Strangest shoes I’ve owned: Nike Free

Run barefoot. That’s what the ad said anyway. As I looked for a new pair of running shoes I came across a very strange and flexible pair of shoes called Nike Free. The idea behind the shoe is that by allowing the greatest degree of flexibility, your foot uses and builds up muscles which makes your foot stronger.

Well, after three months of use, I’m still on the fence. The ad is correct. Wearing these shoes does sort of feel like I’m running barefoot. Which is good and bad. I like the feeling of my foot being able to stretch and move around more than with normal running shoes. But there’s not much cushioning. Even running on our treadmill tends to make my feet more sore than with my last pair of running shoes.

I am still not used to wearing them without socks. I supposed you could find a really thin pair of socks but I was told by the salesperson that most people find them more comfortable when worn without socks. On the plus side they are very light weight and very soft. You can bend them in nearly any direction. I’m surprised at how well they have held up over the months.

If you’re in the market for a new running shoe they are worth a look. Maybe when I lose a few more pounds I won’t *need* the cushioning quite as much as I miss now. They are definitely a strange pair of shoes but they are growing on me the more I wear them. Maybe they are like a good baseball glove that just requires a longer work in period.