Tim Ferriss on Vibram Shoes from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.
“The human foot is a work of art and a masterpiece of engineering.”
—Leonardo Da Vinci
“OK, dude, what’s up with the goofy shoes?”
It was the second day of Pavel’s RKC kettlebell course, and I’d seen more than a few people wearing what appeared to be gecko feet. The sheer goofiness compelled me to ask Rudy Tapalla, a CrossFit instructor from Chicago, why on earth he would put these ridiculous gloves on his toes. He seemed to have good mojo — he was shorter than me but had a vertical jump to match Michael Jordan — so I figured he might have good reasons.
He did, though I didn’t realize it at the time.
I remained a skeptic but tested them a month later. Now, I have three pairs and find it hard to wear other shoes. Vibram Five Fingers shoes (“VFFs” to the die-hard fans) are worth a closer look.
After two weeks of wearing them, the lower-back pain I’d had for more than 10 years disappeared and hasn’t returned since I started experimentation about 8 weeks ago.
Sound ridiculously implausible?
It doesn’t once we look at how feet and posture adapt…
Nasty Pictures and Maladapted Feet
Each human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles and tendons. It’s a surprisingly malleable structure.
From the cached version of the most excellent Nature’s Magic Bullet, referred to me by Joseph Mascaro:
Most people, including doctors, have never seen a natural foot, unaltered by footwear. The following images of habitually bare feet are taken from a study performed almost 100 years ago, published 1905 in the American Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, which examined the feet of native barefoot populations in the Philippines and Central Africa. A line can be drawn that runs through the heel, ball, and big toe of a habitually bare foot. The little toes spread naturally and fan out to provide a wide, stable base for walking or standing.
How do our shod feet compare? The following more common image, also taken from the 1905 study, demonstrates feet that are shaped like the owner’s shoes. No such line can be drawn, and the little toes crowd to a point—a comparatively unstable, narrow base for walking or standing.
The Simple Biomechanics of Bad Posture
Postural compensation is unavoidable while wearing shoes that elevate the heels. It’s necessary to maintain balance.
Chronic use of heels can result — and usually does — in some degree of kyphosis-lordosis and related pains in the lower back and mid-upper back.
Reversing Degeneration – Embracing the Barefoot Alternative
Vibram Five Finger models: KSO (blue), Classic (brown), Sprint (gray)
Laboratory studies show that the plantar arch alone returns at least 17 percent of the energy of impact. Running shoes have largely replaced our arches, but they are neither as effective nor as durable. Barefoot runners can clearly do as well as shoed runners, but it takes time to develop the strength in the foot to use our natural arch fully.
(Source: The Barefoot Route)
Ethiopian Abebe Bikila ran a world-record 2:15:17 marathon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.
Barefoot.
The unadorned human foot is built for running. In fact, some researchers have proposed that bipedalism is an evolved trait related to “persistence hunting”, which is common among predators like wolves. Don’t think a human can run an antelope to death? Think again.
So how do we reclaim our rightful arch strength, our stability, and undo the damage of years of unnatural posture? Not to mention rediscover the joy of feeling the terrain under our feet?
Going barefoot is one option, and one that I enjoy, but there are limits. In the concrete jungle, glass and other dangers make going Bushman a roll of the dice at best. Tetanus or a trip to the ER? I’ll pass.
The Vibram Five Fingers shoes, to differing degrees, allow you to both walk without a heel (as would wrestling shoes, Vivo Barefoot shoes, or thin flip-flops) and condition toe-spread, especially the big toe, for lateral stability.
I first tested the KSO (“keep stuff out”) model, which fits most like an aqua sock and has more padding than other models I tested.
I then tested the Classic model, the least complicated of all, and the Sprint model, which is almost a hybrid of the KSO and Classic.
I wear a size 9.5 men’s shoe in the US and tested EU 42 for the KSO and Classic, and an EU 43 for the Sprint.
The results, in brief:
My favorite model is, by far, the Classic. It’s easiest to get on, even with my worthless nub of a little toe, and it most closely mimics the true barefoot feel. The only downside is that, to get a snug fit and not have the heel come off the foot, you must slide the top slip-tie until it is quite tight. This will feel unusual for the first 24 hours or so. I have used the Classic to go trail running in SF and it is euphoric.
I love the KSO, but it is more of a process to get on, and far more conspicuous. At first, it’s fun to get a lot of attention with the shoes (gentlemen, you will not believe the “peacocking” effect of these puppies), but giving each person you meet a 5-minute explanation gets old fast. The Classic blends in more than the KSO or any model with straps. Black will help all models fade into the ground, but I prefer colors.
The Sprint model was so uncomfortable at first that I shelved them, never intending to test them again. It was the only model, and not due to size differences, that oddly pulled my little toe out, causing minor pain but great discomfort after even 10 minutes. I sent an e-mail to their US CEO, who responded back with a suggestion to “seat the heel”, particularly with the Sprint model. This means:
Slide your foot back to nestle your heel into the heel pocket. It’s important to get your heel deeply seated. Secure the instep strap BEFORE latching the heel straps. This will ensure the foot is positioned properly.
I have since been able to wear the Sprint model for 1-2 days at a time, no more than 1 hour of walking at a stretch, but the velcro strap can still bite into the skin without the KSO-like mesh below it. I find it the least comfortable of the three models.
But what about flat feet?
I had clinically-diagnosed arch problems as a child — flat feet supreme — and was prescribed not only custom orthopedic insoles but also exercises for the feet themselves, rolling up towels with the toes, etc.. For those who like random anecdotes, my mom e-mailed me this addition after I published this post:
You didn’t mention that you leapt at the orthopedist examining your feet, like Spidey to a wall.
Sounds like me. I was a little hellion. But we digress…
Needless to say, the exercises fell by the wayside, and I took to increasing levels of support through the shoes themselves. VFFs have been nothing short of spectacular for me, despite my history of flat feet.
Barefoot runners are often asked “but what do you use for arch support?”, to which they respond: “your arches”. I’ve found that my arches, and foot as a whole, feels better with less support rather than more.
Cautions and Cons
-Do not overdo it at first. Chances are that the ligaments and musculature of your feet is underdeveloped. Use them for no more than 1/2 – 1 mile in the first 24 hours, then take a day off. I suggest alternating VFFs with “normal” shoes or flat-soled shoes like Chuck Taylors for the first week. I now use VFFs for no more than three days in a row, as I’ve had some bruising on the heel with more, and such bruising is slow to heal and massively inconvenient. Asphalt is somewhat forgiving, concrete much less so (The Embarcadero in SF, for example), and marble or stone is brutal (casino floors in Las Vegas, etc.).
-Beware the sizing. There are complaints online of the VFF website sizing suggestions being inaccurate for some people. Get sized at a retail location that carries VFFs if possible. If you can’t, check the VFF return policy on their site or order through Amazon to ensure swaps are simple.
-Be prepared to wash them. VFFs are machine washable and should be air dried. There are five-toed socks like the Injinji brand, but I have found all of them to be incredibly painful between the toes, no matter which model of shoe is worn. I now only wear VFFs barefoot. One nice side-effect of the toe separation? No more athlete’s foot or foot skin issues.
