Vibram Five Fingers KSO: The Right Barefoot Shoe for All Sports

Posted on August 30, 2011 by

Athletes and fitness buffs who love barefoot running shoes will think of the Vibram Five Fingers KSO as a must-buy item. Known as an all-around foot glove, the KSO is very versatile, making it perfect for enjoying a wide range of sports and physical activities.

The KSO features a thin abrasion-resistant mesh upper that wraps the entire foot, so that the wearer isn’t exposed to water, dirt, or debris. Completely lightweight and breathable, the KSO also features an adjustable hook-and-loop closure that keeps the feet snug and securely in place even when enjoying water sports.

Tough enough even for light trekking and bouldering, the non-marking 3.5mm Vibram TC1 performance rubber sole, razor-siped bottom, and individual toe pockets grip surfaces flawlessly and protect the bottom of the foot from sharp rocks or debris. Still perfectly lightweight and flexible even for Yoga, the KSO follows the contour of the foot and allows the feet to move naturally.

Weighing an average weight of 6 ounces, the Vibram Five Fingers KSO is also the first choice of adventurers who wish to travel light as they discover the world. Its unique design allows the feet and leg muscles to adapt to walking nearly barefoot and allows globe trekkers to develop a more natural walking posture and motion with every stride.

The KSO gives the wearer the feeling and sensation of being barefoot while protecting the feet from the elements. Unlike other athletic shoes that squish the toes together and keep the feet overly insulated from its surroundings, the KSO enhances one’s sense of touch while promoting great health benefits such as increased muscle strength in the feet and legs. They also provide improved range of motion, balance, and body awareness.

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Should Kids’ Running Shoes Have Raised Heels and Support?

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

I don’t pretend to be a pediatric, podiatrist or orthopedic specialist, but I think this question about kids’ running shoes needs to be raised.

Too many running shoes for kids on the market today are simply smaller versions of the same kinds of shoes that the company sells to adults. They have raised heels, and lots of cushioning and support. I suspect they’re not quite as durable, because the company knows the child will grow out of them before putting in the same kind of mileage that serious adult runners do, but the point is they still treat children’s feet as if they were small grownups.

That concerns me, because in the adult market there’s a growing trend toward barefoot running. Often “barefoot” does not mean totally barefoot, but wearing a minimal type of shoe such as Vibram Five Fingers or Nike Free. These protect the bottoms of feet from wear and tear of running on concrete, broken glass and rusty nails, but don’t provide any support or cushioning.

This makes it easy for the runner to land on their forefoot or midsole, as many experts advise.

Ordinary running shoes demand running by landing on your heel. I ordinarily wear Brooks Beast — a style of shoe designed to give a lot of support to flat feet and to prevent pronation. I hadn’t paid attention before, but I do land on my heels. When I tried to change to a forefoot landing, it seemed very odd and unnatural, and I could not keep it up.

Yet, just go out to a field of grass and run barefoot. You will automatically land on your forefoot, because landing on your heel without the shoe cushioning you’re used to is quite painful.

The type of running shoe we’ve gotten used to wearing since Nike first came out with them in 1972 has a raised heel, and lots of support and cushioning.

There’s a growing belief among runners and orthopedic experts that this kind of shoe is not protecting their feet at all, but rather creating more injuries than they prevent. According to studies, up to seventy or eighty percent of all runners — weekend jocks as well as serious ultramarathoners — suffer a running injury every year.

Studies also show that there’s a correlation between your chance of injury and the price of your running shoes. The higher the cost of your shoes, the more likely you are to suffer an injury.

Nike came out with their Free shoes because a track team they were sponsoring preferred to go barefoot than wear Nike shoes. That’s embarrassing, so they studied the problem, and did intensive tests and videos to show how barefoot runners land on their midsole, and their arch absorbs the shock.

The old attitude was that flat feet were something you were born with, and so if you had them, you just had to wear shoes with a lot of arch support. I know this well, because my feet are flat and as a child I was forced to wear big heavy clunky leather shoes to give me that arch support my feet supposedly needed.

