Paleo barefoot shoes, genial or useless?

[Rico]

Apparently this is the new minimalist shoe, a Five Fingers is like a full leather boot compared to this!

http://magento.gost-barefoots.com/?___store=en

The idea is to wear only a steel net on your feet. On the web site they say that those shoes are widely used for hiking and water sports, but also trail running, etc. http://portal.gost-barefoots.com/paleo_sports

They are not cheap, but if they really work so well they may be really good to have, even if only as spare pair and camp shoes on long hikes. Any opinion?

Rico

[Spartan]

Hi, Rico.

Ummmm ...

Ian

[wayno]

yeah? what happens in mud, what happens in dust or gritty soils or riverbeds? it gets through and rubs between the shoe and your skin....
i remember walking through a river in boots and no gaiters, the grit got between my sock and skin till the point whre it caused blisters that opened up then the grit got under the skin, not an experience i'd recommend to anyone....
all the reviews are glowing so i'd smell a rat there to start with, if they are so good why doesnt anyone stock them in the big outlets online or in shops.
just looks like one of those "as seen on tv products" someone makes it for few cents and makes a killing on it...
i dont like paleo anything, its the flavour of the month, theres paleo diet where people eat ridiculous quantities of meat in the interest of getting rid of fat,, good luck to your bowels if you try that....
for something thats pretty left field and unknown thats a lot of money to throw away, but hey its your money, if you want to buy it down't let me stop you.... it might have been developed for watersport to stop people getting stung by jellyfish or getting biteten by sharks and someones just trying to sell it for other sports to try and make more money from it and put the paleo label on it for bigger marketing mileage...

[pazzar]

They look horrible. As to whether they work, I don't know.

I have been a Five Fingers user for a while and think the concept is great. I think rubber sounds far nicer than a steel net.

[phan_TOM]

Nor really an opinion but more of a reaction

Bahahahahahaaaaaa!

edit: nearly 200 GPB for a pair?

Bahahahahhaahaha!

sorry

[wayno]

let the shearing of the sheep begin......

[nq111]

yeah? what happens in mud, what happens in dust or gritty soils or riverbeds? it gets through and rubs between the shoe and your skin....

That is a very good point. Amazing how many people come to the tropics and think they need teva sandals or similar to walk in. The grit and sticks get in and rubs holes in the skin in no time.

Nice around town though.

[Rico]

Hahaha My first reaction was like all of you. I noticed that they are all 5 stars reviews and the fact that there are almost no photos of people wearing them on their site (they really look horrible, can you imagine a bloke going to the pub for a cold one wearing those??). But what surprised me is that they advertise them as outdoor shoes, not for a stroll in town. Well, I guess I just saved $300!

[Nuts]

Might be ok with some neoprene socks or inner sole/liners. Do they do other accessories, codpiece might be good for those neo-nudie walkers

[David M]

The true minimalist shoe is the bare foot as used (or formerly used) by many indigenous peoples around the world... However, to use this type of "shoe" I suspect you a) have had to go bare foot from birth in order to develop the hard keratinised skin required and b) not be concerned about the occasional puncture, abrasion or cutting injury with possible contamination with nasty bacteria and c) are prepared to forgo the comfort of a well designed shoe.

I have yet to see extreme ultra-lighters go bare foot.

Also, my concern about this chain mail shoe is that it won't break-in to the wearer's foot and if it is not a 100% perfect fit the first time it never will be.

[Rico]

It'd work... If it was glued to your foot. Otherwise you'll alway end up with dirt between the foot and the chain. But the concept is great, most of us are used to wear shoes from birth (apart Queenslanders, but that's another story), and the idea to have the palm of your foot made of steel when you need it is fantastic. Maybe this is not the right way to accomplish that...

