barefoot calf work

[Kidrok (Hop)]

Anyone train calve in just socks to eliminate any restriction by your shoes? I'm thinking this would give maximum stretch and contraction BUT I assume the amount of weight would need to be dropped a bit.

[In-Human]

I tried that many years ago and I hurt a few bones in my right foot and they have never been the same, I like the sturdyness of a shoe to keep my foot flat at the bottom portion of the movement...

[mark mcgwire]

I know we've talked about this before but I've always thought that my feet would slip just wearing socks. For that matter I'm with IH on wearing shoes.

Did you ever consider wearing sneakers on calf days?? That might give you less restriction.

[In-Human]

When I purchase my shoes for working out the first thing I see is how not flexable I want them just for calves...

[Kidrok (Hop)]

Did you ever consider wearing sneakers on calf days?? That might give you less restriction.

You pickin on my training in army boots?????? lol

[TheLil'Missus]

You pickin on my training in army boots?????? lol

Now you know those are only sexy if you're wearing them with those military issue short shorts and special black socks.


In all seriousness, a couple years ago I forgot my age and thought I could work out bare foot, ok so I was jumping rope, but it was a black tough looking one, not a kid one. Anyway, I was barefoot and in the garage on the concrete. Just that messed up my feet for months. Months and months. One time I jump rope without shoes on and I'm screwed. If you wanna strengthen your feet go jog barefoot on sand. If you wanna work your calves, put tread on your feet.

[Ken Skip Hill]

I have not worn shoes in over 15 years of training calves. I feel that the difference in training calves with shoes vs. without is night and day.

Skip

[SweatMachine]

I like to use Otomix or wrestling shoes while working calves, It gives me the range of motion but allows for some traction too. When I stretch on the bottom of the movementI slip off the rounded foot peice , so a sole helps me there. Not to say I soleless....

[Ken Skip Hill]

I like to use Otomix or wrestling shoes while working calves, It gives me the range of motion but allows for some traction too. When I stretch on the bottom of the movementI slip off the rounded foot peice , so a sole helps me there. Not to say I soleless....

Traction is the very reason I have kept doing them without shoes and only socks. I have never slipped at all and I never have to adjust my foot placement once I get set and hit that first rep.

It also forces you to be on the balls of your feet because if you are not, it is either painful or not comfortable.

It also forces you to use less weight and with less weight comes full range of motion in a controlled way by going for full and forced stretch to full and forced squeeze. I am yet to see a good pair of calves that are being worked by bouncing up and and down on a calf exercise.

It also allows full stretch without the shoe itself getting in the way and limiting your range of motion or stretch.

Training without shoes DOES and can cause your arches to break down. However, and this is important, it isn't that not having your shoes on causes this - the calf exercise ITSELF causes this because both the ball and heel of the foot are not on the ground at the same time so there can be no support to the arch with one or the other off the ground, no matter how great the shoe is or how great the arch support is.

Skip

[Kidrok (Hop)]

It also forces you to use less weight and with less weight comes full range of motion in a controlled way by going for full and forced stretch to full and forced squeeze. I am yet to see a good pair of calves that are being worked by bouncing up and and down on a calf exercise.
It also allows full stretch without the shoe itself getting in the way and limiting your range of motion or stretch.
Skip

And this is exactly what my thoughts are on full range of motion. This is why I want to try it to see how well it works. Basically it means going for quality instead of quantity, lower the poundage and work the muscle full and slow.

[Conan21]

i don't wear any shoes.

i can go higher in the contraction and lower in the stretch like this.

I also feel it gives me a better grip as for sliding, when i'm down in the stretch i start to slide off more if i have shoes on.

It does hurt a lil bit nothing major.

[In-Human]

And this is exactly what my thoughts are on full range of motion. This is why I want to try it to see how well it works. Basically it means going for quality instead of quantity, lower the poundage and work the muscle full and slow.

Trust me on this, doing DC's calves you will need shoes...

[saturn]

I've tried it without shoes but it just doesn't feel comfertable to me. I've worn wrestling shoes while training since high school. I don't think I could train in anything else anymore.

[Doggcrapp]

Skip::I am yet to see a good pair of calves that are being worked by bouncing up and and down on a calf exercise.

DC:Couldnt agree with that any more strongly. Im with Sweatmachine on these, I wear a high top otomix type shoe on calves because I feel that if something is done in good form that the determining factor at that point is now is the load (seriously heavy weights)-and I need comfortability and stability to accomplish that (personally)--I know alot of people finally have been able to build some calves doing them the way I have them training now--shit heavy weights, up on big toe--5 second descent, 15 seconds in the fully stretched position and then back up on your big toe (and repeat for 10-12reps).......someone could try to do them barefoot that way but it would be absolutely unbearable painwise

[In-Human]

I guess I should have mentioned that since I have been very fat my whole life I have zero arches, yup none, so I have to have a shoe with support to do any leg work, I have tried most shoes flexible and sturdy and I need the more support or my arches what little I have are burning in seconds...