:D Barefoot Running

[Hanneke]

just to let everyone know that office are doing some minimal shoes that can pass as work office shoes yet are practically barefoot.

No heel no cushioning, soft leather and very flexible. Feels like slippers, looks like work shoes and only £30

http://www.office.co.uk/mens/office/.../6786/18333/1/

better in the shop than in the picture. Only thing is they may not last through winter.

I wear f-lites to work... blue ones for normal workdays and when I have to dress up smart in a suit for art fairs and the like, I wear the all black f-lite pk's... Hardly anyone notices you are wearing what practically are trainers... and those who did notice thought it was pretty cool!

I have the theory that not many people look at my footwear, but they would notice it if I were grumpy because of sore feet and legs

Oh and most of the time I wear them 'slipper' style, with the heel flattened down, so I can easily slip in and out of them...

[IanDarkpeak]

I'd love to try some VFF or equivalant but don't fancy paying up front for something I might use a couple of times and not like.

any one know of a shop that has test shoes to try??

[Hanneke]

I'd love to try some VFF or equivalant but don't fancy paying up front for something I might use a couple of times and not like.

any one know of a shop that has test shoes to try??

Good question, I am the same...

[Skids]

I'd love to try some VFF or equivalant but don't fancy paying up front for something I might use a couple of times and not like.

any one know of a shop that has test shoes to try??

That's exactly why I'm using £5 aqua shoes (with insoles removed) for my tentative 'barefoot' experiments

This guy:

http://www.barefootrunner.com/2009/0...teraqua-shoes/

seems to have tried most options and rates aqua shoes at "8/10 toes" which is better than all the alternatives (apart of course from proper barefoot), including one of the fivefingers models. Obviously I can't really comment as I've not tried fivefingers myself, but part of me would like a pair of fivefingers simply because they look so far-out and conversation-starting. I wonder how many other people get them for that reason. Fine if you've got the money I guess.

[IanDarkpeak]

That's exactly why I'm using £5 aqua shoes (with insoles removed) for my tentative 'barefoot' experiments

This guy:

http://www.barefootrunner.com/2009/0...teraqua-shoes/

seems to have tried most options and rates aqua shoes at "8/10 toes" which is better than all the alternatives (apart of course from proper barefoot), including one of the fivefingers models. Obviously I can't really comment as I've not tried fivefingers myself, but part of me would like a pair of fivefingers simply because they look so far-out and conversation-starting. I wonder how many other people get them for that reason. Fine if you've got the money I guess.

brilliant. I may try this. looks like a good option and I can use them for work

[Hanneke]

I bought some for a few quid a couple of summer back, to wear when walking in the river but never used them... hmmmm, may give that a try

[Richard36]

Skids I too use aqua shoes and they're great for runs where I don't need a great deal of grip. Bought some from Lidl this summer and they are now showing slight signs of wear and tear!! Had I known I would have bought at least 5 more pairs! Recently when running off road say on grass I've been using the shoes I use for kayaking. They are aqua shoes but made completely out of neoprene. This means that if water does get in my feet stay warm.

Like you I too would like a pair of VFF's but will wait until the new Trek ones are available and until a friend is going to the US who can buy them much cheaper!

[Twister]

I love the five fingers, but must admit it was a bit of a punt, some people have not got on with them and suffered from blisters. I think that if you are the sort of person that normally doesn't have issues with the fit of shoes then you should be alright. If you have webbed toes, stay away.

I wear mine mostly out and about on the weekends they do cause quite a stir. One little chap thought I was really cool though, so if the kids think they're alright then they're alright.

Got to say though I'm running in them less and less, my current shoe is the 285 with insoles out, I still do a little bit of barefoot now and then, but as I'm now racking up milage for the brecons ultra, I decided to stick with one pair of shoes exclusively and concentrate on going barefoot more next year. I think a lot of my injuries occurred as I kept switching between 3 different types of shoe.

[PaulE]

Had a first go at actual barefoot running today - just did about half a mile on the local park with the dog. Does feel nice, and I'm fairly happy that the switch to flatter shoes has meant that my gait in shoes is much closer to that barefoot than it was a few months ago.
Cheers for all the info on this thread, hopefully I'll get a bit more distance done next time before my calf twinges.

[bfluc]

He wrote this:

But it is a downside that they are poorly ventilated, and I really wish I could find some specimens that were much wider in the front to keep my toes from being pulled together. But this is a problem with almost all shoes.

This for me are major issues. I am using water shoes oversized with socks when temperature is pretty low (in the range of minus 5 to 15 degree centigrade) the lack of ventilation is then helping to keep the temp of the feet.

That's exactly why I'm using £5 aqua shoes (with insoles removed) for my tentative 'barefoot' experiments

This guy:

http://www.barefootrunner.com/2009/0...teraqua-shoes/

seems to have tried most options and rates aqua shoes at "8/10 toes" which is better than all the alternatives (apart of course from proper barefoot), including one of the fivefingers models. [...]