My feet aren't particularly wide, and the G4s fit fine. But because the 'toebox' is just thin fabric, I wouldn't think there'd be any issues for anyone. It pretty much is just a sock with a thin sole adhering to it.How is the toebox?
Some of the historical scientific papers suggest that "stockings" (socks) could predispose one to bunions. I have to admit that even with my thin dress socks, my feet feel a lot better after I cut the tips of my socks off. I've switched to Injinji's for athletic socks. Too bad they don't make dress socks.But because 'toebox' is just thin fabric
Some of the historical scientific papers suggest that "stockings" (socks) could predispose one to bunions. I have to admit that even with my thin dress socks, my feet feel a lot better after I cut the tips of my socks off. I've switched to Injinji's for athletic socks. Too bad they don't make dress socks.
Hmnn, interesting. I know a lot of people wear socks around the house, without shoes, but I wonder if that research accounted for the fact that most people wear socks with shoes. I guess it also depends on how tight the socks are. Let's defer this question to the Sock Doc, if he can take a minute away from calling limber people "bozos." I rarely wear socks, but I know tight pants can lower a man's sperm count, so it seems plausible that socks snugness could be detrimental to one's foot health, besides the obvious fungal cheese funk that socks so often cultivate.Some of the historical scientific papers suggest that "stockings" (socks) could predispose one to bunions. I have to admit that even with my thin dress socks, my feet feel a lot better after I cut the tips of my socks off. I've switched to Injinji's for athletic socks. Too bad they don't make dress socks.
Very informative! Thank you!Sockwa are working on new models, including waterproof ones and ones with grounded soles (these sound real cool!)
Perhaps, like love, grounding is an emergent property, difficult to detect via scientific measure of its mutually constraining constituents. Or not. In any case, Sockwa's rubber soles should work as good insulators against grounding, much as bad breath can keep love at bay.From a scientific perspective Sid, my Qigong practise makes no sense either, but it sure does make me feel good
Strange they waited until the G4s to make Sockwas true to size. Must be a Californian desire to be different.I would agree with Paul's assessment. Finding the right fit has been an issue for me.
True, considering it's just a piece of fabric (albeit high quality with high quality stitching) with some grippy rubber slapped on the bottom, it does seem a bit pricey, but it's still about half what you pay for most minimalist shoes.I think the price is a little high for all of the models, but get on their e-mail list and watch for sales.
Also, great points in that link Rick! Should answer any remaining doubts about the toe box.A few more comments here - http://thebarefootrunners.org/threads/your-opinions-please-on-sockwa.15159/#post-144661.
As for the cold[1], I find that the Sockwas, without socks, extend my range by about 20 degrees F in dry conditions, and by 30-40 degrees F in snow, while still providing great groundfeel. My feet do get cold, but the G4s provide just enough cover to retain some body heat on top and prevent surfaces from conducting it away on the bottom. This morning I ran in an inch of snow covering lots of ice patches and the traction wasn't too bad. Much better than the Moc3s and Vapor Gloves.Glad they are working out for you Bare Lee. I don't know how you are dealing with those temps. in your area.
There is some guidance on the widths of Sockwa on the barefootbritain.co.uk website. The G3 are the widest. I definitely find my G3 the most comfortable (but not breathable.) The G4 and X8 are considered a medium width, and I can tell the difference when wearing my X8. I wouldn't call it cramped, but just not as comfortable as the G3. The G2 are considered narrow. I have Amphibians, which are an old model. I'm guessing they have the G2 sole because these do feel a little cramped. I wouldn't say any of them have a large toe box, but as someone says, it is not really a box, and if there was any more room left, they would be very floppy. If I can find a way I will upload some photos to show the difference.
Nifty! Honestly, I kind of like being secretly semi-barefoot in my shoes. Cutting the ends off has been a cost-effective solution. I don't actually like having the fabric between my toes from toesocks, but they're better than regular socks for my bunions.I thought they did...... Or maybe Smartwool?
This is something that I cannot substantiate, but perhaps socks can exacerbate or perpetuate existing bunions.Hmnn, interesting. I know a lot of people wear socks around the house, without shoes, but I wonder if that research accounted for the fact that most people wear socks with shoes.
Flammee, as Rick, Paul, and I have said, there isn't really a 'box' in the toe area. I just measured my G4s and they're 10cm wide without my foot in them, but 12cm with it in there and toes splayed (to the extent that I can imitate a running strike while standing still measuring). My feet don't feel at all restricted. The shoe is so minimal--1.2mm sole!--that you can't really compare it to most other minimalist shoes, like the altra adams and aqua lites, which feel almost like stability shoes in comparison. With free returns, I think you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Apologies for coming on so strong, but I would've saved a lot of money if I had heard about them earlier, and that's why I'm acting so evangelical here.Excellent photos! I would have saved a lot of money if I had seen such photos about other shoes also.. I considered G3s, but it looks pretty sure that they are not wide enough. For me shoes need to be atleast 11 cm (@size EU45/US11) wide at little toe (and that's absolute minimum), like most fivefingers, altra adam, vivobarefoot aqua lite (which is 12 cm wide).. My foot isn't 11 cm wide, but just a bit over 10 cm. So, it's not about width of foot, but how it feels and under 11 cm seems to give me confined feeling in all the shoes I have tried. Like feelmaxes which also have a bit over 1 millimeter thick sole. Even solerunners, which are pretty much exactly 11cm wide (maybe 1-2 mm narrower than vffs) seem to feel bit narrowish, it might me because of their shape and because there's some rigid material at sides. Higher toebox (so there would be extra fabric to give some width) or really stretchy upper could help, but doesn't if there's some nonstretchy toe bumber that forces the width to be maximally as wide as sole is. Like it is with solerunners. Also saucony hattori lc and zemgear 2cinch are pretty close to 11 cm wide but still feel too narrow - I guess it depends on shape and stretchiness if it fits at 11 cm width, so even if G3s were one centimeter wider, it wouldn't be sure that they would fit.