Hey MWod Beasts,
Ok. Let’s get into it. Self respecting Athletes don’t wear flip-flops. I know where you live it’s ‘Hot’. I know you like to look ‘cute’. But you are destroying your feet mechanics and setting up serious problem for your heel cords and calf. Best defense, no be there. You know I’m right. Take the flip-flop/slipper challenge. See if you can walk/run in your flips without clinching your big toe.
It is my life’s mission to get you guys to stop destroying your feel and ankles. Think about the worst thing you could do to your heel cords and feet, now think a little worse. That’s what flip flops are.
Kstar
46 Responses to “Episode 219/365: Athletes Don’t Wear Flip-Flops”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
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- Mobility WOD - Athletes Don't Wear Flip Flops | Mark's Daily Apple Health and Fitness Forum page
- Product Review: Luna Sandals | freefit guy
- 06.16.11 Thursday « CrossFit Fishers – Building A Fit Community
- Weekly Performance Links | Performance Corps
- Flip Flops Mess You Up « Empire City CrossFit
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Thank you thank you thank you, flip flop/slides/thongs are just wrong unless you’re walking from the beach to your car. Dudes, athletes or not, should not be wearing these things. Again, thank you.
This is the worse news I’ve ever heard. I don’t like to wear shoes unless I have to. So, if I’m not barefoot I’m flip-floppin it. Can you counter-act the bad of wearing slippers by going barefoot more?
Thank you for this! I’ve been saying this to my clients for years!
Yo – I moved to a warm climate so I could wear flip-flops more, and shoes less. Well, that’s not the whole story, but let’s just say I love being barefoot, and flip-flops make – uh, made – it easy.
But, I love my health and performance more than I love convenience, and since K-Star is my Mobility Master, I will be the dutiful grasshopper and kick my flips to the curb.
Alternatives would be great, by the way… Inov-8′s? Vibrams?
The are a few companies like this one http://www.invisibleshoe.com/ making huarache style shoes, these may work since they are tied on loosely making them easy to slip on and off, but you shouldn’t need to clench your toe to hold them on.
I haven’t tried them, but have heard good things about them.
Bro I have paddled Outrigger canoes for 30 years swam all of High School and College, done a fair share of whitewater. Im my lifetime flip’s have been a way of life.If walking running hiking in Flip’s was an olympic event I would be on the team!
I wish I had seen this video 5 years ago before the plantar Faciatis, and before the cortisone shot in the Plantar facia. The cortisone made my plantar facia brittle and weak, When I felt better was out mountain biking, put my foot down on a steep loose turn and BAMM rupture to the Plantar Facia. Recoverd from that them BAMMM torn Meniscus, then BAMM Spodolothesis of T 11 and T 12. I firmly belive that protecting one injury we can bring on another. I also agree with you 100% that we should all be able to take care of our body. You have given the knowledge and have done so in a context that we can all access and understand. Thank you so much for all your videos, and efforts
Awesome
Excuse me I am to a date with a lacross ball It hurts so good!
Oh Ya I am three weeks out of Knee surgery and wearing the Vibrams love them. next purchase some inov8 shoes
Some TEVA sandles are great. Always wondered about jandels (as they are known in NZ)and thanks for clearing it up. Makes total sense!
I’m a big fan of Keens – confortable as heck and really easy to put on. They have the back too that you can tighten as well!
Although not everyone grasps with their toes as much as you demonstrate here, you are correct that flip flops can disturb the windlass mechanism, but so do all athletic shoes. Basically the windlass mechanism only works when barefoot and in the most extreme minimalist footwear. Do you therefore advocate going barefoot as much as possible? – Barefoot Professor
my wife only wears flip flops and has plantar fasciitis symptoms, so we did a little frame by frame gait analysis of her walking. no clenching whatsoever. She also has the most flexible calves of anyone I know and can do a perfect pistol. The only time she is symptomatic is after (she’s a nurse) being on her feet all day in shoes. Any thoughts?
What kind of shoes does your wife wear at work? Seems like crocs were popular for a while with nurses but a lot of the ones I know wear danskins which are almost like a wood clog with a raised heel.
I knew it I feel it I live it. I worked the beach as a lifeguard for 10 years and the state required footwear and I knew it then when I was 17 my feet calf and knees were getting jacked. Now tell me how to release my flexor haligus longus that wont give. Love love love the information Kstar, thank you.
If I make my own huaraches, I might as well start with a pair of flip-flops, and tie shoe lace around the back of the foot to hold the flips in place. Not the prettiest, should do the job…
This is how I felt after this info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tim5nU3DwIE
So woll samdals with a backstrap like hurraches work?
WOW! my iphone really screwed that last comment up! So will sandals with a back strap work? Such as huaraches?
