Why I Will NEVER Run In BAREFOOT SHOES Again (+Neither Should You)...!
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- čas přidán 27. 02. 2023
- There's a reason I'm committing to NEVER running in barefoot running shoes ever again.
Vibram, Vivo barefoot etc.
Is it just me? Possibly, but I doubt it.
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53 years old, college/semi pro soccer player. Weightlifting and crossfit for the last 20 years. Transitioned to barefoot 6 months ago. Unbelievably positive experience.
Glad you've had that experience Peter, genuinely!
I am 1 year younger was a competitive cyclist back in the day then transitioned to body building, like most I let myself go and found myself in a situation where I needed to lose 30kg. So far I am 14 down, I have 2 great pairs of running shoes but cannot run 1 km without my shins seizing up. tried barefoot and within 4 months I can run 5km in 30min and have done a number of runs of 15 to 18km. Though my problems are sorted and tried my normal running shoes again. 2km in and I could not walk fast enough to get my heart rate up. I will stick to barefoot shoes for the foreseeable future. I actually enjoy running now, something I never thought would happen.
give it time a fracture takes a while to form
@@jeetpatel6087 I have run 583km in the last 3 months. More time??
I switched over to barefoot shoes a year ago and noticed benefits instantly. No problems at all. Not really a big deal. Yall just weak. lol
Hey Brian... perhaps you are stronger than us! And running in them in fine too?
Same, 4 years ago, running is great. I also hike in my barefoot shoes and they are great.
Best flat shoes, heals many injuries from your past. Just have to be patient, smart and not dive into it quickly.
Think of all the years you wore modern tight shoes… it may take that time to reverse the damage or even longer
@@jimgalvin2191I live in Australia we don't wear shoes at all, we are always on thongs or flip flops. I can run a marathon barefoot. In fact everytime I go to Europe and wear shoes my low back start to kill me. You may look strong young Padawan but you ain't inside you must practice.
Agree. I am almost 70 and have been running (average of 40K a week) on barefoot shoes for over 8 years. No problem at all.
Bruv, what I don't see people stressing is the fact that you need to walk different. Engaging the core, slight bend of the knees, pushing with your heel/tightening the glutes, rocking the shoulders back, straight posture etc. All of this result in you landing on your arch and using the whole foot as opposed to a stiff leg on the heel. This is absolutely key to keep out of harm's way I believe. As soon as I start walking like I used to in cushioned shoes pain starts to appear. If you don't naturally start walking this way in barefoot then pay attention to it going forward
Hey Markus, VERY good point! Mindful walking in this way I think is definitely what's needed if people want to move in that direction.
True... I now walk in the way you described. :)
Yup! I had to constantly think about the way my foot struck the ground for a couple of months before I could walk fast again.
Foot guru mystic ideological shaman here, with a couple of points. I had extremely bad back pain that would pinch all of a sudden sending me to the floor. All I was doing exercise wise was lots of walking. didn't do any of the transition exercises, this was nearly ten years ago, but was well over 25 years old, wore some Merrell zero drop shoes and just walked through the ITB pain, calf pain, Achilles tendon and knee pain on and off for two years because that was preferable to the back pain. All these years later walking has become enjoyable again which for me has been a huge tangible benefit.
Started running around seven months ago and absolutely love it. Not sure what plan you were following to run in the minimalist shoes. I've been building up my foot arch strength etc to be able to build up my cadence pushing off from the back foot. Something I would not be able to do landing on the forefoot on shoes with heels, they just get in my way now. Wouldn't have the same feeling of strength in the feet in shoes with arches that put them into a relaxed position. Don't know if that fits your criteria of a 'tangible' benefit, but getting stronger feet that translates to better stability as I get older and therefore hopefully better quality of life, by just going about my day and not having to make time to train specifically for it is to me.
Don't know what plan you were following, what foot exercises you were doing, but there seems to have been an emphasis on stretching and working on muscle knots. One of them is to just do 30sec's on day 1, see how the muscles feel the next day, if there is no pain increase by 10-20 seconds. If there is generally no pain increase the time and move to running everyday, when the pain starts dial it back. In the mean time run in the Hokas and do your full runs in those. Then after a few months one 1km of a run is done in a minimalist shoe and the rest in the Hokas, slowly moving the time window for each. I've been following the exercises and plan in Born to Run 2, the plan itself is very intense, but the foot core and leg strengthening exercises might be a better match for you.
On your point about walking on the concrete, one trick I've found is by taking a shorter step landing slightly in from the back of the heel more on the fleshy part of the footpad and a slightly bent knee makes a big difference to me. With heeled shoes we can walk with the leg out straight landing on the very back of the heel which can cause pain in the heel and might be aggravating your knee pain. As with the above running strategy start with a 5 min walk, so how you feel the next day and then increase by a minute, after a few weeks starting to walk in them everyday.
I CONCEDE, you know more than me about barefoot "stuff" ;-) Again I'm not saying I won't move / lift in them again. I'm just unlikely to be cracking a 5K in them anytime soon.
So fascinating. I'm 37, started running barefoot last year. No previous experience. Started barefoot. I'd get splinters like crazy. Got a pair of amazon watershoes. Then went to KSO Evos. My calves hurt plenty over the last year, muscle pain, but now, my legs are bulletproof. Calves look like they are chiselled outta marble. I have my first Marathon in Toronto in less than two weeks! I have tried wearing usual shoes now for running, and It robs all the fun out of it. Feels like I'm stuck in the mud. Just a different experience entirely. Do what you gotta do people!
