I swore I’d never wear them. We called them the Five Fingers of Suck a few years ago and I was sure they were crazy. Friends, I’m here to tell you I was wrong. And I’m sorry.
Here’s my story: I ran a marathon a few years ago. I got plantar fasciitis and couldn’t run after the marathon. I worked through that inflammation but by the time I was ready to run again I had gained thirty pounds. Wham. Shin-splints. So I was a fat former runner with leg problems. The prognosis wasn’t good.
So I tried a few things – the elliptical, weight training, losing some freaking weight – but the thing that saved me were these shoes.
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First, a caveat. I’m not a doctor, I’m an amateur runner and a bad one at that. Before you use these shoes, talk to a doctor. I can attest to what they did for me but I have no idea what they will do for you.
We are born to run. Heck, there’s even a book about it. Our first weapon, before fire and spears, was running. You see, animals like gazelles can run very fast for a short amount of time. They have great sprint speeds but they get tired easily. So we, as a pack predator, would get into formation and literally run animals to death. Then we’d eat them. We are good at running.
But we’re good at running barefoot. We’re not good at running in marshmallow-based shoes with padding, support, and protection. In fact, we get injured because of these shoes. There is some data that shows, in fact, that the more expensive the running shoe the worse it is for your feet and legs. I knew something was wrong when my feet would fall asleep while I was running. Something was up.
I don’t want to get into a religious argument – this is like arguing for veganism or onanism and you eventually fall into the hippie trap of equating something to “freedom” – but it makes sense. I bought the best shoes I could find for the marathon. And the shows – and the marathon – beat me down.
So I tried the Nike Free, a thinner soled shoe with separate compartments on the bottom for increased mobility. This got rid of most of my foot pain but I still had ankle pain. I ran a little in regular shoes and then read Born to Run and decided to go naked.
The thinking is this: we can run without injuries barefoot. It’s our natural mode of transportation and by wearing shoes we are weakening our bodies.
However, running barefoot in Brooklyn is a bad idea. So I ordered the Five Fingers Classic for about $75 – I bought 44 for my size 11.5 foot and they fit very well – and waited. I ran. My knees were screaming. My ankles hurt. Then, a few minutes later, all the pain was gone. I was running normally and, thanks to the light weight and comfort I could run longer than I ever could. I could run without stopping, which was a big change for me. I could run for quite a while. The only limitations were the blisters I got during the first few runs. Even those went away.
So I’m a Five Fingers convert. The shoes give your ankles a workout rather than a coddling. I felt my ankles get stronger and my feet get more resilient. I felt some of the pounds drop. I felt good.
They say we need lots of arch support but for most of our biological history we didn’t even know what an arch was let alone how to support it. While these shoes look ridiculous I’m happy to report that they work and they’re now my go-to running shoes.
Bottom Line
I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences with shoes and these shoes in particular. They make you look like an absolute doofus but they’re also absolutely great.
Haven’t seen these before, but wearing a size 13, there’s nothing worse than filling half my roll-on with my running shoes, even if it’s just for the hotel treadmill. These look like a nice travel solution as well.
give them a try.
That whole article was rad, except the bit where you link off to the Nikes, and not the Vibrams. WTF?
Im wearing 13’s right now, they work great. You might want to try a 12 if you are a small 13.
If you are going to order the Vibram FiveFingers online you should make sure you measure your foot as they do not go by conventional sizing. We have a sizing chart you should check out before ordering.
I just ordered a pair of these from your website.
@George: I know it’s too late as you’ve already ordered but I don’t recommend buying your first pair of Vibram Five Fingers online. I have a pair and love them but because of how snug they fit I feel that you really should try them on before you buy.
Hopefully you’re fortunate and get ones that fit just right.
@physio … Unless there’s not a store near you. I had to buy mine online from the Vibram site, as distribution is pretty spotty outside of the cities. They were too small, but getting a size exchange from them was easy and fast. Very small company with great personal service.
You’re right about fancy running shoes, they don’t help. The best running shoes I’ve ever had so far were the simple (original?) Sauconys with the flat soles, triangles-on-the-bottom traction. Maybe they stopped making them because I went into half-a-dozen shoe stores and I just don’t see anything I like. One store had a “retro” section, but the shoes were clearly not for running: cartoon-exaggerated fashion figments of designs that were actually useful at one point.
