Vibrams Fivefingers - Blessing or Curse (Answer: Both)
Vibrams Fivefingers - Blessing or Curse (Answer: Both)
You've seen em - Vibrams Fivefingers are everywhere at this point (well, anywhere you find a lot of barefoot runners and health nuts anyway). The distinctive look of the Vibrams Fivefingers makes it an un-missable shoe in pretty much any environment (If you haven't seen them, they have "fingers" for your toes, kinda like toe socks.)
Some people love them for the style, others love them for the fit - but one of the biggest reasons people are switching to Vibrams Fivefingers is for the health benefits. But can a shoe really improve your physical well being?
Short answer - no. But exercise in the right footwear and that's a different story.
Here are the three major heath benefits from running or jogging in Vibrams Fivefingers:
Vibrams Fivefingers Benefit #1) Injury prevention.
The "barefoot" style of running that they foster is great for your joints, and even better for your running form and posture. Traditional running shoes feature heel cups and ankle support to prevent pronation - but our feet weren't designed for the "heel-to-toe" style of running that running shoes promote. All the repetitive impact from landing on your heels can cause many different joint and posture problems that the more natural "mid-foot-strike" fostered by Vibrams Fivefingers helps alleviate.
Of course, if you don't practice good barefoot running form, then Vibrams Fivefingers aren't going to do you much good (aside from helping you look a little goofier than you already do :-)
Vibrams Fivefingers Benefit #2) Minimalist protection.
Along the same lines, the over-protectiveness of traditional running shoes has a strange effect on our feet - over time they get weaker, and become prone to depend on the support those shoes offer. That's one reason why you see so many twisted and sprained ankles. Historically, footwear was just designed to protect the feet from the elements. Keep 'em dry, keep 'em warm, and keep 'em intact.
That meant - without all the support and cupping and padding, that our muscles and tendons in our feet actually had to work a little harder, and could protect us from injury naturally. Vibrams Fivefingers are a more natural kind of footwear because they don't offer much in the way of support or padding - just a little flexible rubber between your feet and the road.
Vibrams Fivefingers Benefit #3) Uniqueness.
Love them or hate them, they're unique. I've had a pair for almost two years now and when I wear them out in public - without fail - I get random strangers stopping me to find out where they can get a pair. If you like having your feet become the center of attention, then this is an obvious benefit...
Of course, if you'd rather die than walk around in "toed shoes" then Vibrams Fivefingers are probably not the minimalist shoe for you - you should look into dance shoes, wrestling shoes, or the Nike Free.
Now, For the Two reasons that Vibrams Fivefingers can be a curse:
Vibrams Fivefingers Drawback #1) You don't wear socks with Vibrams Fivefingers, so after one or two days of running, they tend to reek. It's not a huge deal, you can just wash 'em (I like to give them an extra soak and some extra detergent) and they'll come out smelling like roses.
It really stinks (pun intended) when you FORGET to wash them after a long run, and end up around friends with stench-soaked feet wafting aromas of sweat and cheese all over the room. Definitely remember to wash them.
Vibrams Fivefingers Drawback #2) The transition to Vibrams Fivefingers takes some time.
I've met a couple people who said they tried the Vibrams Fivefingers, but returned them because they felt uncomfortable. Bummer for them. The discomfort you feel when you switch to Vibrams Fivefingers is temporary - and it's just your feet using muscles it didn't have to before. In fact, you'll find that your feet actually transform a little and get a little wider, a little flatter, and a lot stronger and tougher.
Be prepared for two weeks or so of slight discomfort (and don't wear them all day long at first, just follow their directions).
You can really get a lot of incredible benefits from Vibrams Fivefingers, but to really push your results into overdrive, I recommend grabbing your free barefoot running survival kit -
It's going to show you what to do to avoid injury, train like an animal, and get the most out of your Vibrams FiveFingers.
http://www.VibramFiveFingersSecrets.com
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