Hy David, thanks for you comments man and I'm happy they're working for you. Running a marathon barefoot means 1 thing.... you are TOUGHER than I am HAHA. That's insane bro, very impressive!
How did the marathon go? Was it the one that was originally the Canadian International Marathon? That was my first marathon (in shoes) in 1996. I've not run that one barefoot but I've done the Scotiabank three times barefoot, and ATB three times (watch out for the bridge...lol)
I switched to barefoot shoes 3-4 years ago and never looked back. One major benefit which is hard to substantiate is prevention of future knee, hip and back pain. My feet definitely got stronger which can't be a bad thing either. When I walk around a city for hours, my travel companions usually start to moan about tired/swollen/hurting feet, while mine continue to feel the way they did in the morning. Sorry to hear about your experience, missing out mate ;)
For me, transitioning to barefoot shoes has been the opposite of all the things you experienced. I had injuries in normal shoes and spent a lot of my youth barefoot so that might explain it.
It's a good point bro! Maybe when things are still developing there's more elasticity in all tissues to adapt to a new structure quicker.
@@jimgalvin2191
I’ve been running in barefoot shoes for the last 15 years and there are tangible and great benefits.
This being said let me clear some things up. This ridiculous barefoot rage has been seriously injured a lot of people so you were right to stop if you felt really uncomfortable.
They sell you the dream that like you said after 30 years of wearing those clunky spring toe shoes you will be able to transition in a few months or a year. That’s just not realistic for a lot of people especially if they are older and it’s the perfect recipe for injury.
Yes there are a few people (myself and my best friend included that can just put them on and start running) injury free with maybe a few sore and aches. We were careless didn’t know enough but were lucky, others were not so fortunate.
Mistakes that are common:
1. The massage and roller are complete unnecessary for most people. They do little to strengthen your tendons and ligaments, on the contrary you might weaken them by stretching them even more. If you want to do it, do it before wearing the shoes not after and be gentle.
2. Don’t wear barefoot shoes on asphalt or concrete before you can run comfortably on soft ground. You’re running/walking for a lot of years now and your running/walking style has adapted for the support and comfort of the normal shoes. You have felt on our own skin the consequences. Your running/walking style needs to and will change to the natural style but you probably haven’t used it since you were a toddler so it will take a while for it to adjust. Walk short walks and then progressively longer walks on soft ground, short runs and long runs when you’re ready. Running on asphalt or concrete is a completely different beast and you’re tendons need to adjust again.
3. You need lower body flexibility in order to achieve the correct running style. Don’t neglect that, lengthen then strengthen.
To address your other assumption that walking barefoot from time to time is enough to get overcome supportive clunky spring toe shoes adaptations and get the same benefits as wearing barefoot shoes, well that’s just not possible. Your body will adapt to the locomotive motion and stresses that it experiences more often. A few changes here and there won’t make a difference.
Once you’ve adapted your ankle and knee pains will go away. But you can also continue as is without transitioning. This is not for everyone and you are not weak for not making the transition. Listen to your body, never train with pain. Uncomfortable is fine, pain is something else.
For my personal experience:
My legs and feet are like concrete now. Zero injuries and I’ve run countless marathons in unimaginable technical hard and soft terrain. On a snowboarding accident I’ve managed to twist my knee and the doctor said he’s never seen legs like mine in his entire life. ‘There’s absolute no movement or play here, that’s not normal. Probably why you’re not looking at surgery now…’
My other leg had a knee problem from the normal shoes I’ve used before transitioning to barefoot shoes that plagued me for 3 years. After transitioning, pain went away.
My running style has completely changed and it automatically adapts for the terrain and conditions I run in.
Conclusions:
: Barefoot running is not for everyone
: Don’t start by running on hard surfaces, start by not wearing shoes in the house
: Use a 3mm drop shoe until your flexibility increases or your tendons adapt. From 3mm to 0mm is a huge change, be mindful of that
: Don’t use rollers on already stretched tendons or muscles
: Start slowly, it may take up to 3 years to adapt especially if you are sedentary
: Never ever run with pain
: No matter what the crazies say Don’t run completely barefoot, you’ll chop your foot off and never walk again
Very good post, which I can relate to from my 12 year journey with fivefingers and barefoot activity. Only place I run barefoot is the beach.@@ioanpopovici
I'm now thinking on getting my first pair of barefoot shoes and watching a ton of videos on this matter and probably that's the best one so far. Thank you so much for making it. ❤
I'm a 57 year old woman who always wore men's Xtra wide shoes because I always hated my toes being cramped in regular shoes. I transitioned to barefoot shoes last summer and I absolutely love them. My plantar fasciitis is gone and I'm not getting ingrown toenails anymore. Last time I went to my foot doctor he asked me what I was doing differently, I showed him my shoes and he said "keep doing it".
I'm so glad I started watching videos on barefoot shoes ❤
Glad it's worked for you, Sharon 🙌
Glad it's worked for you, Sharon 🙌
Fun how people can have such different experiences :) I hope you can later transition in a better way!
Started also barefoot 66 days ago. Started with barefoot walking inside. Then a bit outside. Then longer outside, short walks. Now I started with running and already can longer then I ever could before without getting 'tired'. Beginning I had pain in my calves but that is getting better and better. I started with barefoot shoes running, I actually like barefoot way more because I run and walk more naturally that way. It is quite difficult to walk 'properly' on barefoot shoes, got to admit that.
