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Vibram "Five Fingers" shoes

#41
I've had a pair of the red Sprint shoes for a year now, and I totally love them - they are the comfiest things I have ever worn! Because the soles are so light, it can be a bit uncomfortable walking on stony surfaces, but that's a small price to pay.
I wear them on stage 'cos my feet hurt after a couple of hours standing up. Once they get a bit smelly, you just chuck them in the washing machine & hang out on the line - no messing around with shoe shop lotions & potions...

They are a bit expensive here in the UK - £100.00, but worth every penny.

They also seem to polarise opinion when you wear them - I never knew so many strangers willing to comment about my footwear before. People either love them or hate them, but they can't ignore them:hyper:.
 
#45
I bought mine w/ the intent of "accessory-shoes", as mentioned above. Mainly bought them for stream crossings while hiking and for kayaking/canoeing. While I do try to count my ounces on my hiking pack, I don't mind an extra 11 oz that a pair of KSOs weighs. Its worth it to not have to cross barefoot or soak my main shoes/socks. They're great around the camp site, too.

FWIW, I don't wear boots, either. New Balance 1320s (also w/ Vibram outsoles) are my main trail shoes. Though I have put about 12 miles on my Vibrams on light day-hikes. I love them more every time I wear them.

They are getting really hard to find. I had to go w/ the Grey/Green KSOs because they were the only thing the store had in my size. Several friends have wanted to get some for fishing shoes, but no one within a 3-hr drive of here can keep any in stock.
 
#47
Travelcountry.com and Citysports.com have quite a selection of sizes. I bought an extra pair last night from TC because yeah, the common sizes are going fast and I wanted an extra set ready to go. I ran my Navy PT test last Tuesday with them. My mile and half dropped 20 seconds (10:45 from 10:22) but since I've only been using these shoes for about a week I am sure that I will be back up to speed again soon.

Great shoes. No more limp and knee pain.
 
#48
Hey all,

I have three pairs of these - 2 pairs of the KSOs (black), and one pair of the Treks (brown, for wearing when I go out). My lady bought a pair of the purple "indoor" ones, and she has suggested we wear them during our marriage ceremony in August.

I do all of my fitness in them (running, lifting, etc.), and find them excellent, with some caveats. For running - you MUST change your running form and start off with small distances. If you are used to running a 5mile loop, you will hurt if you just strap them on and run out the door. Due to the COMPLETE lack of padding, plyometric exercises (box jumps, broad jumps, jumping rope, mountain climbers, etc.) can lead to some foot injuries (I earned a Morton's Neuroma doing mountain climbers). Once you learn an injury-free technique to run with these, they are great. I am faster while wearing these vs. traditional running shoes. This is likely due to landing on the ball of the foot vs. the heel & already being in the "push off" position. Helpful techniques are the POSE method or ChiRunning.

They are fantastic in a weight room. Squatting in traditional running shoes lifts the heel too much, and the force to compress the shoe material saps some of the force used to lift the weights. As Rippetoe says, it is like squatting on your bed. You don't want to drop a 45lb plate on your foot, but then again, in anything less than steel-tipped boots, your foot will be broken.

And YES, socks are both available and needed. They get dirty FAST, and from sweat, your foot can move around quite a bit, which means blisters. Due to a lack of socks in a recent 10 mile race, I dropped from a 7:58 pace to a 9:42 pace solely because of blisters. I have since been training with VFFs and socks. I have gotten my best 5K time yet in these (only 22:25, but the best so far!), and plan on running the ING Philadelphia half Marathon (Sept) and the full Philadelphia marathon in November.

Recommendations for "Vibram Stink" - lysol or vinegar works well. They need to be washed when you can smell them while wearing them.

ian
 
#51
syciprider said:
I bought three pairs of Injinji socks with mine. I don't like running without socks. Makes the shoes stinky.
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I've been waiting for Injinji socks here at home since I bought my KSO's but no one sells them. So I gave up and e-mailed the store from which I bought the KSO's and asked them to import the Injinji. They agreed to do so and they should be coming next week! Can't wait for them!
 
#53
Unrepresented said:
Question for wearers:

How are these with hard surfaces? Someone's already mentioned stone, but concrete seems like it'd be painful to run on. Are these intended to be primarily trail running shoes, or do they work well on all surfaces?
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Like Chebass said, it's important to change your running form. Most people will deliver outrageously hard blows on their heels if they're used to running in Nike Airs and the like.

Barefoot running is all about using the ball of your foot, with which your calves can damp the impacts. But you'll need to get your legs used to it.

EDIT: The webpage has changed: Invalid Link Removed
 
#54
Unrepresented said:
Question for wearers:

How are these with hard surfaces? Someone's already mentioned stone, but concrete seems like it'd be painful to run on. Are these intended to be primarily trail running shoes, or do they work well on all surfaces?
Click to expand...

They work on all surfaces.

I've been running on gravel, dirt, grass but mostly on tarmac. No problems! As L-A said, it's all about the change in your running style. If I were still running with heel first strike, I wouldn't last 100 meters, but by landing with the ball of your foot first, I don't feel any pain or discomfort at all.
 
#56
Hate to drag up a dead thread, but I plan on getting some of these for my training/kettlebells/jumpstretch/triathlon action. I need some more up to date opinions before I drop the dime.

I also have spondololysthesis, a condition which my tailbone isnt fully attached to my spine, as well as an extra lumbar vertabrae, so I always have back pain, especially when working out. These seem to be a good cure for that!
 
#57
I saw these a while back and had a good look at them as a potential new product line. The marketing and base concept behind these is absolutely brilliant.

The best part is, they are not selling anything. Apply everything you read on the page to simply taking your shoes off and going outside and it still makes perfect sense.

There is no reason what so ever to buy the product, as you can do exactly the same thing without it, yet they sell like hotcakes, its quite amazing.

Like this tidbit, a slight amendment and it still makes perfect sense :D

The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.

Many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury. And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis.

That’s why we recommend going barefoot for exercise, for play, and for fun. Stimulating muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.
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I personally have been doing almost everything barefoot for years. The only reason I would buy some would be because they look cool, and also so I get away with going into venues without having to put a pair of normal shoes on.
 
#58
I tried a pair on at REI last night. I want them. I think they would be pretty good for light hiking and casual rock climbing. I will say they were a little awkward to get on but once I got em on; they felt pretty good.
 
#59
asking for these for christmas, I can't wait.

I havent been running much at all because it's been too cold and windy here and I hate hate hate running on a treadmill, but, I'll use these to get back into it.


How are they for weight machines? I don't do much in the way of free weights since I don't have the strength/balance for proper form.
 
#60
Simo98 said:
I saw these a while back and had a good look at them as a potential new product line. The marketing and base concept behind these is absolutely brilliant.

The best part is, they are not selling anything. Apply everything you read on the page to simply taking your shoes off and going outside and it still makes perfect sense.

There is no reason what so ever to buy the product, as you can do exactly the same thing without it, yet they sell like hotcakes, its quite amazing.

Like this tidbit, a slight amendment and it still makes perfect sense :D

I personally have been doing almost everything barefoot for years. The only reason I would buy some would be because they look cool, and also so I get away with going into venues without having to put a pair of normal shoes on.
Click to expand...

Seeing I can't go to the Y, school, college, etc., barefoot, your plan doesn't apply. To each his own.
 

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