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Showing 1 of 10 conversations about:
trivmyster
3
Mar 25, 2017
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anyone have any experience with this shoe type with sand? we are looking at about 4 days backpacking down the coast and these just seem like the best shoe style but ive never owned a pair. advice on sizing/ fit also much appreciated!
Mar 25, 2017
TheJackal3245
24
Mar 28, 2017
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trivmysterI just replied to another question about the benefits of Five Fingers, but I need to emphasize to you that you need to EASE into wearing them. It took me months of wearing them to finally be able to go long distances on trail without my feet aching, and many have had stress fractures diagnosed from diving in too quickly to barefoot shoes. You need to build up different foot and leg muscles before wearing them on a backpacking trip. That being said, I wear mine practically every day and love them for everything from trips to the supermarket to rocky trails. To answer your question, sand can be an issue. While walking in Five Fingers in the sand is no big deal, if you don't keep the sand out, it can really grate on your feet until you at least rinse them. This can also be countered by buying a size up and using Injiji toe socks in conjunction with Five Fingers and switching out your socks as with normal hiking shoes/boots.
Mar 28, 2017
Cuylar
199
Mar 29, 2017
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TheJackal3245You had stress fractures from wearing these shoes??? Just from the shoes?
Mar 29, 2017
TheJackal3245
24
Mar 29, 2017
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CuylarI personally did not. I took my time getting used to them. However, I've read reports of people who simply dove right into using them for long periods of time when they were used to wearing regular shoes, and had all sorts of problems. Think of wearing minimalist shoes as going to the gym. You can't immediately throw a whole stack of weights on the bar and go for it; you could seriously injure yourself from not being able to handle it and having bad form. When you get rid of padding and heel lift in your shoes, you are calling muscles into action in your entire body that are not used to acting that way for the majority of your waking hours. It changes the way you stand, the way you walk, the way your muscles react. There's quite a bit of literature out there about the "J" shaped spine vs. the "S" shaped spine, for example, as well as the effects of high heels on women. While a typical shoe or boot's heel might seem trivial in comparison to 3" heels, the effect on your musculoskeletal system is similar: a concentration of weight on your forward foot while standing, heel striking when running or walking which increases impact on your feet in the wrong places, a shortening of the calf muscle, and so on and so forth up the body. All of these things have to realign, and that takes time when you've been doing something the same way for, well, however many years you've been walking in regular shoes.
So yes, be careful, but in my opinion, it's worth it to make the transition.
Mar 29, 2017
trivmyster
3
Mar 30, 2017
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TheJackal3245Thanks guys :) indeed it is always a good idea to work into a new pair before doing an extensive trip. I do have experience with minimalist shoes, just not this style and I have apprehension around toe length, etc. I usually will go up half a size but am thinking these shoes are intended to be a tighter fit. I love wandering barefoot, so I'm confident I would like this style.
Mar 30, 2017
TheJackal3245
24
Mar 30, 2017
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trivmysterOf course! And thank you for your clarification. Since you are an experienced barefooter, GO FOR IT! I doubt you'll regret it. As a note on fit, REI tends to carry this model in most places and you can try them on. The toes pockets might not run the full length of the gap between your toes, but it'll be enough to allow good individual digital movement. They are supposed to fit like gloves.
Mar 30, 2017
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