The exact details of the new Merrell Barefoot range are still a secret, but from what we can tell, they’re lightweight running shoes fitting with a barefoot style sole.
Last week we reviewed the Inov8 Evoksin and since then many of the staff at FitnessFootwear.com bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers to try the barefoot sensation for themselves. But it’s evident that ‘going barefoot’ is really taking off in the world of adventure sports.
Barefoot Running History
In 1960 Abebe Bikila was a late addition to the Ethiopian Olympic Marathon team. Minutes before the race he threw away his shoes. He didn’t like the fit, so he raced barefoot, the way he had trained. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, he was Olympic champion and the first hero of barefoot running!
Recently Christopher McDougall has released a book called “Born to Run”, which is about a Tarahumara tribe in the remote mountains of Mexico and how running barefoot forms the basis of their lifestyle.
There have been many champions of barefoot running over the years, but it’s only now that the benefits of going barefoot are becoming clear.
The only downside of course is that many of us in the Western world haven’t been walking or running barefoot all our lives, so the soles of our feet are very soft and susceptable to damage. That’s where barefoot shoes come in!
Merrell & Vibram
Merrell has announced a new partnership with Vibram (who make most of their soles) to create an exclusive range of barefoot shoes for outdoor pursuits.
“Basically, we’re putting together a collection of minimalist, lightweight, versatile and efficient footwear that will be available in February 2011; an entire category of barefoot shoes that lets your feet lead you into your outdoor passion of choice.” says Merrell US in their blog.
So, you get a Merrell shoe with a minimalist sole that’s shaped to the foot for completely natural movement. This is designed to encourage you to use your forefoot for running rather than your heel. This not only works the foot and calf muscles more, but also reduces the impact on your joints. Heelstriking when you run has a really high impact. This is why they put so much cushioning into the heels of running shoes. Also, because your leg is straight, there’s not a lot of flexibility or natural shock absorption through the body.
However, when you’re running on your mid to forefoot, your legs are more bent and there’s a natural springiness and flexibility which makes the impact on your feet and the rest of your joints much softer.
It’s a far more efficient form of running (and walking) that takes the impact off your joints while strengthening key muscles in your legs and core.
Plus you can enjoy all the comfort of walking barefoot while still being able to walk into restuarants and the like because Merrell Barefoot shoes look just like regular trainers.
On the men’s side, we’ve got the Merrell Trail Glove, Merrell True Glove and Merrell Tough Glove, which are all super lightweight shoes that can take you from the trail to walking around town.
On the ladies side, we have the Merrell Pace Glove, Merrell Power Glove and Merrell Pure Glove, which all follow Merrell’s belief of Performance Made Beautiful. Because Merrell shoes aren’t just incredibly comfortable and built for the outdoors -they always look fantastic too!
At FitnessFootwear.com we’ve been wearing and selling Merrell shoes for longer than we can remember. And as the UK’s #1 online Merrell retailer, we’re really excited by this latest development. We’ve tried Inov8 Evoksins and Vibram Five Fingers, so let’s see what Merrell Barefoot has in store!
Hopefully we’ll get a pair of the new Merrell Barefoot shoes to review before their official release in February 2011. Judging by the name and Merrell’s reputation for comfort, they should fit like a glove!
Popularity: unranked [?]
This week Inov8 has revealed their exciting Spring Summer 2011 catalogue, complete with many classic Inov8 trail running shoes and brand new Inov8 shoes to bring you closer to barefoot running.
If you are want to take the path less trodden and enjoy the benefits of barefoot running, Inov8 are the brand of choice. The British off-road footwear specialist is a world leader in technical running gear, producing some of the lightest off-road shoes available. Inov8 shoes help to change the walking gait from a heavy heel strike to a flatter landing, shifting the weight to the forefoot. Already world leaders in off-road barefoot style footwear, they are not content to rest on their laurels and the spring/summer collection for 2011 offers some truly remarkable new barefoot shoes to their already extensive range.
The Inov8 Bare Grip 200 promises to be one of the most attractive and revolutionary shoes ever produced, providing minimalist footwear specifically geared to off road running. Featuring an aggressive tread, they are perfect for dealing with mud, boggy grass and the most arduous conditions the fell and trail runner is likely to come across. A sticky rubber outsole makes light work of boggy conditions with a performance fit to keep the shoes tight on the feet when tackling tricky contours and challenging gradients. The shoes offer a barefoot running experience by removing the midsole to give impressive ground feedback, with no cushioning and zero differential.
