Has anybody bought any of these yet?
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Has anybody bought any of these yet?
They're probably still saving up :closed:Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
Zephr has a pair. From memory he generally loves them, but they are murder on anything relatively dry, I think he found them very unforgiving at Bamford Fell Race this year, which is a very steep up and down on relatively well packed trails and rocks in mid-summer. I think he said that the descent was particularly nasty.Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
Yup- thats about right. From the perspective of a semi-forefoot runner, I dont count myself as one, I just run, and seem to end up forefoot striking (more with Baregrips than others), they are great on squidgy stuff- moorland like Bleaklow and Kinder, but I find them a tad too thin on anything approaching slightly stoney or rocky. I know that some people with feet that are made of sterner stuff than mine who find them ok on stoney bits- but I slow down considerably when I hit stones.
(run on then, rather than hit them... thought that might need a bit of clarification).
Terry Conway apparently ran the entire Lakeland 100 in a pair, so he obviously kind of likes them, but I think less heroic people may find that it hurts a bit much to do that kind of distance in them.
He used North Face Single Track according to his blog -Quote:
Originally Posted by zephr
'I used TNF Single Track for the Lakeland 100 and will elaborate on that in a bit.'
http://terryconway.blogspot.com/2011...e-journey.html
Ah, My apologies, I was misled by the marketing giant that is inov8.
forgot to mention about the Bradwell race Simon alluded to. Yep- running downhill, trying not to be caught by a fellow club-mate, on tarmac and hard dirt gave me quite fantastic blood blisters on both heels. I was really rather impressed.
bare-grip in 2010Quote:
Originally Posted by L.F.F.
we're complete geeks arent we?Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
*shakes head*
Inov8 Insider might be keeping quiet then...Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Used Inov8 in 2010 and TNF in 2011 when he steam-rollered the field!
Nothnig against Inov8, but they do go on a bit...
Sorry Zephr if I got it wrong!
Well I’ve got apair, and initially I did really like them. The grip is very impressive both from the extremely aggressive outsole and the fact that the shoe has no midsole letting your foot mold the outsole to the trail. And they do get you running on your forefoot, there’s no way you could heel strike with these shoes without hurting yourself. But currently I am not wearing these right now, there just not forgiving enough on harder surfaces and they hurt the bottom of your foot. Particularly where the first metatarsal meets your big toe, I also got horrible blisters.Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Fowler
Durability is not great either as there is no rand around the bottom of the upper and it’s starting to wear through.
But for short 40min runs I might still were them.
So to summarise... these shoes are expensive, don't last long, hurt your feet, slow you down and give you massive blisters. But apart from that they're great.
In the same way I could probably argue that crocodiles make good pets.
... ah, but they dont slow you down on bogland. So I suppose in the same way that crocodiles may be a good pet in the right situation- ie getting annoyed with the neighbours herd of antelope- they are a good shoe...Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
LOL that pretty much sums them up.Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Crickey bobs! Sounds like total feet destoryers!
I wont knock them until Ive tried them though (Id rather have the trusty x-talon 212's so I probably never will) - Unless I buy the mudclaw 272's which look quite appealing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Choices, choices :closed:
Walsh PBs.... after 30 years experience I still find them quite a suitable shoe for fellrunning... Seem like a bargain nowadays too!
http://www.etasports.com/Results1.as...ry=1&SecCat=14
But wouldn't the crocodile only be useful if you had a river ? Otherwise a Cheetah may be the thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by zephr
leading on from which consider the whole Born to Run thing, which agues that running barefoot is natural and good, people developed as runners through hunting.
But did they race up and down hills covered in rocks and stones ?
For me; seems unlikely, I'd guess they would walk over that kind of crap, too sore you see.
a bit like the crocodile in the river or the cheetah on the plain, they would hunt where the terrain suited them (their feet)
So maybe fell racing barefoot (or in "barefoot shoes") just isn't meant to be
bog-racing sounds like a go-er though
I agree with that, theres also the running fast down very steep hills which puts alot of pressure on your kness and ankles, which you couldn't really do without shoes with a lot of grip. I think thats why footballers get injured so much because the studs in there shoes let them move in a way which they would not be able to naturally.Quote:
Originally Posted by andy k
BTR talks about us developing as runners from our ancestors hunting on the flat plains and slowly running animals to death or exhaustion.Quote:
Originally Posted by andy k
For hills covered in rocks and stones our ancestors didn't walk, they just used Adidas Kanadias.
