This article was originally published on Barefoot Chronicles

Vibrams 2011 Models… Really?: “

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Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Chronicles

The Living Barefoot Show – We Interview Cody Lundin
Episode 19th, July 27th, 2010

We Interview Cody Lundin:

The primary author, Dr. Michael Ryan from the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre at UBC in Vancouver, has published results of a small study of women runners training for a half marathon. The co-authors recruited about 100 women and classified them into three foot posture types: neutral, pronated, and highly pronated. The authors then assigned the subjects to receive neutral, stability, or motion control shoes. The results seem to be surprising to some of the running community and some barefoot proponents have taken the authors’ conclusions as confirmation from Nike that motion control shoes are uniformly bad. Is this conclusion valid? Could this be an oversimplification and manipulation of the actual results?

Ultimately the authors of the study have concluded that assigning motion control shoes solely based on foot posture type is overly simplistic and could cause injury. In other words, motion control shoes are not for every foot type, and it isn’t so easy to determine who would benefit from wearing them. I think that it’s early to conclude that motion control shoes don’t provide any benefit at all. Now, that probably isn’t what readers of a Barefoot blog want to hear or read but I think that it’s important to stick to the facts and to try to support research that is unbiased and balanced. It does appear from this small study that motion control shoes caused more pain than the other shoes. The stability shoes caused the least amount of pain and the neutral shoes ended up in the middle in terms of pain caused. All of the highly pronated runners who were place in the motion control shoe reported injuries. This however wasn’t a statistically significant finding due to the small sample size. Thirty-two percent of the runners in this study reported injuries irrespective of shoe type, and more runners with neutral foot type experienced pain in a neutral shoe. It seems that stopping the foot from overpronation through motion control is not the answer. Science hasn’t as of yet told us what is but I think I can guess what the readers of this blog will tell us. Perhaps Nike wants to provide the best footwear to allow the most people to be as active as possible and is willing to get behind valid research even if it proves that previous thinking is erroneous.

The effects of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes in women runners: a randomised controlled trial. Ryan, Valiant, McDonald, and Taunton was published online June 2010 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Further review of the study can be viewed at Runblogger

An interview recorded two days ago with Cody Lundin, a barefooter and co-start in the Discovery Channel’s show Dual Survival has been completed and has been waiting for this conversion process to complete.  The new show will be available as soon as possible.  We apologize for the late release this week.

This article was originally published on Barefootjosh.com

Barefoot Josh » Blog Archive » Matt Jenkins, barefoot machine: ” I first saw Matt at Grandfather last year. He was running the marathon in socks. On his back (I never passed him) was a big tattoo that said ‘PAIN.’ I remember thinking ‘Pain? He must be doing it wrong. Maybe I should give him some advice.’

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Josh.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Josh

This article was originally published on Barefoot Phil

Big barefoot questions…6 months in: “

I took a shot at this after three months of foray into the crazy world of barefoot running and it’s time for an update at the 6 month mark.

Why?
Cause it’s fun is what I said from the outset and I’m still there. (Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Phil.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Phil

This article was originally published on In Between My Toes

Shooting a Wedding in FiveFingers:

Just a quick report on another activity worthy of FiveFingers, taking pictures for a wedding.

I wore my black leather Mocs with black dress pants, shirt, and tie. Very few even noticed the footwear, but I was tempted more than once to drop the FiveFingers and go completely unshod, inspired by Al Gauthier of Living Barefoot. He is the Barefoot Photographer.’ Check his work out at barefootphotographer.info.

(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: In Between My Toes

Also the site is extremely well done as well. Kudos Vibram!

youarethetechnology.com

This article was originally published on DailyMile Community Blog

Going Minimalist to Escape Injury: A Runner’s Experience | dailymile community blog: “

Hey Dailymilers! I want to start off with a small introduction. My name is Sean Fillner, and I have been running and working out for 20+ years. However, it was not until recently that I buckled down in 2008 and ran my first marathon, the Portland Marathon (PDX), in 4:12. I lost 40 pounds in 2009 and ran Portland again, this time shaving almost 30 minutes off my previous years time (3:42). The following month I ran Seattle in 3:33. I consider myself an average athlete, and love helping others out with tips and tricks I have learned over the years.

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Daily Mile Community Blog.)

Original Article can be found here: Daily Mile Community Blog

CNN Flip flops bad for feet?

The Roving Runner on youtube

Dr. Lieberman talking about his research and barefoot running.

