I am definitely considering these, as I tire I definitely start heelstriking and that's apparent from the wear on my shoes. Which don't last long these days anyway.
Very interesting! I would love to see a “follow up” video. Like maybe use them for a few months (don’t have to everyday) and tell us if they have improved your overall running in other shoes too! And if they have worked different muscles. I feel like using them for 13 mins doesn’t fully give you what they can/ can’t do but I do understand you have other things you are running for. 😁 Would just be interesting to see a longer review. I would definitely be interested in these if I was getting injured like you mentioned! (I wonder how they would be for my sister who is more flat foot...)
My concern is those occasional steps on uneven ground where you land fore or midfoot, then your heel drops to kiss the ground which isn't there, and you overstretch your calf/ Achilles. I'm worried these shoes would turn those awkward steps into injuries...
@@robertlangdon494 Sadly after much research, I've found 0 drop (or more, here!) isn't for every body. It depends on your physical conformation (PT taught me I have abnormally short Achilles despite years of yoga), and it also depends on the shoes worn the rest of the day. After carefully and slowly trying to incorporate 0 drop and receiving my first calf injury, I willingly accept that I need a drop of 4-6 to run injury free. But it's awesome for the many it works for!
@@runningchannel As someone who lives in their Vibrims, I can say they really make a difference. I use them for walking mostly, and some strength sessions - running with a weighted pack. I wouldn't race in them, but using them to strengthen your feet and ankles is really effective. I tend to go over on an ankle in the first few kms of any ultra that I do, but with the work I've done in my fives, I've never had to pull out of a race due to injury.
@@runningchannel Please only make a video on barefoot running if you have good experience and knowledge with it because most people I know have never tried once in their lives and think it's painful but it's the easiest way to run.
Not sure how I feel about these, im sure they work alright but definitely concerned about there being no heel. i use barefoot shoes which promote this kind of running out of necessity as it hurts for your heel to hit the ground first. however your heel still touches the ground after your fore/midfoot has absorbed the impact to stop it going through your heels into your knees etc, while still giving you stability for your next stride.
I completely agree. I use barefoot shoes as well and mid foot running is not about not using the heel but about not to hit the ground with the heel first. It looks to me like calf or Achilles problems in the making if you don’t release the tension in the calf at all by not touching the ground with the heel. It would be also interesting to see if this shoe leads to more foot injury In the fore- and the mid foot. I guess I understand where the idea of the concept comes from but I would assume you are just shifting the location of potential injuries rather than preventing injuries…
@@lisaweber1865 yeah, don't get me wrong. I'm all for people trying new things but I find it a bit weird someone has read things like Adharanand Finn and born to run and trying to come up with an over engineered solution which ignores a vital part of our biomechanics. If we didn't need our heels they wouldn't have evolved the way they did. :/
@@CaptainBrash 😂 I completely agree with you. It seems they only read the first page of ‘Born to run’ ( or similar) and did not get the messages at all of what you can learn from barefoot running…
I purchased a pair of these due to exhuasing every possible method i could find to rid me from chronic shin splints. To date ove only used them a few times on the treadmill, so after watcing your review im really thinking of giving them a good try and making a contrasting video too. Thanks for posting this, enjoyable and interesting.
I don't know what to think about those. He talks about the strain on the heel and possible risk of injury & and I can get behind that. But is the shoe really helping or is it just making heel running more comfortable? There's a reason behind heel running & imho it's more important to fix this reason (fixing running form, more focus on strechting, ...) than to create a shoe that's lacking the heel department.
I have read/seen that you should release the tension in your Achilles/calves by having your heal kiss the ground on each step. This would be to prevent injury, but I can't see how that is possible in these shoes.
Sarah, always a nice job from you. Hey, here's an idea for a vlog. Why not take what I call "Underdog Shoes"? That is, shoes that people usually don't buy like Reebok or shoes from companies that are trying to get a foothold in the running market, like Puma. FBR is an attempt to create a new interest with footwear with a brand new concept. Underdog Shoes are cheaper and exist in a world free of hype. Hm-m think about that for a second.
My favorite principle? The best marathoners on the planet train in regular running shoes and run 2:03 marathons in ultralight racing shoes with carbon plates. I've been running for 44 years, and this same gimmick (no heel) shows up every 8-10 years. And it vanishes very quickly. As this shoe will.
@@stevestarr9769 so what if the top marathoners are wearing these padded shoes? It doesn't make them right. Humans have been running barefoot for millions of years in the savannahs of Africa, chasing and hunting animals by persistence hunting. Some tribes in South America still run miles barefooted every day. If we needed large cushions to run, we would have evolved them to be attached to our feet just like how horses have hooves. These marathoners are not interested in building up a strong kinetic chain from the foot upwards, all they want is the best time, and a jumpy cushiony shoe can help with that, but if you are not being paid to run, you do not need to do this and weaken your calves and feet and make yourself more susceptible to injury while doing any other sport that requires foot and ankle strength.
@@jazeeradxb LOL....I'll print out your message and send it to the athletic federations of Kenya and Ethiopia. They've been doing it all wrong! LOL. Fact: I worked in a running store back when the very first Nike Frees and Vibrams came out, and we sold a lot. Flash forward to 2016, and I picked up part time hours at the same store...a lot of the same customers from the days of the Nike Free. Ya know what? THEY ALL WENT BACK to "real" running shoes. I know I'm talking to a cult member, but whatever. Call me when you run a 2:17 marathon. ((Oh, wait, it's not about being a good runner, it's about having a super kinetic chain! My bad!! LOL) EDIT: You clearly know NOTHING about the gym work that marathoners like Eliud Kipchoge does in his marathon buildups. They do a LOT of gym work in this era. YOU should do some research yourself right here on RUclips.
