WHAT IT IS: Vibram FiveFingers Classic and FLOW
WHY IT'S RAD: The best shoes I've ever used for FST and weight training, ever. Also the best shoes I've ever used for off-road running form drills. Much loved in the off-road running world, these shoes are basically a form-fitting carapace that allows your feet to function the exact same way they would if you were barefoot, but with more protection. The top is snug, but not constricting spandex. The soles are thin, supple, and allow the sole of your foot to function exactly as it does barefoot. You develop superior foot, ankle, and calf strength, mobility, and proprioception when you wear these shoes. Wear them when you train and you will see benefits in these areas within a few training sessions. Wear them running and you immediately notice what you're doing wrong—if you have bad form or heel strike, it will hurt. That's because you're not supposed to heel strike, something that starts to make a lot of sense when you try running barefoot. These shoes have made every training session I've had more productive, allowed me to zero in on deficiencies in my form on any movement where my feet are on the ground, and have made me a stronger cyclist, too. If you're a cyclist, give them a shot just as an around the house/wearing around shoe and you'll garner some of the same benefits I've experienced. In my experience, the FiveFingers Classic model, which uses an adjustable elastic band around the upper, is ideal for indoor training while the Flow model, which has a Velcro strap and covers the entire top of the foot, is better for training outdoors. Washing machine safe, so you can get the stink out, too.
BUMMERS?: None, really. A little trickier than a normal shoe for using on the TRX. Not ideal for wearing in concrete jungle, but worth wearing on the streets/sidewalks on occasion because they help you learn what you're doing wrong with your feet when you're walking. And if you've been wearing normal running shoes or crosstrainers your entire life, you're probably doing something wrong. These shoes will change how you move.
$: $75
INFO: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_classic_m.cfm
www.andrewvontz.com
www.drillit.tv
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1 comment:
well one thing is it is kind of hard to put on the first time and the do stink often.. i still love em though.. there's a couple cool shoes that simulate barefoot running here too:
http://barefootrunningshoes.org
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