What Is A Barefoot Running Shoe?

If you are a runner, you might be wondering what is a barefoot running shoe? Barefoot running shoes were named one of the best inventions of 2007. Barefoot running shoes sound counterintuitive, but they are increasingly tauted as the best running shoe. The research is conflicted about the benefits and consequences of barefoot running shoes. There are many manufacturers of barefoot shoes, such as the Nike Free and the Vibram Five Fingers. Each manufacturer offers something that looks slightly different, but the overall design is similar.

Barefoot running shoes are intended to promote "natural" running. Barefoot running shoes protect the skin of your feet, but they don't support your foot like most modern running shoes. Barefoot running shoes apparently strengthen your feet so they can naturally give you shock absorption and cushioning that runners usually seek in a supportive running shoe. Eventually, runners who wear barefoot running shoes will improve their balance and overall running form.

Proponents of barefoot running shoes say that the human foot runs best when it is free. Some scientists say that the human foot needs support in order to run without sustaining an injury. It is generally agreed upon that no one should go out and run a marathon the first time they slip on a pair of barefoot running shoes. Runners should start slowly to strengthen their feet. Obese people and people who are predisposed to running injuries might benefit by using conventional running shoes.

Depending on the brand of barefoot running shoes you buy, you will end up with something that looks like a racing flat. Even more minimalist, you will find something that looks like toe socks. The Vibram Five Fingers are made from polyurethane and have individual spaces for each toe. The different Five  Fingers models come with or without a mid-arch strap and different levels of sole cushion. The Nike Free laces up like a racing flat, but is designed without support. The Nike Free provides a range of options for support, some of which are designed to help you transition to barefoot running.