Read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall. He makes a great argument for why the human body functions better without thick soled shoes. I used this book to motivate myself to pick up running for stress relief, weightloss, and other obvious health benefits. I picked up VFF’s in an attempt to make running as fun as possible (I hate running, but don’t want to throw down money for a mountain bike.) After 3 weeks of jogging, I’m extremely happy with my purchase. Granted, it does take some time to find the right form for running barefoot (or with VFF’s), and pavement can be a little tough. Don’t push it in the beginning because if your foot is anything like mine, the muscles are underdeveloped, and not used to life outside of a cushy sole.

Because of these shoes, my perspective on running has done a 180. Here’s the things I like best about enjoying the outdoors in VFF’s:
- Joint pain has decreased tremendously due to reduced heal strikes
-The tactile experience of walking on grass and earth provides a new dimension to appreciate, especially after running on pavement.
-The VFF’s provide enough padding to avoid pain from small rocks, but you still learn how to adjust your step when felt.
-Machine Washable (no more smelly tennis shoes)
-strengthen feet muscles, balance, agility, and quickness (after 3 weeks, I’ve lost 9 lbs, and developed strength in my calves, and flexibility in my ankles.

Notice that I didn’t mention looks. Yeah, they’re strange looking, and people do notice, but if you’re wearing them outdoors for your health, then who cares. Again, read “Born to Run” because it will help you answer the endless list of questions from curious obververs you run into. If you decide to purchases VFF’s, I’d recommend the originals if you expect to use them mainly for walking, or the KSO’s if you plan to use them in multiple settings (rock climbing, hiking, jogging, water sports.)