Okay this story is relevant to me. Not because I was part of the lawsuit, but I was one of the first to buy a pair of the Vibram 5 Finger shoes when they came out. And more importantly as a big lug who had all kinds of problems from being a heel striker, I still credit Vibram’s and Newton’s and the books “Born to Run” and “Chi Running” as my savior! They helped me get the right form to stop my years of back problems from being a heel striker!
Having said that… I am a very big advocate of barefoot running “form”, but not of barefoot running. In my mind, true barefoot running (ie. running with no shoes) makes no sense at all. None. And I found running in Vibram’s was only a little bit better, but they did protect you somewhat from stones and glass and they were okay on the treadmill to try and change my form. But for the couple of years I wore them, they did correct my form. I still run in Newton’s and love those shoes. Ironically, now that the Vibram’s and Newton’s have corrected my form and I haven’t had even a slightest back problem in about 5 years (after 20 years of severe chronic problems) I can run in any shoe. Which was really the goal, to have the correct form to run faster, farther and with fewer injuries.
So despite the fact that some of the claims about the benefits of Vibram’s were false (and barefoot running in general), I’d still like to say “thanks” to Vibram!
PS. yes, I’ll also concede they look dumb… but they were perfect for The Great 16 Mile Creek Kayak Race!
Cheers,
Rob
The favorite toe-shoe of vegan restaurant servers and 55-year-old men with ponytails has settled a class action lawsuit brought against it by what sounds like every person who ever wore its foot-condoms.
Runner’s World Newswire’s Matt McCue reports that though Vibram “expressly [denies] and continues to deny any wrongdoing alleged in the Actions, and neither admits nor concedes any actual or potential fault, wrongdoing or liability,” the company has agreed to pay a lot of money.
Vibram Agrees to Settle Class Action Lawsuit
Vibram USA, the company that makes FiveFingers running shoes, has agreed to settle a lawsuit that…Read on runnersworld.com
The initial claim, filed in 2012, accuses Vibram of deceiving consumers by saying that its shoes could “reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles.” Unfortunately, Vibram appears to have pulled this out of thin air, really hoping it was true.
It is not true.
Science takes time, and since the advent of Christopher McDougall’s best-selling Born to Run (a book based mainly on anecdote that sparked the minimalist footwear revolution), science has discovered that barefoot running can really fuck you up.
“This study showed that increases in bone marrow edema [the precursor to a stress fracture] are more common in subjects who were transitioning to the [Vibram FiveFingers],” concluded this 2013 study.
In penance for its crimes against fashion and humanity, Vibram has placed $3.75 million into escrow. Those funds will go to the fitness idiots who purchased a pair after March 21, 2009, with up to $94 for each in an effort to help your friends and family not shudder when looking at your feet.
PS. In case you were wondering what the most popular running shoes are with people who know a bit more about running than you or I, here is a good indicator published in Lava Magazine.
Rob
2013 Kona Running Shoe Count Results
A collection of industry volunteers tracked the brands of shoes as athletes headed out of T2 for the marathon during Saturday’s GoPro Hawaii Ironman World Championship. Thanks to the folks at Zoot Sports for providing the count data. (Count reported as a percentage of the total athlete count, with the second metric the results from the 2012 count)
2013 GoPro Hawaii Ironman World Championships Shoe Count
Brand 2013 / 2012
Asics 17.5% / 17.8%
Saucony 16.5% / 14.6%
Newton 9.7% / 11.9%
Brooks 9.5% / 10.8%
Mizuno 6.9% / 6.4%
Adidas 6.4% / 5.4%
Nike 6.4% / 7.0%
K-Swiss: 5.4% / 10.0%
Zoot 4.7% / 5.5%
Other* 3.6% / 2.5%
New Balance 3.0% / 2.8%
ON Running 2.9% / 1.7%
Hoka One One 1.9% / 1.7%
Skechers 1.1% / 0%