I think most people have trouble with, when they think they can just transition from one day to another. It takes a lot of time to adjust the way we walk and run. Running to me is actually even easier, because when you look closely how you run in the grass on barefoot to try, you actually run on your forefeet, not on the entire foot. That's the way you would run also on concrete.
I prefer barefoot always over shoes, now also with running!
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experiences! Before I switched to barefoot shoes full time, I worked out completely barefoot for 6 months. I have had only positive benefits from switching to barefoot shoes (including playing sports in them), and that does include the issues that have arisen from switching. I too had knee pain (in the front), as well as shin splint pain that I had never experienced before. How are you dorsiflexors? Are your tibs strong? I found that emphasizing dorsiflexion while walking & running alleviated both of these issues. Which, I work out my tibs a lot, but I had not been emphasizing lifting my foot from them, which I believe increased load on the knee. Second, and I hope most people have stopped reading, but I think you need to look at your running form. What do I know I'm some random person BUT you are landing pretty low on your foot. Barefoot shoes have very little cushioning in the sole, yes, but if you were running barefoot you wouldn't be striking the ground like you do on the air runner. If you were running barefoot your contact point would be more in the ball of the foot. I think if you aren't making contact at the ball when running in barefoot shoes, the same problems would arise if you were going no shoes at all. Check out youtuber Graham Tuttle, the barefoot sprinter. And lastly your point on lifting, I am not a big lifter but barefoot shoes dramatically increased my foot and leg strength. For example, when doing forward lunges in my vivos (while keeping the back heel up!), my feet would get very tired and weak rather quickly. But as I did them more, as well as stretching my feet after every session, my feet gradually got stronger. Which improved the other muscles when lunging, which then carried over very well to the soccer field.
This is my first time seeing your channel, it is evident you are invested in what you are doing. I look forward to learning more from you. I know there's no way you are reading this, and I've never left a comment like this lol. Final words! Primus lites SUCK for running! Get some XERO 360s, great if not the best barefoot shoes for athleticism imo!
Thanks!
Hey Robbie... firstly, THANK YOU for your comprehensive comments in such a polite and diplomatic way.... it makes a change haha. You are correct in that my running form is quite poor right now as I'm currently awaiting ankle surgery so beyond a certain point my left side collapses due to pain inhibition in my left ankle (floating body of chipped bone from a mountain "tumble")
And lifting wise, I agree they may be beneficial, and as I mentioned in the video I genuinely not adverse to lifting in them again, I'm just not sure making the transition is worth it for me 😬
.... Thank you for watching my content though and I hope you've had time to watch some other stuff?
Very good and sensible, intelligent points! Thank you! JP
Thank you my friend, for your kind words.
The problem is people don’t understand the time it takes to perfect the technique, strength and balance to safely run in minimalist shoes or unshod. Need to be really patient to build that proprioception. Two years in and still have much to improve perfect myself. And ahhh!! our ancestors ran on ground equally as hard as concrete and tarmac, think salt flats.
Speaking from personal experience, I primarily trail run, I went from wearing foam clogs and struggling with shinsplints, knee pain and foot issues that limited my running distance to being able to run further than I ever imagined whilst resolving all of the above. Slowly increased my mileage and have a 50k next month. There just no room for error with bad form in minimalist shoes, if you go out with music on, or your mind wanders for too long then it’s easy to get injured. I’ve really enjoyed the mindfulness of the experience though.
The mindfulness angle I like - and I'm glad they've worked for you, bro. Genuinely.
It takes patience to transition. The greater the cushion, the less stable the foot. Cushioned shoes put pressure on the quads and glutes. Barefoot shoes put pressure on the foot, calves, and knees.
Everyone is different otherwise Cushioned shoe companies would go out of business.!
Your running technique is different when you run in the barefoot shoes. Your muscles are used more when you use them. ...and get bigger.
All understood and agreed with - just not sure if the transition I worth the effort if you perform the drills mentioned in the video.
@Jim Galvin What I did... I used a plantar fasciitis insole initially in the merrell vapor glove 3. I did 2 minutes of static stretching for the plantar fasciitis per exercise per leg.
I ran every third day without the insole in the shoe, so twice a week, basically. My shoe size has gone up 2 sizes because of the muscle gained. However, if you ever watch a utube of the Kenyans and Ethiopians training, they are running in cushioned shoes.
I’ve been wearing shoes like these for the last 2-3 years. For everyday walking, lifting, and some running . I am an avid runner and after experiencing a lot of hip pain finally completely made the transition this past July. It has taken a gradual increase in mileage over the past 8 months, but in February I ran 227 miles entirely in minimalist foot wear. From doing so my hip pain has reduced significantly and my running form has improved drastically. I haven’t ran a race in them since making the switch, but plan to soon. For me, the reduction in pain alone is worth it for me! ** However, that is not to say that my transition was a painless one.**
Both my Achilles and plantar fasci are killing me just from walking in minimalist shoes. So now i have to take a break from running and all kinds of explosive calf movements. So you have to ask if the reduction of activity youd need to do to not get injured is worth it? Not running or doing explosive movements for 1 year-3 years?
This is EXACTLY my point! Seems like a pretty huge tradeoff.
I suppose it is completely dependent on how everyone uses them, but it makes sense to work out your feet especially if you're into fitness, as it seems you're aware. Why neglect the feet when you're exercising every other part of your body? I overpronate, and no one ever told me what to do, just what to buy.
