Vibram Fivefingers: Barefoot Running Shoes Are In Demand Among Runners – Is running a part of your daily exercise? Do you usually participate in marathons? If so, then a nice pair of running shoes complements your running experience. How about running in bare feet? Did you ever experience it?

Running barefoot can lead to sore feet. However, if you want the “feeling of barefoot” while running, there is a brand of running shoes called Vibram Fivefingers that gives you the experience of running in bare feet. Tagged as the barefoot running shoes, Vibram Fivefingers  is a type of shoe manufactured by Vibram, an Italian shoe manufacturing company. Originally developed as a “barefoot alternative” for sailing and climbing, the footwear has thin, flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot, including visible individual sections for the toes.

Vibram advertises that use of the FiveFingers barefoot running shoes can actually strengthen muscles in the feet and legs, increase range of motion in ankle, and improve balance and posture. According to the study conducted by Harvard University about biomechanics, running barefoot tends runners to avoid landing on the heel and instead land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. This is found to decrease the discomfort from landing. Hence, feet injury is lessened.

With its success, Vibram Fivefingers was named by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions in 2007. To meet the increased demand from runners, Vibram plans to expand its operations to cover more locations. Currently, Vibram sells its barefoot running shoes from $75 to $125. A design named “Bikila” named after the famous barefoot runner Abebe Bikila, has been famous among runners since it has a sole designed for running in particular.

Courtesy:worldcorrespondents.com