@@runningchannel I would definitely love to give them a go. I like to try different styles and designs and innovations in running shoes. It is amazing how much variety there is in the humble shoe. Also its wide open for puns about sole searching haha
Changed my running to forefoot running as I was having so many problems with my knees, stripped it right back, started slow jogging, it's made a huge difference, now working on cadence and speed in a whole new way
Structural drop: 10mm Functional drop: "Free", depending on how low the runner drops the heel after contacting the ground with the midfoot: May be positive, 0 or negative
Achilles Tendinopathy incoming. Yes, you’ll shit the forces away from knee/hip by reducing your heel strike, but the force has got to go somewhere. That somewhere is the calf complex. The sudden increase in loading, for a lot of people, will increase the risk of Achilles issues. Very slow introduction of these shoes needed if you’re going to go for it.
Everything you comment we have taken into account. We have created the FBR Method that follows a perfect progressive adaptation. Athletes who have followed the method have already completed marathons without problems. Although you may believe otherwise, with FBR we strengthen the tendons and muscles involved in running. The Faculty of Physiotherapy of Valencia and the European University of Physiotherapy of VAlencia have tested our concept with injured athletes since 2015, even helping them to recover from their ailments in many cases or that the degree of discomfort decreased with the use of FBR. Thank you very much
Might try and get my hands on a pair of these. Could be a good topic for discussion on a run tech / analysis video, to look at product claims vs reality!
James Dunne don’t you suggest that even if you are not a heel striker, you should still lower your heel to the floor each stride? I don’t know if that is even possible in these!
Seems like a bad idea imo. Lots of runners as they tire will start to heel strke a bit. With no heel there to handle a break down in form seems injury would be a good possibility.
Owen Lindley yeah I think these might be good to train with for a little while because they might strengthen your calves which can lead to running faster, but idk I don’t even run
I wish I had a shoe like this when I was running backwards, a few years ago, because the heel of regular running shoes was useless and getting in the way sometimes, rubbing on the ground. Still weird, so is backwards running! Thanks for the video!
cheaper option, get a metronome, set it to 175-180 bpm and ensure you foot strikes on each beat. That should force you to shorted your stride, land with your foot under you and thus prevent heel striking (maybe).
Yeah just increase your cadence. But don’t worry, almost no one are real fore foot runners, it’s mostly a function of speed and cadence, and even amongst the best long distance runners in the world, only a few actually pull it off.
Got a pair of these shoes about a year ago, pretty much when FBR started. They were really good to learn to run forefoot. Not a shoe for a race, although their idea is very clever. Like I said, it's a great shoe to learn how to run with a better form.
Nothing wrong with heel striking unless you have been frequently getting injured..if you have been running like that for years and are injury free then who cares
@@johnpoulter2224 In general there is no relationship between joint wear and tear and running. However, there is a very strong relationship between your parents and your joints (choose your parents wisely), weight, and a history of contact sports/knee injuries. Does this apply to you? I don't know. But it's a myth that running is 'bad for joints', and there is some evidence of improved cartilage functionbin lower mileage runners.
Interesting especially as when I look at my wear patterns it is mostly under the toes not under the heel so maybe these massive high stack heels seen of late are adding bulk for no real reason for me. Then again 310g in what a size 9 or so means I would well up past 400g in my 13 and that is a lot even with a heel. So sounds more like a concept at the moment.
Great video as always Anna. At the moment will stick to traditional running shoes since they are perfect for my running style. Keep up the good work 👍🏿👍🏿
Interesting concept... as someone who’s been trying to get off their heels I’d be interested in trying them... 🤔 although they aren’t the most attractive shoe and I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay for that privilege... they are however heavily discounted at the moment possibly down to the new model you mentioned was coming??
Best shoe to teach you to not heel strike are Vibrams. Zero cushion means you feel every strike. But they take some serious effort and attention to retrain your stride so you don't injur yourself
Just don't pay 130 or whatever the price in the video was... I found it for 59 euros... Im not buying it cause I don't need it... But if I was I'd pay 59 euros
I remember using vertical strength training shoes that was basically the same thing only a little taller. These would probably help with strength in the lower legs also.
I would love to see the evidence that heel striking leads to more injuries than forefoot striking. I can only find a study comparing college cross country athletes who are natural heel strikers versus mid-foot strikers, and that is comparing natural patterns, not people who have switched. Is there any stronger evidence than this that it is a good idea to switch? I have been hearing repeatedly over the last few years that both forefoot and heel strikers have similar injury rates, just different types of overuse injuries. People switching from a natural heel strike to a forced forefoot strike, however, seem to have a higher rate of injuries. I would love to know what the actual hard data is for this. These shoes seem mostly like a gimmick, and I would probably try them out if I had extra money to burn and thought that heel striking was "bad". As someone who runs a lot and heel strikes most of the time (I probably do some forefoot when I do speedwork), I haven't had any repetitive use injuries in years and I am going to continue with what I'm doing as long as it is working. I looked up Vibram Five Fingers to see if those are still popular, and I just learned that in 2014, Vibram settled a lawsuit and had to pay back anyone (I'm assuming just in the US) who purchased their shoes because they claimed the shoes "reduce[s] foot injuries and strengthen[s] foot muscles". I'm not saying these shoes are making outrageous claims (because I couldn't access the FBR website today), but something to keep in mind.
