Just a brief "whoa" I hope to share with you. After, what, 2.5 years of being "minimal" in my shoes or pure barefoot, I've grown to whine about how expensive my shoes can be ($35 for some sandals, on the order of $60 for my unshoes, up to $90 for soft stars, etc, you know the drill, and I just bought some VFFs on sale just to try and I can't stand them and bemoan the expense).
I forget that once I find a pair of minimal shoes that work for me, I wear them for everything every day and expect them to last indefinitely or need repair eventually.
Disclaimer before rant: I am agnostic on what other people wear or don't wear when they run or do anything else. I say, it's none of my business and plenty of people do just fine in big giant marshmallow shoes. If they are happy, let them be.
However.....
My local running store sent out their spring running shoe guide flyer, and I made the mistake of looking through it one tired night. Most of the shoes were in the $120-$150 range, many higher, only track shoes significantly lower. That doesn't count the recommended inserts,ranging from $30-$60.
OUTRAGEOUS.
Remember, too, you are supposed to replace the buggers every, what, 400 miles????
YIKES.
I don't see strong scientific evidence in favor of bf running or minimalist running after many years of wearing "traditional" shoes, sorry, but it's just not well done yet.
On the other hand, to my understanding, there is little to NO support to the claims shoes manufacturers make about cushioning, support and injury prevention.
Yet, the advertising seems to suggest that the shoes serve a medical-like purpose of creating proper stride, protecting your body from "impact," keeping your knees healthy, etc.
Again, I am neutral on what individuals wear.
And, yes, I know about the industry a bit from a few books.
But nothing like seeing those price tags and thinking about the THOUSANDS of dollars I used to spend on shoes only to have sore knees anyways and blame myself for it. Whew.
It feels downright unethical sometimes that these shoes are being so heavily promoted and in such a way...
I get it. It's the culture. But still. Boo.
I forget that once I find a pair of minimal shoes that work for me, I wear them for everything every day and expect them to last indefinitely or need repair eventually.
Disclaimer before rant: I am agnostic on what other people wear or don't wear when they run or do anything else. I say, it's none of my business and plenty of people do just fine in big giant marshmallow shoes. If they are happy, let them be.
However.....
My local running store sent out their spring running shoe guide flyer, and I made the mistake of looking through it one tired night. Most of the shoes were in the $120-$150 range, many higher, only track shoes significantly lower. That doesn't count the recommended inserts,ranging from $30-$60.
OUTRAGEOUS.
Remember, too, you are supposed to replace the buggers every, what, 400 miles????
YIKES.
I don't see strong scientific evidence in favor of bf running or minimalist running after many years of wearing "traditional" shoes, sorry, but it's just not well done yet.
On the other hand, to my understanding, there is little to NO support to the claims shoes manufacturers make about cushioning, support and injury prevention.
Yet, the advertising seems to suggest that the shoes serve a medical-like purpose of creating proper stride, protecting your body from "impact," keeping your knees healthy, etc.
Again, I am neutral on what individuals wear.
And, yes, I know about the industry a bit from a few books.
But nothing like seeing those price tags and thinking about the THOUSANDS of dollars I used to spend on shoes only to have sore knees anyways and blame myself for it. Whew.
It feels downright unethical sometimes that these shoes are being so heavily promoted and in such a way...
I get it. It's the culture. But still. Boo.