My Minimalist Running Shoes

People who love to workout may have taken for granted the footwear they use during training. Nonetheless, experts know how crucial shoes are in such endeavor. Minimalist shoes for weightlifting should be the choice, if you work out regularly. To be help you attain proper form and execute appropriate techniques, you should wear neutral shoes that will prevent long-term injury and hampers your lifting performance. Just imagine a person who wears a heeled shoe while trying to lift a thousand kilograms. His cushioned and elevated feet, with cramped toe box could not possibly allow him to make proper grip for that much needed balance while lifting a heavy object off the ground.

The downside to improper footwear

You work out to develop your muscles. When you are not geared properly such as cushiony, heeled shoes, chances are, you will not be able to weight lift efficiently. When this happens, there are repercussions to your body as well as to your performance, which you may not have been aware of.

1. Without proper grip and balance provided by the kind of minimalist shoes for weightlifting designed by dependable brands in the industry today, you will not be able to properly target the muscles you are trying to develop or work out. This means slow results, which could be frustrating for some people.
2. When you workout  and your feet that supports your whole weight is not properly encase in a shoe that helps maximize its potential, you are exposing yourself to great danger. You could get permanently disabled when you lift weights without proper technique, which could only be done when you are well-balance and firmly grounded on your feet.
3. Wearing traditional shoes which are usually padded will require your feet to spend extra force to help keep your balance. Undue stress to your muscles and ligaments could reduce your performance level and might even cause you permanent damage. Your ligaments and tendons could get sprain or torn due to the exerted effort of lifting heavy weights without proper balance and technique.

Improve your performance by wearing minimalist shoes for weightlifting

Have you ever tried lifting heavy weight barefooted? If you have, you must have observed that your feet are flat on the ground, your toes splayed for a firmer grip and balance. This natural movement of the feet is mimics when you are wearing minimalist shoes for weightlifting. Such shoes have zero-drop from heel to toe, wider toe box that allows your toe freer movement while providing minimal protection from the roughness of the ground with its highly innovative insole and outsole that are usually made from anti-microbial materials. These features allow the feet to “breathe” without accumulating too much moisture that causes odor and discomfort.  These types of shoes are neutral enough to be allowed in gyms and it actually readies you should you want to try barefoot running. Just by using minimalist shoes for weightlifting, you will find that you will be able to lift more heavy weights in just a couple of months. Your form is enhanced and your muscles strengthen in no time.

Top picks for barefoot shoes for weightlifting

If you do not own yet any minimalist workout shoes, here is my list for the best minimalist shoes for weightlifting in the market today to choose from, to help you find the most appropriate footwear for you.

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  Adidas Power Perfect Weightlifting shoe

  1. Adidas Power Perfect weightlifting shoe – it has reinforced straps over the laces to give you that snug fit. Its reinforced flat rubble outsole is appropriate to use inside gyms. Its whole structure is geared towards helping weightlifters to enhance their performance and make them stronger.
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  Otomix Shoes OM6666 Versa Pro Trainer

  2. Otomix Men’s versa pro trainer sneakers – made of leather that has a futuristic look and possessing all the features that minimalist shoes have.
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  VS Hybrid XT

  3. VS Hybrid XT – its polyester upper mesh provides comfort to the wearer.  A shoe that is suitable for all types of workouts or trainings, it boasts of an elastic speed lace system for easy sliding in and out of the shoe.
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  Adidas Adipower Weightlift Shoe

  4. Adidas Adipower Weightlift shoe – another innovate footwear from Adidas that gives the wearer the benefits of minimalist shoes for weightlifting.

With the advent of barefoot shoes in the footwear industry, several manufacturers have joined the growing list of minimalist cross training shoes producer. The best cross training shoes for men 2012 edition are yet to get official although numerous bloggers have already compiled their best list. Some of the shoes in the list have already been introduce in the market but others are yet to be formally given birth in the market. What are the factors in consideration for selecting the list of best cross training shoes for men 2012?

Key features of cross-trainers

Of all the types of sports shoes available in the market, cross training footwear are the most versatile. They are usually durable, with low-key midsoles, breathable uppers and adaptable outsoles like Vivobarefoot’s Neo Minimalist cross training shoes. This cross-trainer is one of the best cross training shoes for men 2012 edition. It was introduce late December of last year and has continued to rise up on the most in demand minimalist cross-trainers this year. With a microfiber air mesh upper, removable insole and rubber outsole that is resistant to puncture, it is truly one of the best cross-trainer shoes; you will ever have the privilege to wear.

