Vibram Fivefingers Anyone???

I’m still restricted to 1 run a week due to a blister that pops up in exactly the same place every time I wear them. I tried Compeed blister plasters but they wouldn’t stay put. I’m now considering taping my entire foot to see if that helps. I thought that eventually the skin hardened if a blister kept forming but it hasn’t happened for me yet. It’s a shame as I had hoped to be wearing them a lot more by now. On the plus side, I’ve been wearing them along a tow path which is quite rocky/gravely and they’ve been fine.

First wear; hurray!

Did about 5 miles; more than i intended to, just got a bit carried away. Gave myself a large blood blister under the pad of my big toe; nothing a needle and some mediswabs couldn't fix! I can see this problem going away as i get into them.

Felt really good to run in, just like the barefoot runs i do on grass. Fit was spot on, the blister was caused by running too far and too soon, not because of the fit of the shoe.

Not sure about their ideal terrain yet; grass, tarmac, packed earth were all fine but anything gravelly or stony was very uncomfortable. This may change as i get used to them.

I get the feeling that if these had been designed by a british runner that they would have studs on to make them more versatile; maybe that's the next version!

Will continue to use them for any recovery sessions; i like the idea of taking some 'proper' shoes in a backpack and swapping to them when needed, that might be the best way of extending the distance safely.

IN SUMMARY; It's early days but i think they could be very useful

I've had mine for just over a month now and have built up to running 5 miles at a time. My calves are still sore the next day, but they are getting better.
Blisters are still a pain in the arse! I get them on the ball of my feet and big toe (which I expected anyway) but I also get rubbing on the inside of my arches from the seams (why couldn't they make the seams flat stitched!?!?!). I'm sure the balls of my feet will adapt but now sure about the friction caused by the seams. May have to tape the buggers down or invest in some toesocks?!

What we've all been waiting for!!!

Vibram Fivefingers Trek!!!

Now all we need is a version with a nice thick cushioned sole and a firm upper.

Oh wait...isn't that called a shoe? :D

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Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise

I've had mine for just over a month now and have built up to running 5 miles at a time. My calves are still sore the next day, but they are getting better.
Blisters are still a pain in the arse! I get them on the ball of my feet and big toe (which I expected anyway) but I also get rubbing on the inside of my arches from the seams (why couldn't they make the seams flat stitched!?!?!). I'm sure the balls of my feet will adapt but now sure about the friction caused by the seams. May have to tape the buggers down or invest in some toesocks?!

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Yeah, i can imagine the seams being a pain. TBH the build quality is pants, it certainly doesn't look like a £70-80 shoe.

The Trek version being touted doesn't look up to much. I can't see a reason why vibram can't make an articulated sole with some decent grip on. Probably they've little idea of what fell runners do anyway!

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Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise

What we've all been waiting for!!!

Vibram Fivefingers Trek!!!

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Definitely a step in the right direction. Just my luck though - I finally decide to take the plunge and buy a pair of KSO's, then they bring out a better model. Although there's absolutely no way I'd pay that much for them.

Been doing some runs in aqua shoes which are great on grass and, at £5, a hell of a lot cheaper than Five Fingers.

Upped my game plan today as our american cousins would say... about 11 undulating miles towards Malvern hills completely in vibrams. (apart from a mile or so at the end completely barefoot.)

Got to say I had some very zen like moments, and funnily enough I had some of these on flat country lanes...

Got them really wet and muddy too, I was not expecting them to grip at all. - but I only had one stumble, and I actually felt mega confident on the downhills. I think in a way I've learnt to shift my centre of gravity over or something when I descend.

It's all very good stuff, no aching calves, feet feel "worked out" but not sore.

Recommend.

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Originally Posted by Ms Tippy Toes

Been doing some runs in aqua shoes which are great on grass and, at £5, a hell of a lot cheaper than Five Fingers.

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Not really the point of them though is it?

Running on grass is easy enough in barefeet anyway and aqua shoes wont allow the toes to articulate and strengthen properly.

Having just finished Born to Run i'm off to Naked Ape tomorrow morning to get fitted for Fivefingers.... Am going to be writing an article about my experience of them and the whole barefoot revolution thing. Would be great to get some quotes from some other folk who've used them. I'm particularly interested in anyone who'd suffered from classic running injuries in the past (PF, Runner's Knee, Achilles Tendonitis etc) and has found "going natural" a help. PM me

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Originally Posted by nikalas

Having just finished Born to Run i'm off to Naked Ape tomorrow morning to get fitted for Fivefingers

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Sounds like Impulse Shopping to me!!

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Originally Posted by AndyA

Sounds like Impulse Shopping to me!!

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Impulse!:eek::eek::eek: Having trawled all the way through this thread!

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Originally Posted by AndyA

Not really the point of them though is it?