When I came across barefoot shoes and more natural movement in a last ditch effort to find something else before giving in and getting orthotics, they had my attention. I watched tons of videos and learned that I need to completely change the way I stand, walk, and run. My feet naturally want to point outwards when I stand still, and my ankles want to fall inwards, so I have to consciously point my toes forward and hold my ankles up. I switched to midfoot/forefoot walking and running, and while it's been a bit awkward, it gets easier with every passing day. Forefoot running is a breeze, it feels way more natural than heel striking, because it is.
I don't roll out my calves or anything like that, the only thing I do other than walking around and maybe running if I need to, is roll out the bottom of my feet with a couple tennis balls under my desk. The only real problem I've had since I've stopped wearing supportive shoes is that I've had pain in my left posterior tibial tendon. It used to hurt for a few days a couple months ago and I'd have to stop until it felt better, but now I feel pretty much fine by the next day. I get blisters too but they hurt less over time as well. I didn't even know I'd gotten more a while ago.
My balance is slowly getting better, my achilles aren't tight in the morning anymore, I feel lighter on my feet, and I have a decent size arch in my feet. I thought my feet were flat my whole life.
I sprained my foot in 2016 (the left one, probably where my issue is coming from), and I was wearing Asics shoes. Just had to jog across a street on my way to work and boom, sprain. Worked that day and 2 more days, and then couldn't walk on it for 2 months. I don't think that would happen today. I can be walking and break into a full sprint without much issue.
Now like I mentioned, it's all about everyone's individual needs and uses. I don't go to the gym and I don't run long distances, but I am 30. And what's the point of trying to change how I move 30 years into my life? I feel like I have to. It's either this or be dependent on ugly running shoes and/or orthotics for the rest of my life. Hopefully, I still have a long life ahead of me, and I don't wanna be 80 years old where as soon as I take my shoes off, the chances of me falling and breaking a hip increases dramatically. I don't care if it takes 3 years, that's nothing. I started playing guitar 19 years ago, and I still only know a sliver of what's possible. I do it because I need to make music, it's one of my few joys in life.
It also depends on your starting point and how seriously you take the transition. If you have relatively healthy feet, you're not really going to notice much of a difference when switching to barefoot shoes and you might not have any reason to find better ways to move because you're already doing fine. You might not even know that the way you're moving isn't that good for you. If you have weak feet like me, then it's the main purpose to change how we move and strengthen our feet. Every day that I put on barefoot shoes, I'm another day removed from needing support.
If you want to know someone who is seriously benefitting from barefoot shoes, then Hi, my name is Michael. :P
I am 52 years old was a competitive cyclist back in the day then transitioned to body building, like most I let myself go and found myself in a situation where I needed to lose 30kg. So far I am 14 down, I have 2 great pairs of running shoes but cannot run 1 km without my shins seizing up. tried barefoot and within 4 months I can run 5km in 30min and have done a number of runs of 15 to 18km. Thought my problems are sorted and tried my normal running shoes again. 2km in and I could not walk fast enough to get my heart rate up because my shins seized up again. I will stick to barefoot shoes for the foreseeable future. I actually enjoy running now, something I never thought would happen. So far I have done 500km on my Vibrams and now about 80km in with Baresteps.
I have been wearing vibram five fingers for years. Started on a crossfit shoe, which I also used for running. With those I never had any injury. However, I recently switched to a more minimalistic model, targeted for running, and atm I’m having issues for the second time in a short period of time (tendon near my toes). That’s why I might switch back to normal running shoes now. At least thinking about it. I’ll still wear the five fingers for walking/in every day life, but tarmac is not a natural surface so I’m starting to think an unnatural shoe suits better if you run on roads etc.. At least for me. In forests or on the beach it’s a different story.
This is how I feel. I LOVE the concept of it all - but I just keep getting niggles and just can't justify the trade off.
I've been going barefoot my whole life. But for those who have been wearing normal shoes for decades, the transition period might take a while. Before trying to use barefoot shoes, I'd recommend just walking around plain barefoot in the grass. Maybe spend the entire first year just walking strict barefoot, or at least several months. There is no reason to rush the transition. If it takes you a few years to fully transition, then so be it. Listen to your body. It takes time to undo the damage and weakness built up over a lifetime.
I am a few months in on barefoot shoes. I can’t speak to running, but I don’t feel any pain at all walking. I am from the south and have spent a ton of time barefoot. I think that has something to do with it. I have always hated regular shoes. Good luck with whatever you do.
Thanks Aaron - glad they're working for you, bro. What does your training look like right now?
The issue I have with the toed sock is that it’s still wedged into a constricted toe box if wearing shoes. How does that improve the experience versus a standard flexible sock, which tend to permit wiggling of separate toes anyway. The salient attribute is the state of the shoe’s toe box, which can drastically limit the freedom of toe movement and foot splaying.
I believe the toe socks when worn with a show that DOES have a wide toe box can be quite beneficial.
I think barefoot shoes are trully the best for short times wearing them in activity, for short movements, etc. Because just to be barefoot is better. I lift weight sometimes just barefoot, or doing yoga, etc. it is better than to wear maximalist shoes or shoes with high confort. But first, I think you have to switch or to have comfort shoes with you when you use barefoot shoes. You can change if it become too hard. Or if you try a "total transition", you still have to switch like everyday. The transition can take mutiple year. I talk about a full transition. For some people it is just a few weeks. For some people maybe the total transition is impossible but i dont think so.