Whilst Inov8 are best known for their off-road shoes, 2011 will see them coming off the trail and onto the road. The new Road X series has been developed to offer shod runners an easy transition to barefoot running, with a range designed to offer an easy transition from standard trainers to pure barefoot running. The Road X series starts with the Road X 222, which gives a little cushioning and differential to serve as an introductory shoe to barefoot running, through to the Road X 238 which offers virtually none.
As barefoot running specialists, Inov8 appreciate that it can take the body a while to adapt to a more natural way of running, with the transition from shod to barefoot best undertaken in stages to allow more conditioning to take place. The Road X provides two intermediate models in the Road X 233 and Road X 255 to ease the transition. The number allocated to each model gives the level of cushioning provided. The higher the number, the closer you are to pure barefoot running.
Taking their barefoot running shoes to the max, the all new Inov8 Evoskin range offers little more than a protective rubber glove for the feet to retain 100% of the benefits of being barefoot. The silicon rubber shoes act like a second skin, offering protection and grip without any cushioning. The shoes offer surprising grip, excellent comfort, and whilst silicon rubber is not the most breathable of materials to use on your feet, the shoes are supremely comfortable, and you won’t find any footwear which is more lightweight or flexible.
Whilst Inov8 offer these great new models, their existing range has also seen further development with the Recolite, Terroc and F-Lite series each being boosted with new additions to the range.
The Inov8 Recolite has two new colours due for release in the spring, with light grey & grape and azure & light grey boosting the already popular line of hybrid shoes. The Inov8 Terroc 308 walking and trail running shoe is one of the fastest and lightest on the market also gets the light grey and grape treatment.
The hugely popular F-Lite hard packed trail and urban running shoe has been subjected to even further weight reduction with the Inov8 F Lite 195 taking the weight down even further to 195g making it one of the lightest shoes in their entire collection.
All of the new styles are due for release in the Spring next year, so you will have to wait a while to try out these great new styles, however if you can’t wait to get your hands on a pair of Inov8’s take a look at this year’s models at Fitness Footwear: http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/c-116-inov-8.aspx
Popularity: unranked [?]
Last week Inov8 came to see us with a preview of the new Inov8 Evoskin in blue and grey. Although Evoskins aren’t available until Spring/Summer 2011, they’re already causing a stir in the barefoot running community as a rival to Vibram Five Fingers which have enjoyed exclusive coverage of the barefoot shoe market for many years.
So having tried Inov8 Evoskin shoes for ourselves, what did we think? Read our Inov8 Evoskin review to find out:
Inov8 Evoskins Review
Having been presented with a pair of Inov8 Evoskin shoes, I was pleased to find that they slipped on very easily. My toes slid into the holes and I could comfortably wiggle them once they were in. If anything the silicon material moulded around my foot, forming a very snug fit. The foot straps are removable as well, but I chose to keep mine on.
Walking around the warehouse and running up the stairs felt incredibly natural. I’d never attempt this in bare feet due to the sharp metal gratings and splinters in the wooden floor boards. But in the Evoskins my feet were perfectly safe. But, I could still feel that there was metal or wood beneath my feet. The Inov8 Evoskins were also suprisingly grippy.
When I took them off to examine the soles, the silicon material hadn’t sustained a single mark. So not only are they comfy, light and snug fitting, they’re tough too while offering detailed feeling underfoot.
As an independant retailer, FitnessFootwear.com shouldn’t openly compare Inov8 Evoskin to Vibram Five Fingers -but we will!
For me, the Evoskins really did fit like a glove and didn’t restrict the movement of my toes. There was a tighter feeling, but I could comfortably wiggle my piggies. Plus, the silicon material really hugged my foot all round for a very natural fit.
Vibram Five Fingers look cool. There’s no question about that. However, the Evoskins fit better and you also get a better feeling underfoot. They’re also very easy to clean by simply rinsing them under a tap. And they fold up very easily to fit into small pockets!
Both shoes provide the same level of protection and grip. Although I’d put my money on the Vibram sole for stepping on seriously sharp objects.
