Vibram FiveFingers

[simmons_m]

Aaaaahhhhh! My husband wears these crazy shoes!!

He is a running nut - did an ultra-marathon last month!

He loves the five-fingers. Here is a review that he wrote about them if anyone is interested:http://www.the-fitness-motivator.com/vibram-five-fingers.html

He even has socks with five toes to wear with the shoes! I told him he looks like a teeny bopper girl - if only the toes were striped and multicolored!!

Ha ha!

I did not think about the sock implications.
I jumped on the barefoot training band wagon a couple of years ago with nike free 5.0 shoes. To this day they are still my travel running shoe of choice. They pack very well.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

The evolution argument doesn't hold with me, because our ancestors weren't running on concrete and asphalt. If I were a serious trail runner, I would consider them (if I could get past the separated toes issue), but since most of my races are done on asphalt and some concrete, I want as much cushioning as I can get for my poor joints.

My take entirely.

That and I don't want to be running around looking like Spiderman gone Tarzan.

 

[mytripsandraces]

That and I don't want to be running around looking like Spiderman gone Tarzan.

 

[ragtopday]

This is so fascinating to me!

I shop semi-regularly at a really cool shoe store. I buy mostly Merrell sandals/shoes there, but love to look at all the new styles of other brands too. Every time I come across their display of these things I cringe. I got to talking with the store's owner when I was there in July and he said they are a really big seller, and that he expected to sell a dozen pairs before noon that day. He said they were really big with the barefoot running community (which I was unaware of at that time) and weight lifters in the gym.

I still think they're ugly, but the more I hear, the more intrigued I am.

Then again, I prefer mittens to gloves because my fingers like to be together - my toes are even more fond of one another.

Still, intrigued I am.

 

[Dodie]

Then again, I prefer mittens to gloves because my fingers like to be together - my toes are even more fond of one another.

 

[CastawayJP]

I did not think about the sock implications.
I jumped on the barefoot training band wagon a couple of years ago with nike free 5.0 shoes. To this day they are still my travel running shoe of choice. They pack very well.

I love my Nike Free 5.0s, but find the lack of cushioning a problem when I am out running in some places... But you are right, no shoe packs better!

 

[cathie1327]

This is so fascinating to me!

I shop semi-regularly at a really cool shoe store. I buy mostly Merrell sandals/shoes there, but love to look at all the new styles of other brands too. Every time I come across their display of these things I cringe. I got to talking with the store's owner when I was there in July and he said they are a really big seller, and that he expected to sell a dozen pairs before noon that day. He said they were really big with the barefoot running community (which I was unaware of at that time) and weight lifters in the gym.

I still think they're ugly, but the more I hear, the more intrigued I am.

Then again, I prefer mittens to gloves because my fingers like to be together - my toes are even more fond of one another.

Still, intrigued I am.

Where is the tag fairy? lol

 

[yitbos96bb]

What types do people have and did you feel the need for socks? I'm looking at the KSO, KSO Trek and Treksport for walking at places such as Disney or in the woods? The big thing I want to make sure is that my feet won't blister or get super hot...

 

[kaligal]

I don't want stuff between my toes.

It's not natural.

 

[thatslygirl]

I work in a spa, and our personal trainer that works with the VIPs and celebrities swears by them. He said he found he can run and lift better with them. I also have a friend who's a hasher, and she really enjoys running in them as well. But then again, she has always enjoyed going barefoot, despite at one point owning 50 pairs of shoes.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I work in a spa, and our personal trainer that works with the VIPs and celebrities swears by them. He said he found he can run and lift better with them. I also have a friend who's a hasher, and she really enjoys running in them as well. But then again, she has always enjoyed going barefoot, despite at one point owning 50 pairs of shoes.

hasher?


Do you know which models any of them have?

 

[yitbos96bb]

I don't want stuff between my toes.

It's not natural.

If there's a point Mulder, please feel free to come to it.... otherwise, I fail to see see how your opinion on what is and isn't natural is germaine to the question I asked in a thread which hadn't been commented on in several days.

 

[dmwang9]

What types do people have and did you feel the need for socks? I'm looking at the KSO, KSO Trek and Treksport for walking at places such as Disney or in the woods? The big thing I want to make sure is that my feet won't blister or get super hot...

I have a pair of Classics, and I've never done anything more than walk in them. I've never felt the need for socks -- but I do need to wash my Fivefingers every week or so, because they do start to smell a bit.

I did wear my Classics at WDW this past July for a bit. The worked pretty well -- no real problems, other than the fact that it was kinda weird feeling the hot asphalt through the soles.