In Closing
To embrace barefoot living or the barefoot alternative, you will have to change how you walk and run, avoiding the heel strike we’ve all used since putting thick Nike padding under our soles. No need to obsess, though, as your gait will adapt naturally — reverting to a natural state, as it were — as you avoid the discomfort of doing otherwise.
The fastest runners have a style quite similar to that of a person running without shoes. They absorb shock by landing lightly on their forefeet rather than on their heels, and their landing leg is beneath the torso, with the leg slightly bent to absorb impact.
…
According to exercise physiologist and Olympic marathoner Pete Pfitzinger, the key to starting out is to go slowly. He advises walking barefoot for a few weeks to toughen up the skin on the bottom of the foot as well as the muscles in the ankles and feet. Once you are ready to run, start with a mere five minutes, increasing slowly and running barefoot every couple of days. From there, build to up to 20 minutes over a month. After a few weeks of this, the feet and ankles will be stronger, thus reducing the risk of injury. Possible places to train include sandy beaches and golf courses.
The barefoot running technique has been described as falling forward. It has also been described as gently kissing the ground with the balls of your feet.
(Source: The Barefoot Route)
For those interested in developing the most efficient and low-impact running gait, I suggest starting with the Chi Running DVD (skip the book, which gets into too much pseudo-Asian chi mumbo jumbo) and moving to the Pose Method of Running book if interested in more specific details.
Experiment with rediscovering your feet and proper biomechanics.
If a few weeks can eradicate 10+ years of lower-back pain for me, it might just do something for you.
At the very least, you get to wear some goofy shoes that encourage you to wiggle your toes.
###
If you enjoyed this post, check out my latest book, The 4-Hour Body, #1 New York Times and #1 Amazon bestseller. You will learn: How to lose 20 pounds in 30 days (without exercise), how I gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, how to go from running 5K to 50K in 12 weeks, and more.
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Other things you might not have seen:
Tim Ferriss in NY Times Styles: Too Much Information? Ignore It.
Tim Ferriss on Twitter – what I am doing right now?
Tim Ferriss Investments – what have I invested in recently?
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Does that happen to you? What about in the winter-are your feet cold without the socks when wearing you Vibrams?
A year ago, I met a guy traveling around Thailand wearing these. I thought they were the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen and vowed never to own them. A few years before that I saw girls wearing finger toe socks and thought they were disgusting as well.
But I have to admit, anything that Tim Ferris recommend I’ll seriously consider, and I’ve been looking for a pair of lightweight hiking shoes for my next backpacking adventure and these seem perfect.
Tim, if it wasn’t for you bro, I never would have even considered getting a pair. I just ordered a pair of the KSO’s in black and I can’t wait leave the caribbeans and go back home to San Francisco to pick them up to bring back to Thailand!
I am very encouraged to see VFF shoes showing up recently in an ad on TV and now, tonight, on a popular TV show (Rizzoli and Isles). I’m glad they are becoming more mainstream. As soon as I can afford a pair, I’m ordering them! I am barefoot as much as I can possibly get away with. One of the most disappointing times in my life was when I was a kid and the local grocery store put up the first sign that read “Shoes Are Required, No Bare Feet.” Keep up the good work in promoting these wonderful shoes.
[…] I did. Anyways, I’ve been running more. Around the same time I remembered how I had read on Tim Ferriss’ blog about Vibram five fingers and thought what better time to try a new style of running shoe then when I was going to start […]
Hey! Great review, and maybe you could respond quickly because I have some Vibram KSO’s on hold right now and need to make a decision. I’m a female and I think the size 40 are perfect, albeit a bit snug, but the 41 seems to have a bit too much fabric width-wise and in the feet. However, if I get the 40?s, there is no way I can wear socks with them-i.e. the Injinji’s. But you say you don’t wear socks? I thought that if you don’t, you get horrible blisters? Does that happen to you? What about in the winter-are your feet cold without the socks when wearing you Vibrams?
Question to all who have used VFFs and also have had back problems:
About ten years ago i had a snowboarding accident. Was struck from behind and ended up getting a spondylolisthesis. I was 12 at the time and thus still growing. In the next 2 years, i grew well over a foot, and, because of the accident, now have a short leg (by just under a half inch.) Having a short leg does not make movement natural. The options that the orthopedists i have seen are not satisfactory. They could reduce the long leg, and hope that it heals well (with a very long recovery. As a side note, i am a professional Organist and Harpsichordist. My feet and legs are critical to both those instruments.)
The pain my injury causes me is not such that it is debilitating. I wake up with a certain degree of pain every morning, and cannot run for long distances nor can i do any extensive amount of cycling (my other favorite form of excercise.) I find it unlikely that VFFs would help, but, it is worth a try. What are your experiences? (Also, i have IT band Friction Syndrome in my knee)
VFFs are the only shoe that meet the test of the Georgetown All Stars…we run over 50 miles a week and demand only the best. None of the team memebrs have reported any back issues. Rock on!
[…] ton of reviews on REI and Amazon, as well as a few other independent reviews including this one by Tim Ferriss. Five Fingers Shoes from Vibram. My pair is the black/camo version of the above. My decision was […]
I was sold on Vibram Five Fingers after reading this. I went to the store to purchase a pair. Low and behold, after getting home they did not fit quite right, but that was just a matter of me being the worst shoe shopper in the world (a matter of terrible indecision).
Anyways, long story short, I traded them in for a smaller, better fitting pair, and I have never been happier with a pair of shoes.
If you don’t have arch support, won’t your arches collapse and then lead to bunions??
I just bought a pair of Flows to get an idea of how they work and feel. Vibram says they are intending for light trekking, cold weather running and water sports… right on target. I used them on a hike a friend and I did following a stream to the hudson river. Much harder than we thought!
But… the shoes performed great. 50% of the time we were treadig about 2 feet of water. Great traction and the “grip” felt wierd… ape-like? My feet are certainly not as flexible as an orangutan but I could feel my feet on the rocks beneath me.
Highly recommended. If the shoes do not feel comfortable, just hang in there. You will adjust I promise. Just go for a 4 mile hike through thickets, thorns and meandering streams 🙂
Love my FiveFingers. I have been running lightly (1.5 miles per day) for a week now and I am ready to step my game up!
@Jess
To simplify things – Think of your arch as a muscle, if you don’t exercise it then it will be weak (fall), but once you start exercising that muscle your arch will go back to where is should be.
I personally have found, after a good period of going barefoot, that I now can control the arches of my feet – I can make them high or low.
Fallen arches were a very rare occurrence (if at all) before modern shoes with arch support.
New to vibrams but loving them already.
I do not wear them everywhere – only around the house and when exercising.
Will soon be going into a european winter so interested to see how I go with my pre-dawn run. The cold may force me back into normal shoes.
Makes sense. Thanks Duane.
Hi, I actually do have semi webbed toes. I was going to purchase these only until I hear the comment on webbed toes…LOL. I am going to have to find a retailers close to me to try them on I guess. Question, would these be a good idea for desert hiking and climbing?
