The Feet God Gave Us Are Best!

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 158th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, MAY 18 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.

Segments include:

*Sole Runners. For decades, new models of running shoes have boasted ever-greater amounts of padding, cushioning, support systems, high-tech gel and air pockets, and fatter, wider, thicker soles. Runners welcomed the ever-more-complicated and ever-more-expensive new models with open arms, happy to spend up to several hundred dollars a pair. So why is the biggest movement in running suddenly all about less cushioning, or even running barefoot, with no padding at all? Some maintain there has never been any evidence that more and more padding prevents, or even reduces, the number of running injuries. And a group of runners who insist that the less padding the better – that the human foot is designed to run most effectively with direct contact to the ground--is gaining more and more followers. Correspondent Bernard Goldberg explores this hot-button topic and looks for answers to why less is more. Interviews include author and running enthusiast Christopher McDougall; Harvard University scientist Dr. Daniel Lieberman; and Nike footwear design director Tobie Hatfield and Nike senior researcher Jeff Pisciotta.

Invisible Shoes are a modern spin on the traditional barefoot running sandal — durable, stylish and affordable — and so light and low-profile it’s like you’re not wearing anything.

Thanks to Chris McDougall’s inspiring and exciting best-selling book, Born to Run, runners are discovering the magic of barefoot running.

Many people describe how barefoot running has improved their running, healed old injuries, strengthened their feet and legs, turned flat feet into feet with arches, and much more.

The biggest problem with barefoot running, not surprisingly, is all the stuff on the ground that can hurt and cut your feet, plus all the dirt you have to wash off when you’re finished running.

That’s why you’ll want a pair of Invisible Shoes.

In his book, Chris describes huaraches, the running sandals of the Tarahumara Indians: a strip of rubber from an old tire and some string or lace to hold it on.

Invisible Shoes are a hi-tech but inexpensive version of huaraches made with modern materials.

All our huaraches are made with the 4mm Vibram Cherry sole material. This professional-grade rubber is used on shoes costing hundreds of dollars, and is built to last. It has one smooth side for your feet, and a lightly patterned bottom for traction. So far nobody has outworn the soles of their Invisible Shoes. The 4mm gives great protection, whether you’re running streets or trails, while also providing the most barefoot feel you can possibly get.

We also make our huaraches with colorful polypropylene and nylon lace. They’re soft, strong, don’t stretch, are waterproof and, maybe best of all, look really cool. Plus, they keep your cost down.

You can have fun with the DIY huarache project by getting the Invisible Shoe Kit, or you can have us make your Custom Invisible Shoes for only a bit more.

The Invisible Shoe Kit comes with complete instructions (which, actually, you’ll find here) for making your own hi-tech huaraches.
For the Custom Invisible Shoes, you’ll provide us with an outline of your feet and we’ll take it from there, returning your better-than-barefoot Invisible Shoes in just a few days. (Instructions about making the outline and submitting it to us are here.)

By the way, huaraches aren’t just for running! You can wear them anywhere you go. They’re great for walking around and you’ll get many of the same benefits when you do.

Support the Tarahumara — When you buy Custom Invisible Shoes we donate 10% of the profits to Norwas de Rarámuri to support the indigenous people of the Copper Canyon.