Vibram Five Fingers!

So I just bought a pair of these-

And I gotta say- I love em. Worn em to work the last couple of days just to get used to em (I work in an office, the ability to walk is not at a premium) and they're awesome. It's like walking around in bare feet, without getting glass and stuff all up in my feet! They were wierd to put on the first time, and it takes a bit of getting used to to put them on the right way, but after that, they're amazing. Work really well for driving too, as they are really thin soled and you get great pedal feel from them. Obviously not FIA certified, so I won't be wearing them on a track or anything, but just the extra "control" (I'm not really sure how much you need commuting) has made life a lot more fun for me.

Just thought I would share, as it seems that I'm one of the few around my neck of the woods to wear em, and I get piles of questions.

Aren't they like the shoes that God wore in an Al Bundy Dream Sequence??

I saw some of these a few weeks ago and I wondered if they weren't an answer to a question nobody asked. They remind me of those toe socks in the 70's.

I assume you wear those sans socks - so how do you keep the feet stank out of them? Are they washable?

I've been wearing a pair since April. I like them. Break them in SLOWLY, or else you'll get some serious blisters or ankle stress.

Also... chicks dig them. If the gym on base wasn't full of she-beasts...

They seem to be the hot thing in running shoes lately.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I assume you wear those sans socks - so how do you keep the feet stank out of them? Are they washable?

Neoprene and rubber yo, throw them things in with the dirty laundry. Dry quick too.

Strangely, they actually DO make socks for em.

Osterkraut wrote: Also... chicks dig them. If the gym on base wasn't full of she-beasts...

Now that belongs in Say What.

Yes, it does. The she-beast thing made me fall out of my chair at work. Mostly because there are a few women here that would EASILY qualify as the she-beast gym rat.

In reply to Osterkraut:

What about someone that is usually barefoot? I can deal with blisters on me fingers and all, but are these like sandpaper on the top of your feet?

Got a pair and love them too- but I bought them for running.

And on that note- if you do run, do be careful- I stepped funny on one of those nubs that you see on a lot of newer sidewalk ramps. ALMOST got a stress fracture (they called it a stress reaction). So I'm off them for another month, I suppose. I like them for running because of the lack of support.

Which is a very controversial subject....

But I think my feet are getting stronger. Or were.

I'll second the time it takes to get your foot used to running in them. I was doing up to 4 miles at a time in them, and I still need some time to toughen up the bottom of my foot.

Still- the only thing lighter is nothing.

Eric

It seems like your feet would feel more free in Nike Free or maybe just some racing flats.

Otto_Maddox wrote: It seems like your feet would feel more free in Nike Free or maybe just some racing flats.

They are very flexible. Moreso than the Free's I've seen, and even the running flats...

I have been wanting a pair for some time but no one around here carries my size.

They sell socks with toes for these "shoes." $14.00. For a pair.

Derick Freese wrote: In reply to Osterkraut: What about someone that is usually barefoot? I can deal with blisters on me fingers and all, but are these like sandpaper on the top of your feet?

I don't use socks with them (shut up, I wash them often), so I got some pressure rubs that I needed to adapt to. Other than that, I wasn't bothered, even with the added "top" my KSO models have.

On their use: I run with them. Most I've done is a 10k, further and I would recommend/require socks (slippage). They've practically cured my "hyper"pronation (seriously, I have feet that would make a duck's seem arched. I do leg workouts with them. Squats, lunges, and the like. I've also done some wading while fishing with them. They're good for that sort of thing.

I hate driving in them. A heel-toe? Well when your toes are free to, say, flex backwards, it makes things difficult.

Also, I've seen a few pairs out in public/outside the gym (they make a moccasin). I fight the urge to cram my normal-shoed foot up an ass when I see that. Seriously, guy at the Apple Store? They're like even worse versions of Shape-Ups when used like that.

