A history of knee pain, lower back troubles…put into orthotics as a youth…fixed the symptoms…
Found T-Nation…Cressey and Robertson and other great
T-Nation authors…took their advice and got out of cross trainers, threw the orthotics in the bin and starting wearing NIKE FREES. Went from 5.0 to 3.0 and havent looked back.
Big Problem…Nike seem to have stopped making the 3.0’s.
The next favoured shoe appeared to be the Puma H Street. But they seem discontinued, except in the leather.
Chuck Taylors lack the versatility of the Nike 3.0’s. I wear the Nikes for everything. However, I cant imagine wearing the Chuck Taylor’s for sprinting or the Australian
equal of Flag Football (Oztag)
So where to now ??? On the last pair of 3.0’s and can never ever go back to cross trainers. Has anyone found a replacement ?
Thanks Cressey for your research and input…once again.
Lets hope they dont change the design, i couldnt handle any heel after the original 3.0.
As for the Vibrams…I am a school teacher and I just dont know if I could walk across the assembly with webbed feet. I dont think the endless questions and ribbing would be worth it…they kinda look ridiculous.
But if the Nikes have heel lift, then duck feet here I come
[quote]andrewlevell wrote:
Thanks Cressey for your research and input…once again.
Lets hope they dont change the design, i couldnt handle any heel after the original 3.0.
As for the Vibrams…I am a school teacher and I just dont know if I could walk across the assembly with webbed feet. I dont think the endless questions and ribbing would be worth it…they kinda look ridiculous.
But if the Nikes have heel lift, then duck feet here I come
Quack Quack
[/quote]
What about the Vivo Barefoots? They don’t have any in size 12 until September, but I think those might solve your problems. Cressey blogged about those as well.
To the OP, if you want the best “barefoot” shoe, the Vibram is it. You didn’t ask for a shoe that would look good with khakis (although I think the Vibrams look great and I get lots of positive comments on them).
I’m in almost the same boat as the OP - I am stuck on my Free 5.0s & am trying to stockpile 3-4 pairs in reserve for the gym when I wear a pair out lol - I also have 2 pairs of the Vibram 5 Fingers and to be honest the times I wore them to the gym I have had only a few people comment but seriously, who gives an F?
V5F is closer to barefoot than the 5.0s but I alternate them, especially when I am DLing or squatting.
Good luck in your search for Free 3.0s… you might have better luck in the 5.0s instead.
I have/had the original 7.0 trainers. When the newer version came out I tried them on, but they felt much tighter. The problem was, that I had size 13, and no stores had size 14.
My shoes are starting to fall apart and I really need a new pair. I’m thinking of buying these 3.0s online that were in the link a few posts up. I’m worried that size 14 may be too big. What should I do?
So guys these shoes are pretty legit then or what? I’ve never seen them before but the idea seems solid enough.
To anyone who has tried them— what type of lifts/running do you do? Which model do you own. I’d assume the “Sprints” or 'KSO". If price is no matter, do you prefer those or the Adistars? Thanks in advance.
I have the Sprints. I squat, deadlift, sprint, jump, climb stuff, etc. in them. Pretty much nothing you can’t do in them, unless there’s chance that something could fall onto your foot and injure you. They don’t give you any protection that way.
When I get a little extra cash I plan on getting some of the KSOs. Those weren’t out when I got my sprints, and I love the all black.
I have trouble seeing the ability of the vibrams when it comes to playing a sport. Forget sprinting in a straight line, but those shoes for cutting left and right and such? I don’t know.
Anyways. Adidas Sambas. Shoe is practically on the ground (your foot is very close to the ground) and their is 0 heel lift which I believe most if not all Frees have. They aren’t soft and mushy like frees either. They are solid like the ground you are meant be in contact with and walk on. They are also made for cutting, they’re an indoor soccer shoe. Which, by the way, indoor soccer shoes are some of the best shoes you can purchase.
[quote]Desideratus15 wrote:
I have trouble seeing the ability of the vibrams when it comes to playing a sport. Forget sprinting in a straight line, but those shoes for cutting left and right and such? I don’t know.
Anyways. Adidas Sambas. Shoe is practically on the ground (your foot is very close to the ground) and their is 0 heel lift which I believe most if not all Frees have. They aren’t soft and mushy like frees either. They are solid like the ground you are meant be in contact with and walk on. They are also made for cutting, they’re an indoor soccer shoe. Which, by the way, indoor soccer shoes are some of the best shoes you can purchase.
[/quote]
The Five Fingers are for training or barefoot type sports. I play indoor soccer and trained in Sambas for years (still have several pair and Puma Kings which I wear for soccer) prior to switching to wrestling shoes. Those were a big improvement over the Sambas. But switching to the five fingers is completely another level of improvement. They are still about an inch lower to the ground than the Sambas which can be a big deal for deadlifting. They strengthen all of the little muscles in the feet as they allow your feet to better stabilize the weight. They can’t be beaten for single leg exercise and sprints. I have had a history of ankle injuries due to soccer and doing single leg work wearing these shoes has helped tremendously with increasing the strength of the stabilizer muscles around my ankle so that I no longer wear a brace for playing soccer. They would not be good for long distance running. By the way, I wear the KSO model.
