ThisCloud.net

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Vibram FiveFingers is suddenly in a new race. The market for foot gloves aka barefoot running shoes came to the starting line in 2006 after a designer named Robert Fliri approached a 75 year old footwear company out of Italy, Vibram. Fliri’s vision was to create a shoe that fit like a glove. The feel would be as if you are barefoot. The market would be runners, whether you are running a weekend marathon or just exercising at the gym.

In 2006, Vibram FiveFingers created the market. Now four years later, Virbam is battling not just bootleg versions of its shoe but new entries into the race. It’s the same story that dominates any growing industry, the race to compete and stay ahead. But here, a peculiar coloring, an amazing sensory reaction, a reaction from podiatrists, and a battle over illegally produced copies overseas are turning this market race into a difficult one to predict.

Nike has its own entry now called the Nike Free, Terra Plana has the Vivo Barefoot, Merell and New Balance have their R&D departments ready for rollouts in Q1 2011.

How does one compete in this race and win? Nike has an opinion not just on the shoe but the industry. It claims barefoot running is here to stay. “Barefoot running. Everyone’s talking about how great it is, but is it truly beneficial? We think so.”

What the difference? Nike says “barefoot running frees up your foot’s range of motion, allowing you to strengthen muscles you don’t normally use in a typical running shoe. But we understand that you aren’t crazy about squishing your toes in mud or dodging broken glass with bare feet.”

On Amazon, of 57 reviews of Vibram, 40 gave a five star, 9 gave a 4 star. “The positive part is that I can be almost barefoot without worrying about cutting myself or stepping on anything nasty in the city. Wearing these I often spontaneously feel like running, even though I never run unless I am playing a team sport” writes one user.

Who shouldn’t wear the shoes? CNN warns “People who don’t normally run, who are obese, or who have serious foot problems or diabetes should be especially cautious.”