Has anyone here tried vivobarefoot shoes?

David / Mark,

Thanks for your replys.

I'm planning on buying them in the next week or so when i can get to the shop for a fitting. I'm hoping they will be similar to the Inov8 trail shoes I have.

Thank you for the link to the calf exercise Mark, I will be trying this to help with the transition to midfoot running.  I have also been reading Chi running to help with running form, so with the shoes I hope to improve over the coming months. 

Hope you have a nice Christmas gents.

Tony,

Moved over to 255's back in April after recovering from an ankle injury.  What can I say, I've rebuilt myself, I'm better than I was before, better, stronger, faster - cue dramatic music.  That said the transition was long, hard and painful but well worth it.  I've logged 500 miles on them now (including 4 marathons) and sadly its now time to replace and I'm considering moving down to 233's, or up, not sure which.  They take getting used to but I think I've been payed back in spades.  The fits a bit weird so experiment, I ended up exchanging the original 6mm footbeds with 3mm.  When it comes to running, you'll find them light and responsive, I've even used them a few times on mountain trails (dry ones mainly)!!! But as Mark says below you need to put the time in first and expect a few aches to begin with.  To summarise, I love 'em.

Hi Tony,

I have the Inov8 Road x 233 shoes, they are the two arrow, flatter shoe or next progresion from the 255.

I was not sure whether to buy the 255 or 233 shoe initially, but finally decided on the 233 as I had been using a midfoot running style for the last 400 miles in my Acsis Gel Cummulus 11's & had even been doing the occasional mile run on the road barefoot.

Even so, I found the 233's a lot flatter & thinner & despite only running short distances in them initially, I still ended up with aching calves. I've now run 180 miles in them & love them, very grippy in wet or dry & surprisingly ok on the occasional venture onto grass or trail.

So, if you are going straight from heel landing, then I'd suggest the 255's but with short runs initially. You will find that your stride has to be shorter & your cadence faster.

Make sure you follow the Inov8 measuring suggestions to get the right size.

Obviously loads of info on the web about natural/barefoot running styles, but Ken Bob Saxton is a good place to start: http://therunningbarefoot.com/

Useful calve training exercise here: http://www.dragondoor.com/calf_work/