Quote Originally Posted by batmonkey View Post
I've also found that rough trails get progressively harder on the feet in the regular FiveFingers. The big advantage of the Treks is that they have just enough plating under the forefoot to stop the rocks from pushing through at the foot so hard.

I've concluded that a lot of the foot soreness I get running trails is due more to the unaccustomed strains of free foot movement than the impacts; even the thicker-soled Treks make all the tendons in the foot work much harder than in regular shoes.
I was tempted when I heard about the Treks but I'm concerned that they represent one end of the slippery slope back to full running shoes.

My view is that the point of the VFFs is to give *just enough* protection to prevent penetrating injuries but not so much that you change your running style significantly from full barefoot running. I'm aware even with the Classics that I don't run in exactly the same way that I do barefoot.

My plan is to continue in my Classics on trails on see if my feet adapt or otherwise get used to the surface before I go down the route of looking for more protection. Dunno if I'll stick with the plan ultimately but I feel it's more in keeping with my view of the barefoot philosophy.

Each to his own however.