Barefoot running shoe recommendation

[biscuitsbrah]

Pretty much. Start with the 80's - early 90's "classic" running shoes. This reminds me of cyclists puking on the side on the road because the new hot trend is eating 100-120 grams of carbs per hour. If you're not asian (rice eater) and don't ease into it, your body will complain.

Yes I’ve seen that study. The fight dietitian on instagram recommends building your tolerance up first before doing that every hour for 4 hours lol. See how your stomach handles digesting food close to exercise

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Unless you want to look like a dork get a pair of something like these.

Speed Force II - Men - Xero Shoes

Even lighter than the original. Men's Speed Force II is the most minimal, closest-to-barefoot Xero Shoe ever. Weighing only 5.9 oz (M9) so nothing slows you down.

xeroshoes.com

If you can find a pair of Saucony Hattoris snag those up quick, they don’t make them anymore and they’re the best barefoot shoe in my opinion.

The sauconys look sick. I don’t think the xero shoes look very comfortable though

 

[Stoic1]

What shoes do you use now?

Well, sir...

As a yachtsman I need non-marking soles and as I refuse to wear top sliders more notable with aristocrats, I try to remain "hip and edgy" with the Hey Dudes you see in front. No arch support and very little cushion.

You then see the hiking style leather Aasics befitting my active lifestyle and adventurous nature. Fellow blue bloods immediately recognize a fellow who spends his time off the golf course.

Finally, the Aasic Trail Scout 3 at the furthest away in the photo I chose them in lieu of more popular $200 Brooks or Nike running shoes. It retains good cushion with aggressive tread. As an aging Gen X You would normally see a pair of New Balance but those have been recently retired as they have a "boomerish" vibe, and I am self conscious of my Grey hair and fading looks. I took the Aasics knowing I rarely run over 3 miles with 5 Miles being my absolute maximum. they need to double as every day wear in these backwater Islands I frequent.

 

[Fug]

Test drove vibrams about a decade ago for a good year or two when they were the rage in socal.

Already had dirt hippy jiu jitsu foot callouses from wearing sandals or going barefoot everywhere.

The shoes were fine overall, no joint issues, but any shoe designed to wear without socks fucking stinks pretty quickly.

Phased out of them on smell alone.

Back to flip flops in warm weather and hiking boots / work boots as needed.

Yeah, I find the individual toes a bit weird. It's nice to wear socks.

Apparently, some people think it's a big deal for your toes to be able to spread out and flex. I don't know a lot about it.

Look kinda ridiculous but I might accept it if there's some advantage to it.

 

[Flower2dPeople]

Yeah, I find the individual toes a bit weird. It's nice to wear socks.

Apparently, some people think it's a big deal for your toes to be able to spread out and flex. I don't know a lot about it.

Look kinda ridiculous but I might accept it if there's some advantage to it.

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They do sell toe socks. They even have a mayberry version:

 

[shunyata]

Vibram makes the rubber. You can get better shoes that also use it. The Merrell Vapor Glove 6 is a pretty good one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Vibram was a sub brand under Merrell.

In the end I've preferred Merrell's regular shoes and boots for trail running, hiking, and every day wear.

 

[lsa]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Vibram was a sub brand under Merrell.

In the end I've preferred Merrell's regular shoes and boots for trail running, hiking, and every day wear.

AI says
"Vibram is a privately held company owned and managed by members of the founding Bramani family, with operations based in Albizzate, Italy. While public, the company's management remains with the family, which has guided it since its inception by Vitale Bramani in 1937. "

 

[ThaiSexPills]

Not a runner before or ever but as a 35 year old, 230 pound man with questionable knees training for hockey I can’t believe how fast the vaporfly shoes make me feel. I feel like Usain Bolt tbh

 

[Fedorgasm]

You can actually run barefoot on pavement. I used to do it. You have to work up to it slowly though. That's the way to avoid injury.

Sidewalks are the best place to start then when your feet toughen up you can do a road.

I still run barefoot on the treadmill.

I started doing it to try and cure my shin splints and it mostly worked. I used to get shin splints just running a mile. Now I can do 3 miles barefoot without getting shin splints. If I go any farther then I get them. So I'll never be a marathon guy. But it's nice to be able to run 2-3 miles again.


I did eventually get a pair of vibrams but the individual toe sleeves never fit my toes right. There are other minimalist shoes that don't have the separated toes, and I'd go with those if I ever bought another pair of minimalist shoes.

 

[jeskola]

Well, sir...

As a yachtsman I need non-marking soles and as I refuse to wear top sliders more notable with aristocrats, I try to remain "hip and edgy" with the Hey Dudes you see in front. No arch support and very little cushion.

You then see the hiking style leather Aasics befitting my active lifestyle and adventurous nature. Fellow blue bloods immediately recognize a fellow who spends his time off the golf course.

Finally, the Aasic Trail Scout 3 at the furthest away in the photo I chose them in lieu of more popular $200 Brooks or Nike running shoes. It retains good cushion with aggressive tread. As an aging Gen X You would normally see a pair of New Balance but those have been recently retired as they have a "boomerish" vibe, and I am self conscious of my Grey hair and fading looks. I took the Aasics knowing I rarely run over 3 miles with 5 Miles being my absolute maximum. they need to double as every day wear in these backwater Islands I frequent.

I 2nd the Brooks.