This article was originally published on Vibram Five Fingers News, Reviews, and Fan Forums – Birthday Shoes

Self Defense Instructor Teaches and Trains in Vibram Five Fingers: “

“

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Original Article can be found here: Vibram Five Fingers News, Reviews, and Fan Forums – Birthday Shoes

This article was originally published on Vibram Five Fingers News, Reviews, and Fan Forums – Birthday Shoes

The Today Show: EasyTones, Shape-Ups, and Five Fingers, Oh My!: “

Just watch the segment:

Read more »“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Vibram Five Fingers News, Reviews, and Fan Forums – Birthday Shoes.)

Original Article can be found here: Vibram Five Fingers News, Reviews, and Fan Forums – Birthday Shoes

This article was originally published on Barefoot Running

Barefoot Walking has Benefits, too!:

Barefoot Walking has Benefits, too!

When you start out as a new barefoot runner, chances are you’ll start by just walking, at least if you follow our advice! (Read the full article / article originally published on:  Barefoot Running.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Running

Should any of you experience anything out of the ordinary, please contact us right away so that we can look into it.  If at all possible take a screen shot of the issue or a word-for-word description of the warning so that we can quickly squash any issues.  We expect everything should be back to normal.

Article: ‘Barefoot Running Pros and Cons’: “

Check out Barefoot Running Pros and Cons, an article written by Heba Hosny of Run Addicts. The author claims to shed some light on the controversial issue of barefoot running. While the information shared is not news to many active barefoot runners, it is a decent preview to the possible benefits to the sport. Source: Barefoot Running Pros and Cons (http://www.runaddicts.net/tips-tricks/barefoot-running-pros-and-cons) by Heba Hosny

“(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: In Between My Toes

The Living Barefoot Show Interviews Jimmy from Paper Feet

We talk the owner of yet another new minimalist shoes company – but this one may be even more minimal than any other shoe we have seen before.

This article was originally published on In Between My Toes

Barefoot Shopping: A Run-in at Costco: “

Today just felt like a barefoot kind of day. After a morning of local errands, it was time for a trip to the city, 2 hours driving and 5 hours shopping all in bare feet.”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: In Between My Toes

This article was originally published on In Between My Toes

Paintball in Vibram FiveFingers: “

“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: In Between My Toes

Should you wish to listen online, go to: http://www.livingbarefoot.info/listen/

New episodes to be added shortly.

Hope for the Vibram FiveFinger Cyclist: Pyro Platforms: “

How do I ride my bike in Vibram FiveFingers?

Classic, flat pedals are always an option for pedaling in FiveFingers if you are not particular about getting more purchase from your up and down pedal strokes. Adding a cage or toe clip to the pedal could help with this problem, but I wanted something more akin to a cycling shoe with a stiff, rigid sole to maximize power transfer and efficiency. After sketching some ideas on paper, I decided to google my options, and I came up with PYRO Platforms, a design similar in many aspects to ideas bouncing around in my head.”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: In Between My Toes

This article was originally published on go barefooting

Product Review: ZEM Shoes: Initial Thoughts: “Per the website:

ZEMs provide you with enough protection to do what you want safely, but ZEMs are designed so that your foot can move naturally inside the shoe.

“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: go barefooting.)

Original Article can be found here: go barefooting

See the article here.

http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20400863,00.html#20809613

This fashion blogger isn’t a fan of the Five Fingers but has posted some photos of celebrities’ wearing them.

http://stealthestyle.com/ensembles/shoes/celebrities-wearing-vibram-fivefingers/

Older shows will be updated in the coming weeks.  All new shows will be released as MP3 files.

http://livingbarefoot.libsyn.com/rss

We Interview Christopher McDougall – Author of Born to Run

Buy His Book: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
Download the Audible Audiobook

Running and Rambling posted an interesting short article on the durability of Minimalist footwear. How long should they last? Does anyone know? Since minimalist shoes can be more like slippers I would think that they wouldn’t be as durable as say a runner or sneaker. They are meant to be soft and comfy, not be hard and durable. I think that people have very high expectations of these shoes. Even running shoes need to be replaced often. How many people are dissatisfied with the durability of their five fingers or their vivos? Read on…

Things Fall Apart: “Since my previous post demonstrated – quite forcefully, as it happened – one of the drawbacks of minimalist footwear, this seems like a good time to throw together a collection of photos that address some other shortcomings of my most heavily-used trail runners over the past several weeks.
Mainly, the issue is one of durability, and each of my favorite brands – VivoBarefoot, Soft Star, and Vibram – have demonstrated some limitations in this regard. Before we get to the specifics, a few general observations are worth mentioning:“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Running and Rambling.)

