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[Guybrush Threepwood]

I was reading some reports about how unhealthy shoes are (like this one), and I need new shoes anyway so I was looking into possible options.

One that caught my eye was Vibram Five Fingers. They are pretty ugly, but they are relatively cheap compared to other "barefoot shoes" and function over appearance and all that.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone on GAF had these or other shoes that simulate being barefoot and what you think about them.

Here's a pic of them.

 

[Brannon]

I can see how that would be very comfortable, but damn.

 

[Danielsan]

Holy shit. No offense but I think that if I saw someone wearing those I would fall on the ground laughing. They look like Gorilla feet. :lol

 

[etiolate]

Is there any point in calling them five fingers when they are five toes? Do they have a boot called the forearm as well?

 

[HurricaneJesus]

For some reason I can't stop laughing at the picture, yet i want a pair badly.....thanks OP.

Shit I read the full article linked, and it makes sense. I walk on my heel, and also make long strides when I am trying to get somewhere quick. I love walking and running, but shoes suck ass. I always find that they never fit properly. I have resorted to hiking styled, or skate styled shoes. For the winter I use boots.

I am going to pick up a pair of those five toes soon. There is a distributor in Toronto, so I can at least put my foot to the bottom to try and get the size perfect. I will report back on my experience with this fine looking, and non-functional product.

 

[sublime085]

They look creepy. They probably feel kinda creepy too.

 

[Lelielle]

"Vibram Five Fingers" makes me think "pocket sized vibrator" -very cool shoes though I love walking barefoot, but a bit of extra protection would be good, I used to live in aqua socks in the summer

 

[Price Dalton]

These things are awesome. They take about 5 minutes to get used to, but after that they're completely comfortable. Good on your joints and they promote correct walking/running form. Barefoot is pretty much how our feet are designed to work. I use them for hiking, weight lifting, running, climbing... anything at all.

Highly recommended.

 

[Kinitari]

I have very little shame, and I have been known to walk around barefoot in the streets, so this looks appealing to me.

 

[The Orange]

I have very little shame, and I have been known to walk around barefoot in the streets, so this looks appealing to me.

This quote should appear in their commercials :lol.

 

[blame space]

This quote should appear in their commercials :lol.

:lol

 

[SapientWolf]

These things are awesome. They take about 5 minutes to get used to, but after that they're completely comfortable. Good on your joints and they promote correct walking/running form. Barefoot is pretty much how our feet are designed to work. I use them for hiking, weight lifting, running, climbing... anything at all.

Highly recommended.

Yeah, some runners swear by them. Finding a good fit is trial and error though.

 

[Guybrush Threepwood]

Is there any point in calling them five fingers when they are five toes? Do they have a boot called the forearm as well?

I found an answer to this.

Vibram is an Italian company and the word for fingers and toes is the same in Italian. When they translated it, they kept it Five Fingers.

 

[Tornado Condor]

Those are the ugliest shoes i have ever seen

These things are awesome. They take about 5 minutes to get used to, but after that they're completely comfortable. Good on your joints and they promote correct walking/running form. Barefoot is pretty much how our feet are designed to work. I use them for hiking, weight lifting, running, climbing... anything at all.

Highly recommended.

thank god you don't go to the same gym as i do because i'd probably die of laughter while lifting

 

[Ash Sparrow]

Oh no and all the time i been blaming a barefoot black guy for the robbery

Spoiler

jk there was no robbery

 

[BlackNMild2k1]

They should have called these shoes 5.0s or Five Point Toes

 

[adamsappel]

Those are intriguing. I have these socks which give my family hysterics.

 

[Robobandit]

I have a pair.. but my feet aren't perfect.. I have hammer toes and a few ingrown toenails.. bottom line, my feet just couldn't get used to them. They hurt after wearing the shoes for an hour or so.

Also, if you're not used to walking barefoot a lot of the time, your feet will hurt.. they offer no padding whatsoever.

Walking through grass felt great, and they felt good for walking in anke-deep water, but I pretty quickly went back to regular shoes. Most folks didn't really seem to notice or care that I had something different on.

They feel well-made, the soles are solid and have a good grip.. you can walk on rocks and won't have any trouble except discomfort from the lack of padding.. and they dry fast.