Even as a pedorthist who fits foot orthotics, I have to admit I think there is something to this kind of footwear…for certain foot types and if it works for you, great! However, there are lots of feet out there that are messed up enough that this kind of shoe at best wouldn’t work well, and at worse, could really cause a lot more trouble for the wearer, so make sure you choose carefully before getting these if you are already experiencing foot trouble.
Thanks for your post – I also had “clinically flat feet” so much so that my doctor said I’d be a great candidate for Evans Surgery (where they graft bone into your feet to straighten them and create arches).
I immediately found that the fivefinger shoes were right for me. I ALWAYS had pain in my ankles when I walked around the mall for more than 30 minutes in “supportive” tennis shoes. When I wore the VFF (classic) I felt NO such pain – only soreness in my feet from using them! It’s AMAZING that we have deformed our own feet with expensive “running” shoes and are causing more damage than not.
“Asphalt is somewhat forgiving, concrete much less so (The Embarcadero in SF, for example)…”
SO TRUE — 3 weeks ago, I visited San Fran and I walked from a Giants game on the Embarcadero (which I can’t pronounce being from the east coast) and I remember thinking “what’s wrong with my feet? I thought I got used to this?” – thanks for pointing that out! Walking from asphalt onto soft grass is equal to the first bite of cheesecake.
Might someone be able to explain how any shoe with no support under the arch can work with a very arched foot? Aren’t you opening yourself to having the plantar tendon stretched and torn?
Hi Tim,
Just came upon your site while researching the Vibram Five Finger shoes. You recommended buying them in store, however I am buying them online as I am overseas. I work in the Philippines where it is just too hot to wear most any style of supportive shoe especially running shoes. I bought a pair of cheap flip flops the day after I arrived and my feet have been so sore and my neck and back muscles aching. My feet are a lot happier when I take of those dang flip flops, the problem is I need something to protect my feet in this environment, so I have officially ordered my first pair of Vibram shoes. I usually wear a 38 Euro size, measured my foot according to the chart given and the recommended size is a 38, sure hope they fit me. Can’t wait to try them. So the classic works for running? I am not a huge fan of the other styles with the velcro strap.
From the research I have done online, arch support is really not needed once the person adapts to barefoot walking and is foot is no longer striking on the heal but towards the front of the foot. Is this correct?
So, I bought a pair of these and loved them. My knee pain started to go away and so did my back pain but I noticed a lot of pain in the ball of my foot. I ignored it and took my time getting used to them. Let me first say that I did not run in them and was hoping to strengthen the muscles in my feet naturally and eliminate the arch supports I had gotten so used to.
In my case, it turns out I should have seen a podiatrist as soon as the pain started. I have a condition with my feet where all of my weight goes on to my second metatarsal instead of my first. The first metatarsal and phalanx are raised. As a result from casual wear and walking on the treadmill, I caused bone bruising of the second metatarsal and a tear in the distal attachment of the plantar plate. It hurts like mad.
I still believe these shoes are great, I simply caution that anyone with long term pain and issues with calluses on the ball of their foot behind the second or third metatarsal look into getting an x ray first to make sure these shoes are safe for your foot, or at least take a much longer breaking in period and start on soft materials like sand and grass first.
I am so disappointed that I cannot wear them as they felt great for the muscles in my feet and my knees were quite happy.
Hi April,
you are right. There are some people for whom vibrams are not a good idea. But this is a very small percentage of people. So small, that having a precautionary x-ray is, in my opinion, overkill.
People need to listen to start out very slowly (remember, for most, these very important muscles have been neglected for most of their life) and listen to their body. Short term muscle stiffness is normal for many (no longer than 48 hours worth) but other pains are not. If an unusual pain is felt it should go away with rest and not return. If it does it should be investigated.
People also need to be aware of their environment. If you have become accustomed to wearing vibrams on asphalt, and then transit to concrete, you need to drastically drop the mileage until you are used to running / walking on the new surfaces again. The same actually applies to moving to sand, as although softer, it moves the joints in the feet through different angles.
Great review Tim. You are obviously very fit and there are many out there not quite as fit, so let me stress your point about taking it slow at first. We don’t want you to get a bad first impression of barefoot running by getting an injury in the beginning. It took me 2 Full months to adapt to using my feet the natural way, and it may take longer for some. My calves, and achilles were balled up for nearly two months, but since that break in period my calves are stronger, more flexible, and my vertical jump is a heck of a lot better. Good Luck.
Got a pair of classics about a year ago and followed up with KSOs ‘cos I figured they’d be a bit warmer in our cool winter. First thing I noticed after a few days, apart from the wisdom of the advice about starting slowly in relatively short bursts, was that the shoes seemed to be insisting that I walk with a ‘proper’ posture and gait. Some years back I visited Tibet and realized that I was seeing some of the last people in the world who had walked for many years without ‘modern’ shoes. Noticed their peculiar side-to-side gait, tried it and realized that it meant placing the foot down ball first and ‘softening’ the knees: less jarring and much gentler on all the joints. VFFs lend themselves to that gait.
And I’ve figured out what an old fart like me can say to young kids when I notice that they are noticing the shoes: “How can someone so old be so cool?!?” That usually establishes a connection 😉
Would anyone know if over time, wearing these shoes, your feet would spread out even more, the space between your toes would become greater? and has anyone ever had blisters with these shoes? thanks!
Hi Billijean,
I am a body worker and, regardless of what people come to see me for, routinely treat the feet and they almost always widen because they are kept squeezed into shoes most of the time.
THis works very well with some, but others it lasts only for a day or two. Those are usually the ones who leave my treatment rooms and put on tight shoes. The body has memory, not only of good function, but also of poor function, and easily reverts to old habits.
I would imagine the same goes for these shoes. They should allow most peoples feet to widen and the space between the toes to increase. How well this happens would depend to a large degree on what you wear when you do not have your vibrams on. Choose good shoes for the rest of your activities and you will get maximum benefit from wearing the vibrams IMO.
http://www.terraplana.com/womens-vivobarefoot-c-154_163.html is a good site for good shoes, although hard to get in some areas. Google may help you find something in your area as natural styled footwear is becoming more popular every day.
@billiejean I can only speak for myself, so your mileage may vary.
Blisters – I have never gotten a blister wearing my VFFs, even after wearing the all day, or wet. I walk in them more than anything.
Spreading of toes – my toes haven’t spread apart, but they are no longer pointed toward a center point. My foot it’s self is wider then it used to be.
I LOVE VFF! I got a pair of KSO’s 2 weeks ago and I’ve been slowly transitioning to barefoot running. Keyword= slowly, because all of that stuff that they say about patience and care when transitioning from shod to minimalist shoes for running is completely true! Until I got the VFF, I ran 11km per day 3-4 days a week and now in the VFF I can only do a km, and even this made my calves sore and once I did 2km and developed a couple of blood blisters under my big toes. So I cut it down a notch, now the blood blisters are unpainful and receding, the calves are still a tad sore but by and by everything else feels great, really really great, yes smilely face great. Anyway, I plan on continuing with the transitioning to barefoot running, incorporating more trail runs since it was on the pavement that I developed those 2 blisters on that ‘too excited to get out there, 2km run’
Okay, so ‘yay VFF’, aside, my other comment and question relates to feet toughness. I’m a chick who regularly rubs her feet with a pedicure rock, formally known as ‘pumice’ stone’ to get rid of dead skin. While this makes my feet look nice, it also means I have some of the most sensitive and ‘untough’ feet out there,
I have a question for the veteran VFF wearers out there…How tough do your feet get in these things relative to when you didn’t wear your VFF? Also, does the feet toughness you get in VFF resemble the feet toughness you see in people who don’t wear shoes (you know what I’m talking about). While I think that getting really tough feet is totally worth it for the love of running that I have, it would be great to hear that VFF feet toughness may still allow me to show off my feet in some sexier shoes once in awhile. (Sorry VFF, you =unsexy!)
