{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T14:46:47Z","timestamp":1792075607317,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,26]],"date-time":"2025-12-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766707200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, New Zealand","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>We examined the perceptions and experiences of male recreational runners when using minimalist racing flats (FLAT, Saucony Endorphin Racer 2) and advanced footwear technology (AFT, Nike Vaporfly 4%) shoes, compared with their habitual shoes (OWN). Eighteen runners completed three 1.5 km outdoor trials, running in OWN first, followed by FLAT and AFT in a randomised counter-balanced order. Semi-structured interviews conducted before and after each trial provided qualitative data, analysed using a six-phase reflexive thematic approach. Five interconnected themes emerged: \u2018novelty and familiarity\u2019, \u2018feel\u2019, \u2018performance\u2019, \u2018biomechanics\u2019, and \u2018injury\u2019. Runners\u2019 perceptions were shaped by iterative feedback loops combining experiential, educated, and instinctual assessments. OWN shoes were generally ranked highest for comfort and lowest for perceived injury risk due to familiarity and balanced design. Novel shoes elicited mixed reactions. FLAT shoes were valued for their lightweight and natural feel, but raised concerns about discomfort and potential injury from minimal cushioning and support. AFT shoes were appreciated for their bounciness and performance potential, but raised concerns about instability and excessive cushioning. Findings indicate that footwear comfort is multifaceted, context-dependent, and not always aligned with performance or injury reduction. Runners often prioritised performance over comfort in competitive scenarios, highlighting the inherent trade-offs in footwear selection and the importance of personalised approaches. Concerns about injury and biomechanics changes underscore the need for gradual transitions to novel footwear. By adopting a real-world approach, this study advances understanding of footwear perceptions, emphasises the dynamic and subjective nature of runners\u2019 experiences, and offers practical implications for runners, clinicians, and shoe manufacturers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0338743","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,26]],"date-time":"2025-12-26T18:22:13Z","timestamp":1766773333000},"page":"e0338743","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["How does it feel to run in minimalist and advanced footwear technology shoes: A qualitative study involving male recreational runners"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1087-4986","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kim","family":"H\u00e9bert-Losier","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hannah","family":"Knighton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Steven","family":"Finlayson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Benjamin","family":"Peterson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,26]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0338743.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pcad.2017.03.005","article-title":"Running as a key lifestyle medicine for longevity","volume":"60","author":"D-C Lee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Prog Cardiovasc Dis"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0338743.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0200389","article-title":"SeRUN\u00ae study: development of running profiles using a mixed methods analysis","volume":"13","author":"M Besomi","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0338743.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1186\/s13047-021-00500-9","article-title":"Footwear comfort: a systematic search and narrative synthesis of the literature","volume":"14","author":"HB Menz","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Foot Ankle Res"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0338743.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"456","DOI":"10.7547\/1000456","article-title":"Shoe preference based on subjective comfort for walking and running","volume":"100","author":"PW Kong","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Am Podiatr Med Assoc"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0338743.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0236047","article-title":"Shoe feature recommendations for different running levels: A Delphi study","volume":"15","author":"EC Honert","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0338743.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2020-000767","article-title":"What are the perceptions of runners and healthcare professionals on footwear and running injury risk?","volume":"6","author":"GK Dhillon","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0338743.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"775","DOI":"10.2519\/jospt.2014.5521","article-title":"The re-emergence of the minimal running shoe","volume":"44","author":"IS Davis","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Orthop Sports Phys Ther"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0338743.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1080\/19424280.2022.2127526","article-title":"Let\u2019s just call it advanced footwear technology (AFT)","volume":"14","author":"EC Frederick","year":"2022","journal-title":"Footwear Science"},{"key":"pone.0338743.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/s13047-015-0094-5","article-title":"A consensus definition and rating scale for minimalist shoes","volume":"8","author":"J-F Esculier","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Foot Ankle Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0338743.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12180","article-title":"What do people think about running barefoot\/with minimalist footwear? 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