I am interested in trying Barefoot running. I’ve read several blogs and articles about this method and some of the shoes people are using. I’ve narrowed my shoe choices down to the Evo by Terra Plana and Five Finger Shoes. Is anyone using either of these shoes? Do you like them? Do they fit like any other running shoe? Both shoes are very expensive so I would like some feedback before I let go of the $. Any and all feedback would be appreciated.
I don’t know anything about the evo’s, but I’ve been running in VFF (vibram five fingers) for a year or so and love it. They just came out with a running version called the bikila which I highly recommend. Overall, the shoe is really comfortable, but it takes a WHILE to adjust to it. You will be very surprised at how many muscles will get sore simply walking around in those things. If you are in the middle of intense training, I wouldn’t recommend it. They take weeks to get used to and if you don’t take it slow you can hurt your ankles and knees.
Slow build is the name of vff, but once you do, there is nothing like running in them! They are obviously super light weight and force you to run at a higher cadence which for me increased my speed tremendously. they are expensive, but even if you don’t end up running in them, they’re still awesome to wear around!
haven’t tried the evo, have and love the VFF. I have whatever the base model is, with not straps and an open foot. they stay on even when sweaty.
for the fit, they are going to be much tighter than running shoes but you want them to fit like socks.
it takes a lot of getting used to (don’t go out and try to do a long training run, you’ll destroy your legs) but it’s the single best teacher of fore/mid/bare-foot running technique. lack of padding makes them more comfortable on grass, but once you’ve been wearing them a while you can run on concrete without trouble.
the feedback is instant (which is why I love them): if it hurts to run, you’re doing it wrong. if it doesn’t, you’re running correctly 
I’ve been running in Nike Frees, very flexible sole and minimal support, and you don’t have to navigate your toes into each toe hole =)
whatever minimal shoe you go with, do it very slowly. start with a 1 mile walk for a couple days.
then a slow 1 mile jog and so on
I like the VFF’s. I have the sprints (strap) and the KSO Trek’s (more beefy, full coverage, thicker sole).
As was said, you need to work them in very gradually, or you can do more damage than good.
They are phenominal for teaching proper run form.
I have the Evo’s and once swim season is over, I’ll post a review. I should have done it many weeks ago but I just don’t have the time.
There is a cheaper option. Take a pair of old training shoe to a shoe repair shop and have them grind off the midsole and put on an outsole should cost 40-50 bucks. I’ve done it with a great many shoes, including all my current shoes, and I’ve found it to be the best.
Here are some Adidas racing flats that have seen quite a few miles. These are my road shoes. not the best trail shoe, though they’ve seen plenty of trail miles.
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I also swear by the Vibram Five Fingers–and yes, you should take it Very Easy at first. Running barefoot basically changes your gate, and you have to build all the little muscles and your calves a lot before it is easy (and once you do that, it puts more stress on your lower back muscles, so those have to be built as well).
I was involved in Martin Creed’s “Work # 850” (people running through an art museum). We had olympic caliber sports and nutrition coaches, who recommended that if you wanted to learn how to run properly, try to run barefoot on a marble floor.
I was running in the Nike Free at the time, and the sports coach said that they had too cushy of heal pad to be effective as a bare-foot shoe.
that said, However, we were sprinting. One of the folk running was an accomplished marathoner. he had to drastically change his stride to run on the marble, but was told that he would need to revert to his ‘old form’ for marathons. I don’t quiet remember, but it was something about needing more support on your skeleton over longer distances, so running a bit clunkier is usually preferred… how that explains the many barefoot marathoners, I don’t know. but that’s what he was told.
Question for those who have transitioned:
HOw much of your “normal” day do you spend in minimalist shoes (like flipflops or barefeet), and does it help?
I typically run in a lightweight trainer or a flat, and wear flipflops as long as my toes don’t freeze off–i have a very bad knee, and find that the LESS shoe I wear the better. I’d be curious to try either the VFFs or the like, and as I am not yet running following my last surgery, it would be conveneint to segue back into it barefoot.