But now some experts are saying that’s putting things backward. Flat feet are caused by having lower leg and feet muscles that are too weak to hold the feet in the optimal arched position. The solution is to walk (and run) barefoot (or nearly so) to strengthen those muscles.

At least one runner out there claims to have used foot exercises to improve his arch, going from a flat-footed size 13 (like me), to a well-arched 9 or 10.

This may not work for those of us who have a lot of flatfooted years. But it seems misguided these days to keep children’s feet boxed in.

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Barefoot Running For Beginners

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

The Art of Barefoot Running

The buzz phrase in the running community these days is “barefoot running”. No this isn’t a granola munching attempt to re-kindle ones spirit with the great outdoors (though there is nothing wrong with such an aspiration); this is a movement focused on utilizing the physics and bio-mechanics of the body to increase performance while reducing the risk of injury.

In fact, barefoot running has become so popular that the sport has been covered by The New York Times, Nature, Science Daily, and Harvard.edu.

People pick up the sport of barefoot running for a variety of reasons. Some are concerned with preventing injuries, others desire a competitive edge, while others are drawn to the primordial romance of a barefoot jaunt. Whatever your reason for picking up the sport, barefoot running is a sport and a community, that welcomes all who wish to participate.

Barefoot Running For Beginners (gear)

To begin your journey into the sport of barefoot running, you’ll most likely want to pick up a pair of minimalist shoes. This is because most of your life has been spent wearing pillows around your feet (i.e. running shoes), and a dramatic change from cushioned shoes to raw feet will most likely result in injury.

One of the hottest minimalist shoes on the market are the Vibram Five Fingers (VFF). VFF’s are synthetic shoes with a rubber sole that are designed to mimic and support the natural foot. The rubber sole provides a layer of protection for the foot, preventing stray glass or toxic chemicals from coming in contact with the skin.

Barefoot Running For Beginners (run)

Before you hit the pavement (or trails), you should spend a day or two wearing your minimalist shoes. This will give your body a chance to become acclimated to the new footwear as well as enabling your shoes to stretch and mold to your feet. It may feel awkward at first but push through it!

Typically, it would be foolish to run for more than 3 miles on your first outing in minimalist shoes. The first run will give your leg and foot muscles a chance to acclimate themselves to a new running style and almost certainly, a new foot strike.

You may notice when you first begin running barefoot, your foot strikes the ground differently than it would in a pair of traditional running shoes. This is because you are able to establish a natural “gait” to your running style. Running with a natural gait is key to preventing injuries from prolonged running and overuse. After all, this is how nature intended you to run.

Barefoot Running Long Term

Once you have learned the proper technique and have several miles under your belt in minimalist shoes it may be time to ditch the shoes and prepare for your first “true” barefoot run. Remain attentive to the changes in the bio-mechanics of your body. If you feel like you are straining or pulling a muscle or tendon in an unnatural way, slow down or simply walk. Also, watch out for gravel and glass as these elements can end an enjoyable run very quickly.

Some runners suggest running on dirt trails during the first 2 months of “true” barefoot training as this will be a bit gentler on your feet and allow you to develop the necessary callus to run on pavement. The key to running barefoot long term without experiencing an injury is to remain consistent in your training regimen. Pick out a local 5K race and prepare for that. Once you’ve completed the 5K barefoot, move up to a 10K, half-marathon, and if you’re really ambitious- a full marathon.

Barefoot running is an enjoyable sport that is open to any person with an open mind and a pair of feet. It is a sport that connects modern man (and woman) with the ancient art of running. It is a sport that celebrates thousands of years of evolutionary engineering and wonders where the next thousand years will take us.

If you are interested in barefoot running, I encourage you to give the sport a try, after all- what do you have to lose?

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Information People Need To Understand About The Latest Running Shoes

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Running is one of America’s fastest growing sports. With this boom in popularity has come an explosion in the verity of gear available. While this panoply of gear is great for the seasoned veteran, people who are new to the sport can easily become confused. This is particularly true when it comes to the latest running shoes. This article will explain what you need to look for to make sure that you get the best shoe for your particular needs.