Running on grass is easy enough in barefeet anyway and aqua shoes wont allow the toes to articulate and strengthen properly.

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I’m more bothered about my pocket than my toes! so I’’m trying to extend the life of my Five Fingers as much as possible.

I got the idea from Richard36, and they’re not too bad actually – they’re really light and flexible with the insoles removed. I wear them twice a week and the rest of the time I wear Five Fingers, and so far (touch wood) no injuries!!

I wouldn’t go completely barefoot round here anyway – too may dogs not enough responsible dog owners!

Ms Tippy Toes

Glad you're 'enjoying' the aqua shoes. I use them a lot both on road and off road (apart from when I need to be able to grip) and so far they have been great. There isn't any damage to either the sole or uppers though to be fair I've not done any proper fell running in them. So far as trails are concerned they are fine.

Aldi are selling some this Thursday for £3.99 and if anyone is curious about running in a minimal type shoe I don't think you can go far wrong with this type of shoe. If you really like the experience you could then splash out on a pair of five fingers.

If anyone's thinking about trying minimalistic shoes but are put off from buying 5fingers because of the price, try these http://www.jingashop.com/

They come in a whole range of funky colors. Got mine today and they're great. Got them for everyday walking. The sole is very thin and the outer is like a slipper, very comfy. The grip is also a bit better than the 5fingers, sort of crinkled design like McCoys crisps!

Very interesting!!

Which Jingos did you go for, the Originals or the Cushties?

Do they seem durable enough for the rigours of running?

Just spotted on the Jingo website that they are not recommended for running!

I think the reason they say they are not for running is simply due to the fact that most people expect cushioning and stability in their shoes.

5fingers were originally designed for sailing crews to use on boats. It wasn't until an American named "Barefoot Ted MacDonald" got in touch with Vibram to say he was interested in using them for barefoot running that they took off.

As for the Jingas, they look very much like Walsh's just with a thinner more flexible sole (you can role them up into a ball). I brought the originals in Brazil colors. I got them primarily for casual walking use but I'll run in them for the rest of the week and see how I get on.

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by Ms Tippy Toes

I wouldn’t go completely barefoot round here anyway – too may dogs not enough responsible dog owners!

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Welcome to the world of dog owners:mad:

Terry

I agree that many shoes that are not recommended for running are actually quite good for running if you run in a certain way ie. midfoot strike. I use aqua shoes and I don't think they are recommended for running long miles along trails!

Let me know how you get on with the Jingos

Went to Naked Ape in Sheffield and got my Fivefingers (VSO's)... fitting took quite a while and I was really surprised that although I normally take a 10-10.5 fell shoe I ended up with an 8 in the Fivefingers!

First run was yesterday evening 6 miles full on fell on Cracken Edge (no point easing in gently!). Really enjoyed running in them and didn't suffer from sore feet at all despite some really rocky sections. Grip was fine climbing and excellent on rock but they were a complete liability on wet grassy downhills... two spectacular tumbles. Was even pleasantly surprised how they felt on the road at the start and end of the run. No rubbing or blisters. Also no calf tightness but I've always been quite a toe/forefoot runner.

Second run this morning (6 miles again) and all good... really amazed how you can feel your toes working for balance/grip and how little impact your knees take. Again no rubbing or soreness.

My plan is to use them for my morning pre-breakfast easy paced runs as it's usually when I'm running easy that I get lazy and my form goes to rat shit.

So far, very impressed.

Having read Born to Run (brilliant book btw) I took the plunge and ordered a pair of KSO's a couple of weeks ago (having bought into the 2 million years of evolution trumping 4 years of podiatry degree argument).

Initially I wore them around the house and on a couple of short runs, when I did get a couple of blisters between the toes, though nothing major.

They were tested properly tonight when I wore them on an 8 mile club run over roads, trails and a few gentle hills. Overall, I really liked them. The negatives were that I found them a bit hard on the calves when on road though that felt like the result of a sudden change in cushioning rather than a permanent issue but I suppose only time will tell. On the trails a couple of large stones caught me out, but it was only a temporary 'ouch', no serious damage. Also, grip on wet grass would probably be an issue so I can't see me using them for racing in.

That said, I absolutely love them - you do change your form - strike on the forefoot, my hips seemed to shift forward as if to be keen to get somewhere rather that slouching at the back. I also found that I wanted to kick my heels up so that the lower legs were more like pedaling in a circle as on a bike rather than thumping up and down - difficult to explain, but I know what I mean! Also, you notice that when running uphill, all the power drives you forward, nothing is lost - big difference - it's suddenly obvious that the cushioning in a normal shoe dampens the forward drive when climbing.

I also feel after just a couple of weeks that my feet feel generally stronger and tougher.

I won't wear them all the time, and I'm certainly going to be mindful of hurting my calves by using them too much on the roads in winter. But I will wear them regularly and I think this will help my foot strength and running form, and I'll certainly look forward to each run in them because running in them doesn't half feel great!

