Going barefoot

[IceWolf]

That's unfortunate, since rain is the primary weather here.

Connecting yourself to a wall socket? Awesome! Where can I buy it?

You can get a wrist or ankle wall socket earthing-strap for $20 from an electronics supplier. (These are normally used to protect your workpiece from being damaged by static discharge.) The site that Wolfgang linked has a different product for every occasion, at $100+ each ;)

[Bleicke]

Oh, those kinds. I thought I could plug myself into the 220V outlet to become Megavolt.

My bad.

[andrew]

I have to add another vote for the Five Fingers. If you're interested, I have some videos on them here: YouTube - andrewfitz's Channel

My legs get a little sorer than usual, but like you said, it's a good sore. I like these because there's "some" protection. I'm actually going to be backpacking Europe/world in them, so I hope to keep you updated on how that works out.

I like the fact I can go anywhere with them without thinking. The only place I might now be able to is high end clubs, which is only a problem 1% of the time.

[YoungBuck]

Hey, I'm 16, and I'm wondering about this, because I'm a rugby player, and I was hoping to build my speed up (being a left wing player). Are these 5 finger shoes worth it? I'd love to walk around barefoot, but it's just not possible i dont think around my area (dirt,rubbish everywhere), however if these really are good for posture/feet/balance/speed etc. then by all means, recommend them.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by YoungBuck

Are these 5 finger shoes worth it?.

I'm enjoying the classics and seem to have skipped the adaptation period since I'm used to walking around barefoot. I recommend looking for somewhere local to be fitted for them, as the sizing for the classics needs to be precise and may not be what you'd expect (or find a place online with a liberal return policy). Over the phone the shoe store thought I'd need a 44, but a 41 ended up being perfect for me. They fit my wide feet well. I also picked a color that had looked ugly online but great in person.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by andrew

I like the fact I can go anywhere with them without thinking. The only place I might now be able to is high end clubs, which is only a problem 1% of the time.

Though I haven't been to any high end clubs in them, I've gotten a number of compliments from college girls on nights out asking where I got them.

[andrew]

You've gotten compliments from girls? I suppose the classics are a little trendier than the KSOs.

It depends on how open the people are I suppose. Yeah they're weird, yes they're totally crazy, even more so than pure barefoot, but once most people find out what they are and what they do, then they're pretty cool.

Or you just get crap (joking from friends) haha.

As far as rugby goes, yes! I think that would be super awesome if they allow it. For sure help prevent injuries and let you feel the ground much better.

[Lauxa]

Another 5-finger update...

It's been a little over a month and I can almost wear the shoes all day. I wore them for about 10 hours yesterday before my feet got too tired. I believe the reason it took me so long to adjust is because I was starting to develop hammer toes (shortened tendons) in my pinkie toes; those have stretched out nicely. I really miss them when I can't wear them, such as to work. I'm thinking about getting a pair of the Vivo Odettes; ballet slippers are a popular look at the office.

I have gotten a lot of positive attention, everyone asks me how I like them, and I reply that I love them. I wore them to the doctor and she told me that everyone who she's talked to that has a pair loves them. Which has also been the response of anyone I've talked to that knows other people who own them.

Angela, did you get your pair?

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by plays with life

hi! I lived on the beaches in hawai'i for a couple of months, and went barefoot the entire time. It's easier in hawai'i, because all the stores & restaurants are happy to let you come in barefoot. My feet developed a nice callous on the spots i stepped on, so i could even walk on sharp lava rock, and hot pavement pretty easily. I ended up taking all of my steps with the ball of my feet first, sometimes even not putting my heel down all the way. I guess that's kind of chimp style?? Barefoot ftw.

cool !

[Scipio]

I got a pair of Fivefingers yesterday. They were $37.00 CAD at a mountain equipment co-op in the paddling section. They were getting rid of old stock so they dropped the price down. I think they are the Sprint or Original version, not sure, they're definitely not KSO's because they don't cover the top of my foot much.

I went barefoot a lot this summer, and now that I'm spending most of my time at home, I'm barefoot most of the time. So wearing these a few hours yesterday and today worked fine. I walked on concrete for about 4-5 hours today and my feet were probably about as tired and sore as walking in normal shoes. I can't imagine concrete is the healthiest thing for the joints.