Footwear for this sport can be divided into four different groups: cushioned, stability, motion control, and minimalist. The cushioned type have the most cushioning and the softest underfoot feel and offer minimal arch support.

These models use gel, foam, and other lightweight materials to protect the foot from impact. Cushioned models work well for bigger runners as well as runners with low arches or who overpronate. Examples of popular footwear of this type include: Nike Lunar Glide 2, New Balance 730, and Saucony Triumph 8.

The second type is the stability category. These models corrects overpronation through providing arch support. This type of shoe works well for lighter runners with normal to low arches and limited overpronation. The most popular models include Brooks Adrenaline, Asics 2160 and Mizuno Wave.

The motional control category has maximum arch support in order to prevent overpronation. These models are recommended for runners with low arches and severe overpronation. Popular models include: Brooks Beast 8, Asics Gel Foundation 9, and Saucony Progrid Stabil CS.

Recently, minimalist footwear has become very popular. The minimalist type offers very little in the way of arch support or cushioning and are designed to let the feet work as if the wearer were running barefoot. The idea behind this category is that, by allowing feet to work harder and move more naturally, they become stronger and runners can run faster and become less injury prone. Popular forms of this category include the Vibram Five Finger, Nike Free Run, and Newton Running Gravity. Studies are still being done to determine whether or not this footwear really protect runners from injury.

So how do you know which of the latest running shoes is right for you? First you must determine what type of pronation you have. If your feet roll in excessively at the ankle as you walk you overpronate and probably need stability or motional control models. If your feet tend to roll out as you walk, you underpronate and would probably benefit from cushioned shoes. This is also true for people with normal pronation. People of all pronation types can try minimalist shoes, but it is suggested that you start off slowly to give your body time to adjust to the impact forces.

If you have a specialty sports store in your area, you may benefit from having a fitting done by a specialist. They will measure your arch, pronation type and foot strike pattern in order to help you choose which of footwear is best for your individual needs. Good luck on your new sports ventures.

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Is There Any Advantage to Barefoot Running?

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

There have been many questions over the years as to whether barefoot running poses a greater advantage or more risk to runners. There’ve been many enthusiasts of outdoor activities who say, and firmly believe, that barefoot running is very beneficial and less traumatic for the runner. As to whether any of this information is accurate or not is up for debate. However, there is no question that there have been several ultra-athletes who have competed in extreme events (over 50 mile long running events), and have placed in the top five overall, if not won the event.

Why are these runners so hyped up on barefoot running you ask? Well a lot of these ultra-athletes believe that traditional running shoes simply are not made to endure long arduous events. In addition to that, they believe that runners over the years have relaxed or changed their technique altogether, hence running poorly. This poor technique along with the ill support for the feet has led to more injuries over the years than ever before. Even in the “so-called” technological age where equipment is supposed to be superior that has not helped to reduce these duplicated injuries.

Barefoot runners have a more spring like technique when they run; it’s compared to how you would sprint. In other words they push off on their toes and land on their toes. This type of running absorbs a lot more of the shock and trauma that a normal runner would encounter, and allows the runner to run for longer periods of time. Some of the equipment that barefoot runners have (as opposed to running totally barefoot) is Vibram five finger shoes. Basically the Vibram shoes are a glove for the feet. They have little pockets for each one of the toes, and they fit the runner’s foot snugly. An alternative to Vibram would be the Nike free line of shoes that are similar to the Vibram and have less rubber in them that allows the runner more freedom in their stride.

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The Verdict on Vibram Five Finger Shoes

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

So you are down to the ultimate question: Should you even consider getting a pair of shoes that look exactly just like your feet? It sure appears to be made from special rubber and it feels very good and comfortable. It is also easy to clean. It could be used virtually in any place where the notion of health and comfort prevail over an aesthetic look. True enough, the vibram five finger shoes have been a hot item for quite some time now, with some people thinking that it is just some outrageous marketing hype for another weird product and with some others thinking that this style is an innovative creation that should have been manufactured way back in the past.