Because I have wide feet I can’t wear Nike. Besides, we all know Nike quality is crap. Asics are generally for narrow feet too, or I would probably choose an Asics shoe. But Asics also suffer from the “mood boot” problem, why on Earth do all these shoes look like psychedelic kaleidoscopic hallucinations gone wrong? I could understand if they were selling to children, but these are shoes for adults, I just don’t get it. A “Super Matrix Boost” plastic bubble on the bottom of your shoe is pointless, unless you’re in kindergarten.
So I hope Saucony is listening: BRING BACK THE REAL RUNNING SHOES!
This is hilarious…TRUE DAT!!! =)
Can anyone (who owns a pair) help with sizing? Are your toe tips supposed to touch at the front? Is your heel supposed to touch? How long does is take to get used to the feeling? I have tried them on four times and finally bought a pair today. I got the sprint women’s 41 but could not decide if they should be more snug or a little looser. I usually wear a 9 in women’s but no one in the store owns a pair so could not give any personal fit/sizing advice. Any feedback would be great. Thanks.
I know it’s a little late, Andrea, and you’ve probably already tested yours out, but if not, hope this helps. Your toes should touch the end of the toe “pockets”. You don’t want loose cloth at the end if you can help it. They shouldn’t be tight, but the should touch. Your heel should also touch at the back. I like the sprint model, because you can adjust the heel strap as well if you have harder to fit feet.
John,
I ran my first Boston Marathon this year and before that had plenty of the same running problems you describe. I was fortunate to find a local running store by me that specializes in – well, in running. That’s all they do.
First some background: My feet and knees used to hurt when I ran, which I did plenty anyways. I bought nice shoes from a store that sounded reasonably like they knew what they were talking about. I switched up the shoes almost every time I bought new ones – I go through running shoes every two to three months, and only use them for running. It was hit or miss, sometimes they felt good, others they didn’t work as well. Then I bought a pair of Asics (who does make a good shoe) that hurt like hell.
So I went to that local running store. After studying my foot and gait, walking and running stride, etc, they matched me up with a pair of shoes. On a whim, I asked them what the wrong type of shoe would be for my stride – they pulled down three pairs off the shelf, one of which was the Asics I had just bought.
Anyways, I have settled on the Brooks Dyad, which I trained with for the marathon, used for the marathon, and bought another pair after the marathon. I’m about to buy my fourth pair of the same shoe. Its a night and day difference using the Dyad, and all the old problems I used to experience have gone always. At least, until the shoe starts breaking down after a few months of use.
I don’t know your situation beyond what’s above, but it might be worth trying another specialty running store. I’ll keep my ears open for shops around Brooklyn. I’d be curious to try those Vibram shoes though, maybe they’re great. I supinate when I run though, and it looks like they’d wear down pretty quick.
i went to the specialized running store here and got some pearl izumis that I loved. gait tested and everything Wore them for the race and after the race. Everything went downhill after that.
Weird. How were they (the pearls) during your training? Did you do any long runs with them in the lead up to the race? Do you think your body would react better if you used these Vibrams to run 26.2 miles?
the pearls were OK but I definitely got the foot problems from them. I have no idea how my body would react training with the vibrams. I may try when I’m less fat.
I was training for a 1/2 marathon and got shin splints. So I thought it was my shoes so I went into a specialty store in South Miami and after looking at my style and how I walk etc I exited with a pair of Pearl iZumis. they go me throught the 1/2 but I never really got rid of the shin splints. Switched to Five Fingers Sprint and its been painless running ever since. FYI, if you get blisters, check out Injinji socks. With my Sprints and Injinji’s ran the 2nd 1/2 marathon with no pain and am training for the third. I do EVERYTHING in my five fingers. Pretty much live in them on the weekends.
You don’t understand. More fancy shoes are not the solution, they are the PROBLEM.
Our bodies are designed to be good at running, let them work.
“Our bodies are designed to be good at running, let them work.”
Actually, no. They’ve evolved to be good at walking upright and giving birth.
I don’t buy the science behind barefoot running long distances on hard surfaces. I can easily accept that loads of shoes that will cause problems, but I don’t think blaming everything on the existence of shoes makes sense.
“Actually, no. They’ve evolved to be good at walking upright and giving birth.”
Actually, no. Our DNA is the exact same as the caveman’s.
Here’s the science and history behind “persistence hunting” which is literally running your prey down until it dies from heat-exhaustion.
http://alistairpott.com/2009/04/15/persistence-hunting-humans-running-antelope-to-death/
Here’s a great article about vibrams:
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/05/07/vibram-five-fingers-shoes/
I want to buy a pair but don’t run enough right now, currently biking and playing basketball.
