We've been beating up on shoes a lot recently, haven't we? All this talk of barefoot running and analysis of how modern life is ruining our bodies may have led you to believe that I think shoes are a universal anathema. Time to balance the scales a little bit by talking about some shoes I like. Specifically, for parkour.
Parkour is an activity that, in my opinion, requires something on your feet. I have tried to do it barefoot a few times and the results have been fairly negative. Some elements, namely jumping and balancing, can be done barefoot - and probably should be from time to time - but any kind of wallrun, tac, most vaults, etc. work much better with a little protection and extra traction.
So what shoes are best for parkour? This is a question that is asked many times across multiple parkour forums every day. Everyone has an opinion. Here's mine:
Nike Dart VI
For Beginners: Something versatile and simple. Padded enough to increase your margin of error but thin enough to prevent the development of bad habits. Fairly durable, because you're going to be putting them through hell. I think a solid choice is the Nike Dart VI. It fits all of the criteria above and, as an added bonus, is pretty inexpensive - I can find them in most stores for around $25 - $30.
Once you've got some experience: You made it through your first 6 months and you're looking for the next step. Here's where things get a little more interesting because we start to deal with tradeoffs (What? I'm an MBA... i need to make things as complicated as possible)
FiveTen Freerunners (V2)
I've mentioned my FiveTen Freerunners before. They are still heavy and stiff. But the grip has only improved with age. On porous surfaces (stone, brick, etc.) these shoes cannot be beat. They are excellent for any kind of wallrun, tac, popvault, etc. I've been putting them through hell for the past few months and they are still going strong - a very durable shoe. In my opinion, they are too padded and the slightly elevated heel still feels a little funny. The biggest drawback is that they have absolutely zero traction on any kind of painted metal (like rails). And they are expensive - expect to shell out $90 for them.
Feiyues
My latest acquisition is a pair of Feiyues. They are a kung-fu shoe but have been getting a fair amount of attention from traceurs over the past few years. They are basically slippers with a sticky sole - super lightweight. As you can see below, both Feiyues stacked on top of each other are still not as deep as one Freerunner. Their light weight means all jumps are much easier. They also have decent traction on rails. And the price is right - about $14 a pair. They offer basically zero cushioning, so your landing/rolling technique had better be very solid before you wear them. On the downside, they offer mediocre wallrun traction and they wear out quickly - I've heard they need to be replaced every 6 - 8 weeks with heavy use.
Much thinner than the Freerunners
A few people have asked me if Vibrums are any good as a parkour shoe. I have no direct experience with them, but I have heard that they are not - fairly poor wall traction and they shred to pieces pretty quickly.
That's probably more info on shoes than you were counting on today - I hope it helps you narrow down your decision making!