Vibrams BANNED from free weights room

HalfofJess

HalfofJess

Barefooters
Jun 5, 2010
38
0
0
#1
My school's gym has a policy that in the free weights section, there needs to be close-toed athletic footwear worn at all times. But Vibram FiveFingers do not satisfy this requirement because they somehow offer less protection against dropped weights...

Um, last time I checked, if you dropped a 25-pounder on your feet, mainstream shoes or in VFFs, you're going to get some broken toes... Keep in mind I wear the KSOs.

So I had a meeting with the athletic director who said, after careful inspection of VFFs, he's even MORE convinced that they're not suitable for weight lifting. I am still angry about this.

Any ideas about how to compromise for this? I suggested signing a waiver of liability because I assume they're only banning VFFs because they're afraid of lawsuits since they're still relatively "new" to the scene.

And, I really don't want to switch back to running shoes, so I thought about lifting in Chuck Taylors. Any thoughts on this? I don't understand how Chucks would provide more protection than Vibrams but I couldn't convince the athletic director otherwise.



Has anyone else been hassled about their minimalist gear at the gym? How'd you deal with it?



And you can read my longer complaint blog post here if you want:
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http://www.halfofjess.com/
 
#2
I'd take your case higher up

I'd take your case higher up like to the principal or even the superintendant. The squeeky wheel gets the grease!

If you don't get anywhere with them, wear water socks. There's always a loop-hole. :)
 
#3
 Here's one thought, just to

Here's one thought, just to play devil's advocate. If you are lifting and you drop a weight on your toe and cause damage it is easier to remove a sneaker then VFF's. I for one would not want to have a broken toe and have to try to get VFF's off. This could be where they are coming from, not that it's less protection but it's harder access for injuries.
 
#4
 truth be told the vff would

truth be told the vff would be better for a broken toe than regular shoes because the toe pocket acts as a pressure splint that would help keep swelling down as well as keep the toe straight. Yes it would be a little tougher to get out of but it's the same principle as not taking your shoe off right after spraining your ankle because the shoe helps keep swelling down.

I've worked in gyms most of my life and my best argument for vffs were to challenge them to drop a weight on their foot in their shoes and tell me if it hurt or not. Unless they are running around in steel toed running shoes they have no more protection than you do. People just see the thin materials and automatically assume they are not protective. Odds are unless you can convince someone higher up to allow it you will not win the fight unless you just keep annoying them until they give in. At one gym I was told I couldn't wear them to work in so I waited a week and then just wore them. I got a couple of looks but no one said anything anymore other than making fun of them. Sometimes the act of breaking the rules allows you to get them changed. My advice is to just wear them. If they tell you to leave so ok and leave. Then wear them in there the next time. Eventually something will give.
 
#5
Jimmy Hart wrote:  Unless

Jimmy Hart said:
Unless they are running around in steel toed running shoes they have no more protection than you do. People just see the thin materials and automatically assume they are not protective.
Click to expand...



I actually have a pair of composite toe running shoes for work. It's as minimal as I can get with the requirements of the company. They are alot more comfortable than the boots for sure!
 
#6
It's an odd policy, no matter

It's an odd policy, no matter what a dropped weight is going to hurt. Maybe talk to them about having better balance and more protection against a sprained ankle.

I was told once that I couldn't wear them. I came off pretty hard about it, I asked them if I have dumbass written on my forehead and because I like to go around kicking things and dropping weights on my feet? Then I spouted off telling them that lifting weights has the potential to be a dangerous activity and they should worry more about other members hurting themselves lifting with piss poor form than my footwear choice.

They leave me alone about it now. Kind of wished I didn't say it so rudely, but it worked. Oh yeah that came a week after they told me I couldn't lift barefoot so the kettle was kind of steaming already.
 
#7
HalfofJess wrote:My school's

HalfofJess said:
My school's gym has a policy that in the free weights section, there needs to be close-toed athletic footwear worn at all times. But Vibram FiveFingers do not satisfy this requirement...
Click to expand...

Duh, any weight is going to hurt your foot unless you're wearing steel-lined logging boots. And everybody knows that.

So the objection really must be aesthetic. They're basically saying, "that's weird-looking and that makes us a little scared."

But you could take them at their words and arrange a publicity stunt. Call in the school paper. Try dropping a 45-pound plate edge first on some vff's, and some regular sneakers. You could fill them with something to simulate feet... ice cubes? clay? the school mascot?

All that being said, Chuck Taylors look kinda cool.
 
