Five Fingers -- Shoes

[Kimickey]

Want to get your thoughts from those who wear Five Fingers shoes while walking/running or performing any activity. I bought a pair tonight and I am excited about wearing them for my next workout tomorrow. Everywhere I went tonight, the stock was low and each sales person said they are very popular and can't keep them stocked. I got lucky, I guess...they had one pair in my size.

For those who own a pair, how do you like/dislike yours? Please share.

For those who don't know what I'm speaking about, check out their web site http://www.vibramfivefingers.com.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

My husband has two pair of them that he has had for around a month or so. He maninly got them to workout in. He does wear them around town as well and is planning on them being his main shoes for our upcoming Disney trips. I will try to have him write up what he thinks of them for you tommorrow. He seems to be pretty happy with them.

 

[sailors_wfe]

I just got a pair last week... same story as you.. no one had them in stock, so I ended up ordering mine direct from Vibrum. I couldn't give them a good test until Monday.. and even that I'm not sure was a fair test. They have become my every-day shoes though... I've worn them everywhere and have been perfectly comfortable. I ran 2 miles in them on Monday (when I say ran, I did 1 min intervals of run/walk) and today my calfs have hurt, but they say that is normal. Just remember to go slowly with them and give your body time to adjust to the new running style if you will be running in them.
I have the KSO's... my only issues have been: I apparently have tall feet so the KSO's are tight; and apparently my left pinky toe is.... crooked (?) but the finger rubbed on it and caused me some discomfort the past several days of normal wearing.. never noticed this before in other shoes... but I did notice today that it wasn't bothering me as much. Running in the mud last night was fun... strange feeling the cool mud between my toes when running

 

[sue2]

you may want to look at the Vivo Evo too...same concept as the VFF but no seperate toes. I, too, have gnarly rolled-over little toes and the VFF can chafe.

 

[Goofed98]

I absolutely love them I wore vibrams to train for Goofy last year, and I credit the change in running form for allowing me to train and run pain free. They take some getting used to, and don't do too much too soon (you will work some muscles in a different fashion), and you'll probably enjoy them.

 

[syko]

Do you guys wear the socks?
My Dh is getting them for running and is not sure if he will need the socks or not.

 

[mla1977]

My training partner just started using them last week. She wore them for our 7-miler on Saturday. So far she loves them. We were on a trail and she said she could feel the rocks more, but they didn't hurt unless they were a sharp rock. Since it was cold, she wore a pair of toe socks (not moisture-wicking since she didn't have them at the time), but she had been wearing them without socks prior to that. I'll see if she wants to write a review.

 

[escape]

I have to preface this by saying that I have never used these shoes, I really don't know anything about them but I do know a couple of people that have run in them and really like them.

A few weeks ago I attended an expo for the Dallas Rock N Roll marathon. At the expo, there was an "Expert" panel discussion about running in general that anyone could attend. On the panel was Frank Shorter (Olympic Gold Medalist), Greg Meyer (Last American man to win Boston), John Bingham, and the medical director for the RnR races (and MD for the Men's US Olympic Trials). The experts were asked about these shoes. The MD said (sarcastically) that he and his collegues LOVE them - they bring in a lot more business. The general consensus of this group seemed to be that these shoes do not provide the necessary support that typical runners need.

 

[sailors_wfe]

I do not wear socks with mine... although I did not start runnig outdoors in them until it got warm enough to not have to . So far I'm still loving them... I have noticed that I am getting one spot on my big toe rubbed a bit.. that just started yesterday and I'm not sure why it's happening. I had been wearing them on a constant basis for everyday shoes for about 2 weeks and over the weekend decided to take a break and wear my "regular" shoes (crocs and nike) and could tell a huge difference. I went for my long run this week (only 3 miles) and decided to wear my nike's instead of my FF and regretted it after a mile or so. My biggest problem is walking during my intervals.. that seems to be the time they bother me, I just can't get my right leg not to heal strike when I'm walking... meanwhile, my running gait has completely changed. You really can feel the rocks and pebbles, but they don't hurt unless they are sharp. I LOVED running in the mud with them the other week... that is a cool feeling being able to feel the mud between your toes
I'm reading Born To Run currently and that is giving me several ideas to make running barefoot more successful.

