Footwear

[Desette]

Wow a lot of people chimed in on this one I have two short points:

1: I use to do Parkour all the time or stuff like it and my tac boots were always on me, so I vote 100$ to boots all the time unless dress is other wise. (NOTE: Not garrison boots, my feet hurt thinking about it)

2: BEWARE OF FAKES! Enough said

[Yugosaki]

Wow a lot of people chimed in on this one I have two short points:

1: I use to do Parkour all the time or stuff like it and my tac boots were always on me, so I vote 100$ to boots all the time unless dress is other wise. (NOTE: Not garrison boots, my feet hurt thinking about it)

2: BEWARE OF FAKES! Enough said

I'll actually go so far as to say beware of any shoe that advertises itself as a parkour shoe. There ARE a few good ones out there (such as k-swiss, but they specialize in sports footwear)  but there are many, many brands which try to use parkour as a selling point, but make terrible shoes.

When buying boots , if you plan to do any parkour- like movement in them they MUST be of comparable weight to running shoes, they must have at least some flex in the ankle and toe. And be aware you risk clipping your feet more often due to the very nature of boots, they will slightly restrict how far your foot can be flexed. But, for a beginner, boots are excellent. When I started out I landed wrong all the time, and never hurt my ankle. As I say in a video segment i'll be releasing soon, tactical boots are my default footwear for any situation I am unsure of.

[avagdu]

Here's something I found, might be helpful:

http://www.summitpost.org/article/640321/Bootfitting-Basics.html

[Desette]

Awesome link Avagdu, I would like to know what non-custom orthodics to get one day when I can. I was looking at the new ones that you get a 'custom' fit by stepping on a machine and then testing your feet to see whats best but it always seemed to give different answers which was disconcering.

Now I am looking at a type that has a bunch of different pads located betweent ball and heel of the foot for different activities and such.

Any other ideas?

[praharin]

I disagree. Having run in track shoes and flat bottoms for a number of months, and after sustaining long term injuries, I was told by my doctor to find suitable footwear that can absorb shock and cushion my feet properly. The chronic knee and ankle pain slowly subsided, but it still affects me to this day. Additionally, combat boots (especially the really good ones) are designed to provide shock absorption and support where needed -not to pamper your feet, but to protect them, the ankles, the knees from extensive wear and tear. There is no study that I am aware of that can prove you can physically overcome the need to protect your body without the aid of proper equipment. It would be the equivalent of claiming that all you need in order to be "bulletproof" is to be shot in the chest a few times to build up the resistance like a callous. Ridiculous.

You are free to disagree. Based on previous observations however, I would say that your running form was probably not appropriate for minimalist footwear. It is also true that the minimalist approach is not right for some people.

As for your straw man argument/analogy of building up resistance to bullets: I obviously cannot argue with that. But that was the point, right? I have been running solely in FiveFingers for over a year now with nothing but better joint health all around. I now run more comfortably for longer distances than I have since I left the Corps (Marines, as we all know, are super-human, so I don't count anything I could do then compared to now, usually ).

[raindog]

Being poverty stricken I always wear my workboots, which are  made by Dickies....Steel toe caps, good tread, lined and insoled. Very comfy from new, and no blisters ever.
   They also scare the hell out of the public, specially when combined with my 6 foot 2 inch 22 stone body dressed in black.
 I can't imagine wearing sandals or loafers at all. Boots are my thing.
   If I had the cash I'd get some good walking boots, with Vibram soles, one piece uppers etc.

[avagdu]

@Desette

Pig Monkey was rockin' these on our backpacking trips, I was impressed so I will be looking at them soon -

http://www.yoursole.com/products/footbeds/signature/viesturs/

I was also able to do our Wild Sky Wilderness trip without insoles at all without foot pain so maybe my feet are finally toughening up!