#8
stomper wrote:But you could

stomper said:
But you could take them at their words and arrange a publicity stunt. Call in the school paper. Try dropping a 45-pound plate edge first on some vff's, and some regular sneakers. You could fill them with something to simulate feet... ice cubes? clay? the school mascot?
Click to expand...



Hot dogs!
 
#10
Give 'em hell, Abide!  Give

Give 'em hell, Abide! Give 'em hell!
 
#11
 I had the same problem at

I had the same problem at work with my supervisor over the summer. I worked in a printing factory.

anyhow, if you're looking for a shoe with no arch support that will be accepted by the school, look into asics tigers. that's what I switched to for work at least.
 
#12
As a side note, when I bought

As a side note, when I bought my KSOs I had a broken big toe. Trying them on was interesting to say the least.
 
#14
 I have had this same

I have had this same discussion with just about half the company I work for. I work with 12.5 pound boxes of rolled quarters. They are made of plastic which will eventually succumb to age and crack, sometimes failing catastrophically, but never without warning. I have boiled it down to this:

Yes. Yes I am worried that a can of quarters might one day fall on my feet. Therefore I take extra care to be sure that I know where those cans are at all times; and if one should fall, my feet will not be in the way very long. Now you on the other hand labor under the delusion that your shoes protect you, so will you be as quick to get those feet out of the way, or watch what you're doing?



That usually ends the discussion except for a couple of "well, they look strange anyway" comments to have the last word in.

You're up against the wall. They have put the burden of proof on you to prove their safety. You may find other weight lifters at other gyms who use Vibrams. Maybe by using a cell phone camera you can show it is quite acceptable to use them for that activity in the "real world" where potential lawsuits against the gym are an everday fact of life. Most school systems will never let an issue of liability go by the wayside. Expensive settlements have taught them the hardway.

John T.
 
#15
HI there,I had the same

HI there,

I had the same problem a couple of years ago, banned from work, banned from the gym!

This is why the world is in such a mess, it is full of idiots that like to wield a bit of management power.

The older I get the more brainless people seem to get. There is no point trying to use logic on these idiots as the conversation only drags you down to their level where they will beat you beacuse their level of idiocy has been learned over many years.

There, I feel so much better after a vent like that ;-)

Almost as good as going for a run but not quite.



Neil
 
#16
I would fight the hell out of

I would fight the hell out of this! Some one at my gym said the same thing so I went over and grabbed 2 30lb DB and gave one to the guy and help one in my hand. I told him on the could of 3 we'll both drop the weight on our feet to see who would get hurt more or less. He didn't drop his weight so I grabed the DB and said I will be wearing my VFF without a problem. The guy respected that and lets me to continue to lift in them.
 
#17
Get a pair of cheap wal-mart

Get a pair of cheap wal-mart cross trainers and cut the top off both shoes. When you go work out, tape them to the top of your KSOs. If you can sew a little, you could use elastic band and velcro under the arch of your foot, like a wrap. Tell them you now have the magical protection of the "accepted shoe" with the stability of the zero drop 3.5mm KSO sole...best of both worlds and problem solved!

I'll bet the same thing would work with bare feet! People may look twice, but if anyone asks where the sole of your shoe went, just tell them you ran today and you're VERY fast!!

Forgiveness is always better than permission! Almost NOTHING trumps a Doctors note, so if you're on good terms with your family Doc, ask him for a prescription for the shoes because you have "weak ankles" and the sole of normal running shoes is not stable enough in weight lifting conditions! ;o)

-Jonny
 
#18
I recently purchased some

I recently purchased some KSOs for my almost nine year old son (he already runs barefoot with me, yes bare in the foot, and has a beautiful form) in a size just a little large for him, since he'll surely grow a little before school starts. I'm looking forward to his wearing them at school, possibly being the first to set this trend there, and I am looking forward to fighting the ignorance I am expecting. We do it everyday anyway, right?
 
#19
TJ-I got a pair for my son,

TJ-I got a pair for my son, who is 9, a few weeks before school got out. He loved wearing them to school! It was great, but the kids at his summer camp made fun of them. I'm disapointed because he is generally a nonconformist, but now, he keeps coming up with excuses not to wear them. I told him I'd come to get him in mine and ask them if they wanted to make fun of me... He declined, but I still want to! ;)
 
#20
Well, we'll see how it goes. 

Well, we'll see how it goes. He doesn't seem like a conformist, but at this age, children are very impressionable. Let's just hope mommy makes a bigger impact than his peers. We all know how long that will last!
 
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