Thanks!
I think I should try a pair of these. I always seem to be having pain in my feet and especially because they are cramped up in my shoes. I’ll give these a try.
Hi Tim,
Because of you, I’ve been able to run again. I used to have horrible knee pains and I had almost given up on running until you mentioned these shoes. I’ve had my vibrams for over a year now and having read Born to Run, I’ve started to train for a marathon. Thanks for the great article!
On a somewhat related note, have you ever looked into compression socks to improve physical performance? Some athletes swear by them but it seems like the research tends to get mixed results. They seem like a gimmick to me at first but there’s some evidence that suggest that compression socks may aid in faster recovery. Just wondering if you had any thoughts on the subject.
Keep up the great work!
Wow — congratulations, Vince! Please keep us posted on your progress. I’ll check out the socks! 🙂
Best,
Tim
Great post. A few of my clients have shown interest in these and tried them out and love them! Having looked at the theory, it makes perfect sense.
hey tim, where did you get those original images, the link you provided ( Nature’s Magic Bullet) is dead now? can you shoot me an email to let me know?
Thanks!
Just picked up a pair of these from Run and Become in London (near Victoria station). All the staff wear them and were incredibly helpful in getting me the right size – especially important since I have slightly weird sized feet (my big toes are quite big!).
Not ideal footwear in wet and rainy winter London, but it’ll give time for my feet to adjust for the summer.
Thanks for the tip, Stephen. Will go there to get advice on shoe selection. It’s so important to get knowledgeable advice.
Hey Tim,
My boyfriend is a powerlifter and I know he wants these shoes, I want to get them for him for xmas but I’m not sure what style (kso,classic, or sprint) to get him. Any suggestions? Thank you
S.G.
KSO!
Tim will there be a chapter on vibrams in your new book. I remember reading a chapter title called “run 100k” will the vibrams have anything to do with that?
I used to own a pair of those cheap “kung fu” shoes for casual wear. There’s a reason they only cost a few bucks. They’re not even close to the VFFs.
Tim you’re an excellent salesman! Thanks to you I’ve bought these shoes and never looked back, literally.
A little background about myself- I started training for the Chicago Marathon in Feb ’08 as a fat boy with little to no running experience, while I still finished as a fatty, I took my training in ’09 much more seriously and finished at a respectable 4:33. My goal for this year was 3:59 or bust, however, with moving across the country, starting a business and other tasks, my training took a back seat.
I did, however, start running in Vibrams and in late May got one of the first pairs of Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas. I started training in earnest on 9/18 at the heaviest I’ve ever been(274lbs) and was running 3mi in about 10:15/mi, well off the pace from my last marathon. Since I’ve cut over 3:00/mi off and ran a 5k PR of 21:22 just last Wed(12/15) which comes out to about 6:51/mi.
All thanks to Vibrams! In fact I ran a Half Marathon PR on Sat and even had the energy after 10mi to turn to a curious couple walking their dog and answer their question of “Are those comfortable?” by saying “Hell yea they are, I’m running a Half Marathon today and still feel no pain!”
Here’s my video review:
http://www.clintmasser.com/?p=159
Is it possible to comestically alter them without impacting how they work? Because it seems like it wouldn’t be too hard to disguise them as normal shoes (they would lack the point at the tip, but otherwise…)
Hi Tim (or anyone else out there with bunions wearing VFFs),
quick question for you. i am interested in getting my first pair of VFF’s. i have bunions in both of my big toes. I had a corrective surgery about 9 yrs ago but abt 2 yrs ago they started coming back. i don’t want to do the surgery again so i have been wearing a spacer in my shoes between my first 2 toes. i am wondering if the VFF will help with this since it separates the toes. but i’m also wondering if its not going to be painful since my big toe is so crooked (bent into my second toe). if it will just be initially painful but in the end will benefit then no problem. if it will cause an issue then no go. please let me know what you think.
thank you,
mk
hi Tim,
I am constantly searching for ways to help with a “permanent” back injury. I herniated my L4-5 disc a few years ago and had surgery to take pressure of a nerve that was causing me to lose muscle control of my left foot. I used to run on a treadmill and I have been told that that will never happen again. I try to keep up with exercise at the gym and I do pilates every week which helps with the pain and keeps me in pretty good shape but I sure miss my runners body.
here is my question: i find that when i wear shoes with more arch support my back feels better. flip flop season kills my back so I invested in some birkenstocks and they seem to help. I would love for these vibram shoes to be the answer to my back problems but I wonder if my case would be an exception to the rule? what do you think?
and it’s been ages since i even looked at my beautiful collection of high heels. 🙁
I bought a pair of classics today and they make my pinky toes hurt a little bit after wearing them for like 30 minutes…Should I go get a bigger size or is that just my toes getting used to them?
Rachel
Rachel. I got mine today and I have a really small pinky toe. IT was really difficult for me to get into the shoe. It hurt a bit when i tried turning around left or right but running straight felt great. I did a bunch of searching on the web and most people say the pinky toe issue works it self out after a few days. Give it a chance.
Hi Tim / others
Very interessted in your article & the shoes.
I, unfortunatley have VERY flat feet & a fairly severe bunion one one foot with my toe angeled in quite a bit – do you know if the shoes would be suitable/wearable for me based on your experience/knopwledge
I have always gone with the most supportive shoes given my flat feet but am keen to hear about other approaches or experiences of anyone with similar issues to me with Vibrams.
Anyone welcome to email me on jamie__ff@mail.com if they want.
jamie
I was just wondering, I currently run, in the conventional style using Asics running shoes. I run, on average, 20 miles a week. How would the conversion go from conventional running to virbrams? and after getting used to them, say 6 months down the line, how far can you run in them? As i run marathons? any help on this would be great. Thanks.
@Matt – read my post above and check out my video review- http://www.clintmasser.com/?p=159
I’m the same situation- I used Asics GT-2140s to train for Chicago ’09 and currently train in VFF Bikilas. I eased into them as in I started with 3mi runs back in Sep and currently my long runs are Half-Marathon distance(13.1mi).
You can see a history of my runs on RunKeeper, my username is cmasser2.
Bottom line- the VFF’s rule and I will never run in another shoe again! And oh yea, I’m currently workin on going from a 4:33:04 in Chicago ’09 to running a BQ by 2012. Right now my 1/2 PR of 1:47 puts me on pace to run about 3:48
Excellent article on VFFs and the natural foot.
