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If you are a regular reader of Mark’s Daily Apple you are probably well aware of those funny looking Vibram FiveFingers by now. They’ve been mentioned in our barefoot running post, featured in a Top 10 Ultimate Fitness Gadgets post and showcased in Mark’s sprinting video. What can we say? We’re huge fans! The only thing FiveFingers hasn’t got is its own post. It is high time this performance footwear we love oh so much got the attention it well deserves, so here goes nothing.
How can these foot protecting oddities be described? I suppose if Toe Socks met Combat Boots, fell in love and had a shoe baby you would have Vibram FiveFingers.
Or maybe if Bunny Slippers wooed Climbing Shoes with her undying charm, and also somehow managed to birth unconventional hybrid foot-protection offspring you would end up with Vibram FiveFingers.
Flip flops and waters sock?
Ballet slippers and cross trainers?
You get the picture. They are the best of both worlds. They provide the physiological benefits of going barefoot with the advantage of having some level of armor against the elements. You don’t have to worry about stubbing your toe, or cutting your feet on glass or other sharp objects you are bound to come across in your travels. And you also don’t have to fret over the damage years of sneaker wearing would invariably do to your feet.
They take some getting use to, and Vibram warns you as much. Most people’s feet have been wrapped in leather, supported by padding, constrained by laces, and pampered since the day they were born. Since when was the double-stitched, steel-toed, double-buckled, laser, orthotic boot a prerequisite to human locomotion? (I just threw in the laser for fun. Though, if you know of a shoe with lasers please comment below. I am very interested.) Not long it turns out. Our feet developed without all this stuff, and they are better off without all this stuff save for minimal and basic defense.
You are bound to get some looks and see some heads turn if you walk around town in these. This probably isn’t of much interest to all of our trend-setting and trailblazing Mark’s Daily Apple readers. Besides, I am sure they are looks of envy rather than utter confusion or concern anyway.
Seriously, though. FiveFingers are light and malleable, yet durable. It’s as if Dr. Scholl went crazy and let his foot gels creep up around the heel and toes like a mutant foot-protecting demon. That’s it. FiveFingers are like a mutant demon that protects your feet. Yet also like your grandma, soft and protective.
Sorry. Back to serious. It should be clear at this point that Vibram FiveFingers are multifaceted, and a perfect gadget to help live the Primal lifestyle. If there is any criticism I can offer it is that they are a bit difficult to get the right size via post. They are adjustable and Vibram does offer pretty detailed guidelines on picking the right size, but best case scenario would entail you trying them on in-shop before purchasing. Also, if you have webbed feet these aren’t for you.
Do you have FiveFingers? How do you like ‘em? Hit us up with a comment!
Technorati Tags: Vibram, FiveFingers, barefoot, running, walking, primal health, shoes, feet
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They look great! How much are they?
$70
I just bought my boss a pair.
He walks the beach a lot and is on his boat on weekends. He loves them. Although you should have seen the look on his face when he opened his birthday present.
I really like the descriptions of the shoes. Really funny!
Alas, if you don’t have webbed feet but do have a longer second toe than big toe, they’re not going to work.
I have a pair, love them to death although it seems my left little toe doesn’t appreciate them. I walked 6 miles in them round town and now I have a black toenail!
I think it was catching on the top bit of the shoe inner.
I’m hoping I might be able to wear them again sometime soon. Plus it’s getting cold in the Northern Hemisphere and I don’t fancy freezing my toes off.
Didn’t find any problems with sore muscles in my feet/legs since I spend an awful lot of time training barefoot in martial arts.
Karen:
I wondered about the longer second to but according to the Vibram webite there is a little “wiggle room: (pun intended):
Standing with your heels against a flat wall
Slide ruler under each foot and measure the longest toe
Take the longer of the two measurements
If your foot length varies by more than .4cm, it will be difficult to get a precise fit for both feet.
If your second toe is more than .4cm longer than your big toe, it will be difficult to get a precise fit.
have a par - Classcs -and love em - should have got the sprnt ones cos gong fast n the classcs s not easy. F you want to sprnt get sprnts. Szng -go to the snuggest sze you can manage eg my shoes are usually Euro 43 but my choce was a 42 and they are perfect. PS am worng on a eyboard that has 2 eys broen the letter after h and the ltter after j - am not a moron or dyslexc
My wife and I each got a pair each this summer and love them. They have been super for trail running and it is such a different feeling running in them as opposed to my Nike Free’s. The calves get an incredible work out when I run in the fivefingers. My wife feels it more in her adductors. Amazing how our individual structures call on different demands than from others.
If you can get to a place where they have them in stock, i’d recommend you try them on for size and walk around in them to get a feel. We drove 90 minutes to the nearest dealer but it was well worth it.
Got mine about 2 months ago after reading the original post here. After doing more research, I went with the Five Fingers Sprint. Such a good choice. Had to order them from the US because they still aren’t carried in Canada (MEC in Vancouver is supposed to carry them eventually), but it was definitely worth the extra money for shipping.
I’ve been trail running in them and they are incredible. I felt the extra strain in my calves at first, but it wasn’t bad stress… just the feeling of muscles that weren’t used to being called on. My little toes definitely required some coaxing to appreciate them, but my feet are used to them now. I definitely get some strange looks wearing them as well.
I’d highly recommend the Injinji socks with them. I found the top of the Vibrams would chafe and the Injinjis stopped that right away.
My ONLY complaint was that the only colour they had available in my size was red on black. Otherwise, one of the best fitness purchases I have made.
Oh, and my second toe is slightly longer than my big toe and they fit fine. I guess it depends on how much longer it might be…
@Dave C and Derek B,
Toe two is .8cm longer than toe one, and toe three is .6cm longer than toe one. I guess I’ll have to wait until they start making them for monkeys.
Wearing the Vibram shoes makes me feel like a kid again.
I haven’t used them for running, but love them for most of my exercises, plus great for hiking on the trails.
I am curious to try them but I’m a little apprehensive because I’ve had some serious problems in the past with plantar faciitis, and I’ve relied on orthotics since ‘91. Also, back in my days of running 50-60 miles a week, I was definitely a heel striker. Landing on the balls of my feet might be one trick this old dog would have trouble learning. But I would like to see what they are like for just taking a walk (I do my interval workouts on a bike).
These actually caused my recent bout of plantar fasciitis. I had no running injuries EVER. I was running although the time and starting to bike all the time as well (5 days a week). I’ve been doing this much physical activity for many years.
They I saw these VFF and bought a pair of sprints. I absolutely loved them. Perfect biking shoe. Did only small amounts of running in them. Used them mostly for walking and lounging. I thought they were a bit nerdy but I received a dozen comments in the 2 week period I wore them, and they were all POSITIVE!!
HOWEVER, and it’s a big however… after 2 weeks I one day felt a slight slight tightness in my achilles tendon. Did not even notice it until the next day around 2 pm… I stould up and it felt like my left foot was broken. I hobbled around in sooo much pain for a couple days before I self diagnosed myself with plantar faciitis. It came on so suddenly, from repetitive use and had every single symptom of P.F.. I had to stop wearing the VFF and taped my ankle for a few days, then I bought heel inserts for my shoes…and 10-14 days later my feet are feeling perfectly fine again.
Although I loved those shoes, I am scared to start wearing them again. Nothing feels more debilitating than having plantar fasciitis.
Coop,
That “feeling like a kid again” certainly describes the overall sensation we’ve felt with the FiveFingsers. A renewed playfullness if you will.
Dave C.
Check out the web page from their site.http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/technology/faqs_mechanics.cfm This may be able to answer some of your questions. If you’ve had problems in the past with plantar fasciitis then i believe they would recommend you slowly work your way into to wearing them. Do you have high arches, or flat feet? Both can result with variations of plantar fasciitis. If you still have questions, give them a call and speak to someone one on one.
I’m also a fan - I use them instead of flip-flops in my backpack (I’ve been travelling almost non-stop for 20 months now) and wouldn’t go back to flip-flops.
Mine have walked the streets of Venice, trails of Slovakia and even most of the West highland way in Scotland.
