I’ve been after a pair of Vibram FiveFinger shoes for ages. I did the research for them over a year ago but then I was frightened off by the price. In this era of economic belt-tightening it wasn’t the time to be spending a small fortune on a pair of Vibram FiveFingers when I could continue to get by being barefoot at home and wearing flip-flops whenever possible outdoors (well, at least I could wear flip-flops in the summer, but it’s a bit too cold in the winter).
However, times change. I was promoted at work at the start of this summer and received a small bonus as part of my reward (we’re not talking banker-style bonuses here). As a congratulatory present I tracked down a local supplier of Vibram FiveFingers and bought us each a pair of KSO shoes – Chris had invested almost as much emotional effort into getting me to this point as I had so it definitely needed to be a treat for both of us.
It was a big decision to take so I thought I’d set out some key information, resources and thoughts in a two-part post today and tomorrow, some of which is specifically designed to be of help to those of you based in the UK.
Being barefoot
If you care about full body health then you should care about every part of your body. That includes not neglecting your feet which are, after all, the foundation for everything when you aren’t sat down (unless you work in the circus and spend your life walking on your hands).
I’ve highlighted in past posts the benefits of being barefoot and of running barefoot. The change to your gait and the different way that you use your feet and legs to move about is the foundation of the entire barefoot movement. An excellent article that I’ve only just discovered is from the New York Magazine. Because they are aiming it at an audience of shoe-wearers the article manages to pull together several different strands in a comprehensive read.
Comparing the width and restriction of shoes with Vibram FiveFingers
Notice how little surface area contact I have with the ground in my shoes compared to the Vibram FiveFingers
What can I wear?
One question that I got within my first week of wearing Vibram FiveFingers was, “why are these better than being barefoot?”
The simple answer is that they aren’t. Not really. However, there is a limit to the amount of damage I’m prepared to inflict on myself and walking round the centre of Nottingham or London, or doing trail and narrow footpath walks in the back-country, I am likely to get cuts, sores and infections if I don’t put any protection on my feet. So instead I’m looking for some minimalist cover that will protect me without changing the feel or the behaviour of my feet.
Vibram FiveFingers is just one solution of many. Richard Nikoley seems to swear by RunAmocs made by Soft Star, other suggestions include Moccasins from TOD’s, Nike Frees seem to get a lot of mention across the fitness industry. Flip-flops and sandals can also be an option provided they have a thin and flexible sole. My flip-flops have a solid sole that is half an inch thick so they would never really allow me to walk on an uneven surface without forcing my gait into something unusual.
For a full range of suggestions then I highly recommend Mark Sisson’s post about Barefoot Alternatives. It’s well worth reading down the comments to see quite how many options are available.
Tomorrow I’ll move onto the specifics of Vibram FiveFingers, covering how to find them (difficult outside the US) and how to fit them. Do you wear a minimalist “barefoot” shoe? If so, what type do you wear?
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Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) // Aug 12, 2010 at 21:03
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