Nike to Runners: Go Barefoot (for $85)

Is it the next big thing in running shoes? Nike's new Free shoe goes for ultra-minimalism, attempting to use a thin, flexible design to recreate the feeling of running barefoot. See some pictures and user comments here.

The Free 5.0 is a departure from the proliferation of frills and features in the running shoe arms race, but the concept has caught on fairly well in the running community. It does have its share of critics, who point out that running barefoot is not a good idea unless you have normal, healthy foot structure, and work up slowly. Nike, acknowledging the rigor the shoe puts on the babied foot, recommends spending the first week or two just wearing them around the house! When you get used to using all those tiny foot muscles that have become deadened by the sneaker assistance, you work your way up to running, and then running long distances.

After spending the last several months distributing the shoes to top global athletes (Freddy Adu, Lance Armmstrong, Maria Sharapova, etc.), and then attacking the niche market, Nike is now taking aim at the general public. The company is currently pushing the shoe hard in advertisements, both here and in Europe, where the au naturale concept is always a winner.

The official Nike Free site has some pretty slick propoganda.