I've crossed over to the min side... Advice

otoole4info

otoole4info

Barefooters
Feb 3, 2013
257
441
63
Waverly, NY
#1
I am back running again, I gave my knee issues 2 plus months to resolve itself and now I'm starting out a bit slower.

I also bought a pair of Vibram EVO's after 3 years (I think) of going barefoot. I needed something to avoid frostbite and something to protect my feet a bit more on the longer winter runs.

I've probably logged 20 miles or so with the new kicks. What I am wondering, did I buy too big of a size. I feel my right foot maybe slightly smaller than my left. When running I've noticed the right feels sloppy and sort of irritates me.

I am hoping to log quite a bit of miles over the next 4 months and welcome any advice from any vibram wearing min runners out there. I'm considering buying a size smaller but am not at all thrilled about spending the money on another pair.

Any advice welcomed and thanks in advance.
 
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#3
Huaraches or Merrell Vapor Gloves. Vibrams suck in the cold, think gloves vs mittens. I've run in below zero(F) temps in powder snow wearing wool tabi socks and huaraches. Vapor Gloves are warmer, more comfortable, cheaper, better looking, and have more ground feel than the EVOs ...
 
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#4
Hmmm...your goals might be a bit ambitious for running in NY winters. I have run the last several winters in VFF Bikilas, and found them fairly satisfactory....if you can keep them dry. If it's really cold out and you stay away from salted areas you can do fine in your evo's.

Also, give yourself a reasonable amount of building time. This winter seems like it's snapping right into arctic mode, though. Be careful until you get your own sense of limits developed.

The other aspect of winter running that I need to keep in mind myself is that the warmer I work myself up to before I head out the door, the happier I run

Let us know how it goes for you.
 
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#5
For me, Sockwas are the best winter running shoe, with a 1.2mm sole. You can add wool socks on really cold days. Meanwhile, you can feel every crevice and contour of the snow without the cold contact on your skin. I love Vivobarefoot for casual shoes, but for groundfeel, they don't come close to Sockwas, which are basically a synthetic sock with a grippy rubber sole. If you get Sockwas, consider ordering one size up, as they tend to run small.
 
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#6
Bare Lee said:
For me, Sockwas are the best winter running shoe, with a 1.2mm sole. You can add wool socks on really cold days. Meanwhile, you can feel every crevice and contour of the snow without the cold contact on your skin. I love Vivobarefoot for casual shoes, but for groundfeel, they don't come close to Sockwas, which are basically a synthetic sock with a grippy rubber sole. If you get Sockwas, consider ordering one size up, as they tend to run small.
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How do the soles wear Lee? I'm looking for something lite that i can stuff in my pack. The price seems good.
 
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#7
skedaddle said:
How do the soles wear Lee? I'm looking for something lite that i can stuff in my pack. The price seems good.
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It's hard to say Ske; I haven't run that much in them since discovering them (maybe one full season?), and my preference was always for running bare-soled as much as possible in the winter. They reduce to almost nothing so they work well as a back-up. I used to carry them in my jacket pockets. I have another pair I wear once in a while for the shoe police, almost like ballet shoes, and then I got the G Hi model for winter cycling, because I've grown accustomed to the feeling of pedaling barefooted (I slipped in a sheepskin insole, which wouldn't work for runninng).

It's a quality, small business, with a friendly owner. I don't know of anything that even comes close to Sockwa's groundfeel, so if you're a groundfeel addict like me, you owe it to yourself to give them a try.
 
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#8
Bare Lee said:
It's hard to say Ske; I haven't run that much in them since discovering them (maybe one full season?), and my preference was always for running bare-soled as much as possible in the winter. They reduce to almost nothing so they work well as a back-up. I used to carry them in my jacket pockets. I have another pair I wear once in a while for the shoe police, almost like ballet shoes, and then I got the G Hi model for winter cycling, because I've grown accustomed to the feeling of pedaling barefooted (I slipped in a sheepskin insole, which wouldn't work for runninng).

It's a quality, small business, with a friendly owner. I don't know of anything that even comes close to Sockwa's groundfeel, so if you're a groundfeel addict like me, you owe it to yourself to give them a try.
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Thanks Lee, i'm sold, like you i just need something for backup on certain trails else it's barefoot all the way. I hope your cycling is working out for you!
 
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#9
skedaddle said:
Thanks Lee, i'm sold, like you i just need something for backup on certain trails else it's barefoot all the way. I hope your cycling is working out for you!
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Thanks Ske! Cycling is OK, not as satisfying as running, but very easy on the joints. My knees have been feeling pretty good for a month or two so I may yet return to running in some reduced form, like occasional hill work, or sprints on a track. Happy trails!
 
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#10
Bare Lee said:
Thanks Ske! Cycling is OK, not as satisfying as running, but very easy on the joints. My knees have been feeling pretty good for a month or two so I may yet return to running in some reduced form, like occasional hill work, or sprints on a track. Happy trails!
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Sounds great Lee! Sometimes we're forced to step sideways to see what's ahead, i know i've had to last year with one thing or another.
 
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#12
If you just need some backup option for going barefoot, regular thick wool socks work really well, and you can wear them on your hands as gloves. Yes, they wear down, but if you normally run barefoot, the wear-down is actually not that much. If it is really cold, just take two pairs. El Cheapo, but it works ...
 
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#13
Im running with vff kso evo + injinji socks if -10 celsius or colder. If warmer no socks or no shoes. No any problems even if -20C. Only if running more then hour at very low temperature, starting getting cold, when glycogen reseves depleting. But nothing to do with shoes, only need to plan distance, pace, time smart if temperature under -12C.
 
#14
Christian Lemburg said:
If you just need some backup option for going barefoot, regular thick wool socks work really well, and you can wear them on your hands as gloves. Yes, they wear down, but if you normally run barefoot, the wear-down is actually not that much. If it is really cold, just take two pairs. El Cheapo, but it works ...
Click to expand...

Are You counting wool socked runs for winter challange ;-) ?
 
#15
Here is where I am at now.... I ended up buying a second pair of Vibrams, a size smaller and they fit much more snug. Really didn't want to have to buy another pair but I'm happy I did. I ran 6 miles yesterday and they felt much better.

I think if for some reason I grow tired of these my next choice to try will be the Sockwa's or eventually I will just get a pair to try. I appreciate everyone's input regarding this topic. I'll let you know how the rest of my winter running goes. I have a 1/2 coming up in March and think I'm going to run it in the Vibrams.
 
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