@@stevestarr9769 Did I say that they are doing it wrong? I just said that their main goal is not optimizing health but rather getting the best possible time at any cost. So obviously the alphaflys will help you get the best time if that is all you care about. The Nike free is not a barefoot shoe, and neither is the one showed in this video. I agree with you that these are fads and will disappear, but true barefoot running, with barefoot shoes that can be crumbled into a ball and fit into your pocket, and have no drop AND a very thin sole, these will not disappear (it has already been around for millions of years, and up until the 1970s). I do not live to run, I run to live, so for the health and longevity benefits of running it is better to run barefoot. The kenyans are also drinking 15 tablespoons of refined sugar a day in their tea. Do you think that is also a healthy thing? No but it will obviously help them achieve the insane amounts of mileage they are putting in every week. Doesn't make it healthy.
I loved running in my Altra shoes for years, then suffered an overuse/plantar fasciitis injury to one foot which kept me out of running for eight months (resolved in April 2018). My doctor determined it was from the constant flex of the foot that kept tension on the tendon. With so much of the heel cut out of this particular shoe model, is there a concern for that sort of injury? I wasn't doing a lot of miles during that time but it was cured with all the rest, NO RUNNING, heel cups, special shoes, etc. Maybe, for us compulsive runners, this type of shoe should be a training device and rotated into workouts. I'm only coming from a place of caution as I don't want to be out for a long time again. I'm still looking for the right trail shoe that has those "zero drop" attributes, fits my wide foot, and doesn't re-activate the old injury. Sucks to get old, but it's great to run.
I had a similar problem. Check out Topos! I have the Ultraventures, which have a low drop (not 0), medium cushioning, and wide toe box. They're still obscure enough to have great sales, got mine for $59.
@@Kelly_Ben Those were my 2nd to last pair. Pretty decent shoes that I got from REI here in California. I paid way more than $59, though. 🙄 I've been walking/running in some 4mm drop New Balance Fresh Foam More (V1?). Very comfortable but not super sporty/supportive. Thanks for the recommendation.
This was my concern. They may help prevent some injuries…but would just cause different injuries. Rotating them as a kind of training tool may be a better use of them:)
I use a combination of Altras (zero drop) and Newton Distance (2mm drop) for road running and Inov8 Terraultra G270 (zero drop) for trails. They also have a wide toe box and seem very popular which is unusual for a zero drop shoe. Personally I think they're great.
5:15 that's because it IS weird to NOT >walk< on your heels. dive into natural lifestyle / walking a bit more and you'll see that >running< is perfectly good on your midfoot and only kissing with the heel, but walking has always been intended to be done with your heel first. There's a reason we have a heel. and why the bone is so massive. It's fine for walking.
Exactly, when walking it's important to heelstrike because it part of maintaining healthy posture and actually is easier on the muscles. An the other hand it's the opposite when running. FBR is right about it's bad to healstrike when running because it puts more strain on the muscles. The shoes would be good for a runner who heelstrikes and can train them to runner safer with a better footstrike but should not be the only shoe they use. I Could see this shoe being very useful in a speed workout, training the runner to run more forward at faster speeds. When walking around the runner should use a different shoe to keep good posture. I give FBR half credit good for running and bad for walking.
@@carsonutley4134 It is exactly as you say. The FBR were designed exclusively for running and to re-educate the correct technique (midfoot) especially in the popular runner
Many runners have finished a marathon with the FBR concept, among them Araceli Chornet (53 years old) did it in the 2018 Valencia marathon in 4:08, the Frenchman Sebastian Miro who made a personal mark (3 minutes) in the 2019 Berlin marathon in 3:13. Remember that the FBR NOA are training shoes
It's a shame you have to purchase before you can access their info. Something I would like to see/read before committing so, no I won't be getting a pair.
As someone who goes through 3-4 pairs of running shoes a year due to heel striking (no pain just broken shoes!) these are very appealing. I have plantar fasciitis, so I’d have to see if they have support this too.
@@yellowfolder In the right shoes my PF doesn’t effect me (immediately in the wrong shoes though) but my heel striking doesn’t cause me pain, despite me going through cheap shoes in one run and £100~ in 2-3 months at best. Obviously got to keep an eye on them wearing away.
Fascinating. I’ve been running in Newton shoes for years now and really love them. The basic concept is similar and they did take some time to get used to even though I’ve never been a heel striker.
What was the effect of using these shoes on your calve? I'd imagine that it would be like doing calve raises so these should be rather good for toning leg muscles.
I have a pair of the FBR heelless running shoes that were reviewed on your channel a while back, I was hoping they would help me stop heel striking and strengthen my achillies. I was advised, with a look of horror, by my physio never to wear them and definitely never to run in them!
Firstly, I would love to know how Sarah managed to film herself running through the streets without encountering even one car or pedestrian! And secondly, I’m all for forefoot ‘natural’ running style, but I feel these would over time produce too much strain on the feet/ lower legs, as even the most minimalist of shoes allow us to rest on our heels when needs be
I would go heelless, how is the Toebox? Is the shoe as heavy as normal running shoes? I am transitioning to barefoot running in Vibrams so I know how it feels on your calf muscles the day after 😂 but I still love my running shoes and my intention is to learn better posture and then to be able to take this posture in normal running shoes. The problem is that this does not work out until now.... after a while you just get tired and not wanting to think about my posture the whole time I do tend to walk more midfoot and when I get very lazy even heelstrike! Also a lot of shoes are really made for heelstrikers, because there is just the most cushioning, if you forefootstrike it just doesnt make sense to have all that cushioning..... I asked about it at a runningshoe company in Germany. There answer "our shoes are for every sort of striker". But wearing the shoes just feels more like it would be more for heel ore maybe midfoot strikers but for forefoot striking the sole is just to hard and it feels like my heel is not fixed enough to do this....... anyways thanks for covering this brand, I had not heard from them till now.