Original Article can be found here: Running and Rambling

While these features are very nice, we suspect that few listeners are aware of the extra features. We suspect even fewer actually use them.

As we are upgrading the way these files are available for playback and download from our site, we are looking for the best ways to share our show with as many listeners as possible.  By moving to an mp3 only format we simplify our production process and we open the door to better and more flexible ways to present our material.  While the show will still be available through iTunes, it will also be available through other automatic RSS readers for those listeners who choose to use hardware and software that isn’t compatible with the Apple format.

As we are concerned that we may be removing features from a larger group of listeners than anticipated, we wanted to give you the opportunity to make your voice heard on the issue.  Should you feel strongly for or against this change please let us know.  You can contact us through facebook, through twitter, through our feedback line (1-888-868-2198) or through email (showideas@livingbarefoot.info).

We would like to invite our listners and readers to particpate in this exciting interview by submitting questions and comments for the interview.  To particpate, send your questions and comments to showideas@livingbarefoot.info, or call 1 (888) 868-2198 and record your questions or comments.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!  Email or call us today!

This article was originally published on Barefoot Chronicles

Barefoot Running on Crushed Limestone: “

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Chronicles.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Chronicles

To check out what Fast Trax has to offer, you can check out their website here.

In Kigo news, Kigo footwear will soon be offering two new models: the curv and the edge. The new models were produced in response to feedback from barefooters and minimalist shoe enthusiasts like you!

To see the new Kigo curv and edge, check out their website here.

Vivo Barefoot Evo Review

By Tina Dubois

Minimalist Running Shoe Series Vivo Barefoot Evo Review
We are very pleased to review the new Evo running-specific shoe from Terra Plana’s Vivo Barefoot product line. After wearing them every day for seven weeks, I am thoroughly impressed. They are as comfortable while walking as they are while running and they felt good on my feet the moment I put them on. My feet are happy!

From online pictures, I was expecting the Evo to be narrower than other Vivo Barefoot shoes, but I was pleasantly surprised that this is not the case. I compared the insole widths of the Evo to my other Vivo Barefoot shoes (the Kali and the Lucy) and they are the same width in the forefoot. I’m glad that the pictures were deceiving.

Comfort
The Evos were instantly comfortable. The upper, made of a mesh material surrounded by a TPU cage, is so flexible that it easily conforms to the shape of the wearer’s foot. There are no areas that bind or pinch. Although I have read and heard first-hand accounts of the shoes requiring a couple weeks of wear to soften the uppers before they stopped rubbing along the tops of toes, this was never an issue with me. The topline of the shoe (the top of the upper that surrounds the foot) and the tongue is made of a velvety-soft microfiber material with just the right amount of padding for a pillowy feeling. There is also a strip of microfiber running along the inside of the upper from the toe cap to the tongue, presumably to make the upper even softer along the tops of the toes. The rest of the inside of the upper is a breathable mesh. The seams are placed at angles such that they do not impede with the natural movement of your foot. None of the seams can be felt by the foot. There is also plenty of room in the toe box for the natural movement of your toes while walking or running, and the laces allows for a custom fit along the top of the foot

Weight
According to official Living barefoot weight measurements (my kitchen scale), each women’s size 39 Evo weighs 6 ounces without the insole and 6 ¾ ounces with the insole. Although this is heavier than some of the other minimalist footwear I’ve reviewed, I have never noticed the weight of these shoes while walking or running even on my longer excursions.

Flex / Sole
The sole of the Evo is a newly designed, 4 mm, soft rubber sole with even more flexibility than the regular 3 mm Duratex sole used in the other Vivo Barefoot shoes. It bends in such a way as to maximize flexibility in all directions to give your foot as much maneuverability as possible while wearing a shoe.

Support / Insole
There is no arch support of any kind in the shoe. The insole has no support in it either and is approximately 3-4 mm thick. Compared to the two other Vivo Barefoot insoles I have, it is considerably thinner; the Evo insole is made of two joined materials (a cushioning type of material and the fabric overlay) while both the Kali and Lucy insoles are made of three joined materials (two cushioning layers and the fabric overlay). The difference is about 3 mm in cushioning at the forefoot. I prefer to wear my Evos with the insole but that decision will be a personal preference based on how much cushioning you prefer and how strong your feet are.

Barefoot Feel
The barefoot feel of the Evo surpasses that of even the other Vivo Barefoot models I have reviewed (the Kali and Lucy shoes, and the Dundan boots). Because the flexibility of the sole is so great, the barefoot feel is equally as phenomenal. There is a slight difference in the barefoot feel with and without the insole and it will be up to personal preference as to how each person wears theirs.

