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** '''Vibram FiveFingers'''. [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=FiveFingers+&x=0&y=0 Vibram FiveFingers] are popular Minimalist Running shoes. They are a thin sole combined with just enough material to hold them to your foot and a separate pocket for each toe, hence the name FiveFingers. They were originally created for boating, not running, but they have become hugely popular. The FiveFinger soles generally last a long time, but the uppers can be prone to tearing. Getting FiveFingers that fit can be tricky depending on the shape of your foot, so they don't work for everyone. The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/VFF116/ Bilika LS] are slightly wider and have laces, which improves the fit for some people.
** '''Vivobarefoot'''. Terra Plana make a range of thin soled shoes under the '[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp%3Ffrom%3DsearchBox%26Query%3DVIVOBAREFOOT Vivo Barefoot]' name, such as their [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-one-m-navy-sulpher Vivobarefoot One M] , with a flexible but tough sole. I'd also strongly recommend the [http://www.zappos.com/vivobarefoot-ra-black Vivobarefoot Ra], which is close to a dress shoe, but remarkably comfortable. I got mine for a wedding and new wear them regularly. <br style="clear: both" />
=Foot Shape and Altra=
Altra shoes all have zero drop (no elevated heel) plus a shape that mirrors the human foot. It often seems like other shoe companies have never seen a human foot before given the strange shape they make their shoes. This is especially true of Hoka, which have a particularly small toe box. Once you've tried Altra shoes the traditional shoe shape seems even more bizarre.
[[File:AltraRight.png|none|thumb|500px|A light hearted look at how other shoe makers seem to be designing for a strange shaped foot.]]
=The Outsole=
To achieve a light weight with maximum cushioning, many shoes don't use a hard rubber outsole over the softer midsole. This can result in uneven wear patterns when the midsole erode away from around the patches of outsole. In the image below, the red arrows mark the soft midsole and the blue arrows mark the hard outsole, with the green arrow indicating an intermediate toughness material.