Determining whether cross training footwear is right for you

Before you can choose the best cross training footwear, you need to determine first if it is the right shoes for you. They are the best choice if you are someone who loves to participate in a variety of workouts or sports activities because of their ample supportive base. These shoes are actually an economical way to take pleasure in diverse sports without having to buy separate footwear for each activity. Although cross-trainers are mostly multi-purpose shoes, they are not right for everyone. For those who run frequently or for long distance should not opt for cross-trainer shoes since they are usually bulkier and have lesser cushion, which means they are not good for running. Cross training shoes are great for activities that require you to move from side to side such as in a tennis court. To ascertain if cross-trainers are the best shoes for your needs, you need to ascertain the benefits and drawbacks of wearing such type of footwear.

How to buy cross-training shoes

If you are searching for the best cross-trainer shoes for you, you can narrow down your search by gender. There are separate lines for men and women since both have diverse needs when it comes to footwear. The most recent list of the best cross training shoes for men 2012 edition can also help you find the most suitable pair for you. The list naturally contains the most innovative cross-training shoe in the market today and you can have your pick from the list. Although many in the list are just recently introduce in the market, there are already some reviews written about them. You can peruse these reviews to help you in deciding what to buy. However, before you decide to buy you need to ascertain what type of feet you have in order for you to obtain the right kind of shoe. If you suffer from over-pronation, opting for the right cross-trainer shoes is good. Due to the wide supportive base, cross training shoes are very appropriate for people whose feet roll inwards when running or walking. Ascertaining what are the frequent activities you will engage in will also guide you in finding the best minimalist training shoes for you.

New Balance Men's MX20 NB Minimus

ECCO Men's BIOM Lite 1.1 Cross-Training Shoe

The best cross training shoes for men 2012 by brand

Buying footwear from brands who are popular for producing only the best product will help you narrow down your search for the appropriate cross-trainer shoes for yourself. For 2012, Vibram FiveFingers cross training shoes still make it to the list. With its ultimately thin outsole and zero heel-to-toe drop, it is still one of the perfect cross-trainer today. Merrell’s Trail Glove cross training is still in for 2012 as one of the best cross training shoes for men 2012. It is popular amongst men, whose feet are larger than usual because with a little loosening of its lace, the shoe actually lets you expand your feet, making it breathe easier. ECCO Men’s BIOM Lite 1.1 cross-trainer is another hit maker for 2012. With its yak or camel made upper, it offers a very comfortable fit with its thin PTU sole but low-key midsole. The New Balance Minimus is also included in the list for this year. With its recent redesigning and changes, it has become more comfortable and highly commendable for a variety of sports activities. Of course, we should not forget Vivobarefoot’s Neo Minimalist cross trainer footwear. The best cross training shoes for men 2012 list is still open pending the introduction of newer minimalist cross training shoes by other popular brands.

There are many types of shoes available in the market today for every type of running you engage in. Hence, determining the best shoes for running would not only take a lot of effort but would also be quite difficult since you need to consider several factors before making the smart choice. When you get right down to it, there is really no one best shoes for running for everyone. Each person has his own special needs when it comes to footwear and you have to meet it to be able to provide comfort and prevent injury. Moreover, the manufacturer and the shoe itself should have a good history of providing only the best in comfort, style and protection when it comes to running.

Expert’s choice: Best minimalist running shoes

To narrow down your choices to only the finest, experts recommend minimalist running shoes as the best shoes for running. Why opt for minimalist footwear? Studies revealed that minimalist shoes actually diminish runner’s injuries. There are several minimalist running shoes out there and you need to consider your needs so that you can match it with the kind of minimalist shoes you will be buying. Some minimalist footwear looks normal enough without any oddity showing except perhaps for their quite thin soles. Some shoes however are quite quaint-looking although it does not discredit the fact that they enhance your running prowess and precludes injury. The underlying principle to this claim is base on T’ai Chi, on which Chi running is base. It advocates for barely-there soles to encourage contact of foot and ground, which in turn inspires stability since the foot’s heel connects to the ground, thereby diminishing any injury.