I was wondering the same. I saw an article (forgotten where Runner's World? Active.com? I forget) somebtime ago pointing out the different type of injuries that heel, midfoot and forefoot strikers are prone to. I don't recall the article ever saying that running in one form was bad or more susceptible to injury than the other. And none of the injuries looked good.
@@runningchannel at the beginning I just walk at home or using into the gym. Then I mixed with other running shoes, 8km my NB and the last 2km with FBR. gradually increasing the distance. I haven't been in a hurry to adapt. You have to adapt certain muscles, step by step.
Def a Cool Idea for a training shoe to aid in lessening heel strike & to Strengthen calves. First time watching the running channel, good informative video, looking forward to more. plus cute lady! Subscribed for sure
This is more "curiosity" shoe then proper running one.Designed for heel strikers soon or later I think negative drop of this shoe(your heel is sinking more then rest of foot) inevitably would cause strain in you calf complex..
I'm primarily a trail runner with a history of Achilles issues. These look absolutely terrifying in that regard... I'm guessing if you take an odd step, even on the flat, you risk a serious over extension of your Achilles?
I’ll not buy these but I’m not a heel striker. The question to address I guess is what else could someone do to address this issue without adding another pair of shoes to the kit drawer? Would progressing to bare foot style shoes be a better option to help adopt a more natural gait? The answer may lie in your introduction. The Kenyans haven’t used heel less shoes to get to where they are today...
Nice review Anna. When I saw them, I immediately thought that they were a pair of shoes designed to teach a person to run forefoot. Much like your stabiliser musings
Those shoes sound great. I normally have big strides and therefore often land on the heel. After I read Running with the Kenyans though, I always had the dream of becoming a forefoot runner. That is why these shoes are worth to test for me.
I have read the book and I have also noted to Adharanand that this is supporting the emulation we coach ie triple extension. using all three joints to allow the slightly raised toe to then allow a non heal strike ( ie mid or for foot ) to allow all the power to be smoothly transitioned to forward motion,
Genius Anna. Always made sense to me. Why would we make the heel thicker than the forefoot anyway? I always thought doing this would make you lose dorsiflexion over time.
I am heavy footed and have a problem in my heels which means i can't where spikes because i become in agony and it will happen until i stop growing according to the doctor. So i also do heel strike quite often and those would probably help but i doubt i would be able to get used to them and i also probably can't afford them either.
@@stayontrack not necessarily. Many runners never touch the heel of the shoe while running. Achilles injury would usually come from having weakness in the foot and a tight Achilles tendon from never extending properly in a heeled runner.
To me Altras look way more effective to prevent heel striking and help you with the running form. These still have some sort of drop, so that bit under the start of the heel means people will strike there. Best solution for getting used to forefoot striking are zero drop or low drop shoes. And 310 grams... Lol
Another cool, awesome video The Running Channel, love it. A weird/and unique running trainers, I'm a forefoot runner, so it wouldn't make much of a difference to me, Might try these unique/weird running trainers in the future.
I certainly would be interested to try for a few weeks, and follow their training plan. My one concern is that for a slow-amateur like myself it could increase one's otherwise mild supination or pronation
Self conscious about someone seeing you in those shoes than someone seeing you running while holding a camera, lol. I don’t see myself wearing these types of shoes but it’s fun and interesting to watch reviews. Keep up the great work. 👍
I tend to run on the front foot and my shoe wear reflects this. When walking however I use a more heel first stride. My current shoes are lighter, cheaper and more suited to my 1k warm up / cool down walks so I don't think that I will be changing any time soon. Interesting concept though. Enjoyed the piece.
Those are best shoes ever had in my life,I agree in everything this video but the price,that price was when launched long time ago,the price now before stock finish is 59€,I’ve got two pairs and can’t wait for the second version in September which will be lighter Franc told me 👏🏾
The shoe are almost like a corrective brace(like forrest gump ), that you use to force your gait/running style to forefoot/midfoot strike,i doubt the shoe will spark a trend or fashion craze,but for specialize tool ..its a nice concept(cheaper training option probably available ,but its an option)
Plenty of other shoes out there that will slowly train runners to midfoot strike. Altra and saucony spring to mind but any shoe 4mm or lower will increase the chance of a more forward motion strike.
I don't use my heel when running, but when I'm finished, I do like to cool down with a walk, I don't think these would work only if they could enhance my running, then I would and just take them off to cool down.
A very interesting concept, and would be interesting to see how well they do adjust a runners technique, and what gains then come from that. Certainly, the theory and logic seem right. Maybe a shame about the weight though. Would give it a try that's for sure!
My soles suggest I land towards the front of my shoe but I know that my heels then land because my feet/ankles just aren’t strong enough to support me running round on my toes so maybe they’d help me with that or alternatively just cripple me! One thing is for sure though, if Hoka can make the Clifton 6, a giant of a shoe in men’s size 9.5, come in well under 300g then these shoes have no excuse for weighing what they do. I’ll be sticking with my Hokas
Funny story. After seeing the Nike vaporflys I decided to get back into running, and found another pair of Nike shoes that looked similar but were cheaper, Nike Vomero zoom. After inspecting what I thought was an interesting "ergonomic" design, I thought that I thought that the little flick at the end of the heel was there so that when the heel hits the floor, it'd roll smoothly into the sole. So £70 and 3 weeks later, after focusing on my super wrong rolling from my heel to my sole running form, I had shin splints so bad that I couldn't even walk up and down the stairs. I learned my lesson and decided to learn how to run properly
I was under the impression that the achilles tendon takes on too much stress if the heel doesn't contact the ground during midstance, is that incorrect?
