Eco-Fit: Vibram Fivefinger
Vibram Fivefinger Women’s Classic ($75)
We’re all about embracing new fitness trends, but running barefoot? Not so fast.
But the more we read up, the more we were convinced: Running in padded shoes means we’re landing on the front of our feet, thus diverting centuries of evolution in which barefoot humans took off and landed heel-first.
However, the idea of running unshod on concrete—no matter how much callus we’ve built up first (ick) or how many knee injuries we might prevent—seems a little scary. And those Hobbit-style running shoes we’ve spotted lately don’t entice.
Enter the Vibram Fivefinger. Yes, they feature that distinctive appendage enhancing, five-toe design, destined to turn heads in the park. But they also sport recycled rubber soles and renewable wool uppers, available in super-cute colors like aqua and rose.
This news is a total plus to us. Because if we start running “barefoot,” we’re definitely doing it fully shod.
Even the most disciplined ecoista can get in a rut when it comes to the holidays. Travel and guests get in the way of exercise, and it seems like everywhere you turn somebody’s offering you a cookie. We found style-focused, eco-minded fitness gear from New Balance, Patagonia, Earth Lust, Lululemon and Vibram—plus giveaways and exclusive discounts!—guaranteed to inspire a year’s worth of resolution.