My personal review is here and there’s also a flickr group for them: http://flickr.com/groups/fivefingers
Craig
Paul: Thanks for the link. Looks like I have a couple of things going for me. I have high arches, and I have a neutral gait so I haven’t had to use “motion control” shoes. Mark sent me an email about these in my Apple infancy that I thought I had saved but can’t find. I *think* he said something to the effect that using them could be beneficial in the long run with my PF problem. My main concern is the transition from a 55 year old heel striker to a more flat footed approach. I guess I’ll head to the beach and try it barefoot in little doses and see how I adapt.
Thanks again!
Dave: Easing into it sounds like the best approach. Additionally find a reputable PT or Massage therapist who can work with you on specific ways of opening up the lower legs and the bottom of the feet. With high arches, there are usually ways to speed up the process of creating more ease in your step.
Got ‘em! Love ‘em! Especially like the looks I get when I wear ‘em. I call ‘em my “MonkeyFeets!”
I did notice that my FiveFingers aggravated my ingrown toenails on my big toes at first - and still after prolonged sessions they still do. But mostly this was solved by splurging on a quality pedicure.
I own the Kayakshed and http://www.kayakshed.com we’ve been selling them for a couple years now (I think we were one of Vibrams first stores) Since then, I’ve purchased both the five fingers classic as well as the sprints for myself. I can’t tell you how much I love ‘em! They were not what I expected. I thought I would only use them for water applications (Kayaking obviously). Turns out I use them more for all sorts of things including yard work. They are tough to fit. We have a sizing chart on our site that works well. However if you’re in between 2 sizes. Buy both sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit. They are tricky to fit and they do get easier to put on after you have put them on 2 or 3 times. Good luck and enjoy! http://www.kayakshed.com/vibramfivefingers.cfm
I’ve been running in mine for about a month, and found them to be a great training tool. I spent years trying to visualize a softer footstrike, quicker foot turnover, avoiding heel strikes, etc. to no avail (I’m just a slow learner I guess!) After the first week in the Vibrams, all of these form faults improved automatically… I’m proud to say that I no longer look like a combination of Pipi Longstocking and a sack of potatoes falling down a staircase when I run down hills.
Also, no more ITB pain.
I had no problems with sizing following the website guidelines, but perhaps that is because I wear them with the Injini socks.
You like the looks of those things??? They are ugly as sin.
Just got a pair after watching the beach sprint video and receiving my copy of Primal Blueprint. Already wore them around some this evening and I am loving them!
Mark,
Hey man I am so about to get a pair of these, go with the Sprints ya reckon or the Vivo ones?
I ran sprints on a rubberized track (and some on grass) on Sunday and my calves are killing me, whew am i sore! But i have not run like that barefoot in awhile, used to all the time when i lived on the beaches of Australia, and try to as much as possible here in houston, but nevertheless think I over did it a bit!
I guess best is to alternate running barefoot and with Vibrams to strengthen feet, bones, ligaments, etc and for protection on some surfaces aye!?
Why do u wear em on the beach sand? I love to feel the sand and water on my feet!
Best
Jared
I wear them at the beach to protect from glass, bee stings and jellyfish stingers.
Great dog in heaven, I love my FiveFingers. I’m so pleased to see you picked these up, Mark. It will do them a great deal to have them touted by someone promoting an anti-fad lifestyle, less someone mistake my FiveFingers for Crocs (RAT B**TARDS!)
It’s only a damn shame that I’m not sure if I can legally wear them to work (Even though I’ve got the KSOs). I’m not entirely certain now Starbucks or the Indiana Department of Health feels about mesh tops.
I wonder if anyone has tried using Injinji toe socks with Vibram FiveFingers. I love my FF shoes, but there’s a seam that catches the tips of my big toes and rubs them excessively. I’ve considered trying to find a very thin toe sock to ease some of the rubbing, but as form-fitting as the FiveFingers are, I dunno how well that’d work…
http://www.runcolo.com/Product-Reviews/Vibram-Five-Fingers.html
Funny post, I have the Classics, love them!