That shoe makes work your Achilles’ tendon to become stronger,the Achilles’ tendon is the strongest tendon of body but if you heel striking you’ll never have a good tendon and you’ll get injury very quick,thanks to this shoes your tendons will be ready for running always
Rather than a heavy shoe to propel you forward, why not run in Nike Vaporfly which also propels you forward, and is extremely light? The Vaporfly is meant for racing (not every day training) but the FBR doesn't seem like an every day shoe either. I'd rather rotate the Vaporfly into some of my weekly training runs once in a while because that's the shoe I race in. Thanks for the idea. :-)
I would be interested to try a much lighter version with decent cushion in the forefoot. This is interesting, but seems more like a novelty product or a training tool for heel strikers.
They're a little pricey. I've been doing most of my running on more rugged terrain, but it's always fun to get out there for an easy session on a flat and smooth road to strengthen those all important foot muscles. They sound like good trainers; maybe they could get away with going a little heavier?
I wondered about the effect of removing the heel from shoes to force running form. I didn’t know the FBR shoes existed. I’d like other similar options and iterations before trying this style of shoe.
So they are good for flat running and gentle hills? I would point out that suggesting landing of the ball of your foot is potentially injury causing for many runners, better to say midfoot. Foot and calf strength is built up over time, many heal strikers moving to this shoe will not have strong feet/calves to use this shoe? Increase cadence to help prevent heal striking (as its much easier to drop foot underneath your body instead of out in front). A Can of worms is what this shoe has opened....Maybe a follow up video on the dangers of not being careful enough about moving to mid/forefoot running? Or rather, the benifits and how to go about doing it safely? Nice review though !! I've been watching your other vids.
Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan born athlete ran a record 10 marathons undefeated, holds the current marathon world record & is the first person ever to run under 2 hours in said event. He runs in Nikes... good enough for him, it’s good enough for me!
These shoes will guarantee a severe hamstring, or achilles’ tendonitis that never goes away. You can also get very sore ankle joints with this type of shoe. Your heels aught to contact the ground, whether they contact the ground first or second is a matter that is entirely up to you. An intensive intervals trading will make the best use out of your running shoe, and improve your running style and economy, not the shoe. Runners in Kenya will invariably raise their trailing ankle above the knee, which places more reliance on a mid-foot strike. So a zero-drop shoe is the best choice, along with intervals training.
I tried chopping a bulky heel off before committing to a pair of Altras. They did lead to aching calves, Altras better. To start I was to fore foot, now mid foo
Or you can just develop a natural forefoot or midfoot strike and use regular shoes with low drop. This seems like more of a trainer shoe for someone who is having trouble stopping heel strike. Better training options are available to change strike.
Hi guys i have knee issues and have damaged cartilage. My shoe seems to wear out the heel on the outside of both trainers. What shoe would you suggest i try?
I have read a lot of research in the last months and have not found one article that explicitly says that heel strikes are bad and that running on the forefoot gives less running related injuries. This is just yet another gimmick that will totally destroy your achilles and calf muscles.
Thanks for showing these shoes Anna as I've never heard of them before. How do they compare to a minimalist shoe such as Vibram or Merrell's? Looks like a huge weight difference. I run in Vibram's myself. Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I haven't ever really run in Vibrams or Merrells I'm afraid so wouldn't be able to compare the two. At 310g they certainly are weighty though!
Anna love the video, wierd but nice look. Which one was the oddest one running in these trainers, A, running down a hill, b, on flat or c, going up a hill (Anna) thanks.
I wonder what it would do for your calf muscles and achilles. Do you get that muscle relaxation when you foot is firmly planted or are they always engaged?
Philipp Philipp i think you need to practice being more confident in your stride when going downhill, if ur heelstriking ur probably trying to slow down or gain control over ur balance. focus on opening up ur stride and being confident that ur not going to fall, practice on a smooth hill with no rocks or anything that can trip you up, take it steady eventually u will learn how to find ur feet. Remember that going downhill u are going to go faster anyway because gravity so dont try to fight it too much
I already wear barefoot shoes, vibram five fingers and the merrel vapor gloves so I’m pretty used to the forefoot striking method. I still think the shoe in the video to be a rather novel maximalist shoe focused on forefoot striking exclusively.
You need your heel as part of your natural running gate--which is forefoot land, with a heel touch after to engage Achilles spring. You avoid "heel striking" by running minimally, not by running with a giant shoe with the heel removed to further mess up your form/body.
The shoes looked very interesting, but saying that I’ve never seen a heelless running shoe. I wear supported shoes, so I don’t know if I’d try those out.
I got a question for the running channel. Currently I’m in Borneo, since last year I noticed around here there’s a trend that a lot of people running in a flip flop/sandles. Any future review about this flip flop running if any good.
Basically running barefooted are we less likely to landing our foot on the heel.. but we need heel strike to run down the downhill.. i say if u want to get a good running form of ur foot u shud have a low stack midsole with low drop.. its just my opinion
hey Anna 👋🏾 Sooooo many puns! 😁 dont know if you realised! Hey But what a cool shoe. Can make you run correctly reminding me of when a pen was placed in my right hand... anyway. But its a good thing as heel striking is bad for your health - well mine anyway. It simply hurts!
