Skinners 'Sock Shoes' Aim To Become Essential Gym Footwear

Barefoot TJ

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Of course, only true barefoot can "emulate" true barefoot, but it's a start...


Skinners 'Sock Shoes' Aim To Become Essential Gym Footwear
SportTechie
A new product aimed at replacing the trusty running shoe in the gym is now available globally. ... It is even claimed that the product can be used for outdoor running for a short distances as it emulates the feeling of racing barefoot.
 
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Of course, only true barefoot can "emulate" true barefoot, but it's a start...


Skinners 'Sock Shoes' Aim To Become Essential Gym Footwear
SportTechie
A new product aimed at replacing the trusty running shoe in the gym is now available globally. ... It is even claimed that the product can be used for outdoor running for a short distances as it emulates the feeling of racing barefoot.
Awesome. This is something close to what I've wished for to wear at the start of some races. I can tolerate cold temps when I run, but, most races have those moments between when they stop taking gear bags and the start of the race. I've considered a cheap pair of socks, but, have wondered how beat up they would get, even from a short stint of walking around before a race. These seem like they might hold up better, but still, be compact enough to put in a jacket pocket right before the race starts.
 
Awesome. This is something close to what I've wished for to wear at the start of some races. I can tolerate cold temps when I run, but, most races have those moments between when they stop taking gear bags and the start of the race. I've considered a cheap pair of socks, but, have wondered how beat up they would get, even from a short stint of walking around before a race. These seem like they might hold up better, but still, be compact enough to put in a jacket pocket right before the race starts.

During winter, I would do exactly that. I found I could get about five good miles out of a $1.00 pair of socks. Not bad.
 
Warning! These things ship from the Czech, so get your size right, because returns/exchanges are a real pain.

With that being said, the product is quality, just got a pair and really like them (if they weren't to small). The bottom seems really durable, yet still gives good ground feel.

Replacing gym wear could be tricky... they look like socks, I cant imagine my gym would let me rock them inside haha.
 
I have a pair of these from the Kickstarter. We have gym in the corporate HQ and a running trail on campus. So, I change into my exercise gear and walk out of the building in these so as not to offend those delicate corporate sensibilities while I'm crossing through the atrium past the suits to get to the outer door (I still get some odd looks). Once I'm safely away from the building at the trailhead, I take them off, roll them up in my hands, and do my laps barefoot. Then I quietly slip them back on to walk back in. When I'm actually inside the gym stretching or doing exercises, I go barefoot about half the time.

On my runs outside in the winter, I carry a pair of these rolled up individually in my hands and secured with velcro as 'back-up shoes' in case my feet start to get too cold. Those times when I've actually run for a bit in them, they've held up well but I have a tiny bit of slippage on the left shoe under the ball of my foot that I think would result in a hot spot over longer distances. There's no way to tighten the upper or otherwise adjust the fit, so you need to size very, very carefully.
 
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Of course, only true barefoot can "emulate" true barefoot, but it's a start...


Skinners 'Sock Shoes' Aim To Become Essential Gym Footwear
SportTechie
A new product aimed at replacing the trusty running shoe in the gym is now available globally. ... It is even claimed that the product can be used for outdoor running for a short distances as it emulates the feeling of racing barefoot.
I love them :) I raced 5k in them yesterday on a course that would have been 'ouchie' and too hot pavement y underfoot without them - they also helped me recover in the week on a very uneven road - as my feet were feeling it a bit, as I am running many barefoot miles in my training to run 'barefoot across Spain!'
 
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I love them :) I raced 5k in them yesterday on a course that would have been 'ouchie' and too hot pavement y underfoot without them - they also helped me recover in the week on a very uneven road - as my feet were feeling it a bit, as I am running many barefoot miles in my training to run 'barefoot across Spain!'
How's it going, Julia?! Do you have any stories to share with us? I hope it's going well for you. :barefoot:
 
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How's it going, Julia?! Do you have any stories to share with us? I hope it's going well for you. :barefoot:
Hello :) It is all going well, I posted my training of last week as a blog post, as it is the best since i started my barefoot running journey :) I am now in the mountains in Spain, and there are always stories here ! :) The mountains are very 'ouchie' underfoot, but I ran on the mountain road this morning which was nice and smooth.... But very steep !!! :)
 
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Hello :) It is all going well, I posted my training of last week as a blog post, as it is the best since i started my barefoot running journey :) I am now in the mountains in Spain, and there are always stories here ! :) The mountains are very 'ouchie' underfoot, but I ran on the mountain road this morning which was nice and smooth.... But very steep !!! :)
Hi Julia -just out of interest, do you have a rough idea of your planned route through Spain on your run next year yet?
I'm not sure how many BRS members there are in Spain, but they might perhaps be interested to know you're 'passing through' as it were....:barefoot:
 
...And you could even post in the Spain Chapter if you'd like.
 
Water shoes have a more 'structured' and rigid sole (I'm thinking of my Sockwas and Speedos). Skinners are more like medium-weight socks coated on the bottom with a layer of rubberized bits (like the surface of a running track), and are much more flexible. The sole really just provides wear resistance for the 'sock' and bit of texture for grip; you'll still feel all the fun bits of gravel and pointy things underfoot.
 
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The water shoes/aqua socks I've worn have been extremely flexible.
 
Got my new Skinners and took them for a first run. They performed great on a trail I run regularly (lots of gravel and rocks). The only thing that bothers me a bit is the feeling my toes are being squeezed. After 7 years of running barefoot my toes splayed out and looks like Skinners really have a narrow toe box for me. But that's only a small price to pay for being able to run faster on gravel and rocks so I am keeping them for runs on more technical trails
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Skinners Shape.jpg
 
Interesting - in the linked article it states that these will be especially beneficial to weight-lifters at the gym, since normal athletic shoes affect balance. There is currently a discussion in another thread here about gyms refusing to allow barefoot workouts, one common reason given being "insurance" liability due to the danger of dropping weights on one's bare feet. I wonder how these "sock shoes" fit into that argument. :rolleyes:
The level of hypocrisy is stunning.
 
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Interesting - in the linked article it states that these will be especially beneficial to weight-lifters at the gym, since normal athletic shoes affect balance. There is currently a discussion in another thread here about gyms refusing to allow barefoot workouts, one common reason given being "insurance" liability due to the danger of dropping weights on one's bare feet. I wonder how these "sock shoes" fit into that argument. :rolleyes:
The level of hypocrisy is stunning.
I was thinking the same thing.