The most important reason I bought them was for doing squats and other exercises at commercial gyms. They all require me to wear shoes for some reason, although they can't give me a legitimate one. So I'll be wearing these at the gym from now on. I should be able to wear them for the next 2 years as I don't plan on getting a job in that time frame.

[Gene]

I was barefoot more often than I wore shoes when I was young. I even played a few hours of tennis on a hard court barefoot. I even went barefoot in the snow. I do not mean running out in the snow for a few moments but for longer periods of time.

As I remember I stopped my barefoot adventures in my thirties for some reason. I just do not know why I stopped. I do have wonderful memories of being a barefoot child, teen and man. I recommend trying the barefoot life to anyone who has the opportunity to do so.

[Frani]

My good friend ran the Boston Marathon this year barefoot. He actually was interviewed by an NPR program about it. He had various reasons for this choice and has been really happy with it. He does not walk barefoot day to day mostly I think b/c he works in a restaurant (no shirt/no shoes/no job). However he says that he will continue to run barefoot from now on.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Frani

My good friend ran the Boston Marathon this year barefoot. He actually was interviewed by an NPR program about it. He had various reasons for this choice and has been really happy with it. He does not walk barefoot day to day mostly I think b/c he works in a restaurant (no shirt/no shoes/no job). However he says that he will continue to run barefoot from now on.

I seem to remember that it is common for some of the world class runners from Kenya to run barefoot in Marathons. I think one of the barefoot runners won in recent years in the New York marathon.

[Raymond Burton]

I checked around a bit and found this and thought it would be helpful. Barefoot Running I remember when I was young running x-country I went to a world competition (I lived on an air force base) and some guys were running bare foot and kicking but. I really thought it was cool that they were as fast or faster then the Canadians with the fancy gear.

[Raymond Burton]

Found this too - side by side comparison of running pattern video YouTube - Is it the shoes? It's gotta be the shoes.

[koneall]

I've got Classics, Sprints and KSOs. I've been wearing them for about four months. The first three weeks were tough. A lot of muscle/bone soreness from my ankles up. Now I prefer them to regular running shoes. I'm worried about winter. I plan to try running in sandals. During the winter I wear sandals to work with heavy wool socks and have no trouble with the cold.




I get a lot of blisters from running. I get a blister on my right big toe with the KSOs and haven't figured out why. The Vibrams are definitely strengthening my ankles. I started using them because of Achilles Tendonitis. The vibrams seem to have fixed that.

koneall

[Lauxa]

Hey, why not, I'll update again.

I went ahead and got a pair of the Vivo Odettes for more dressy/professional situations. The sole on the Vivos is a bit more thicker and more padded than on the Vibrams, but still quite thin compared to most shoes. If my feet are tired, I'll wear the Vivos. If it is cold and wet outside, I wear the Vivos; the Vibrams are NOT comfortable in cold damp weather. I am going to save up and get some Vivo boots next winter.

I wear the 5-fingers all the time otherwise. I love them. LOVE THEM. My feet feel so much more alive and vibrant. My absolute favorite is to go walking in the woods near my house, hiking over rocky terrain. It is so stimulating to the soles of my feet.

For me, they are definitely better than barefoot. One thing that helps and amazes me is how well they protect my toes when I ram them into things. That rubber sole comes all the way over the tips of the toes and protects them from my clumsiness.

I have been sick recently and haven't been able to run since early December (hoping that will change soon). I was enjoying it before that, though, and it didn't seem to be hurting my knees anymore. Here's a new study that came out recently on barefoot vs. shod running: Running Barefoot: Home

@Scipio - did you see the winner of the Vibram Five Finger photo contest was a competitive raw powerlifter? Vibram Five Fingers Fans - Birthday Shoes - Feeling Fitness Deep Down In My Sole

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

the winner of the Vibram Five Finger photo contest was a competitive raw powerlifter? Vibram Five Fingers Fans - Birthday Shoes - Feeling Fitness Deep Down In My Sole

Thanks for the link. When I lift weights I try to be as close to barefoot as possible, which in the past meant wearing Chuck Taylor's if at a public gym since shoes were required. Next time I'll try my VFF Classics, which so far I've mostly used for hiking, jogging, and general wandering about.