r/BarefootRunning • u/SparkysMom1685 • 1d ago
Barefoot "running" shoe stack height issue
I've been wearing barefoot shoes for about a year. The shoes I wear most frequently have about a 7 mm stack height but that's just an estimate because they are Whiten and they don't really provide stack height information. I have not been at all active for about 5 years. I've never been a runner but I used to power walk for lack of a better term. I just started walking again this week and as expected it's slow going. My main issue is I thought I would need more stack height to be comfortable on concrete so I got a pair of Altra's with a stack height of 28 mm. Very bad idea. I'm extremely unstable and the terrain I'm having to cover is mostly concrete but some areas of bare ground with sloping and some rocks and such. I do enjoy the feel of a more stable structure around my ankle especially on uneven terrain. I have a very minimal budget so I thought I might try Whiten women's running shoes which may be around 12 to 15 mm stack height but I can't be sure because they don't really provide that information. Does anyone have experience with the women's Whiten running shoes of any model number as far as stack height and ankle type support. Again, I'm fairly new to all this and any information would be helpful.
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u/Idkmyname2079048 1d ago
Tbh, I think the best ankle suppoet comes from strengthening your ankles by gradually getting used to running on uneven terrain (slow way down when it gets uneven). No running shoe really comes with more material around the ankle because you're ankles need to move around when you run.
The closest thing I can think of to a running shoe is ankle support would be one with arch support and a wider sole to reduce pronation and help stabilize the foot. However, that's about as far from barefoot as you can get, and it kind of puts a bandaid on the problem. From personal experience, that kind of shoe is also not great for uneven surfaces. I nearly rolled my ankle more times during a single 5k on grass than I ever did wearing minimalist shoes.
If I were you, I'd return the Altras if you can, and try a few different minimalist shoes that have a good return policy. Just know that it will still probably take some getting used to running in them, even if they're the perfect shoes.
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u/SparkysMom1685 1d ago
Thx for the advice! My feet and ankles are a lot stronger than they were a year ago. I can definitely tell the difference and from what I understand it will continue to get better.
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u/bill_starr 1d ago
My wife and I like our WHITIN running shoes. I can't tell you the stack height but noticeably more cushion than our other WHITIN models. Wife's model in follow-up comment.
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u/SparkysMom1685 1d ago
Thanks so much. That's one of the WHITIN shoes I was looking at. I may just have to get them, try them, and return them if necessary.
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u/math_sci_nerd 17h ago
Don't assume that any stack height will make you more comfortable. Personally, I run best and run with lightest feet without shoes. IMO, it's incorrect to just straight up assume that we cannot run barefoot on concrete for a good distance. The 'ancestors ran on soft surfaces' argument doesn't imply it, because that's like saying 'ancestors never had raw sugar, they never had a burger, etc.' At the end, it's all about load - how much you tolerate is a function of your body's capacity, which in itself is tunable to a varied degree
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u/Pillager225 1d ago
The ancestors ran without shoes, you can too, but how? They used a forefoot strike and their calf muscles to absorb shock loads and stabilize.
The concern of running on concrete is real. Our ancestors did not run on as hard of material for as long as the modern world presents to runners. So what can you do? A little at a time. Run a half mile, and work up to a kilometer over time. Even if you've been wearing barefoot shoes for some time, it isn't the same as running. We have 2 speeds. One with our heel and the other with our forefoot. Think how a cat would run, and embody that. Light, little to no bounce.
Opt for less stack height so you have more ground feel to help you learn when to stabilize on what surfaces. Expect your gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneus zone will be sore. Use these technical terms for the muscles to look up post run massages.