This is my experience with Vibram’s. A few weeks before I ran the marathon in Pensacola in 2010, I averaged 9:15 minute miles on my longest training run of 20 miles. A few days later I went out to run 4 miles and had severe pain in my left knee after 2 miles and had to quit running. I found out this was IT Band syndrome. I began getting laser heat treatments, rolling with a foam roller and stretching but still couldn’t run more than 2 miles. So I went cold turkey with no running for 3 weeks until the marathon. I ran the marathon and it was sore for about 9 miles then incredibly painful after that. About mile 20 I walked the rest of the way but I finished in over 5:20. 2 months later with no running at all and still stretching and rolling I was only able to run about 2 miles before the pain started.
Then I read an article about a guy named Dan who over came IT Band syndrome and ran the Boston marathon in VFFs. I have a good friend who bought Vibram classics a year ago (I made fun of him for wearing them too) and it just happens that we both wear the same size so I borrowed them and tried a run. 3 miles and no pain! The only reason I stopped was I was afraid I might hurt myself and not realize it. The next day I had some calf soreness but no knee pain at all. I was shocked. A couple days later I ran 4 miles. Again some calf soreness but no knee pain. Yesterday I ran 6 miles and I feel great today. No knee pain and the calf soreness is not there either. WHOOOPIE!!! I was almost resigned to getting surgery or shots or only speed walking. I am getting my own pair this weekend. I cannot tell you how relieved I am. If you have any IT Band issues give VFFs a try.
What is the price and where can I order these? I have constante pain in my feet and would like to they them.
Ive had issue with 4 pairs 1 pair bikila 3 days toes unglued. 2nd pair bikila same thing sole separate right off. for my 3rd pair i exchange for kso instead no toe separation but pull tab came stitching came apart after 2h . 4th pair kso mailed to me same size but material is so tight i manege to get foot in i can only where for 5 min and my foot goes lil numb am tired dealing with the company not sure i will buy another pair seems a lot factory defects and inconsistency i am pissed off at them and i want my money back
such peace of garbage and no i am not a spammer or getting paid for this i am a pissed off consumer and will wright this where ever i can find a revue don’t buy this crap
ok so its all good now their not sure why the material is so tight on this pair and the color is so different the inside is orange not yellow and the straps are so short might have bee a manufacturing issue but they are shipping me a pair of bikila in the mail should be here in next 2 weeks so i can go for a jog im happy now took to phone calls and got to talk to ryan and was big help cant wait to get my bikilas and if this work will be getting bikila ls and a pair of kimodo and for the winter a pair of kso flow
I have a pair of KSOs and a pair of vivo barefoot.
The KSOs suck for dancing because of their microtread. they grip like nobody’s business! which actually makes them great for hiking and climbing! I have a blast!
the vivo barefoot are GREAT for dancing because their sole is more slippery.
I alternate between the two and I freaking love them both! I’m getting me a new pair of each!
I have been thinking in getting the five fingers and will go get them this weekend. i’ve noticed that everyone’s advice is to slowly transition and not to run much in them until you get used to using them. I dont run but im planing to walk 3-4 miles a day and slowly start building stamina to be able to jog. I used to smoke a lot and now im quiting and dont want to kill myself by running all of the sudden. Do you think that would be enough for me to “transition”?
Walking and then start running later in a couple of weeks?
thanks in advance!
I’ve just recently heard of Vibrams… you have a very informative blog. I’m just wondering if I can use this indoors at the gym on a treadmill, or if this is just for outdoor running?
Thank you
Alyssa
Tim. Finnaly got a chance to check these out today at Paragon in NY. I tried two pairs of regular running sneakers and then the vibrams. The Vibrams were almost impossible to get on the first time. It took me about 5 minutes per foot to get them on. Pinky toe for me was the most difficult. Once i got them on i didnt want to take them off. I took a few steps on the treadmill and was hooked. Once i got home and put them on again they were bit easier to get on. I did a mile on the treadmill, they felt fast. I also took a quick 1 minute run outside just for fun and to see how they would be on the sidewalk. Felt good. Small pinky toe is uncomfortable but I have read that it goes away after a bit so Im going to tough it out.
I have also had lower back pain for a while now so i am interested to see how my back feels in a month.
anyone used this for running? how did it go?
I wear mine for running. They work fine. You’ll have to re-learn your foot strike pattern though and most likely need to build up strength in your Achilles tendon as you must use it to absorb the impact instead of relying on cushioning in shoes.
It can take a long time to adapt so don’t get discouraged and always listen to your body. If it hurts back off and try again later with some adjustments in your stride. I can run fine in mine on hard pavement with no problems for pretty much whatever distance I go (5-6 miles). Dr. Lieberman has a fantastic study on the topic. Well worth a read if you’re going to be serious about minimalist footware and running 🙂 http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu
Very informative article I’ve found on VFFs so far! Worth bookmarking for future referencing. 😉
Bought my KSO 2 weeks ago and made the mistake of buying those toed socks. After an hour of wearing them the ball and the flesh between my toes started to hurt. I was starting to regret the shoe but suspected the Injini knock-offs were the culprit. Took them off and wore the VFFs without them.
VFFs – socks = heaven (as in the walking-with-Jesus-in-heaven type). ^_^
I’m not a runner, but I am a barefoot person. I wear shoes maybe 12 hours a week, the rest of the time I wander around barefoot. Shoes are for walking to and from the car, or in the store. Everywhere else the shoes get left at the door or under my desk.
But now I might have to go find these shoes. Regular shoes just aren’t comfy.
Hi Tim, et al.
I have some questions about these shoes… Unfortunately, I have peripheral neuropathy of the feet (which is like a hypersensitivity to touch, resulting in pain), so I mostly wear SAS shoes and thorlo socks to minimize skin friction, etc… I have very wide feet, and hammertoes too, and mostly wear a size 13 or even 14 to get the width.
1) So i am wondering how these shoes would do for someone in my condition.. Basically my feet are ultra delicate, like baby’s feet, but with an adult person’s weight.
and 2) If i were to get them would they do ok with hammertoes, and should i get slightly larger (say the 14 to accomodate the width or what – i really need the width, and sometimes even get 15 shoes, for the width!)..?
Thanks, ken
Hi Ken,
In your particular case I would recommend discussing the shoes with your doctor first.
Above that, I am afraid the only way to know is to try them. You may be out some hard earned cash, or you may love them.
With five fingers, getting too big a size can be a problem, particularly if you have hammer toes which makes the toes functionally short. The soles are so flexible that there can be problems if your toes do not adequately fill the toe sleeves. Hammer toes also means you have more chance of stubbing your toes on the ground when running unless you are able to adequately bend them upwards. People who run in minimal footwear usually automatically lift the toes just prior to impact.
I also have wide feet but do not have any problem with five fingers, but have never seen your feet.
Trying them on is your only option.
Tim: I have a couple quick questions. I’m creating a foot training program and love some of the illustrations in your Four Hour Body book as well as on your post here. May I reference some of your illustrations? If not no biggie. I’ll hire an artist to draw them up.
Question 2… I chatted with Adam who worked on your 4 hour body promo video. I’m doing a school report on video production and would like to talk about your video. Would you mind me sharing the video in my report? And if it’s OK with you I’d like to share the report / video on my Youtube channel as well.
