Vibram 5 Fingers shoes

[Blueberry]

I have and love them. I use them for everything *except* running (and, of course, biking). Weights (when I'm doing that), elliptical even. I also just wear them around. I had always had a lot of foot pain - sore arches, plantar fasciitis, dropped metacarpal heads - you name it. I started wearing minimal shoes (including 5 fingers) in my daily life. Now - it's the odd day that I have any foot pain at all. It took a while, but my feet are much stronger and healthier for the change. http://www.rei.com/product/865514/vi...s-shoes-womens are my current favorites.

Bonus: the 5 fingers will very likely last longer than your usual Brooks as there isn't cushioning to break down.

The lawsuit was, as Oak said, related to health claims and whether they were substantiated. That said, with your quite extensive history of injuries, I would definitely talk to a medical professional before jumping in to prevent more injuries.

ETA: I have actually used the Merrell's too - wore out 2 pairs. Personally, I don't like them as well because my toes are too confined for me to feel as grounded. I need to look at other more "normal looking" alternatives for daily life - when time and finances permit.

[OakLeaf]

I need to look at other more "normal looking" alternatives for daily life - when time and finances permit.

Lems Mary Janes are on sale!

I might just spring for a pair myself. I need something just slightly dressier than my four pairs of Primals (or my one pair of Boulders). Like you, my foot and low back pain went away when I started working on foot strength and flexibility, and wearing foot-shaped, minimal shoes for everything but running was an important part of that.

[Catrin]

Lems Mary Janes are on sale!

I might just spring for a pair myself. I need something just slightly dressier than my four pairs of Primals (or my one pair of Boulders). Like you, my foot and low back pain went away when I started working on foot strength and flexibility, and wearing foot-shaped, minimal shoes for everything but running was an important part of that.

NICE! I am tempted...perhaps in the future.

Blueberry, the 5 Fingers you linked to are the very ones I am interested in. REI carries them locally, I MUST at least try them on! They also have a couple pair of the Merrells in stock that I want to try on. We will see what I walk out of the door with :-) I THINK they carry kettlebells, or at least dumbbells, so I can see what it feels like in the shoes I am interested in.

[GLC1968]

Catrin - what size shoe do you wear? I have many pairs of 5 fingers that I no longer wear. I'd be happy to give you a pair!

I don't wear them much because they are too warm for me in the summer and not warm enough in the winter. They fit great though! I even did a couple of long backpacking hikes in them with good success.

Now I've settled on NB Minimus Zero for running and athletics and Vivo Barefoot Kayla's (similar to their new Daisy) for most everything non-athletic. I have the Lems mary jane style and they are OK but a little too stiff for my tastes. I assume they'll 'break in' at some point. I also ordered the Lems Primal 2, but they were way too big and I haven't received the smaller size yet.

Vivo Barefoot Neo's and a couple of different Merrell's (including a child's version since I have small feet) were all too narrow for me. I've never tried any of the Nike styles.

[Catrin]

I don't know what size I wear in the 5 Fingers, but I take a size 10 in my Brooks Ghosts and Cascadias, and a 9 in my Clark Mary Janes. I will take this to the private messages. I do think they are worth checking out since I am not planning on using them for anything more than actual KB lifting and walking from the locker room, and I will be indoors with them. I wish they would let me lift barefoot at my gym :-)

Thank you!

[NbyNW]

I have a pair of VFFs that are designed for yoga, so I wear them around the house in rotation with Birkenstocks and flip flops. I'm trying to strengthen my arches and reduce or even reverse the development of bunions, so I'm also trying to choose shoes with wide toe boxes and rotating in some minimalist shoes with conventionally supportive ones so that I can gradually strengthen my feet. I recently got a pair of Altras which I walk everywhere in, but I will take a day off of them a couple of times a week. Now that the weather is warm, I'm rotating between a pair of squishy Montrail flip flops and Chaco sandals. A lot of my foot pain went away when I wore the Montrails on a warm-weather vacation last winter so I'm hoping to duplicate that.

[Owlie]

I have some I bought on sale. They are good for keeping sand out at the beach. Personally, I prefer more shock-absoprtion for walking, better for the joints IMO. I wouldn't wear them on concrete. But I guess other people don't agree with me.