Nice presentation Sarah, very professional. Would I use these shoes? I’d love to try them for a while, as I think it’s possible they would naturally induce the knee strengthening that I have to consciously achieve outside of running. Trouble is that, equally, it’s possible they’d make things worse in that area, and I do wonder about walking in them. So I’ll keep them in mind but they are a lot of money if they aren’t going to be used!
Would be great to see you try these long term and see how you found them. Out of interest, what type of shoe do you use to run in - neutral, motion control etc? I also wonder what the heelless shoes would be like going downhill as it would seem harder to land midfoot without drastically shortening your stride
In the interview with Anna McNuff she says even though you land on the mid/fore foot you need the heel to get proper propulsion so I'm guessing with a heelless shoe you would be running less optimal, however if you move towards a zero drop shoe where your heel does touch and you keep the running style from the shoe one would get the better running style. I don't think you need a heeless shoe though as just reducing the drop might give the same effect.
I would give these things a wide berth, to be honest. I've always been a forefoot striker but I almost ended up with Achilles problems at one point because I'd got into the habit of not fully loading my heel at all, not even during stance phase. My Achilles pain vanished after I consciously retrained myself to drop my heel to the ground fully during stance phase. These shoes seem like the exact antithesis to this concept and a rather extreme take on the notion that heel striking is bad. It may or may not be (James Dunne makes a good case on his channel that it isn't about which part of your foot hits the ground first, but about where your foot is in relation to your centre of mass when it hits the ground), but it doesn't follow from there that you should never let your heel touch the ground at all.
Nike takes the idea of the FBR concept in 2015 and creates the spikes "dragonfly" that is setting a lot of personal records in 1,500m-10,000m competitions. The "floating heel" is not only an idea that was born in 2013 in Denia, Spain, it is already being used in many parts of the world with talented athletes, but the FBR NOA model allows you to train this "midfoot running technique with floating heel" on the track, roads and route
Since I can't even handle zero drop shoes, I think these would not be for me. Interesting concept though. With hot weather coming, what shoes are most breathable to keep our feet cool? I have Ghost 13 and my feet feel awfully hot in them, otherwise I love them.
Thanks for watching Tanna! Shoes with a breathable mesh upper should help with coolness - you also want to make sure you've got enough space (so buy minimum 1/2 a size larger than your normal shoes). Hope this helps 😊
Not really the shoes for me, but great video, Sarah! How is Anna doing? Is she still injured? Haven't seen any running videos with her lately.. Hope everything is fine!
Ah thanks so much for watching Katharina! Anna is doing well, thank you! She's back running - woohoo! We've got a new video coming your way very soon, but did you spot her blog post update recently? therunningchannel.com/q2q-update/
@@runningchannel I just did, thanks a lot for the link. For me even running a half marathon seems like the ultimate goal, so I can't imagine what Anna is doing! All the best for you and your Boston qualifier goal!!!
This is something that cannot be judged by one run. This is something that needs to be analyzed over a longer period of time because you can wear a shoe once and it not hurt you but if you wear a specific shoe even following its plan over a period of time that is the only way to see if it causes more pain or injury. One run is not enough maybe the running channel should have a segment in the monthly news thing where they look at the progress of a runner they have using the shoes over a sustained period of time.
Thanks very much for the feedback and we'll definitely take this on board for future videos. Agree this shoe would need to be transitioned into slowly. Thanks for watching 😊
I'm curious if these shoes could help people with plantar fasciitis, as a lot of the foot strength training is focused on the ball of the foot and toes...
They almost feel like a shoe for training you to foot strike correctly as opposed to a serious running shoe. Like stabilisers on a bike! Once you’ve learnt to ride properly you can ride a bike without stabilisers! With these, you learn to run ‘correctly’ and then transfer that skill to ‘proper’ running shoes
Damn am i first? or is it not loading lol im a toe/midfoot striker and feel like i "roll through" my entire foot too, but vertically instead of horizontally (heel, mid, toes on the ground). like i feel like my toe hitting the ground, foot and ankle shock absorbing down through my foot, just touching the heel to the ground before pushing off again and rolling back onto and off of my toe. my barefoot/minimal shoes keep me off my heel cus it hurts to bonk into the ground haha Did you feel anything alike in these?
Not sure I could get into that style of shoe, maybe the guy is on to something but you have to wonder when there’s only one of the style/design vs an entire industry .
Sorry me again (second time this comment section!). I have a question. Can my feet get injured when they get to hot in my running shoes? There is this thing with proteines and heat that when it gets over 40 degrees that it can start a denaturation process (I think that is what its called in English or this is what google told me to call it LOL). Offcourse I should messure how hot my feet really get.... but I was just thinking about it the whole time last time I run in my "normal" running shoes! It felt so hot I just wanted to get them of my feet as soon as possible. Maybe looking for a shoe that has more ventilation should be a thing to consider this sommer. But anyway can it cause injury ore not? Maybe just a fun thing to figure out? On the other side people run in the Sahara dessert and they seem to do just fine after a lot of kilometers, you would think that would not be possible if there tendons would just get hard like an egg when cooking???? But I like to know anyhow!
