Runnin' semi-barefoot

Wired | To Run Better, Start by Ditching Your Nikes
Vibram | Five fingers
C. Rolian, et al., Walking, running and the evolution of short toes in humans, J. Exp. Bio (2009)

Wired had this interesting article on running barefoot, or with Vibram's sock-like shoes that tries to emulate the ergonomics while protecting your foot from scratches. Maybe running shoes aren't that good of an idea, they are a moist and warm incubator for fungus & bacteria, and some of them might have bad ergonomics. Yet the most interesting point in the article is that with additional protection and shock absorbence of the shoes, we relay too much on them and start walking in ways that abuse our feet. Best argument is that humans have evolved those feet to walk & run without any shoes for eons, so we should be well off living barefoot.

Wired's video review of those finger-y shoes:


I like walking barefoot indoors, but don't like the stones outside pinching against my foot. The Vibram Fivefingers looks very interesting, albit a little overpriced.