Determining your running environment

Before you can make an informed choice, you need to ascertain first where you will be using your shoes. When it comes to minimalist footwear, there are also variations for particular running environment. If you will be running on rough terrains most of the time, you need the best running shoes that will protect you in these harsh environment and provide comfort too. Minimalist shoes have very thin soles and flat heels. The minimal padding on the soles of your feet might just be fine for grassy and flat grounds. However, not every minimalist foot wear is uniformly thin-soled. There are transition minimalist shoes, the in-betweens and the really thin and zero-heeled running shoes. Hence, if you are just starting out in minimalist walking and running, you are better off with the transition minimalist footwear. They have thinner soles and lesser heel than contemporary shoes but they will give you the opportunity of testing the best of both worlds.

Ascertain your foot’s arch type

Knowing what type of arch your feet have will help you find the best shoes for running for you. Your arch type influences your being under-pronation or over pronation and you can find the suitable running shoes for them. When you are either overpronation or underpronation, you need to get a minimalist running shoe that help you control motion, for better ground grip and avoid any injury. Using just any shoe for rigorous use when you have this condition will injure you or destroy your running form.

Progress slowly but surely

Before you can even experience using the extreme type of minimalist footwear, you need to go through some phase before actually going to use the Vibram’s Five Fingers or Vivo barefoot products. You need to wear transition minimalist shoes to make your feet get use to the closer feel of the ground to your heels. Only when you and your feet have grown used to wearing thin-soled shoes should you initiate wearing semi-barefoot shoes like the five fingers of Vibram. You cannot achieve anything by slipping on the extreme minimalist shoe and running a race right away. The best shoes for running would depend on your needs and your environment too.

It takes some time to getting use to running almost barefoot. Since the best shoes for running are minimalist shoes, it is just fitting that you should take much effort in getting use to wearing such shoes to reap the maximum benefits of running. The best running shoes for you if you are just starting using minimalist shoes on rough terrains would be the LaSportiva Crosslite. Although there is an appropriate shoe for each particular runner this minimalist transition running shoes is very suitable for rocky terrains since it provides rotational support for your ankle. The New Balance Men’s MT20v1 Trail Minimus shoe is another great choice to pick. With its lightweight structure, thin rubber sole and artificial mesh that embraces your feet without choking it. It also has an ACTEVA midsole with a VIBRAM outsole and a foot bed which is treated with antimicrobials. These shoes are just two of the best shoes for running that you can find in the market today. Try to find out more about these products and see if it suits your taste.

Minimalist trail running shoes is perhaps the latest innovation in the shoe industry that is making skeptics’ arch their eyebrows higher at this rather unique kind of shoes with the rather odd structure.  For thousands of years, we have been made to believe that to protect our feet, whether walking or running, we need to wear thick-soled, durable and resilient footwear. Shoe makers have indeed created shoes that are not only sturdy but also stylish and comfy as well. These thick-soled shoes are the usual footwear that athletes and ordinary citizens alike use when engaging in running, walking as well as in various sports activities.  These types of shoes are what people use in trail running to avoid injury cause by sharp objects, broken glasses and protruding stones.

The introduction of minimalist shoes in the market

That is why, when minimalist running shoes were introduced in the market, people were actually astounded and flabbergasted by its shape. Not only are these shoes have thin soles but they are also shaped rather oddly, especially Vibram’s five fingers which are shape like the feet itself. Who would ever believe that these minimalist running shoes can protect you from the hard ground when walking? Much more when you are running in trails! How come its manufacturers insist that minimalist shoes provide better protection to our feet than the usual contemporary shoes can ever be?

Expansion of usage of minimalist shoes

Nonetheless, the claims must have some basis for not only are they limiting to minimalist trail running shoes nowadays. ZEM and Vibram’s fivefingers are actually starting to produce shoes for water sports, casual events such as in the office and even for parties! Today, you can see minimalist shoes intended for wakeboarding and kayaking, for pairing with your office get up and for your gowns or tuxedo when partying. Anyway, let us focus on minimalist trail shoes for now. These shoes, especially those which have special designs are getting diverse reviews. Does it really provide maximum protection for your feet while engaging in strenuous activities such as trail running? If you do opt for minimalist trail running shoes, what kind of minimalist shoes would it be? There are several brands and designs in the market nowadays for minimalist trail shoes.

Why choose minimalist trail running shoes?

It has been discovered that our forefathers thousands of years ago, often run with the barest foot covering or even barefooted. Studies conducted on bones that were unearthed lead medical experts to believe that they have stronger foot than most people possess today. Indeed, their foot had grown stronger the more that they ran barefooted. This findings lead to the discovery and subsequent manufacture of minimalist shoes. They are made in such a way that the soles are protected from the impact of the soles when it hits the ground but with the absence of the usual thickness that most of us are used to. Over time, with proper transition and adaption, you will get used to wearing this kind of minimalist shoes which will lead you to develop stronger muscles and bones in the long run.