Thanks for asking this Natalie. To be honest, I'm not sure of the answer, but do know that we should aim to buy running shoes at least 1/2 a size bigger to allow for our feet swelling when we run. I wonder if you need a bigger size so you've not only got more breathing space, but expansion space too? Hope this helps 😊
Hi thanks! My shoe is a lot bigger then my normal shoesize almost 1 and a half size. I will buy thinner Socks I guess that will help as well. I was just schocked at how warm it had suddenly become! Hope it will help. Maybe the Mesh of these shoes is also not as breathable as my former Asics shoes.... I have found something online about this Denaturalisation! As I underdtood is our body so perfect that after a time of getting used to the heat out bodies do cope with this by sending some other cells(??? Something) to help against the denaturisation. And that when accustomed to the heat or bodys can cope very well! Allthough there might be my mistake! I might not have been acclimated enough to the heat at the moment. I guess when it continues I will cope with it much better.... I hope? LOL!
Heel striking isn't a bad thing, WHERE your heel contacts the ground is the bigger issue. Too far forward is where problems occur. If your strike is underneath you, and you push forward from there, no issues. Many great runners and triathletes do this rather successfully.
I run and walk...so this is not for fatties like me. Also 145 euro that's definately not for me lo1l...seems like a cool concept :-) Not practical for run commuting.
I like this channel but I dont think its the best place for that, unless they have some people who already regularly use them and can give a more informed view, rather than just one run. i love my vivobarefoots, they really sorted out my gait but it took months of not only running, but living in them and foot/ankle strengthening exercises.
Niccolo Fillipazza has been running for 20 years in spikes usually New Balance XC900 or XC700. That's spikes on roads running 180 miles a week 5000m elevation a week and he also ran a 1:04 half and 13 5K in them. He's also ran a low 14 5K barefoot. I took his advice and I was able to rub 120 mile weeks in XC900 and even a 160 mile week at 4:15/km with the Sunday two 24km runs. Heels are unhealthy they need to go away like cigarettes. These shoes in the video are dumb your heel needs to kiss the ground running these shoes prevent your calf from fully lengthening on foot strike. She looks like she is prancing not running. Just quit the gimmicks of heels and no heels and either go barefoot or a shoe with minimal cushion lightweight zero drop it's very simple.
I wouldn't buy or even try this shoe. They should have kept the heel, make it from a material that doesn't invite to land on it. Then at least you can still walk on them without looking silly.
If the shoe hasn't got a heel how the hell are you going to stand up... would be my take on that. Understand there's racing spikes with minimal heel, but you're only wearing that for a track race, and then changing into something else
strange concept, kind of like wanting to try a new type of food which is alien to your culture but you are intrigued by it.. just do not know if my interest out ways the cost.. could be an emperor's got no item.
Thanks for watching. Definitely check this out with your physio first. If you've already got an injury it's probably not the best time to try something new. Hope this helps and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Running shoes fall into that category of shit that's been perfected already. And I think that happened years ago. Shoe's like this, Hokas, etc. Are just simply about trying new things etc etc. Now people will say whatever they have too to sell their shoes. We've discovered this and that, it's better for you because of this or that reason. blah blah blah. ridiculous amount of padding on the bottom of the shoes. Instead of shoe companies feeding you a load of bullshit about these are "better" for you because of this or that reason and this is why you need to wear them etc etc. I wish they would just say "Hey, we tried something new. this is the theory behind it. You might like them or might not, give em a shot."
Would you go heelless? Let us know in the comments below 👇
Heelless is benefit or not?
I run barefoot / minimalist. Time for the running channel to do a video on that...
Considering how far apart you two live that was quite a throw. I'm sure missile defences were alerted!
I am definitely considering these, as I tire I definitely start heelstriking and that's apparent from the wear on my shoes. Which don't last long these days anyway.
I don't get the cushioning. I'm a "barefoot" runner. It's just easier.
Think really we'd need to see these being used for a month or so to see what difference they made, one run session isn't really enough.
Very interesting! I would love to see a “follow up” video. Like maybe use them for a few months (don’t have to everyday) and tell us if they have improved your overall running in other shoes too! And if they have worked different muscles. I feel like using them for 13 mins doesn’t fully give you what they can/ can’t do but I do understand you have other things you are running for. 😁
Would just be interesting to see a longer review.
I would definitely be interested in these if I was getting injured like you mentioned! (I wonder how they would be for my sister who is more flat foot...)
I’ve been using them for 2 years and my tendons are stronger than ever,thanks to this shoes I dropped my marathon PB from 2:55 to 2:39
My concern is those occasional steps on uneven ground where you land fore or midfoot, then your heel drops to kiss the ground which isn't there, and you overstretch your calf/ Achilles. I'm worried these shoes would turn those awkward steps into injuries...
Start slow, once your calves muscles develop, that wont be an issue
@@robertlangdon494 Sadly after much research, I've found 0 drop (or more, here!) isn't for every body. It depends on your physical conformation (PT taught me I have abnormally short Achilles despite years of yoga), and it also depends on the shoes worn the rest of the day. After carefully and slowly trying to incorporate 0 drop and receiving my first calf injury, I willingly accept that I need a drop of 4-6 to run injury free. But it's awesome for the many it works for!
Looks awesome would definitely try. Would be interested in your view of vibrum 5 fingers, and how that changes posture and running stance.
Thanks for the suggestion, Jason! Barefoot running could be an interesting video to make!
@@runningchannel As someone who lives in their Vibrims, I can say they really make a difference. I use them for walking mostly, and some strength sessions - running with a weighted pack. I wouldn't race in them, but using them to strengthen your feet and ankles is really effective.
I tend to go over on an ankle in the first few kms of any ultra that I do, but with the work I've done in my fives, I've never had to pull out of a race due to injury.
@@littleoldmanrunning105 for short runs and walks
No fast running with them
@@runningchannel Please only make a video on barefoot running if you have good experience and knowledge with it because most people I know have never tried once in their lives and think it's painful but it's the easiest way to run.