Grip
The grip of the Evos is different again from the other Vivo Barefoot products I have reviewed. The hexagon size is much larger in size and height, and they do not cover the entire bottom of the sole. There are two different types of rubber used, the grey rubber being harder and more durable than the black. The grip feels secure on dry or wet terrain ranging from natural to man-made surfaces.

Breathability
Because most of the upper is made of a breathable mesh, the breathability of these shoes is phenomenal. For those runners who get hot feet, these shoes will be great for keeping cooling air flow going. This is a significant improvement from the Aqua, which was previously the recommended shoe for running in the Vivo Barefoot lineup.

Quality of Materials / Manufacturing
Like all the Vivo Barefoot products I have tested, the quality of materials and manufacturing is excellent. There are no detailed manufacturing defects or errors in these shoes.

Water Resistance
Again, because the upper is made of a breathable mesh, these shoes are not water resistant. That being said, I did step in a rather large mud puddle on a run and the mud did not go through the shoe. My sock did get wet but it did not get muddy and neither did the insole. I was amazed.

Sizing
I had the pleasure of trying on a couple of different sizes of the Evo while at the New York Terra Plana store. I generally wear a size 8 shoe and found the size 38 Evo a little tight and the size 39 to be perfect. This is what Vivo Barefoot is saying about sizing on their website: “The Evo is running true to size for women with size 8 or smaller feet. If you have size 9 or larger you need to order up at least +1. Size 9 Order a 40. Size 9.5 Order a 41. Size 10 Order a 42 (Yes a 42).”

Price
The Evo is listed on the Terra Plana website for $160 USD. Although this may seem expensive for a minimalist shoe, it is similar in price to many running-specific shoes. This product is phenomenally constructed out of excellent materials and should last a long time. After extensive wear over the last seven weeks, only a few of the central knobs are worn on the grey hexagons on the sole and the upper, although dirty) shows absolutely no signs of wear.

Style
I love the style of the Evo. It is a sleek looking running shoe. Although there has been speculation about the width of the Evo, the last is much wider than it appears and should be as comfortable for wide feet as for narrow.

The women’s come in black with red trim, yellow and grey, blue and grey, and pink and grey while the men’s come in black with red trim, white with red trim, green and grey, and yellow and grey.

Break-in Period
I did not find that I needed a break-in period for the Evos as they were comfortable right out of the box. However, I did find that the upper softened after about a week of wear and is now even more flexible than when new.

Shoe care
As there is no leather incorporated in this shoe, there is no pre-care required. When they get dirty, the shoe can be washed in the sink, scrubbed with a toothbrush, and air dried; as can the insole as it holds the most moisture and odors. I have done this and the shoes dried perfectly well overnight and look brand new again.

When asked about the recommended washing technique for these shoes, the responding employee from Terra Plana mentioned that due to the nature of the TPU cage, it would be strongly advised not to put the shoes in the washing machine. In addition, it is recommended to watch the red liner color of the men’s white/red Evo to prevent bleeding.

The Evo incorporates Agion antimicrobial protection. According to the insert included in the box, Agion is an environmentally friendly technology that protects against odors, prevents bacterial and fungal growth, and provides long lasting protection.

Environmentally Conscious
The Evo is advertised on the Terra Plana website as 100% vegan. Also included in the box is a Nature Tex 50 insert that reads, “This lining fabric is made from 50% recycled plastic bottles.”

With/Without Socks
The microfiber and mesh material on the inside of the upper is so soft that the shoe can easily be worn without socks. Your feet will feel significant air flow because of the mesh material. They are also quite comfortable with socks. Because there are laces, you can customize the tightness of the fit to easily incorporate socks or not.

Varying Terrains
I have walked and run on concrete, asphalt, grass, dirt, shale, roots, rocks, and sharp gravel and had no problems at all with any of these terrains. Although you can feel minute contour changes, I did not find sharp gravel to be painful to the soles of my feet even while running downhill.

Inclines/Declines
Most minimalist shoes I’ve tested for running do not have laces and depend on the stretch of the materials to keep the shoe in place. The laces on the Evo allow the shoe to be customized to the width of your feet, which makes inclines and declines comfortable with no slippage of the shoe. It truly feels like there isn’t a shoe on your foot at all whether running flat, up, or down.

