Paleos Chain Mail Shoes: A Step Backwards?

Tim Gay

Barefooters
Oct 27, 2013
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Those of us who make the transition from shod to barefoot running are aware of various paradoxes that dog the whole business - the very notion of barefoot shoes is an obvious one, but, in my case, there was the conflict between embracing minimalism on the one hand, and having a garage full of minimalist shoes on the other. This year, though, I moved beyond that, got rid of all shoes apart from my Lunas and Sockwas, and spent more time walking and running barefoot, delighting in seeing my feet develop and my ability to handle tougher terrain barefoot begin to improve.
So it was with mixed feelings that I approached the idea of chainmail shoes. Not only did this seem like a gimmicky return to the past, it also seemed like a retrograde step for me having moved towards something more of the Ken Bob Saxton ideal of only ever running barefoot in all terrains.

That said, I know I'm not there yet. I can handle some gravel, but there are some forest paths where I live that are so rocky and sharp, or so muddy and slippery, that barefoot running just seems foolhardy - at least for me right now. This is where paleos come into their own. Sharp gravel can still be felt, but doesn't sting quite as much. Equally, running through grass where you can't quite see what's underfoot, no longer needs to be tinged with anxiety. Weirdly, chainmail allows you to feel everything, but yet protects. And the biggest joy of all is muddy puddles. I remember back to my days of chunky Asics, skirting gingerly around these, knowing how much hard work there would be afterwards in cleaning them. Wearing paleos is a joyful invitation to plunge straight into puddles, knowing that I am protected from whatever lurks beneath, but knowing too that cleaning is not an issue with these, and they seem to dry within seconds. They also offer a level of grip that my bare feet do not offer in slippy mud.

They take a bit of getting used to. They feel floppy in places rather than snug, and getting them on and off is a skill that I am developing. And 'shoes' is a bit of a misnomer - they are more like socks. They are also rather too heavy for my waist pouch. That said, if my run is likely to include a trot through the woods, I'll happily set off carrying one in each hand, knowing that they will allow me to run off the beaten track and splash through the overgrown and muddy stuff I often avoid, allowing me all of the sensation of barefoot running, with protection and grip. All in all, paleos are a joyful supplement to barefoot running, allowing me to extend my barefoot running to areas that might otherwise be risky, and bringing more of a sense of fun and joy to the whole experience.
 
Great review Tim !
 
Hi Tim,
In the German Forum someone stated that thistle- and bramble thorns would still pass through the chain mail of these "paleo" shoes - do you have similar experiences when running through the forest?
 
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What about toe space? Is it wide at the toes? I mean obviously the fabric won't stretch to fit foot types.
 
What about toe space? Is it wide at the toes? I mean obviously the fabric won't stretch to fit foot types.
The floppiness I mention refers to extra space built in to allow the toes to splay. The paleos feel unnaturally floppy to begin with, but when you get into a run, you forget this and they seems to give my toes plenty of space while being securely attached to the foot. I normally take an EU size 46, and the paleos in this size gave plenty of toe space.