Vibrams and the Barefoot Experience

I'm really thinking about buying a pair of these. I mean, I've been thinking about it for awhile but now I think I have to.

I was in a lot of pain when the kids and I were in Disneyland, and spent most of my Park time in a wheelchair. The one day that we were just relaxing I decided that I could probably make it through Downtown Disney on my own power. We got pretty far into the shops and suddenly I had to find a place to sit, I wasn't really able to balance very well and was seriously wobbly. I started to panic a bit as the kids and I came up with a plan to get me back to the room. Part of our plan, was that I would take my shoes off. I thought it sounded sort of crazy at first, but once I took off my shoes ( solid soled flip flop style sandal) I was able to balance, the pain lessened, and I made it back to the room with almost no problems.

I'm not sure if we hadn't of been talking about these toed shoes on the forum, if I would have even considered that they could be part of my problem. I spend the majority of my time barefoot and it dawned on me that perhaps I needed to be using different muscles to get myself back to the room. It really worked like a charm and I want to see if switching to this sort of shoes might just eliminate a lot of my day to day pain.

I dont wear the fivefingers but I wear a barefoot shoe - merrell pace glove are my current ones. They are made with a vibram sole. They are great because I feel very comfortable and often forget I am wearing shoes. I think it has also improved my posture a little bit. I am thinking of picking up for fivefingers soon.I also wear a lot of flip flops because sometimes I just don't like any time of shoes.

I am a huge fan of barefoot running, minimalist shoes and zero drop shoes. I recommend training your feet to get used to them first because you do walk and run differently in them. Also research the different types. Most people I know started with Nike or new balance minimalist shoes (that still have a minor toe-to-heal drop) and are making their way to ones with vibram soles before getting the fivefingers (or toe shoes as my goddaughter calls them).

Merrell barefoot connection is a great site to learn more for those who aren't used to the idea.

I likely will never go back to regular runners. I wear flip flops the majority of the time and sometimes my converse shoes but these are amazing shoes now that I am used to walking in them.