If there’s a shoe that’s really won us over this year, it’s Vibram Five Fingers and there’s never been a better time to go barefoot than with out 25% reductions across the range!
The barefoot running shoes which fit like gloves for your feet while letting you feel everything underfoot have soared in popularity this year. Not just with us, but with our customers too!
While there are many other brands jumping aboard the barefoot bandwagon, Vibram Five Fingers are at present the undisputed kings of barefoot technology.
Their minimalist shoes provide a thin, low profile sole which allows you to run the way Mother Nature intended while letting you feel all the detail in the terrain underfoot, but without the pain of sharp stones.
If you’ve never tried barefoot shoes for yourself, we highly recommend Vibram Five Fingers for walking about the house, going to the beach or barefoot running.
Barefoot walking and running is great for your posture, an excellent form of exercise and a lot of fun!
We were surprised just how liberating being able to walk and run in your bare feet really is. Start running across the fields in summertime with a pair of Vibram Five Fingers and you’ll be smiling like a child. The sensation really is that liberating!
Get your Vibram Five Fingers at 25% Discount whiles stocks last from FitnessFootwear.com
Popularity: unranked [?]
It’s taken a while for many brands to hop aboard the barefoot running bandwagon, but the release date of New Balance Minimus, Merrell Barefoot and Inov-8 Evoskin is getting ever closer, while Vibram Five Fingers are currently the must have athletic footwear for barefoot runners everywhere.
This week New Balance has leaked a few more images of their New Balance Minimus barefoot running shoes range, as well as a very in depth interview about their creation.
But the long and short of the interview is that a renowned barefoot runner in the US took a knife to a pair of New Balace trainers he was given and stripped the shoe down to the bare essentials, which them formed the based for New Balance Minius barefoot running shoes.
Much to our surprise the Minimus has a lot in commom with Vibram Five Fingers with regards to the sole unit (which is also made by Vibram) in the way it wraps around the foot. The upper and rear straps also help to lock the heel and foot arch in place to minimise movement. Meanwhile the lightweight honeycomb mesh pattern for lightweight performance and breathability is reminiscent of Vivo Barefoot running shoes. Finish it off with some laces, New Balance branding and you’ve got a great looking barefoot running shoe!
Will the New Balance Minimus come with the token New Balance ‘knobbly’ laces that never come untied while your running? We hope so.
Stay tuned for more info about New Balance Minimus and barefoot running shoes as it breaks at FitnessFootwear.com
Popularity: unranked [?]
Last week, Transformers star, Josh Duhamel and wife, Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie were spotted running together in Brentwood park.
While the Mail’s story is mostly about the couple, an aside mentions Vibram Five Fingers and their growing popularity as the latest ‘it’ in athletic wear.
“The shoes, which cost between $75-125 have a strange appearance, making the wearer look as if they have gecko-like feet. But they are said to be hugely beneficial for both posture and back strain as they allow the wearer to walk without a heel. The shoes also condition toe-spread, especially the big toe, for lateral stability.”
The reason for Josh wearing Vibram Five Fingers is in order to strengthen his calf muscles.
The actor ruptured his left achilles six years ago and the muscle never fully grew back, leaving it half the size of the other.
Here you can see him wearing a pair of the Vibram Five Fingers Classic in Grey and Orange, one of the more colourful VFF styles.
While Vibram FiveFingers have been around for years, the barefoot running has received enormous attention in the running community throughout 2010 and should continue to grow as more and more people embrace their barefoot over heel cushioned trainers.
We love our barefoot shoes here at FitnessFootwear.com whether we’re walking, running or simply enjoying the comfort of being barefoot without the pain of sharp stones or other objects beneath our feet.
Popularity: unranked [?]
We’re a little shoe crazy here at FitnessFootwear.com, but once in a while a shoe arrives that blows even our socks off. We’ve been reviewing the new 2011 Vibram Five Fingers range all week, but one of the new shoes really impressed us and set the standard high for any brand looking to make barefoot or minimalist footwear -and that’s the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport.
Instantly comfortable, effortless to slip on and pretty much everything you could ever wish for in a barefoot running shoe. But will barefoot purists approve of its cushioned insole? Read our in depth review of the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport and see for yourself.
