Health Features | Review: Vibram five finger runners

?The finger shoes?, ?the weird looking slippers?, and ?those fancy running yokes? are just some of the terms used to describe the Vibram Five Finger running shoes.

JOE decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about and give the shoes a run around and make up our own mind.

First things first, they do look a bit funny. When you are out running you will see exactly what we mean. Some of the looks you receive are priceless and the facial expressions of onlookers often conveys sheer puzzlement.

Putting the shoe on also feels a little odd as you must get your toes into each finger - that only just about makes sense. Now, we're not forcing you to do this, but rest assured it's in your best interests.

The health benefits of the shoes themselves is a great source of debate. They were designed to replicate the feeling of bare foot training and some think they are the best thing since sliced bread. Others, however, feel that they do not improve the well being of our feet as we have become accustomed to conditioning and that these shoes result in high impact with the ground.

There is also the argument that some runners bite off more than they can chew, resulting in overexertion and an increased risk of injuries.

If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of the minimalist shoe, we will leave you to Google to educate yourself - we're here purely for the practicals.

The first thing you will notice is that you tread that bit more carefully with these shoes. Many casual runners tend to drive the heel into the ground, but this will cause discomfort with such little cushioning.

You will find yourself running slightly more towards the front of your foot. JOE has found a steadier pace to this method but you do build into a rhythm.

After some brief research we did find that leaning forward slightly does help, especially in these shoes. As there is close contact with the ground, heavy impact is what should be avoided. By leaning forward even an inch or two you are landing slightly more flat and powering off the ground for the next step.

You will need time to get used to these shoes and for many that is a major deterrent. Sticking to the old fashioned runner just seems more convenient for the athlete who just doesn't have the time.

For those that fancy something a little different they are well worth trying out, if nothing else you can show them off to your friends who are sure to be jealous.

And you can also start pretending like you are some kind of orthopaedic expert!

Head over to www.barefoot.ie for pricing and more info.

Source: http://www.joe.ie/health-fitness/health-features/review-vibram-five-finger-runners-0029861-1

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