The barefoot running craze continues – and as some of our guest contributors have noted it is so easy as caveman did it. But for those just getting started it can be a little hard on the toes. Now the German company Starringer has a solution to ease into going barefoot.
The Freeheel Runningpad is essentially half a sandal that offers just a bit of padding at the toes, leaving the heel free. This is designed to encourage the forefoot or mid-foot strike, as opposed to heel strike that is common with modern running shoes. This provides a way to run on the toes, yet keeps the shoe weight to a minimum. It is also ideal for cool weather or when the ground may be wet.
And since this doesn’t fit around the whole foot the traditional sizing of shoes isn’t required. Hence the Freeheel Runningpad is available in small, medium and large – but all will seem small compared to regular shoes.