 

[Jodi]

So neat to find this thread.

I just got my 5's last week & began to break them in that day. I wear them without my Idjit socks because it feels way too tight with them on.

My longest run was yesterday; I went 2 miles (then walked/ran the dog 1 mile directly after that) & must say that I felt lighter & faster, if that makes any sense? . Probably all in my head .

Originally I had one hot spot on the ball of my right foot, after yesterday's little jaunt, however, I developed a 2nd hot spot under my big toe which kind of merged with the first one. nice. I expected this, though. I'll put some moleskin on & see what happens.

Calves & feet have been a bit fatigued the morning after, but nothing crazy. I've been forewarned to break these in easy....but I'm pretty flat-footed anyway. Also, I don't know if this helped, but I made a concerted effort to walk barefoot around the house, etc. a few weeks beforehand.

Goofed - Did you run the marathon in these? How long did it take you to officially break them in?

Susie - Very interesting discussion panel...perhaps they aren't for everyone? We'll see what happens.

 

[SAHDad]

I don't have a set yet, but I have been thinking about getting one for a while now. I suspect that the reason docs see so many injuries from these is that people get them, and then fail to give their feet time to get used to them. People grow up wearing shoes almost every waking minute, and so all those wonderful foot muscles are never actually worked. So people put the Vibrams on, and try to go out for a five mile run - perfect receipe for injury.

(FWIW, there are more than a few experts who are beginning to say that modern shoes actually cause quite a few injuries, since they encourage heel striking, bend the foot into unnatural positions, and so forth. As for me, I wear the running shoes which don't make my feet, knees, etc hurt.)

 

[Goofed98]

I did not run the marathon in them, but that's only because I don't wear the injini socks. My feet would have frozen.

I took about two weeks, walking a mile or two each day, to adjust to the shoes. They allow a greater range of motion in your achilles tendon (no raised heel allows your heel to actually reach the ground), and it can cause soreness in muscles that haven't been used very frequently.

I'm now a huge proponent of barefoot/ minimalist running. I'm not a doctor, but it has allowed me personally to run pain free for well over a year now. My advice would be to not do too much too soon, as that seems to be a common issue in injuries when transitioning to a more minimalist shoe.

 

[Jodi]

I did not run the marathon in them, but that's only because I don't wear the injini socks. My feet would have frozen.

I took about two weeks, walking a mile or two each day, to adjust to the shoes. They allow a greater range of motion in your achilles tendon (no raised heel allows your heel to actually reach the ground), and it can cause soreness in muscles that haven't been used very frequently.

I'm now a huge proponent of barefoot/ minimalist running. I'm not a doctor, but it has allowed me personally to run pain free for well over a year now. My advice would be to not do too much too soon, as that seems to be a common issue in injuries when transitioning to a more minimalist shoe.

Thanks for the advice, Goofed. I ran 3 miles in them yesterday a.m. & it felt great. I felt as if I was using less effort...as if I was running lighter, if that makes any sense??? I'll give my feet a break today, but so far all I feel is a bit of fatigue in my lower legs .

 

[syko]

I love mine, I wear them without scoks in /fl, but in Boston it was so cold I had to get some.

My Dh wants to get them for running, but his foot is too narrow for the mens and too long for the womens!!! So he is going to wait for the lace up model to come out some time this year nad try those.

 

[suzieqmomof4]

I've been wearing them for running for about a year and love them. I just got a second pair for the summer.

I am someone who hates to be barefoot, but I love these. I had never run before last year, but I'm running my second 5K on Sunday-in my Vibrams.

I wear the socks when it's cold.

I've had heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, even two heel stress fractures, but I found a physical therapist who would support me and follow me as I healed from my lastest round of pain from plantar fasciitis. My podiatrist wouldn't even look at them.

I'm a fan.

 

[Jodi]

WOW, SuzieQ, sounds like a great PT. Podiatrist sounds like a d-bag.

So the Five's helped you with all those ailments??

I got mine 6-7 weeks ago & have been progressing slowly...longest run is 8 miles (calves took a while to break in). But my left ankle/back of ankle (not achilles) is always stiff. Did you have this at all?