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Anonymous
So there was an article on here about how our shoes are killing our feet and posture. So I went out and checked on these more flexible foot friendly shoes. What are your opinions? Good idea? Lame hype?
The main website is here.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/index.cfm
>> Anonymous
I have these, and they're awesome. I also practice kendo, where footwork is a huge deal of how quick you can attack, and I look forward to practicing tonight after using these shoes for a few days. The change is really apparent after using these--muscles I never knew of are sprouting up next to my calves, and for sure it's going to kick ass tonight.
>> Asshole !Y05ja5FGDU
I saw these before, and I think they're a really great idea and they seem to be orthopedically intelligent, but so fucking ugly.
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
>>115255
your face is fucking ugly you fetid rectal drip. these things are cool looking as HECK. something as eye-catching and out of the ordinary as this is almost completely sure to get you laid at a much higher rate. kind of like tattoos and dreadlocks and huge gauge ear piercings and ankh charms but less douchebaggy and obvious, and also with a functional purpose that moots anyone's complaints that they look stupid.

so shut your FACE.
>> Asshole !Y05ja5FGDU
>>115261

I lul'd.
>> Anonymous
I found them uncomfortable and they wore out quickly.
>> slim !yE5LOsLjxQ
>>115269
this concerns me. i really want to buy a pair, but i'm getting mixed reviews. could we get more owners to testify here please
>> Anonymous
>>115225
So, your feet don't hurt when you're walking on the dojo floor?
>> Anonymous
>>115284
On the beach, they're useless. Walk barefoot on the beach, like everyone else. Plus walking on the beach uses more upper leg if anything due to the low-impact nature of the sand.

These are made for running on hard dirt or concrete. I use them on concrete. The sole is maybe a little under a cm thick, but still directs all the impact to the correct, natural spots on your sole. That's kind of the point of barefoot running.
>> Anonymous
>>115284
The point is it is not thick but durable so it is more like barefoot walking without the wear and tear on your feet.

Also before I go to buy them does anyone else have a testimony about it? They are not supposed to hurt when you run in them because it is supposed to be natural, unlike running shoes
>> Anonymous
>>115287
I don't see why they would. I have a hardwood floor at home (even if I'm away at college now) that I've always walked on because it was there. Never ever hurt. The only thing hardwood can do if you're doing intense stuff on it like as in kendo, is callous up and form a nasty blister underneath that thick callous. But that's just one of the processes of kendo, as are the callouses/blisters you get on your hands.
>> Anonymous
>>115289
It WILL hurt initially because you're not used to barefoot running on hard surfaces, but that will surely go away the more you adjust to it--give it a chance and some time, you'll be way better off.
>> Anonymous
Never trust a product for your feet that's called fiveFINGERS.
>> Anonymous
>>115315
Who said it was for your feet...?
>> Anonymous
If i were to climb, a building or a mountain i'd pick these over shoes in a fucking instant. Our feet still have some monkey grapple strength in them.
>> Anonymous
The only shoes that people should avoid wearing are FLIP FLOPS. Seriously. Those things are awful for your feet.
>> Anonymous
>>115441
what about crocs?
>> Anonymous
>>115206

Can't speak for those shoes, but after reading that article I went out and jogged in my wrestling shoes (thin rubber sole, no support). It killed my calves for a week, but now I'm spoiled and don't want to ever touch normal rigid/cushioned shoes.

The main difference is that the lack of a rigid sole and cushion forces you to land on the front of the foot and cushion with your calf, which is is what the foot is evolved to do.
>> Anonymous
Protip: Don't go for the sprint version. I got the sprint and I regret it--that $10 strap is entirely unnecessary, and the heel has more than enough size adjustment needed to keep your heel from popping out.
>> Anonymous
These shoes are a fucking waste of money

Idiotic inventions <<<<< will power and determination. Don't waste money on these shitty products, just run barefoot or in your old shoes.
>> Anonymous
>>115572

These specific shoes may be, I'm not sure how you knwo though.

I know people that need insoles to play basketball, or they get shin splints, so shut the fuck about running barefoot.
>> Anonymous
>>115574
Basketball is a different game from running, clearly. Running is hella endurance compared to basketball, where all the twisting and turning and sprinting puts loads of weight and stress on the legs--shin sprints are only predictable.

Barefoot running, for sprinting or distances, will develop your leg muscle the way it was supposed to. In all likelihood, put any amount of daily running into your friends' training regimen, and shin sprints will never bother him during basketball.
>> Anonymous
splints*

fucking. my bad.
>> Anonymous
>>115609
"Running is hella endurance compared to basketball"

lol
>> Anonymous
>>115636
More pressure on shins? It would build up the calve muscle a great deal over time to the point where it would be difficult for any injuries to arise from relatively more casual use of the legs. I once cured my own tendinitis of the knee from running MORE, except with a different running style, I shit you not.

Also long distance would be awesome for basketball, along with any sport, because the cardio will strengthen your heart and lungs like fuck. Long distance running, once you're good with it, would totally destroy any shortness of breath you'd feel, say, in basketball, or at least delay it until some 20 minutes in at high intensity.

In all, we can all benefit from some great endurance cardio.

>>115635
I fold. Nike frees are said to be comparable to these, even if they don't do the EXACT same thing.
>> Anonymous
>>115652

No, long distance would just make you slower, because you don't run very fast when you do it. In basketball, you need to be able to sprint, and move side to side very quickly, so doing a lot of sprinting and training similar to that.

Also, running DOES NOT build calf muscle, it really only works muscular endurance. Look at long distance runners, do they look like they have a lot of muscle? Sprinters would be more appropriate for basketball
>> Anonymous
>>115684
Are you seriously saying endurance running will make you a slower runner overall? Hell no. It'll let you sprint yourself to the limit because your heart and lungs will get a much higher max than your leg muscles at that point in sprinting could even throw at them.

Running in these barefoot running shoes DOES build calve muscle. And running generally builds calve muscle too. I'm a runner. I do everything from sprinting to marathons, and my calve muscles are HEUG only after a single year of it.

Son, you must be trollin'
>> Anonymous
>>115695
basketballs not about endurance, its about fast sprint muscle building, agility and hand eye coordination...try playing it

building a shitload of calf muscle will not make you a substantially better basketball player, neither will endurance running....please stay on topic

in fact marathon running or long distance will fuck up your basketball skills since your body will have adapted to running foward at high speeds but not left to right with directional changes....

Theres a reason why runners look totally unlike soccer players, baskeball players, and football players in terms of body type

ALSO: Playing any sport will increase your endurance for that sport!
>> Anonymous
>>115441
more info on this?
>>115459
whoops, sprint version is already in the mail...

>>115635
god. idiot. no it's not. besides, not everyone has a beach nearby to run on.

>>115695
leg muscle size is largely due to genetics, if running is your exercise, and not leg weight lifting, as it's lots of reps, with only body weight as resistance. you may build some muscle, but it's largely the toning of your leg muscles that comes from running, as you've been using your calves all your life, they're already a decent size, but tone up when running
>> Anonymous
>>115720
lol, enjoy your landlocked nothingness
and your overly expensive watershoes with no water by you.
>> Anonymous
These are not water shoes because the toes are free. You can acutally spring off the toes and use them to grip better. Tonight I will try these on at a store and see my result
>> Anonymous
hmm how much are they?
>> Anonymous
>>117030
60
>> Anonymous
Just bought a pair. I live in Korea and there is a lot of option for low impact hiking, can't wait to try these out