Barefoot rules!
I often get asked on what shoes I prefer for agility... And well, I'd never really paid any attention to shoes... - I would just run in whatever and never notice any difference. - Until that day when somebody gave me a pair of shoes that were too small for her. These were the heavier, hardest and most horrible shoes EVER!!! I could barely move!
Obviously, I immediately saw these won't work for me - and to avoid ending with another heavy pair, I put "lightweight running shoes" into Google before shopping for my next pair. - And that changed my life for ever! π
I learned about barefoot technology and it totally made sense to me - OF COURSE our foot has the best possible design - and every shoe supporting a heel etc. is just throwing it off balance! How could ever a man-made product work as well as thousands of years of selection! Of course my foot does need no stupid support!
Ever since, I run in minimalist barefoot shoes only. For agility, I LOVE BareGrip 200 (that has unfortunately been discontinued - so I stocked up and bought all that were left - so don't look for them if your number is 4.5! π ) - they are just perfect for any surface! And for jogging, I use New Balance Minimus. And while I always had problems with runners knee before if I did lots of running... - no such problems anymore!!!
Discovering barefoot shoes, I can certainly see shoes DO make a difference and am big fan ever since. I do admit owning a pair of Goretex shoes as well to keep my feet dry on long wet walks - but I could never run in anything but minimalist shoes again!
Footnote: I'm sure there are people who can run better in traditional shoes... - This is just for those who wanted to hear my personal experience. - And for those who THINK barefoot is not for them because of knee problems - just to note that traditional shoes were exactly The Cause of my knee problems - and completely disappeared with barefoot shoes!
I have 2 questions about barefoot shoes:
1. How slippery are they? Fake and real grass makes a real challenge to find shoes that will not slip, are barefoot shoes up to the job?
2. Isn`t it cold in the winter to run in those? Quite often agility competitions are held in non-heated places and cold is quite an obstacle.
1. Depends on the sole -- you can choose between many different versions. The ones I have for agility have rubber spikes with SUPER grip -- perfect for any surface, only on very hard dirt with very little grass they don’t grip that well. I don’t know of any regular shoe with such good grip -- they’re great for turf, mud, wet grass and dirt. The barefoot shoes I use for jogging are even lighter, but don’t have such a grippy sole, so they wouldn’t be so good for agility because of turns, but I love them for jogging and walks.
2. Some barefoot shoes (meaning no heel support) are heavier and warmer. I use minimalistic shoes (200g and less) and those are never waterproof and never warm π -- but I’m never cold when I run, so it’s no issue for me. I change to winter shoes in cold conditions between the runs, for walks etc., but always run in my super light shoes without a problem -- almost always without socks too π
Ahhh I love this post but it makes me so sad, after a foot injury last April I had to stop wearing mine at the end of summer and stop walking around barefoot which I loooove -- just couldn’t do it without plantar fasciitis pain the next day. So frustrating I have a practically new pair of xtalons just sitting around right now!!
Oh no! I hope it heals with time and you can use them again!
Love them, too! But I thought that the BareGrips are no more for sale? Share your secret where you find them π
Yes, they discontinued this model -- so once I learned that, I bought them all still available in various on-line shops to stock up for years to come π
Which New Balance minimus type exccrly do you use for running? I also have quickly knee problems, when I read about barefoot it sounds great! So I would like to try it π just need to know which shoe to buy for running and walking
*excactly
I have New Balance WT10BP2. Unfortunately, these have been discontinued as well (hate it!), so not sure if you can still find them, but I think they have some similar models.
I went looking for what New Balance have now, and found a model, WT10BB, that look very much like the discontinued model you had. One shoe weights in my size (38) 176 g. They sit n my feet like a second skin, I actually forget I’m wearing them, and they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.
Yes, I have those now too -- it’s basically the same as the old model and really comfy! I wear those where I need to look like I have shoes on π -- but for dog walks and trainings, I mostly use Skinners now. It doesn’t get any more comfortable than that! Well -- at least until you step on something really sharp π
That’s the ones that looks like socks more than shoes?
Yes! Super comfy -- on most surfaces π
I think it’s written on a box as well, but maybe I should add that you need to switch gradually as different muscles are in use in barefoot shoes, so you will feel the muscles you didn’t know you have before π So I was switching back and forth until those muscles got stronger. -- Not an issue for agility, but definitely an issue for longer runs.
What do you mean with ‘written on the box as well’? I don’t understand π And yes I’ve read that you need to take time to adjust muscles etc, I think for now about getting a barefoot shoe for running and walks, and keep the onces I have for agility for now since I don’t have the money to get new shoes for both π
I think the warning is written also on the box you get the shoes in. You can probably get a pair that would be good for both agility and jogging. I’m sure I could jog also in BareGrip, but want to keep them for agility as I have a limited number of those.
Okay thanks.
I will take a look around on google to find some nice barefoot shoes! π Thank you for sharing your experience with barefoot!
I also lika Altra shoes and Newton Running. For forest runs etc. For agility-well I need new dog for that but every now and then I get to rent a dog and I use Xtalon 212, standard fit-they are still available and have super grip. But they are not gtx. π I have Salomon speedcross for rainy runs.
For me already 200g is limit high. I’ve heard xtalon exists in 190 as well -- but that they’re not as soft as BareGrip…
Yes, I have X talon 190 and it’s super light and flexible, I love it (I have never tried baregrip, so I can’t compare, but for me they work fine). The ones that also work great for me are Icebug Acceleritas, love those also. But none of these models has such a good grip as baregrip you are using, but still good enough.
Yes, I think I will try xtalon 190 next. But I just hate when they change or even discontinue models I like -- it happens all the time when I finally find something I like!
But yes, I perfectly agree, anything above 200g is totally useless!