Just need to cope with the mickey-taking clubmates!

Dave.

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Originally Posted by chesterblue

Just need to cope with the mickey-taking clubmates!

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I still haven't plucked up the courage to wear mine on a club run! Good for you.

Have told a few people about them though so am building up to it. :)

Nik, you’re a very lucky guy!

I think for those out there who are already efficient runners, landing midfoot/forefoot, you're already half-way there to running barefoot.
The transitional period should be less and your calves will already be used to taking most of the impact.
For us heel strikers, finding out that we've been running so wrong, taking most of the impact through the heel, bones and knees takes a little longer to adapt. I've managed to build up to 1 hour runs now (mix of road and trail) but I think when I get a chance to go completely off-road soon, I will be able to run a lot longer. Some things I've noticed are that when I'm on road, my cadence increases, I’m guessing to adapt to the conditions (this appears to happen naturally). Also, when I first stated to run through mud and wet grass I was slipping all over the place but I think my gait must have again adapted to the conditions because I can now run quite comfortably. The same goes again with running over stony paths. At first they were a pain in the arse (well foot really) but slowly I'm finding that I can endure it and quite enjoy the feeling you get. My claves no longer ache! I’ve also noticed that instead of pounding along, I almost feel like I’m floating when running (anyone else get this feeling?). Oh…and I can’t help but run with a stupid big grin on my face!

The only negative aspect I’ve discovered so far is that I now hate wearing traditional shoes of any kind!

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Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise

The only negative aspect I’ve discovered so far is that I now hate wearing traditional shoes of any kind!

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I have just got some VIVO BAREFOOT for my every day shoes:cool:

I've had a look at them and they look pretty good. The only problem I have is that in the line of work I do, I have to wear black plain round toe boots. So I'm trying to work out a way of chopping the heavy duty soles off and replacing it with a thin sole!

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Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider

I have just got some VIVO BAREFOOT for my every day shoes:cool:

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had a look at this link and my eye was caught by the reflexology style banner on the lhs!

Reflexology is a bit of a bugbear with me; i can accept the fact that some people like to believe in this complete load of bollox; that's up to them, live and let live i say (i'm ok with religion for the same reasons).

However i really hate it when people either try and make money out of it or by association with it (as vivo seem to be doing).

I also have a huge problem with iridology (that's analysing your systemic health by looking at your iris). As an optometrist, i know that this is complete sh1te, but every so often a patient will produce their assessment from an iridologist with the words "so what do you think of this?". I then have to tell them what i think of it, which doesn't always go down well!!

I know i'm going off-thread a bit here but bear with me;

There's a bit of the whole alternative medicine slant to the way barefoot running and VFF is sold to us. This is a real shame because the principles behind barefoot are perfectly straightforward and can easily be tested by ourselves (either our feet feel stronger or they dont!). It doesn't help to link it to quack medicine, and may even turn a lot of people away.

I also wouldn't be keen on paying £75 for an ordinary looking pair of shoes with a worn out sole!!

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Originally Posted by AndyA

had a look at this link and my eye was caught by the reflexology style banner on the lhs!

Reflexology is a bit of a bugbear with me; i can accept the fact that some people like to believe in this complete load of bollox; that's up to them, live and let live i say (i'm ok with religion for the same reasons).

However i really hate it when people either try and make money out of it or by association with it (as vivo seem to be doing).

I also have a huge problem with iridology (that's analysing your systemic health by looking at your iris). As an optometrist, i know that this is complete sh1te, but every so often a patient will produce their assessment from an iridologist with the words "so what do you think of this?". I then have to tell them what i think of it, which doesn't always go down well!!

I know i'm going off-thread a bit here but bear with me;

There's a bit of the whole alternative medicine slant to the way barefoot running and VFF is sold to us. This is a real shame because the principles behind barefoot are perfectly straightforward and can easily be tested by ourselves (either our feet feel stronger or they dont!). It doesn't help to link it to quack medicine, and may even turn a lot of people away.

I also wouldn't be keen on paying £75 for an ordinary looking pair of shoes with a worn out sole!!

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Bloody hell good job I didnt read all that.
I just wanted a shoe to stand around at a trade show next week in Germany that was a more natural " bare foot" option.
£60 for the canvas

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Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider

£60 for the canvas

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£5 for the sole
£5 for the canvas
£65 for the smug feeling!;)

Priceless:D

I'm another person that's been reading born to run and has got me thinking...

The shoes sound great but like others the cost of the shoe is a little off putting, plus having to drive to Sheffield to try a pair on, does anyone know of any where in the North West selling them?

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Originally Posted by hopey

I'm another person that's been reading born to run and has got me thinking...

