Short Version: There are two kinds of people in the world: those who will wear Vibram Five Finger shoes and those who won’t. After a bout with plantar fasciitis and shinsplints, I joined the former camp and feel much better for it. These new shoes, called the VFF KSO (Keep Stuff Out) Trek, add a bit of coverage to what are essentially foot gloves for running, hiking, and looking like a total freak.
Review: I’ve been running in VFF Classics all summer and only recently realized that soon it would be cold and there would be snow on the ground. Vibram seems to have foreseen this and created the KSO line, a selection of shoes that cover most of the top of your foot but not your ankle. The Treks, then, are the next level to this shoe style, involving nicely treaded soles and actual kangaroo(!!) leather uppers to keep even more stuff out.
I found these shoes to be on par with the Classics in terms of range of motion and protection. I ran down the icy streets of Jozefow, Poland, where my in-laws are, with nary a slip or slide and I wore these shoes without socks in sub-freezing weather, much to my mother-in-law’s chagrin.
As for styling, these shoes look considerably less freaky than the Classics. They are a closed shoe and they are black so the toes don’t stand out. You could feasibly wear these in mixed company, just like your buddy at Google.
As for their purported benefits, the jury is still out. I believe they have helped me but your mileage may vary. As I said before, the thinking is this: the foot is a perfect running tool. We were “Born to Run” (read the book, it’s great) and running shoes have slowly caused more problems than they solve. There is also some thought that the great shoe industrial complex is a scam and we need to go back to our roots. Whatever you believe, it’s fun to run in these. Maybe you don’t want to hit a 100 miler in them right now but you can take a jog around the block and really feel a bit freer than you ever have in standard shoes.
Interestingly, these shoes have even encouraged me to run barefoot for a time, even in Brooklyn. It’s a great feeling and a lot of fun and I only stepped on one used syringe (JKATW).
The shoes cost about $125 online. I got these shoes in the same size as my Classics (VFF sent these to me but I purchased my first pair) and found that the KSO’s run smaller than the Classic simply because they have to cover your foot. A 44 or 45 for a size 12 foot is fine in the Classics but err on the side of larger (I think I need a 46, although this is only because the strap is a little short) when sizing your Treks.
Bottom Line
Freedom’s just another word for really skimpy shoes.
Product Page
Check BirthdayShoes.com out for more VFF info
Thanks for the info on the Vibram Five Finger shoes. My husband suffers from plantar fasciitis off and on. We can’t really pinpoint the “what” that causes it. We think it was his workboots — although since we changed brands, he isn’t getting the pain as often.
The price for the Vibram Five Finger shoes isn’t too bad. I might just buy a pair for him and see if he will wear them. They would be an excellent conversation starter for sure!
Danni :)
Hey guys,
We have the KSO black in stock ready for delivery and we have limited supply of other styles. If you do not see what you are looking for email us. Crunch Gear readers can use CRUNCH20 to get 20% off and free shipping. There is limited supply of FiveFingers across the retail spectrum and they will not be back in normal supply until Spring. So, you should act now if you want them. They sell out very fast.
Thanks for the offer, but 20% off is not so great when you’re selling vffs at full retail to begin with. I got my ksos for $85 and free shipping. That’s almost 30% off retail. But you’re right–supplies are low.
hi hanapapa
i saw the review on kso trek vibram 5 finger
mentioned you bought them on line
could you let me know the www
i live in australia but you can not buy the kangaroo leather version here
thanks
arno
Just search “barefoot running shoes” and you’ll see many retail outlets that also sell…
After a few months of use, I finally got my Vibram Five Fingers KSO Trek review up. Hope it doesn’t disappoint.
hey, nice, i will buy vibram five finers for my daughter, how much ? thanks.
Curious how long they last compared to a normal running shoe? How many miles a week do you run? Is it worth wearing them if you’re running 60-70 miles a week?
They last longer than normal running shoes. This is because there is no cushioning to wear out, only sole. As long as you are using proper form and not dragging the toes on push off, they don’t wear quickly at all.
Agreed. There’s very little wear because there’s nothing to break down. I do about 40 miles a week on a good week, so I’m not heavy by any stretch.
I’ve had my Sprints for close to 3 years now, in and out of the washing machine and they look / feel like new.
