Simple Shoes
Are Simple Shoes Right for You?
Thanks to the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, runners are running to change over to simple shoes to imitate barefoot running.
Although the idea of running barefoot outside seems immediately crazy to most people, remember that people ran barefoot for about two million years. They had no choice - they hadn't even invented sandals, let alone Nikes.
Of course, they also hadn't invented concrete and broken glass (my biggest fear) yet either. But they ran on rocks, in sand and through forests littered with sticks and brambles. Obviously, starting as babies their feet developed thick calluses.
Not only that, they developed the muscles in their feet (yes, our feet contain many muscles which remain woefully underdeveloped in those of us -- even marathon runners -- who wear ordinary shoes), ankles and lower legs, and according to the experience of modern barefoot runners dramatically reduced their rate of injury.
Cave People Ran in Very Simple Shoes -- Bare Feet
After all, a cave man with sore knees, plantar fasciitis, sprained ankle and shin splints is a hungry cave man with a hungry family. Various studies have shown that modern runners -- from weekend joggers to elite marathoners -- suffer annual injury rates of from twenty to eighty percent (studies vary). If caveman had to spend that much time away from running, how would the human race have survived?
Therefore, running shoes have come out with various minimalist or simple shoes for running.
Nike Free -- this may have been the first. Nike developed it after learning that a track team they sponsored were actually training barefoot to reduce injuries. Does it look good for a running shoe manufacturer's own track team to NOT wear their shoes? No, it does not look good.
The number associated with their models indicates the degree of cushioning, with 1 meaning "barefoot" and 12 meaning a normal (highly cushioned) shoe. Nike Free has come out with various versions such as Free 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0. Again, the higher the number, the more cushioning -- and so the less like running barefoot it actually is.
They now also have Nike Free Run+ which is still flexible but have more cushioning and upper support.
Vibram Five Fingers -- these are like wearing thick rubber gloves on your feet, with individual pockets for your toes. They do have some cushioning on the bottom.
Newton -- this is a new company formed by runners, and all their shoes are made to promote proper form in runners. That is, to land on their forefeet or mid-foot rather than the heel. This seems to be one of the major problems with running shoes from Nike onward . . . the lifted and cushioned heel encourages people to land on their heels. If you try that barefoot, you could break your heel bone, so you naturally land on another part of your foot.
So Newton shoes apparently correct the problem of running with ordinary running shoes, but obviously still provide your feet with a lot of protection from the outside world. Many podiatrists and sports doctors now believe that landing on the heel is what is causing so many injuries in runners.
So Newton shoes may be the best of both worlds.
Other Simple Shoe Manufacturers
New Balance -- this top running shoe manufacturer has come out with several models also designed to encourage runners to land on their fore or mid feet, not heels: MR800 and MT100. The new Minimus line NB10 (available for walking, runner and trail running) is the most lightweight and barefoot-like.
Vivo Barefoot -- this is a line of shoes of many different styles and designed, but all simulate the barefoot feel. Many of them can be worn in your daily life as casual shoes, helping to increase your foot strength. That's important to do before you try to run any great distance in any minimalist shoe.
Inov-8 -- this company, founded in 2003, has produced high quality shoes especially for trail and distance runners, and extreme sports of all kinds. Their shoes are rugged and effective.
Kigo -- designed by three women tired out by heavy hiking shoes. It's not clear to me whether they are meant for hikers or runners.
Soft Star -- sheepskin moccasins.
Sockwa -- look interesting, but don't seem to be designed specifically for runners.
Feelmax, GoLite, ZEM (Zone of Eternal Motion), Merrell Barefoot, and Adidas AdiZero are other minimalist shoes that may suit your feet and your budget.
As the trend toward barefoot -- or barefoot-like running -- grows, no doubt many more shoe manufacturers will come out with simple shoes for running.
Next: Toe Shoes -- on wearing toe shoes from Vibram Five Fingers.