Not sure how I feel about these, im sure they work alright but definitely concerned about there being no heel. i use barefoot shoes which promote this kind of running out of necessity as it hurts for your heel to hit the ground first. however your heel still touches the ground after your fore/midfoot has absorbed the impact to stop it going through your heels into your knees etc, while still giving you stability for your next stride.
I completely agree. I use barefoot shoes as well and mid foot running is not about not using the heel but about not to hit the ground with the heel first. It looks to me like calf or Achilles problems in the making if you don’t release the tension in the calf at all by not touching the ground with the heel. It would be also interesting to see if this shoe leads to more foot injury In the fore- and the mid foot. I guess I understand where the idea of the concept comes from but I would assume you are just shifting the location of potential injuries rather than preventing injuries…
@@lisaweber1865 yeah, don't get me wrong. I'm all for people trying new things but I find it a bit weird someone has read things like Adharanand Finn and born to run and trying to come up with an over engineered solution which ignores a vital part of our biomechanics. If we didn't need our heels they wouldn't have evolved the way they did. :/
@@CaptainBrash 😂 I completely agree with you. It seems they only read the first page of ‘Born to run’ ( or similar) and did not get the messages at all of what you can learn from barefoot running…
I purchased a pair of these due to exhuasing every possible method i could find to rid me from chronic shin splints. To date ove only used them a few times on the treadmill, so after watcing your review im really thinking of giving them a good try and making a contrasting video too. Thanks for posting this, enjoyable and interesting.
I don't know what to think about those. He talks about the strain on the heel and possible risk of injury & and I can get behind that. But is the shoe really helping or is it just making heel running more comfortable? There's a reason behind heel running & imho it's more important to fix this reason (fixing running form, more focus on strechting, ...) than to create a shoe that's lacking the heel department.
I have read/seen that you should release the tension in your Achilles/calves by having your heal kiss the ground on each step. This would be to prevent injury, but I can't see how that is possible in these shoes.
Sarah, always a nice job from you. Hey, here's an idea for a vlog. Why not take what I call "Underdog Shoes"? That is, shoes that people usually don't buy like Reebok or shoes from companies that are trying to get a foothold in the running market, like Puma. FBR is an attempt to create a new interest with footwear with a brand new concept. Underdog Shoes are cheaper and exist in a world free of hype. Hm-m think about that for a second.
Reebok has shoes that use Pebax foam, the stuff that really makes the difference in the Vaporflys.
If you ever try to run in minimalist shoes you'll see that calfs has to become stronger. Same principle here
My favorite principle? The best marathoners on the planet train in regular running shoes and run 2:03 marathons in ultralight racing shoes with carbon plates. I've been running for 44 years, and this same gimmick (no heel) shows up every 8-10 years. And it vanishes very quickly. As this shoe will.
@@stevestarr9769 so what if the top marathoners are wearing these padded shoes? It doesn't make them right. Humans have been running barefoot for millions of years in the savannahs of Africa, chasing and hunting animals by persistence hunting. Some tribes in South America still run miles barefooted every day. If we needed large cushions to run, we would have evolved them to be attached to our feet just like how horses have hooves. These marathoners are not interested in building up a strong kinetic chain from the foot upwards, all they want is the best time, and a jumpy cushiony shoe can help with that, but if you are not being paid to run, you do not need to do this and weaken your calves and feet and make yourself more susceptible to injury while doing any other sport that requires foot and ankle strength.
@@jazeeradxb LOL....I'll print out your message and send it to the athletic federations of Kenya and Ethiopia. They've been doing it all wrong! LOL. Fact: I worked in a running store back when the very first Nike Frees and Vibrams came out, and we sold a lot. Flash forward to 2016, and I picked up part time hours at the same store...a lot of the same customers from the days of the Nike Free. Ya know what? THEY ALL WENT BACK to "real" running shoes. I know I'm talking to a cult member, but whatever. Call me when you run a 2:17 marathon. ((Oh, wait, it's not about being a good runner, it's about having a super kinetic chain! My bad!! LOL)
EDIT: You clearly know NOTHING about the gym work that marathoners like Eliud Kipchoge does in his marathon buildups. They do a LOT of gym work in this era. YOU should do some research yourself right here on RUclips.
@@stevestarr9769 Did I say that they are doing it wrong? I just said that their main goal is not optimizing health but rather getting the best possible time at any cost. So obviously the alphaflys will help you get the best time if that is all you care about. The Nike free is not a barefoot shoe, and neither is the one showed in this video. I agree with you that these are fads and will disappear, but true barefoot running, with barefoot shoes that can be crumbled into a ball and fit into your pocket, and have no drop AND a very thin sole, these will not disappear (it has already been around for millions of years, and up until the 1970s). I do not live to run, I run to live, so for the health and longevity benefits of running it is better to run barefoot. The kenyans are also drinking 15 tablespoons of refined sugar a day in their tea. Do you think that is also a healthy thing? No but it will obviously help them achieve the insane amounts of mileage they are putting in every week. Doesn't make it healthy.
I loved running in my Altra shoes for years, then suffered an overuse/plantar fasciitis injury to one foot which kept me out of running for eight months (resolved in April 2018). My doctor determined it was from the constant flex of the foot that kept tension on the tendon. With so much of the heel cut out of this particular shoe model, is there a concern for that sort of injury? I wasn't doing a lot of miles during that time but it was cured with all the rest, NO RUNNING, heel cups, special shoes, etc. Maybe, for us compulsive runners, this type of shoe should be a training device and rotated into workouts. I'm only coming from a place of caution as I don't want to be out for a long time again. I'm still looking for the right trail shoe that has those "zero drop" attributes, fits my wide foot, and doesn't re-activate the old injury. Sucks to get old, but it's great to run.
