Awhile back I bought some Vibrams. Turns out, I can’t wear them. My big toe on my right foot is crooked. Big bunion. Evidently the folks who make Vibrams assume you have perfectly straight toes. All I need to do is put the Vibram ON my right foot, and it’s painful since it’s pulling on my toe. Yes, I tried to slowly adapt, work through it. Believe it or not, I would even wear them to bed, while sleeping, hoping I would loosen into them. No dice. I could wear run in them for a short time, maybe 45 min, but wow was it painful on that toe.
Take your left hand, and grab your right index finger and put your left thumb on the knuckle. Start pulling it towards the thumb. Not fun, huh? That’s what I get putting on Vibrams.
I gave the Vibrams away.
Anyhoo. My questions. Has anyone else found this to happen to them? Also, is there some type of alternative that has toes? I’m thinking if Vibrams just made the same shoe but with more flexible toes it would work, but I don’t think they do? (I don’t really get why the material is so inflexible in the toes.)
I’m guessing my best alternative is just minimalist shoes. I do have the Saucony Kinvaras. I like those.
Check out Altra Running’s Adam (www.altrarunning.com) and the Merrell barefoot shoes (www.merrell.com/barefoot). No toes to deal with. Personally, I like the Adam better than the Merrells because it does not have such a pronounced arch.
Well, what I meant is if you like the concept of the Vibrams… or would have liked them if the toes worked for you. Zems are also very minimalist, like the Vibrams… thin vibram sole, soft stretchy material over the foot, and that’s about it.
A presenter at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting back at the end of May suggested to just buy a pair of aqua socks from Walmart for $10. They offer the same support…My wife and I wanted to try them, but we settled for the aqua socks. I don’t feel like I am missing anything…
I’ve noticed that different VFF models fit differently. I can’t wear the Seeyas without major pinky toe issues, but the Komodo Sports seem to fit me fine. Thought it was odd the different models fit differently. Which did you try?
A presenter at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting back at the end of May suggested to just buy a pair of aqua socks from Walmart for $10. They offer the same support…My wife and I wanted to try them, but we settled for the aqua socks. I don’t feel like I am missing anything…
That’s pretty funny. I’ll check into that. Interestingly, back in the day, I used to be a powerlifter and I preferred to lift barefoot. Well I work my wrestling shoes, which is pretty much like wearing nothing. I did this for years. So I guess I was ahead of my time.
Anyway, I still go to the gym and was thinking I wanted something like that again. Maybe these will work.
Well, what I meant is if you like the concept of the Vibrams… or would have liked them if the toes worked for you. Zems are also very minimalist, like the Vibrams… thin vibram sole, soft stretchy material over the foot, and that’s about it.
I’ve noticed that different VFF models fit differently. I can’t wear the Seeyas without major pinky toe issues, but the Komodo Sports seem to fit me fine. Thought it was odd the different models fit differently. Which did you try?
I don’t recall those two. Seemed to me they were all the same on the bottom. Just different on top. I don’t recall which ones I got.
The following vary slightly in their minimalism but all are basically flat.
NB Minimus Zero (road or trail versions)
Vivo Evo barefoot
Saucony Hattori
Merrell
Inov8 F-Lite 195
Vivo Barefoot Achilles
Cool, thanks! I am looking for something for trails. That’s mainly where I run in the Winter.
The New Balance Minimus shoe line may be the way to go for you (they make about 4-5 different versions now). Their sole is made by Vibram for New Balance. So, your foot gets the “feel” of Vibrams, without the toe situation. Plus, you get to use your current socks if you want. At least go try on a pair and see what you think.
The New Balance Minimus shoe line may be the way to go for you (they make about 4-5 different versions now). Their sole is made by Vibram for New Balance. So, your foot gets the “feel” of Vibrams, without the toe situation. Plus, you get to use your current socks if you want. At least go try on a pair and see what you think.
I’ll have to hold my nose because I really don’t want to give that homophobic bigot my money, but I’ll check these out. Thanks.
A presenter at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting back at the end of May suggested to just buy a pair of aqua socks from Walmart for $10. They offer the same support…My wife and I wanted to try them, but we settled for the aqua socks. I don’t feel like I am missing anything…
That’s pretty funny. I’ll check into that. Interestingly, back in the day, I used to be a powerlifter and I preferred to lift barefoot. Well I work my wrestling shoes, which is pretty much like wearing nothing. I did this for years. So I guess I was ahead of my time.
Anyway, I still go to the gym and was thinking I wanted something like that again. Maybe these will work.
I wrestled from 7th grade to 11th. We had to run a mile everyday before practice. In our wrestling shoes. No, no support from those suckers.
Whichever shoes you choose, make sure you start REAL slow in them. When I ran in my aqua socks, I ran all of 2.5min to start, then 5, then 7.5min in succeeding weeks. I wanted the strength of barefoot running, without the callouses (they showed a pic of barefoot runners–gross!), and better running form, and a bit more resilient to injuries. I also enjoy “barefoot” aquajogging when in the shallow end of the pool.
I’ll have to hold my nose because I really don’t want to give that homophobic bigot my money, but I’ll check these out. Thanks.
Don’t give your money to a company with a homophobic CEO.