I weight train barefoot (deadlifting 300+ lbs) and really enjoy the difference. FAR more stable. I also do all my MMA training barefoot now.
Giving birth! That is one thing that human evolution has made us (well, women anyway) very bad at.
Bipedalism is great for freeing our hands to use tools etc. but from most other perspectives – it’s a “step” down.
I’m open to the idea of barefoot running, but there are a lot of “natural” remedies which don’t hold up to science. Would like to see some real studies on it.
Thought this was kind of funny, I googled persistence hunting and this video came up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wI-9RJi0Qo
THE TRIBESMAN RUNNING THROUGH THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH IS WEARING SNEAKERS!
I don’t mean to be rude, but listen to yourself. All this technology is required to prevent injury in a species that has evolved running long distances for tens of thousands of years? I’m not buying what they’re selling.
It’s actually really simple. The difference is that when we were evolving, the ground wasn’t usually made of concrete. It was made of tall grass, the underbrush, or whatever. It’s not like we co-evolved with lawnmowers and steamrollers.
Soooo – yes, your feet are perfectly designed to run unprotected for miles over the African Savannah. They are absolutely not designed to run for miles through Brooklyn. In particular, your ankles’ and heels’ shock absorption capabilities are tuned to the former, not the latter.
@gabe “evolved” for “thousands” of years. There is no proof of that. Start with verifiable truth and you might get somwhere.
@Matt Burns Weed – don’t be an idiot. There is LOTS of proof that man has been living and evolving on earth for thousands of years. This is not an argument about the creationism fantasy versus evolution, this is simply a statement that regardless of how the species originated, man has been on this planet for a long time and like any other living being, man’s physiology has adapted to his environment and his need to survive.
Get a life.
Hahaha!
I can’t believe you dissed them at one point, I love the look and feel of my vibrams. If you think you look like a doofus in them, well then that must just be you. I get compliments on them all the time. But seriously, these aren’t really meant for running, you should look at the pair that has a strap.
look and feel are highly subjective.
I’m ok with these for now. I really don’t have any issues with fit on these so the strap isn’t imperative.
The strap isnt really for fit, I agree the vibrams 5 finger (if sized correctly) fit just fine. The strap is just there incase you need a little bit more support.
Glad you like em, I’ve been enjoying them for a little over a year now. They are great. Good for watersports if your into that sort of thing.
listen, dude, I’m married and I don’t go for that kind of talk around here. you keep your fetishes to yourself.
I love Ohioans.
I’ve been interested in getting a pair of these for a while since I’m another to suffer from knee and ankle issues, but I’ve always been concerned about how well these protect you from pebbles and other objects you invariably step on through running in urban or even suburban areas.
Do these really provide enough protection for anyone not running on well-kept surfaces?
they really do. I’m running through glass, dirt, rocks, and all sorts of mess. they provide more than enough protection.
i own a pair, bought them mainly for use surfing. tried running in them, and a pebbled road brought me to my knees. haven’t tried since.
oh, and i wear a size 12 and think my feet look ridiculous in them: your toes look twice as wide, so it looks like a bloomin onion on your foot.
I just tried them out trail running (I’m not petite, running 6′4″ and about 340lbs right now). On large things they still hurt, 1 and 1/2 ” pieces of tree still hurt if you hit them wrong, but I had no problem at all on rough terrain that would normally tear my feet up.
I’m accustomed to watching my step so it wasn’t much of a transition… I’ve done barefoot hiking before so it comes as second nature to watch where I’m putting my feet. I think that if you’re going to be running on gravel or pebbles it should not be a problem as long as you are running correctly. If you land on your heels you’re going to have knee pain on any surface. Natural running means landing closer to the ball of your foot.
Be mindful of how you’re running. Give it time to transition to running naturally. Expect a little pain. Go slow. These are going to revolutionize running.
just commenting to see the followup comments. They sort of make sense. Interesting…
I made the switch about 2 months ago. I’m a large frame (6′5″ 250lbs) and running tore up my joints (mainly arch pain, knee soreness, and wicked shin splints). You are supposed to ease into running with the VFF’s but for my first run I took the dog to a park trail and next thing I knew it had been 3 miles. The only problems I had were a bruise on my toe from landing on a jagged root and my calf muscles absolutely killed me for a few days (shows how little I used them when wearing running shoes). No more joint pain for me though! I’m sure plenty get by just fine with running shoes, but there is just no way I can go back. I can only imagine how nice the experience will be once I am no longer a Fatty McButterpants.