I had a similar problem. Check out Topos! I have the Ultraventures, which have a low drop (not 0), medium cushioning, and wide toe box. They're still obscure enough to have great sales, got mine for $59.
@@Kelly_Ben Those were my 2nd to last pair. Pretty decent shoes that I got from REI here in California. I paid way more than $59, though. 🙄 I've been walking/running in some 4mm drop New Balance Fresh Foam More (V1?). Very comfortable but not super sporty/supportive. Thanks for the recommendation.
This was my concern. They may help prevent some injuries…but would just cause different injuries. Rotating them as a kind of training tool may be a better use of them:)
I use a combination of Altras (zero drop) and Newton Distance (2mm drop) for road running and Inov8 Terraultra G270 (zero drop) for trails. They also have a wide toe box and seem very popular which is unusual for a zero drop shoe. Personally I think they're great.
5:15 that's because it IS weird to NOT >walk< on your heels. dive into natural lifestyle / walking a bit more and you'll see that >running< is perfectly good on your midfoot and only kissing with the heel, but walking has always been intended to be done with your heel first. There's a reason we have a heel. and why the bone is so massive. It's fine for walking.
Exactly, when walking it's important to heelstrike because it part of maintaining healthy posture and actually is easier on the muscles. An the other hand it's the opposite when running. FBR is right about it's bad to healstrike when running because it puts more strain on the muscles. The shoes would be good for a runner who heelstrikes and can train them to runner safer with a better footstrike but should not be the only shoe they use. I Could see this shoe being very useful in a speed workout, training the runner to run more forward at faster speeds. When walking around the runner should use a different shoe to keep good posture. I give FBR half credit good for running and bad for walking.
@@carsonutley4134 It is exactly as you say.
The FBR were designed exclusively for running and to re-educate the correct technique (midfoot) especially in the popular runner
Many runners have finished a marathon with the FBR concept, among them Araceli Chornet (53 years old) did it in the 2018 Valencia marathon in 4:08, the Frenchman Sebastian Miro who made a personal mark (3 minutes) in the 2019 Berlin marathon in 3:13. Remember that the FBR NOA are training shoes
It's a shame you have to purchase before you can access their info. Something I would like to see/read before committing so, no I won't be getting a pair.
As someone who goes through 3-4 pairs of running shoes a year due to heel striking (no pain just broken shoes!) these are very appealing. I have plantar fasciitis, so I’d have to see if they have support this too.
No pain yet plantar fasciitis? What wizardry is this?
@@yellowfolder In the right shoes my PF doesn’t effect me (immediately in the wrong shoes though) but my heel striking doesn’t cause me pain, despite me going through cheap shoes in one run and £100~ in 2-3 months at best. Obviously got to keep an eye on them wearing away.
Fascinating. I’ve been running in Newton shoes for years now and really love them. The basic concept is similar and they did take some time to get used to even though I’ve never been a heel striker.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing 😊
Waiting for "I ran in heeless shoes for 30 days"
Injured lol
What was the effect of using these shoes on your calve? I'd imagine that it would be like doing calve raises so these should be rather good for toning leg muscles.
Very good for creating calf injuries indeed.
I have a pair of the FBR heelless running shoes that were reviewed on your channel a while back, I was hoping they would help me stop heel striking and strengthen my achillies. I was advised, with a look of horror, by my physio never to wear them and definitely never to run in them!
Very cool! I’m intrigued by the concept. Might give these a go!
Cool - let us know what you think, Ryan!
Firstly, I would love to know how Sarah managed to film herself running through the streets without encountering even one car or pedestrian! And secondly, I’m all for forefoot ‘natural’ running style, but I feel these would over time produce too much strain on the feet/ lower legs, as even the most minimalist of shoes allow us to rest on our heels when needs be
Thanks for watching Andrew! I think she had some early starts!!
For these shoes you would need to transition slowly over a period of time.
Really interesting concept. Great video guys.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sarah, youre content is amazeballs. Keep it up!! You are doing so well 👏👏👏
Thank you so much David!
I would go heelless, how is the Toebox? Is the shoe as heavy as normal running shoes?
I am transitioning to barefoot running in Vibrams so I know how it feels on your calf muscles the day after 😂 but I still love my running shoes and my intention is to learn better posture and then to be able to take this posture in normal running shoes. The problem is that this does not work out until now.... after a while you just get tired and not wanting to think about my posture the whole time I do tend to walk more midfoot and when I get very lazy even heelstrike! Also a lot of shoes are really made for heelstrikers, because there is just the most cushioning, if you forefootstrike it just doesnt make sense to have all that cushioning..... I asked about it at a runningshoe company in Germany. There answer "our shoes are for every sort of striker". But wearing the shoes just feels more like it would be more for heel ore maybe midfoot strikers but for forefoot striking the sole is just to hard and it feels like my heel is not fixed enough to do this....... anyways thanks for covering this brand, I had not heard from them till now.
Interesting idea for sure. If a longer term test is in the offing, please take it easy!
Nice presentation Sarah, very professional. Would I use these shoes? I’d love to try them for a while, as I think it’s possible they would naturally induce the knee strengthening that I have to consciously achieve outside of running. Trouble is that, equally, it’s possible they’d make things worse in that area, and I do wonder about walking in them. So I’ll keep them in mind but they are a lot of money if they aren’t going to be used!
Would be great to see you try these long term and see how you found them. Out of interest, what type of shoe do you use to run in - neutral, motion control etc? I also wonder what the heelless shoes would be like going downhill as it would seem harder to land midfoot without drastically shortening your stride
In the interview with Anna McNuff she says even though you land on the mid/fore foot you need the heel to get proper propulsion so I'm guessing with a heelless shoe you would be running less optimal, however if you move towards a zero drop shoe where your heel does touch and you keep the running style from the shoe one would get the better running style. I don't think you need a heeless shoe though as just reducing the drop might give the same effect.