[051r15]

I disagree. Having run in track shoes and flat bottoms for a number of months, and after sustaining long term injuries, I was told by my doctor to find suitable footwear that can absorb shock and cushion my feet properly. The chronic knee and ankle pain slowly subsided, but it still affects me to this day. Additionally, combat boots (especially the really good ones) are designed to provide shock absorption and support where needed -not to pamper your feet, but to protect them, the ankles, the knees from extensive wear and tear. There is no study that I am aware of that can prove you can physically overcome the need to protect your body without the aid of proper equipment. It would be the equivalent of claiming that all you need in order to be "bulletproof" is to be shot in the chest a few times to build up the resistance like a callous. Ridiculous.

You are free to disagree. Based on previous observations however, I would say that your running form was probably not appropriate for minimalist footwear. It is also true that the minimalist approach is not right for some people.

As for your straw man argument/analogy of building up resistance to bullets: I obviously cannot argue with that. But that was the point, right? I have been running solely in FiveFingers for over a year now with nothing but better joint health all around. I now run more comfortably for longer distances than I have since I left the Corps (Marines, as we all know, are super-human, so I don't count anything I could do then compared to now, usually ).

Yeah. I watched "Dual Survival", and you must be another Cody type. Hilarious! That guy is a liability...but man can he make fire! Just like a caveman. Hey, whatever works for you man! It is true that you can build up a physical barrier (but it takes many generations) and that people from thousands of years ago had better feet because they didn't wear shoes. But...those people lived in caves and the best of them reached 30. I will take nice set of Danners thank you. Greatness is rarely ever appreciated.

[praharin]

With all due respect to Mr. Lundin, he isn't especially smart about being barefoot. He gets away with it, because he is used to it. I believe Cody and Dave were chosen for that show because they are polar opposites as far as survivalists go.

I wear shoes when necessary. I tend to go with minimalist shoes, like my FiveFingers or Vivo Barefoots. I need a new pair of moccasins. There are many options out there right now. Going "barefoot" doesn't really mean you have to have exposed feet anymore.

[2xMakina]

Now I know two more people who use the Vibram FiveFingers.

What's the verdict on them?  If I go from Rocky 911 work boots to these things, are they gonna hurt my feet?

2x

[Nophix]

I don't know of any shoe that is truly Parkour specific. Anything that is touting to be so is bogus. The closest one I can think of would be FiveTen Savants, but they don't market as a PK shoe. They're just highly regarded in the PK world.

Personally, for PK training, trail runs, and working out at the gym, I use Nike Alvord Trails. Super light, great grip, very supportive, and comfortable. They also breath very well.

Day to day, wither my Redwing boots, my Garrison boots, or my sandals. Mostly Garrison boots or sandals.

[Kevin]

Now I know two more people who use the Vibram FiveFingers.

What's the verdict on them?  If I go from Rocky 911 work boots to these things, are they gonna hurt my feet?

2x

The shoes themselves don't hurt but they do feel very weird. You will feel more or less everything through them. Small stones aren't an issue but larger pebble size ones are slightly painful for the half second or so you are standing on it (especially the arch).

If you will be mainly urban then they are damn nice, just don't kick the sidewalk edge, that is a bit of a problem.

[praharin]

Now I know two more people who use the Vibram FiveFingers.

What's the verdict on them?  If I go from Rocky 911 work boots to these things, are they gonna hurt my feet?

2x

The shoes themselves don't hurt but they do feel very weird. You will feel more or less everything through them. Small stones aren't an issue but larger pebble size ones are slightly painful for the half second or so you are standing on it (especially the arch).

If you will be mainly urban then they are damn nice, just don't kick the sidewalk edge, that is a bit of a problem.

+1 to the point I put in bold.  I cracked a toenail doing that.

For your question, you might get some (varies from a little, to a lot) of pain as your foot muscles recover from atrophy. That will depend on the condition they are in now. Best advice there is to go slow and listen to your body, same as building any other muscle.

In my two pair (both KSO), one did make one blister at the front of my arch where some seams meet. Only once though, on a 7+ mile trail run with a pack, pushing a stroller...

I did get some "blistering" between my toes, but I hear that is fairly common when you start with these shoes as that skin adjusts to having something against it.