Back in the middle of the last decade, someone at the Vibram company had a brainstorm, the kind of once-in-a-career inspiration that undoubtedly is studied at business schools across the land. What if, this person must have mused, instead of marketing our FiveFingers shoe to the small community of boaters who use them to secure their footing on wet, slippery surfaces, we could convince tens of millions of people that they should run the streets in them? That running in flat, cushionless shoes with individual pockets for each toe is, in fact, better for your health than protecting your feet with all that soft, high-tech razzmatazz? Even if you're not a runner, you probably know what happened next. The brilliant book "Born to Run," which celebrated a band of Mexican ultra-runners who lived in a hidden canyon and ran huge distances in sandals made from old tires, came out about the same time. A Harvard anthropologist, among others, launched a rigorous study of "barefoot running," concluding that the way people have been locomoting for hundreds of thousands of years is better for you than the raised sole of the modern running shoe.

The "barefoot" or "minimalist" boom was off and running, so to speak. Nike, Brooks and other major shoe companies jumped in with both feet, and soon you had an enormous choice of barefoot running shoes, with soles that ranged from totally flat to a few millimeters high at the all-important heel. nike shoes for cheap in chinaLast time I checked, such footwear made up 10 percent of the $588 million U.S. running shoe market and had grown by 303 percent between November 2010 and November 2012, compared with 19 percent for running shoe sales overall.best nike shoes for gym class Well on Wednesday we learned that Vibram has moved to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed that the company deceived consumers when it claimed, without any scientific backup, that its shoes could decrease foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles. discount nike shoes online canada

The company agreed to put aside $3.75 million to pay refunds of as much as $94 to anyone who had bought a pair since March 21, 2009, according to Runner's World.good golf walking shoes Or as Deadspin put it in a snotty post Wednesday, Vibram acknowledged that the FiveFingers is nothing more than a "shoe foot-condom." best fashionable walking shoes for europe(I'm sorry, that was unnecessary. cheap puma sports shoes online"Deadspin" and "snotty" are redundant.) Technically, Vibram has admitted nothing, "expressly" denying "any wrongdoing" or conceding "any actual or potential fault...or liability," according to court papers. This is like Rosie Ruiz refusing to admit that she took the subway to her victory at the 1980 Boston Marathon, but agreeing to let someone else be declared the winner so we can all move on.

It's not like this hasn't happened before. In 2012, Skechers agreed to pay a whopping $40 million in refunds to people who had spent $60 to $100 for a pair of their Shape-ups, swayed by the claim that they would promote weight loss and cardiovascular health better than other brands. Not long before that, Reebok agreed to pay $25 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it misled people about the benefits of its toning shoes. I tried the FiveFingers in 2009 and knew within a quarter mile that they were not for me. Yes, they forced me up onto the balls of my feet, where running coaches want you, because smacking your heels on asphalt roads without any padding to protect them will do that. Does Vibram being caught flat-footed mean there's no merit to barefoot running? There is conflicting research on the subject, but I've met dozens of people who gave up the sport because of leg injuries suffered in traditional running shoes, only to have their exercise regimens revived by the minimalist variety.

In fact, I'm married to one. There's a niche for flatter-soled running gear, just as there's a market for people who prefer to drive Maseratis instead of Mazdas. Any shoe that gets you moving is a good thing, even if it doesn't strengthen your feet, firm your butt or tone your legs. You can do that all on your own. Read more: What's the bottom line? Is barefoot running better for you? More To Your Health: 8 things you can do today to help stop the spread of killer superbugs GALLERY: 11 tips to help you eat better, live longer Buy Photo View Photo Gallery —There are more than 40 synonyms for processed sugar on food labels. You don’t have to be a slave to potentially toxic sugar. Here are ideas from an expert, Dr. Robert H. Lustig, and his just-published “Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease.”Finding the best-fitting shoe among the many choices at your local running store isn't always easy. To ensure you walk out with happy feet, you need to make sure the shoe fits properly from heel to toe.

We asked two prominent specialty-running-store owners—each of whom has fitted thousands of runners—to share some of their secrets. Knowing what to look for will give you a better idea how your next pair should feel on your feet. Your heel should fit snug, but not tight, says Carl Brandt. "Laced up (but not tied), you should be able to slide your feet out." Lacing your shoes up through the final eyelet minimizes slippage. There will be some heel movement, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable. Any irritation you feel in the store, adds Brandt, will be amplified once you hit the road. A shoe's upper should feel snug and secure around your instep, explains Brandt. "When people tell me they feel pressure and tightness, they need more space." /lacing for alternative lacing techniques) before moving on to the next shoe. Your foot should be able to move side-to-side in the shoe's forefoot without crossing over the edge of the insole, says James. You should be able to pinch a quarter inch of upper material along the widest part of your foot.

If the shoe is too narrow, you'll feel the base of your little toe sitting on the edge of the shoe last. Feet swell and lengthen over a run, so make sure there's a thumb's width of space between your longest toe (which isn't always the big toe) and the end of a shoe. A friend or shoe fitter can measure this while you stand with your shoes laced up. Your toes should also wiggle freely up and down, explains Super Jock 'n Jill running store owner Chet James. "Wiggle room protects against front-of-the-foot issues." Check the flex point before you put on the shoe, suggests Carl Brandt, owner of San Diego's Movin Shoes running stores. You can do this by holding the heel and pressing the tip of the shoe into the floor. The shoe should bend and crease along the same line your foot flexes. An improperly aligned flex point can lead to arch pain or plantar fasciitis, while a lack of flexibility leads to Achilles-tendon or calf strain. Knowing your arch type or running mechanics isn't the whole story.

You still need to pinpoint shoes that match your foot's contours and movements. You can't get a good feel by just standing, says James. So take your shoes for a quick jog, either on a store's treadmill, on the sidewalk, or down a hallway. A natural-feeling support under the arch works for most people, James says. "Back off the amount of support if you feel your arch cramping." Your shoe should complement and support your stride, not try to alter it. Avoid Common Shoe-Buying Mistakes Specialty running store staffers see runners making the same mistakes again and again when they come in to buy shoes. But not you, not anymore, thanks to this advice from five prominent store owners/managers. Mistake #1: Buying for looks. "Some runners are too concerned with fashion, and we try and steer people away from that. Often, when they get a shoe that looks cool, they end up coming back in a few months and saying, 'This shoe hurts me. I had a problem with it.' When you buy, think feel and fit, not fashion."

—Bryan Mahon, Philadelphia Runner, Philadelphia Mistake #2: Not asking for deals. "When you're ready to pay, ask if there are any discounts available for running club members. Most specialty stores offer discounts from 10 to 20 percent; we offer 10 percent to our local track club. It costs $20 to join it, so if you buy two pairs of shoes, your track membership is paid for."—Tim Rhodes, Run For Your Life, Charlotte, North Carolina Mistake #3: Buying shoes that are too small. "Tight-fitting shoes lead to blisters and black toenails and that kind of thing. Women in particular are used to wearing their shoes close-fitting, as they're often more self-conscious about the size of their feet. We like to say, 'Play the piano with your toes,' meaning the fit should be roomy enough in the forefoot—about half an inch—but not sloppy."—Mike Johnson, Road Runner Sports, San Diego Mistake #4: Shopping at the wrong time of day. "A lot of times people come in the morning and say, 'This is the shoe I need.'