Training shoes for PK and Freeruning is a very popular subject lately, given the fact that a lot of companies started developing and selling these so-called Parkour shoes for enthusiasts.
The most popular shoe chosen by traceurs is, by far, the Kalenji running shoe. It is lightweight with good cushioning and has a good grip, much needed for that extra traction and wall impact.
The myth of good shoes
But are Parkour shoes hampering our natural senses and instincts? There are many voices that seem to confirm. Most people stomp around in shoes all day, and are in fact walking in an unnatural way. A study titled “Shod Versus Unshod: The Emergence of Forefoot Pathology in Modern Humans?” shows you walk wrong. According to the same study the cushioning and stabilization methods of shoes are making our feet lose their natural ability to absorb shock and shrink our ankle stabilizing muscles.
And if you think about it, it is not far from the truth. Sporting shoes, tied to our ankles and feet 12 hours a day will change the way your legs behave and react to impact.
Think about what are the main features you look for in a Parkour shoe for training. First is cushioning, because you need some thing to absorb the tremendous shock with. Second you want a shoe that will keep you foot tight, so it does not slip or slide inside the shoe. These are the main factors that lead to performance degradation. In time, your feet will start to depend more and more on the support of the shoes and will lose their natural strength.
The best option would be to grab a pair of indoor training shoes with little to no support and a cloth upper sole. You can get them from any store, cheaply. They are under 10$ so the price tag is not an issue. A good shoe is one that does not offer any cushioning, and has a relatively light frame so it does not constrict or disrupt your ankle’s movement in any way.
Recommended shoes for Parkour
Parkourpedia ahs a great article on shoes for Parkour, that I recommend you to check out. Their
Dunlop Volleys
Cheap, thin soles, good grip, with the only drawback being the soft compound used for the sole which means they wear away very quickly if you train certain techniques. These are the most probable choice for the early adopter of the no-support system on their shoes. They have a good feel and have been known as a great alternative to Kalenji’s for people trying to escape the running shoe.
Feiyues
Similar to Dunlop Volley’s, but with an even thinner sole and a little more expensive. If you’re after a really light, unobtrusive shoe which allows great touch and sensitivity, this is a great choice. But be warned, they are very minimal and provide very little support or padding in the sole and can be hard to adjust to. They are often worn as martial art shoes with the Shaolin Monks being known to wear them.
Why train in thin sole shoes?
Training with a non-parkour shoe without any support will lead to a dramatic change in the way your body will react to training. The impact of the movements you make will be greatly diminished and your toes will need to readjust to the impact.
You will be obligated to perform softer landings and in better form on the ball of the foot and strenghten your ankle stability in order to rebuild your training to the same level as with the kalenji’s or KO’s. But int he longer term, the benefits are worth it. Risk of injury will diminish and you leg muscles will regain the much needed strength to perform at peak level under any circumstance.
At this stage you will be able to double your efficiency and movement precision when you will put a running shoe on. So think about it for a minute, and take off your running shoes!
You could also consider the Vibram Five Fingers… they’re shoes with individual toes and feel similar to water shoes. They’ll protect your feet from cuts but you’ll still feel every rock, tar line or almost anything else you step on. The good thing though is that if you’re going to run on more rough terrain, they have a set that’s meant for mountain trail running that have just slightly thicker rubber to handle the larger sharper rocks.
Interesting! But after a few searches I found that they are much more expensive than regular running shoes. It’s kind of outrageous to pay more money to feel like you’re running barefoot, than actually running barefoot.
i have a dunlop volley but not sure it really works for me. Any suggestion or tips. I live in malaysia so its kind of hard to find some parkour shoe around.
How about nike free run +2 shoes…..are they good for parkour?
I have to agree with Kris. I have the trail running version of the Vibram five finger shoes for my parkour training, and I LOVE them. They allow me to run like we were built to, along with jumping and landing. It forces me to rely on my body for cushion rather than padded shoes.