Taking a hike… one barefoot at a time.
June 7th, 2011
We came into this world without shoes, why not keep it that way? Everyone enjoys the feeling of being free with nothing constricting or binding their feet, but no one wants calluses or dirty feet either; so what's the solution? That is what creators Robert Fliri and Marco Bramani were thinking when they designed Five Finger shoes.
These extraordinary shoes are taking the world by storm; they are on buses, in the
work place, in marathons, and even on some hiking trails. At first glance, these unique shoes look rather odd, but there is a reason behind the craziness. After making the switch from traditional running shoes, five finger shoe owners never look back. These shoes were designed to feel like the natural foot, with a little extra protection for the outdoors."Whether a 2-mile paddle or a 15K on city roads, these are -by far- my favorite footwear!!!" - Michael Renstrom
Five finger shoes allow your feet to move freely and do not damage the structure of your feet like regular running shoes. Because of all the padding, traditional shoes cause only your heel to constantly strike against the ground which prevents the lower arch and lower part of your leg from absorbing the shock of the landing. Instead, the shock from impact travels up through the heel to the knees and hips, putting a lot of pressure on your joints, making you more prone to injury. With Five Finger shoes, the shock is dispersed more evenly throughout your foot and decreases the strain on your joints; giving you an overall better posture. These "shoes" have also been proven to improve balance and strength, as well as aid in quicker recovery time from injuries.
"About three months before I tried these shoes, I sprained my ankle pretty badly playing ultimate Frisbee. I couldn't get it to heal properly and kept twisting it (which is very common with this type of injury). I stretch and walked the foot as much as I could, but the joint was still fragile. Then I started wearing my Five Fingers. The thing that surprised me the most was how fast my ankle grew stronger and the puffiness of the joint (that people say would never go away) regained its original health. The healthy movement that these shoes encourage cut my recovery time and helped me regain my old flexibility." - Texas Hikes
Five Finger Shoes are not just for running, you can also use them for activities such as; kayaking, sailing, working out, and even hiking. I know what you are thinking; wouldn't these shoes get destroyed or be dangerous on a mountain or hiking through the Grand Canyon because they lack support? The answer is no. These shoes are very durable and the free design actually provides a lot of traction for downhill trails and climbing rocks. But, more important than durability is the smell factor. If they start to get smelly or dirty and you can't stand being within 10 ft of them without keeling over, just throw them in the washing machine! Although these shoes have many benefits, for some hiking trails it might be safer to stick with hiking boots because of things like snakes and poisonous plants. But if nature doesn't scare you, feel free to put on your Vibram Five Finger shoes next time you take a hike.
Now that you've heard what we have to say, take a minute to read some personal stories online about owners and their experiences with Five Finger Shoes (www.vibramfivefingers.com). So next time you see someone hiking in the Grand Canyon or Yosemite wearing these ridiculous shoes, you will know why they made the switch.
