I drank the Kool-Aid from Mark Twight of GymJones. I’ve read his book, I’m influenced by his writings (his Twitching with Twight is on my office wall and I re-read to keep me focused), and I follow him online because I think he comes from a place of honesty forged by hard work. He’s earned my support, for whatever that is worth.
Via @GymJonesfame he tweeted this very good question:
“I’m confused. If those shoes shaped like feet were “all that” why aren’t Olympians using them? I’ve not seen a single athlete in them …”
Very good question and, while I am low on the fitness know-how food-chain, I do have an opinion about the “feet shoes.”
I train in CrossFit and I use the Vibram Five-Finger shoes. My chosen sport is kendo which is an activity done barefoot so using Vibram’s makes sense. Beyond kendo, though, I find that using shoes that closely replicate the experience of feeling the ground helps my overall balance.
Non-scientifically, I feel that having shows with no support requires me to work harder, lift more, and to be more mindful (having those toes sticking out is scary!). All of those components are valuable to have when training.
Getting back to the question, though, my answer is that you will most-likely see athletes with low-thickness soles and even “non-toe” shoes that are fundamentally the same as the infamous “toe-shoes.”
I think the toe-shoes bring with them the image of a paleo, “natural-living” hippie/hipster who thinks that the shows alone will magically transport them to a state of fitness minus the excruciating work required to get there. Maybe that is why they’re not being worn in London right now.
Mondo 