I've been thinking about barefoot running a lot lately - I'm currently studying to be a chiropractor and I am all for balancing the body in terms of muscles and joints so getting the intrinsic muscles of the feet working, and improving running technique seems like a logical step for running.

However, I sadly do not have hooves and need a bit of protection for my feet and I'm wondering which shoe to go with. From my research the options seem to be mostly out of vibram five fingers or nike free. Alternatively there's home made huaraches, dunlop volleys or those water shoe/slipper things.

Call me crazy but I'm wondering if maybe a surf bootie would also be an option? Has anyone tried it?

This sort of thing:

http://www.surfstitch.com/index.cfm/a/cata...id/407/active/1

It has the split toe and a sensitive sole. Let me know what you think!

deja vu

new member, post no 1 and link to a product

expressing genuine innocent interest and some profesional background to back it up.

I am still giving it a chance and trying to stick with innocent till proven guilty etc

They look a lot more inflexible than the Five Fingers. I think I might stick with my Vibrams

Edit: a lot less flexible? Sorry for the badly English

Sorry, did I do something wrong? I'm not trying to sell anything I swear!

Nothing wrong Cobram-it's just we get alot of spam with innocent looking 1st posts such as yours with a link to a product-we normally consign them to the trashcan. You'rs looks pretty genuine though-I'm not sure surfing shoes will be much chop for running. Slowmo has had alot of success with his home made huaraches and that's a cheap option so you might try that first. Alot on this site swear by their frees or five fingers as well. I'm not sure if anyones tried surf booties-maybe you'll be the first and you can tell us how it went.
Welcome to coolrunning.

Yeah cool, well I think I'm going to give nike free's a go, they're a bit cheaper than the vibrams and I could actually wear them socially (does anyone bust out the vibrams for a trip to the shops or pub? Would love to see it!)

Anyway next time I'm at the surf shop I'll have to try on some surf booties and see how they feel.

Um, I've worn mine to the shops...

If you scan the (very long) barefoot running threads on CR you will find a variety of suggestions and reviews of minimal footwear options. There is also the minimalist running email list where there are descriptions and photos of home-made and commercial options.

Or you can do what I did at first and just cut up a rubber door mat and tie the bits to your feet.

slowmo

I saw that! I was very impressed. The wear on the rubber was cool too - you could see how your feet are hitting the ground.

Also just wondering (and there could be a post on this somewhere, so sorry if I'm repeating) has anyone noticed changes in their balance/foot proprioception since going barefoot? A good balance test is to stand on one foot, then once you've got your balance close your eyes and open your mouth (the jaw actually helps you balance!) you should be able to get 30 seconds but I dont think many people can - I know that I am useless at it. My best so far is 10 seconds. I'll test again after a few barefoot runs, should be a good experiment.

Yep. I wear them to the shops, parties, mowing the lawn. Basically anywhere that I really can't get away with barefoot

So I ended up buying some nike free 3.0's today. I just got back from my first run in them - just did about 3km and they felt good! And my feet feel good too, stretched and worked - its a nice feeling.

More news as it happens!

I tried this out of curiosity. I did both feet, and lasted 55seconds on my left foot and just over a minute on my right. Not sure if that is due to barefoot running, or just my hideously flat feet!

Very interesting experiment.

Thats cool, you've obviously got good balance and proprioception - it'd be great if it was related to barefoot running!

I recently went to a gym to do a weights class of some kind, and I was informed I'd have to wear shoes.

The hardest part of the class was not the weights, but trying to balance in a pair of shoes! My feet were so sore at the end.