Just to note, I went from size 14EE Brooks Beast to a size 46 KSO (I think 47 is the largest available). Also, the Classics and Sprints fit differently than the KSOs and most get a different size in the two models (from what I’ve read). BirthdayShoes.com is my favorite VFF site and they’ve recently had info about some new models for 2010.
Oh, and for anyone that wants to give the experience a try without the expense just put on one or two pairs of old thick cotton/wool socks and do some running at the park. Should be enough to mildly protect against rocks/sticks and abrasion of any concrete.
i actually felt good enough in these to run barefoot for a little while on the sidewalk. it’s a weird feeling with these.
I haven’t tried the VFF (and I don’t run, so I’m not sure if they make sense), but I recently switched from some Merrell mocs to some Terra Plana vivobarefoot shoes. They’re closer to the nike free than the VFF, with a thin and flexible sole.
I like them a lot. It’s not quite the same as being barefoot or in socks, but it’s a lot closer than a normal pair of shoes. The look is also much more acceptable for a business-y environment, if you want barefoot-style shoes that you can wear to work.
I just got a pair of Sprints a couple weeks ago. I’ve been working up to actually running. My feet do get tired after half a mile or so. So far, I’ve just done lite trekking. However, jogging has always been rough on my knees so I have some hope these will help.
They are 100% dork. Even with the more neutral colors, you’re going to get stared at.
I have been riding my bike most summers as exercise because I really hate the feeling of running. But after reading this and the comments (especially the reviews on Born to Run) I might have to check out that book and give it a try myself. I would much prefer running in nature without having to worry about the clackity clack of my old bike.
Something to look into, thanks!
You gained 30lbs? Holy fattymcfatass!
yeah. thanks for that.
Thirty is so easy to gain and so hard to lose. I gained 30 in no time and it’s stuck.
Same here. I gained it over winter, a stretch of about three months. …its now august, eight months later, and I’ve only lost half of it.
Although to be fair that is mostly my fault. I could lose it all in a month if I really really tried. For example, I went on vacation one time for ten days, hardly ate anything and drank a lot of water. As you do on vacation, you walk around everywhere, which I did, for about 6 hours every day. I lost almost 13 pounds in ten days. Eating very little can be unhealthy and dangerous, but over the span of 10 days I didn’t think much of it, wasn’t a long enough period of “fasting” to worry me. In the end, i was just fine and feeling better than ever, I was looking it too. ^_^
I wish they had more protection to keep dust and sand out. If so, I would use them for hiking.
nm – i think I found some
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_KSO_m.cfm
yeah. KSO are for Keeping Stuff Out. I might get those for the winter.
could you suggest which one would be best for all around activities? i’m looking to do some casual running, plus i hike a ton, and some of those cases are in wet situations/creeks, etc.. so i feel kind of in between the classic, flows, and kso’s. plus the flows and kso looks so much the same it’s hard to tell and they all list the same activities under “… is best for”. plus i wonder if the latter two would be ok to run in.. any thoughts?
Flows are KSOs with more thermal insulation, so they are suited for colder tempurature.
I dont own a pair, but I think i have read their site top to bottom.
i like the classic for running but I haven’t tried KSO. anyone?
You’d be suprised how much stuff is kept out of even the Sprints…. went on a 60 minute trail run this morning without any issues in my Sprint.
I think they are the best for “all around activities”. I also have a pair of Classics that I wear when not running. I have tried running in them, but find the Sprints more comfortable.
Do you regularly get stuff (sand, small pebbles) into your shoes while running? Even a small piece of dirt in my shoe bothers me and I have to take it out.
Also, do you wear socks in these shoes, or is it better not to use socks?
on the MEC website they suggest you get the KSO for summer and the Flow for winter with it’s neoprene (less flexible) materials
Bought a pair of KSOs this morning. Wore ‘em all day (and walking the kids around trick-or-treating tonight) Great shoes — just like walking barefoot. I’m looking forward to running in them.
I just got a pair of these things (not sure which model) and wore them on a nice 10 mile hike which covered terrain ranging from gravel roads to hard surface trails to mud to rock. I was a bit dubious to start with, but I’m now sold – these things are wonderful for hiking. I had to stop from time to time to dump out sand and small stones, but otherwise they were wonderful.