I have been using these bare grip shoes since September, they have really helped my running, i have got faster, better form, and less injury's, buttttt!!!!
after a run on Sunday when i cleaned them off i was horrified to find the material around the toe box sides and inside and outside of the shoe is nearly thread bare and worn through, looks like it has been rubbing on the lip of the soles, ironically there is hardly any wear on studs, £75 around 100miles three months,,, not a happy shopper!!!!
I really enjoyed that Born To Run book, thought the guy talked a lot of sense and am just waiting to unwrap my vivobarefoot trail jobbies on sunday. I have tried running in bare feet but the cold makes my feet numb and small stones hurt. Also, the soles of my feet are unlugged so I tend to descend either very slowly or on my arse.
Also, I cannot outrun my dog so I don't know where he got that from. His dog must've been very old or lazy, possibly both.
That said, I like the idea of running in the way that the body is designed to do, which is what the shoes are about. But pricewise, it'll be either next christmas before I get another pair, or wait for Walsh to bring a pair out at a reasonable cost!
I went for my first run in my vivobarefoot yesterday, just on grass. Felt pretty good, was novel to be able to actually feel the ground under your feet. For less than 60 quid I think they'll prove to be a decent purchase.
Wot, you mean re-introduce the ultra-minimal PB racer of many many moons ago...?Quote:
Originally Posted by plodding bear
Who was it said "there is nothing truly new under the sun"?
If that's the equivalent of a 'barefoot' fell shoe that lasts a while, does the job and doesn't cost a fortune then yes, let's have it back!!!
They'd have to make it with a wider forefoot area, it ain't minimalist if your toenails fall off!Quote:
Originally Posted by plodding bear
£64.99 here at the min!
http://www.sportsshoes.com/product/I...running-shoes/
Probably even cheaper in-store, i was there the other day and got a further £7 discount on the web price for some Speedcross 3's.Quote:
Originally Posted by ukhursty
Thats quality! They have 272's for £59 as well!Quote:
Originally Posted by stevefoster
Same here Wain
Faster, comfortable, less injury, but
After 140 miles over 3 months threadbare at the sides - that's one very expensive pair of running shoes!
Sad, as I am really loving them otherwise.
I've seen an updated version being tested out on the fells with some toughened material round the sides... I'm guessing to address this issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by EarthSongWoman
Well, its taken less than 200km, (yes, I sat down and geeked out over Garmin and Suunto tracks to work it out), and the soles are still amazing, but the uppers of my Baregrips are shredded.
http://testedtodestruction.blogspot....destroyed.html
I suppose I'd better burn them then.
Similar.. think I got less than 100 miles before they fell apart, Ras Yr Aran finally killed them.. 150k max. Any rock just murdered them, so not great for snowdonia.Quote:
Originally Posted by zephr
Yeah, used them in the Peak district. Fantastic for peat bogs and springy turf, but not for big arse rocks.
Mine had ripped in the usual place on the inside of the foot on both and was about to shell out big money on the old favourite X talons until I discovered Black Witch awesome stuff I repaired my shredded baregrips on Fri night and did Anniversary Watlz in them no problem on the Sat. Ermm £85 or £5.95 now let me think........
I have a dliemma. I love these shoes. They are really comfortable. it's like not wearing shoes at all but with a really good grip. Almost if not as good as a mudclaw but ........ as everybody is saying they fall apart. Mine had a hole in on their second outing which was last years Yr Aran if I recall, IanR. So now I can only wear them if I am absolutely sure the course is just grass or mud - which means I hardly ever wear them. But I must look up this black witch but suspect if I just google 'black witch' I might have to do some wading through. What is it?
Thats the stuff seems the review has missed out suitable for ripped fell shoes.Quote:
Originally Posted by nikalas
The Bare Grips I had ripped in the place described after less than 100miles too; working out at about 80p per mile! I sent mine back to Wiggle and they exchanged them no probs but looks like I'll have to get the Witch ready. I let Inov-8 know too and sent them photos, but sounds like they are aware of this design flaw and have not acted on it...
It's a pity as it is a unique fell-running shoe and perfect for barefoot runners like me who can't wear any shoes with a drop due to planar fascia problems.
Sort it out Inov-8!
I'm pretty sure there's a new model that's being tested with a toughened upper in the areas where the current lot are prone to splitting.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_
Wheres Innov-8 insider when you need them. That sounds great if there is to be a toughened shoe. isuspect by the time they are on sale i may be running in shoes wholly crafted from black WitchQuote:
Originally Posted by Hank