Technical Specs
aggressive multisport design
stretch nylon upper
heel and instep hook-and-loop closure
stitch free, seamless 2mm PU footbed to reduce friction
EVA arch support
individual toe pockets seperate and strengthen toes
4mm vibram performance rubber outsole for grip and protection
Looks
When it comes to appearance the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport looks every bit the technical sports performance shoe that it is. Borrowing design elements from the KSO and Bikila before restyling them into something sleeker and far more aggressive, these Five Fingers are covered in eye catching details. The Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport comes in a choice of black/bronze, black/grey and yellow/black colours for men (we liked the yellow/black the best). Meanwhile for women, there’s a choice of black/bronze and blue/yellow. The blue/yellow looks surprisingly good too. After all, if you’re going to wear unusual shoes, you may as well be bold about it!
Fit
Effortlessly easy to slip on just like the Bikila, your feet slide straight into the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport and your toes easily find the right place while providing plenty of room to wiggle, and without slipping out.
Pull the heel and instep straps to whatever tightness you prefer, stick then in place with the Velcro underside and you’re good to go.
The Komodo Sport fits very comfortably around the heel and ankle. Once again, by raising the cuff, the newer range fo Vibrams don’t pull on the toes and instead forms a strong, secure and snug hold around the ankle.
Feel
Even though there’s soft footbed and extra cushioning and grip across the full length of the foot, there’s still a lot of feeling in your feet. Walking or running, you still get a fully detailed feel, especially in the toes which have a lot of freedom to wiggle. The great thing about the Komodo Sport is all the extra cushioning. You could walk, but not run, in these heel striking all the way and it wouldn’t bother you. While that goes against the whole point of barefoot shoes, it’s a lot more forgiving when you do forget your gait and smash your heel into the tarmac. As Vibram’s Five Fingers line develops, it seems to be more about providing protection and support for your barefoot training rather than punishing you for getting it wrong.
One thing that’s really interesting is the sole, because there’s a huge chunk missing from the inside of the midfoot. Instead is a peice of tough, connective rubber, presumably to hold the shoe together and provide a bit of protection from whatever’s on the ground. But this part of the shoe is never used by your foot to make contact with the ground. That makes quite a big saving on weight, which explains how the Komodo Sport is so lightweight despire all the extra material, padding and straps.
Although there’s plenty of breathability, they are quite warm. This won’t bother you when you’re running about, playing basket ball or whatever, but for casual wear it’s quite noticeable. However, the irresistably cosy fit more than makes up for this. Plus you can comfortably wear them during the colder times of the year without a care.
What We’d Use Them For
We have to agree with Vibram that their Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport is designed for running and fitness, but its perfectly suited to all kinds of sports as well as casual wear. Something this comfortable shouldn’t be worn just for sports. If it wasn’t for the footbed, then you could wear these watersports just like regular KSOs.
Blended together from the KSO and Bikila, the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport is the perfect shoe for the core barefoot demographic. It’s great for running, walking and sports in general while being comfortable, supportive and stylish.
Will there be a backlash from barefoot purists over the soft footbed? Some won’t like it, but others will appreciate that your feet won’t need to ache quite so much from going ‘minimalist’ with their footwear.
Final Thoughts
You certainly get what you pay for with the Komodo Sport, even if you do pay a lot for it. We expect this to become the mostly highly sought after Vibram Five Finger shoe simply because it’s got everything. You can do virtually anything in it and go anywhere.
It’s a huge leap forward from the original Vibram Five Fingers Classic, combining the features of the two best selling ‘advanced’ Vibram Five Finger styles, taking the comfort, fit and protection of the KSO and combining it with a sole a toe fit that’s similar to the Bikilas.
Like with the rest of the new 2011 Five Fingers range, Vibram has paid attention to the heel area, providing more cushioning for any barefoot gait slip ups as well as more padding around the heel area of the foot itself for a more comfortable fit.
If you’re trying barefoot for the first time and you’ve got money to burn, get yourself a pair of these. They may be very technical, but they’re still perfect for an entry level barefooter. But we can safely assume that most will progress up to them from the standard Vibram Five Fingers Classic.
So, to round up: Unless you’re going off road in serious mud and filth or doing water sports (in which case you’d want the Treksport or KSO), the Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport is the best Five Finger shoe for running, walking, sports, comfort, fit and style. That’s right, THE BEST.
The Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport will be avaialble to buy from our Vibram Five Fingers UK store in Spring/Summer 2011.
