I just wrote this on introductions and then saw this topic. So I am copying and pasting from there. It is my testimony about minimalist footwear. Got interested in minimalist footwear because of an old injury resulting in chronic tendinitis. I was at the point of not being able to walk without limping most of the time. Some friends on facebook were always talking about running in their Vibrams. I didn't really know why. But through a link to Adventure in Progress one of them posted I began to research it for myself. I found that it just might be the shoes I was wearing. So after reading more I went out and bought a pair of very flat, flexible water shoes. As I simply could not afford Vibrams or Merrell and the like. Went barefoot in the house most of the time. Just wore the shoes to town and such. In a very short time it began to get better. I noticed a difference in less than a week. It's been a year and I'll never go back. I walk (fast for exercise) on a daily basis and although I can still feel it when I first start out it soon stretches out and limbers up. No more constant pain. No more limping. I hike in them also. I would like to try some of the minimalist shoes out there, but they are spendy! In particular Merrell seems to offer what I'm looking for. Something for hiking as well as walking. The Trail Glove (for Tim) or the Barefoot Lithe Glove,or Pace Glove (for me). Lots of good articles on here I'm slowly checking out. I recently started a blog about our life in Appalachia. Occasionally I've written about minimalist footwear. Here's the link if anyone is interested. http://ourappalachia.blogspot.com/

Beth N Tim Wagenius 7