The fear is the worst part.

Millions of years of evolution may have turned humans into the world's greatest runners, but 20-odd years of wearing sneakers and mom's warnings about glass and needles, have me terrified for my own bare feet.

Inspired by several scientific studies and the testimonials of a number of hardcore believers, I've decided to toss my running shoes for a while and to start running barefoot. Physically, it's simple, psychologically, not so much.

The first few strides are the worst. I am hyper-aware that there is nothing between my naked foot and the possibility of putting 190 pounds of pressure directly onto something sharp.

I'm nervous and find myself asking the question: why did I think this was a good idea?

A number of recent studies have shown barefoot runners have better form, particularly in the way their feet hit the ground, than their sneaker wearing counterparts.

According to a Harvard study barefoot runners are much less likely to heel strike, and instead are more likely to land naturally on the balls of their feet.

Other studies have shown barefoot running to strengthen foot and leg muscles that are neglected when runners wear strong, stabilized running shoes.

Author Chris McDougall, whose fascinating book "Born to Run" is leading the barefoot charge, goes so far as to theorize that running sneakers are responsible for the ridiculously high injury rate among runners.

While that point is a contentious one, especially consider running shoes are a $20-billion business, there seems to be widespread consensus that a little barefoot running in a great addition to your training.

Testing barefoot running

The hardware: The Vibram Five Fingers and my bare feet will take on a brand-new pair of Nike Lunarglide +2s.

The Vibram Five Fingers

This is considered the gold standard for barefoot runners, especially among us wimpy North Americans.

Little more than a rubber slip-on for your foot with a thin strip of padding on the sole, the Five Fingers feels more like a thick second layer of skin than a shoe.

They are so light and flexible you can bend them in half, and as I leave my building wearing them, I am left with the feeling that I forgot to put something on.

I take off running at a slower-than-usual pace, completely obsessed with my form and how I am landing. I am landing correctly, and using short strides, and I keep thinking, "Am I doing this naturally? Or am I overthinking this?"

But mostly I am thinking, "Is everyone staring at my feet?"

They are not.

By kilometre three, when Free Energy's "Bang Pop" is candycoating my ears, I have completely forgotten what's on my feet. I am "in the zone" so to speak, and it's not until I hit a hard gravel trail 10 minutes later that I miss running sneakers.

While hard dirt trails prove to be no problem, gravel trails are best skipped in the Five Fingers. You feel each rock quite memorably, and momentum is lost to a series of zig-zags and slow downs as you search for the least painful path forward.

I had intended to only run five kilometres, but I was feeling so pleased with the Five Fingers initially, I decided to test their worth over a longer distance. My form is noticeably better, my back is straighter, my head is up and my strides are quick.

I end up doing about 12 kilometres with little problem, minus a bad blister forming on one of my big toes. My feet don't ache and my calves feel fine. Toronto's sidewalks prove to be as polite as its citizens, and glass or debris were no issue.

A little online research suggests the main problem with the Five Fingers is that they break down easily, which at $85, is a bit disappointing. But my short experience with them has turned me into a believer.

While I would hardly trade in my running sneakers permanently, a shorter run or two a week in the Five Fingers is certainly recommendable to even beginner runners.

The bare foot:

It is a tad ridiculous to review my own feet, I realize. But think about the last time you did any non-beach activity in bare feet, especially running.

I've chickened out a little from my initial plan to run on the sidewalks barefoot and have instead decided to find a park to do hill and wind sprints.

Running uphill, I do notice that my strides are quicker and my balance is much better than when doing this in sneakers.

My heels are only grazing the ground, and I am getting better speed as a result. While the ground is hard, it's not something noticeable, except for the odd pebble.

When wearing running sneakers, it can often be difficult to assess your foot strikes and form. Running barefoot allows you to feel exactly where you are hitting the ground on your feet and how your foot muscles respond to it.

There is also the added incentive to add more short strides -- which a recent study says prevents injury -- rather than to lengthen strides when trying to speed up.

While wearing sneakers, I have the tendency to try to push hard off my feet when I am trying to sprint. While barefoot, I added more strides and was a more efficient runner for it.

In conclusion: It's beneficial and it's free. If you're a semi-serious runner doing interval training, ditch the shoes on the grass or the beach and try it out.

The Nike Lunarglide +2

The second-version of Nike's well-regarded running sneaker, this lightweight shoe feature's the company's dynamic support system, which provides a lot of pronation control.

Comfortable, although they don't breathe as well as my Nike Pegasus' do, these running shoes are great for longer runs. They provide a lot of stability, which frankly, does come into play at the end of a really long run, when my form starts to slip.

There's a significant amount of flexibility to this shoe, and it's hard to complain about the soft landing.

Simply put, these running sneakers are a reminder that a good pair of shoes makes going for a run enjoyable, and takes away at least one excuse for not hitting the pavement.