Vibram 5 Finger shoes

You may find them useful if you are used to running barefoot in some capacity.

I am trying to figure out if they could gradually help to go towards minimalism of sorts (and to go more barefoot) or if is more the otherway around (i.e. you can use them only if you have no problems going bafefoot in the first place.)

I tested them in a whole bunch of different conditions, environments and consider them useful to have handy in case of harsh surfaces, temperatures.

Still, nothing beats going barefoot on perfect grass.

Obviously you can call them anything you like but they don't strike me as shoes. I think more of them as soles.

I agree. Good substitute for barefoot. You need to build up to it. When you don't get sore calves any more, it's up to the individual to decide how many miles you're good for. Lots of people running marathons barefoot.

I just got a pair of the 5 Fingers, and excited to wear them and eventually do some running in them.

any suggestions for using them?

Wearers of expensive running shoes that were promoted as correcting pronation or providing more cushioning experienced a greater prevalence of these running-related injuries than wearers of less expensive shoes (Robbins and Gouw, 1991). In another study, expensive athletic shoes accounted for more than twice as many injuries as cheaper shoes, a fact that prompted Robbins and Waked (1997) to suggest that deceptive advertising of athletic footwear (e.g., "cushioning impact") may represent a public health hazard. Anthony (1987) reported that running shoes should be considered protective devices (from dangerous or painful objects) rather than corrective devices, as their capacity for shock absorption and control of over-pronation is limited. The modern running shoe and footwear generally reduce sensory feedback, apparently without diminishing injury-inducing impact–a process Robbins and Gouw (1991) described as the "perceptual illusion" of athletic footwear. A resulting false sense of security may contribute to the risk of injury (Robbins and Gouw, 1991). Yessis (2000, p.122) reasoned that once the natural foot

structures are weakened by long-term footwear use, people have to rely on the external support of the footwear, but the support does not match that provided by a well functioning foot.

Measurements of the vertical component of ground-reaction force during running provide no support for the notion that running shoes reduce shock. Robbins and Gouw (1990) reported that running shoes did not reduce shock during running at 14 km/h on a treadmill. Bergmann et al. (1995) found that the forces acting on the hip joint were lower for barefoot jogging than for jogging in various kinds of shoe. Clarke et al. (1983) observed no substantial change in impact force when they increased the amount of heel cushioning by 50% in the shoes of well-trained runners. Robbins and Gouw (1990) argued that plantar sensation induces a plantar surface protective response whereby runners alter their behavior to reduce shock. The less-cushioned shoe permitted increases in plantar discomfort to be sensed and moderated, a phenomenon that they termed "shock setting". Footwear with greater cushioning apparently provokes a sharp reduction in shock-moderating behaviour, thus increasing impact force (Robbins and Hanna, 1987; Robbins et al., 1989; Robbins and Gouw, 1990). However, in these studies the subjects ran on treadmills or force platforms. Further studies are needed to establish how shoes affect impact force and shock-moderating behavior on natural surfaces such as road or grass.

Other features of footwear, such as arch supports and orthotics, may interfere with shock-moderating behavior and probably hinder the shock-absorbing downward deflection of the medial arch on landing (Robbins and Hanna, 1987). These features reportedly reduce pronation and supination or offer the wearer lateral and arch support. They may help some people with foot pathologies, but their benefit is uncertain for runners with healthy feet (Yessis, 2000, p.121).

http://sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm

Sounds right. Wear them and eventually do some running in them. Start slowly. progress gradually.

89734newbie wrote:

I just got a pair of the 5 Fingers, and excited to wear them and eventually do some running in them.

any suggestions for using them?

I got a pair of these in Oct. (drawstring near the heel) and did a few runs in them. Definitely the closest thing to actually running barefoot! Quite the calf workout too! The only problem is getting them tight enough and staying tight, which then causes the cinched upper to rub/pinch in certain places. I really should have gotten the one's with the strap on top.

jag1, yes, have had similiar problems. Tried a pair one size smaller so they're snug and you don't need to pull on the elastic which causes the pinching/rubbing problem. Works better in warm weather when rubber expands/softens a little. Opposite true in cold weather.Not an economical solution but worth a try if you are relly keen.Will try the pair with the strap when they become available here.Consider wearing a tad of vaseline on your toes, extremities, for a bit of comfort and to avoid irritation.

jaguar1 wrote:

I got a pair of these in Oct. (drawstring near the heel) and did a few runs in them. Definitely the closest thing to actually running barefoot! Quite the calf workout too! The only problem is getting them tight enough and staying tight, which then causes the cinched upper to rub/pinch in certain places. I really should have gotten the one's with the strap on top.

Actually, I had gotten a size smaller originally but had to return them because the hard rubber was pushing into the ends of my toes and hurt. I almost wonder if they were defective (?). Did the vaseline thing (and donut ring for removing pressure spots). I was thinking about putting elastic banding across the top to make the shoes like ballet slippers.

my issue is that my second toe (next to the big toe) is the longest (prominently) on both feet, so i thought of cutting the rubber open but never got around to doing it and just used the larger size model.

Maybe i will try it. In warm weather the rubber seemed more comfortable but then again in warm weather i've mostly been running barefoot, doing base and fun racing.

The elastic band sounds like a reasonable idea. Just recently i was looking at some rhythmic gymnastics photos and noticed they are wearing these funky forefoot covers with just an elastic band on the heel... and am wondering if they could be of use...

Overall they have been useful but I am getting curious about trying a conventional shoe, which i imagine, ideally, as a sort of medieval mitten, not oversized, but really comfortable so the toes can wiggle, bend and have all range of motion.

take care tpcb

attention minimalists wrote:

I'm thinking of taking a real run in them.

You'd have to be a real runner in order to do that.