I’m confident that both will be popular for different reasons. Evokskin has a better fit and feel while Five Fingers have that ‘cool factor’ and thicker pad protection.
Inov8 Evoskin also retails for £45 while Vibram Five Fingers retail from £90 and upwards.
For more info on the new Inov8 Evoskin range, check out: http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/c-418-inov8-evoskin.aspx
Popularity: unranked [?]
Barefoot running is becoming increasingly popular within the running community for the benefits which can be gained from a more natural movement and running gait. Running in standard training shoes offers a great deal of cushioning, however the running gait is altered significantly and the shoes promote a heavier heel strike. In addition to slowing down the runner, the heel strike in shod runners is far more likely to cause injuries such as stress fractures. Recent studies have demonstrated that running efficiency is increased by 4% when running barefoot, and barefoot runners stretch the muscles, ligaments and tendons much more than shod runners. By using the feet as nature intended, strength, flexibility and balance are all greatly improved.
Changing to barefoot running takes away the heavy heel strike and promotes a more flat footed landing, with the ball of the foot taking its fair share of the shockwaves. This allows the foot to function as it was designed to, with the plantar fascia and the foot arches allowed to work at maximum efficiently.
Of course as good as barefoot running is for the body, there are disadvantages to being unshod. Whilst the human foot is a marvel of evolutionary design, it is not best equipped to deal with concrete, tarmac, gravel and the kind of debris which adorns pavements up and down the country. Tarmac can get pretty hot in summer too and being barefoot in winter is just no fun at all.
Fortunately it is now possible to combine the benefits of being barefoot with the grip and the protection from wearing shoes. barefoot running shoes offer little to nothing in the way of cushioning; however they do give insulation for the winter and much needed grip and protection courtesy of a super thin protective rubber sole.
For those looking to just gain grip and protection from temperature whilst retaining the full benefits of barefoot running, then there is no better barefoot shoe than Vibram five fingers. Vibram Rubber is legendary for its expert grip and is used by many performance brands on the outsoles of their shoes. Vibram have taken their rubber as the basis for a shoe, and added a foot hugging upper to keep it firmly on your sole, offering just a few millimetres between you and the ground for perfect feel and all of the benefits of being barefoot. The shoes feature five separate lobes for the toes and they are so comfortable that you are likely to forget you have them on your feet! Available in models specific for running they offer the barefoot runner the best protection whilst retaining all of the important barefoot benefits.
If you are keen to get back to a more natural way of exercising and want the important health benefits from being barefoot, be sure to check out our full collection of barefoot running shoes: http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/s-361-barefoot.aspx
Popularity: unranked [?]
Barefoot Running and Barefoot Running Shoes
Now the weather’s warm barefoot running in on the ride again, but what’s so special about barefoot running shoes and is it safe to be running barefoot? FitnessFootwear.com investigates.
For years people have been wearing cushioned running trainers, but what if we’ve been doing it all wrong? That what modern research seems to suggest and in the case of many new toning trainers, embracing the concept of walking with a barefoot gait lies at the heart of burning more calories, getting a better cardio exercise while walking while improving posture, health and a general well being.
It seems a huge difference, but it all comes down to the movement of your feet when walking or running. Someone wearing running trainers tends to strike with their heel, while barefoot runners land on their midfoot.
The most recent report on this topic was conducted by Daniel E. Lieberman, who is the professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University in the US.
“By landing on the middle or front of the foot, barefoot runners have almost no impact collision, much less than most shod runners generate when they heel-strike. Most people today think barefoot running is dangerous and hurts, but actually you can run barefoot on the world’s hardest surfaces without the slightest discomfort and pain. All you need is a few calluses to avoid roughing up the skin of the foot. Further, it might be less injurious than the way some people run in shoes.”
And it seems that this is where Vibram Five Fingers come into play as one of the world’s most popular barefoot running shoes. As minimal shoes, they don’t interfere with the movement or cushioning of the foot. Instead they help to protect the skin of the foot. Calluses will still need to be built up for longer distance running, but the extra protection they offer can grearly relieve pain or injury.
“Running barefoot or in minimal shoes is fun but uses different muscles,” says Lieberman. “If you’ve been a heel-striker all your life you have to transition slowly to build strength in your calf and foot muscles.”