Also, what do you vibram and/or barefoot runners do in winter?
I’m on my second set of VFF classics. I LOVE them. Quite frankly, I can’t imagine ever going back to a regular running shoe. I’m a lawyer, so I don’t spend any of my regular work day in minimalist shoes. But I wear my VFFs for almost all my runs, lifting, stretching, and heavy bag/medicine ball workouts. I do strides and sprints in bare feet, occasionally.
To give you an idea about how slow you need to take the change. I went from a daily 7 mile run to walking a mile or two. (plus my run in regular shoes). When I started running in my VFFs I couldn’t go 3 miles without pulling up. The good thing about them - as well as a slightly painful thing - is that when you get tired and your form gets bad, it only takes one solid heal strike to convince you to start paying more attention to your form.
I had some blisters on the balls of my feet when I started, but I know other people who didn’t. In hindsight I think my form needed adjustment. I was coming down on the very, very front of my foot. Too small a space, too much pressure, and I ended up with blisters and blood blisters. Eventually my form changed and that problem went away (mostly).
Good luck!
I use the VFF KSO as a training tool and for speedwork. I was already a midfoot striker and never had any problem running in these shoes. I heard all the stories about only doing a half mile run first time out, but I ran 4 miles at a prettly strong pace without any difficulty. I wear them about once a week and have gone up to 9 miles. I’ve worn them several times for my running club’s monthly two mile race.
During the week I wear flip flops or go barefoot the majority of the time during the summer. I always wear Injinji socks with the VFF and have been able to run outside in the winter just like with any other shoe.
The only problem I’ve had is if a run has significant downhill my left little toe jams into the front of the shoe and I killed the toenail.
HOw much of your “normal” day do you spend in minimalist shoes (like flipflops or barefeet), and does it help?
Also, what do you vibram and/or barefoot runners do in winter?
- most of the time when I’m not at work. Once you get into it, you start to hate thick soled shoes. I will wear thin soled or VFF to work on jeans days sometimes.
- same thing but I live in Texas and it almost never gets below 55F. On the vanishingly rare occasions when it’s too cold, I just goto the gym and run on a treadmill with my VFF or thin soled shoes.
Question for those who have transitioned:
HOw much of your “normal” day do you spend in minimalist shoes (like flipflops or barefeet), and does it help?
now? a lot, didn’t used to. don’t think this matters. if you currently wear flip flops all the time it might make the transition easier, but it isn’t JUST about feet muscles, but your whole body. you will run differently if you go from big supportive shoes to minimal ones.
Also, what do you vibram and/or barefoot runners do in winter?
put on socks?
I made a pair of these. But, I don’t necessarily recommend running in them.
+1 on VFF’s. I also have a friend who runs in Nike Free’s and he loves them.
Barefoot[/i running shoes? Dichotomy much? Why not run barefoot? Pretty soon you won’t even notice the shards of glass on the road.
In the current issue of Men’s Fitness (has Lance on the cover, at least in the UAE version of the magazine) there’s an article about barefoot running. The author talks about different bare foot ‘shoe’ options and his experience in trying to learn proper technique and form. Needless to say he did NOT listen to the advice he was given by more experienced runners and ended up on crutches from injury. Check it out.
I wear my vibrams throughout my normal day. they are the most comfortable shoe for walking around in. that said, it doesn’t help with running one bit.
As for winter–They make a Neoprene model that is supposed to be warmer. Otherwise, you get cold.
I made a pair of these. But, I don’t necessarily recommend running in them.
I have a similar pair with a less gay-colored string, and I run in mine. Its actually quite comfortable once you get used to it. I dont do all of my running in them, just a few miles here and there. Im working my way toward completely ditching running shoes, but it will be a while.
seems like an oxymoron.
I’m imagining that on a -20F day with afoot of snow on the ground it will get a bit nipply here…