 

[GodofWine]

I just got a pair of Vibram KSO's (I used a women's size 40 for the best fit, no difference in Mens and Womens shoe, don't laugh!! these need to be fit perfectly), and love these things, I got them to see if they would help my knees and back, and after getting used to them, my lower legs and gait already seem so much better (had them 4 days).

The black ones don't stand out too much either, looks almost like wearing sandals.

I look forward to running hills in them.

I even saw another person wearing them, and then I mentioned them to a co-worker, and she said she saw someone in them, and that she was getting a pair....and they are sold out all over the place.

Viva la revolution!

 

[Davidion]

No lie, I kinda want one.

 

[shuri]

That's the fruitiest thing i've ever seen.

 

[GodofWine]

No lie, I kinda want one.

That was my reaction to them...at first I was like, no way...then it crept into my head that they are possibly awesome and curiosity took over...and I took the plunge.

At worst, they kick regular sandals asses.

 

[YYZ]

Man, I want one of these.

 

[Raistlin]

I want a pair, if only to freak people out because of the footprints I leave behind :lol


The socks though, those babies look comfy.

 

[Darklord]

They look terrible, almost as bad as crocs.

 

[surrogate]

I have a pair, along with a dozen pairs of the toe socks. If your toes are all squished together like mine, they will take a lot of getting used to. I can wear them for an hour or two, but any longer and it starts to hurt my little toes. Also, it is a minor project putting them on. Walking in them does feel great on the soles of your feet, almost like a foot massage. I've been wanting to get a pair of the Vivo Barefoot Aqua Sports for some time now, but have a hard time parting with $150 for a pair of shoes.

 

[Windu]

Why is it called Five Fingers? Why not Five Toes?

 

[Amir0x]

goddamn i hope you save yourself the pain and don't actually go out in public with those

 

[YYZ]

goddamn i hope you save yourself the pain and don't actually go out in public with those

how ironic since they are suppose to prevent pain in the long run.

 

[Solaros]

how ironic since they are suppose to prevent pain in the long run.

I'm not sure if you intended that or not, but :lol

 

[Wellington]

I'm not sure if you intended that or not, but :lol

:lol

I'll look into these as well. Look comfy.

 

[GodofWine]

goddamn i hope you save yourself the pain and don't actually go out in public with those

I plan on running trails in them, and wearing them to the gym on squat / deadlift day mainly (lifting barefoot is the ideal way, so these should be great for that)

 

[Nakazato]

yea i wanna to get some for my dad for when he goes fishing

 

[The_Reckoning]

Sorry to bump an old ass thread, but I got myself a pair today after much research. I'm prone to really bad shin splints when using regular running shoes. Took a brisk mile and a half run in these tonight, and not once did I feel shin pain. Which is unheard of for me usually. I am a believer. Goofy looking as shit, but fuck it. Run like the blur nobody can tell. Very comfortable, these would be amazing beach or lake shoes as well.

 

[adamsappel]

Very comfortable, these would be amazing beach or lake shoes as well.

I finally got a pair of these, which I found at a cheap $50 clearance price. I wore them every day this summer to the community pool, and also took them on beach vacations. They are fantastic as a water shoe. And I quickly got over the embarrassment and also just wore them as shoes.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Man. Those are some ninja shoes right there.

 

[santouras]

Sorry to bump an old ass thread, but I got myself a pair today after much research. I'm prone to really bad shin splints when using regular running shoes. Took a brisk mile and a half run in these tonight, and not once did I feel shin pain. Which is unheard of for me usually. I am a believer. Goofy looking as shit, but fuck it. Run like the blur nobody can tell. Very comfortable, these would be amazing beach or lake shoes as well.

I've had a pair for about 6 months and my shin pain is significantly reduced. I'm not running enough or with the correct technique to completely eradicate it but the shoes make a massive difference.

 

[big ander]

I know someone who either wears these or sandals everywhere. He hasn't used a pair of actual shoes in a year.
I think it's kinda weird, but if it makes walking easier, go for it.

 

[SolarPowered]

They are absolutely amazing for a nice run outside. Your feet definitely feel the wet and soft feel of the ground and they reveal a lot about your running habits. They're also great for general use around the house. I've only got one pair, but I'm hoping to get another one for the upcoming spring.

I don't get to use them much because I live in NYC(sidewalks are not as comfortable as grass). I would seriously recommend them OP. I used to get shooting pains through my shins if I ran with shoes, but I never felt uncomfortable when out for a run in my black KSO.