I like the concept, especially for people who are forefoot running. But the whole idea of forefoot is to allow foot feel naturally and to prevent injuries like knees, hips..., so it has to be lighter and flexible. These FBR shoes look bulky, rigid, and heavy. Hope the new version will rectify some these issues.
I am battling plantar fasciitis. I wonder if these would help? They are weird looking. They also look a bit clunky for running shoes. By the way, great filming while running. That has to be a challenge.
Heh.. You can do this with zero drop minimalist shoes too.. Instead of creating a weird running style, they make you feel the heel strikes so you naturally shift forward...
@@runningchannel That would be great to see :) I enjoyed the barefoot running vid you did a while ago! I'm sure you have plenty of places to get references but if you need any more regarding minimalist running, let me know.. I have done several marathons and triathlons in minimalist shoes (as per my YT channel)!
It seems like there would be way too many confounding variables to conclude that these shoes are actually better at preventing injury. I can't imagine how you could run a study to do this.
I did that a few years ago. I ended up with plantar fasciitis so bad that I could hardly walk normally for a year. Once I could walk again I went back to my old running way which is more of a heel strike.
↓↓Would you try this shoe? Let us know what unique running gadgets you’d like us to test out in the comments below! ↓↓
Let us know!
@@runningchannel I would definitely love to give them a go. I like to try different styles and designs and innovations in running shoes. It is amazing how much variety there is in the humble shoe. Also its wide open for puns about sole searching haha
I'm a midfoot striker anyway so I don't think they'd make a great deal of difference to be honest!
I would definitely try these. Look weird at first but some Nike s with massive stack look almost as strange
Now this would fix my heel striking for good! I can see by the wear on my shoes that I've let things go, and not in a good "Frozen" way.
Nike: *exaggerates the heel as much as possible*
FBR: No
lol!
So it is easier to heel and not do the correct race technique
@A.Ffirmative listen
Nike: I just want your money scamming you with my banned and cheating shoes
FBR: No
@@ignaciogarcia7815 Ok
Nike: all your heels are mine.
FBR: ...
The opposite of this shoe is the Clifton edge
Haha yep, the Clifton Edge definitely has a heel - Have you bought the Clifton edge?
Hoka Ten nines.
Was just about to say that lol
No, the opposite is the hoka nine ten
Agree Clifton have the same effect. Really love my Hoka's but does take time to transition into them
Changed my running to forefoot running as I was having so many problems with my knees, stripped it right back, started slow jogging, it's made a huge difference, now working on cadence and speed in a whole new way
What is the drop of your shoes?
Answer: Negative
Haha, that would be a funny conversation to have!
What’s the attitude in your mind?
Answer:Negative
You should try them before confirm anything
@@ignaciogarcia7815 wot u on about m8, OP is joking about the heel to toe drop
Structural drop: 10mm
Functional drop: "Free", depending on how low the runner drops the heel after contacting the ground with the midfoot: May be positive, 0 or negative
Achilles Tendinopathy incoming. Yes, you’ll shit the forces away from knee/hip by reducing your heel strike, but the force has got to go somewhere. That somewhere is the calf complex. The sudden increase in loading, for a lot of people, will increase the risk of Achilles issues. Very slow introduction of these shoes needed if you’re going to go for it.
But the people buying this were never heel striking to begin with
I here tendenitis as a reason to stay in highly supportive shoes. Just because there is a transition it shouldn't be a reason to not go through it
You might also shift the forces.
All I usually need to shit the forces away is some cheap beer and Taco Bell
Everything you comment we have taken into account.
We have created the FBR Method that follows a perfect progressive adaptation.
Athletes who have followed the method have already completed marathons without problems.
Although you may believe otherwise, with FBR we strengthen the tendons and muscles involved in running.
The Faculty of Physiotherapy of Valencia and the European University of Physiotherapy of VAlencia have tested our concept with injured athletes since 2015, even helping them to recover from their ailments in many cases or that the degree of discomfort decreased with the use of FBR.
Thank you very much
These are the ultimate anti-HOKA shoe. I think you need to do a time trial challenge - these heel-less ones vs the HOKA TenNine 😆
Great idea!
try doing downhill with these #shudders
But otherwise, a brilliant idea
Errr yeah. You only run in HOKA's if you have injuries?! I say, you run in them if you are called Jim Walmsley ;-)
Might try and get my hands on a pair of these. Could be a good topic for discussion on a run tech / analysis video, to look at product claims vs reality!
James Dunne don’t you suggest that even if you are not a heel striker, you should still lower your heel to the floor each stride? I don’t know if that is even possible in these!
Interesting idea!
Heel to toe drop: ...
These would be a nightmare on trails, but I think they'd work quite well on roads for an acclimatised fore/midfoot striker.
Not ideal for trails no!
Seems like a bad idea imo. Lots of runners as they tire will start to heel strke a bit. With no heel there to handle a break down in form seems injury would be a good possibility.
Or tell them that they're bodies are too fatigue to keep going and to take a break instead of unknowingly heels striking and reinforcing bad habits.
Owen Lindley yeah I think these might be good to train with for a little while because they might strengthen your calves which can lead to running faster, but idk I don’t even run
Ask the runners who have finished the marathon in more than 4 hours.
Exactly. It would just be much safer to buy a low-drop or minimalist shoe. Awful design.
I wish I had a shoe like this when I was running backwards, a few years ago, because the heel of regular running shoes was useless and getting in the way sometimes, rubbing on the ground. Still weird, so is backwards running! Thanks for the video!