But now : for running or real trail running, here I think every one is not build for this. And here you have shoes who are between, maybe the pair you mention.
The principal goal is the health and to take care of us.
For the transition to run with barefoot shoes, I heard someone who said he was very long distance trail runner, he started barefoot sandals with very low sole. He said : I ran 50 km a week, then when I started barefoot sandals, I started to WALK just 500 meters. Then I started to run 500 meters. After 1 month, he was running 2 km maximum. 9 months after he recovered running 50 km. But it is one man, a good athlete and a trail runner, light weight. It is not the same as a heavy weight gym bro lifter for example. Etc. ^^
Transitioning from traditional shoes to barefoot shoes TAKES TIME. If you have spent all your 34-35 years in traditional shoes, then it’s going to take you around 12-24 months to transition into barefoot shoes. It takes more than just stretching and mobilising - YOU NEED TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY and you need to do it every day, not twice a week. That just doesn’t cut it. You have been in misalignment for the majority of your life, and then all of a sudden you have changed that alignment - your body WILL hurt and it will take time to adjust.
BENEFITS of wearing barefoot shoes:
Apart from losing the back pain, gaining strength and mobility… I personally have gained more efficient speed in my runs, more stability in my ankles, and no more knee pain.
The reason I started wearing barefoot shoes in the first place was because I had debilitating plantar fasciitis. The strengthening, stretching and mobilising that I did, plus wearing these shoes fixed my plantar fasciitis for good.
Transitioning to barefoot takes time. It takes effort, and most of all, it takes PATIENCE.
Best of luck to you.
I’ve seen people say the transition takes 6-12 months. I’ve switched over my daily shoes to Vivos for a couple months now. I’m a marathon runner, and still run in cushioned shoes, but am going to transition to running in Vivos over the next year.
Good work! That's impressive to hit that kind of distance with Vivos.
I’m new to all of this barefoot shoe stuff but from all the information I’ve gathered through CZcams videos I’ve come to the conclusion that I should use barefoot/zero drop shoes for everyday walking and building up my foot strength, and for actual running use the traditional running shoes.
That seems like a much more sensible option.
I switched over to some Softstar Primal RUnAmoc's a couple of years ago now (I was 31 at the time). The first 3-4 months I would wake up and my calves would hurt so bad lol, but after a few minutes of moving around the pain would go away.
I'd wear them for work, running, walking, just everything (except when I needed to wear steel toes of course).
When I was wearing traditional footwear (nike's, converse, redwing boots, adidas etc etc), taking them off when getting home for the day was GREAT.
Now, I never have that experience. I have zero foot pain, my knees, feet, and ankles feel much stronger than ever. I can be on my feet for 12 hours and not even care about it, when before, my feet would hurt and be sore from just standing and walking.
10/10 would recommend. Regular shoes just feel so bad now lol
Well I can testify that running in barefoot shoes, cured my shin splints, If I go back to a cushioned shoe the pain is back withing a couple of miles. Been running in fivefingers for 12 years and no problems at all, with plenty of PB's along the way.
I wore barefoot shoes for 4years (no running) and at the start felt great then after about 4 months I started to get pain in my feet, then I realised it's because I walk a lot and over time (2-3 weeks) the pain vanished and my feet got stronger. I have been running now in barefoot shoes, taking lots of consideration to my gait and being far more conscious of my leg movement. rather than just slopping about. And it's going great my calves are a little sore the next day, me feet are fine and I'm finding I'm getting way faster and stronger in that region. Barefoot shoes all the way
The issue I have with five finger shoes is that they really aren’t made for people with Greek Toe, that’s were the second toe is longer than the big toe.
Hmmm interesting I never even thought of that. Good point!
This is a fair critic. I've been a barefooter for 13 years and wouldn't go back to 'normal' shoes, but I'll concede it took a while to be completely capable and comfortable to be that way. Essentially I had to relearn how to walk because there was so much weakness and bad habits there, and that was just to walk. If these habits are more 'baked in' due to age then it would take more effort to unlearn and relearn, and of course that commitment isn't for everyone.
But at least you're wearing toe-sock! ;P
Haha toe socks for the win! VERY much appreciate this feedback: objective and said with kindness from a person who uses the products themselves. Happy to hear this, my friend.
@@jimgalvin2191 Thank you! Imo, barefoot shoes are a bit of a contradiction in terms. I mean if you really want to develop the natural muscles that barefooting helps develop, then you don't need any shoes.
It's almost a con, in that they all say 'go barefoot!', but buy these expensive shoes to do so.
For me they now represent a better tool than thicker soled shoes, but a tool that isn't needed all the time, thus they probably last longer than everyday wear would otherwise allow. In that vein I'm probably the wrong demographic for this kind of business model, which I think relies upon people who are so adverse to going without footwear that these shoes are the only alternative...
I am going to get some barefoot running shoes, my kids don't wear shoes which drives me crazy, but they are capable of things that I just can't do. I learnt to run on my front foot and that has added a lot to not just my running ability but my moving ability also, took a few months but was worth it so... It's time to take the next step.
