Day 5 - Tendontis Expert's Review of His New Vibram Five Fingers KSO Barefoot Running Shoes

by The Tendonitis Expert

After the 300 lunges yesterday, by feet were just a -little- bit sore. No biggie.

Today Kerri and I went to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, but being a Saturday, that was a dumb idea, as it was totally packed.

So we went to a nice trail in Larkspur under Mt. Tamm.

Driving there, I enjoyed how in barefoot shoes it's basically your toes that work your pedals. That's still novel.

Then we parked, walked a bit on pavement. I can still feel the unyielding hardness of the asphalt and I'm habitually worried about that. I'm curious what it will be like when my feet get healthy again, or when they toughen up.

The trail itself is dirt and a bit rocky. I was glad for the protection of the Vibram sole under my feet. It's pretty amazing how the foot absorbs all the points of rocks, all over the foot. Instant compensation and muscular adaption.

As the picture above shows, I got into the water and walked in the creek some. The Fivefingers definitely aren't waterproof. They do have some wetsuit properties of keeping the foot warm. And it was totally easy to walk in the water and on the rocks.


DAY 5 REVIEW

1. Getting out of water, the Five Fingers KSO isn't squishy or sloshy. It's comfortable walking and hiking in wet barefoot shoes. I don't know if they dried fast, but after a few minutes, they didn't feel cold or wet at all.


2. Traction and Grip: Wet or dry, the tread of the KSO barefoots grips well. Not slippery at all. On logs, rocks, and at steep angles, the tread grips impressively well.


3. Walking on rocks, dirt, shallow mud, and thick layers of leaves and sticks/branches, the KSO was comfortable and protected the foot plenty. I could feel variation and pointy points and edges, but not painfully in the foot.

Kerri could comfortably run on the semi-rocky terrain, but I wouldn't want to. But again, I'm not a runner historically, and I historically have wimpy feet.


4. I could definitely hike long distance in these KSO barefoot shoes, and I'd be confident taking them into any terrain. I don't know that I'd want to wear a 60 pound pack with them, but I'd definitely take them along with me for when the hiking shoes or boots come off.


5. Toes. You have to watch your toes. Once I -almost- stubbed my pinkie toe, and once I -almost- stubbed my bit toe. Technically, I did stub my toes, but got away without any pain or damage.

Note to self: DO -NOT- KICK A ROCK AND BREAK A TOE!


DAY 5 OBSERVATIONS:

1. Free Reflexology! Walking on uneven terrain, with grass and sticks and rocks (therapeutically) works the entire bottom of the foot, thus the entire foot structure. I very much got the impression that all the stimulation that we get in barefoot shoes that we ABSOLUTELY DON'T in regular shoes gives incredibly necessary, or at least incredibly healthy, stimulation to the physical tissue and nervous system mechanics of the feet, legs, and even entire body.
I'll have Kerri talk about how all her knee pain is gone from wearing her KSO barefoot running shoes.


2. I just -feel- like walking trails and such in these barefoot shoes is going to make a huge difference. From how I feel my body making subtle adjustments, how I feel myself walking a little differently, how I FEEL my feet, etc.


3. From a Plantar Fasciitis and foot Tendonitis perspective, at this point in my experiment I think it would be worth it for people with foot pain to try these barefoot shoes.

One would definitely have to be careful and start slow. I wouldn't recommend this as experimental foot therapy for overweight to very overweight people suffering from foot pain, though it -may- be worth a shot.

I -definitely- think they are a good idea for everybody to try. Walking barefoot is healthy, on several levels. Maybe not necessary, but definitely good for you.


4. I had to laugh as I was walking along the trail. I'm not a runner, and I can't imagine how anyone can run ten miles, much less ten miles barefoot. But our feet our designed to operate barefoot. We've been indoctrinated that shoes and support are necessary. And while they definitely are for walking on glass and oil and such, not so much for trails and outdoors etc.




----------------------
Please reply using the comment link below if you have anything fun or interesting to add.

And, comments have a 3,000 character limit so you may have to comment twice.
-----------------------


Go to Day 10 Vibram Fivefingers KSO barefoot shoe review




Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com