That's a great point! These would be great for backwards running!
@C I Why would he have to be an attension seeker?
When you thought shoes couldn't get more ridiculous or weird.
What's next I wonder!
There's some trail shoes with a massive heel. I think they are on the Wild Ginger Running Channel. Or this one. Can't remember!
I had same feelings when I saw you
@@hairyairey That would be the Hoka One One TenNine
Or that man might be able to reach the moon someday
It’s a myth that forefoot running means your heel should never touch the ground.
it touches the ground lightly but only if you have a barefoot shoe or one with a extremly low sole.
@@katleski281 Yes but light touch is natural and prevents injuries
When you are running with FBR Concept you can understand the Running Evolution. It's the difference....
@@francbeneyto5751 yeah might be the case with you
Maybe that’s the one thing that can improve my heel-striking.. still seems a bit strange😅
Maybe give them a go!
cheaper option, get a metronome, set it to 175-180 bpm and ensure you foot strikes on each beat. That should force you to shorted your stride, land with your foot under you and thus prevent heel striking (maybe).
Yeah just increase your cadence. But don’t worry, almost no one are real fore foot runners, it’s mostly a function of speed and cadence, and even amongst the best long distance runners in the world, only a few actually pull it off.
heel striking isn't necessarily bad, its the overstriding heelstrike thats bad
Got a pair of these shoes about a year ago, pretty much when FBR started. They were really good to learn to run forefoot. Not a shoe for a race, although their idea is very clever. Like I said, it's a great shoe to learn how to run with a better form.
Awesome!
Nothing wrong with heel striking unless you have been frequently getting injured..if you have been running like that for years and are injury free then who cares
Thanks for the comment!
Yeah exactly. Is no true that all African athletes are forefoot striker. Some of the pacer of Kipchoge were heel striker.
say that after 20 years of running and your knees are fucked and you need knee surgery and can never run again.
Rear Foot Strike and Heel Strike are very different things. If you land on your heel with an extended knee, have fun with your knee replacements.
@@johnpoulter2224 In general there is no relationship between joint wear and tear and running. However, there is a very strong relationship between your parents and your joints (choose your parents wisely), weight, and a history of contact sports/knee injuries. Does this apply to you? I don't know. But it's a myth that running is 'bad for joints', and there is some evidence of improved cartilage functionbin lower mileage runners.
Interesting especially as when I look at my wear patterns it is mostly under the toes not under the heel so maybe these massive high stack heels seen of late are adding bulk for no real reason for me. Then again 310g in what a size 9 or so means I would well up past 400g in my 13 and that is a lot even with a heel. So sounds more like a concept at the moment.
Thanks for the comment Tim! There is a second version of the shoe coming soon, so the weight might change on the new release
Great video as always Anna. At the moment will stick to traditional running shoes since they are perfect for my running style. Keep up the good work 👍🏿👍🏿
Thanks!!
Interesting concept... as someone who’s been trying to get off their heels I’d be interested in trying them... 🤔 although they aren’t the most attractive shoe and I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay for that privilege... they are however heavily discounted at the moment possibly down to the new model you mentioned was coming??
That is probably why!
Best shoe to teach you to not heel strike are Vibrams. Zero cushion means you feel every strike. But they take some serious effort and attention to retrain your stride so you don't injur yourself
Just don't pay 130 or whatever the price in the video was... I found it for 59 euros... Im not buying it cause I don't need it... But if I was I'd pay 59 euros
I remember using vertical strength training shoes that was basically the same thing only a little taller. These would probably help with strength in the lower legs also.
Nice! 👍
How did your Achilles feel the day after the run?
I literally got achilles tendonitis from running on my forefoot too much and not letting my heel touch the ground 😅
I've always thought about doing this to my shoes. Glad I wasn't the only one to think about it
You aren't alone!
I would love to see the evidence that heel striking leads to more injuries than forefoot striking. I can only find a study comparing college cross country athletes who are natural heel strikers versus mid-foot strikers, and that is comparing natural patterns, not people who have switched. Is there any stronger evidence than this that it is a good idea to switch?
I have been hearing repeatedly over the last few years that both forefoot and heel strikers have similar injury rates, just different types of overuse injuries. People switching from a natural heel strike to a forced forefoot strike, however, seem to have a higher rate of injuries. I would love to know what the actual hard data is for this.
These shoes seem mostly like a gimmick, and I would probably try them out if I had extra money to burn and thought that heel striking was "bad". As someone who runs a lot and heel strikes most of the time (I probably do some forefoot when I do speedwork), I haven't had any repetitive use injuries in years and I am going to continue with what I'm doing as long as it is working.
I looked up Vibram Five Fingers to see if those are still popular, and I just learned that in 2014, Vibram settled a lawsuit and had to pay back anyone (I'm assuming just in the US) who purchased their shoes because they claimed the shoes "reduce[s] foot injuries and strengthen[s] foot muscles". I'm not saying these shoes are making outrageous claims (because I couldn't access the FBR website today), but something to keep in mind.
I was wondering the same. I saw an article (forgotten where Runner's World? Active.com? I forget) somebtime ago pointing out the different type of injuries that heel, midfoot and forefoot strikers are prone to. I don't recall the article ever saying that running in one form was bad or more susceptible to injury than the other. And none of the injuries looked good.