Think of the vibram five finger as some kind of healthier shoe alternative made for the purpose of walking, running and plain outdoor enjoyment. It provides an altogether different experience in which you can tread the earth barefooted once again, but this time, not with the guidance or protection of your mom or dad, but with that of the vibram five finger technology.

There are actually several varieties of this shoe. There are options for how much foot coverage you want to have and some are more appropriately used for specific activities like hiking, running or swimming. Styles for men are different from styles for women, and those designed for men are generally a bit more expensive. You could get a pair at $80-85, but if you look around for the best deals, you could get them at a lower price and perhaps get a promo with them too. There are also various colors and available and sometimes it’s best to put them on first in order to find out which looks the best on your feet.

Remember how you always tend to keep one of every fashion essential in your closet, just to make sure they come in handy just in case? Well it is the same with Vibram Five Finger shoes. You might just want to get a pair for yourself because they could come in handy anytime these days.

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The Best Footwear For Your Workouts

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

Even though barefoot running is not really a new trend, it would considerably increase your performance, but running on different terrains without wearing any shoes at all, could be unsafe. This has led to the creation and marketing of special walking and running footwear that give runners the benefit of swiftness, whilst safeguarding their feet as well and giving support for the ankles. Wearing some of the most effective brands that you can find on the market today such as Merrell Barefoot and Vibram Five Fingers, runners could get instant relief from old traumas and help support their feet’s natural motion.

Irrespective of their unusual look, the Vibram Five Fingers are not merely another crazy creation, but leading-edge footwear, which alleviates stress on the joints, helps the muscles, and according to many athletes, is the ideal barefoot alternative. Even though they have been made with the runners in mind, surfers, boarders, kayakers, climbers as well as skateboarders appreciate them since they have distinctive design, exceptional grip, and performance rubber soles. The Merrell Barefoot is yet another footwear, which is perfect for the professionals and the causal runners alike and offers fantastic comfort and support– they are also elegant and can be worn not merely as training shoes, but as everyday footwear as well. Designed to be worn with no socks, they come with great soles, spacious toe box, and offer excellent support for the runner’s feet and posture.

In case you are only starting off with barefoot running or perhaps you are simply looking for ideal shoes to put on during your outdoor workouts, then pick a pair that has good grip. Paying extra for top quality footwear will give you perfect performance, will allow you to protect your feet from traumas, and can minimize the stress on your joints. The standard athlete shoes, which have been the norm for quite some time are slowly being replaced by newer types, and the barefoot ones are definitely amongst the best and the most desired. Besides all of the performance and health advantages, the brands like Vibram Five Fingers and Merrell Barefoot are stylish and trendy, and come in various designs to match everyone’s preference. Should you decide to buy a pair, take great care of them, and you are likely to enjoy them for a long time ahead!

No matter if you are a professional athlete or enthusiastic runner, if you wish to improve on your overall performance and safeguard your feet and muscles at the same time, you need to use excellent shoes. You will find many makes and styles available, and you will definitely find a pair that not just fits properly, but offers the best with regards to protection and performance. In order to avoid traumas and receive comfort and stability, you need shoes, which are durable, sturdy, light, and created from prime quality materials. Vibram Five Fingers and Merrell Barefoot are among the very best shoes, which money can buy, they are well worth having!

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A Barefoot Revolution

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

A couple of people have mentioned ‘barefoot running’ in the comments left at my site ‘Just One More Mile’ and I’ve also read some excellent articles on the subject too.

I suppose if you think about it, Mother Nature designed us to be able to run and she didn’t have a sponsorship deal with Adidas when she first came up with the idea. Although millions are spent every year on a variety of running shoes around the world, there are a growing number of runners who have adopted running without the help of Mr. Nike or Mr. Saucony. As someone who regularly shrieks and hops around after having stepped on a Lego brick left lying around the kids’ bedrooms, the thought of running on the roads round here with no shoes on fills me with horror.

There have been some notable professional barefoot runners and none more so, in my lifetime, than Zola Budd. To see her fly round a track or over cross country was amazing. Two years old than me, I remember watching Budd’s slight figure on the TV sports coverage and wondering what it took to run like that. She was a stunning athlete and I thought she dealt with the pressures both on and off the running track with aplomb. At the age of 17, she broke the Women’s World 5000 metre record (15:01:83), only to have it ignored by the world track and field establishment as it was achieved in racially segregated South Africa. Undeterred, she went on to shatter her own time (14:48:07) & take the crown officially, whilst representing Great Britain, the following year. Many said her barefoot running was a ‘flash in the pan’, that she would be unable to hold her own against other accomplished athletes. Zola Budd proved her critics wrong by having a distinguished and memorable barefoot running career.. not forgetting the infamous 1984 Olympic 3000 metre race in which Mary Decker came a cropper!

Barefoot running obviously has its merits.. using what nature gave you allows for a more ‘natural’ running style. I assume building up a hard pad of skin on the soles of your feet is essential as well as building up your mileage to increase the comfort factor. Recently, a few products have emerged to take advantage of the interest in barefoot running. These seem to concentrate on using minimal support and cushioning, thereby mimicking a barefoot running style but adding protection to prevent injury to those soft, sensitive little tootsies! Products from Vivo, Jinga, New Balance and Newton are all aimed at developing a more natural, mid-foot running style.

Vibram Five Fingers seem more like something out of the props department for a Star Trek movie. However, they seem to be growing in popularity. Vibram say “For the first time, active outdoor athletes and fitness professionals are able to experience the sensation and freedom of going barefoot with the protection and sure-footed grip of a Vibram? sole.” They also say “Some customers told us they felt more connected to the earth and more in tune with their bodies. Others discovered an increased sense of balance and greater agility. Many reported health benefits like improved posture and less back pain. All were generous with their praise and their ideas, often suggesting new and creative uses for Vibram? FiveFingers?.”

There are an increasing number of products aimed at reproducing the benefits and feel of barefoot running. Nike have also recently launched a product that fits within this niche. Nike say that their ‘Free Run+’ running shoe has a “flexible design” that “closely mimics the natural movement of your foot. And unlike a lot of regular running shoes, its flexibility provides a world of comfort on the run or while walking around”

I’d love to try out these new products to see how they feel and how my training is affected. Having mashed my toes at the Virgin London Marathon this year, I’m eager not to end up with the same injuries again. I wonder if these new products can protect my toes and help me combat the ‘Lego brick’ feel of barefoot running in a climate and terrain that isn’t always conducive to barefoot running. So, Mr. Vibram or Mr. Nike.. I wonder if you’re listening?!

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Vibram Five Fingers Bikila Sport Shoes Are Designed To Run The Race

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

Vibram Five Fingers Bikila offer a new type sport shoe designed to naturally boost the speed of runners. A look at the shoe tells you there is something unique to this design. A runner wearing these shoes will sport incredible colors and a design which looks like feet with five toes.

Bikila is the name of the Vibram Five Fingers shoe which was named in honor of Abebe Bikila. Bikila is a famous Olympic runner from Ethiopia who ran barefoot. The purpose of the running shoe is to build strong running feet. The structure of the Bikila gives the runner a sure forefoot strike while racing.

The materials of the shoe are very important for speed and proper technique. The upper materials are made of polyamide. The Bikila foot bed is constructed with polyurethane. The sole supports the foot with rubber pods placed in alignment with the anatomical structure formed by the foot bottom.

Vibram Five Fingers Company presented the Bikila running shoe in 2007 at the New York Marathon where people attending could try them out. The shoes designed for running have to be eased into before they can be worn comfortably for a long race. Athletes are forced to use muscles not worked in regular running shoes. Reviews for running barefoot have been great for both women and men using the Vibram Five Fingers for racing and marathon running.

