After reading Chirstopher McDougal’s excellent book about his adventures and re-learning how to run, I was inspired. It was a glimpse of a different world where running was fun, not just hard work. It’s a great book, which you can get from Amazon (see below).
I too have had trouble with my knees, especially on the treadmill after finishing my regular lunch-break 25 minute work-out. I am hardly built like a marathon runner, so I thought it must be a weight thing.
After reading the book, I wanted to give Vibram’s Fivefingers a try. So I bought them. I got the classic model (just like the ones you see in the link to Amazon on the right hand side). I bought them on-line in Belgium for 80 euro, including shipping (that’s about 110 USD).
How I use them
I already walk barefeet when I am at home, so I don’t use them there. I go running on a track a few times a week and that’s where and when I use them. The track is in the woods and is especially prepared, so it’s rather soft. I didn’t try them on concrete or asphalt.
I do 2 laps, one 2 km lap (1.24 miles) of just running and then half that lap (it’s like a figure eight) with exercises (which includes jumping etc). Total time spent is about 35-40 minutes.
Here’s what it felt like
How the Five fingers impacted my running / muscle use
The recommendation in the instructions mentioned that running with the Fivefingers is different, which is true. I found out that I used different muscles when running with them. They started to ache pretty quickly. Most notably my Achilles heel and the muscles along my shins.
Funnily enough, I had no trouble with my knees, which I expected from the fear of more impact of running (no cushioning in the thin rubber soles). But as explained in McDougal’s book, there’s no benefit from cushioning when it comes to the impact of running on your knees.
I did change my running style and now run with my back more straight than before and with smaller steps. It just feels better that way. Plus, it seems to cost me less effort. It did not really slow me down, but I’ve not been tracking my times lately (I don’t wear a watch and some drunks smashed up the time tracking device..)
The positives
The Fivefingers add some real fun to running. The first time you slip them on to your feet, you feel like a ninja. And when you’re running in the woods, it really brings you more in touch with the surface you are running on.
If you’re looking to stand out, you can’t get better than the Fivefingers. Especially in a small village like mine ( just 5000 people in rural Belgium). Tim Ferriss mentioned this in his post about the Fivefingers too (read it here they’re attention getters. Expect some haters too, at least, that’s been my experience so far.
They’re easy to take with you, as you can see in this photo. And.. at 350 grams (that’s 0.77 lbs), they’re light too. Perfect if you want to travel light and not pack too much.
image of the fiver finger shoes stacked
The strap on the back of the Classic model, is a great way of keeping your cat busy. It dangles and keeps your cat busy, while all you do is walk around..
As for the most important aspect, how they impact my knees, it’s a positive too. My knees don’t hurt from running at all. Which is a big benefit. The sore muscles are something you get over, as you progress. But there’s nothing you can do against your knees hurting. So to be relieved from that is just great.
The negatives
It’s not all good news though, as there are some annoyances.
Let’s start of with wet or cold feet. The sole of the shoe is made of rubber, but between the toes, there’s fabric only. This let’s water come through really easily. So compared to regular running shoes, you’ll more easily get your feet wet. Even when the terrain isn’t soaked, but just moist, the fabric will suck it up after a while.
I have only run in relatively warm weather, as it’s Summer here (with the occasional rain shower), but I can imagine that in winter, it’s easy to get cold feet.
It’s also funny to see how the shoes curl up when they dry. I haven’t washed them (which the instructions say you can), as they’re not really dirty. I just let them dry and this is how they curl up from drying (with no negative effect on how they fit)..
photo of how the Five finger shoes curl up after drying
Because the toes can move freely, stuff can end up between them. I’ve had small pieces of rock end up between my toes. Very annoying and means you have to stop running. It’s the price you pay for the freedom of movement.
The dangling strap, which I described earlier as a great cat toy, can be annoying when running. It can hit your leg, when it’s long and it just “flaps” around when running. You can ignore the last part, but it’s the sort of distraction I’m not really fond of. So I tied them up to prevent this from happening. You can see the images below.
Here’s the strap – full length:
The Vibram fivefinger classic model's strap - full length
Here’s the strap tied up and seen from the back:
finvefinger's strap tied up
When it comes to getting used to the shoes, I found the tension from the strap on my heel the most annoying. It hurts a lot, especially the first few times. On one foot, even after quite a few runs, I still feel it. The cord cuts into your foot, which is unpleasant. It’s like new shoes that are too tight and need to adjust to your feet. You become used to it, but don’t go on very long runs in the beginning without back-up shoes…
Here’s a picture of where it hurted most for me:
Conclusion
It’s been a positive experience, which I’ll continue by using the Fivefingers for running and outdoor workouts. I no longer have my knees hurting after runs, which is great. There are some annoyances, but those are mostly limited to the first few weeks.
I do want to give some other models a try to see if some of the issues I had with the classic model can be resolved by using a different shoe.
If you have any questions, do let me know.
Otto