Why do BFR hate VFFs so much?
- Thread starter gokuflip
- Start date
I like VFF's, but I not longer run in them. I prefer to feel the ground and have the air flow on my feet. VFF's just became to constricting. I have sweaty feet also and after a few minutes, they became too uncomfortable. I bought too many pairs right in the beginning thinking I had to have this model for this condition, etc. Then my feet grew and they all became too small.
Interesting comments about the race conversations. Many more people talked to me when I wore VFF's. Now I feel like a loner at races barefoot. I have had a couple of women touch my feet though.
Interesting comments about the race conversations. Many more people talked to me when I wore VFF's. Now I feel like a loner at races barefoot. I have had a couple of women touch my feet though.
I know that my wife is not fan of the aesthetics of VFFs but she is even less receptive of BF in public locations like stores. I like VFFs as an alternative when I cant be BF, but other than that they seem restrictive.
I think its really ironic how minimalist shoes are relatively pricy, but I guess they are only talking about the heel drop and sole thickness. But a minimalist lifestyle is not necessarily conducive to expensive shoes =)
I think its really ironic how minimalist shoes are relatively pricy, but I guess they are only talking about the heel drop and sole thickness. But a minimalist lifestyle is not necessarily conducive to expensive shoes =)
NickW
Guest
My wife disliked me wearing the vff's, but she dislikes it when I go barefoot or in my huaraches in public more. I've been making my own huaraches for a little while, and I think I may have come up with one that will be less embarrassing to her as it looks more like a normal sandal. Hopefully they will last. They are pretty dang comfortable.
Nice...making your own sounds like a great hobby.
I'd love to make some that call less attention for everyday use
NickW
Guest
I like and miss working with my hands Zetti. I've been in sales and school for the last 7 years (school only year and a half) and love building and making things of my own creation. I was in construction for 7 years and used build dressers and end tables for myself and I also used to whittle wood as a kid.
Once I make a cleaner pair that don't have all my "adjustments" and changes I will post a pic of it. Looks kind of like a Teva and is about 7-8mm thick right now with no laces touching the ground and has a suede leather footbed for comfort. It does not go between the toes either and does not restrict the toe movement like some of the other huaraches I've seen. It's nice to be able to custom make for your own feet. Anyhow, I didn't mean to hijack this thread.
Once I make a cleaner pair that don't have all my "adjustments" and changes I will post a pic of it. Looks kind of like a Teva and is about 7-8mm thick right now with no laces touching the ground and has a suede leather footbed for comfort. It does not go between the toes either and does not restrict the toe movement like some of the other huaraches I've seen. It's nice to be able to custom make for your own feet. Anyhow, I didn't mean to hijack this thread.
I actually think vffs look kinda cool, but that's coming from a major nerd.
I don't care deeply about what anyone else runs in. I'm not even sure I really care what I run in, as long as it feels good and I'm having fun.
The reason I don't have a pair of vffs is that a) it doesn't feel all that minimal to me to have to dink around trying to get my toes into those slots. mind you, I also think tying laces is for suckers; and b) I have goofy looking toes that don't fit just so into the toe boxes, so I'd be opening myself to poor fit and possibly blistering by trying to get a model that will accommodate my feet.
I don't care deeply about what anyone else runs in. I'm not even sure I really care what I run in, as long as it feels good and I'm having fun.
The reason I don't have a pair of vffs is that a) it doesn't feel all that minimal to me to have to dink around trying to get my toes into those slots. mind you, I also think tying laces is for suckers; and b) I have goofy looking toes that don't fit just so into the toe boxes, so I'd be opening myself to poor fit and possibly blistering by trying to get a model that will accommodate my feet.
I'm curious as to whether you really meant vffs or min. shoes in general. I think the bf runners who hate vffs just have individual complaints with them. I hate them because my toes don't want to be forced into little pockets and they give me the heeby jeebies whenever I've tried them on. I always hated toe socks when those were a fad back in my middle school days too. Heebie jeebies again. The ones who hate minimal shoes all together I think are different though. Some really just get annoyed by the blister points or just enjoy running barefoot more, there are probably the snobs out there who just refuse to admit some people like shoes, but I would guess that a very large amount of it comes from the incessent version of the following conversation.
"oh so you are a runner"
"yeah sure something like that"
"I run a bit here or there I have these great shoes"
"yeah I run barefoot"
"oh you mean in those toe shoes?"
"no barefoot"
quizzical look
"like with my feet and only my feet"
I love my minimal shoes when I need them but in the summer when I'm actually running barefoot most the time, it annoys me to have to explain what I mean by barefoot all the time. Granted with me normally I say "oh I only run in minimal shoes or barefoot" even then I have to explain what I mean by barefoot. I imagine the nearly 100% barefooters out there are even more annoyed by it and I think this colors their opinion of minimal shoes to be really far on the negative side, much more so than it would be otherwise.
"oh so you are a runner"
"yeah sure something like that"
"I run a bit here or there I have these great shoes"
"yeah I run barefoot"
"oh you mean in those toe shoes?"
