Off-road barefoot running

Vibram Five Fingers – Treksport

For the trail runner looking for that ‘barefoot’ feel…

Here is just the thing for the ‘off-road’ barefoot runner – when things become a little rocky. The Vibram five fingers Treksports provide great protection to the feet when venturing from the suburban paths and footpaths and into the bush where the real running begins and the whole ‘feel’ experience of barefoot running goes to the next level. With a thicker sole with extra studded grip provided, these are perfect for single track with all sorts of roots, pebbles, sandstone boulders and puddles. They tolerate all these different obstacles with ease and prevent debris getting in but conveniently allow water to come in and then go straight out - great when negotiating water crossings and don’t want that extra weight when shoes absorb water and take a few kms to feel light again.

The Treksport experience…

The Treksports grabbed my attention when I felt the need to get back to nature and get ‘dirty’. I had done my time learning to run barefoot in the ‘Classic’ and this initial barefoot running experience had provided me with the confidence to take the next step – into the bush. I knew the ‘Classic’ just wasn’t going to cut it as I ran over small pebbles, gumnuts and roots. My first run in the Treksports assurred me that ‘offroad’ barefoot running was an option and what great time I had. I ran a few hundred meters until I came to Rumbalara Reserve, a great bushland area to the east of Gosford CBD, with numerous bushwalking tracks, horsetrails and single-track MTB – it was just the thing to test out the ‘Treksports’. My course involved taking the Casurina walk,  the Flannel Flower walk and the Mouat Trail that lead all the way to Katangra Reserve Picnic Area, approximately 7 km of single track mixed in with some fire trails and some stairs in about 45 minutes  – perfect to test how the Treksports handled different terrain. The time had flown by, certainly a sign of the fun I was having – with a quick drink break, I turned around and flew back along the same course to Gosford CBD with flair and a real feel for the earth beneath my feet. I had run through puddles, through rainforest and over rocky single track and had pulled up feeling strong and loving the ‘offroad’ barefoot experience – I was unscathed without any bark off, and had realised the enhanced ‘proprioception’ that barefoot running shoes give, certainly playing a big role in keeping me upright and moving with far less caution over the technical ground.

A hitch in the works…

The treksport provide great toe protection, the only drawback is the soft arch which provides no rock plate to protect against sharp objects that reflex action doesn’t have time to avoid when planting our feet. Hence the Treksport are great for a sandy or wooded trail with soft earth base but when it comes to mountain trails with sharp limestone for company, they are not so ideal.

A pretty good option all up…

Still, the Treksport offers a great option for the majority off-road trail running for up to marathon distances where a ‘feel’ for the ground is required to enhance the enjoyment of the trail and provide that proprioceptive edge to reduce the carnage of that fall that might not just take a bit of bark off but might put you out of action and on the couch!