I would give these things a wide berth, to be honest. I've always been a forefoot striker but I almost ended up with Achilles problems at one point because I'd got into the habit of not fully loading my heel at all, not even during stance phase. My Achilles pain vanished after I consciously retrained myself to drop my heel to the ground fully during stance phase. These shoes seem like the exact antithesis to this concept and a rather extreme take on the notion that heel striking is bad. It may or may not be (James Dunne makes a good case on his channel that it isn't about which part of your foot hits the ground first, but about where your foot is in relation to your centre of mass when it hits the ground), but it doesn't follow from there that you should never let your heel touch the ground at all.
Women have been wearing high heels for decades!
FBR: "Where we're going, we don't need....heels...."
Nike takes the idea of the FBR concept in 2015 and creates the spikes "dragonfly" that is setting a lot of personal records in 1,500m-10,000m competitions. The "floating heel" is not only an idea that was born in 2013 in Denia, Spain, it is already being used in many parts of the world with talented athletes, but the FBR NOA model allows you to train this "midfoot running technique with floating heel" on the track, roads and route
How do you check your watch on one wrist with the other hand and not move the camera?
What an interesting concept! I’m intrigued....
Since I can't even handle zero drop shoes, I think these would not be for me. Interesting concept though. With hot weather coming, what shoes are most breathable to keep our feet cool? I have Ghost 13 and my feet feel awfully hot in them, otherwise I love them.
Thanks for watching Tanna! Shoes with a breathable mesh upper should help with coolness - you also want to make sure you've got enough space (so buy minimum 1/2 a size larger than your normal shoes). Hope this helps 😊
Not really the shoes for me, but great video, Sarah!
How is Anna doing? Is she still injured? Haven't seen any running videos with her lately.. Hope everything is fine!
Ah thanks so much for watching Katharina!
Anna is doing well, thank you! She's back running - woohoo! We've got a new video coming your way very soon, but did you spot her blog post update recently? therunningchannel.com/q2q-update/
@@runningchannel I just did, thanks a lot for the link.
For me even running a half marathon seems like the ultimate goal, so I can't imagine what Anna is doing! All the best for you and your Boston qualifier goal!!!
I would love to try these shoes but it only goes up to a size 47. Bigger foot beginners like me (49) are excluded.
If like most people you heel strike, you need a heel cushion....if it's not there it just leads to an impact injury.
How do they compare to MBT trainers that work on destabilising the foot in the manner of barefoot running?
This is something that cannot be judged by one run. This is something that needs to be analyzed over a longer period of time because you can wear a shoe once and it not hurt you but if you wear a specific shoe even following its plan over a period of time that is the only way to see if it causes more pain or injury. One run is not enough maybe the running channel should have a segment in the monthly news thing where they look at the progress of a runner they have using the shoes over a sustained period of time.
Thanks very much for the feedback and we'll definitely take this on board for future videos. Agree this shoe would need to be transitioned into slowly. Thanks for watching 😊
What about MBTs, those curved shoes, they are supposed to be good for joints. Have you thought of testing those?
Can you give us an update after trying them out for multiple sessions?
I'm curious if these shoes could help people with plantar fasciitis, as a lot of the foot strength training is focused on the ball of the foot and toes...
Interesting idea, Lauren! We would recommend chatting this through with your physio first 😊
Did they go out of business I’ve messaged them no answer can’t get them in USA
I'm not a heel striker, but watching this video made my Achilles tendons scream...
I haven't gone out in heels since the first lockdown! 😀 Do they ever make you feel unsteady? I am over sensitive to falling over these days...
I run around 50 km / week and use these shoes and can say that they are amazing
Ultraboost 21s r the only running shoes on my mind
Nice, a whole new chapter of running injuries.
😂😂
Ye seriously this is just plain stupid lol. Calf strains for everyone.
They almost feel like a shoe for training you to foot strike correctly as opposed to a serious running shoe. Like stabilisers on a bike! Once you’ve learnt to ride properly you can ride a bike without stabilisers! With these, you learn to run ‘correctly’ and then transfer that skill to ‘proper’ running shoes
Yes, Ollie - that's a great way of thinking about it!
Right!!
Sure but no cushioning as its great to be able to will be able to stand.
Do you get these in trail running shoes?
Thanks Glenn for watching. At the moment they're just available in one standard version.
Damn am i first? or is it not loading lol
im a toe/midfoot striker and feel like i "roll through" my entire foot too, but vertically instead of horizontally (heel, mid, toes on the ground). like i feel like my toe hitting the ground, foot and ankle shock absorbing down through my foot, just touching the heel to the ground before pushing off again and rolling back onto and off of my toe. my barefoot/minimal shoes keep me off my heel cus it hurts to bonk into the ground haha
Did you feel anything alike in these?
Welcome Linnea! What do you think of these shoes?
my calves gently weep just looking at these
Not sure I could get into that style of shoe, maybe the guy is on to something but you have to wonder when there’s only one of the style/design vs an entire industry .
Sorry me again (second time this comment section!). I have a question. Can my feet get injured when they get to hot in my running shoes? There is this thing with proteines and heat that when it gets over 40 degrees that it can start a denaturation process (I think that is what its called in English or this is what google told me to call it LOL). Offcourse I should messure how hot my feet really get.... but I was just thinking about it the whole time last time I run in my "normal" running shoes! It felt so hot I just wanted to get them of my feet as soon as possible. Maybe looking for a shoe that has more ventilation should be a thing to consider this sommer. But anyway can it cause injury ore not? Maybe just a fun thing to figure out? On the other side people run in the Sahara dessert and they seem to do just fine after a lot of kilometers, you would think that would not be possible if there tendons would just get hard like an egg when cooking???? But I like to know anyhow!