I’m using this FBR for a year and are soooo good. Little heavy but so good. Waiting for the next version
Ah glad you like them! How long did it take to get used to running/walking in them?
@@runningchannel at the beginning I just walk at home or using into the gym. Then I mixed with other running shoes, 8km my NB and the last 2km with FBR. gradually increasing the distance. I haven't been in a hurry to adapt. You have to adapt certain muscles, step by step.
Def a Cool Idea for a training shoe to aid in lessening heel strike & to Strengthen calves. First time watching the running channel, good informative video, looking forward to more. plus cute lady! Subscribed for sure
Happy to help!
This is more "curiosity" shoe then proper running one.Designed for heel strikers soon or later I think negative drop of this shoe(your heel is sinking more then rest of foot) inevitably would cause strain in you calf complex..
I'm primarily a trail runner with a history of Achilles issues. These look absolutely terrifying in that regard... I'm guessing if you take an odd step, even on the flat, you risk a serious over extension of your Achilles?
I’ll not buy these but I’m not a heel striker. The question to address I guess is what else could someone do to address this issue without adding another pair of shoes to the kit drawer? Would progressing to bare foot style shoes be a better option to help adopt a more natural gait? The answer may lie in your introduction. The Kenyans haven’t used heel less shoes to get to where they are today...
Nice review Anna. When I saw them, I immediately thought that they were a pair of shoes designed to teach a person to run forefoot. Much like your stabiliser musings
Thanks for watching!
Those shoes sound great. I normally have big strides and therefore often land on the heel. After I read Running with the Kenyans though, I always had the dream of becoming a forefoot runner. That is why these shoes are worth to test for me.
Glad you found this useful!
I have read the book and I have also noted to Adharanand that this is supporting the emulation we coach ie triple extension. using all three joints to allow the slightly raised toe to then allow a non heal strike ( ie mid or for foot ) to allow all the power to be smoothly transitioned to forward motion,
Thanks for sharing!
Genius Anna. Always made sense to me. Why would we make the heel thicker than the forefoot anyway? I always thought doing this would make you lose dorsiflexion over time.
I am heavy footed and have a problem in my heels which means i can't where spikes because i become in agony and it will happen until i stop growing according to the doctor. So i also do heel strike quite often and those would probably help but i doubt i would be able to get used to them and i also probably can't afford them either.
Thanks for the comment!
Get a hacksaw and cut away the heel on an old shoe and see if it makes any difference?
I’d love to try them... they look really cool... love the concept..
You should!
Sounds like a nightmare for the Achilles if you never release it by dropping you heel on the floor?
Completely agree. This shoe seems like a marketing thing. Just walking to your run seems impossible in these haha
You wouldn't heel strike barefoot.
@@hector_2999 no but your heel would still make contact with the ground after intial forefoot/ midfoot contact
@@stayontrack not necessarily. Many runners never touch the heel of the shoe while running. Achilles injury would usually come from having weakness in the foot and a tight Achilles tendon from never extending properly in a heeled runner.
To me Altras look way more effective to prevent heel striking and help you with the running form. These still have some sort of drop, so that bit under the start of the heel means people will strike there. Best solution for getting used to forefoot striking are zero drop or low drop shoes. And 310 grams... Lol
Another cool, awesome video The Running Channel, love it. A weird/and unique running trainers, I'm a forefoot runner, so it wouldn't make much of a difference to me,
Might try these unique/weird running trainers in the future.
I'll try them out. When I get tired I notice I go to my heels on long runs. These shoes will help eliminate that habbit.
You should try it!
I like the idea. Sounds a bit like the origins of Altra shoes. Although they do look a bit like something you'd get in the middle aisle in Lidl.
I certainly would be interested to try for a few weeks, and follow their training plan. My one concern is that for a slow-amateur like myself it could increase one's otherwise mild supination or pronation
Seems like a trade-off. Eliminates impact but what about increased tension on the calf to support the heel?
Would you buy a pair Vincent?
@@runningchannel Based on this review I think I'd try them if they went on sale. I like the concept.
They are on sale 59€ until 30 June
Self conscious about someone seeing you in those shoes than someone seeing you running while holding a camera, lol. I don’t see myself wearing these types of shoes but it’s fun and interesting to watch reviews. Keep up the great work. 👍
Thanks for watching!
This reminds me of the MTB Masai boots. I had couple pairs of them back in the days. Gosh, it’s like 10 years ago!
Haha trends do come round in cycles!
I tend to run on the front foot and my shoe wear reflects this. When walking however I use a more heel first stride.
My current shoes are lighter, cheaper and more suited to my 1k warm up / cool down walks so I don't think that I will be changing any time soon.
Interesting concept though. Enjoyed the piece.
Thanks Michael!
Same for me, are you doing anything to correct that when you are walking or it's not that serious?
@@garciaks16 I believe that heel strike in walking is perfectly normal.
Those are best shoes ever had in my life,I agree in everything this video but the price,that price was when launched long time ago,the price now before stock finish is 59€,I’ve got two pairs and can’t wait for the second version in September which will be lighter Franc told me 👏🏾
Glad you like them!
The shoe are almost like a corrective brace(like forrest gump ), that you use to force your gait/running style to forefoot/midfoot strike,i doubt the shoe will spark a trend or fashion craze,but for specialize tool ..its a nice concept(cheaper training option probably available ,but its an option)
Thanks for the info!
Ive always wondered about this. Finally a video about it. Luckily im not too late
Hope you found it useful!
