What is it? The act of running barefoot – or in very thin-soled shoes – in order to reconnect with nature and strengthen your feet.
How much does it cost? A pair of Nike Free 5.0+ barefoot running shoes is about £85. If you want to just take your shoes off and run around, it’s free.
What does it promise? According to advocates, your achilles tendons and calves will strengthen, you’ll develop a more natural gait and a better running technique, and your balance will improve.
What’s it actually like? I’ve had a pair of barefoot shoes for about a year and, if I’m running under 10km, I swear by them. They’re lighter than normal running shoes, with slatted soles that allow your feet to move more naturally. At first I worried about the lack of support, but I’ve adapted my technique so I no longer need any. However, for this column, I attempted to run shoeless. This was a mistake. Paths, it turns out, are minefields of smashed glass and dog poo. Plus, thanks to bad planning, I had nowhere to put the shoes I wore to the park and had to run around while wearing them on my hands like some sort of catastrophic berk. I didn’t manage a particularly big distance on my barefoot adventure; ultimately giving up after a couple of kilometres due to a combination of funny looks and shin splints. Barefoot runners promise that it gets easier over time. I think I’m fine not knowing.
Best and worst bit Best bit: running with shoes on. Worst bit: running with shoes off.
Is it worth it? Depending on how brave you are, it probably is.
