Barefoot revolution w/ Vibram Five Fingers
Posted in gear on January 11th, 2011 by estan – 1 Comment
My kind of Vibram Five Fingers
It was one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions in 2007 and has been a head turner in many roads, pavements and race tracks around the world. A running friend, Katol, who has been using it in every race he’s into including a full marathon in the Cebu City Marathon 2011 last Sunday, 9 January, once called it as caveman-like. You either love it or get conscious wearing one while on the road. And I do have one, just like in the photo above.
Vibram, founded by VItale BRAMani who invented rubber soles for mountaineering boots in 1935, has been a leading manufacturer and has been supplying over 1,000 premium footwear companies the like of Nike, Merrell, Ferragamo, Gucci, Cole Haan and Prada, to name a few. In 2006, it unveiled the Vibram FiveFingers, a shoe with a unique design that mimics the look and feel of being barefoot.
It is thin but sturdy, made from abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric and Vibram TC-1 performance rubber weighing 5.3oz. each. After using it for some time during my training runs, you just have a better feel of the road. It is really like running barefoot and quite tactile, feeling every stones, peebles and contours.
One has to get used to wearing the Vibram Five Fingers though with sore calves and feet at first but later on, its okay. According to the manufacterer, it provides better flexibility, stronger muscles, and improved posture among others. One good thing about having a pair is that it’s not only limited to running. It can be applied to various kinds of sports like surfing, crosstraining, gym/kettle bells, and on various terrains and trails.
In the Philippines, the Vibram Five Fingers store is located at Level R1 Bridgeway in PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell [(02) 513-1449, marketing@barefootwearinc.com or www.barefootwearinc.com]. Check the downloads below for more details on the styles and pricing.
I'm Estan Cabigas, a freelance photographer blogger and traveler. I just started to seriously run last 2 March 2010 and for the past few months, I've improved greatly in my running as well as lost pounds in the process. I'm gunning for a full marathon by 2011. I shoot races as well.
My flagellant image is Editor's Choice in the National Geographic Magazine May 2010 issue.