5/5 – The creme de la creme of Vibram Five Fingers. Instantly comfortable, great looking and highly versatile for a wide range of sports and everyday casual wear. The perfect barefoot shoe for the barefoot demographic.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Vibram Five Fingers reviews. Stay tuned for more product reviews, previews and the latest sports and outdoors news right here at the Fitness Footwear Blog.
Popularity: unranked [?]
This time Vibram has taken their Five Fingers in a new direction, away from running barefoot outdoors and taking barefoot into the gym. The Vibram Five Fingers Jaya range is designed purely for exercise and fitness while offering the training benefits of going barefoot.
Essentially, they’ve taken the original Vibram Five Fingers Classic, restyled it, cut the cuff a little higher for a more comfortable fit, improved the padding around the heel and developed a brand new sole unit for extra stability, grip and support. Then they made it look really pretty while being able stand up to high reps and gruelling intervals.
Technical Specs
stretch nylon upper for secure and comfortable fit
padded collar for added comfort
5.5mm EVA sole provides protection and ground feel
vibram tc1 poerformance rubber pads provide grip and durability
individual toe pockets seperate and strengtehn toes
Looks
The Jaya looks like a sleeker version of the Vibram Five Fingers Classic and looks fantastic in white, grey and pink. The black isn’t bad either. Meanwhile the Jaya LR is more subtley styled in tan, grey/white and grey/black with leek leather overlays that make them look less like a barefoot and more like a technical gym shoe.
Fit
Both fit just like the Vibram Five Fingers Classic while offering additonal padding around the heel for a softer, more secure fit. This makes them very easy to slip on and off and get a great fit straight out of the box.
Like the Treksport, the toes are kept quite close together, which tends to be more comfortable for women too. Most importantly, the cuff has been raised further up the foot than the Classics, so the shoe fits snugly without pulling on the toes.
Feel
Just like the Treksport, Vibram has sacrified flexibility in the toes to offer greater support and cushioning. There’s also a lot more cushioning in the heel, which makes them ideal for walking on hard, flat surfaces and improves balance and control for agility and power exercises.
When it comes to casual use, the Vibram Five Fingers Jaya and Jaya LR both fit very comfortably, although the individual toe pockets can be felt when walking, as can the extra padding under the forefoot, but this initial feeling quickly passes and they become very comfortable quite quickly. Otherwise, they feel very soft, lightweight and snug fitting.
What We’d Use Them For
Vibram has designed the ladies Jaya for fitness, after sport and travel. Meanwhile, we’d recommend them for gym based activities and casual wear. They’re great for things like Crossfit where you’re required to lift a variety of weights and run through obstacle courses, because these both test your stability and core strength. So by giving you a more secure and supported footing, Vibram Five Fingers Jaya would be excellent.
The Jaya and Jaya LR both look great and provide a little more stability and cushioning when walking, especially on the heel. However, these are certainly not for running in due to their limited forefoot flex and forefoot and toe padding which are designed purely for stability.
Final Thoughts
Because the Jaya and Jaya LR are quite similar to the Classics, we’d recommend them for women who are looking to try barefoot walking for the first time. The superior fit, styling and built up sole makes them very comfortable and the closer toe spacing makes them perfect for most ladies feet.
Whether you take them to the gym, out walking or choose to wear them casually is then up to you. But they’re comfortable, pretty and very supportive.
So for a few pounds more, you’re getting an improvement on the standard Vibram Five Fingers Classic: More underfoor support, a better fit, more padding around the heel and a choice of pretty styles in some more attractive colours. For many ladies these could become the new entry level Vibram Five Fingers.
The Vibram Five Fingers Jaya will be avaialble to buy from our Vibram Five Fingers UK store in Spring/Summer 2011.
4/5 – An improved ladies only model of the Vibram Five Fingers Classic with added comfort, support and fit, but sadly the Jaya and Jaya LR are not suitable for running.
Finally, we round off the week with a review of the new Vibram Five Fingers Komdo Sport. Believe us when we say “We saved the best til last!”
Popularity: unranked [?]
The original Vibram Five Fingers Bikila was named after in honour of Abebe Bikila, who won the 1960 Olympic marathon while running barefoot. Ever since its release barefoot runners everywhere have tried to get their feet in a pair, but in 2011 the Vibram Five Fingers Bikila is back as the new Vibram Five Fingers Bikila LS.
