A firm foundation: focusing on the feet

[Gary Ohm]

Thanks for the links fellas. The Vivo's I might be able to get away with in the office. But out in the plant I have to have something much more "boot like"... It really makes no difference in the construction, as long as the "look" like a boot. It is an extreme aggravation. The most passable ones I've been able to find are the Wolverine Durashock. And they still make me feel like I'm walking in platform shoes.

[Allen Yeh]

I don't know what you need the boots for but Nike makes a tactical boot now that have a Nike Free feel, they are ok, not great for the field but great for the garrison environment as they are lightweight and flexible Nike SFB boots

[Gary Ohm]

That Nike sounds interesting. I work in a power plant. I need boots, typically all leather unless they have an ANSI or ASTM safety certification number, to protect against abrasions (steel and concrete). I walk on diamond plate and open grating as well as concrete, climb thin rung ladders, and do high voltage electrical switching.

We might have incidental contact with various acids and caustics. If that happens we usually need new boots anyway, but the goal is for the boot to slow the stuff down long enough for you to get it off before it melts your foot.

The other side is that Nike has always fitted me poorly. I had wide feet before I started going barefoot. Now my gorilla feet REALLY protest narrow toe boxes. I'll look into the tactical boot. Thank you.

[Allen Yeh]

If you do get them try through Zappos.com they have a great return policy at no extra charge. I did my nike free size for these boots not my regular military boot size.

[Chad Cilli]

Originally Posted by Allen Yeh

I don't know what you need the boots for but Nike makes a tactical boot now that have a Nike Free feel, they are ok, not great for the field but great for the garrison environment as they are lightweight and flexible Nike SFB boots

Are you saying this boot is available on zappos or the Nike Free? I think I need to get a pair of these boots, my Bellevilles have soles so thick they just might be mine proof.

[Lawrence McDonell]

Great article Steve.

I have been championing minimalist and barefoot running over here in Australia amongst my squad of Rugby League Referees... some have jumped on board after reading you previous article... and Born to Run. Others...(mainly those who are chronically injured) prefer to make fun on my vibrams but i think their curiousity has been roused sufficiently to at least think about runnign technique.

On another point just picked up two typos in the article...


"As previous discussed the plantar fascia is involved with the Windlass mechanism"

"As you can seem most often the plantar aponeurosis is aggravated at the heel where it originates from, but pain can be anywhere along the plantar aponeurosis all the way up to the feet."

[Steven Low]

Thanks for the typos catch. Fixed.

Also, yeah keep spreading the word. Good stuff.