I received a pair of KSO’s a few weeks ago, had to wait almost two months for them to arrive. But they’re awesome. I hiked and ran some incredibly rugged trails with them, and apart from watching out for roots, they are great. I’ve just started running on roads with them, and they do require some toughening up of the soles of your feet, but no pain like I normally have. Apart from the comments from my family about having ugly geek shoes they’re great.
I did wrote about this shoe on my blog almost a month back. Though I have to give it a try.
The link: http://bawaal.com/blog/1107-now-walk-barefoot-with-vibram-fivefingers-shoes
OK, I’m sold. I want these shoes.
Newton running shoes, they only way to forefoot run. http://www.newtonrunning.com solved all my problems
seems like these would have a lot of fitting issues with people with odd shaped feet or toes. Looks a bit like running in my climbing shoes but I might give it a shot.
how does size 40-47M equate to real shoe sizes?
They have a conversion chart on their site. I think on the size drop-down menu the second option is “Help with conversion size” or something similar.
I use these for weight training!
thumbs up, though they are ugly as shit they’re super comfortable
Is this Al Bundy zeus shoes?
Thanks for the article. I’ve seen similar things as these before and heard good things but haven’t really considered them.
I would love to be able to run again, but I have always suffered from HORRIBLE shin splints that just make not ever want to try again. In your research in these did you find anything about help for shin splints along with the knee and ankle help?
If so I’d be really tempted to pick up a pair to try out.
Kent, try something called “The Stick” if you’re still getting shin splints. From everything I’ve heard, shin splints are a result of wearing the wrong shoes and not stretching that area of your legs before and after running. I used to get intense pain from them, but it went away when I finally found some good shoes. I use “the stick” to stretch before and after runs in that area too, but its not necessary. Might help you though. If you do search for it, you want the “marathon” stick. Good luck with the shin splints.
my ankles used to hurt just walking to the subway, let alone running. that’s gone now. you actually give your ankles a great workout.
is there a way to try it in montreal?
I bought the KSO model at MEC in Montreal.
Mountain Equipment Co-op sells them. They don’t seem to have much stock though at this time of year. See http://www.mec.ca
They don’t seem to have much stock at *any* time of year from what I’ve seen.
Thanks for the article.
John, check out these Handerpants too before winter strats again http://www.handerpants.com
i’m not wearing handerpants.
Ryan Wanger of Everlater wrote up this review on them:
http://www.allclimbing.com/archive/2009/07/review-vibram-five-fingers-shoes/
I’m hearing many similar stories though I have no plans to jump on board with these just yet…
Seriously, I can’t go more than three days without getting into a conversation where I find myself evangelizing these to total strangers…
If your comment doesn’t show up, just wait a second. For some reason Wordpress is filtering all mention of Vibram.
What kind of socks do you wear with them? Most running shoes get gnarly pretty quick if you go sockless.
no socks and yes, they’re gnarly as heck.
John did they make your feet bleed? Or am I seeing things inside the shoe there.
we have red rugs and the lint rubs off. it’s not blood – at least most of it isn’t.
I wonder if you could wear toe socks with these? or are they too snug of a fit? With me feet, I would have to pour them out over every couple hours. Yuck!
Vibram offers special socks that are designed to go with the shoes in their website
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_injinji_socks.cfm
and there they are, one comment down. lol
Injinji socks were designed primarily for ultra running as their premise is to keep each toe isolated to avoid blistering. My guess is that using these with the VFF is really a preference issue. If you’re blistering with the VFF, it’s likely more a case of improper fit than the need for a sock.
BTW–I like my Nike Frees, but sometimes my knees seem to give me trouble after I run in them. That may have more to do with being 43 than it does with the shoes, however. Hello middle age!
The Tarahumare Indians that are examined in the book mentioned in the article run extremely long distances into their 70’s and 80’s. We really are built to run distances the way cats are built for agility. Sure, a fat, old cat isn’t as agile as a young skinny cat, but it will astound you with its ability to jump 5 feet onto a shelf for food. We’re the same with distance running. PBS Nova did a great documentary where they took a bunch of out of shape people and trained them for a marathon. The results were amazing. However, they suffered knee and ankle problems due to normal running shoes which promote and enable poor, unnatural running form. Take a look at the runners on the sidewalks, and you will see them landing with their heel hitting first, foot IN FRONT of the body. This is completely unnatural, and from a bio-engineering point of view completely contrary to our design. Knee tissue heals slowly, and should not be a shock absorber. The calf is a large, fast healing muscle that does a much better job provided the foot is positioned naturally.
