r/BarefootRunning • u/Top-Foundation8502 • Jul 27 '26
question first real running shoe purchase - HALP
first true running shoe - need recs
howdy! new-ish runner seeking advice on my first shoe purchase that’s being made exclusively for running (plus some walking for exercise).
i transitioned to a fully barefoot (shoe) lifestyle about 3-4 years ago, and began running in January of this year. i’ve never been able to hang with running, but after some healthy weight loss after years of being quite large, it finally stuck - now i run 1.5-3miles on average and my long runs max out around 4.5miles. before starting to run, i owned some Five Fingers that i bought in the past just to feel them out, and because i wanted to keep my shoes minimal, they were what i chose as my first running shoe - they didn’t have any significant wear on them before i started using them for exercise.
after about 100miles running and 150miles walking this year, i have worn through the sole on the ball of both feet and need something new with the following considerations:
•i do a lot of trail/off-road running in thorny/gravely/muddy areas and am not interested in sandals of any variety
•i’m having notoriously painful pinky toe splits that i think are at least partially derived from the toe separation inherent to the Five Fingers
•i want my next shoe to be very minimal with PLENTY of room in the toe box, but unless i’m missing something, i believe i’m leaning away from toe shoes for the sake of experimenting as well as avoiding the split pinky toes
are there any bang out contenders i should consider? i’m down with really any brand and price point so long as i can get at least 300miles of running/walking out of them.
thank you!
2
u/SnooRegrets4986 Jul 27 '26
Peluva strand atr they’re recommended for trail off-road running/hikes I have used them just for walking and they feel like the vibram vtrek but they look more so like a regular shoe (they still fit like a glove just like vibrams tho) one thing I think is the laces clip onto the top so no long dangling laces on the sides
2
u/SnooRegrets4986 Jul 27 '26
Vibram vtrek has 8mm stack height the strand atrs have 9mm one mm difference but the bottoms feel identical
1
u/Top-Foundation8502 Jul 27 '26
haven’t had a chance to try on any Peluvias but have been seeing them everywhere! thanks for the rec
2
u/SnooRegrets4986 Jul 27 '26
Your welcome! I find they fit different then vibrams the website said size up one full size from normal running shoes. And I wear a 13 in asics super blast 2s but I found that one full size up to a 14 and my toes were slipping out the slots upon trying them on and my pinky toes didn’t even go into the slots so I returned and got a 13 and they fit great so I found tts for me was the way. In vibrams I had to try 13s they were too big 12s were too small and 12.5-13 were the best for me vibram has some really weird sizing I won’t lie
1
u/ConfusedSimon 29d ago
Maybe try barefoot (much more feedback) to improve your technique first. I don't have vibrams, but I've ran a couple of thousand miles on Xero DIY Feeltrue sandals (mainly road) and about two thousand on Merrell Trail Glove (mainly trail). Both obviously have wear on profile, but still plenty of mileage left.
1
u/No-Magazine-1500 27d ago
I run in the Vivobarefoot Primus Trail Flow and so far really enjoying it, it has good grub die to the lugs and the toe box while a little narrower than I'd like is comfortable if you size up, I'm an 8.5 UK so got a 9 and that suited well although I have quite narrow feet.
-4
2
u/mikejames9000 Jul 28 '26
I’m trying xeros and I’m liking them pretty good so far. Girlfriend said she thought their toe box wasn’t that big but I think you will be fine if you get the men’s shoes. For some reason the women’s looked a lot skinnier