Never buy Hey Dudes for anything. dumbest looking shoe ever.

 

[TheTickG]

I'd like something for light jogging and walking. I'll be on pavement with this first pair.

I've been researching brands and vibram seems pretty popular but I read that the quality may have dipped recently.

What is your experience with barefoot running shoes? Who makes the best quality?

View attachment 1111544

My recommendation is don't buy barefoot running shoes.

 

[shunyata]

AI says
"Vibram is a privately held company owned and managed by members of the founding Bramani family, with operations based in Albizzate, Italy. While public, the company's management remains with the family, which has guided it since its inception by Vitale Bramani in 1937. "

Apparently they work together to some degree despite being independent.

 

[lsa]

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Apparently they work together to some degree despite being independent.

Uhm... yes... since Vibram makes soles, they work with a lot of companies.
Among them Hooka, NorthFace, Scarpa and on and on.
There are a ton of hiking boots with Vibram soles.

 

[GergreG]

What shoes do you use now?

I go for medium to maximum amount of cushioning shoes. Asics Kayano, a few Saucony models (Guide/Endorphin speed) and Salomon for trail running.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I'd like something for light jogging and walking. I'll be on pavement with this first pair.

I've been researching brands and vibram seems pretty popular but I read that the quality may have dipped recently.

What is your experience with barefoot running shoes? Who makes the best quality?

View attachment 1111544

Please research thoroughly bc I suspect that this was a ridiculous gimmick

 

[Fug]

My recommendation is don't buy barefoot running shoes.

Why not? Bad experience?

Please research thoroughly bc I suspect that this was a ridiculous gimmick

I used to go running barefoot on a soccer field. I liked it so I'd like to get back to that feeling but be protected from ground debris.

 

[Fug]

You can actually run barefoot on pavement. I used to do it. You have to work up to it slowly though. That's the way to avoid injury.

Sidewalks are the best place to start then when your feet toughen up you can do a road.

I still run barefoot on the treadmill.

I started doing it to try and cure my shin splints and it mostly worked. I used to get shin splints just running a mile. Now I can do 3 miles barefoot without getting shin splints. If I go any farther then I get them. So I'll never be a marathon guy. But it's nice to be able to run 2-3 miles again.


I did eventually get a pair of vibrams but the individual toe sleeves never fit my toes right. There are other minimalist shoes that don't have the separated toes, and I'd go with those if I ever bought another pair of minimalist shoes.

You must live near some clean streets bro. I would not want to run around the neighborhood barefoot here. Too risky to step on something.

But I agree. I feel like it's good for my feet to walk around bare like that. I'll have to figure out what fits.

 

[Based God]

I don't run anymore, but still use "barefoot" shoes for my long brisk walks and hiking. I've had a pair of Altra zero drop running shoes for the last 2 years and they're the best zero drop shoe I've ever owned. These Altras have a big wide toe box that let my feet stretch out completely. I've beat the hell out of these shoes the last couple of years as well out here in the desert and they're still going strong.

 

[ChickenBrother]

I used to go running barefoot on a soccer field. I liked it so I'd like to get back to that feeling but be protected from ground debris.

The freedom you feel running on grass (or wet sand at the beach or jogging warm ups in Judo or BJJ) is because you're barefoot and NOT wearing goofy ass toe gloves with rubber soles. Despite the gimmick marketing, you're not getting that feeling with any kind of shoes. With or without shoes, the "benefit" (if you consider it one) of a barefoot stride is that your gait is different - you're forced to take shorter strides and land on the ball of your foot instead of your heel. That means your pace will be a little slower than with shoes.

As a longtime distance runner (favorite shoe: Asics Nimbus), I got curious about the barefoot craze when it was a thing 15 years ago. At the time I lived in NYC in a shitty 5th floor walk up across the street from Section 8 housing, two blocks from Central Park. So two blocks of asphalt (less broken glass on the street than on the sidewalk) to the 1.7 mile packed dirt trail loop around the reservoir. Made it down 5 flights of shitty metal stairs and to the park with no cuts on my feet and ran the trail. At my standard 165 bpm, my pace was about 1 min/mile slower than it would have been with shoes on. Finished the trail with no pain but felt something as I got onto the asphalt to jog home and saw that I had scraped the skin off the pads of my middle toes from small rocks on the dirt trail but got home OK.

Was fine but my calves were sore AF the next two days. Barefoot running puts more impact on your calves, probably like walking around in high heels all day for women. I did the same loop the next weekend with cloth tape wrapped around my toes and got no cuts or scrapes. If I'd made it a regular thing, the pads of my toes would have developed calluses to be fine on dirt or asphalt for longer runs, but I didn't see any benefit to doing so.

TLDR: you should be fine running barefoot on asphalt for shorter distances but might want to tape your toes to be safe. Can be fun as a novelty but I don't see any real benefit vs. doing the same run with running shoes on.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Why not? Bad experience?

I used to go running barefoot on a soccer field. I liked it so I'd like to get back to that feeling but be protected from ground debris.

I personally support running barefoot but on grass, a field, trail or any other natural ground where the ground will provide cushioning. I am not sure that running barefoot on concrete is a good idea for your joints and ligaments.

However, should you still decide to ho ahead with this, I would personally run in socks with grips (bunch of those available nowadays) but never in these hideous vibram glove things.