I would be worried about over extending the strides not finding that natural lean forward we get when running barefoot
Plenty of other shoes out there that will slowly train runners to midfoot strike. Altra and saucony spring to mind but any shoe 4mm or lower will increase the chance of a more forward motion strike.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I've really tried to stop heel striking.... It's so hard. But maybe I need to try harder
The Kenians also run on dirt roads... Those make a huge difference
I don't use my heel when running, but when I'm finished, I do like to cool down with a walk, I don't think these would work only if they could enhance my running, then I would and just take them off to cool down.
A very interesting concept, and would be interesting to see how well they do adjust a runners technique, and what gains then come from that. Certainly, the theory and logic seem right. Maybe a shame about the weight though. Would give it a try that's for sure!
They are definitely an interesting design, would be interested in that too! Thanks for watching!
Boyer coe made a pair in 70s for calve development called the strength shoe not good for running but similar design.
My soles suggest I land towards the front of my shoe but I know that my heels then land because my feet/ankles just aren’t strong enough to support me running round on my toes so maybe they’d help me with that or alternatively just cripple me! One thing is for sure though, if Hoka can make the Clifton 6, a giant of a shoe in men’s size 9.5, come in well under 300g then these shoes have no excuse for weighing what they do. I’ll be sticking with my Hokas
Funny story. After seeing the Nike vaporflys I decided to get back into running, and found another pair of Nike shoes that looked similar but were cheaper, Nike Vomero zoom. After inspecting what I thought was an interesting "ergonomic" design, I thought that I thought that the little flick at the end of the heel was there so that when the heel hits the floor, it'd roll smoothly into the sole. So £70 and 3 weeks later, after focusing on my super wrong rolling from my heel to my sole running form, I had shin splints so bad that I couldn't even walk up and down the stairs. I learned my lesson and decided to learn how to run properly
Sorry you had to learn that the hard way 😬
I was under the impression that the achilles tendon takes on too much stress if the heel doesn't contact the ground during midstance, is that incorrect?
That shoe makes work your Achilles’ tendon to become stronger,the Achilles’ tendon is the strongest tendon of body but if you heel striking you’ll never have a good tendon and you’ll get injury very quick,thanks to this shoes your tendons will be ready for running always
Rather than a heavy shoe to propel you forward, why not run in Nike Vaporfly which also propels you forward, and is extremely light? The Vaporfly is meant for racing (not every day training) but the FBR doesn't seem like an every day shoe either. I'd rather rotate the Vaporfly into some of my weekly training runs once in a while because that's the shoe I race in. Thanks for the idea. :-)
I would be interested to try a much lighter version with decent cushion in the forefoot. This is interesting, but seems more like a novelty product or a training tool for heel strikers.
Thanks for the comment Stuart!
It's true. Less is more. You are the technology.
👍
They're a little pricey. I've been doing most of my running on more rugged terrain, but it's always fun to get out there for an easy session on a flat and smooth road to strengthen those all important foot muscles. They sound like good trainers; maybe they could get away with going a little heavier?
Fair points!
When I wanted to learn forefoot running I cut the heals off my shoes. Worked. Now I wear out shoes and the heal pattern still looks like new
Great idea!
I’m a massive heel striker, and I know it slows me down, never sure on how to correct this, so could be the answer 🤷🏼♂️
Mark English I don’t think so. Maybe get a trainer instead
I wondered about the effect of removing the heel from shoes to force running form. I didn’t know the FBR shoes existed. I’d like other similar options and iterations before trying this style of shoe.
👍
Hello from Ohio USA. Did you feel rocking motion from side to side? Running or walking? Thanks and I enjoy the channel 😊
Update, New FBR shoe for September has a heel but no sole !
My heel very rarely touches the ground when . I can't imagine using my heels to run.
Question regarding lack of injury. Wouldn't these increase any shin splints runners would have?
So they are good for flat running and gentle hills? I would point out that suggesting landing of the ball of your foot is potentially injury causing for many runners, better to say midfoot. Foot and calf strength is built up over time, many heal strikers moving to this shoe will not have strong feet/calves to use this shoe? Increase cadence to help prevent heal striking (as its much easier to drop foot underneath your body instead of out in front). A Can of worms is what this shoe has opened....Maybe a follow up video on the dangers of not being careful enough about moving to mid/forefoot running? Or rather, the benifits and how to go about doing it safely? Nice review though !! I've been watching your other vids.
Thank you for the comment and video suggestion! Really useful to know :)
Starts at 3:36
Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan born athlete ran a record 10 marathons undefeated, holds the current marathon world record & is the first person ever to run under 2 hours in said event. He runs in Nikes... good enough for him, it’s good enough for me!
These shoes will guarantee a severe hamstring, or achilles’ tendonitis that never goes away. You can also get very sore ankle joints with this type of shoe. Your heels aught to contact the ground, whether they contact the ground first or second is a matter that is entirely up to you. An intensive intervals trading will make the best use out of your running shoe, and improve your running style and economy, not the shoe. Runners in Kenya will invariably raise their trailing ankle above the knee, which places more reliance on a mid-foot strike. So a zero-drop shoe is the best choice, along with intervals training.
I tried some forefoot running shoes before, they cause me to have tendon issues... before I couldn’t balance well with the change in gait.
