few foot defects? Can you say selection effect? My biggest criticism of the barefoot running crowd is that they usually treat it as a way of life. They al…

>>Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. “Most never wore shoes until their late teens,” he says. “They have few foot defects.”

>World class athletes have few foot defects? Can you say selection effect?

A lot of world class athletes in the west do have foot defects.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#29
post #6

Can't buy? Perhaps not actually barefoot, but my wife got a pair of these [1] and I'm planning on getting some soon myself. (For those not interested in clicking, think toe-socks with +5 armor rating) [1] http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ edit: as to starkfist's comment, these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while. Maybe if there were more correlation, but as-is I don't see any marketing stunt…

these and other "barefoot" shoes have been around for quite a while so have the articles about barefoot running.

I'd be willing to bet that barefoot running articles have been around since significantly before the internet. Including research, not just the drug-induced-belief associated with hippies.

The "big" hype over this is relatively recent from what I've seen, though, and far trailing what would be needed for a shoe company to develop and start selling a specialized shoe if they were hoping to jump on the hype.

Re: Barefoot running: the best trainers money can’t buy

#30
post #28

That article has some good points, but I'm really frustrated by this sort of thing: Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. “Most never wore shoes until their late teens,” he says. “They have few foot defects.” World class athletes have few foot defects? Can you say selection effect? My biggest criticism of the barefoot running crowd is that they usually treat it as a way of life. They al…

>>Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. “Most never wore shoes until their late teens,” he says. “They have few foot defects.” >World class athletes have few foot defects? Can you say selection effect? A lot of world class athletes in the west do have foot defects.

{{fact}}.

And which are not caused by their occupation?

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