Footwear: General and specific questions

… if you have experience with zero drop shoes in your everyday life (non hiking experience)? If so, how much?

I have day hiked in Vibram FiveFingers and don't have issues. I have hiked in Inov-8s that are zero drop and haven't had issues. But I'm very comfortable with working out, running around etc. in zero drop shoes.

As always, it pays to take it easy at first to see how you react to it.

1. Precautions – depends on your experience level. I've found that zero drop shoes sometimes equate to less cushioned soles. You'll have to be prepared for that especially if you're going over rocky/ pebble-y/ gravel-y terrain.

2. No experience with that particular model.

Ash,

Thanks for the response. I wasn't clear enough with my word choice

"… if you have experience with zero drop shoes in your everyday life (non hiking experience)? If so, how much?"

What I should have said was "I am familiar with them but haven't used them". I've read a little about the pro's of zero drop.

If you’re just familiar with them in theory, I would suggest that you follow the “walk before run, crawl before walk” policy.

Do you wear shoes when you walk around at home or at work? Buy a pair of zero drop shoes and use it for that first. Slowly increase your time and intensity of what you do with those shoes.

Here is an article that provides really basic steps to go barefooting: How to Prepare for Barefooting

Basically, be careful. Don’t go balls to the wall. And if you start hurting, dial it back a notch.

IMHO, you are not ready to hike in zero drops yet. Do easier terrain at low intensity first and then work up to hiking.

Good luck!

Reviewed at http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/new_balance_mt810_review.html

Cheers