After a good workout, my head was down as I sat in the sauna sweating like a turkey on Thanksgiving eve. My downcast eyes couldn’t help but notice and follow what was the weirdest shoe I’d ever seen in the gym. They entered the sauna like an alien entering a spaceship.
At first, I thought sweat was clouding my vision. As I wiped the dripping water from my tired eyes, I realized that I wasn’t seeing things. These toes were interlocked in a shiny, ribbed, rubber-like, royal blue material.
I immediately remembered a pair of tight, five-toe socks I’d seen in stores over the holidays in bright Christmas colors of red, green, and white. I’ve never tried those kind of socks on, as I thought it would take too long to get my fat toes into them. Ideally, when my feet are cold, I like to put on my socks like a firefighter searching for gear on a four-alarm fire. There is no time to waste time. I want my gloves and socks hassle-free.
But these were not socks. In front of me were half socks, half water shoes.
When I looked up, sitting next to me was a woman listening to music on her iPod. She probably didn’t want to be disturbed. But my curiosity got the better of me. So I tapped her on the shoulder to ask her about her strange footwear. What the hell were they? She laughed and said they were her new running shoes.
Running shoes? Did I hear you right? Were my ears flooded from swimming? Apparently not, as she went on to say that she absolutely loved them because they made her run faster and were healthier for her feet.
Healthier? As someone who specializes in health, my interest has now peaked. I asked more questions. Her name was Vena Cook-Clark, she was 27 years old and she had been running for 6 years as a hobby.
Originally, the unusual appearance and lightness of the shoes attracted his attention. He read that barefoot running was better for his alignment, and it was enough for him to shell out the $100.00 price tag to try it.
When she brought them home, her husband joked that they looked like she had “alien toes,” but now, she exclaims that he wants a pair too. I asked if they were hard to put on. She said it gets easier after the first few times, and it’s worth it. She added: “It was uncomfortable running in them at first, but after about 2 weeks I got used to it and now I want another pair for walking.”
She bragged about how easy it is to throw them in the wash with the rest of her running or workout clothes. He told me that they were made by a company called Vibram and that he could find them on the Internet by googling “Vibram Five Fingers”.
When I got home that night, I did exactly that. I instantly found what was called a “Barefoot Movement”. Purists preferred the term “Minimalist Movement” since you’re not actually barefoot while wearing them. First, I wanted to know if there really were any health benefits to using them.
As it turns out, a 2010 study from India says that children who wore shoes before the age of 6 were more likely to develop flat feet than children who ran barefoot. They also had better developed longitudinal arches. Statistically, 8.2% of children who regularly wore shoes suffered from flat feet compared to 2.8% of barefoot children. The study was published in The Times of India.
I also learned that I am not the first person to discover this study. In 2009, Christopher McDougall wrote a New York Times bestseller called “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Run the World Has Never Seen.” He offered an in-depth look at the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyon. They ran hundreds of miles over rough terrain in bare feet, reaching their 70s without any sign of injury. Die-hard racers took note and made the switch.
I wondered what the doctors would think about them.
Last year, Harvard scientists showed that people who run barefoot or in minimal shoes, as people have done for millions of years, often land on their feet in a way that avoids jarring impact. Less shock equals less stress and injury to the foot.
PBS has a video that visually demonstrates what your feet look like when you run in regular vs. how they look when you run barefoot or in minimalist sneakers. It’s interesting to note how differently your feet land on the ground. Minimalist shoes make you land on the ball of your foot instead of the heel.
Most doctors claim that they are better for the feet and that they “can” prevent injury. There’s that word “may” instead of can, which doctors say when they want to cover up. They won’t commit, but they do say that anyone with plantar fasciitis or any type of foot injury from running can benefit from them.
Doctors offer the following advice if you switch from your regular running shoes to minimalist sneakers. Start slowly. They recommend that you start by using them on trails and grassy surfaces before hitting cement or pavement.
If you’re interested in reaping the benefits of barefoot running, experts say you should prep your feet before making the switch. You can do it by:
1. Fanning your toes, holding for 10 seconds, 10 times a day per foot.
2. Flex your feet for 5 seconds, then release.
3. Trace the letters of the alphabet with your feet in the air every day.
4. Stand on your toes and
5. Sidewalk.
The above seems like some very fancy footwork, but wearers like Vena Cook-Clark are raving about them and won’t be back in regular running shoes any time soon. Clark says, “I look at my old running shoes and can’t believe I used to carry those heavy things in my gym bag. I love them and I run so much faster now and my feet feel so much better afterward.”