What does LS stand for? Lacing System we assume, because that’s the main feature. The Vibram Five Fingers Bikila LS comes in grey and grey/black styles with a simple pull cord lacing system for fast fitting while accomodating the wider foot or higher instep.
Technical Specs
closed speed lace system (LS) for wide feet and high insteps
Dri-Lex 2mm polyurethane insole
4mm anatomical pod outsole
superior plating protection against stone bruises
coconut active carbon fabric for natural breathability
abrasion resistant PU toe protection
Looks
You may be surprised to learn the that new Bikila LS looks quite different to the orignla Bikila. The reflective dots are in a different pattern, the colour scheme is completely different and the upper is completelty unique. But the sole remains the same.
Fit
When you slip your feet in, it’s all nice and soft inside, plenty of movement and lots of padding around the heel. Pull the drawcord tight and the whole thing hugs in around your foot while the nubuck leather upper forms a secure hold.
However, if you don’t have wide feet or a particularly high arch, then these aren’t going to work for you. It’s a real shame when the draw cord lacing works so well and fits so comfortably. But if you don’t have big feet your toes will be forced quite wide apart with too much room to wiggle and may slip out. Also if your foot arch isn’t high enough the bottom of the lacing system will dig in to your metatarsals.
We did try going down a size, but then the shoe was uncomfortably tight around the heel and ankle.
Feel
Although there are extra treads and a little more heel cushioning, the Bikila LS feels like the original Vibram Five Fingers Classic under foot.
There’s a lot of detailed feeling, which is great for controlling your feet and making sure you don’t heel strike. Many of the newer Vibram Five Finger models offer quite a bit of heel cushioning, which doesn’t really encourage you to run with the proper barefoot gait. But this provides just that little bit of extra protection as well as some additional plating against stone bruising.
What We’d Use The For
Vibram recommend that these should be used for running. But when you consider that they feel like a small step up from the Classics, they’re not bad for general sports and fitness either. However, their main focus is going to be generating forward propulsion for long distance running.
The speed lace system offers such a secure fit that it’s a shame these are only suitable for people with wide feet and/or high insteps, because they really are great for running in.
Final Thoughts
So if you have wide feet, a high instep and a desire for barefoot running and little else, then these are for you.
Barefoot running is a growing, but still, quite a small niche, so for Vibram to make a product that’s even more niche is quite surprising.
So it’s back to the standard Bikila for the majority of us, while those with wide feet can enjoy the new Bikila LS and its quick, easy and incredibly comfortable speed lace system.
3/5 – A fantastic redesign of a very comfortable, high performance Vibram Five Finger from last year -that’s not suitable for the majority of people. Still, if you’ve got wide and/or high arch feet you’ll be in heaven!
Visit us tomorrow when we review the new ladies Vibram Five Fingers Jaya and Jaya LR shoes!
Popularity: unranked [?]
Ever tried running in Vibram Five Fingers Classics off road or in the wet? It’s difficult, because they don’t have the grippiest soles; they’re designed for running on roads and other fairly flat, dry surfaces. But not the Vibram Five Fingers Treksport!
Based on last year’s KSO Trek, then Treksport features the same high traction sole unit, but with a lightweight and sporty new style that’s incredibly comfortable while providing all the support, grip and control of the Trek.
Technical Specs
coconut active carbon upper offers natural breathability and brasion resistance
4mm EVA midsole for plating protection from stone bruising
individual toe pockets seperate and stengthen toes
lightly cleated 4mm vibram outsole for added traction on a variety of surfaces
Looks
Great looking Vibrams available in orange/black, red/black and black for the men while the womens colours include a fantastic pink/blaCK, blue/grey and black. The pink is particularly stunning!
Fit
Because the Vibram Five Fingers Treksport fits around the ankle like a regular shoe, they’re far more comfortable and don’t pull on the toes. However, this make it harder to get your foot into the shoe and your toes into the ends while the Classics are relatively easy to slip on. But once you’re feet are in, the Treksport is very snug and supportive with a soft inner lining and padding around the heel while two straps running around the back of the foot and over the arch lock your heel in place very comfortably.
The only debate was when it came to the toes. Unlike other Vibram Five Fingers, the toes are a little closter together to offer better offroad and cross country support.
For the men, this was uncomfortable at first due to the restricting toe movement. You simple can’t wiggle your toes in these. However, after extended wear, this wasn’t an issue.
