What Cathe w/o do you use your vibram five fingers for?

I have some Classics and a pair of Sprints. I like them for outdoor running and walking.

I've been doing all my indoor workouts barefoot and I really like it - I think my calves get a better workout without shoes, and I've been doing lots of lower body and kettlebell stuff and I seem to be feeling different areas of my bum getting worked since I've been going barefoot.

For me, Fivefingers run true to size - I wear 38s in European-sized shoes and 38s in the FFs work just fine for me.

I prefer the Classics to all the other styles, because they're the easiest to get on, and they're (for me) the most comfortable and minimal.

Vibram is releasing new "winter" FFs called the KSO Trek. They don't have them in women's sizes yet, but I think they're supposed to be available in March. I wish they made a vegan version...oh well.:(
 
I get why someone would use these outdoors - to keep feet warm or to keep them clean and still feel barefooted.

But indoors, especially at home, why not just workout in bare feet? What am I missing?
 
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So I don't get my toes licked while I workout? ;)

I have beagles and they like to snoop while I work out, besides their claws, no matter how short, are awfully sharp! :eek:

Besides, I love the feel of the shoes on my feet! :D

Plus, I don't have carpeting, so the shoes give me grip on the floor, especially doing sliding lunges, etc. with a paper plate.

Vee said:
I get why someone would use these outdoors - to keep feet warm or to keep them clean and still feel barefooted.

But indoors, especially at home, why not just workout in bare feet? What am I missing?
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I had never thought about using these for step work outs but now y'all have made me really curious! For those of you that workout in your bare feet...Are you doing step that way too. I would be afraid I would drag my toes and get a step burn!:eek:

I love these shoes though. I like the sore calf feeling when I lift my feet on the edges and I feel it in my calves...I know ...sadist! :p
 
I haven't done a lot of step lately, but I have done it barefoot, and it's completely fine - although WOW are your calves and achilles tendons involved more than they are with shoes!

I have a really nice thick yoga mat and I put the step on it - that way, when I step down, there's a little cushioning for me even without shoes. You do have to keep an eye on your feet from time to time to prevent stubbed toes.

Generally, though, I've been doing kickboxing and kettlebells and some other athletic drills instead of step. I think it's good to start with lower impact stuff, so you can get used to being barefoot before trying step.

Also, I've noticed that I have to move differently without shoes - I land more carefully (toe-ball-heel) and jump differently (rock forward from heels and spring through my toes), and I really feel my muscles absorbing the shock. Moves like one-legged deadlifts are much harder - you really need to get your feet involved in balancing when you're not wearing shoes.

At first, some things felt uncomfortable - backward lunges, for example. I was accustomed to having the rigid toe of my shoe to press against, but without shoes, you have to flex and bend your big toe during lunges. After some practice, though, it gets to be second nature.
 
DAMN ENABLERS! Now i want to buy a pair. What benefits have you noticed since using them as opposed to shoes?
 
I just want to add that I'm the best kind of enabler - I'm doing stuff mostly barefoot, not with the FFs on, and you can try that out for free!

I've always liked working out barefoot whenever possible - I got used to it during martial arts and yoga. I picked up some Fivefingers a couple years ago because I liked the idea of walking "barefoot," even in the city, without worrying about sharp things or gross things or parasites.

Recently I read "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall, and then about a week later I noticed an article in the news about running shoes - evidently there has been a study that showed running in super-technologically-wonderful running shoes is actually harder on your joints than running barefoot. I don't know if it's true - but it's interesting.

My experience is that your feet get stronger, and in my case, I think my calves are also stronger. I notice fewer shinsplints when running (although I still wear racing flats when I run) - possibly because my indoor barefoot workouts strengthened my lower legs?

And, as I noted earlier, I feel like having my heels really flat on the ground somehow causes different/more muscles in my legs & glutes to work during lower body stuff.

This is all just my personal experience - I'd also say to try going barefoot or in FFs in short sessions at first - it takes some getting used to! The first time I tried running in Fivefingers, I went 3 miles (I usually do a minimum of 5) and my calves and achilles tendons were en fuego the next day.
 
syzygy314 said:
So I don't get my toes licked while I workout? ;)

I have beagles and they like to snoop while I work out, besides their claws, no matter how short, are awfully sharp! :eek:

Besides, I love the feel of the shoes on my feet! :D

Plus, I don't have carpeting, so the shoes give me grip on the floor, especially doing sliding lunges, etc. with a paper plate.
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Thanks!

In my part of the world people traditionally spend a large part of their lives bare footed. The weather is warm so homes are usually not capetted. I have never worn footwear at home. So this Vibram thing makes me scratch my head.
 
I usually work out barefoot, for everything but step and the treadmill for some rerason.

I am going to enjoy wearing my VFFs at the gym where there isn't a choice of going barefoot.

