Planet Fitness - after a suspected misunderstanding - allows the use of FiveFingers with full foot coverage in their gyms.I have been dreading the act of sitting and writing this blog post. I knew that it would be a short and easy one, but I had a persistent fear that I’d have to talk smack about people. I don’t like talking smack or being too terribly negative (though I try to “call it as I see it” and foster a healthy sarcasm).
Thankfully my fears were unfounded.
Back in September (it’s now December) I went into my local gym and had a conversation with the trainer about barefoot running and the use of Vibram FiveFingers in the gym. This was prior to my actually purchasing my KSOs, and though my intent was to train primarily outdoors with them, I knew the time would come when the weather would be far too bad or far too cold, and I would have to venture indoors to train. We spoke about the merits of barefoot training, and I brought up how convenient it was that Vibram had put out a product that would allow at least a good simulation of barefoot running while in the gym, a place that – want to or not (in my case, not) – going barefoot is simply not allowed.
To my dismay, the trainer said that FiveFingers would not be allowed in the gym. “We have a policy against sandals” he said, and though FiveFingers are not sandals, they are, according to the trainer, too similar to sandals and offer too little protection to fall within the realm of acceptable footwear at this gym.
I was surprised, bewildered and speechless when I heard this! How could he possibly believe that a pair of KSOs would offer any less protection from dropped weights, moving treadmill belts and oscillating ellipticals than a standard running flat or, as is so often seen at the gym, those extremely thin wrestling shoes? My immediate thought was that banning KSOs from the gym was a demonstration of extreme ignorance, and I was instantly compelled to drop my membership then and there!
Extreme, I know. But I tempered by irritation and moved on – from the conversation and from the gym. I didn’t pursue the argument because the gym was pretty busy and it truly was only a passing conversation, and also because I knew that I’d be running outdoors for a good long while yet. I decided to let it slide for the time being, and cross that bridge as I came to it, as the cliché goes.
Three months later and the weather finally managed to interfere with my training – I’d been doing a good job of running through its many obstacles up until this past Saturday. So off to the gym I went, with Vibram FiveFingers KSOs in my gym bag, and a bit more patience in my heart.
I’ve had time to reflect, and what I concluded the issue may have been with the trainer’s quick and outright refusal to let me wear my KSOs in the gym is this: He is less familiar with the product than he let on. As the “trainer”, he may view a lack of knowledge as a sign of weakness. I personally don’t, and in fact would have welcomed an open and honest discussion wherein we could have educated each other. But it may be the case that he was only passingly familiar with the original FiveFingers, which do indeed have an open top and are therefore more “sandal-like” than the KSOs. Despite my thorough description, he was likely mentally stuck on his image of the Classics, and as I didn’t have them in hand, he felt comfortable to just simply and easily dismiss them, rather than give the issue true consideration. At least, that’s the theory I was venturing back into the gym with.
In I went, and I carefully explained the situation. Three months ago… Vibram FiveFingers… Sandals… Full coverage… Barefoot training… Biomechanics… etc… The guy behind the desk asked “do they fully cover your feet?”
“Why yes! They do! See!?!” I responded.
“Oh. Those are fine. Don’t worry about it. As long as they fully cover your feet.”
As simple as that. No trouble. No argument. So I ran, and I don’t have to badmouth my gym – which, by the way, is Planet Fitness. It’s not elaborate, but it has all of the essentials and, given my travel, I truly do enjoy the benefits of a consistent gym experience as I make use of the many franchises throughout the country.
I don’t suspect that I’ll use the gym for running too very much. Truth is, I’m not that fond of treadmills. But a treadmill is better than nothing when the weather becomes too much (which takes a lot, as it turns out!). I’m glad that I can now, officially, use my Vibram FiveFingers KSOs in the gym.
So the moral of the story is what… Question authority?
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Good post.
My gym actually kicked a guy out that was in a wheel chair ( he had no legs ). They said the policy was shoes had to be worn in the gym. Crazy, go figure !
Nice. Question Authority? not really. Just go there, don’t ask/tell anyone, wear them, hop on the treadmill, and run. That’s what I do when using my vibram (or running barefoot) on the treadmill. I usually get looks, both from staff and members alike, but it ends there. Perhaps they’re thinking, “this guy knows what his doing, I’ll leave him alone”. And If someone tells me that running on my vibram is not allowed, I’ll point him to the others on the treadmills with their heavy non-running casual shoes, which I believe is more dangerous than running barefoot/vibram.
I was told I was unable to wear my VFFs at Planet Fitness of Wappinger Falls, NY because they are “a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
What the hell has happened to gyms??? During the 1970s and early 1980s there were plenty of people training barefoot in gyms, many of the big bodybuilder types lifted weights barefoot. Weight machines were used barefoot. And other exercises, like calisthenics and aerobics were often done barefoot. No one bothered anyone, or paid attention to what they were wearing on not wearing. How did the new generation of gym owners and trainers get to be that stupid and ignorant? Do they not understand the physics of it, that a thin sneaker top will not protect you from a falling weight? And people get all sorts of injuries in gyms all the time to other parts of their bodies, and do not sue. You know what the real answer is? They will not admit it, but it’s an appearance based dress code. They want you to look ‘dressed for fitness’ for their superficial corporate image. But they lie that it is about ‘liability’ so it is easier to make the mindless sheep comply.
I was recently approached at my planet fitness about my kso’s. I was told they were not allowed and it was corporates decision. No one at the gym could provide me with more information as to why they were not allowed. I just got the response “it’s corporates rule”. I have talked to other planet fitness locations in my area and they said they wouldn’t be a problem. Does anyone have an idea what the rule is with fivefingers at planet fitness?
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