Which BF style shoe for Winter?

Pigwig

Barefooters
Aug 17, 2013
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Hello. I've posted this is the UK chapter as well so hopefully any shoes recommended will be available over here!

Hi everyone. This is my first cold spell since getting my Xero shoes and my feet are chilly! I had envisaged being hardy and carrying on through winter with just the X's but thats not going to be practical. Sock aren't an option either as my hubby says he's disown me if I put socks with sandals - I see his point! I wear my sandals whenever I'm outside unless it's abso necessary to wear normal shoes (biz meetings, posh do's etc) and I'd like to keep to very minimalist, just with a bit of warmth!

So, what other very minimal shoes are there? I really want to go no thicker than my 6mm X's and I prefer the idea of a sock type covering with a thin rubber sole. I suppose my fave idea so far is Sockwa (the price puts me off) but I'm also looking into surf/diving socks as there are some which appear to be just the ticket - but will they last as they're not designed for running?

I'd welcome any ideas or advice, any brands you've tried or ones you favour, or hate (could you explain why please!)
Apologies if you are a true barefooter and you are offended by reading this. My aim is to improve my running and so far I am suffering much less with a chronic hip problem than I was in shoes. So, although not truly BF, I feel the (very) minimalist style is much better for me.
Thanks
 
Hi Pigwig,
in the very cold of winter I usually run in Vibram Five Fingers (for road running) or in Merrell Pace Gloves (for trails). Their price however is likely to put you off as well, I imagine...
There are also much cheaper do it yourself options, such as covering the sole of a pair of woolen socks with plastidip (not very ecological I'm afraid) or stitching some leather bits under them.
Or you could go iron age with this option:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Viking-shoes/
If your running form is good (no friction, no push off), they'll last quite some time.
Hope that helps...
 
Thanks Hobbit. I did indeed look at Merrell and thought yikes (the price)!! I'll keep on looking for the moment. I had a peek at the Iron Age shoes, that's some hardcore construction! I thought putting Xero's together was quite clever.
 
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I'm going to try my 4mm Xero's with socks (all in black), with black running pants when I'm running. I don't care what people think when I'm running. I know what you say about socks and sandals but I think this look is ok...depending on where you're wearing them.

I also have VFF Lontra's (got them for a good price in Canada), though I've worn them a few times and find them very stiff. My go-to casual shoe last year was Vivobarefoot Evo. I bought a size larger and wear them with thick wool socks when it's really cold. They are light and have a relatively thin sole, and the insole can be removed. I didn't run in them, but on the really cold days this winter I'm planning on giving them a go (maybe on the trails). I had a merrel glove shoe that was water resistant but I didn't like the feel of the raised arch. They got a full winter in them though. I spend more on minimalist casual/work shoes then on most stuff...and I only got into this whole thing through BF running (funny how that happened).
 
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toe socks with sandals works for up to the coldest or wettest conditions.
you can get all kinds of cool colors.
your hubby will deal.

soft stars are the next in my line up, but I've had form issues with them (I think, anyways). I just don't like stuff covering my toes.
and they are less pretty than socks and sandals (the black socks on black sandals look fairly nice imho, a little bit ninja, really)
 
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I dont remember the exact brand or specifications of the scuba boots I use :( I think they are Pinnacles....not positive though. But, here is the link to the company I got them from 2 years ago (they are still in excellent shape too!!!).

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-13/Boots-Cold-Water.html

I use a pair that rise just above the ankles. They keep my feet pretty warm. I wear them with socks. They don't keep my feet dry if I am in slush/snow, but they are never cold.

The socks I wear are for running on pebbly roads and in cold/dry conditions. They are just neoprene socks, so they do eventually wear through...but I love them! Here's the link for those:

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/31148.htm (Sporti socks....I like that these have "breathe holes", but the seam under the foot can get a little irritating.)
http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/3630.htm (Speedo brand....these are comfy, but don't breathe, so they tend to make my feet sweat)

Hope this helps!!! Good luck!! :)
 
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Actually.....here are the boots I use!

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-112...Medium-Top-Zippered-Soft-Sole-Dive-Boots.html

003352_big.jpg
 
I've got VFF, vivobarefoot casual shoes and a couple of pairs of Merrells for basketball and walking around in (funny how barefooting has turned me into a shoe collector!). I'm thinking the VFF toe thing doesn't offer much benefit over a shoe like the vivos that has plenty of room for toes. The Merrells I have (and the ones I have seen) tend to have more going on under the foot sole-wise than the vivos tend to, so I'd look at a pair of vivos if you can find them cheaply.
 
Merrell's Vapor Gloves are very minimal. I ran with them last winter on really cold days, together with some smart wool socks or DryMax cold weather socks, and was happy with them. The traction isn't great, but a bit better than the Vivo Aqua Lites, and fit a bit snugger and are cheaper. For snowy days, I like Vivo's Neo Trails. They have less groundfeel than the Aqua Lites or Vapor Gloves because they have good lugs for pretty good traction. I guess snow isn't much of a concern for most of the UK in the winter, right?
 
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Well as a Canuck, when it gets to -15C to -28C, VFF's, sandals, and dive boots ain't cutting it with me! I use Vivo Neo Trails. With socks they are fairly warm as are most mini shoes, but these have traction! Nothing like running in arse snapping cold, with ice cold feet, and taking a flip that would make Dorthy Hamilton proud!
 
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Not the best in wet snow, but when proper running form is used they do well. What causes problems with slipping and loss of traction is when one pushes off with the forefoot.
Yah, a high cadence, which reduces force application (push-off) can solve the problem, but who wants to spend all winter running like Barefoot & Agile? I only run like that over obvious glare ice. I'd like something that works a little better than the Vapor Gloves on mixed conditions, when one switches between dry sidewalk/asphalt, compacted snow, some lazy dude's unshoveled sidewalk, and occasional ice patches.

I find the Neo Trails' higher stack height screws up my gait over extended sections of dry asphalt/sidewalk, but those lugs are great for pure snow.

The Kigo's sole pattern looks interesting, that's why I asked. How do they compare to other minimalist shoes you've tried over mixed conditions?
 
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