[notjustforshow]

I have been running "barefoot" for about 6 years. I run barefoot on my treadmill at home and with minimal shoes outside.

I've owned the following shoes

Nike Free 3.0 v1
Nike Free 3.0 v2
Nike Free 4.0
Vibram Five Fingers
Terra Plana EVO 1
Terra Plana EVO 2
Onitsuka Tiger Running Tabi
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66

My Nike Free's would always get destroyed after 200 or so km. It is usually at the toe box or the heel section (fabric behind the heel). That being said they were the most reasonably priced of this type of shoe. They are appropriate to learn how to run barefoot from.

I did not like my Vibram Five. I sold them on craigslist. Here are the reasons why I did not like them, though they are specific to me. Great shoes, though I wonder how long they will last distance wise.

1) Your toes have to "spread" when you transfer your weight during a stride. Having a big toe box is important. The Vibram Five doesn't have a toebox because your toes have their own sections. If you have weird sized toes you get some bunching and it is distracting (hard to keep a steady rate)

2) Cannot wear socks. I just personally feel that my distance running shoes require socks. These are not track spike shoes etc.

3) Hard to learn how to run barefoot with them. If the shoes do not fit you properly, you will start to heel strike. This is what I was finding on myself. I could correct it but it was specific to me.

4) Easy to get small injuries, such as stubbing a toe if you try to correct your stride

If you want to try out a "barefoot" running shoe pick up some water shoes, which are actually great for learning. Honestly if you don't like barefoot running, why waste money. MEC has them for cheap (IIRC ~$40). They also carry the Five Fingers for a reasonable ~$90