For the women, who typically wear shoes that push their toes together, this was very comfortable compared to the Vibram Five Fingers Classics which spread your toes apart.
Feel
If you’re progressing up from a pair of Classics, then the sole unit is going to come as a shock -especially if you’re not off road on soft ground. While the upper is extremely soft, light and breathable, the sole feels quite heavy by comparison, but that’s because it’s fairly chunky. It’s also very firm under the forefoot and where your toes flex.
But once you get off road and onto the mud, grass and the great outdoors, the shoe totally transforms!
There’s so much grip that there’s no danger of slipping on the wettest earth and you can just power along, across the fields. The sole is fairly built up in order to offer support, balance and traction. However, it doesn’t really encourage the proper barefoot gait when the heel is so well cushioned. But some may prefer a shoe that doesn’t punish you for the occassional heelstrike.
The toes are incredibly grippy, but the great thing is that you can’t feel it. You just get this great sense of traction propelling you forward.
What We’d Use Them For
Great for serious mud and filth! We’d recommend Vibram Five Fingers Treksport shoes for someone looking to take their barefoot running off the road and into the great outdoors. We probably won’t see anyone seriously trail running in a pair of Treksport, but they’re seriously good fun.
Vibram says that the Treksport is suitable for light trekking, climbing, bouldering, running, fitness and travelling. We feel that these would be great for all manner of sports and outdoor pursuits, but where they’ll really excel is off the beaten track. So if you’re looking for a more general purpose sports model for urban environments, there are other Vibrams that do it much better, like the Komodo Sport. The Treksport is definitely suited to the great outdoors.
However, we would recommend these to women who prefer having their toes closer together, especially when the pink and black Treksport looks so fantastic.
Final Thoughts
If you live out in the country or are a real outdoors type, then these are for you. They’re perfect for all kinds of rugged rural terrains while also being suitable for general running and more urban pursuits.
Even so, there’s a big leap from the Vibram Five Fingers Classic to the Vibram Five Fingers Treksport. The Treksport is a highly engineered shoe, so it’s likely to be worn by someone who has already experienced Vibram Five Fingers -especially when it comes to getting your toes in.
That said, there’s nothing stopping a barefoot newcomer from trying on a pair and exploring the great outdoors in something more natural than a traditional brown leather hiking boot.
Vibram’s new direction with their Five Fingers range seems to be enhancing the human foot in completely new ways while proving that the toes are an incredibly important part of traction and forward propulsion.
The Vibram Five Fingers Treksport will be avaialble to buy from our Vibram Five Fingers UK store in Spring/Summer 2011.
4/5 – Great for going off road and conquering the countryside. Okay on the roads and very comfortable. However, some may have issues with the toe spacing.
See you tomorrow when we review the new Vibram Five Fingers Bilika LS running shoe!
Popularity: unranked [?]
We review the new Vibram Five Fingers 2011 range. Stay tuned for a Vibram Five Fingers review every week day!
Barefoot running has really taken off this year thanks to the book Born To Run, but in the world of footwear Merrell and New Balance have joined Vibram in offering runners a wide range of minimalist running shoes. While Vibram may be manufacturing soles for Merrell Barefoot, New Balance Minimus and their own Vibram Five Fingers, Vibram is determined to remain top dog in the barefoot footwear market -and their 2011 Vibram Five Fingers range proves it!
While Vibram released a number of innovative new styles in 2010, next year sees Vibram return to their original Vibram Five Fingers Classic design and develop the barefoot shoe in amazing new ways, taking the concept of barefoot shoes in a totally new direction.
We’ve spent the past few hours trying on and testing the latest styles and already have a love for the colourful Komodo Sport, the sleek ladies Jaya LR and the rugged Treksport with its extreme tread.
Starting Monday next week we’re going to review each of the up and coming Vibram Five Fingers 2011 styles. So check back every day to see what we’ve been trying on, testing and putting through its paces.
In the meantime, check out the full range of Vibram Five Fingers colours and styles coming in 2011.
New Mens Vibram Five Fingers for 2011
The three new styles for men are the Komodo, Bikila LS and Treksport. All three feature radically different sole units and take the barefoot nature of Vibram Five Fingers in three totally different directions. The Komodo has a versatile multi-sport sole with added cushioning in key areas with enhanced grip. The Bikila LS is wider fitting for a wider foot while featuring a sole that’s very close to the Classic, but with added treads for road running. Finally the Treksport fits much like the Komodo, but with tougher support for the toes that keeps them together while a built up sole that’s covered in various tread types offers grip and support for walking not just off road, but through the countryside.
