ZEMgear Terra $70

www.zemgear.com

The Good: Material is streamlined, reflective accents for low light visibility.

The Bad: Lack of laces may not cinch down enough for a tight fit, use special fit socks or be prepared for swampy feet.

The Ugly: Ease into barefoot training, or suffer the wrath of bruised soles.

I’ve tried a variety of shoes designed to mimic or enhance the natural movements of the human foot.  Coming from padded, heel-striking, pronation-prone running shoes, I need plenty of help to develop a more natural cadence. I’ve tested many mid-foot runners with success, my joints hurt less, endurance improved, and it just feels better. But the most drastic move for me was a few barefoot runs that felt fast, quiet and smooth; unfortunately, they also shredded my baby-skin soft feet. For that durable protection, the Zemgear Terra split-toe trainer gave me a barefoot feel without post-run road rash.

The shoes have a flexible neoprene top that is light and stretchy (but not breathable), with reflective lateral supports welded in for additional support. Zero drop design and a barefoot sole pattern keeps the feel of the terrain for a more tactile experience (be sure to keep an eye out for rocks and sharp stumps). These shoes were tested on generally urban and moderate trails in Redding and the Mountains near home. The miles were on neighborhood pavement, a nearby trail system, and out through some creek trails.  The shoes gripped trails, wet pavement, and rocky terrain well, with very little loss of traction. The toe sleeve does make the shoe look like a ninja tabi, so be sure you’re ok with the big toe separated from the rest of the pack. The split toe design helps to maintain a flexible grip on uneven ground for better traction, and I did notice a difference on trails.

While the neoprene top was tight fitting, it didn’t cinch down like a laced system so there was a bit of play in the shoes which makes it hard to get a good grip on sidehill. Also, be prepared with a few sets of socks that can accommodate the toe design. My feet sweat during a workout, and without a pair of toe socks my bare feet really swamped up the shoes quickly; and with no drain holes or venting the shoe won’t shed water quickly if you splash through a stream along the way. I also bruised up a bit from the unanticipated beating for the first few runs.

So if easing into a more natural gait sounds interesting, be sure to keep those peds protected with a light and flexible barefoot trainer. Just make sure you wear socks so you don’t get trench foot.