Thanks!!!
I hope someone can help. I’m living in Barcelona and can’t find the Bikilas LS. Does anyone know where I might find them here? I would be greatly appreciated! Cheers.
First comment- Long time reader.
Tim on page 379 of the of the book you suggest that to run more “biomechanically efficient”, one should land on the heel of the foot. (Pose method)
The makers of Vibram 4 Fingers seem to suggest landing on the front of the foot, however, and some users claim it’s painful to land on the heel. One Harvard study also points to landing on the front of the foot as generating the least impact and consuming the least energy. I’ve pasted the link. Definitely worth a read.
http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/index.html
Do you believe that these Vibram 4 Fingers, while good for weight lifting or lighter paced walking or jogging, are perhaps not compatible with training such as that described in “Ultra- Endurance I”? (400 meter repeats with a goal of running a marathon, while using the pose method)
If not what shoes/sneakers would you recommend for training at that intensity level while staying true to the Pose method? (landing on your heels)
I’m guessing one would have to try both landing methods and decide which is best for ones goals, since Dr. Romonav’s method and the Vibram/ Harvard method contradict. Any thoughts on that? Would you support one over the other under specific circumstances?
I’ve noticed I’m not the only one who”s pondered this.
Any thoughts on the subject by anyone are welcome.
Thanks Tim
You might want to re-read, I see He says run on the balls of your feet, (2)…. I’m quite sure running on the heels in vibrams would well hurt a LOT as all the impact energy is translated straight into your body instead of into forward momentum so heel strike would be bio-mechanically inefficient.
When running in athletic shoes with a raised heel it shifts the strike to the rear of the foot as theirs a raised cushion in the heel. Despite the cushion that energy still translates up the body and not into forward momentum so basically it’s lost.
Please correct me if I’m wrong but that’s what I’m reading here and what I’ve experienced myself.
im now suffering from plantar fasciitis for almost a month already, is VFF shoes recommended for those people like having this problem? thanks and hope to hear from you soon…
I use Vibram for the past two years. Ran 4 marathons so far. Great shoes. If you have Plantar Fasciitis, avoid Vibram or going barefoot. Don’t put too many miles. First fix that problem. It took two months for me t get rid of sever case of plantar fasciitis. With proper exercise, you can hopefully overcome in two or three weeks. Good luck,
Jawa: What kind of exercise did you do to overcome plantar fasciitis? Isn’t it a breakdown of the fascia on the bottom of the foot? How do you strengthen / reinforce that? Does it have partly to do with diet as well? I’ve been curious about how people have overcome it before.
Thanks!!!
Hi…
I probably did not acclimate properly, and this ultimately caused me to need surgery. My right foot has incredible pain on the outside ridge of the foot opposite the arch. Even now I have switched back to regular running shoes and I am suffering incredibly after just a 5k today. I have to give up running this season and switch to biking, with surgery scheduled in late october, early NOvember.
Be very careful with these. You MUST acclimate slowly….very slowly.
Ah man sorry to hear that. You have to be VERY careful to ease your way into barefoot running. If you ever feel pain or discomfort stop, evaluate and start the training again on a new day with necessary adjustments in stride.
Those of us that began running / walking in shoes have a much different gait / stride than those that have been without shoes. Our muscles and bones can also have dramatic differences.
The transition takes a lot of time and effort to do without injury. I’ve been working at it for about a year now. I can run around 5-6 miles on pavement in Vibrams. However, in the beginning I couldn’t do more than a 1/4 mile or so w/o experiencing excruciating pain and the worst shin splints in my life. So I backed off and only walked in them until I built up enough strength and flexibility in my calf to run.
Everybody’s a bit different and you have to listen to your body carefully when you start up. Best of luck and hope your surgery goes well.
Wow! I have only seen this type of shoes from a friend last month. I didn’t know this was an old style. Anyway, does vibram five finger comes along for women and kids style?
Yes, Vibram five fingers are available for women and for kids. I hope they will also make one for toddlers!
Hi there! I just stumbled across this site while looking for ways to build up to using these to run long distance.
I recently started running again in January (I’m in Wisconsin, so I haven’t been able to run outside until recently!), and about two weeks ago I took the plunge and picked up a pair of these shoes.
I LOVE THEM. These shoes are amazing, I mean they seem so funky, but the whole concept behind them is incredible.
I’ve walked miles in them already, but I’ve only gone on three runs so far. Yesterday was my farthest, I ran about 1 mile and walked another 2 in them. Yesterday it was cold… about 35 degrees out. When it gets really cold it is harder for me to run because I get stiff.
Today my feet are sore, but not the “bad” terrible aching sore that I kind of expected. I overdid it a little yesterday, I cranked my knee a little weird so I’ve got a dull pain in the knee today, but my feet feel GOOD sore! I know it’s just muscles being worked that have been crammed in all manner of ridiculous “support” shoes. It is really weird to describe, but I’m sitting at my desk right now and I can’t help but think that the dull ache feels amazing.
How totally liberating, I love it. I’m so excited to get to the point where I can run races in them. I’ve lost about 20 lbs so far on my weight loss journey, and I’ve got about 40 more to go. I know I’ll only get stronger as I get lighter. I simply cannot wait.
Thanks for the article, it was a great one to read!
I have been an avid wearer of Vibram FiveFingers ever sense they first popped their funky little toes onto the footwear scene. I have had foot and knee problems for a long while, however, thats all gone now. It’s truly amazing how much better I feel.
http://www.toeshoe.co.cc
Great Post!
Barefoot For Life,
~John
Just love the VFFs and bought a pair for my 9-year old last week.
After 1.5 year barefoot running I’d like to stress two things:
1) Learn the proper technique, there are plenty of great videos out there
2) Don’t start SLOW, but start with short distances
Have fun and spread your toes 🙂
That was quite possibly the longest, most complete summery I have seen so far about VFFs. I just bought my first pair (bikila silver/verde) TODAY and can not wait to get them next week! I too have back problems and also knee pain when I run. Really hoping the VFFs fix, or at least reduce this so I can enjoy running again.
You might have even better luck with the shoes and back difficulties if you try some exercises / stretches / etc. to work on your posterior chain. There’s lots of different things to try. Kettlebell swings are an excellent starting point though 🙂 Any crossfit gym typically has training programs for them. Otherwise their’s also a whole slew of body weight exercises designed to rebalanced your back such as hip bridges.
I totally agree with Stefan:
“1) Learn the proper technique, there are plenty of great videos out there”
Exactly, I saw many running around with Vibrams but with the wrong technique. Be aware that you have to learn the new way of walking!
“2) Don’t start SLOW, but start with short distances”
A Mistake I made when starting to walk with the Fivefingers. You can go the speed you could go in normal shoes, but you can’t go as far as with ‘normal’ shoes. I runned a lot slower, although that wasn’t necessary 😉
Keep that in mind and you’ll have a lot of fun with your Vibram Fivefingers 😉
Tim I just discovered this 32 page PDF by Terra Plana who make barefoot running shoes. I have a pair as an alternative to Vibrams.
