Invisible Shoes

Invisible Shoes - 6mm Contact

I have been toying with the idea of making huarache running sandals for the past few weeks (That's not quite true, I have really been thinking about them since I read Born to Run two years ago).  After spending some time trying to make a pair completely from scratch, I determined that I would quickly spend more on gas trying to track down materials than the cost of a complete do-it-yourself kit.  I asked myself why should I try to re-invent the wheel (or in this case a millennia old sandal) so I broke down and ordered the 6mm Contact from Invisible Shoes.  I placed the order Thursday night and I received it by priority mail on Monday.  I love it when an on-line retailer is so diligent about order fulfillment.

They offer two sole thicknesses, the 4mm Connect and the 6mm Contact.  I opted for the thicker Contact because I thought it would offer a little more protection for a running sandal novice.

My first impression after opening the priority mail envelope was how dense the soles are.  They have a substantial feel in the hand and seem very durable while still being completely flexible.  They seemed so tough that I questioned my reservations about ordering the 4mm version of the sole instead.  Not to worry, if I decide I want the thinner soles with an even better ground feel, at this price I could easily afford to order a second pair.

Fit before trimming

The package comes with two soles with holes pre-punched at the ankles, two 6 foot laces, a bobby pin (thoughtfully included to help thread the laces through the soles) and a simple instruction sheet.  You are required to punch the toe hole yourself for a perfect fit.  There are more detailed instructions including several videos on the Invisible Shoes web site.

The soles are precut and the size 10.5 was a pretty good fit for me already but I decided to do a little trimming for a custom fit.  The process was easy, just trace your foot, smooth the lines a bit, and then carefully cut with a pair of heavy duty scissors.

Fit after trimming

Whoops. I accidentally laced the left sandal backwards.

I have been experimenting with lacing options with my Walmart flip flop huaraches over the past few days and settled on a slip on method instead of the more traditional toga style that wraps around your ankle.  Again, there are several videos on their website demonstrating various lacing methods.   I had the sandals trimmed, laced and ready for running in about half an hour and it only took that long because I was taking pictures.

Walmart Flip Flop Huaraches

I took them for a very short run up and down my street about quarter mile using the traditional lacing method and then again with the slip on lacing.  It confirmed that I like the slip on method much better.  This method doubles the strap around your heel which I found more comfortable, not to mention that once tied it only takes a few seconds to put them on.

I plan to use these for trail running, but even running on pavement I was surprised at how good they felt.  The feel of the sole under my foot is not dissimilar to my Merrell Trail Gloves and I loved having my feet completely exposed to the air.

My one reservation is the knot in the lace under my toes.  It was noticeable but not uncomfortable when I walked and ran on a hard surface.  I could barely feel it walking on carpet or on my lawn.  After tying the knot I squeezed it with pliers and melted it a bit with a flame but it was still noticeable.  It did flatten out some and improve after just that little bit of running and walking around the house so I think it will improve as I continue to wear them.

I thought it would be a few days before I got to really test these out, but a fluke break in the weather presented me with an opportunity to get in a quick trail run after work.  I ran a hilly 2 mile loop in the LyoniaPreserve.  The surface is mostly sandy, some very loose and some well packed, mixed in with some harder packed earth and plenty of roots to trip you up.  The shoes performed very well, similar to my Trail Gloves but with an even better ground feel.  You definitely feel it when you land on something hard, like a root or rock, but it was not painful and I could sometimes feel my foot able to conform to the shape of the irregular surface. One disadvantage I have noticed in my Trail Gloves is the amount of sand and debris that collects in the shoe.  When I ran my 50k earlier this year I had to stop several times to shake them out.  That will certainly not be a problem with these sandals.

The lacing worked extremely well and the sole did not shift at all while I was running, even on steep inclines.  I need to tweak them just a little bit because the fit was too snug around my second toe.   Some slack in the toe strap will allow me to pull the lace towards my big toe.  I also had no trouble with the knot under my toes.  I didn’t notice it at all while I was running.  The entire setup was very comfortable.  After running the two miles I haven’t noticed any unusual aches or pains – no blisters or chafing from the laces, no heel or arch pain, shins, calves, knees, hips – all fine.

It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to go for another run in them.  Although I confess I did change out of them when I stopped at the grocery store on the way home.  Comfortable as they are, I am still a bit embarrassed to be seen wearing them in public. ;-)

After 2 miles on the trail.

Test Driving the Merrell Trail Glove

The local marathon season is grinding to a close so I am planning to give trail running a go. This of course means – NEW SHOES!

As usual I agonized over the decision of what shoes to get for this purpose and after way too many hours spent researching and perusing reviews I narrowed my options to three.