If you do get some, you should try them on and have someone explain how to put them on properly. That can be difficult. Plus, they have a specific toe shape, and if your toes are very different, they could be quite uncomfortable.

It always freaks me out to see my toes while wearing them, the shape does not match my real toes. It's weird! The wrong shape can also lead to blisters. My small toes get them. My real toes are very long, and the 5 Finger assumes pronounced, graduated lengths, with the first to much longer than the second. While my toes are graduated, they are not that different in length, and though the footbed fits perfectly, none of my toes have enough room. A size up would result in the footbed being too big, and the toes still too short.

I'm a size 10.5 in Clarks and most shoes, the vibrams are size 10. (I did't try on 10.5's). They need to be tight to avoid blisters, though.

Edit: didn't notice the offer from GLC until after I posted, obviously, ignore the part about trying them on if she can help you.

Good to know. I'd been thinking about trying them last year, and I decided against it. Based on your notes about the toes, they probably wouldn't have worked anyway. (My big toes and second toes are about the same length.)

[Wahine]

I use the New Balance minimus for my cross training. It's pretty much the same idea as the 5 fingers but with a regular toe box, but wide. My toes don't work in five fingers but I love the minimus for cross training. I think this is the current version of the shoe I have. I didn't realize how much NB had expanded the line until I went to look just now.

[ny biker]

I wish they would let me lift barefoot at my gym :-)

You've obviously never dropped a 10-lb weight on your toes. (And trust me, you don't want to.)

[Catrin]

You've obviously never dropped a 10-lb weight on your toes. (And trust me, you don't want to.)

Actually, I HAVE, and somehow managed to NOT break my toe :-) Thankfully it didn't fall from a height, and my coach had us in our socks that day. I do work barefoot in my kettlebell gym at home. As explosive as kettlebell sport lifts are (especially the snatch), frankly I doubt it would make a difference if I dropped a 20-40 pound kettlebell on my foot no matter what kind of shoes I have on. I feel much more solid when lifting barefoot, the cushioning in the shoes gets in the way.

[Blueberry]

Lems Mary Janes are on sale!

I might just spring for a pair myself. I need something just slightly dressier than my four pairs of Primals (or my one pair of Boulders). Like you, my foot and low back pain went away when I started working on foot strength and flexibility, and wearing foot-shaped, minimal shoes for everything but running was an important part of that.

Those are really neat! I like that they have boots - I might look into those (well in the future!).

I'm actually planning to try the Soft Star shoes when my budget recovers Made in Portland, and very positive reviews. I think either the Mary Janes or the Ballet Flats would work pretty well for my daily life. We shall see!

[Blueberry]

Here's a somewhat related question: has anybody that wears minimal shoes found a sandal they like? I'm looking for something that could be a Chaco replacement (so - ok with wet and hiking and general heavy wear)? I have considered the Lunas, but wasn't sure how well I would like them.

[Catrin]

The 5 Fingers from Oakleaf arrived yesterday. I tried them on, and they fit far better than the size 41 at REI. My toes actually filled the, well, toes, though there was a bit of room in the heels. I will try them for my usual Saturday morning home kettlebell workout, assuming my body has recovered by then. I've over-done it a bit this week, which I am quite sure will come as a surprise

[GLC1968]

My feet are not tiny!

Catrin - I thought you might like the Minimus, so I'm glad you tried them. A lot of my local friends wear them for Crossfit workouts. I think if I were to lift in a gym again, that's what I'd wear. Lifting in my garage allows me to go barefoot, of course!

Blueberry - I have a hard time with sandals. I've settled on two - one is by Jambu and while it's not minimal, it's flexible enough that I'm ok with a little cushioning. I have found that I don't like structured shoes at all now. This is the newer version of the Jambu ones I have: http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-ja...oke-p_id320402

The other sandals I wear (besides old-school Ralph Lauren ones with completely flat leather soles and a leather upper that have been beaten to death over the years!) are actually ones I 'made' myself: http://xeroshoes.com/shop/diy-kits/diy-feeltrue/ . This same company now sells a ready to wear style but I've not tried it.

Lastly, Vivobarefoot has some interesting sandals as well. I've not tried them, but the ballet flat styles from them are my go-to work shoes. The sandals do look comfy!
http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/women...Black/Graphite