Vibram FiveFingers shoes

[Dominique]

I just saw this:

http://walking.about.com/b/2014/05/08/vibram-fivefingers-barefoot-walking-shoes.htm?nl=1

Is anyone using these shoes?

[josephz2va]

Fortunately not. Probably why I haven't seen them in any store other than REI. They wouldn't do much good for some runners with feet problems, who haven't ran 4-6 MPH for 30 to 90 minutes a day, and are mostly sedentary.

[slysam]

I have a pretty basic pair. I don't run in them though. When I exercise at home I exercise bare foot sometimes even with higher impact activities like jumping rope. I usually wear mine for a shallow water exercise class I take sometimes in the summer since they dry easily and the concrete in the pool floor hurts my feet. And I have worn them for yoga classes and some of my home workouts instead of bare feet (they are not allowed in the gym I sometimes used other than the yoga studio/pool area though). They do feel more like bare feet than my other trainers so find they effect my balance and flexibility less than my trainers while offering some foot protection and traction. They they are not exactly the same as bare feet though. I was pretty happy with mine. I am concerned at the allegations they falsified their study data though. And I really haven't worn them enough during higher impact activities to fine whether they cuased any problems for me or not.

[Odyssey13]

@Dominique  I've seen them and would love them, but I live in the boonies wihere such shoes wouldn't be practical.

Yesterday I read there is a problem with their advertising and the company is giving refunds to customers.

Still, what I read when they first came out seemed quite reasonable.

[trainer]

I bought a pair shortly after they came out. I wore them for several years with no problems at all. I am very hard on my shoes however and they did start to wear out. I started getting blisters between my toes and my dr said the spot where the mesh connected to the rubber was roughed up and causing the problem. I switched to another type of minimalist shoe that reminds me of martial arts slippers. These are not as good for walking on very hot/very cold surfaces and are far more delicate so I can't wear them as much as I would like, but there is no way for them to give me blisters between my toes.

[Heybales]

I used them 2-3 years ago prior to discovering I had a short leg and needed a lift - impossible in those types of shoes.

Not sure if you can still get them at Dick's Sporting goods, Sports Authority, ect. I used to see them all over the place, many different versions of it for some specific use.

Partly gimmick, partly useful. The toes being the gimmick in my mind. The price making it more so.

I could only wear them up to 6 miles, and doing that 3 times weekly if I went over I got a couple blisters.

But the minimalist was the only thing to make my plantar stronger, once I finally got over plantar fasciitis by having custom orthotics of some sort in every shoe I used.

My normal running had already been close to the same mid-foot strike, no heel strike, so I was able to move right in to using them pretty decently, same distance but pace suffered.

But you can accomplish the same foolishness in them as regular shoes - I overdid duration and frequency and with increased intensity (trying to go faster) and sprained the plantar. 6 weeks to get over, but still had great strength and fast recover. Especially compared to years getting over plantar fasciitis.

So I like the theory and seems to have worked for many, but I preferred the Merrell Trail Gloves I got later, 2 mm neoprene layer, same Vibram soles, same super flexible, same flat aspect, same nice wide toe box - better construction. Sadly can't get a lift in there either, so it'll be limited usefulness.

Last week I got the VFF's out for my first trail run ever, and was perhaps a tad too much stimulation on bottom of feet with no padding landing on all the rocks and roots, ect. Merrells on that next time.

[thedancinghiker]

I have a pair of KSO's, and I use them for walking and light hiking. I love them, despite the recall. I like to be able to spread and articulate my toes, and many traditional shoes leave my feet feeling boxed in.

[shepardgirl2]

Thanks for the info on the Vibram FiveFingers shoes.  I have a pair sitting here that I wore twice that I can now return.  Wearing them are like walking on concrete and the temp of the walking surface comes straight through the sole and well - freezes or burns your feet.  Thanks again for the info.