The right kind of minimalist shoe for a specific activity

However, there is a suitable minimalist shoe for a specific activity. To be able to maximize the benefits of minimalist trail running shoes, you should make a smart choice when buying one. The most important thing to consider perhaps when making your choice of running shoes is the kind of surroundings you will actually be using your shoes. If you are someone who infrequently runs in grassy or wooded areas, you will have different needs with someone who regularly runs in rough terrain. It is best to note that the best minimalist trail running footwear would be able to sustain under different conditions. To help you out in making the best choice, you should choose the shoes that are made by a company who has a long track record in providing the best footwear in minimalist trail running shoes. Companies like Merrell and Vivo Barefoot have recently launched their latest product in minimalist shoes in the market. Both companies have been able to produce innovative, sturdy minimalist trail running shoes that provide comfort as well as safeguard you from foot injuries.

If you want to find minimalist shoe for trail running that can provide you with the necessary transition usage before going barefoot running, choose Brooks Puregrit which is manufactured with trail runners in mind. It cushions your feet without feeling bulky. Although not as featherweight as the extreme minimalist shoes, this shoe however will get you through the long haul. Its 4mm drop and the somewhat curve shape of the shoe will help you feel agile. Its upper covering will hug your feet like second skin without actually stifling it. It provides great traction even on wet clay but does not weigh you down. This minimalist trail shoe is great in providing comfort, style and protection on rough terrains. Overall, you got excellent taste if you will opt for this type of minimalist footwear.

Another great option for minimalist trail running shoes that sits in the middle ground of contemporary shoes and barefoot shoes is Keen’s A86 Trail Shoe. Its airy upper mesh provides comfort as well as helps in making it lightweight. It’s soft midsole and footbed offers comfort without forfeiting physical sensation. It actually provides thinner soles, which makes for better running and walking without sacrificing safety.

The first minimalist shoes that had been introduced in the market had been dedicated to athletic and casual activities. Barefoot sports shoes are actually what the manufacturers of minimalism had aimed for, especially when it comes to running and other gym activities.  In fact, most minimalist shoes in the market today are used for various sports and athletic activities. There are only a scant few minimalist shoes which are designed for more formal occasions such as going to work and attending special occasions such as cocktail parties and weddings.

Why go for minimalist sports shoes?

Sports can be quite a demanding activity that needs physical stamina as well as agility in mind and body. More often than not, the attire and the shoes you wear when engaging in these various sports can affect your performance and your overall impact on such an activity. Hence, opting for the appropriate attire and shoes is a crucial task that needs to be done with care and precision. For instance, a runner cannot be expected to perform well if his dress for a competition is too loose or too tight. The same goes for his shoes. Moreover, studies yield that those who have run wearing contemporary shoes are much slower that those who are into barefoot running. Barefoot sports shoes designed for running will enable your feet to maximize its strength as time goes by. Starting out with a minimalist shoes can be grueling and might dissolve the resolution of those who less incline to develop further their abilities in running.

Should you have minimalist sports shoes for all your sports activities?

The feet have been well protected by high-heeled and well-padded running shoes. This had changed his gait over the years since the design of contemporary shoes facilitates for the heel-first strike which put on the stress on the joints, causing injury to the ankle as well as the knee and back. By wearing barefoot sports shoes however, the feet are allowed to strike mid-foot which eases the pressure on the joints and transferring it to the muscles. This means lesser prone to injuries and damages to the tendons and cartilages. Using minimalist shoes for basketball and football would definitely provide much protection to the players.

How to shift from contemporary to minimalist sports shoes

Always start slow. Never attempt to rush everything by taking off your shoes and then wearing barefoot sports shoes which are barely there when you engage in your favorite sports activities. Remember, this would expose you to risk which you might not have anticipated. You should bear in mind that your feet had been contained for so long which actually weakened it instead of strengthening it. Hence, once you rush to freedom without much thought for the consequence, you might end up harming your feet rather than helping it. So, start out by walking leisurely on barefoot and then slowly use your minimalist shoes for more serious activity, until your feet have gained enough strength and familiarity with the feel of being almost barefooted. Only then can you start using your barefoot sports shoes for more rigorous activities that will put your feet up for a challenge.