I’m wondering the same thing about sandals with back straps. I have flat feet and p.f. my podiatrist recommended Clarks or Birkinstocks. I have a pair of Clarks flip flops, that help more than any other flip flop for arch support. But after seeing this video, ditching the flip flops for sure.
Hightly recommend Chaco flip flops for plantar fasciaitis. Never go barefoot if you have this problem. Would never work out in my flip flops, but could not live my life without Chacos.
Everybody in New Zealand from a very young age can all do the 100m dash in these bad-boys…
Dudes!!! Check out my Luna Sandals. I started the company in 2006. Made in Seattle. Many use them as a primary running shoe, but they are great for everyday too.
BFT
Sanuk’s (http://www.sanuk.com)…enough said.
He needs a different pair of Olukai’s that fit his feet better.
duuuuuuuuude! thank you so much for this!!! I love(d) wearing flip flops, I live in Miami, but could not figure out why my calves were so tight whenever I would run even though I stretch all day everyday. I think you just saved my running career and alot of pain and misery also.
Flip flops are not elite.
Never been a fan of flip flops either. Barefoot Ted’s Luna sandals are legit! So are Inov-8, Terra Plana, Vivo Barefoot, Tom’s, Sanuk, and even some skate shoes (Nike SB, Vans and Supra being my favorites) work.
This totally makes sense and I can see why a couple of friends have those lower leg/foot problems.
I’m curious to see what spectators are going to be wearing at the CFGames…
What about boat shoes aka Sperry’s? Is it just that they need a back against the heel?
Its still in the 30s here in Chicago. Does this mean that ladies heels are out too? If they are tight, with no tie clinching, is it game on? Nothing says “look at this crossfit body” in sundress while wearing Inov8s. No hatin’, just saying. Alternatives. Nice sleeve Brian.
I know they are so 2009, but how about Crocs? I feel like I don’t have to clinch my toe much with the heel strap. Even without it I feel that I don’t have to clinch my toes because the top of my foot lifts the shoe.
I think two other things that makes your feet weak are stiff soles and contoured footbeds. Anything that “supports” your foot is allowing your muscles to slack off and not do the work they were designed for. Short answer, wear minimalist shoes. +1 for Barefoot Ted’s sandals.
I had a bad impression of this clip from the second I saw the title being a huge fan of flip-flops, especially for everything in CrossFit except box jumps and double-unders, here are my arguments, really curious what you think KStar should you actually read these. I don’t have any toe grip when I walk, standing I can almost get my toes to a vertical position and I frequently run in my flops, have done up to a couple 5Ks in them, also (knock on wood) no injuries working out in them for the last year… Am I still hurting myself?
So…what about ladies ballet flats? Same problem?
WOW! Had no idea, you see I have stupid heel spurs and my lil sis told me about “Fit flops” and I’ve been faithful wearing them almost daily. They do help with my heel spurs though, is there anything else you may suggest than?
It seems like every week there is a new “don’t do” I can barley keep up. I have been a sandle wearer my whole life. I wear sandals in the winter and summer and I also run year round. Never I repeat never have I had soreness/tighness because of them. I played sports in highschool injury free, I’ve crossfitted almost 4 years. Besides some lower back pain after attempting to jump from a 290 max dead lift to 350 and the occasional blister nothing has resulted in a leg injury. Yeah you may not be able to run in them… So what! I never buy my Sandels wondering such one will be better to run in. Go head crossfit community hold on to another “not to do” before you know it we will be the next “religious fanatics” (only it will be about sports wear and caveman diets) and people will just turn there head and smile. Wear Sandles and be happy. Just be active you’ll be fine.
Sorry about the spelling errors. T9 isn’t always your friend, but proof reading is. So my bad.
The argument makes sense on paper, but on the flip side anyone who’s been to South and Southeast Asia will know that nearly every man, woman and child wears flip flops from their first step to the day the die and do a lot more walking than the average Westerner, yet as far as I can see (I’ve been in Southeast Asia 9 years) they suffer far fewer injuries than we do.
Obviously there are many other variables in play, but it’s just my observation.
Flip flops are a way of life here in Australia too (but we call them “thongs” – you can start laughing now!) Maybe if you’ve worn them daily your whole life, you don’t clench your toes so much?? I think when I’m running in flip flops (to get another beer from the fridge while the cricket’s on) is the only time I *might* clench my toes to stop them flying off – the rest of the time my toes are reeelaxed, and if it feels like the flip flop’s going to slide off when I’m walking, I’m more likely to point my toes *up* to keep it on, than to clench my toes. I can see the logic Kelly, and you are truly a legend who knows a sh*tload more than I ever will, but on this one I think I’m going to have to just keep on wearin’ ‘em and take my chances!