[wayno]

marketing is as much about novelty as it is about anything, our brains are wired to be attracted to new and different things...
thats partly how fashion sells. why colours of clothing change regularly.. and massive no's of people will pay for novelty, no matter how impractical.
at least in nz the latest fashion for teens and young adults this summer is to wear a down jacket, irrespective of the weather, you have to be seen in. one.. of course that won't last when people realise how hard it is to wash and wreck a down jacket through washing...
it's different and something gets triggered in peoples head how great it is.... get some steelo washing pads and strap them to your feet and take them for a long walk in the bush and see what happens and then see how great an idea you still think it is....
when most people own a particular fashion item sales drop and the fashion industry then dreams up some new fashion to hook people in to buying again... anyone old enough to remember hotpants in the sixties and seventies will recognise them as the latest fashion at the moment..
someone may have been looking at some medievil pictures of soldiers footwear and thought yeah theres the latest fashion money spinner. if someone can charge $150 for five fingers we'll try for double with these... and put a new name on them "paleo"

[andrewbish]

Nothing 'Paleo' about chain mail I'd have thought - more 'Medieval' or perhaps 'Crusader'.

Someone should make a pair out of beads. They could be called 'Taxis'

[quicky]

...just don't leave them in the hot sun for too long...ouch!

What a gross misuse of the term Paleo.

These 'things' are funny...to put it lightly.

[Lindsay]

Could be useful of you come across a sword wielding snake or a dingo with a battleaxe I suppose.....

[etrangere]

The sort of product you see at 2am along with the weight loss product infomercials on tv. Anyone stupid enough to buy them deserves what they get

[Hallu]

Are you sure it's not a fake ? Looks like medieval chainmail for your feet...

[Onestepmore]

"PRONATIV is a real outback Barefoot for natural grown soils and all kind of terrain. Wearing them is fast, easy and flexible. If you are keen to "feel" what is under your feet - far away from roads and usual trails - try them today! A unique running experience for all senses and all weathers! In the midst of nature a minimalist runing shoe for pure barefoot feel and pleasure!"

WT *$&# is 'natural grown soil'?
As opposed to 'unnatural manufactured soil' perhaps??

They need to spell check too - 'runing' And I'm always wary of advertisements with random capitalisations, incorrect apostophes and lots of exclamation marks.

Funny
More fool to anyone who buys these at the price

[andrewbish]

Here's a review. Not particularly favourable. The comments are interesting. http://gearjunkie.com/chainmail-running-shoes

[matagi]

They need to spell check too - 'runing'

Either that, or they are Druids and were consulting the runes?

[wayno]

They need to spell check too - 'runing'

Either that, or they are Druids and were consulting the runes?

while they are at it they should consult a psychiatrist and find a new line of work...

[phan_TOM]

Thats a bit harsh wayno. It's actually given me the inspiration to start my own minimalist running shoe company. I've got the materials laying around my house and thought if they can do it why can't I?

I call them 'ARCHAEO minimalist running shoes' but they can be used for anything including bushalking, camp shoes or just for casual wear around the house. Just tie them on with the rope (supplied) and away you go. I also have a special introductory offer for all bushwalk.com members of $550 per pair, don't miss out get your own pair today!

archaeo.jpg (199.81 KiB) Viewed 14264 times

[Onestepmore]

+

Made Me Smile

[wayno]

*&%$#! awesome, as tough as bricks..... must be extra long lasting.. very little wear on the soles? last forever? i'm in...

[ULWalkingPhil]

Might be ok with some neoprene socks or inner sole/liners. Do they do other accessories, codpiece might be good for those neo-nudie walkers

what is a codpiece?

They sure are weird looking shoes.

[wayno]

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=codpi ... 66&bih=681

[ULWalkingPhil]

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=codpiece&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=M5LzUO-0E6eaiAKk7oDgDA&ved=0CDsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=681

Thats funny. I thought thats what it might have been, but I wanted to make sure, just incase I'm missing out on some new space age gear I have not heard of.

[wayno]

it will be all the rage again soon if the fashion industry is anything to go by

[Nuts]

Yes!!! I'm getting one regardless:

Screen Shot 2013-01-14 at 3.49.28 PM.png (554.49 KiB) Viewed 14064 times

[Bluegum Mic]

Now that is ultralight walking to the max. The shoes, the codpiece and your set. No need for wet weather gear... though the cold could be an issue