I’m 6′2, weigh 220, and I have zero knee/ankle problems in my vibrams. I don’t have to worry about running with poor form because if I do, I know it right away due to the pain in the sole of my foot.
I’ve been running barefoot for years whenever I’m at a park or beach, but running on concrete doesn’t tend to be a good idea due to the possibility of broken glass. I would absolutely LOVE to buy some Vibram’s but they don’t make them in my size – US14. If anyone knows the manufacturer, please pass on the word. Thanks!
The KSO goes up to a size 48. I wear size 14-14.5 shoes and ordered a vibram size 45 but it was a bit too tight, so I am waiting on the return now.
Check out their sizing chart and do some foot measurements:
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/size_conversion_chart.html
John,
How funny! Arrington has photos of me sporting these shoes at a Google Campfire One from a year or two back. He couldn’t believe what was I wearing and insisted I pose.
Funny to see a review suddenly appear. :)
i’ve been against them for about two years and recently converted.
My feet are too big for these shoes, but they look like a great shoe. I enjoy running barefoot on grass.
John,
Good story, thanks. I’ve worn Asics for years and they’re pretty much since running the Boston Marathon the only shoes I can wear without my knees hurting… I’m not a running shoe aficionado but doesn’t the amount of padding in the more traditional running shoes help keep your knees from hurting… Or is that a myth? Does running in these 5 Fingers somehow keep your knees from hurting because of the design even without the padding? I’m very intrigued.
Thanks,
Rob
Rob,
Researching VFFs and barefooting prior to getting my VFFs, I read that running in heavily padded shoes allows folks to land on their heels. This puts the whole lower body out of alignment. With the VFFs, or barefoot, if you land on your heel, you get jarred. So, the alleviation of pain is from being put in proper alignment to run. When in proper alignment the heel is not absorbing the shock.
Also, when wearing the padded shoes, there’s a tendency to plant the foot harder to get a feel for the surface. This forced landing increases stress on the joints.
The thing to remember here is these are not running shoes. They are shoes that can be used in virtually any situation. I wear my sprints nearly every day, despite my wife’s protests of them being ugly. I’ve worn them to work. Worn them to do protection work with dogs and have just worn them around the house or on a simple walk.
Dave
I bought a pair of these a few months back, only run in them rarely as I’m working my way into it gradually (6′5″ #230 so I don’t take chances with my feet) by adjusting my stride to run on the ball of my foot to get ready for these.
But I do love them. Ugly as sin, and as comfortable… ;-)
Just use your common sense and give your body time to adjust. Go out for a 5 mile run the first time out the gate and you will be walking funny for the rest of the week as your calves keep screaming at you…
Oh, and if you’re going to run in them, personally I prefer the KSOs over the Classic or Sprint. They feel more secure on my feet and as advertised, keep stuff out.
lol, nice stuff man, i will call it cool gadget :D
also have a look at these cool gadgets :)
http://www.techmasher.com/top-10-must-have-gadgets/
Thanks
Henry
I can’t recommend Vibram 5Fs strongly enough.
I do kettlebells, deadlift, trail run, and street run in my Classics. I thought I would need the top strap, but for MY foot they stay on just fine.
I still wouldn’t wear them as general shoes, because face it they look goofy. But for the gym and for running they are fantastic, and I get nothing but positive comments and questions about them.
I’ve had a pair for two months now. I’m giving my old running shoes to goodwill this week. I really love them. It definitely takes a while to get used to them. Don’t go out running the first day…or first week even. Start with walking and ease your way in. Your feet will adapt. You running form will change. Eventually you can go out and run 10 miles at full speed.
I suggest icing your feet for the first few weeks after running. I would also work on ankle strength exercises. Also check out Chi Running and Pose Technique for additional tips on running correctly.
The VFF’s are great for jogging (I’m using the Classic), but I’d suggest easing into them. I think your feet and ankles need time to adjust, plus your stride and style of running need to change.
After about a month, I’m up to 3-4 miles with the VFF’s and my feet, ankles, hips, etc. are all adjusting nicely. I’m 55, so I may need a little more time, but they really are great..
Same question as VVVs – how well do the Vibrams breathe when you’re running? Any noticeable discomfort?
