This is as yet an incomplete story and I will endeavour to update things as and when possible. In the mean time I'd like to share the key points learned (and learning) from my life as a barefoot runner. As some of you may have read in my previous posts on this forum I turned to BF running after having enough of injuries and being told my feet weren't designed to run: Admittedly my feet are far from the ideal biomechanical work of art that is the human foot, however you don't have to go far to hear countless stories of the humans and their bodies overcoming all sorts of difficulties, Michael's is a perfect example. That in mind I was not going to take no for an answer, i might well have to do it differently to most people but i would still do it.....and so I took off my shoes (sort of)
I started in fivefingers, all went well for some 3-4months, i started out slow and built everything up and gradually my feet got stronger. I decided it was time to pick up the pace so tried some speed work....and got a stress fracture. Undeterred I took time out and started from square one, properly barefoot this time. Again all was well until the winter months closed in and with them the rain and snow; after a few weeks of trying to battle the elements a distinct lack of skin on my feet eventually forced me to look for alternatives. I am not a fan of treadmills as, to my mind (I study Biomechanics and specialise in muscle activation and coordination), they alter gait dynamics significantly. Put off by the idea of a stress fracture i turned away from fivefingers and looked to the even more minimal feelmax osma.
initially things went well and I was able to get up to a decent weekly millage, running every other day. Unfortunatly after 3 weeks of maintaining this I started to notice something in the other (previously good) foot. I identified is as a stress reaction (the early warning signs of a stress fracture) and so once again took time out. Luckily its spring now and I can get loose the shoes again, so far so good (fingers crossed, touching wood and all of that stuff!!)
What I am getting at is this: I am getting the impression that minimalist footwear may imitate the foots flexibility very accurately but what they can't do is match the level of tactile feedback that you get from your skin. I think that this is where their danger lies; in effect they force the foot to act 'naturally' without giving it all the necessary information. Perhaps if you are looking for a 'barefoot' running shoe you should look towards very lightweight, flexible racing flats which give you a little more margin for error given the reduced sensory feedback from your feet.
I must point out that all of the above is my own opinion and whilst it is a well educated one, in terms of lower limb coordination, it is nothing more than speculation. I'd be interested to hear your experiences along these lines as I'm still at the start of my BF running life and have much to learn!....