It looks in depth at baerfoot running, I think you’d find it very interesting and it’s quite a good guide to send to others. The pictures are cool too!
http://trainingclinic.vivobarefoot.com/step-by-step
All the best,
Freddie
Hey Great Information on these shoes!
I have been having great success with back pains from Lordosis in my lower lumbar. The first time ever going longboarding and hiking flat pavement grounds after in these shoes and I have no lower back pains!!!
Amazing what your body is capable of what you just let it do what it was naturally engineered to do!
Check out My Video Review and other Articles at :
http://www.thebodyforlife.com/vibram-fivefingers-komodo-sport-video-review/
I will be discussing many of the things you talk about through this website, as well as testing them on myself, to prove what works and what doesn’t!
Thanks for all your hard work and advice Tim!
Any opinion on the FiveFingers “Bikila” model that was recently released?
I just bought the Bikila’s. Hope to put up a review on my blog soooon.
My honest opinion is they are a GREAT shoe. However, it depends on what you are doing. I got them as I run on a semi abrasive track surface that eats up the regular sole material on Vibrams.
In my opinion & experience the KSO model is a healthier shoe as it gives more feedback with the ground. But in the end both are probably better for you that what you’re wearing right now… and close but not quite as healthy as going shoe less 🙂
This is a great post. Although I am used to running, I’ve just ordered a pair of KSO Treks fro mthe VFF range. Can’t wait to try them. I’m planning to convert totally to VFF or barefoot over the next couple of months.
Thanks for the review
I have 3 pair as well and my fav is komono sport. A little struggle to get on because they are softer and more pliable. They too, have a strap around heel and one over foot. I like the heel strap because I have narrow feet and ankles. I’ve done some running in them and notice a difference in my toughness.
Because I wear them outside of work as much as I can, I notice other shoes getting tighter because my feet are getting wider.
I love these shoes and highly recommend them.
(I own over 70 pair of shoes and these are the first I grab – weather permitting)
Hi!
I just bought a pair yesterday and lounged around the house in them and then did some squats and leg lifts and what not. I have the Bikilia (er…whatever) and they are a 42 mens. I wear an 11 womens for a running shoe. I got a little tiny blister on the side of my foot at the start of the heal. If I match it up to the spot on the shoe it is right where the tread changes from arch tread to heel tread.
Do you think that will go away, or do I need a different size, etc? I appreciate your response 🙂 Thanks for the great post! Best one I have read! Feet are so great and so under appreciated!!
Sophia
so you said shoes that are good for the barefoot experience of wrestling shoes, vivo barefoot shoes, thin flip flops and you also mentioned Nike Frees –
The Nike Free is a STUPID fad shoe ( just like shape ups) – it is not even a minimalist shoe yet you included it – you either work for nike or really made a bad mistake !
Nike free’s silly flexing sole provides NO PURPOSE for human running or walking – please edit that out – or give a real damn good reason why you would put that – the nike free has a huge heel – maybe not compared to OTHER NIKE SHOES – but comparing it to wrestling shoes, vibrams is just down right STUPID –
Tim,
I have heal spurs plus arthritis in the bones of my feet. Will the vibram shoes benefit me for this or not? I don’t want to spend the money on them if they won’t help me. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Marcia
I just got my Five Fingers Classic’s and they are great. After years of trying various shoes, boots, orthotics, socks, etc., and never being quite happy with the way my feet feel, I tried the Vibram Classic. What a difference!
Tim.
To be honest i have to say when i first saw these shoes i thought they looked pretty funny looking. I decided to pick up a couple pairs when i went to the store. I gave a pair to an employee of mine to wear on a roofing job. He said they were fantastic the had a great grip on the roof. now all my employee’s wear Vibram Five finger shoes. Great article!
okay – but what about elementary aged children wearing them AT school – where there is a lot of rough and tumble play and feet getting stepped on. the bottoms seem to have a pretty good bottom layer to protect from glass, sticks, “goathead” weeds, etc – but i worry about the top of the foot. i worry about there not being enough of a protective layer across the top of the foot and the toes. i am an elem, PE teacher and with all i see, i really worry that elem school is NOT the place for children to wear these type of shoes. what do you think?
thanks…
For those with bunions… these is something you can wear in your running shoes – even VFF! Bunion Bootie (www.bunionbootie.com) is super thin and wraps around the big toe to pull it back to it’s proper alignment and keep it there during your run – it’s awesome and fits like a glove! 🙂 Pardon the pun!
Just got a piar of black KSOs. Took them for a quick test run down the block and I think these are my new favorite shoes ever!
I was told at the store to just run however feels right and my gate will change normally. Is that correct, or do I need to make an effort to stike with my forefoot?
I bought a pair of KSOs yesterday and gave them a tryout. I’m in Hong Kong and it’s all steep concrete or tarmac gradients. Barefoot running requires one to lean forward. Not downward on a slope. What is the technique of going down a steep incline ‘barefoot’ fashion? Would appreciate any answers as I start on a more natural route to running. Thanks.
I was sized in store and bought offline but when I walk the heels hurt like they may be to tight I have tried to loosing them but its not working is there any way to fix this
Hi, I just got a pair of VFF’s and i love them! I have had them for 4 days now, and I can already see how they change the walk of your body, and could fix your back. The second day I wore them I saw a differnce in how I walked. It felt soooo normal and good. I luv them & will never buy a pair of tinis shoes agian! Vibram Five Fingers are the best shoes ever!!!(Ps I am a huge shoe freak/fan, and I fell I love with these instantly. When you see the benifits of them, and people look or talk trash about you. Just tell them the benifits of VFF’s and how they have changed your life…Their think twice next time.)
I like the picture of the posture adaptation to heels (the woman falling over).
However, I think it would be wise to point out that it isn’t always the case; it’s just very often the case.
If I stand barefoot with perfect posture, and then stand on my “tip-toes”, I can still maintain that perfect posture. But it requires skillful balance in the feet and ankles.
Wearing shoes with heels is basically walking around on your toes (but without as much tension in the lower leg because the heel is on a surface). It’s easier to use the upper body and the knee instead of the foot and ankle to maintain balance for long periods of time, which is why lordosis and kyphosis occur.
But with a conscious effort one can still maintain correct upper body posture while wearing heels; it just isn’t likely to occur naturally. However, it obviously isn’t good foot or ankle posture; and will result in imbalances that can spread up the chain of the body. Prolonged use of heels can result in “creep” of the calf muscles, meaning they shorten in an adaptation to always being in that slightly (or excessive) shortened state. Then when that individual walks barefoot with their shortened calfs, they can’t even do it properly anymore because those muscles (along with intrinsic foot muscles) have lost some of their functionality.
Increasing ankle flexibility (at least to a natural state) is essential for anyone who transitions to barefoot or minimalist footwear.
And, obviously, heels should be worn minimally or never.
Hey John Fawkes & 4-Hour friends,
If you want the FiveFingers feel while still looking as sharp as Tim’s knife collection, I may have the barefoot dress shoe for you =)
We set out to create a shoe that looks indistinguishable from the most conservative Oxford. A shoe you could wear through a job interview and into a black tie affair, without compromising barefoot comfort. And in that end, I believe we’ve succeeded.