I’ve hit in the high 50′s per week in my Sprints. I don’t know how many miles I’ve logged in them total, but just noticed the first signs of wear on the sole today, after 6 months of use.
They are rumored to get 1000 miles or so, and sevearl people over at Runner’s World’s Barefoot forum seem to be bacing that up in practice.
I run a mixture of trails and roads, but the wear seems similar, regardless.
I tried a pair of Trek’s and couldn’t justify the price over the pair of Sprints I already had. They are perfect for trailrunning though, where my Sprints sometimes suffer a bit.
I’ve seen reports of upwards of 1500 miles on a pair. If your form is good, meaning you don’t scrape the ground but tap/lift very precisely, you’re more likely to see the uppers fray to bits before the soles wear through.
Not saying it doesn’t happen — I’ve also seen somebody who drags their feet get a hole from walking after a couple months but I gather they are very heavy footed.
I love my FiveFingers Classics. Great for walking in the city as well as trekking. However, they do not keep stuff out that well when trekking. At the time I bought them, there were no KSOs and I’ve been meaning to get a pair ever since they were launched. Now as the KSO Trek is here, I think I just might get those instead. Maybe my laziness paid off.
I love the ability to feel the terrain through the soles of the feet that my Classics affords. How flexible and sensitive is the KSO Trek sole compared to that of the the Classic’s?
My VFF Classics on top of the Pulpit Rock, NO: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacktar/2745778415/
oh, I SOOOOO want a pair
I did look into these shoes, but decided they are too expensive for me. I am happy with my $7 water shoes. They last about 1-1.5 months with about 30 miles/week.
I have narrow feet, so I have a good wiggle room for my toes, but if you have wide feet, your toes may be a little cramped. But hey, its only $7-8 (at least in Spring time), so there is not much to lose, and even if you don’t like them, you can always use them at the beach.
With socks, it can be used when it is reasonably cold. When it is really cold, I run barefoot on the treadmill.
Damn, Sergey has some small ass feet.
That’s what she said.
Where can you get these for $80 online? I haven’t been able to find them for less than $120…
I think you’re right, I can find the KSOs for $80, but I haven’t seen the KSO Trek at that price.
yeah. i just checked. they’re hard to find in the first place but they’re going to be about $125.
Damn, I was hoping you had some secret source. I’ll buy these things when I can get them for $80…
around 80 bucks but you have to become a member to get free shipping or it’s around 100 bucks.
i wonder if the long distance runners in kenya will start to wear these. maybe we might one day see a high performance model in the olympics
That’s the kind of thinking that got us to the shoes we’re at now. Vibram wants to go the opposite direction. Super minimal padding, protect your feet, and that’s it. Go buy some nike frees if you want a ‘high performance’ barefoot running experience….heh.
Ooo… thanks John, this is timely.
My wife and I have the originals, and it’s absolutely freezing out right now. We were running “without” the socks, on frozen trails, and our feet were pretty much ice cubes after the run. We actually haven’t been running since, and are awaiting the socks!
When it’s wet out, your feet can still get wet. I’d rather have wet sock than a frozen foot I guess.
How about putting them up for a Giveaway.
Used shoes that are meant to be worn barefoot? I’m pretty sure CG would need a special license for that giveaway.
being vegan i would love these in a non-leather version but i dont see that happening anytime soon so i guess i will just patiently wait.
kangaroo isn’t leather! it’s marsupial!
I have a pair made out of baby seals and puppies.
They have released a Trek model in Europe made with neoprene. It looks AWESOME and perfect for vegans or ppl who want extra warmth!
Yeah here are some photos of the Flow Trek a.k.a. the “Trek Tex” — apparently, Europe isn’t gonna get the regular KSO Trek until the spring (IIRC). As it is, in every case where I’ve heard of people in Germany getting the Flow Trek they *thought* they had ordered the KSO Trek. Surprise!
Petition for the Trek Tex for the rest of the cold world. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/KSOTrekTex2World
http://www.lovethoseshoes.com/Range.asp?RangeID=260
If you look here you’ll see plenty of styles of FiveFingers which are Vegan friendly!
Love my standard KSO’s; always enjoyed going barefoot, and I dare say VFF has enhanced that experience.
Would anyone else that owns these weigh in on sizing? Specifically I have somewhat wide feet and vary between 12-12.5 US sizing, so if anyone else is in that range and has an opinion that would be awesome.