Because barefoot running utilises the higher arch and springy step of the human foot far more than jogging in trainers, the whole leg has to work differently, especially when it comes to the calves which are being used to support the full movement of the foot.
So while traditional shoes teach you bad walking and running habits, barefooters have a different gait that protects them from shocks when they run, even without the padding. So maybe it’s time you tried going barefoot?
There are a number of barefoot shoes on the market, but the very best are Vibram Five Fingers, not just for their minimalist sole, but also for their versatile use and fit. For more information on barefoot running and for a full range of barefoot running shoes and barefoot walking shoes visit http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/s-361-barefoot.aspx
Popularity: unranked [?]
New Vibram Five Fingers Barefoot Running Shoes
Vibram has launched a new range of Vibram Five Fingers barefoot running shoes, combining classic running shoe styles with the barefoot function of Five Fingers footwear!
Vibram Five Fingers offer an innovative design which returns the body to a more natural way of walking and increasing the health benefits of exercise. The shoes maximise the efficiency of movement, give greater feel and by changing the running gait make for a more cushioned footfall. With the weight distributed better between the forefoot and the heel the foot is allowed to work as nature intended. The shoes are famed for their comfort, and superb grip through the legendary Vibram rubber outsoles. They have become popular for a wide range of activities for their health benefits and comfort, however the latest styles take this a step further with the first lines now released which are specifically geared for running.
Vibram Five Fingers have long been used by runners; however the latest styles offer new technology to give greater protection and cushioning for the feet to cope better with the increased forces in play at greater speed, without compromising feel.
Over the years there have been notable barefoot runners, such as Zola Budd which famously chose to leave the running shoes at home in favour of a more efficient running style. Earlier still, in 1960 Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Olympic marathon without the help of shoes clearly demonstrating that barefoot is best.
In honour of this great achievement, the first pure running model takes her name in the Vibram five fingers bikila range, available for both men and women. The shoe builds of the standard Vibram design with significant changes better suited to running. The outsole has been given a work over, with a 4mm anatomical pod tread for maximum flexibility and superior placing protection. The impact force on the forefoot is distributed evenly without losing ground feedback, whilst inside the shoe a new 3mm Dri-Lex insole draws moisture away from the foot to keep the feet comfortable and an anti-microbial treatment minimises foot odour.
A padded collar and topline has been added for greater comfort and the hook and loop closure ensures a tight fit to mould the shoe perfectly around the foot. Perfect for road running, the 3M reflective coating helps to be spotted in the dark and after ventures off-road cleaning is a breeze as they are fully machine washable.
For those who prefer a more classic trainer style, the new Vibram five fingers speed brings a retro trainer style to the Vibram range without losing any of the barefoot benefits. The classic white laces with black abrasion-resistant stretch fabric offers a great fit and combines the same technological advances to better serve runners. It is also probably the most stylish shoe Vibram have produced which is bound to see it become a huge hit.
The latest Vibram Five Fingers styles are designed specifically for running however they are sure to become bestsellers for a wide range of sporting activities and fitness training, offering greater comfort and protection whilst being some of the most attractive designs in the range. They are perfect for indoor exercise, Yoga, martial arts, light trekking, and everyday wear. Whether you are after a barefoot shoe for running with a little extra protection, or you just want to add a bit more style to your exercise outfit, the new collection is the perfect choice.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Vibram Five Fingers Return to FitnessFootwear.com
Returning to FitnessFootwear.com, Vibram Five Fingers are the barefoot walking shoe that fits like a glove.
A huge favourite of FitnessFootwear.com, Vibram Five Fingers are returning in force. In the past Vibram’s amazing Five Finger glove-like shoes were in high demand and short supply, but thankfully a new corporate power has taken over the distribution rights so you can expect to see more and more Vibram Five Fingers over the coming months.
Naturally, as a retailer who actively promotes walking and running as part of your wellbeing, FitnessFootwear.com is very excited to see Vibram Five Fingers make such a strong return.
Naturally, we’ve got a massive range of Vibram Five Fingers coming into stock very shortly. So to browse the latest styles and place your order in advance, visit http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/c-204-vibram.aspx now!
Popularity: unranked [?]