Thanks for asking this Natalie. To be honest, I'm not sure of the answer, but do know that we should aim to buy running shoes at least 1/2 a size bigger to allow for our feet swelling when we run. I wonder if you need a bigger size so you've not only got more breathing space, but expansion space too? Hope this helps 😊
Hi thanks! My shoe is a lot bigger then my normal shoesize almost 1 and a half size. I will buy thinner Socks I guess that will help as well. I was just schocked at how warm it had suddenly become! Hope it will help. Maybe the Mesh of these shoes is also not as breathable as my former Asics shoes.... I have found something online about this Denaturalisation! As I underdtood is our body so perfect that after a time of getting used to the heat out bodies do cope with this by sending some other cells(??? Something) to help against the denaturisation. And that when accustomed to the heat or bodys can cope very well! Allthough there might be my mistake! I might not have been acclimated enough to the heat at the moment. I guess when it continues I will cope with it much better.... I hope? LOL!
Sarah is my favorite presenter.
Beautiful shoes 👟🔥😍😍
Heel striking isn't a bad thing, WHERE your heel contacts the ground is the bigger issue. Too far forward is where problems occur. If your strike is underneath you, and you push forward from there, no issues. Many great runners and triathletes do this rather successfully.
Marketing is fun. I am coming out with my upperless shoes because ancient Japanese runners do use shoelaces.
How about shoeless shoes? You pay me £100 and I'll send you an empty box! Guaranteed never to fail you...
Strikes me that a cheap alternative is to pick a pair of your shoes that are ok but not your favourites and have a go with a hacksaw.
It's a shame they don't offer a HOKA "to try is to fly" 30 day trial. I feel that £125 is rather a lot to pay for concept shoes...
I run and walk...so this is not for fatties like me. Also 145 euro that's definately not for me lo1l...seems like a cool concept :-) Not practical for run commuting.
Some barefoot running shoe review would be really nice. (and barefoot trail running shoe options out there). Thanks :)
Great suggestion Rebeka! Thanks for watching 😊
I like this channel but I dont think its the best place for that, unless they have some people who already regularly use them and can give a more informed view, rather than just one run. i love my vivobarefoots, they really sorted out my gait but it took months of not only running, but living in them and foot/ankle strengthening exercises.
What does Manni think of these running shoes?
Great question Linda! We'll have to ask him 😊
Niccolo Fillipazza has been running for 20 years in spikes usually New Balance XC900 or XC700. That's spikes on roads running 180 miles a week 5000m elevation a week and he also ran a 1:04 half and 13 5K in them. He's also ran a low 14 5K barefoot. I took his advice and I was able to rub 120 mile weeks in XC900 and even a 160 mile week at 4:15/km with the Sunday two 24km runs. Heels are unhealthy they need to go away like cigarettes. These shoes in the video are dumb your heel needs to kiss the ground running these shoes prevent your calf from fully lengthening on foot strike. She looks like she is prancing not running. Just quit the gimmicks of heels and no heels and either go barefoot or a shoe with minimal cushion lightweight zero drop it's very simple.
Not sure how this would be for people with bunions, flat feet and pronated ankles, like myself.
reminds me of MBT Masai Boots.
I wouldn't buy or even try this shoe. They should have kept the heel, make it from a material that doesn't invite to land on it. Then at least you can still walk on them without looking silly.
Please 10 km workout video for nation players
If the shoe hasn't got a heel how the hell are you going to stand up... would be my take on that. Understand there's racing spikes with minimal heel, but you're only wearing that for a track race, and then changing into something else
Answer: Yesn't
No way, your heel is for braking. Im a forefoot striker but you still need your heel for downhill or slowing down.
The opposite of a stiletto...?
strange concept, kind of like wanting to try a new type of food which is alien to your culture but you are intrigued by it.. just do not know if my interest out ways the cost.. could be an emperor's got no item.
But my toes cannot find room in that shoe...
Could this have saved me from my ruptured Achilles I wonder!?!
Thanks for watching. Definitely check this out with your physio first. If you've already got an injury it's probably not the best time to try something new. Hope this helps and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Going downhill might be interesting?
Look so weird. With a change like this you would need to try them before buying as I can't see this being for everyone.
Thanks for watching Martyn and agree, they're probably not a shoe for everyone and definitely one that you would need to slowly transition to 😊
Why does this exist. This should not exist.
Hi
Hey Augustus!
Can you do a game show challenge called Smell That Thing when blindfolded contestants try to guess what the item is by smell
It's not running related
Yes
That’s an unsettling and strange thing to ask.
Niz presentation
Can you do a three-legged race
LIKE 👍
No thanks
If u land on your heel u will be PUNISHED!!!!!!! Dem shoes are butt ugly girl
Weirdest shoes I’ve ever seen!!! Never gonna wear em
Running shoes fall into that category of shit that's been perfected already. And I think that happened years ago. Shoe's like this, Hokas, etc. Are just simply about trying new things etc etc. Now people will say whatever they have too to sell their shoes. We've discovered this and that, it's better for you because of this or that reason. blah blah blah.
ridiculous amount of padding on the bottom of the shoes. Instead of shoe companies feeding you a load of bullshit about these are "better" for you because of this or that reason and this is why you need to wear them etc etc. I wish they would just say "Hey, we tried something new. this is the theory behind it. You might like them or might not, give em a shot."
No, just no.
A dangerous gimmick waiting to cause all sorts of injuries, no thanks
13 minutes of running 🤷♂️ and a pretty uninformative review. Come on guys you can do better than this.