FiveFingers & Do Wins

So a long time ago I wrote about using Vibram FiveFingers in the gym and I neglected to provide any updates on using them. I love them, plain and simple. The FiveFingers and "shoes" like it have garnered a lot of press with the debate out there about barefoot running and minimalist running. While I agree with those arguments to a degree I am still a fan of a running shoe for running.

So how come I own and love the FiveFingers? I use them primarily for strength training and sprinting. In the year that I have used them I've noticed significant improvement in balance, posture and injury prevention. Much of this comes from recruiting more muscles to work together in a near-barefoot postion during strength training. I am no researcher or expert here - just giving my personal opinions and feelings after one year of consistent strength training in the FiveFingers. I feel stronger overall in my legs and core (really everywhere too). Much of my being injury-free (or relatively injury-free) the last year has also come from greater balance in my muscle building....in small part due to the FiveFingers (larger part to better training).

Here are a couple additional observations from the last 13 months:

• My FiveFingers did rip along the toe seam on the right foot but thus far I've still been able to use them and not even notice the tear when they are on.




• They do get smelly so you have to wash them often. I toss mine in the washer and let them air dry.




• They have not stretched, shrunk or changed in size in any way. They literally fit the same as the day I bought them.




• The outsoles look barely worn (probably because I don't run much outdoors with them).




• I love the grippy feel for exercises that you need to "dig in" for - bench press and anything standing (overhead presses, etc.).




• They provide just enough shock absorbtion/cushion for most sprints but I do not like them for jumping exercises (broad jump, vertical leap, triple jump, etc.).
  
  

I just picked up another specialty shoe for the gym (yes, I love shoes). This one is for squats: Do Wins. I got mine from Rogue Fitness but there are some other brands and colors floating around the web. Squats are my favorite exercise. I would like to think that my form has always been good and my confidence has always been high. That said I noticed a significant improvement from my very first attempt with the Do Wins on my feet. This was just a warm-up set with no weight on the bar but it was like night & day different than before. My feet felt planted into the ground, as stable a base as I had ever had. By doing this I felt much less stress/strain to maintain my proper arch throughout the squat. I felt I targeted my muscles better as a result as well. It turned out to be my best night of squats ever - not in terms of PR's or heavy weights used but in terms of form, effectiveness and how I felt. I highly recommend them.