New nike shoes

[Orangeaholic]

Anyone heard or have of these new "barefoot" running and training shoes?

www.nikefree.com

-Orange

[drseudo]

"We made a shoe with no ankle support. Except that's good now, instead of bad. Give us money!"

[bigdawg2121]

I have definitely heard, and already designed and personalized my first two pairs. As for our wonderful naysayer above, perhaps the shoe isn't for you, maybe you're fine having your feet pampered by your shoes, or maybe you should consider the question of how important shoes with great ankle support would be if we allowed the foot to do what it does naturally? The shoe sounds like an excellent opportunity to be able to simulate barefoot training without actually being barefoot. The foot does alot for us, regardless of foot shape, it aligns our gaits naturally and when all of its muscles and tendons are properly used it allows us to move faster, develop stronger muscles, and become more agile. It'll probably take some getting used to, but I can't wait.

[WhipLash]

do give a review when you receive your shoes! i'm interested in them too but a little put off by it's flimsy nature. i live in wet, rainy singapore...

[fencingguy]

despite bigdawg's quoting of the NIke website, I have some concerns about the theories behind the shoe. As a cross country coach (what was that noise? Oh, my credentials dropping! ) I'm very aware of the mechanics of running and the use of the foot within that. The problem I have with these shoes is that not everyone is actually capable of running barefoot without injury. For the serious runner shoes are chosen not because of style, price or some obscure color fetish, but because of the way they match and enhance your stride to protect you from injury.

Something around 90% of all people have a non-neutral stride, whether it be pronation or supination and running shoes are made for that. Often times people who have knee pain or slight overuse injuries can recover quickly and completely simply by witching shoes to a more appropriate one. If we tried to run barefoot, or in a shoe that simulates that we need to be in a neutral position (striding through the middle of the foot). For those runners lucky enough to have that these shoes will be great and should have no adverse affects. For the rest of us start looking for some ankle, knee, or hip pain, maybe even some tendonitis.

Thats not to say you shouldn't use these shoes if you want to, just don't make them your primary training footwear. Use them to supplement your normal shoe work, not replace it.

[Gav]

They look very interesting. Whether they would be any good for Fencing ... I'll wait and see. I'm really with fencingguy on this, I detect a distinct whiff of marketing here. Anyone for a pair of the emperor's new shoes?

[bigdawg2121]

Yeah yeah yeah, credentials dropping etc., however, I did not in fact quote the Nike websie, there are plenty of articles out there discussing the nature of barefoot training and it's benefits to the athlete. There is definitely a reason why African runners that regularly train barefoot dominate their events, and also why many of your colleagues have adopted workout programs that involve 3-4 days a week of barefoot work. Despiote your note that many people have an unnatural stride, the need to correct it would probably not exist were it not for the fact that we function in shoes which negate the work that our feet tend to do for us (i.e. correcting said stride, and compensating for us). Perhaps you too should consider looking outside of the Nike website (or at least make an argument supported by more than "I haven't done it this way, don't you think there's a reason"). Maybe you'll find a new training technique coach...and you can get it in cool customizable colors too

[prototoast]

Thats not to say you shouldn't use these shoes if you want to, just don't make them your primary training footwear. Use them to supplement your normal shoe work, not replace it.

That's just what Nike wants... buy more shoes!

[miyamoto]

Yeah yeah yeah, credentials dropping etc., however, I did not in fact quote the Nike websie, there are plenty of articles out there discussing the nature of barefoot training and it's benefits to the athlete. There is definitely a reason why African runners that regularly train barefoot dominate their events, and also why many of your colleagues have adopted workout programs that involve 3-4 days a week of barefoot work. Despiote your note that many people have an unnatural stride, the need to correct it would probably not exist were it not for the fact that we function in shoes which negate the work that our feet tend to do for us (i.e. correcting said stride, and compensating for us). Perhaps you too should consider looking outside of the Nike website (or at least make an argument supported by more than "I haven't done it this way, don't you think there's a reason"). Maybe you'll find a new training technique coach...and you can get it in cool customizable colors too

That seems like an endorsement to train barefoot, and not buy the shoes...

That said, the majority of the people in this world wear shoe during their formative years. The majority of the people in this world are not track stars who need this.

Nike Running shoes are pretty much fashion. They've recently started producing quality running shoes again, but there's a reason most runners use other brands...

[Lefty1]

Well, if you really want to feel like your running barefoot in Nike Shoes, here's an idea. Trace the nike symbol onto a piece of paper, cut it out, glue it onto your foot, and your set!

[lefty_monster]

I'm gonna have to agree with Lefty1. I don't think i'd do very well "fencing barefoot" my feet might get a little sore if the shoes have NO support. Especially in the arch and heel. Cavemen didn't fence and that's probably the reason.

[bigdawg2121]

I agree enough with that much, I wouldn't necessarily go fencing in these, definitely not the runningg shoe version. Given the current lack of any particularly standout fencing shoes I might be willing to try out the crosstraining version, they may very well provide a feel for the strip that's outstanding. Then again they might also prove to be like most shoes and not great for metal strips at nationals, or-- much like the overwhelming majority of shoes that I've tried to fence in-- I might just put a gigantic hole through the ball of my back shoe and be horribly upset that I paid $65 for a pair of shoes with a hole in them.

I think though that if you're the type of fencer that runs, does plyo training work, or also enjoys playing other sports (tennis players like them, the basketball shoe probably has the best reviews for any bball shoe, football etc.) they might be a decent investment.

[Mr Epee]

And in a related story...

Adult scientists employed by Nike claim that Indonesian children who are barefooted are able produce sporting goods much faster than Indonesian children who wear shoes.

[Prometheus]

I detect a distinct whiff of marketing here. Anyone for a pair of the emperor's new shoes?

Does anyone else think it looks like they took the running shoes with spandex uppers from a few years ago (that floped) added laces and are re-marketing them?