Our shop sells FiveFingers and I saw the question from Vicki on socks and thought I’d respond. I wear mine barefoot, but I use them primarily for watersports (not a fetish, John, really) – we do sell quite a few Injinji socks to folks that buy the FiveFingers for running. Response is that they work really well. Good luck!
In my opinion, they work very well w/o socks. Normally, if I go barefoot in a typical shoe, my feet will clear out a good size room by the end of the day. The anti-microbial treatment on the VFFs do a good job of preventing funk. Plus, they basically breath as well as polyester socks.
@David: The Flow has neoprene insulation where the KSO just has thin fabric. You can run in any of them, but the Sprint or KSO are probably the best bet.
They are also machine washable, which evidently clears out any smell pretty effectively. Mine have been nice and clean though despite a fair bit of use, so I personally haven’t washed them.
I find it hard to believe that with all the technology and inventions that have come about from a decade of research in the sports/running industry shoes like this could possibly be better than footwear designed specifically for running.
Please tell me I’m not crazy.
You are not crazy. Just a little leap of logic will tell you that the footwear designed specifically for running….is your foot.
The sports/running shoes are designed for something else — making money.
You’re not crazy. I believe that the footwear made specifically for running is a bit more comfortable than these, simply because it better supports your ankles. But it also atrophies your ankles, which lead to long-term problems. Running on the balls of your feet, instead of the heels, allows a smoother gait but it requires much more ankle strength. Basically these are pads that protect the bottom of your feet so you’re able to run on surfaces that might contain stray rocks or glass.
At least, that’s kind of what I’m gathering from all of this.
I had a thought as I read your post. They’ve done billions of dollars in research, studying people running with shoes. Maybe they simply weren’t willing to make a paradigm shift and take a step back.
(If all you do is study people and how they interact with shoes, all you get are minor modifications to correct perceived problems.)
Exactly the point. All this research started off with the “shoe” as the starting point — how do we make the shoe better? Instead, start with the foot, and say, well this is already evolved pretty well perfectly over a few million years. Let’s just protect it a bit.
Come to think of it, that’s probably how shoes started.
I went barefoot at every opportunity for most of my life (I am 61). A few years ago I found myself in a situation where I had to wear shoes all the time. Within 6 months I had developed plantar fasciitis to the point where I could not walk. I had to wear orthotics. They did not help. I went back to my barefoot ways. Three months later, I am right as rain.
And yet after all that high tech RnD, people are getting hurt at a faster rate than before the running shoe debuted (c1972). Maybe they’re just trying to perpetuate that $20b industry?
WTF? I thought this is a tech blog. Those of us who are into sports are either aware of products like this or go to sports related blogs.
Common guys – there are a lot of tech startups who would kill for coverage space on techcrunch.
none of the great start ups emailed me today so you got a shoe review. live through it.
Why does writing about an unconventional running shoe make one ‘common’?
I think he was trying to say “come on”.
So what if this is a “tech blog”. Are people not allowed to be interested in ONLY technology? Really enjoy running, but I have quit doing it over the past 5 years since it’s brutal on my legs and knees (I’m 6′4″ and around 230lbs)… it sounds like these shoes and other various links on this review will help me maybe get back into it.
ah. good ole fashion honesty, how refreshing.
I have these shoes and I love them. They are excellent for water sports, walking around and running. I have turned 2 people on to them already. I love them.
I’ve asked a friend of mine (who runs a shoe blog called http://www.barkingdogshoes.com) whether or not she’s ever heard of these before. I’m a heavier runner (5′9″, 225#), and currently wear the Dyad5 with little issue, although they do tend to feel a bit heavy after awhile. And I KNOW I need to get over the look of these things, but I normally run when it’s pretty dark out, so embarrassment shouldn’t be an issue…
I don’t I’d ever be able to get over the look of those to wear em. Just the thought be being caught dead in those would be too much to bear…
nope. although the aesthetics of this “shoe”/cover really is not becoming i would buy it (which i will be doing asap. thanks john) because i run, and i want to run barefoot, but i can’t run barefoot on concrete, in the city, in the woods. it’s not allowed/acceptable here, but i bet it would definately strengthen my foot, good for ankle strength, leg strength, and will help my posture. this is exactly something i need. i’m always going through shoes looking for something for running purposes and i haven’t found anything that has fit. this is actually really helpful. i’ve heard about it from running enthusiasts and i always thought they’re crazy…and the shoes are ugly, but i’ll give them a try because i really need it to help me get back into form. the censure from people is enough to bear if i get better and look better too.
