Practical Barefoot Running

Barefoot running is one of the latest trends in a long line of exercise trends. But this is probably not just another passing fad. People have been running barefoot, or with very minimal shoes, for thousands of years. There is also recent research to suggest that barefoot running puts less stress on your joints and leads to fewer injuries than typical running in running shoes. And beyond the science, many runners find that running barefoot feels great and makes running fun again.

All that said, it can be a little daunting to get started with barefoot running. The first question that many people ask is, where do you go to run barefoot? Many folks don’t have regular access to huge expanses of smooth, well-maintained ground. And in general it feels a lot more limiting to only be able to run in places where bare feet are appropriate.

One of the keys to making barefoot running practical is, believe it or not, finding the right shoes. Wearing shoes for barefoot running may seem like a contradiction, but it really isn’t. The reason is because the shoes you wear are not traditional shoes. They are not intended to provide cushion for your feet. They are just intended to protect your feet from cuts and scrapes so you can run in places where bare feet would be otherwise infeasible.

Probably the most well known barefoot running shoes are the Vibram Five Fingers. These shoes not only protect your feet but they also give you independent movement of your toes. That’s about as close to barefoot as you can come and still wear a shoe. You can check out Froogle to find a place to buy these or get them directly from Vibram. Be warned that they are pretty expensive, starting at about $75 and going up from there. They also have a bit of reputation for tearing. So you’re taking a bit of a risk.

Personally, I wasn’t willing to pay that much money for a shoe that’s trying to mimic my bare feet. The alternative that I’m currently using instead is cheap water shoes or water socks. These are the shoes that you see people wearing at pools or at the beach. They basically have a very thin rubber sole and, usually, a fabric upper. They are almost identical to the construction of the Vibram Five Fingers, just without independent movement for your toes. However, they are still very thin and flexible. So I find that my toes still have the ability to spread and adapt to the terrain. What you’re looking for here is more of a sock with a rubber bottom. If it looks more like a real shoe, it’s probably got more support and cushioning than you want.

So, how cheap are we talking? Below is a sampling of shoes available for purchase on Amazon. Almost all of them are under $25. Some of them are as low as $10. Click on the images to read reviews and purchase:

Men’s: