Shoes- VFFs worth it? page

[Saoirse]

I'm stepping up my game wrt exercise, and I need some shoes. So far, I have a pair of flip flops and a pair of low-cut, wide-soled hiking shoes. I'm guessing neither of these are appropriate for wearing at the gym, or jogging (if we find a dog; jogging would be for the dog, not me).

I checked out some Five Fingers the other day while shoe window shopping, and i was surprised at how thick and inflexible the soles are. as a person who spends 50-100% of her day truly barefoot, I can't imagine those thick soles would allow for normal foot movement/muscle use. Asking people who have them, or have tried them, are they that much better than a well-made, wide-soled trainer? Will my hiking shoes do for the gym, or do i need to buy something else? I'm not really into being trendy (and they are becoming sort of trendy here), but i'm happy to use what works if it truly works.

[RichMahogany]

KomodoSport LS truly works. If you have access to trainers with a wide enough toe box and a zero heel-toe drop, they aren't probably a bad choice.

[cori93437]

Some styles are more light/thin/flexible than others.

IMO, yes... very worth it. But then I had some major nerve issues in my leg/foot that have been healed. It's in my journal.
VFFs are the ONLY shoes I wear.

[Saoirse]

I've read about your toe/foot stuff. which styles should i look for? are other brands better?

maybe next time i'm window shopping, i'll actually try them on.

[Metric]

Only show i will ever wear or buy again. I'm flat footed and since wearing VFF's, I no longer get arch, shin, calf or hip pain like I used to wearing the recommended high arch support running shoes and/or my orthotics.

I own the Komodo Sport LS (which I should have gotten a size smaller than I did) and the Speed. I like both very much. The speeds are a pain to put on cause you have to tie/un-tie them... or you can do like I do and keep them tied but have a hard time getting foot back into them. I like that they are super light weight though and don't seem to stretch out like the other pair does. But if they are for the gym, then the laces aren't that much of a big deal. I think I'm going to check out the Seeya's.

[PrimalMama]

I have 4 pairs of VFFs...
The Sprints and the Komodosport LS are nice flexible soles
the Trek and Flow are not as flexible...
All of them get more flexible with wear and heat.

I'd recommend trying on a few different models and seeing what's comfy on your feet - they say in the VFF literature that it will take awhile to get used to using all these muscles you're not using with regular shoes, so you should only wear for an hour or two per day for awhile - I found this to be not as true for me, since I go barefoot quite a bit - it took about 10 hours of walking around for my feet to get sore the first time I wore them... YMMV.

If you don't find VFF's comfy, any shoe with no heel-toe drop that fits your toes without squishing them would work.

[Dr. Bork Bork]

I would marry my komodos if they were human. I have 2 pair. I also have a pair of kso treks and bormios for winter.

a note on the SeeYas: I tried them on before and was not impressed. They felt super cheap, like they wouldn't last a month. Then again, I wore a hole into the sole of my komodos in 6 months

[drheather]

Love my Vibrams, have been very helpful with my chronic foot/calf cramps. Have several of them in different styles, the choice is very individual.

[Metric]

I would marry my komodos if they were human. I have 2 pair. I also have a pair of kso treks and bormios for winter.

a note on the SeeYas: I tried them on before and was not impressed. They felt super cheap, like they wouldn't last a month. Then again, I wore a hole into the sole of my komodos in 6 months

Good to know.

I was actually checking out the bormios for winter. How are they? Good for really snowy and freezing weather??

[zoebird]

I'm like you -- usually barefoot.

I love the vibram classics. They actually work very well. I have to replace mine.