I hope it works for you, genuinely! I think it can work, of course, it just didn't for me for a variety of reasons which I acknowledge could be because of MY particular circumstances
At the age of 55 I transitioned from being an etreme healstriker to a decent forefoot runner by using bare foot shoes. The change took more than two years and I lost a lot of speed in the beginning but finished marathon nearly at the same pace as before. I feel better with myself running this way and I am pretty sure that I will be still running when I am 80
Glad it's worked for you my man.
You're very welcome, brother. Glad you enjoyed it.
Most of the people who transition to barefoot running or barefoot shoes have done it because they were experimenting pain and dealing with injuries from running in conventional shoes. So yes, you have a point, if you run in conventional shoes and you have no problems whatsoever, I don’t see the point in making the transition. It’s too much work and effort for a very little potential benefit. I’m a barefoot runner, btw. But I get where you are comming from.
Thank u! Finally someone thinks the same way as I am! 90% of barefoot enthusiasts did experience injuries and pain running in regular running shoes and transitioning to "barefoot shoes" (weird condradiction) helpd them to get rid of that pain.
But most ppl dont have any problems running in normals shoes so why change that?
It takes many years of re adjustment. Overtime you will walk and run differently due to a different foot strike, more forefoot than heal. Once this becomes natural you will notice the benefits. Best to transition into altras first to get used to zero drop then go vivos or Vibram. Jumping into Vibram is a recipe for injury people under estimate how much cushioned raised shoes ruin the ankle, calves and achilles
Very true! I agree with this. Have you readjusted?
@@jimgalvin2191 absolutely now exclusively in barefoot shoes or barefoot 24/7 doing marathons in vibrams. The energy and youthfullness that strong feet bring is amazing
I love them for everything except sprinting. I run in them just fine, but "sprinting" does not work out for me. For some reason, it makes people mad for me to say that.
A bit late to seeing this but thought I'd give my 2¢ anyway. I noticed that I prefer barefoot shoes as an everyday shoe and to lift in, but when it comes to running I can only tolerate a casual/moderate intensity jog in the barefoot shoes. I also mostly run on pavement and I find that if I want to do any sort of max effort running it helps to switch to Altras, which are still zero drop with a wide toe box but are 25mm as opposed to 4mm. That seems to be enough support for my feet during the higher-intensity cardio. Maybe you'll find a similar mix of contexts for yourself regarding when barefoot shoes work for you?
I was a long time runner who ran 80-100km a week for about 10 years. I had some chronic achilies injuries around that time. Was able to transition in 2013 to running completely barefoot without any issues in about a year. Since then my achilies problems have diminished significantly. I only run without shoes now.
Just a suggestion but perhaps try running barefoot without the minimalist shoes, and see how that goes. From what I"ve learned about minimalist shoes is that though it mimics barefoot running it makes it harder to transition because you have less proprioception with the surface your running on. I understand that not everyone can effectively run barefoot because we are all different but I don't think most people fall into this category.
What is your current weekly mileage in barefoot? U run on asphalt or soft surfaces?
Agreed, growing up is over rated.
Interesting and valid points 👍
Haha glad you agree!
I'm so confused by this. How can you have knee pain wearing minimalist shoes? Does that mean you have knee pain without any shoes because it's the same.
I completely agree with you! I have a knee injury that got increasingly worse while walking and running in barefoot shoes. I've never struggled with cramps in my calves before, but when i used the barefoot shoes I hade cramps every time I ran. And the pain under my feet was also a struggle! I thought that I just have to get used to it, but that day never came, and I tried for several years. Not just running with them, but also walking with them for everyday use. After switching over to the biggest shoes, with the most cushion I could find I have not had any cramps or major knee pain that I experienced with the barefoot shoes. I'm not saying my injury went away by switching to cushioned shoes, it did not, but it certainly made it better. It feels to me more natural to run in cushioned shoes, I don't think about the running technique for every step, I just run, and that feels natural.
Completely agree bro - being able to "just run" instead of harbouring this ambient fear of pain every step is crucial!!
Glad you liked the video my man! Have you watched any more of my stuff?
@@jimgalvin2191 I've watched a lot of your other stuff as well. It's a lot of very good content! Keep up the good stuff!
As an Asian I walk around in barefoot far more then trainers, I liked the idea of barefoot trainers so am considering changing, since after using normal trainers for a extended time, my feet starts to feel compressed.
Interesting. What kind of shoes do you run in now?
I love walking in the barefoot shoes. Running is a problem now. I tore a calve muscle when I did the transition too barefoot. And I have still problems with my calves. I’m doing my stretches. But it is taking a long time. If I don’t see benefits in the next four years, I’ll go back to normal shoes. It sucks because I really feel my feet are getting stronger. 😢
Four years! You're a more patient man than I am haha. That's dedication, though. Do you ONLY wear barefoot shoes?
I expect you're organised and get a lot done at breakneck speed which is great generally but coming from the army and no offence it seems like you want everything ticked off yesterday. On the flip side I could afford to take it more gradually and so far fingers crossed, good progress.
Hi , I'm sharing with you my experience, I ran on asphalt for 20 years with maximalist approach with a midfoot attack and then suddenly, because of the deterioration of my cartilage, my body adapted by naturally making me run in front of my foot (without i've decided). Today, since I don't use my heel anymore 😉, it's no longer necessary to buy maximalist shoes. I've been walking without shoes all day for 20 years.Otherwise as i'm a trail runner, I use Slab series from salomon like s/lab pulsar to just protect my feet or s/lab cross for my muddy training ground. Impossible to run with security with total barefoot shoes in trail running. I gave up asphalt running as soon as my life allowed me to, we are human and asphalt is not the best idea of humanity. I hope it'll be interesting for you so Hoka is not the way five finger is not the way but light shoes is probably the best of both worlds - a synthesis of the two sides.