Osterkraut wrote: I run with them. Most I've done is a 10k, further and I would recommend/require socks (slippage). They've practically cured my "hyper"pronation (seriously, I have feet that would make a duck's seem arched.

Sounds like me... Making me consider getting them. Its the same reason I have (and wear) crocs, although not really that often in public. The best is Birkenstock though. I have a Birkenstock insert that goes in my gym shoes. No more pain when walking, and being a caddy, I walk a lot.

In reply to mtn:

Birk inserts for shoes WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT!

I saw a guy at my gym wearing those last week... I thought they looked a bit weird. And I ain't no she-beast

mtn wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: I run with them. Most I've done is a 10k, further and I would recommend/require socks (slippage). They've practically cured my "hyper"pronation (seriously, I have feet that would make a duck's seem arched.

Seriously? OK, I'll re-think my "weird" comment. I have no arch whatsoever. Tried expensive orthotics, they make my shoes look like boxes and I keep forgetting to wear them. Those might be worth a try!

Threadjack time!

neon4891 wrote: In reply to mtn: Birk inserts for shoes WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT!

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&expIds=17259,26570,26751,26780&sugexp=ldymls&tok=Lgxj6rcdn4ZWkhMd4URd_w&xhr=t&q=birkenstock+inserts&cp=17&safe=off&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=L9CiTKydAYKingf_joCJBA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQrQQwAA

Mine aren't quite like this, they are the same hardened cork as the birk, but same thing--I think these ones just have a cover on them. I got them when I was in sixth grade because my parents noticed I was basically walking on the sides of my shoes. We went to a specialty shoe store in our town called "agony of de feet!" that specializes in people with weird feet. One of the better investments I (well, I was 11, so my parents) ever made. A few years later I went back seeing as my foot had grown significantly and... Get this... The guy said "oh, these are in great condition still! I'll clean these right up and sell them again. Hold on while I go back and find you a new pair that fits better." Gave them to me, free of charge.

If you do get them, put them under the insoles of your everyday shoes--it keeps it from sliding around and you don't have to remember to put them in. Also, made sure you get a good shoe too. I can't do Nike, too narrow. Generally, I stick with Brooks and New Balance. I'm just now breaking in my third straight pair of Brooks "The Beast" model. My last pair I walked over 1000 miles in. As far as comfort, its all still there. They just have lots of holes in the tops. The sole isn't even coming apart yet! The shoes cost 3-4 times as much as a lot of others ($100), but they last MUCH longer if you wear them to death like I do.

Can you tell I'm serious about my feet?
The only other shoe I'll wear regularly are the aforementioned crocs, because they do help with the pronation. Very comfortable.

/threadjack

I'm now considering these, although I just don't see where I would wear them.

I have a pair of them too. Not wearing them as much as I thought. Maybe I'll wear them today.

Not to threadjack (well, ok, I am kinda) but since all the GRM runners have responded here...

I run. A lot. I have been keeping a 30 mile or more / week regimen for over 4yrs now. I'm in the best shape of my life but I am still no 105lb lightweight. I have had a number of injuries to my knees and feet and its a constant struggle to stay healthy vs running in some kind of pain.

Friends have suggested the barefoot thing like it was a new pill from GNC... but I think running with no cushion would transmit more shock to the parts that are injury prone and maybe this isn't the best thing to do even if it is effective in the short term. I see articles in magazines that talk about running from a competitive standpoint and lets face it... they need new material... there just inst that much new in "How to run" from year to year so they latch on to fads like People does to Lohan.

Can you guys point me to articles on the subject from credible sources and/or fill me in on the nut of this "new" thinking? I am reaching a point where I am having to consider biking, swimming, etc because I am destroying the hardware but I do really love to run.

I'd like a pair, but I can't find a five-fingered discount.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Your situation sounds similar to mine. I've run regularly for years but I think I am just genetically predisposed to be 200 lbs or so.

This book is a little romanticized, but it seemed to be the big kick in the pants of the barefoot running craze. It is a good read, regardless.

Born to Run