I don’t think I’m going to get a shot at sizing in person before I buy them and I hate having to return things I buy online.
yea I personally would recommend trying them on first at a local store but searching “vibram sizing ehow” I get to this about vibram fivefingers sizing which could help…
my apologies, I believe the url is here:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5425942_right-size-vibram-fivefingers-shoe.html
I assume you don’t wear sock with these shoes. My feet get sweaty when I don’t wear socks in shoes. Do you guys see this as a problem when wearing these? Or is the material there to handle sweaty feet?
I tried without socks and got blisters the first two times out because my feet sweat so much. I picked up a pair of injinji toe socks, but had to go up a size in my KSO’s because my feet were too cramped with the socks on.
http://www.amazon.com/injinji-Performance-Toesocks-Black-Medium/dp/B000LRMTCO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1261106208&sr=8-1
I agree with JoeBVa 0 wear Injinji socks! I wear them now the weather is freezing and they keep my feet warm and blister freee in my FiveFingers!
It would be cooler if the socks were named Ninja Socks.
Just FYI, as with all VFFs, sizing is very tricky. Regular shoe sizes do not translate well into VFF shoe sizes and even within VFFs, you might be a size 43 in one style and 42 in another.
Of note, the standard Vibram sizing actually says that KSOs (both regular and Trek) are supposed to be one size *down* from Classics/Sprints — the opposite of what John suggests here. I’m personally a 43 in all styles. Point is: it varies a lot from person to person.
For the company line on sizing and a few tips, check out this sizing how-to wiki:
http://birthdayshoes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fivefingers_sizing
Great review of the Vibrams! I love mine!
So you’re on TechCrunch too??? – raycer
In answer to the question on wear and tear – My VFF classics are nearing two years and about ready to be retired. Having said that – the damage I’ve done to them is all due to running on trails where there are rocks. There’s a hole in the side of most of the small toes now, but I think if you’re not stepping down on rocks, they should last a pretty long time.
They do look seriously weird!! But, I’m tempted to give them a go. Not sure I’m brave enough to give them to anyone as a gift just yet, but may have to try them out myself!
Long story short, I have been running for about 45 years without injury, but developed the dreaded plantar faciitis affter a fall trail running.
After a year of trying to resolve the problem, purchased a pair of KSO’s a couple of months ago, and no problem from day one.
First run was 5.5 miles on trails that included mud, roots, rocks, and finished down a 0.5 mile railroad grade. Two days later ran 6 miles on pavement. No issues.
These are amazing, and you learn how to run on pointed rock surfaces quite quickly. I have the KSO’s, and last week it was 16 degrees and my feet were fine.
I don’t know how these work, and I would never have tried a pair if I had not injured myself. They are amazing, even for runs here in the wet Pacific Northwest. I was so impressed I wrote an article for Northwest Runner that will be out the first of the year.
Dan
Read the sizing charts!! The Treks are supposed to be tight. You buy your size in your normal VFF size minus 1. Also, look at the sizing FAQ’s on the VFF site. It states clearly your toes are supposed to be grazing the end but not squished.
Yes, I received a par for x-mas. They are amazing, take it slow. I already ran a trail wearing the KSOs and it was a pretty neat feeling and experience overall, plus your feet get stronger. Also, grab a copy of the book Born to Run! You won’t be sorry, once I started reading- I couldn’t put it down. Worth every penny.
-Mig
Just received the KSO’s I ordered from REI today (regular KSO, not the Treks yet), went for a 4-mile trail run and it was very interesting.
My feet and ankles felt great, very comfortable, and my long-term ankle injury…I didn’t even feel it for once. This has been a nagging injury for years since I sprained it (rolled it over while running on rocks).
But…it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. My calves felt like they were going to explode off of my legs. I had to slow to a walk briefly four times! :D
After I get accustomed to so much calf activation, I’m sure I’ll feel fine.
It was actually pretty engaging, running along and feeling everything underfoot. I’ll for sure get the Treks before hitting the seriously rugged trails so I don’t hurt my feet on jagged rock points, but for my first trail run I was impressed and am looking forward to the next…and to getting my calf muscles in shape so I can keep running continuously as I normally do.
Thanks for the write-up, John.
Best,
Dave Cynkin