Vibram Five Fingers: Funky shoes!

[Bike Chick]

Thanks, Colby. I remember Oak having issues with them because of her long second toe. I may have the same problem but I would still like to give them a try.

[colby]

Thanks, Colby. I remember Oak having issues with them because of her long second toe. I may have the same problem but I would still like to give them a try.

My second toe is longer than the first, but not by much at all compared to what I've seen. There's also a "mod" on birthday shoes to extend the length of the second toe, but of course then you void your warranty.

If you have the opportunity to try them on in a store, that'd be your first best bet. Vibram has a list of places that sell them - but for those of us not blessed to live in/near a big city, they are hard to find, especially in varying styles and sizes. When I saw the display at City Sports on Boylston in Boston my jaw dropped (every model, every color, almost every size depending on color), but the REI in Seattle has only a couple of them, and nobody anywhere near here has them in-store.

If not, something like REI's ship-to-store allows you to ship them to an REI store for free, then try them on and decide in-store, with the option to return them or exchange them when you pick them up.

Last but not least, you can find deals on them occasionally online, and since they are in such high demand I think you'd have no problem returning them. I bought one pair at Kayak Shed, another at zbsports.com. They were the only places that had my size - and zbsports was a sale of something like $10 off.

I'd love to try the Bikilas on in person to compare the 2 sizes that I'm wearing (I have a 38 in the Sprints but a 39 in the KSOs), but I don't think it'll happen. I'll probably take a risk if they come in stock before Ironman and try them in the larger size. I just read another review that said they can still rub in the arch, so they might not be the savior I'd hoped for. My feet just felt so free and temperature moderated without socks on (maybe the fact my KSOs are black doesn't help my feet feel hot).

[twin]

I really like mine I have the Classic and KSO. I really have had some issues with the classics where blisters are concerned but I may not have given myself time to get used to them before I took a 6 mile walk in them. I really think my KSO's are a better fit for me because I have very narrow feet. As time goes on I will be doing different things with them. I am taking them to WY. and plan to use them in the streams and hope to fish in them if they are not to slippery.

[indigoiis]

I have the classics. I ran in them all winter. (with wool sucks which I had cut the toe section off of to fit toes into the toes of the vffs)

I sprained my ankle on valentine's day and had a painful long run the next day, then didn't run for weeks. When the sprain healed, I went back into my Brooks to train for a half that I did in the first week of May.

I miss running in the VFFs, but am a little spooked by the sprain - going to start back in them slowly.

[Flybye]

I just picked up some KSO's Saturday and had the opportunity to walk 3 miles last night.

I FREAKING LOVVVEEEEE THEM!!!!!!!!!!

I ran a little - possibly 3 minutes if you add all of the short tries together. I heard "start slow" and so that is what the long walk and short runs were. My feet are fine today - must have done it right. I did a dirt/pebble trail and loved the way that I could feel the dips in the earth under my feet - I am in LOVE!!!

PS - I was between sizes and went smaller and have no regrets. The clerk didn't know if I should go larger or smaller (newbie) and so I just went with what felt right.

[colby]

I just picked up some KSO's Saturday and had the opportunity to walk 3 miles last night.

I FREAKING LOVVVEEEEE THEM!!!!!!!!!!

I ran a little - possibly 3 minutes if you add all of the short tries together. I heard "start slow" and so that is what the long walk and short runs were. My feet are fine today - must have done it right. I did a dirt/pebble trail and loved the way that I could feel the dips in the earth under my feet - I am in LOVE!!!

PS - I was between sizes and went smaller and have no regrets. The clerk didn't know if I should go larger or smaller (newbie) and so I just went with what felt right.

Awesome.

Slow and steady wins the race. You probably won't feel it in your feet so much as the back of your lower calf and ankle, then into other parts of your upper lower half (glutes, hamstrings, hips, etc). Listen to your body.

We (my husband and I) find it easier to "naturally" run/jog in them than to walk in them, but I think the key to all of those things is to remember to flex your ankle and land softly on your midfoot. If you're naturally not a heel-striking walker, they will probably feel right. We both had some work to do, especially my husband, who is a MAJOR heel striker. I think the FiveFingers are a really good thing for his body.

[dealmstr]

I love them! I don't train excessively in them, but I use them for short runs, kayaking and just general hanging out. They took a little getting used to but once you get the feel for them you will never want to take them off.