The Bikila running shoe is sold online and in retail stores. The styles and colors for both men and women are worth viewing while you are looking at the shoe for the first time online. The new look has a different chart for sizing to get the perfect fit. The foot is measured from toe to heel in inches so the toes fit comfortably into each toe pocket. The shoes also improve the balance and ability to move quickly.

Many new customers suggest buying the shoes where they are sold the first time to get the perfect fit. Walk around in the shoes for about ten or fifteen minutes. The fit of the shoe feels like a tight sock on a rubber sole. Your toes should just barely touch the end of the pockets for the perfect fit.

You might like to try other sports barefoot after you get running in the Bikila shoes. The Company has designed other sport shoes for sprinting, water sports and other fitness activities. These shoes are comfortable and slip resistant during active sport play. If they are worn inside their soles will not put skid marks on the floor. If you can think it, Vibram Five Fingers can do it.

Vibram Five Fingers Bikila sport shoes are designed to run the race. The breakthrough barefoot design enforces a proper forefoot strike and adds speed to the stride. The Bikila is named for the Olympian Runner who is popular for racing barefoot from beginning to end. It is not a new concept in other parts of the world and perhaps runners in the United States should give it a try. The barefoot race in on.

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Transitioning Achilles Tendons to Vibram and Barefoot Running

Posted on August 23, 2011 by

Transitioning to barefoot or Vibram running from the traditional running shoe involves some time. The number one requirement is Patience, especially true for those of us who are used to going out and sailing through miles of trail at a time.

I’ll tell you what…, after being patient (or kind of patient) now for almost four months since my maiden voyage run in Vibram Five Finger Sprints (a 9 mile run that was too much probably out of the blocks) I am finding so much joy in the transition. I find frustrations and then I’m thrown a bone and have a great run. I’ve learned to listen to my body more than ever.. I have to.

Where most people have issues with their calves being sore, my “achilles heel” is my achilles tendon. It’s slowed me down enough to keep me holding back the reigns to transition so that I will experience running for another 31 years + another 31 years – “au naturale”!..

I never had the sore calves that most people claim ownership of while running bare or darn near it. My tendons have been sore to the touch but are getting stronger with the right holistic and patient approach….

My favorite Vibram Five Fingers: Sprints. The sole is 2 mm compared to 12 – 13 mm soles of the traditional running shoe. I can FEEL the earth with these.. and barefoot is 0 mm!

Barefoot and Vibram running will help to cure what ails you in many cases. We weren’t born with shoes on.. we were born to run bare. Many muscles and bones engage themselves in a barefoot runner’s run. Put shoes on and just like over medicating, the body gets lazy. Just like the immune system slacks when the body is over medicated, many muscles and bones in the legs and feet atrophy as they let shoes do the work for them…. This does not make the body or the feet and legs stronger. What was intended to strengthen or help us (medicine, shoes, etc) actually weakens us. If we trust the capabilities of our amazing bodies we will find out that we are capable of so much more in mind, body, and spirit than we ever give ourselves credit for.

Back to Vibram and Barefoot running… My arches are amazingly strong compared to what they were when I was a shod runner (and I’ve been running for 31 years). My toes are straighter, I don’t have bad runs anymore, I feel the earth as well as rocks or roots and I don’t trip over them anymore. My foot feels around them and reacts quickly to avoid tripping.

Why is my achilles tendon sore? Your achilles tendon has been shortened by wearing high heeled running shoes (12 – 13 mm average sole vs 2 in vibram sprints or 0 barefoot) for years. This means it will take time for the tendons to lengthen and stretch back to where they want to be. It really takes time. They stretch and this makes them sore.

What do I do for sore tendons?
1. I listen to my body. I’ve backed off the mileage and I listen to what my tendons will give me each run. If they are sore, I stop.
2. Arnica massage tendons to get rid of scar tissue. Scar tissue presents itself as small bumps on top of the tendon. This is what makes your tendon feel sore.
3. Eccentric Calf stretches.
4. Massage calves to loosen any tightness. Looser calves help the tendons to stretch!

Enjoy being bare!

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