Jean it sounds like they've made a huge difference to your running journey!
you could try wearing minimal drop shoes and less of a stack height. you don't have to go the whole way. you could try Altra shoes.
Barefoot runners do have an amazing ability to stay smug whilst perma-crocked and slow though...
HAHA - love this. And very true!
I only wear barefoot shoes when I do leg workout like squat and deadlift or walk on treadmill. I tried running outdoors, not recommended.
Not sure you are aware, but you can’t walk or run by landing on your heel first. Instead, you have to start with your pinky toe, roll the front of the foot inward, and softly land on your heel. Finally, push forward through the heel as you lift your feet away. If you don’t learn to walk like this you will have every symptom your describing.
I’m literally watching you heel drop (wrong) in bare feet @9:52. You have to relearn how to walk if you want this to work. It’s like taking the shocks and struts out of your car and then driving like that. I hope this helps.
Hey Byron - yeah makes a lot of sense. Just not sure it's worth the trade off for me.
I’m watching this with my feet in so much pain from running in five fingers.
Haha - AMEN! Then we have our answer.
Have you tried altra? They’re not barefoot but they are zero drop, wide, no arch support. But they have cushioning
No but I've heard a LOT of about them. Do you think they're the best transition shoe?
@@jimgalvin2191 not sure as I’m not an expert. They just have a ton of cushioning on some of their models. I’ve been using them for years and love them
Barefoot for life
I gave up on barefoot for running as it put too much strain on the plantar fascia, have however moved to Altra wide toe box and zero drop trainers and have better results
A lot of people have given me the same story actually - with Altra being a nice middle ground for them. Have you experienced a benefit with them?
@@jimgalvin2191 tray. I am in transition and I did mistakes in the start. Now I am in wide toe box with zero drop but I will go fivefingers next. We need to heal the damage of years with wickened shoes. Take your time. I had fascite plantar before and barefoot walking for many hours healed it but I cannot go back on "normal" shoes and it is better so. Have a nice life.
@@alidalavezzari4103 Alida - appreciate your feedback. Glad they're working for you.
@@jimgalvin2191yes , certainly have less calf tightness and anterior knee pain has gone
Bad luck for you. For most people that made the transition to barefoot shoes it's one of the best decisions they ever made, myself included. Any chance you didn't change your walking style, e.g. you still heel strike, rather than have a forefoot strike? Big mistake.
You may be right - I attempted to change but it didn't seem to cut it.
Barefoot shoes will make you immediately aware of mistakes you are making while running. I can see from the clip of you running that you are not landing on your forefoot, you are overstriding and heel striking which is something you can do in "normal" shoes which have alot of padding in the heel because most people do run this way. But it is not how we are supposed to run, if you land on your forefoot you can use your calves and foot muscles to absorb the landing rather than bruising your heel and transfering the force up to your knees or hips. Obviously when you first make the switch to barefoot shoes your feet and calves will hurt which is just a sign that your muscles are getting stronger. Obviously you need to slowly transition into wearing them more and more and let your feet get stronger which takes at least 6 months. But once you do you will be stronger, running in a more efficient way, and have less injuries and wear on your joints.
I'm glad that's been your experience my man, truly. It just wasn't mine.
Vibrams are great for running, got a sub 40 minute 10km . Barefoot shoes all day for me , ground feel and stronger feet 🦶🏻
Glad they've served you well my man 👊
Getting knee pain when barefoot running sounds like your technique was off. However, you may just have weak knees. Personally I have barefoot run and worn vivos daily for 5 years. Im currently running one road marathon a month in them with no issues. Weekly millage is 45+. My feet are strong and healthy. I have zero knee pain. When I wore traditional shoes when younger I had repetitive knee issues.
Transition needs to be EXTREMELY slow. Patience is lacking in most people which is why they go back to foam shoes
Rory, honestly you're probably right mate! THe time issue combined with my ankle injuries just made it very challenging.
How do @vivobarefoot shoes feel on concrete?
I'd go with something with a bit of cushioning (20mm) for walking on concrete and switching for running was easy for me.
Think part of the positive experience barefoot has had is because their feet were weak to begin with
Interesting. You may well be right!
It doesnt' work for you, fine, but it has tons of research behind them saying it works for most people, so, don't dissuade others from making positive health choices for themselves just because of your bad experience. Personally my back, tendon, knee and toe problems were all from having conventional shoes with a big heel to toe drop and not enough space for my fingers, however do note that having a super thick sole or arch support probably didn't cause any issues, it's mostly the other two factors I just mentioned.
Hey bud - did you watch the video? Will remain steadfast on the fact I actually assert regularly on this Channel that I will rarely prescribe anything for anybody else and merely own my own experience. This message was pushed a fair few times in the video.
Genuinely happy for those who have had a positive experience, I just feel that me the transition isn't worth the time and effort, that's all.
You did say "neither should you" in the title which is pretty prescriptive as per the dictionary definition of the word.
Aside from that watch your own video and read your own title and description and see if as someone with joint/feet issues you walk off thinking "clearly it didn't work very well for this dude but according to what he said it's quite possible it's worth trying to see if it fixes my issues" or "this seems pretty bad in general I probably shouldn't try it".
