For decades, running has been a sport of choice for good cardiac health, strong bones and muscles, and simply good health. Many athletes however have found that too much running isn’t always a good thing. Eventually your joints start to give, you develop all sorts of foot problems and some of the health hazards begin to outweigh the benefits.

Running is big business though, and Vibram FiveFingers, maker of barefoot running shoes, has seen this first hand. What’s bigger than the running industry is seemingly the industry for healthy running products. The barefoot running shoes that Vibram FiveFingers produces and sells have become a hit. The company has taken off in a short amount of time. Why? Because the product seems to work.

The foot is the product of millions of years of evolution. They have evolved to be barefoot, so that they can adjust to you stride, distribute your weight, and lessen any impact to your joints. Having said this, when a normal running shoe is placed on the foot, it loses the ability to sense it’s surroundings and adjust properly. That’s by the barefoot running shoe is so popular. It allows your foot to communicate with it’s surroundings on the fly. If that’s not enough for you to consider trying a pair, maybe the fact that they are so light weight that you barely notice you have anything on will. Below are the weights for the various models of the shoe:

Mens size 42 (Available AT Amazon):
Moc 2.7 oz. each, 5.4 oz. a pair
Classic 5.3 oz. each, 10.6 oz. a pair
Sprint 5.6 oz. each, 11.2 oz. a pair
KSO 5.7 oz. each, 11.4 oz. a pair
Flow 6.6 oz. each, 13.2 oz. a pair
KSO Trek 6.7 oz each, 13.4 oz. a pair

Womens size 37:
Performa 2 oz. each, 4 oz. a pair
Classic 4.25 oz. each, 8.5 oz. a pair
Sprint 4.4 oz. each, 8.8 oz. a pair
KSO 4.7 oz. each, 9.4 oz. a pair
Flow 5.6 oz. each, 11.2 oz. a pair

In the end, your long term health should be the main concern. From those we have interviewed, the main complaint about the Vibram Fivefinger shoe was that the runners were stopped by onlookers too ofter to ask what the heck they were wearing.

These shoes are available now at Amazon