anyone use them? I've recently been switching to barefoot/minimalist shoes because I have bad knees and switching to these shoes was one recommendation, and oh my, my knees are greatly improved. I have a pair of Vivobarefoot running shoes, Paragonia walking shoes and some Merrell bare trail running shoes are being shipped right now. I would love a few more pairs, some vivo hiking boots and a couple more just good looking casual dress pairs, but I'll wait. In case anyone is wondering what barefoot shoes are, they have 4 main features. (1) They have very slight or zero rise in the heel, so this positions your knee slightly differently, lessening the impact on the same place normal shoes abrade. (2) very thin and extremely flexible soles so you learn to use your whole foot to almost grab the terrain. (3) a larger toe box so that the toes can both spread out and be used in gripping as one walks. And (4) they are very light. Each brand might do things slightly differently, like new balance has some barefoot shoes that have thicker soles, but still retain the other features. Here are the shoes I have purchased so far. If you have bad knees, hips, or lower back, you might look into barefoot shoes http://www.amazon.com/Vivobarefoot-...r_1_7?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1425534126&sr=1-7 http://www.amazon.com/Patagonia-Loulu-Casual-Walking-Walnut/dp/B0018Y91JS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425534244&sr=8-3&keywords=patagonia men's shoes http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HF4W8AO/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2NEM58BFPMEIL
I was given a pair of Vivobarefoot Stealth's couple of years ago. I like wearing them when it's too hot for socks. I prefer them to sandals. They are too thin-soled to wear on hot asphalt. I wouldn't go so far as to wear toe shoes. (/In before the whiteness of minimalist shoes is mocked)
I used the Vibram 5 fingers for a little bit. Great travelling shoe, takes up barely any room. Also used the New Balance Zeros a few times on trips, I like them because they don't take up a lot of room and you don't wear socks. I think they might have not been good for my arches though, not sure. I went jogging using my vibrams in a city, I felt like spiderman (they were red).
I used Vibram 5-fingers to get over chronic and reoccuring shin splints/stress fractures. They got me healthy enough to use "regular" shoes, but I still take them out from time to time. I know they got "debunked" somehow a couple of years back, but even if it was a panacea, it was some of the better $70 I've ever spent.
I learned about these barefoot shoes from my father who had very bad knees and was going to have to get double knee replacements within 4 years according to his doctors. Then he went on a beach vacation and spent a month barefoot and all his knee pain was gone. So he came back and started doing research (he is a retired scientist so his research is thorough) and he found all sorts of information regarding these shoes. Basically, without the toe drop and with the bigger toe box the knee joint shifts a few millimeters and so wears a different patch than had been ground down over the years via excercise and walking. So my dad started making the switch and has been able to abandon all plans of knee replacement for the foreseeable future. He still has some pain, so it's not complete, but it did help a lot. I have had bad knees for a while and my pops convinced me to give these shoes a try. It is certainly helping.
I have the Vibrim Fiverfingers shoes but haven't used them other than trying them on and when I use them I only plan on it in the water at this point. Glorified water shoe for me which is probably overkill of course.
I went a few years without owning any shoes, back in my younger days. Keeps you grounded, but on the other foot, no one wants to suck on your toes when your feet are grimy. barfo
