Vibram FiveFingers: Barefoot Running Shoes Selling Out Fast

via indieposted

If you want to run barefoot, you have two options. You can either run without wearing shoes, or you can wear a pair of Vibram FiveFingers barefoot runningshoes.

For many runners, they only have the first choice. Vibram FiveFingers shoes are increasingly hard to get. Vibram created these barefoot running shoes a few years ago, but now that they have become so popular, Vibram is having a hard time keeping up with the demand.

CNN reports that Vibram is a 75-year old Italian company, that is best known for making soles for high end boots. But 6 years ago, Robert Fliri approached the company with a shoe that could hardly be called a shoe. It is better described as a foot glove.

Vibram FiveFingers shoes give you the feeling of running barefoot, but protect your feet from dirt and abrasions. The shoes were brought to the market in 2006. Times Magazine named the barefoot running shoes one of the best health inventions of 2007. And last year, Christopher McDougall’s book ‘Born to Run’ praised Vibram’s new shoes, as well as the benefits of barefoot running.

This year, a study by Harvard gave even more praise to the benefits of barefoot running, which made Vibram FiveFingers barefoot shoes an even bigger hit.

The Guardian reports that shoe runners tend to land on the heel of their foot, where barefoot runners tend to land on the ball of their foot. Over time, constant pressure on the heel can cause injuries, like ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, shin splints and even back problems.

The shoes cost around $75 to $125. Vibram is expanding its operations to try and meet demands.

But for the time being, if you see a pair of these shoes, buy them while you have the chance…or just go running barefoot.