The shoes sound great but like others the cost of the shoe is a little off putting, plus having to drive to Sheffield to try a pair on, does anyone know of any where in the North West selling them?

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As far as I know Naked Ape is the only retailer in the North. I'd strongly recommend going for a fitting rather than going down the online route as I think that's why some folks have been getting blister/rubbing issues.

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Originally Posted by hopey

I'm another person that's been reading born to run and has got me thinking...

The shoes sound great but like others the cost of the shoe is a little off putting, plus having to drive to Sheffield to try a pair on, does anyone know of any where in the North West selling them?

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Mine came from;

http://www.lovethoseshoes.com/Range.asp?RangeID=260

based in Stockport.

If you want to buy them online you just have to look up the sizing info on 5fingers official website and read through that, and follow the instructions very carefully, some of the models are sized differently.

I measured myself very successfully with a Stanley Fat max tape. Stick it against the skirting board and put your heel against the skirting. Now with the assistance of a helper, I use my missus for this bit, get them to put something like a place mat, or similar hard object with a decent edge on the tape at the end of the big toe, Step off tape and read measurement, try again with other foot and take the biggest measurement.

I think I did mine in inches as that was what it was on the website, anyway as long as your big toe is bigger than your second toe you shouldn't have too much of a problem with fit.

Failing all that, just go for the cheep option and run barefoot :D

Any room on the bandwagon for me?

Familiar story with me - in the middle of reading Born to Run (having recently read Feet in the Clouds which made me want to take up fell running - am I suggestable or what?) and thought I'd give this 'barefoot' running a go too.

Not willing to fork out £100 for fivefingers or brave the tarmac naked (no large enough friendly grassy areas nearby - just rather uneven and stony fells!) so dropped into Aldi on my way home from work today. Picked up the last two pairs of size 10 aqua shoes (£3.99) whipped out the insoles and away you go!

I'm pretty new to running period (let alone fell running or barefoot running) so wanted to take it easy - maybe just 1/2 a mile to a mile first time out + I've got some lower back pain at the moment. Anyway - ended up doing 2 miles around the block (last 1/2 mile properly barefoot - ouch!). Really enjoyed it - a very different feeling - but boy do my calves ache now! Lots of stretching but I just know I'm going to be hobbling about stiffly in the morning (not concerned as I believe this is normal when you start out) Feels like this sort of running is going to great for my ascending + help stretch out my tight calf muscles.

Having had problems finding a pair of fell shoes that fit my very wide, high arched feet, I now find out they're probably ideally suited to this sort of running :)

Early days - but anyone not willing to fork out for fivefingers (like me) could do worse than pick up some aqua shoes - some people have suggested they won't let your toes spread live the fivefingers but I found it was no problem - your foot spreads naturally (or at least mine does) as it lands, and the soft neoprene uppers just stretch.

I wonder whether I dare send back those brand spanking new road running shoes (still sitting in box) I bought a little while ago while I still can :confused:

Well done Skids, you go for it!

There's a whole network of people out there who are joining in the barefoot/minimalistic approach to running.

Take a look at the links below:

http://runningbarefoot.org/
http://barefootted.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/huaraches

Had my 2nd long run in the 'brams on Sunday, did very stoney trails on the Malverns. Felt fine in calves no probs but feet feel quite pounded, from sharp granite stones on trail, got a few little bruises as well. Feel as though my foot fall might not have been as light as it could have, but still managed a good 9-10 miles.

Definitely toughening up though.

Wore mine to the club again tonight. In terms of fit, no problems at all - my feet were comfortable throughout.

Unlike the last time I wore them when it was a gentle 8 mile trot, tonight was a speed session - pyramid 'sprints' 200, 400, 600, 400, 200 metres off a 200 metre recovery, on a hard off-road surface followed by 3 short sprint hill reps.

I could feel my calves tighten, now I did run Wasdale on Saturday, but my legs felt completely recovered from that, so the question I have is how suitable is barefoot running for speed sessions?

The gentle off road warm up felt great - I really do enjoy running easy in them, but at the end, I did feel I had to rein in the last sprint for fear of pulling a calf.

Is it that you need to avoid speed sessions barefoot, or is it that you need to build up slowly by doing gentle off road runs to get the calf muscles used to the lack of cushioning and heel raising that a traditional shoes offer?

Be interested in views...

Dave.

Could be a bit early to start sprint sessions. The majority of bf runners out there advise that you should start slow, gradually building up the distance and the speed will follow.
The hardest part of bf running is being patiant. If feels so good that you just want to run miles and miles on all types of surfaces, but your body needs time to adapt to the changes.

In theory, once your feet/musculature have adapted, then speed work should be ideally suited to barefooting as the faster you run the more you come up onto your toes. I've put some faster bursts into longer runs and it certainly feels good. I think patience is key especially if you were a heel striker. My only complaint about the Vibrams is grip on wet grass descents.