It's just my opinion, if you disagree that's fine we can all coexist with disagreement, but if I was a starting CZcams influencer maybe I would look at it as constructive criticism, just saying.
@@thefirehawk1495 Mr. Firehawk, Sir. I'm not arguing with you - but I stand by my opinion young man.
I think you mean "ever" not "again." It took me a few weeks- on concrete... but they aren't for everyone fs. Could be it has to do with people's ancestors are city slickers.
I totaly run differenty because of barefoot shoes. Unlearning heal striking and landing on the midfoot are great reasons to use barefoot shoes. I only wear them for running certain distances. Be smart and informed. This was not a well inform argument for or against these shoes. Everyone is different and everyone's needs are different.
Tom - very much agree that everybody is different. And I accept that my injured left ankle will make it trickier. Just my opinion my man👊
yup i agree, i tried running in barefoot shoes and its just not worth the pain and extra effort.. then i got a pair of Vaporfly 2s for my first half marathon and was like this is way better! right now my favorite trainer is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2...
OK nice! I haven't worn Sauconys for years - you like them?
Worked for me, but then again I am just a normal person, I wear £ 20 knock off bare foot shoes from Aliexpress,
Glad they're working for you. Are you running in them too?
@@jimgalvin2191 I do run in them, but only when I have to, I tend to walk every where, no car.
Many ppl clame they cure all deceases with barefoot shoes😅😊
Thank you wise guru shaman of the feet 🙌
HAHA - very welcome young grasshopper
agree.. I have vivo's and I'm also old 9much older).. I like them for squats as I can spread my toes better.. but I also warm up in them (skipping) and that's now giving me calf/achilles issues..
I've had the same issues Gary as you know; I'd definitely be open to training / spending some time walking in them. Just not running any time soon lol.
Your first problem is that you tried to transition from shoes to shoes. I dont care what they call they are NOT barefoot. At age 60 I stopped wearing shoes all together and have not gone back to my chiropractor in 2 years, my back pain just went away and so did my gout and my blood pressure dropped . Shoes by any name will not bring you that. We evolved to be barefoot and thats how we should be
Dan - not wearing any shoes at all is hardcore, bro. Respect.
I watched the video listen to the complaints them watch a short he has on his page call ARMY RANGER 12 he is a heavy heel striker dont blame the shoes you need to learn how to walk and run i wouldnt recommend these shoes to heel strikers do more research before buying a product you can injure yourself if you dont know what your doing, that is why you have joint pain i research this stuff for weeks before i got a pair the good and bad reviews why some people say it dont work if its a scam no you just have to learn how to walk all over again to strengthen your feet
czcams.com/users/shortsVL0AOiZt_lg?feature=share
Interesting view point. I'm glad they're working for you bro.
Class mate 💪🏼
Thanks my bro!
So you didnt do anything like the people have done commenting on their success under your video. Why should everyone listen to you and do what youre doing? This is just click bait mate. Why would you suggest this when you've obviously put little work into it?
Well said, I aliken the barefoot fad to playing "hardcore" mode on a video game. You have an extremely small amount of room for error, it appears the people that benefit are hardcore enthusiasts of exercise or a health practitioner that can work out at work. The problem is its advertised to the general public and in my eyes a very small % of these people can get away with it... We arent cavemen that live on natural and un-symmetrical surfaces anymore. We mostly live on perfectly flat concrete. Get with times, theres a reason no ones breaking running records in barefoot shoes.
Scott, small amount of room for error is SUCH a good way to put it!
Scott, I hear the point you're making and I also think it is not as extreme as you think. I don't believe this is a fad, but a recognition of the value of natural function. There are certainly posture, joint health, and balance benefits to it even on flat concrete. And kids can sure grow up with it. Importantly though, it is each of our choice what best supports the activities we want to do.
Seems like you don't know about Abebe Bikila. He's a marathon legend who won Olympic gold whilst being the only athlete not wearing any shoes. Keep in mind there wasn't a lot of knowledge on how to train, fuel etc. like there is today and he did it in 2:15h back then.
@@bugbean5500 But we are not all Bikila.
Kuptum is 15 minutes faster with the "evil" Alphaflys.
It's just you
Maybe, maybe not.
The normalized reliance on the structure and support of a shoe in order to perform the most fundamental human movements is weirder than we give it credit for. If anyone else went from reliant on orthotics to healthy feet, you know what I'm talking about. Maybe you don't agree with the cult following of barefoot shoes, but every one of us came from ancestors who had strong feet that could function without bracing and support. That return to functionality is the only purpose of barefoot shoes.
Oh for some reason I thought this would be a video about going BAREFOOT. Seems CZcams wants to sell shoes regardless of my search parameters. There are NO "barefoot" shoes. And yes, I've got a couple pair of Vibrams, but I want to go all. the. way. BAREFOOT. (and I will).
Dave - you are a tougher man than me my friend haha! Are you transitioning into not wearing any shoes at all?
@@jimgalvin2191 , absolutely! The build up of endurance is slow. I'm over 50, but I've been regularly walking in Vibrams for a few years now. I don't expect to run races any time soon. Getting used to Vibrams took time. I might hazard a guess that once one is invested in a certain level of performance, any reduction for 'retraining' is hard to accept. I have the luxury of being an amateur with no one to impress. Maffetone said it's hard to get runners to "slow down" for heart rate training, but the long term benefits can be worth the time and effort to make a fundamental change. Good luck on your own journey!
😃