I heard about this about a year ago and thought the same time. Wouldn’t be caught dead in those. After reading all of this, I think I might give them a try.
I bought a pair of VFFs a couple of months ago and just wish they were available years ago. They are the best walking shoes around.
If you like walking barefoot, they are perfect. However, wearing them in a city and walking on the street is a bit odd at first.
Yes, you’ll get comments from people — but most folks just want to learn more about them.
Why should we believe your tale? Let’s see you at your earlier marathon weight and at your 30# heavier self.
Did you ever stop to think we can run barefoot without injury… simply because we don’t run barefoot very often?
Yes, but the pads on this help protect our feet from glass and other particles that tend to make their way onto trails/paths/streets. It seems to be about as close to barefoot as you can get while retaining some protection.
Did you consult with a doctor before you started running ever (way back before the marathon, etc.) and bought whatever sneakers you bought back then?
Basically, I don’t think it’s necessary to consult a doctor just to run around barefoot, unless you’ve had serious injuries in the past.
What you do need to do is work up to running “barefoot”–I’m still getting used to my Vibrams (which I love) and get sore calves when I run. NB: I rarely run distance, so it’ll be a quicker transition for true runners (though I guess there’ll be more unlearning to do).
Funny, I just started wearing these for everyday walking and weight lifting. They are phenomenal. It’s a conversation starter. I have the black KSO, the most inconspicuous one. I’m looking forward to more color options later. Make sure you get a snug fit. Too loose and they defeat the purpose.
Socks: injinji
Running: look up POSE Method (videos on youtube too). The POSE method site has a great intro video that you can follow along. Also check out Chi running.
Tim Ferriss: he did a blog post about VFF a few months ago
http://www.google.com/m?q=Ferriss%20barefoot%20alternative
Blog: There’s a blog dedicated to VFF http://birthdayshoes.com
LOL.. i’d kick anyone wearing this crap in their shin.
We could probably run away first :P
Um, they’re shoes… they go on your foot, not in your shin.
Thanks for putting this up here John. I started working out in February as a rather fat 6′7” 308lb guy. As of this morning I’m at 236 (21 more to go) and decided I want to run a half or full marathon next summer. I found out that at 25 yes it is possible to have arthiritis in your hips (that rubs against the tendons near your pelvis, not exactly pleasant) and so I have been avoiding running. Lately though I have had much less pain running lately, but still worry once I try to get above 3-4 miles how I will feel. I also just had to throw away my running shoes in the airport because apparently I pack more clothes than most women and had a 65lb suitcase. So I want to buy some new shoes and get back to running, and had heard of these. I’m glad you enjoyed them and if I find a place locally that carries them, I will definitely try them on and have an open mind about them. And yes, they do look ridiculous, but looks don’t mean anything when it comes to running.
I will attest to these myself. I had knee problems last year that sidelined me for about 6 months, and then I gave these a try to see if it would help. About 2 weeks for the adjustment period in and my calves became huge and knees didn’t hurt. I love running on them for a couple of miles at a time. Another good thing about them: since there’s no sole, they don’t really where out in the usually 6 month period for a normal shoe. They look the same now as when I bought them in the spring.
Have them, love them, bought a second pair :)
In all seriousness, I hate wearing any other shoes at this point and can see a time where all but my rockiest trail runs are done in my Sprints.
I just want them to make kids’ sizes so I can buy them for my children!
LOVE THEM! I have several pair. Wear them for everyday walking, at gym and other pair for water…
+1 for Vibram Five Fingers.
I’ve been wearing ‘em for a couple years now. Love them. No more dealing with expensive orthotic inserts in shoes.
They do get smarmy pretty quickly, so I’ve got a few pairs now and rotate them like socks — just throw ‘em in the wash and they come out clean.
I’ve been an advocate of the Five Fingers for a little over 2 years now, they are the best summer shoes money can buy. I have the Sprints and wear them for any kind of outdoor activity, my life is greatly improved as a result. I always get strange looks and questions about them but after explaining what they are and how they work everyone gets it. Hiking/fishing/swimming/kayaking/running/surfing/boating/you name it, the Five Fingers will make it better.
Sorry Dan, I disagree on the swimming aspect. Man was meant meant to swim naked. VFFs not required for swimming.
OK, but there’s swimming where there’s sharp rocks, coral etc. — I know this having had a surfing lesson in Bali, and come out covered in gashes.