Summary
Terra Plana has made another excellent product in the Vivo Barefoot Evo. It is a phenomenal all-purpose shoe as well as an amazing running shoe. It is extremely comfortable with or without socks and form fits to your feet well because of the laces. The barefoot feel is outstanding and, while running, definitely promotes a midfoot strike. It has incredible breathability because of the choice to use a mesh material surrounded by a TPU cage, allowing even the hottest feet cooling air flow. And, of course, the quality of the materials and manufacturing is superb. Although the price may put some people off from buying them, it is comparable to many running-specific shoes and should last much longer than their usually prescribed 500 miles. The Evo is a stellar minimalist shoe and the fact that they were specifically designed for running, which they also feel fantastic for, makes them even better.

To purchase these shoes, visit the Vivo Barefoot section of the Terra Plana website at http://www.terraplana.com.

This article was originally published on Barefoot Running

“Once you have the fundamentals of barefoot running down, notice that your stride and cadence are changing, and can feel that your feet are tougher and your eyes are more alert to where you step, you might be tempted to get off the sidewalk, the treadmill, or the track and onto the trails….”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Running.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Running

This article was originally published on go barefooting

Barefoot Runners Society: “

“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: go barefooting.)

Original Article can be found here: go barefooting

This article was originally published on In Between My Toes

Barefoot Hiking: “

(Read the full article / article originally published on: In Between My Toes.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Hiking

We Interview Daniel Howell

The Living Barefoot Show – Episode 16 – We Interview Daniel Howell, Author of The Barefoot Book.

Daniel’s book is a wonderful addition to the barefooters library.  Using diagrams and covering subjects that few other books have covered in great details, Daniel goes into great detail of how the foot works, and how shoes fall short.  We talk about The Barefoot Book and Daniel’s point of view on barefooting and shoes.  It’s a great book, and a great interview and you don’t want to miss either.

Visit his website for more information:  The Barefoot Book Website

Download audio file (LivingBarefoot_EP16.mp3)
0 Hour, 43 Minutes, 12 Seconds  Download mp3 - Click Here (Size 39.56 MB)

Buy Daniel’s book: The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes

To listen to the show on our site, go to The Living Barefoot Show page.

This article was originally published on go barefooting

C-PRIME Bracelets-The Real Deal?: “

For centuries people have used things like magnets, crystals, and even pyramids as ways to tune the body to perform at a higher level.  For years I’ve always thought of this as kooky craziness.

(Read the full article / article originally published on: go barefooting.)

Original Article can be found here: go barefooting

Barefoot Terminology 101: “New to barefoot running? Checking out the articles on our site? Chances are you’re seeing some terms used over and over and you are wondering what they mean. Understanding the language of running – especially barefoot running – is important. Knowing how to correctly apply the technique of barefoot running is essential [...]“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Running.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Running

This article was originally published on Barefoot Running

10 Barefoot Runners to Follow on Twitter: ” We have compiled a list of [...]“

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Barefoot Running.)

Original Article can be found here: Barefoot Running

This article was originally published on The Barefoot Running Blog

Video: The Barefoot Professor: “The research proved what many of us already know – most forefoot and some midfoot strikes (shod or barefoot) do not generate the sudden impact that occur when you heel strike (shod or barefoot).”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: http://www.barefoot-running.us/video-the-barefoot-professor.html.)

This article was originally published on

How Barefoot Running Helps Common Running Injuries: “

How Barefoot Running Helps Common Running Injuries Posted by Summer

It may seem like running shoes will protect your feet and legs from injuries, and running shoes certainly do a better job of that than they did in years past. They control the movement of your foot, thereby reducing the impact of your legs on hard surfaces. But let’s put some more thought into running injuries and why we get them in the first place.

(Read the full article / article originally published on: .)

Original Article can be found here: 

This article was originally published on Society for Barefoot Living  The Barefoot Book: ”

The Barefoot Book, by Daniel Howell, is now available here: The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes
and in bookstores everywhere. This is a great book that every barefooter ought to have.

“In fact, every barefooter really ought to have about 5-10 copies, so that you can hand it out to friends and relatives who are wondering just what is it about you that makes you want to go barefoot all the time.”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: Society for Barefoot Living.)

This article was originally published on InvisibleShoe.com

Getting started with barefoot running: “

Imagine that you haven’t lifted weights in a while… or ever.

And imagine that you got the idea that you wanted to bench press 500 pounds.

Would you go to the gym, put 500 pounds on the bar, and just go for it?”

(Read the full article / article originally published on: InvisibleShoe.com.)

Original Article can be found here: InvisibleShoe.com