Vibram FiveFingers Shoes?

[JennyG]

Last Oct we saw a couple walking around with these funky shoes that were like water shoes, but with each toe covered. It's very hard to explain... look them up.
Anyway, was wondering if anyone has worn these and what your thoughts are on them. I love to go bear foot and thought these might be the shoes for me. DH thinks so to. But... I'm not willing to pay the money for them if I'm not sure.

Are they good for walking? Was thinking of getting them before our next trip to Disney. Although, when I read on their website today, it says it could take from weeks to a year to get used to them.

 

[RMulieri]

I use them for running.They mimic walking /running barefoot, working muscles you don't normally use and re-training your posture, the way you walk and your feet overall.It takes a LONG time to get used to wearing them,in fact I have had mine a year and STILL can not tolerate long long periods of running in mine.I don't recommend them for touring WDW if you haven't got a few months to work up to it, but they are definitely worth looking into and worth it if you are interested .

 

[Bibbidi]

I don't own these personally, but I've read about them in some running magazines. I thought they were an interesting concept--then I saw a mom wearing them at my daughter's school when I was there one day to pick up my girls and I just couldn't get over how weird they looked on her feet--of course this is just my opinion, but I personally wouldn't want to "wear them around" as she was doing--I guess if I was using them for running or something, maybe.

 

[bumbershoot]

My chiropractor (and friend) wears them. He believes in them strongly and fervently (he's also an athlete and a trainer), and wears them ALL the time, but it did takes months and months for him to be able to feel *good* in them.

 

[LilMommyBug]

My husband & I just bought a pair of the not as expensive Fila Skeletoes today and so far so good. We wore them around to the grocery store & got some weird looks (& compliments) but I don't care - they are SO comfy. Our hope is to wear them around Disney World in May.

 

[ddoconnell]

I have a pair and they are like going bare foot...but I would recommend getting them and "breaking them in" so to speak before you even think about wearing them at WDW! But be prepared for some strange looks! I get asked all kinds of questions about mine! But they are definitely worth it!!

 

[kmedina]

My husband wanted to buy a pair of these, and I protested. Many posters said people would point at them and either laugh or start asking questions. I do not want our family to be the center of attention. He mentioned them to quite a few people who have bought them including his sister and her husband. She is a nurse who wears them to work and swears by them now. As reluctant as I was, I told him that he can buy them without further protest from me a few months back. He has not bought them yet, so I regret giving him a hard time. Get them if you want them.

People will stare, and they do make your feet look large. My sister-in-law has very pretty feet and these shoes do not show that at all. Her comfort is more important than the way they look though.

 

[Disneynat]

I've been wearing Vibrams for a year and a half now - and yes, they do take A LOT to get used to. They are comfortable after adjusting to them. If you're interested in owning a pair, I would recommend checking them out in person as the sizes are not typical US sizes and can be a tough fit.

And as far as how people will "look" at you for wearing them? Who cares! Being comfortable and confident will get you a lot farther than worrying about what a stranger thinks of your feet.

 

[JennyG]

Thanks for all the posts. We have a sporting goods store very close to us that sells them. I'll go try them on as well as the Fila brand.

 

[RMulieri]

My husband wanted to buy a pair of these, and I protested. Many posters said people would point at them and either laugh or start asking questions. I do not want our family to be the center of attention. He mentioned them to quite a few people who have bought them including his sister and her husband. She is a nurse who wears them to work and swears by them now. As reluctant as I was, I told him that he can buy them without further protest from me a few months back. He has not bought them yet, so I regret giving him a hard time. Get them if you want them.

People will stare, and they do make your feet look large. My sister-in-law has very pretty feet and these shoes do not show that at all. Her comfort is more important than the way they look though.

WHY do you care?People will ridicule ANYTHING that makes you different than the rest of the sheep.Ignore it and wear them if you choose to.I get weird looks and I ignore it.If you live your life worrying about what others think, you aren't living YOUR life

 

[JennyG]

If these shoes are meant to be like you are walking bare foot, then why not just wear cheap flat shoes?

I work retail on the weekends and always end up throwing on some sandals that are hard as a rock, no support... by the end of the night my feet are killing me. So, if this fancy shoes are like walking on a hard surface then they probably aren't for me... right?

 

[RMulieri]

If these shoes are meant to be like you are walking bare foot, then why not just wear cheap flat shoes?

I work retail on the weekends and always end up throwing on some sandals that are hard as a rock, no support... by the end of the night my feet are killing me. So, if this fancy shoes are like walking on a hard surface then they probably aren't for me... right?

I can't explain it, but cheap flats are NOT similar to vibrams.I can't wear cheap flip flops or flats but I like Vibrams

 

[Schmeck]

I read an article about an increase in injuries from athletes using vibrams as running shoes. They were originally designed as boat shoes (topsiders, etc) not athletic shoes. I'll try to find the article online and add a link - it was in the local paper a few weeks ago.

 

[LilMommyBug]

If these shoes are meant to be like you are walking bare foot, then why not just wear cheap flat shoes?

I work retail on the weekends and always end up throwing on some sandals that are hard as a rock, no support... by the end of the night my feet are killing me. So, if this fancy shoes are like walking on a hard surface then they probably aren't for me... right?

The Fila ones I got actually do have a good supportive arch.

 

[SecondStar2TheRight]

I own one pair and wish I had more!
I wear them to school almost everyday, and while people do stare at your feet and ask "are they comfortable?" or "do they feel weird?," it's not going to change whether I wear them or not.
They are very comfortable and it only took me, like, two times wearing them to get use to the feeling and putting them on.
They're also very good to sleep in if you forget to take them off
I have Bikila.

 

[JennyG]

I'll still go and try them on... or do they frown on you for doing that?

REI is the store nearest us who has them in stock.

 

[Darcy03231]

Dh has a pair and he loves them. I tried them, but just couldn't get used to the feel of them. He always gets questions when he wears them, but is happy to answer them.

 

[TillyMarigold]

The folks at REI are happy to help you try them on and i'd really recommend that. I measured between size 41/42 and the 41s fit OK, then on a whim I asked for a 40 and could instantly feel the difference. You really need to get one that fits exactly right. BTW Vibram doesn't allow online-only retailers to sell them, so an online-only store is probably selling knockoffs.

I bought a pair yesterday and have worn them only a coupld hours each day and am SO IN LOVE I'm already wondering if the Performa Janes would be work appropriate.

It's not exactly like being barefoot--more like being barefoot with your foot held in the perfect neutral position. I have ridiculously high arches that feel great in them with no support at all. I also have moderate PF and after 10 minutes of walking in them, my calf muscles relaxed, and the sole of my foot felt stretched where it's normally tight and held in place where it normally hurts from the PF. After an hour of wering them yesterrday, I woke up today with no PF pain. My feet, toes, and ankles have stopped cracking (which they did all the time) even when I'm not wearing them.

They're supposed to be a yes/no thing--either you can wear them or you can't.

Since I live in the desert so we have a lot of rocks, cacti, thorns, etc., I got the Komodos which have a slightly thicker sole. If I didn't, for general purposes i'd get the Classic or KSO.

 

[JennyG]

Excellent, thanks for sharing! Glad they are helping your PF... foot pain is the worst!!

I have a wide foot, is that going to matter?

 

[TillyMarigold]

They're quite stretchy, so you should be all right--if not, you could try the men's shoes, which are identical except for being wider (and some of the colors are different, and the indoor-only shoes don't come in men's styles).