Modern running shoes have been a subject of intense engineering attention to help people run faster, safer, and more comfortably. All this has led to the heel being higher and shock absorbers embedded into the sole. Although immensely popular among athletes the world over, some people question the purpose of running shoes altogether. The core of the argument seems to be that modern shoes force the foot to land on its heal rather than naturally on the outside edge. Now a new product has been designed for those that would prefer to run barefoot, but fear injury from things like broken glass on the ground. The FiveFingers from Vibram (Concord, MA) is a stripped down version of a shoe, incorporating a narrow sole featuring individual toe pockets, and minimal top fabric to hold the foot in place.
Here’s a Wired review of the Vibram FiveFingers:
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