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Is VFF running realy barefoot?

Ok, I figure that a community of open minded Vega consumers will be tolerant of my asking this question...should running in VFF's *really* be called barefoot running? Minimalist, or zero drop, shoes are awesome, don't get me wrong, I love my VFF's, but when I slip them on I'm no longer barefoot. So, why do we keep calling running in VFF's going barefoot? ... or am I just splitting hairs?

Thoughts?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Louis Rothschild on December 2, 2011 at 7:21pm

i agree, barefoot VFF's are not and i have 3 pairs in circulation at the moment -- but semiotics say that a word points to something and that some gap typically does exist between the sign and what it signifies

Permalink Reply by Aleksandar Radan on December 10, 2011 at 1:04pm

Agree. barefoot is barefoot. VFF/ZeroDrop/Forefoot/NaturalShoes these are all related but different distinctions. While I both run barefoot and use both zero-drop and other minimalist shoes, I appreciate barefoot does confer both a very distinct experience as well the most direct feedback in adjusting one's biomechanical running form. I'm not a pureist or zealot by any stretch but would say that the distinctions are important in furthering the discussion around running biomechanics.

Permalink Reply by Louis Rothschild on December 10, 2011 at 1:28pm

I like what you say about not being a purist Aleksandar - left to nature alone i have scoliosis and hip rotation - mild by significant enough to impact my running - to see my orthotics collecting dust for over a year now thanks to VFF/barefoot is a big deal - but my running is informed by purity as much as my diet - difference, curiosity, and innovation are key - just because something arrived first does not make it better - more natural....