You can learn about our story, product features, and more at http://www.theprimalprofessional.com, and find us on facebook.com/thePrimalProfessional
If you help us spread the word to reach our $50,000 pre-order goal, they’ll be ready for you early 2012 =)
I used to hate running. It felt more like a punishment than something fun to do. After reading Born to Run this summer though, I became motivated to try using minimalist shoes. Maybe the big clunkers I was running in were the problem! I started too fast too soon with my VFFs, and my ankles, achilles, and calves were so sore for weeks. I got in the habit of slowly building up my distances, and can now run 6 miles in them. The shoes really do change your style of running to short, choppy steps. At first it seems like it takes more effort, but once you become accustomed to it it feels a lot more effortless and relaxing than the style I was using before. I hope to complete a marathon in them, but I know I have a while before I can be running those distances. I’ve put this task in my bucket list though so now I have to start training!
I’ve been wearing them for about five months in my martial arts class. I’m a teacher of Taekwon-Do but because of psoriasis on my feet, I can’t teach bare foot anymore. VFFs are great for my needs. I can protect my feet but they give me all the flexibility of training and teaching bare foot.
Awesome review, thanks so much! I was wondering which style to choose so I will go for the classic. I am 49 and trying to return to exercise because of low back pain, it’s been tough. I don’t think I ever really injured my back either (but I guess I did, I have 2 bulging discs) but I had to stop pilates and I feel like getting back in the swing of exercise. I’m eating organic, holistic, high fat and have felt much better (www.westona.price.com) so these shoes are my next ticket, thanks again SO much!
OMG i newer ever thought that there can be shoes similar to gloves. Well done!
Just been reading “Born to Run” and I’ve been inspired to try barefoot running. Went to a store and tried on a pair of Vibram Trek Sport. Sadly I was having real trouble getting them on. Was so hard to get my toes into the right…well fingers isn’t the right word but you get what I mean. I think my toes have been mashed together from a lifetime of shoes that they’re not used to it. If I buy them, will putting them on get easier over time?
Hi Tim, for me it has gotten much easier to get the shoes on after a while. It takes soem practice. If that will happen for you is something I can nto say.
Tip is to hold the shoe so that it slightly to the outside of your foot when putting on. When your toes just start to enter the fingers, wiggle them slightly and make any necessary adjustments. This takes a while to begin, but I slip them on in under three seconds each these days.
Thanks Brian. I think I will get a pair and just persevere until it gets easier. That and schedule in an extra 15 minutes to my workouts to get them on 🙂
Hey,
So I started using my Vibrams for squash but it has been a bit awkward, especially when I have to lunge for the ball. I’m mostly either using the same technique as I do in shoes and getting hurt, or moving too cautiously. Before proceeding to practice in them, I’d like to know if anyone has figured out how to modify squash form to make them effective and injury reducing.
Thanks!
Well I can’t wear these. My second and middle toe on one foot are kinda fused together. Lol yeah I kno imma weirdo. But really, nobody notices it unless their face is less than two feet away from my foot.
Been searching since I just got a pair of Komodosports and KSO treks (I think that is the name, christmas present so i don’t have them yet). I wore them a bit at work the first night, doing some foot massaging, toe stretching exercises I found. Wore them more the next morning before switching back to shoes (all indoor so far) and then a few hours more that night. I think I over did it. One little toe opened up underneath (granted I think it has spent many years curled up into the next toe so stretching it out may have burst something that was already there). I didn’t wear them today because of the cut and my feet and legs ACHED!! Resorted to working sock foot (mostly alone before the holidays) which was better. I’m not sure what to do. I want to wear them but don’t want to aggravate the cut. I don’t run but used to exercise barefoot. I have also used shoe inserts for a long time (and not surprising that my arches ache as I force them to be stronger). Wish they had a warmer treaded shoe for winter. Thanks, AndyB, NH.
Andy.
I bought these shoes and thought I would love them and my back pain would disappear, not. I found out that my feet are pretty unstable and so the shoes causes worse back pain. I am doing something called MAT and I highly recommend it. I will be able to wear these shoes in the future but not until the rest of my body is more stable. Insoles are the WORST thing one can do to their feet. The foot MUST be able to move in whatever we have on our feet. Believe it or not, shoes with no support is best so that your foot can “find” it’s own strength and balance. M.A.T is a type of muscular activation which wakes up muscles that heretofore were not in use due to over compensation, injury etc. and it gets each muscle doing it’s assigned task and then you can wear the shoes and then gradually until your feet are prepared for it. It’s a bit of a long”trek” but well worth it.
Lore,
A quick look about MAT (it’s late here) seemed to show either going to a personal trainer (I work till 9PM most nights so that would be a challenge) or buying a dvd (I don’t mind that as long as it’s reputable). Any dvd types or websites you’d suggest? I admit I need to get back in shape in general. In the past I have had good experience using the Power 90 (not P90X, yet) family of dads but I lose the weight, start to feel good then fall off the program into bad habits (eating, bad sleeping, laziness). I’d like to investigate this MAT more but I think anything on a regular basis would be a “step” in the right direction.
I didn’t notice my feet being unstable (no more so than in normal shoes) and if I hadn’t noticed my little toes opened up I’d still be wearing them (the shoes, and my toes!). I did feel my feet need toughening and my leg muscles were straining and my legs did KILL for the next couple days. Moderation is tough for me.
Thanks for the suggestion, AndyB, NH.
great shoes but wear out in 3 months…can’t afford that! Will have to go back to regular shoes…too bad. Hope they find stronger materials for the soles.
You may still be heal striking. When you truly walk/run on your well padded forefoot, 5fingers will last a long time.
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I wore terraplana barefoot shoes for a couple of months which have the advantage that they don’t look quite so silly.
But I will testify, your feet will HURT when you first start wearing them. Sure we were meant to walk barefoot, but we WEREN’T meant to walk on cement.
Nice post. I bought the vibrams with the full toe box. I kind of overdid it in the beginning and gave myself tendonitis. Whoops. I took some time off and have gotten so much better with them. And I don’t run in them. I just wear them as an everyday shoe. I’ve found my gait is changing. Plus, when I put on my Asics, my feet hurt and they feel so unnatural. I just stick with my vibrams or flipflops now.
Whoa! I’m seriously overweight woman with a lot of feet problems. I tried VFFs and after two days I can walk without pain longer than for ages. I hope this is really helping with my plantar fasciitis and stuff… And people are very interested about these “very original” shoes 😛
Thinking about getting a pair if only to relieve the constant pain from a soft corn between my pinkie toe and the adjacent toe. I do a lot of walking each day and am tired of pain with every step. Tried every shoe under the sun with no relief, and got no useful advice from the ortho doc other than shaving the bone on my toe which I don’t want to do. Has anyone found relief with the VFFs from this complaint?
I can answer my own question! Absolutely no pain whatsoever from the soft corn while wearing VFFs. Side benefit – for the first time in years I don’t wake up in the morning with back pain. I thought it was my mattress, but apparently it was my shoes. REI sale KSOs vs. a new mattress = happy husband who didn’t have to shell out a few hundred dollars for a new mattress!