1. New Balance MT 101. This seems to be an extremely popular and well tested trail runner. While it is more minimalist than many trail shoes, my main concern with it was that it seemed to be a step backward from the Saucony Kinvaras I have been wearing for the past few months. It is a very light weight shoe but it has a 10 mm heel drop that is more characteristic of more traditional running bricks (whoops - I meant shoes).

2. New Balance Minimus Trail. With a 4 mm heel drop (equal to my Kinvaras) and endorsed by ultra-marathoner Anton Krupicka (who supposedly contributed to the design) I am excited about this shoe and hope to try it someday. Unfortunately, it will not be available for another month (and I have a “thing” about instant gratification).

3. Merrell Trail Glove. Weighing in at a featherlight 6.2 oz., with a 0 mm heel drop and a Vibram sole, the Trail Glove is part of Merrell’s Barefoot Collection and is creating a lot of buzz. The decision to choose this shoe seemed inevitable when I received word that my local running store, Front Running Sports, just got them in stock (remember my “thing” for instant gratification). My only hesitation was the price (I also have a “thing” about parting with my hard earned cash). It retails for about $105, which seems pretty high for a shoe whose closest competition is supposed to be bare feet. A WVR discount at Front Running Sports helped to ease my pain.

(After purchasing my Trail Gloves, I was informed that Saucony is now offering a trail version of the Kinvara called the Peregrine available at a significantly lower coast than the Trail Glove. I don’t think this would have affected my decision though. I’m on my second pair of Kinvaras, ready to try something new, and I’m excited about trying a perfectly flat shoe. I also learned that Saucony has another new offering described as the Kinvara with “a touch of support” which makes me worry they are losing sight of what made the Kinvara successful in the first place.)

My first impression on seeing the Trail Glove was that it looks a bit like a clown shoe with its oversized toe box. The fit was almost as exactly as described in the product literature, snug around the mid-foot with a toe box that opens up wide to allow your toes to splay. It is cut low around the ankle and is very flexible. It is designed to be worn without socks and I ended up with a size 10, a full size smaller than usual.

The feel of the perfectly flat shoe was strange at first walking around the shop. I took it for a test run outside, both on pavement and on grass, and found that I was almost instantly up on my forefoot, especially on pavement.

The upper is a loose woven mesh that gives the shoe a pleasant ventilated feel on my sockless feet.

Armed with my new purchase I decided on the Lyonia Preserve for my first trail run. I was warned not to overdo it in my first runs or my calves would pay the price. I ended up running 4.8 miles on a mostly sandy trail with just a few challenging hills.



They performed well and I was pleased to find that I had no calf soreness afterward or any unusual leg pain at all. I think this is due to the many miles I have already put on my Kinvaras. I’m not convinced that the shoe, in and of itself, changed my stride significantly although I was very aware of how my foot was landing and the shoe provided a good feel for the ground. The sandy trail was very forgiving so I will have to wait see how they perform on less ideal surfaces and pavement. This run didn’t really test the shoes traction or its effectiveness as a barrier against roots, rocks, water or other hazards I might encounter off road. It was a great first test though and rest assured I plan to put these shoes through the ringer over the coming months.

Base of "Mt. Lyonia"

I did pick up quite a bit of sand and some debris from the run. In addition to sand that makes its way into the shoe around my ankles, I think it can also work its way in through the loosely woven upper. On a longer run I may need to stop to shake them out every once in a while.

I had some concerns about running without socks and was pleased to find that I didn’t suffer any rubbing on my heel. I did notice a small abrasion on the top of my left foot after the run, near the base of my big toe. Feeling around on the inside of the shoe I noticed a rough spot where the tongue is sewn to the shoe that may have been the culprit.  I think more careful attention to the lacing may prevent a repeat but I will have to keep an eye on this area in the future.

View from the summit of "Mt. Lyonia"
Elev: 49 ft*
*per my Garmin elevation profile ;-}

I’m very pleased so far and I’m looking forward to putting in many more miles on local trails in these shoes.

Update (5/3/2011):

I thought I should update my experience in the Trail Gloves now that I have more experience in them. I now have well over 100 miles in them including a 50k trail race. I absolutely love these shoes.

The chafing I experienced on the top of my foot, which I also noted in other reviews of the shoe, ceased by the 3rd wearing and after that they got more comfortable every time I laced them up. I don’t know if the shoe softened up or my foot calloused, or both, but the abrasion never returned, even during the 50k. I didn’t even suffer a single blister during that race.

My experience in them is limited to trail use with the exception of a single 4 mile run on pavement that really gave my calves a workout. I do plan giving them some street time now that the Florida racing season is basically over until the fall.

I have also become so infatuated with running sockless in the Trail Gloves that I tried, and now prefer, to do that in my favorite road shoe, the Saucony Kinvara.

You can read more about my experiences in them here (Silver River State Park) and here (Croom Fools Run 50k).