[Closed] Talk to me about VIbram Five Fingers....

They creep me out

I've got a pair of VFF treks and think they're the best thing since sliced bread, but then some people think 29ers are the best thing since sliced bread, so your mileage may vary 🙂
As for sizing, have a look at the various charts online as their sizes are way off norm. I normally take 45s but a 43 in the treks.

I have several pairs and think they are fantastic.

Get used to people pointing and staring.

Ian what size feet have you?

Jools - how do you find the sizing?

11" in the flesh, 45 in normal shoes.
Didn't try any beforehand, just trusted from the chart that meant I should buy 43s online, and thankfully they fitted.

I am a 10 and I bought 10s they seem fine. I wear mine all the time through the summer and they are really comfortable. I also have a few pairs of injini socks to go with when it gets colder.

I have the classics and also the sprints I prefer the classics more comfy without straps but the sprints are better for hiking.

You get used to them fast and if you wear them for a long time (I used mine every day for a two week holiday) when you go back to normal shoes they seem odd..

Be careful if your gonna run in them, take it very slowly or you will screw your feet up big time.

lookmanohands - Member
Be careful if your gonna run in them, take it very slowly or you will screw your feet up big time.

How so?

You can get a bit over confident before your bones have strengthened. Just started again last week after four weeks off with a stress fracture after too much too soon on a dowhnill. Still feels kinder on the knees though 🙂

Your feet have "got used" to being supported by artificial cushioning/arch supports/pronation staibilizers etc and all of the small muscles in your feet will have become weak because of all the manmade supports in these shoes, so when you switch to vff's your feet will struggle initially without the support and you may well become injured, plantar faciitus and the like are quite common in runners who switch to minimal footwear. Ultimately vff's will be better for your feet/posture/running form in the long run (no pun intended)

Anyone find them any cheaper than ~100+?

WTF are they for?

Putting on your feet.

Good idea but...... RIP OFF!

Indeed I'd say way too expensive. But then for a decent set of shoes I'd pay 60ish, and that's with significantly less stitching and time required to make it, so maybe I'd be jumping to conclusions.

I would recommend vivo barefoot shoes.

They look more like shoes, have an option of a thin inner sole for winter or a little padding but also allow the toes freedom of movement with less risk of blisters. They make enough different designs so you can wear them as normal shoes too which gives your feet a more gentle adjustment process.

They are made in a very eco-friendly way too but are hard wearing.

[url] http://www.terraplana.com/mens-vivobarefoot-c-153_157.html [/url]

Surely these are just post modern hippy shoes, I look enough of a **** already without these in my feet so I'll steer well clear...

I would really like a pair but waaaaaay to pricey. Would give them a go for £50 but not £80.

I'd second the vivo barefoots, use them as my work shoes.

The benefits of running barefoot have long been supported by scientific research, coaches, and athletes who've offered ample evidence that training without shoes allows you to run faster and further with fewer injuries.

Hilarious.

If we see a single pair of these at the London Olympics I'll eat a pair.
Or if I [b]really[/b] want to humiliate myself I'll wear a pair in public.

Yawn! Do some Reading around and you will see the whole minimalistic/barefoot thing makes sense. Yawn

£2.99, thin micro soles, go on, be a retail rebel

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Five fingers/barefoot running?

Well, yes and no. If you're 48 kg and run like an angel (yes, that would be me...) running in five fingers/barefoot is certainly something to consider on a once-or-twice a week basis. But only on a running track or well-groomed grass. Stepping on broken glass or sharp stones isn't fun and Vibrams can be penetrated.

If you're the average Brit (i.e.morbidly obese) then stick with something like the Nike Free for a barefoot-like experience without the joint damage you'll undoubtedly suffer from barefoot/thin running sole shoes three or four years down the line.

The reason so many average Joe's CAN enjoy running is because their 95 kg bodies can plod along at 8 min/miles and the shoes take half the stress. Take those away and you're in for a world of pain. Eventually.

But, hey, don't take my word for it. Go try. Half my chums are in Sports Medicine. They need the clients.

Name one elite runner (marathon distance or less) that races in them. One.

You can't, because there aren't any.

finbar - Member
Name one elite runner (marathon or less) that races in them. One.

You can't, because there aren't any.

iDave - those horrible things are in vogue at the moment. I see all the fashionable lot wearing them down my gym. It's a amazing what rubbish can be passed off as fashion amongst idiots.

The only reason I ask is that when I run/walk, I do tend to land toe-first not heel first like my wife. I think it comes from growing up in a house with bare woodern floor boards and being told by my dad that I sound like a fairy elephant.

after seeing slow motion videos of the muscles in the legs with both barefoot and shoes, it makes me feel comfortable about the barefoot choice. i'm looking to buy some soon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8483401.stm

While it's probably of no interest to anyone, I lent a pair of Vibram Five fingers AND my rather cute Nike racing shoes to a Lao competitor at the SEA Games in Vientiane in December, and told them to run in whatever they felt most comfortable. They were used to training barefoot - not through choice, but Laos doesn't have many running shoe stores. Actually, it doesn't have any.

Anyway, they tried them both and chose to run in the Nikes. Which proves beyond any doubt that Barefoot Running Is Just Wrong.

Blimey ro, I never realised things could proved beyond doubt so easily. Any chance of turning your intellect to the national debt or world peace 🙂

Well, I had thought about it...

But as for YOUR national debt, you're on your own. Here in sunny South East Asia we're smart enough to be on the receiving end of World Bank monies, not handing them out. And when your banking system inevitably goes tits up - as it surely will - we won't owe anyone anything. We'll be getting our infrastructure for free 🙂

I was not convinced by thm either until I realised that I automatically run on my forefeet when running barefoot and I can do that all day long without hurting my knees, whereas running about in normal shoes I do land heel first and end up with sore knees withing about 20 mins running.

Blimey you can run in them too who'd have thunk it...

Why do people get so stressed about what other people buy, if you no like - no buy...

They are great for the beach and all sorts of stuff like canoeing, windsurfing, walking and what not, I like going barefoot always have and they do replicate that well but with a bit of protection for my soles. Jesus they aren't compulsory. I'd say if you can afford them have a go and see for yourself before getting all militant....

Good question. It occurred to me that I once wore my kitesurfing boots (just like five-fingers with a nice thin non-supportive sole but 2 fingers lol) to a wedding (themed wedding) and it was possibly the nicest pair of shoes I'd worn for that sort of event before, no tired feet at all.