Carrie
 
Thanks for the barefoot enabling Afreet (and it seems appropriate since I often misread your username as Afeet). I've read about people running barefoot (or in Vibrams) and it never occurred to me I could do other exercise barefoot. Duh. I have been wearing Chuck Taylors for kettlebell workouts because I like the flat sole for deeper squats. I hesitate to actually go barefoot for kettlebells because of the risk of dropping the bell on my foot (though I've never yet done that). Still I'd like to try barefoot for some other things. Thanks for the inspiration.
 
lainiefig said:
Thanks for the barefoot enabling Afreet (and it seems appropriate since I often misread your username as Afeet). I've read about people running barefoot (or in Vibrams) and it never occurred to me I could do other exercise barefoot. Duh. I have been wearing Chuck Taylors for kettlebell workouts because I like the flat sole for deeper squats. I hesitate to actually go barefoot for kettlebells because of the risk of dropping the bell on my foot (though I've never yet done that). Still I'd like to try barefoot for some other things. Thanks for the inspiration.
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"Afeet"! Hee!

If it makes you feel any better...if you dropped the k'bell on your foot, even in sneakers, your foot would be totally doomed.

I have dropped a kettlebell, but never on my foot. Judging from the giant divot in my carpet, I'd better keep a really good grip on that sucker if I want to keep all my toes - yikes!
 
As far as enablers go, I'm a novice, but I'm learning from the best (Miss Lee)!

The benefits I've seen are that I no longer suffer from plantar fascitis (I know I've misspelled that, sorry!) at all, my ankles are stronger and my arches don't ache anymore, which sometimes happened with sneakers. My knees don't hurt anymore either!

kariev said:
DAMN ENABLERS! Now i want to buy a pair. What benefits have you noticed since using them as opposed to shoes?
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I live in New England and even in summer you can hardly go barefoot! :eek: Most of the year, it's too chilly unless you are just that used to the cold, which I'm not! I'm a southern girl!:)

Vee said:
Thanks!

In my part of the world people traditionally spend a large part of their lives bare footed. The weather is warm so homes are usually not capetted. I have never worn footwear at home. So this Vibram thing makes me scratch my head.
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I know Vibrams were all the talk over on the T-Nation boards a while back. A lot of the power lifters and people who do power lift moves are using them instead of going barefoot. Evidently, wearing plain old tennis shoes (running, cross training) is some kind of no-no. That's what I wear but I can't balance at all with a weighted bar so maybe I need a pair of Vibrams...?
 
Gotta say -Vibram Five Fingers always sounds like an adult entertainment product to me. Should come with batteries and be kept in a night table drawer...
 
I love my VFFs. I have the sprint. I would recommend trying them on if at all possible. I tried them on at a local store and actually tried the women's 39 and 40 and the men's 40. The women's and men's shoes are basically the same but the men's tend to have longer toe length and are very slightly wider. Depending on your foot shape that can be an option. I have long toes and also my 2nd toe is longer than my big toe - whatever that's called - but it creates issues in the fit. You need to get adequate toe length or these will be uncomfortable. So far I use them for weight lifting and DVDs like Leaner Legs, and I love them for both. My feet feel better and my balance is improving. I am working my way up to doing cardio and will try that soon. Re the Nike Frees someone mentioned, I have those too and they are terrific shoes - but they are quite different. Nike Frees actually feel like shoes, though with little support/cushioning in them. VFFs do not feel like shoes and feel like zero support/cushion - basically all they do is wrap your feet in fabric etc. Also with with Nike Frees the feel depends on whether you get the 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 etc (support/cush increases with number). I have used the Nike Frees for every kind of cardio and they work really well. The VFF is more minimalist and I am trying to go in that direction. I currently am doing a lot of Ellen Barrett's barefoot stuff as well to build up foot strength. So far my plantar fascitis and other long-term foot pain problems are definitely improving! P.S. later: I also bought 3 pairs of the five finger socks. When it's cold they solve the problem. I also like wearing them alone hanging out on the couch etc. as I just like the feel of my toes being separated.
 
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Vee said:
I get why someone would use these outdoors - to keep feet warm or to keep them clean and still feel barefooted.

But indoors, especially at home, why not just workout in bare feet? What am I missing?
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I normally work out barefoot, but ordered vibram classics last month becaue I was thinking about trying running again ... with regular shoes I always end up injured. In the meantime I've found that these are great for workouts where you need a little more traction. For instance, on my TRX there are times when we need to lean back at a pretty steep angle and on my regular surface I was slipping (not from sweat, it's just that on my floor the foot didn't provide enough friction at the very deep angle I was using to maximize difficulty). With the Vibram's I don't slip.

I also bought five-finger style socks and am beginning to try them out with regular shoes. In my heels I sometimes get chafing between toes during especially long days that involve long walks between buildings, and I'm hoping that these socks will cut down on that problem. The "finger" part doesn't show.
 
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