I tried chopping a bulky heel off before committing to a pair of Altras. They did lead to aching calves, Altras better. To start I was to fore foot, now mid foo
Or you can just develop a natural forefoot or midfoot strike and use regular shoes with low drop. This seems like more of a trainer shoe for someone who is having trouble stopping heel strike. Better training options are available to change strike.
Hi guys i have knee issues and have damaged cartilage. My shoe seems to wear out the heel on the outside of both trainers. What shoe would you suggest i try?
I have read a lot of research in the last months and have not found one article that explicitly says that heel strikes are bad and that running on the forefoot gives less running related injuries. This is just yet another gimmick that will totally destroy your achilles and calf muscles.
Thanks for showing these shoes Anna as I've never heard of them before. How do they compare to a minimalist shoe such as Vibram or Merrell's? Looks like a huge weight difference. I run in Vibram's myself. Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I haven't ever really run in Vibrams or Merrells I'm afraid so wouldn't be able to compare the two. At 310g they certainly are weighty though!
Anna love the video, wierd but nice look.
Which one was the oddest one running in these trainers,
A, running down a hill, b, on flat or c, going up a hill (Anna) thanks.
Oddest was probably on the flat. Uphill I didn't notice so much and downhill my stride kind of adapted to not having a heel
I wonder what it would do for your calf muscles and achilles. Do you get that muscle relaxation when you foot is firmly planted or are they always engaged?
i run on my forefoot so I kind of want to try these 🤣 heels are already non existent to me
You should try them!
How does it feel to be part of the forefoot strike gang?
What if you run downhill? I also run on my forefoot but as soon as it gets downhill, the footstroke has to change and becomes more like heelstrikes 🧐
Philipp Philipp i think you need to practice being more confident in your stride when going downhill, if ur heelstriking ur probably trying to slow down or gain control over ur balance. focus on opening up ur stride and being confident that ur not going to fall, practice on a smooth hill with no rocks or anything that can trip you up, take it steady eventually u will learn how to find ur feet. Remember that going downhill u are going to go faster anyway because gravity so dont try to fight it too much
San chan feels nice and springy 🙂
I already wear barefoot shoes, vibram five fingers and the merrel vapor gloves so I’m pretty used to the forefoot striking method. I still think the shoe in the video to be a rather novel maximalist shoe focused on forefoot striking exclusively.
You need your heel as part of your natural running gate--which is forefoot land, with a heel touch after to engage Achilles spring. You avoid "heel striking" by running minimally, not by running with a giant shoe with the heel removed to further mess up your form/body.
I would definitely give it a try but man they're crazy looking. very cool concept
Very cool idea!
Yes, I would give them a try for sure.
The shoes looked very interesting, but saying that I’ve never seen a heelless running shoe. I wear supported shoes, so I don’t know if I’d try those out.
Fair enough!
I’ve never heard of running trainers having their own training program included.
They are definitely unique but I can see the benefit for heel strikers. But the weight is SO heavy considering!
True, they are a heavy shoe!
I got a question for the running channel. Currently I’m in Borneo, since last year I noticed around here there’s a trend that a lot of people running in a flip flop/sandles. Any future review about this flip flop running if any good.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Basically running barefooted are we less likely to landing our foot on the heel.. but we need heel strike to run down the downhill.. i say if u want to get a good running form of ur foot u shud have a low stack midsole with low drop.. its just my opinion
hey Anna 👋🏾 Sooooo many puns! 😁 dont know if you realised! Hey But what a cool shoe. Can make you run correctly reminding me of when a pen was placed in my right hand... anyway. But its a good thing as heel striking is bad for your health - well mine anyway. It simply hurts!
I like the concept, especially for people who are forefoot running. But the whole idea of forefoot is to allow foot feel naturally and to prevent injuries like knees, hips..., so it has to be lighter and flexible. These FBR shoes look bulky, rigid, and heavy. Hope the new version will rectify some these issues.
Excited to see the updated version!
YEESSSS I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CUTTING EXTRA HEEL FOAM OFF FOR A YEAR
sounds like this is the shoe for you!
I am battling plantar fasciitis. I wonder if these would help? They are weird looking. They also look a bit clunky for running shoes. By the way, great filming while running. That has to be a challenge.
Thanks Dawn! Have you watched Anna film and run during her marathons haha
Heh.. You can do this with zero drop minimalist shoes too.. Instead of creating a weird running style, they make you feel the heel strikes so you naturally shift forward...
Sounds like we need to do a video on minimalists shoes as well!
@@runningchannel That would be great to see :) I enjoyed the barefoot running vid you did a while ago! I'm sure you have plenty of places to get references but if you need any more regarding minimalist running, let me know.. I have done several marathons and triathlons in minimalist shoes (as per my YT channel)!
It seems like there would be way too many confounding variables to conclude that these shoes are actually better at preventing injury. I can't imagine how you could run a study to do this.
I’d want it to be more lightweight to really feel like I’m getting the benefits of not having the heel.
Now that's budgeting genius!
no heel strike, but you might get 'full body strike' a.k.a falling down :)
wonder how long this new trend will last.
I am literally going to try running without letting my heels touch the ground. Ill let you know how it goes 🤷🏻♀️
Please do, would love to know how you get on! 👍
I did that a few years ago. I ended up with plantar fasciitis so bad that I could hardly walk normally for a year. Once I could walk again I went back to my old running way which is more of a heel strike.
I run on my toes, so heel less shoes would be perfect for me. Yes i know i don't have proper technique.
If it works, it works!
Running on toes is the actual proper technique.