I have used nice New Balance running shoes since I was in the Army. Nothing but problems, including plantar fasciitis and a heel spur due to running shoes. I switched to minimal shoes like Vivo, Merrel, Vibram and now two different running sandals and I have ZERO problems these days. I would say that overdeveloped running shoes are the fad.
In response to skeptics of barefoot shoes, barefoot shoes change your foot. I've had Vibram Five Fingers for a while now. Now, it's not the "Invisible shoe," but it's definitely more "free" than a standard tennis shoe. I tried to put my tennis shoes back on the other day, and my foot complained so much that I went ahead and wore my non-waterproof Vibrams in the wet. Once you actually experience barefoot, and become accustomed to it, there is a good change you will not want to go back.
I really love these style of sandals! I tried making my own with an old pair of flip flops I had lying around, thanks to the DIY tying instruction available on Xeroshoes. I can say with my own DIY version that my knees and ankles seem to hurt less. It isn't because these shoes are magical, they very well could be, but that it allows your feet to "feel the world", borrowing xeroshoes' motto, so you don't overdo your running strides or have heavy footfalls.
True, it isn't really wearing shoes that causes injuries. It's doing things like over striding/and or heal striking that injure you. The problem with cushioned running shoes is that they make it possible to overstrike or heel-strike. If you were running barefoot, you can't over stride or heel-strike. As you said, anyway, if you can run properly with shoes it won't hurt you.
I have ordered these and it will be a good test as I have been injured long term and have very persistent shin splints. A good price tho so looking forward to trying these and the barefoot technique.
Hard surfaces existed always , people were able to walk on a flat rock plane that might extend for several hundred meters. Or a very solid (like compressed) ground that would have no plants on it. So do not get confused by thinking that anything that is made by human technology(like a wooden floor, or an ashalt street) is completely un-suitable.
There's VERY little wear on that part of the lace (it's in between your toes, recesses a bit, and you don't create much friction in that spot). I've never worn out the knot at the bottom in thousands and thousands of miles. Plus, you can, in fact, just pull some string through and make another knot if you do somehow wear it out.
Fore-foot (FF) running is definitely better than heel striking when running barefoot (BF) but BF running has not yet been proven to be either safer or more efficient than running with shoes on. We don't walk around outside barefoot so why run like that? If FF running is eventually shown to be advantageous (the evidence is still inconclusive but slowly growing) then minimalist shoes are probably the best way forward (pun intended!) :D
You make a knot in the string and then burn it slightly with a lighter to both solidify and flatten knot. Then you simply point the knot toward your toes so it doesn't bother the sole of your foot. I was initially worried about having a knot under my foot (or really, between my toes), but it hasn't bothered me at all and I am very new to barefoot hiking.
Whether we were "made to run on concrete" or not, I know hundreds of runners who've done tens of thousands of miles on concrete without any problems. And the barefoot runners that I know prefer harder surfaces to softer ones. If you have a different preference, that's okay with me, too ;-)
Because this lacing style secures your whole foot, you barely notice the thong (if at all). AND, there are other ways of tying these that don't have a thong (see the /tying page at xeroshoes(dot)com
There is no lack of research about barefoot running. You all who say there is a lack of research, probably work for major multimillion dollar shoe corporations or have not tried to read or even watch videos about the facts of barefoot running and the Tarahumara Indiana who are the super athletes that invented these thousands of years ago.
cheapo sandals and flip flops have totally different soles than these huaraches.. but it would be a fun project to try to make them with crappy dollar store flip flops... I am making them with 5mm leather gathered from a leather store's scrap been. Probably leather used for making chaps and such. Not too thick and rigid, and not too thin.
I just want to say, esthetically, there's nothing wrong with the way she looks. Painful high heels vs these... Choose these. Why must we sacrifice our bodies to conform to societies views of "normal"? Also, fashion changes, and the more people get into barefoot footwear, the more normal it will seem. REVOLUTION! lol
I was just about to buy these then I remembered I'm a clutz with a crooked instep and balance issues, I have a tendency to drop things on my foot and what if it suddenly starts raining or you encounter sand or step in something left by your dog how bendable is that foam piece? If I'm driving and hit the pedal wrong will the bottom get stuck under the pedal? Shoes weren't only made for the soles of your feet they were made to protect them all around. But I do believe in this company so I'm going to buy their regular shoes and boots. Obviously you would avoid wearing the sandals to certain places. As you would any shoe. I'm only considering unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
The sandals are incredibly flexible (you can roll them into a tube) and won't get stuck under a pedal. And we make more than sandals (this video is over 6 years old). Check out www.xeroshoes.com/shop/
It is proven. Running in cushioned shoes shoots 3x the amount of force through your legs than barefoot running does. Why do you have that perfect elastic tissue if your legs are meant to move slow and slap the ground? We're meant to run barefoot, shoes to grow on us, so why wear them for something as simple as running?
