The Countless Purposes of Split Toe Shoes
The armed forces blacklisted them, ninjas train in them but it is only until now that split toe shoes are becoming fashionable. Because of the distinctive and unconventional appearance of this foot wear, individuals appear to either love them or hate them with little mid-ground to speak of. Where did they come from, and what makes them popular suddenly!
A Short History
The official term for split toe shoes is Jika-tabi, and these were formulated in Japan in the 20th century. The classic Jika-tabi have only one divide much like mittens, in that there is one segment for the big toe and then another section for all the other toes. These kinds of Jika-tabi were also more like a thick sock, typically with a rubber sole that could be donned with japan style slippers / sandals, or on their own.
Why the Sudden Popularity?
Split toe shoes attained their new fame via Christopher McDougall’s publication “Born to Run”. This famous runner mentioned in his book that standard cushioned running sneakers are responsible for almost all running related injuries. This started a curiosity about split toe running sneakers because they’re a step closer to bare foot running and help protect against injuries.
Uses for Split Toe Shoes
Today, they are preferred foot wear for Japanese construction workers because they provide increased flexibility, balance and ‘feel’ than a regular shoe, helping employees navigate steel beams better. It’s for the same exact factors of flexibility, balance and ‘feel’, that these split toe shoes are loved by some kung-fu pros (particularly traditional ninjitsu disciples), and now with hobbies and sports like trail running, climbing and trekking. In bumpy ground split toe shoes are more beneficial compared to the regular shoes.
Split Toe and 5 Finger Toe Shoes
The 5 fingered shoe by Vibram, in which there are individualized pockets for every toe, became the first mass-developed split toe shoe. A close resemblance to running bare foot, but with extra safety, these split toe running sneakers permit toes to assume their normal posture and protect the bottom of feet with a very light sole. This makes them a good option for runners.
The popularness of the vibram five finger shoe has triggered a number of manufactures into making their own split toes shoes, and now you’ll find a variety of both standard Jika-tabi split toe shoes and also the 5 toe split options.
Thus if you are seeking out a healthy shoe for your running exercise, climbing, martial arts or other “foot challenging” sports, or if you would like a healthier shoe for work like construction and gardening, or if you just like the appearance of them, then it’s easy to pick up some today.
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