You may have seen people walking around town with shoes that look like gorilla feet. This article is a review of those shoes for both the casual observer and owner of the minimalist shoe known as the Vibram FiveFingers.

Let’s start with why there is a demand for such a product. As an owner of Vibrams myself, I can attest to their comfort in everyday situations. It’s kind of like wearing nothing but underwear in public, just a bit more kosher. People still look at me funny though…

The demand goes beyond comfort of course. The contention is that by wearing Vibrams you can develop the muscles of the foot and to essentially be a healthier human being. But before we go down that trail let’s step back for a minute… What’s wrong with my $150 pair of Air Jordans?

The “modern shoe” (that nice pair of Nikes you are wearing) is so supportive that the foot rarely gains the ability to develop its own arch or maintain proper alignment. As the base of our upright nature being human and all, the foot must be able to support alignment. If the base is not solid, the rest of the body will fall out of said alignment. Being out of alignment means compensation, and compensation means it’s easier to get injured.

So by having a minimalist shoe such as the Vibram, the foot will adapt to the specific demands of not having a proverbial crutch (Air Jordans).

Now for those of you who have read this far and assume I’m a Vibram salesman and are turned off by another disguised advertisement, or if you have been wooed by my review of them and want a pair of your own, I urge you to PLEASE READ ON!

Demand comes from need, and there is obviously a huge demand for the aforementioned “modern shoe”. Why? Look around you… Concrete, stone, sharp objects, and, of course, the pressure to prove via clothing/material goods that you are a more suitable mate than the person next to you…

The “modern shoe” was bred to lessen the harsh impact on surfaces our feet have not evolved to constantly run on. That harsh impact can wear on your body even worse than misalignment.  It’s a catch-22.

Humans developed to run on softer surfaces than we find here in the city, and to compensate for fewer soft surfaces we need a softer, more supportive shoe. But that softer shoe leads to collapses in alignment.

So what the hell is the point of this article if it ends with things up in the air? Fortunately it doesn’t. It ends with a nice, friendly list of dos and don’ts regarding your footwear.

1.  If you decide you want to run in Vibrams, wear them around in low impact situations BEFORE running in them for at least 6 months. Your arch didn’t collapse overnight wearing those Nikes, give your body plenty of time to adjust. If you don’t, you will injure yourself.

2.  If you stick with your Nikes, train (carefully!) in the gym barefoot. No impact, and you still get to develop that arch. Don’t know where to start with that arch? A Yoga instructor is much more likely to know than your trainer. Unless, of course, you come see a SCAC trainer (WARNING! SUBTLE ADVERTISING DETECTED!).

3.  If you want to wear these to prove yourself a more suitable mate than the schmuck sitting across the room, knock yourself out. Nothing says “I can provide well for you” like a neon green pair of gorilla feet.

Till next time!

Gray Godwin
Certified Natural Trainer
Certified Spinal Cord Injury Specialist