If you want bone on bone arthritis of the knees then bare foot running is thing for you; you'll love it and you can just be like me where eventually you can hardly walk from the car to the supermarket and when you get there you have to lean on the trolley to get around. Zero drop shoes yes but make sure they have plenty of cushioning.
You F'coffee you probably are over 50 and started at a late age. You cant go barefoot after 30+ years of running with regular shoes. i myself run with vibrams which i have a very positive opinion off. The truth is that it is not for everyone.
If you got the idea from Tarahumaras, how do you help them?, If you know they are like the native in USA, they are forgotten people, they were pushed to hide them in tha sierra.... i´m only ask
We donate a portion of our sales to the Tarahumara Childrens Hospital Fund. We're working with the Tarahumara to find additional ways to support them, too.
Steven Sashen Congratulations I like you see opportunity where mexicans don´t see.. I hate mexican politics, because many of those childdren doesn´t have the opportunity to study to get a better life. Mexicans are bad with those people.
What stops the string between your toes from wearing out on the bottom? In all your vids I've never seen a photo of the bottom where the string terminates.
I like the idea as i run barefoot, but i did not like the dirt you threw on vibrams, i use vibrams quite often and never had smelly feet nor pain problems.
@zuevaxcy23 Naturally this is what you would assume this but as you practice proper running tech. This is not actually the case, and besides when you go running stones can still some how find their way in and the thing is you either have to a) Stop take it out and posssibly ruin your run ( Ihate stopping :P) b) Just trudge through it
The same thing that happens when you accidentally get your foot stepped on in a pair of running shoes that have less than 1mm of nylon above your foot, or what happens in any pair of sandals or flip-flops ;-)
Nice sales pitch, but it uses flawed "data". No study has shown that properly fitted running shoes cause injury, or that running without shoes prevents injury. Even the Lieberman study, which the pitch man so casually cites, uses words like "could" and "might", yet glosses over the greater forces that barefoot running places on other parts of the body. Barefoot running is a fad that has come and gone, and will go again.
LMFAO im sticking to my VFF (vibram five fingers)! did he just say that they're more protective?! LOL does he know that rocks will land on top of the foot and under the foot and sole? Vibram five fingers KSO protects everything!
This is the kind of misleading certainty I am talking about. It's not at all proven - there isn't even a consensus. Google "evidence for forefoot running" and follow the INDEPENDENT links - some of which are blogs by medical people or running websites.- but you need to be open minded enough to read them :) Also, while we obviously evolved to walk/jog barefoot there is no evidence that we 'ran marathons'. To quote from one of the websites "Endurance running for enjoyment is a modern day luxury."
Really? So when you're running on a trail, there's a high probability that some debris will get in under your feet and also if you trip and stub your toes, it'll hurt like a bitch. Or when someone drops something on your feet. Can't forget you can also step on something really sharp and pierce the sole. Geezus, this is a bit too extreme caveman style running, but w/e floats your boat.
There are a lot of exaggerated claims made about the benefits of forefoot running, none of which are actually supported by sufficient experimental data. Google "The Religion of Running Technique" for a more balanced view.
Sounds like you were wearing improper shoes. Properly fitted shoes have never been proven to cause the problems that you describe, no matter what the salesman on the video claims. It just isn't supported by science, nor does it make any sense from a purely mechanical standpoint.
Yes, it's a fad. One that rears its head every decade, or so. Then it goes away for a while. Humans used to run around without clothes or shoes. Then, be human, we got smart an invented things like clothes and shoes. Then we invented even better shoes. Now we can run more efficiently. If you like to be "old school", have fun. But don't even suggest that running less effectively is in some way better than running with the latest technology.
