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Would you wear a shoe without a heel?

The heelless shoe is not a new concept, but FBR's version may be unlike anything you've ever seen

A new company called FBR based out of Alicante, Spain has introduced a shoe with no heel. Not just no drop, but actual space where the heel should be. 

The shoe was inspired by Adharand Finn’s book Running with the Kenyans, which came out sometime after Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run. Both books describe the barefoot running habits of people indigenous to the regions (in McDougall’s case, Mexico) and their tendency not to get injured, which led to the barefoot running craze and products associated with it.

RELATED: Vibram to pay out $3.75 million in settlement

Photo: Twitter

Franc Beneyto of FBR claims he has been developing the shoe for five years, and that tests of its shoe with injured runners by the Faculty of Physiotherapy at the University of Valencia delivered favourable results. When he could not get any existing brands interested in the design, he started his own company.

The barefoot running craze was based on the theory that running injuries are caused primarily by heel-striking, which is impossible when running barefoot, and which leads to injuries when practised in cushioned running shoes. The biggest brand to take advantage of the trend was Vibram, which ended up paying out a rather large settlement to those who bought its claims but found no benefit, effectively ending the barefoot running trend.

One does occasionally still see runners actually running in bare feet, but most are die-hard barefoot runners who aren’t interested in shoes of any kind.

The FBR shoe is being marketed for 139 euros (about $210).

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