They were founded by Dan Lieberman and Peter Von Conta. Since then, fitness experts have made the switch, and word of mouth about them is spreading rapidly because the shoe makes curious people, like me, ask about it.
Stephen Meade, founder of BigBamboo, LLC, says he’s seen a man wear them to meetings under a suit. He said that you can’t help noticing and asking about them. He did and says the guy wearing them is a marathon runner and swears by them. Meade can’t wait to get a pair himself.
Although, Brian Cuban, an avid runner who has run 8 marathons with his best time of 3:27 in the Marine Corps. Marathon says that he would never use them.
Cuban, who in addition to running marathons is also a lawyer, writer, blogger and speaker, believes they will always be a niche item for distance runners. He doesn’t see them ever getting into the mainstream.
Cuban said, “I have too many existing foot and knee problems to make it viable. I need to decrease my attack strength, not increase it.”
US Navy Lieutenant Commander Andrew Baldwin, MD, who is also an avid marathon runner, agrees.
Baldwin is not a big fan of minimalist shoes. He says, “They’re right in theory, but with our overweight society with bone structure used to heavy lifting, it can be dangerous and lead to injury.”
Andy Baldwin, MD knows a little about health and fitness, both professionally and personally. He has been running since he was a child and has completed 35 marathons and 8 iron mans.
Baldwin is a triathlete, humanitarian, US Navy diver, and media personality currently serving as a Family Medicine Resident at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital in Southern California. He also served with the Navy Office of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, DC as a spokesperson and advocate for Navy medicine.
While in DC, he assisted the US Surgeon General with a program called Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future and currently serves as an advocate for the Let’s Move Campaign led by First Lady Michelle Obama. Both programs target childhood overweight and obesity.
On a side note, he was also the star of ABC’s hit show, “The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman.”
However, despite the low opinions, sales are increasing.
Sales of Vibram Five Finger shoes have tripled every year since its launch in 2006. And sales continue to grow. So these light-as-air, rubber-soled running shoes may be more than just a fad within the fitness industry.
The biggest consumer complaint to date has been that the seams break after 90 days. Therefore, their warranty is you guessed it, 90 days. But, the advantage of that is that the manufacturer, Vibram, will immediately replace them at no cost if that happens. So far the customer service has been excellent and has been around since 2006. The second complaint is the blisters. But traditional running shoes can also cause blisters.
Webbed running shoes might look silly and weird, but they’re super comfortable, just like being barefoot, only your feet are fully protected from sharp objects and stones. They also keep your feet warm. If you’re renovating your house and have nails in the floor, they could be a benefit or if you have young children who leave all sorts of things lying around, they could also be a smart substitute for wearing socks around your house.
I also ran into Vena Cook-Clark again at the gym, and she ran up to me in her Vibrams to tell me that she was delighted to announce that she had bought a second pair for walking, and that her husband was now rocking a pair, loving them.
Skeptics who may not want to wear them for running use them for comfort and grip during weight lifting, yoga, biking, or just walking.
I recently walked through a mall and couldn’t help but find them in every shoe store. They come in a variety of attractive and vibrant colors for both men and women. When you pick them up, it’s exciting to feel how light and flexible they are and there’s a lot of buzz in stores with people talking about them.
Last month, runners wore them in a 5K run at the Oshkosh Half Marathon. And you can’t walk into a sneaker store without seeing them on the shelves. The best brands are starting to enter the race. Nike and New Balance just introduced “Minimalist Sneakers” this week.
Today’s top 5 brands of “minimalist sneakers” that cost approx. $100 are:
1. Vibram
2. Nike
3. New balance
4.Reebok
5. streams
As for me, I still want my gloves, socks, and slippers without the hassle. But I’m willing to try them, if only for the light weight to carry. I’m also thinking they would be great for walking on the beach in the sand. I love the feel of sand on my toes, but there’s always the chance of stepping on something sharp. I like to walk/run by the sea and these seem like a nice alternative to traditional bulky shoes. I also like the version without the webbed toe, which is even lighter than the Vibrams. They’re easier to throw in a beach bag than traditional running shoes. I recently tried the Stand-Up Paddle and could see using them for that as well.
Vibrams weight is 5.7 ounces. The Mizuno Universe 3 (priced at $119.99) weighs 3.6 ounces and has a closed toe like you’d see in a traditional sneaker, so no alien toes.
As summer approaches, you may be seeing more and more of these minimalist running shoes, and taking them twice like I did. If they’re durable and people like them, I think word of mouth will see these minimalist shoes go all the way like a Tarahumara Indian in Mexico’s Copper Canyon.