2011 Mens Vibram Five Fingers Range
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport Black, Gold, Dark Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport Black, Silver, Dark Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport Yellow, Silver, Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Bikila LS Cool grey, Kelly Green, Black
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Bikila LS Black, Cool Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Bikila Light Grey, Red, Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Bikila Royal Blue, Grey
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Mandarine, Orange, Black
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Coconut, Red, Black
Mens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Coconut, Black, Charcoal
New Womens Vibram Five Fingers for 2011
The Treksport and Komod also comes in alternative colours for women, as well as three unique styles designed just for women: The Jaya and Jaya LR which feature extra cushioning and grip under the foot pads and toes as well as a comfortable stretch fit. Meanwhile the Performa is a leather Vibram Five Fingers moc designed for gym classes.
2011 Womens Vibram Five Fingers Range
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport Blue, Yellow, Grey
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Komodo Sport Black, Gold, Grey
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya White, Grey, Purple
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya Black, Silver
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya White, Firey Red, Blue
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya LR Frosted, Almond
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya LR White, Monument Grey
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Jaya LR Black, Cool Grey
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Performa Black, Black
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Performa Violet, Black
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Process Blue, Light Grey, Medium Grey
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Light Pink, Dark Pink, Black
Womens Vibram Five Fingers Treksport Coconut, Black, Charcoal
Can’t wait to slip your feet into a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, need more information, have a lot of questions or want to check out the current range? Then visit our Vibram Five Fingers page here: http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/c-204-vibram-five-fingers.aspx
Visit us on Monday to read the first of our new Vibram Five Fingers reviews, starting with the Treksport, followed by a new review every week day!
Popularity: unranked [?]
New Balance Minimus barefoot running shoes are coming soon. New Balance Minimus preview snaps and how Vibram are monopolising the barefoot market before it starts.
Once upon a time there was a barefoot running shoe called Vibram Five Fingers. Then Christopher McDougall penned Born To Run, a book about a tribe of Mexican Indians who are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world and almost overnight the barefoot running craze began.
Vibram Five Fingers sold like hotcakes, Inov-8 developed the Inov-8 Evoskin, Merrell teamed up with Vibram to create Merrell Barefoot and now New Balance has teamed up with Vibram to produce the New Balance Minimus!
In a very lengthy interview, Katherine Petrecca from New Balance has revealed that NB Minimus is a minimalist barefoot shoes range that will cover road running, trail running, and wellness shoes. The wellness shoes will be designed for people seeking a more natural stance throughout the day, even when they’re not exercising.
She went on to talk about barefoot running in general in a lot of detail, which we won’t repeat here. But the main message is that minimalist shoes are to encourage better running form while helping to strengthen the legs and feet.
She also said that a great minimal shoe should deliver increased ground feel and control, which is what makes them so much fun to use. At FitnessFootwear.com we’re constantly running or walking in Vibram Five Fingers, so we can certainly relate to the fun side of going barefoot.
New Balance Minimus will launch officially in March of 2011
The NB Minimus collection is built on New Balance’s past experience with their MT100, WT100 and the upcoming New Balance 101 minimalist shoes. Although we’re sure that the addition of Vibram sole technology is playing a pivotal part in the development of Minimus footwear.
As you can see from the New Balance Minimus preview photos, there’s a breathable mesh material and a Vibram barefoot style sole as well as straps which wrap around the forefoot and heel, plus some laces. So we can expect to see a lightweight mesh trainer with a minimal sole.
What’s really interesting is that Vibram are now making ‘barefoot soles’ for both Merrell and New Balance. For anyone who thought that Vibram’s dominance over the barefoot market with their Five Fingers could be quashed by a big sports or outdoor brand will be sorely mistaken. In fact, by producing the soles for their competitors, Vibram have their fingers in a lot of pies and will dominate the market regardless of who comes out on top. However, Vibram seems to be keeping their ‘Five Fingers’ main anatomical feature to themselves.
Stay tuned for more news on the New Balace Minimus and any further developments in the world of barefoot running shoes!
Popularity: unranked [?]