"no barefoot"
quizzical look
"like with my feet and only my feet"
I love my minimal shoes when I need them but in the summer when I'm actually running barefoot most the time, it annoys me to have to explain what I mean by barefoot all the time. Granted with me normally I say "oh I only run in minimal shoes or barefoot" even then I have to explain what I mean by barefoot. I imagine the nearly 100% barefooters out there are even more annoyed by it and I think this colors their opinion of minimal shoes to be really far on the negative side, much more so than it would be otherwise.
Yeah, I'm so tired of that conversation I didn't even feel like typing about it before.
So many conversations like that. Others have written about those on this board earlier.
I had someone come up to talk to me, look down at her VFFs, and say "I've been running barefoot for 6 months."
What do you say to that? As someone mentioned earlier, they just have no idea what they are missing, what the differences are, how they could go barefoot, what they could gain, etc... I mean, at least they are aiming in the right direction, but that sort of comment isn't much of a conversation-starter...
So many conversations like that. Others have written about those on this board earlier.
I had someone come up to talk to me, look down at her VFFs, and say "I've been running barefoot for 6 months."
What do you say to that? As someone mentioned earlier, they just have no idea what they are missing, what the differences are, how they could go barefoot, what they could gain, etc... I mean, at least they are aiming in the right direction, but that sort of comment isn't much of a conversation-starter...
Wait people wear socks to do yoga? Why would you wear foot covering in the one place you are sorta expected to be barefoot. People are crazy.
Well I'm find with minimal runners if thats what they want to do. Lately most of my miles have been in my zems or altras anyway. I actually don't even get too annoyed with people confusing the two most times, its not really their fault they are ill informed, I just think it might be one of the reasons that sometimes a bit of a ridge pops up between the minimal and barefoot runners.
I only wear them below 36 degrees F I prefer barefoot. My pinky toe doesn't quite make the pocket and my big toe is jammed in the front.
Bingo! It's not the shoes I hate, it's the fanclub. Same goes for christianity.
Ha yeah that phrase annoys me too. I run in VFFs and have never said I run barefoot when I use them.
That's my problem. Webbed toes. Otherwise I might have really loved my KSOs. I wear Merrells now, but actually like real barefoot the most.
Mmmmm....webbed-toed women do it for me! Yowza!
...but, seriously, do you really have webbed toes? I thought that was only in stories.
...but, seriously, do you really have webbed toes? I thought that was only in stories.
If all chicks that had webbed toes looked like Alice Eve (who's character in the movie "She's Out Of My League" had webbed toes), I could be persuaded to start that fettish.
When people ask me about my VFFs, I usually tell them it's like barefoot running, but with more protection and less ick factor. I live in Alaska. We have snow on the ground from October until April or even May. There isn't much time in summer to acclimate to barefoot. I like to do it, in controlled settings, but I know I can't count on doing anywhere near most of mileage that way. I just look forward to summer and building up to a mile or two and doing that once or twice a week to help my form.
As for the ick factor, allow me to explain. I live in a city where there is an abundance of dog owners
who fail to appreciate the need to pick up after their pets. Add to that the seasonal flocks of geese & ducks, ravens (winter), seagulls (summer), moose (year round), and our surprisingly large homeless population, and it is hard to feel comfortable walking around skin to ground.
I am fortunate that running in classics, sprints and seeyas work for me and my feet. Other models I've not cared for. I didn't expect to like any of them, as I hated even wearing flip flops. But now they don't bother me at all. I can put them on quicker than I can tie a pair of shoes; I just slide my feet into the toe slots. Maybe it's from Pilates and yoga, but I have space between my toes.
I agree that it is idiotic to have to something called barefoot shoes, but I can see why it is done. It's a short hand way of making a point. Inane as it is, it's less confusing to people than the term minimalist. (I also own merrell trail and sonic gloves and some soft star models.)
I'm sorry this ended up more a defense of VFFs than a fully on topic post, but I felt the need to weigh in.
As for the ick factor, allow me to explain. I live in a city where there is an abundance of dog owners
who fail to appreciate the need to pick up after their pets. Add to that the seasonal flocks of geese & ducks, ravens (winter), seagulls (summer), moose (year round), and our surprisingly large homeless population, and it is hard to feel comfortable walking around skin to ground.
I am fortunate that running in classics, sprints and seeyas work for me and my feet. Other models I've not cared for. I didn't expect to like any of them, as I hated even wearing flip flops. But now they don't bother me at all. I can put them on quicker than I can tie a pair of shoes; I just slide my feet into the toe slots. Maybe it's from Pilates and yoga, but I have space between my toes.
I agree that it is idiotic to have to something called barefoot shoes, but I can see why it is done. It's a short hand way of making a point. Inane as it is, it's less confusing to people than the term minimalist. (I also own merrell trail and sonic gloves and some soft star models.)
I'm sorry this ended up more a defense of VFFs than a fully on topic post, but I felt the need to weigh in.
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