 

[jediobiwan]

I have a pair of Classics, and I've never done anything more than walk in them. I've never felt the need for socks -- but I do need to wash my Fivefingers every week or so, because they do start to smell a bit.

I did wear my Classics at WDW this past July for a bit. The worked pretty well -- no real problems, other than the fact that it was kinda weird feeling the hot asphalt through the soles.

I always wash mine at least once a week. As for the hot thing, I can feel asphalt through my KSOs but not through my TrekSports, so unless I have a reason to wear KSOs, I wear TrekSports around campus.

I really need to get to our rec center's climbing wall and I haven't in my first two years here so maybe the VFFs will give me the extra kick!

 

[jediobiwan]

What types do people have and did you feel the need for socks? I'm looking at the KSO, KSO Trek and Treksport for walking at places such as Disney or in the woods? The big thing I want to make sure is that my feet won't blister or get super hot...

As I think I have said here, I have KSOs and TrekSports. For a lot of hard surface walking, I prefer TrekSports for the thicker sole. Not much thicker, but it does make a difference walking to class and all around campus. See my above post about heat transfer as regards to asphalt/concrete. Although I do not have any Treks, the major difference I have heard of from people that do have them is between looks and heat escaping, obviously the TrekSports let heat escape better but the Treks look more dressy.

I personally don't want to wear socks with them, both my KSOs and TrekSports are very nice and breathable. See above about washing them every week

 

[yitbos96bb]

As I think I have said here, I have KSOs and TrekSports. For a lot of hard surface walking, I prefer TrekSports for the thicker sole. Not much thicker, but it does make a difference walking to class and all around campus. See my above post about heat transfer as regards to asphalt/concrete. Although I do not have any Treks, the major difference I have heard of from people that do have them is between looks and heat escaping, obviously the TrekSports let heat escape better but the Treks look more dressy.

I personally don't want to wear socks with them, both my KSOs and TrekSports are very nice and breathable. See above about washing them every week

Yeah I love the look of the kso treks... But am concerned with the kangaroo leather letting the heat escape enough so that my feet don't blister from excessive sweating and rubbing.

I would prefer no socks as well. This is my problem with WDW footwear.... Athletic shoes don't breathe well,crocs do but if I don't wear socks I blister from them. Something form fitting but breathable would beideal which is why these are appealing.

If anyone has KSO treks and knows how breathable they are, please let me know!

 

[mytripsandraces]

hasher?

Hashing is like fox and hounds, but with humans. It's usually done on trails and ends in bars. One or two people are the fox and they get a head start to leave a trail. The rest of the hashers try to follow the trail. I haven't been able to link, but if you google "hash house harriers" and "hashing" you should get some results that will tell you more about it and how you can find a group in your area.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Hashing is like fox and hounds, but with humans. It's usually done on trails and ends in bars. One or two people are the fox and they get a head start to leave a trail. The rest of the hashers try to follow the trail. I haven't been able to link, but if you google "hash house harriers" and "hashing" you should get some results that will tell you more about it and how you can find a group in your area.

Ah...not sure if that is my thing...

Hmm... I'm curious to see just how much heat radiates between the souls. Some say they can feel it, others not at all with the classics which have the thinnest souls I believe.

I think at this point I'm looking at the Sprints, KSO Trek and Trek Sports. I like the look of the KSO Trek the best, but not sure about the leather... Hmm. Wish each pair wasn't 80-120 or I'd just get two.

 

[Jodi]

I got a pair of KSOs in April & switched over to running in them. I may have a done a little too much, too soon because I developed an overuse injury on the bottom of my foot. Not PF, just sprained it. I love them so much that I bought a pair of Bikila's & back in June ran my fastest 1/2 marathon in them.

The injury occurred after the 1/2 & threw off my summer running plans a bit, but the upside of that is that I tried my first triathlon! . I throw on my running shoes once in a while & it feels terrible! Very labored. I'm completely sold on these things - just go easy, runners, when you transition over. I'm willing to work through my injury & give it however long it takes to run in my Bikila's without issue.

 

[stitchlover]

My husband rides his bicycle quite a bit and has the shoes that clip onto his bike pedals. I think he is considering these for after his rides. He doesn't ride around the house that much because it's all back roads and not safe. He usually will take his bike into Fort Worth to ride the Trinity River trails. So he thinks these would be handy for after those rides.

I think it will take a little getting use to for me to see him in them. They do look a little odd. But the local store that sells them (Backwoods) says people love them and they sell a lot of them.