I kind of wish they'd work on something that didn't look as conspicuous...

Edit:
I didn't notice that this was a zombie thread.

 

[DJ_Tet]

I'm hoping more owners come forward. I've been reading about these shoes for over a year now but can't commit to them. I've got really wide feet so I would need to find a place locally that sells them in various sizes. Did you guys buy them in a store or online?

 

[Gilby]

I have been barefoot/forefoot running for about 8 months now. There are other, cheaper options. Water Shoes. Mine cost me 8$ and provide all the benefits of a "barefoot shoe" for a fraction of the cost (the only thing better is actually going barefoot, but that's not always an option). They will wear out quicker than vibrams, but for someone just starting out they're the perfect entry point. I might get a pair of vibrams some day, but so far water shoes have worked just fine, and my calves are really starting to tone up.

I'm hoping more owners come forward. I've been reading about these shoes for over a year now but can't commit to them. I've got really wide feet so I would need to find a place locally that sells them in various sizes. Did you guys buy them in a store or online?

Answer: WATER SHOES

 

[Burli]

Why can't they just cover the toes over at the end? Your feet are in the exact same kind of support but they look less funky.

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

I'm hoping more owners come forward. I've been reading about these shoes for over a year now but can't commit to them. I've got really wide feet so I would need to find a place locally that sells them in various sizes. Did you guys buy them in a store or online?

You can use the locator to find stores that sell them near you. I want to try some on, but the closest one to me is about an hour away... Tempting.

 

[The_Reckoning]

I've had a pair for about 6 months and my shin pain is significantly reduced. I'm not running enough or with the correct technique to completely eradicate it but the shoes make a massive difference.

Glad to hear they are working out for you. This is the only reason I purchased these. I have spent so much money on different shoes, etc. I am hopeful this is my last time dealing with the pain.

I too need to work on my running technique, it's just hard to improve when everytime I would run, my shins would light on fire. These should change that, and allow me to experiment different techniques I hope.

I'm hoping more owners come forward. I've been reading about these shoes for over a year now but can't commit to them. I've got really wide feet so I would need to find a place locally that sells them in various sizes. Did you guys buy them in a store or online?

I bought mine online from kbsports.com quick shipping, great prices. They also have a brick and mortar store in PA I think. I'm sure most big sports stores would sell these( Sports Authority, Dick's, Big 5, REI, etc.) Definitely worth a test run. I have broken all my toes at least once, so I had concerns about my toes. I blindly bought a pair, and I am in love. No discomfort, running on grass was sublime, and cement/asphalt didn't phase them.

 

[thetrin]

I made a thread about this a couple years ago. I had a pair of these. They were great, but the fabric on the top was way too easy to tear.

The Five Fingers that go all the way up to the ankle are great, though. (The KSOs pictured in the OP).

Five Fingers are the bomb. People who don't like them are missing out on fantastic footwear.

 

[Macam]

I've had a pair of the FF Sprint for nearly a year now and I swear by them. I don't have any qualms about wearing them around. I run in them about three times a week with no problems whatsoever. They do provide adequate padding (whomever said they provide none is exaggerating) and they feel great for running, the gym, or just trekking around outside. They're as great on pavement, as they are on trails, the beach, or rainforests. The best part is that you can just chunk them in the washer when they get really dirty.

If you aim to run in them though, mind the advice and start slowly in them -- don't start running miles and miles right off the bat. I speak from experience, you'll regret it if you ignore the advice. The shoes tend to work a different muscle set than you would from using typical running shoes, and if you push yourself too hard too fast, you'll end up with some really sore legs for a few days.

As for where to get them, I nabbed my pair at the local REI for about $80.

 

[funk0ar]

I'm hoping more owners come forward. I've been reading about these shoes for over a year now but can't commit to them. I've got really wide feet so I would need to find a place locally that sells them in various sizes. Did you guys buy them in a store or online?

I have a pair, I got them as a Christmas gift. They are really awesome to wear, I've used them for rock climbing and when doing general out doors activities, they are great for anything around water.

Only problem is they look fucking ridiculous and as such I've only worn them like 5 times in a year.

 

[SolarPowered]

I too need to work on my running technique, it's just hard to improve when everytime I would run, my shins would light on fire. These should change that, and allow me to experiment different techniques I hope.

The best part about these shoes is that they eliminate the need to "experiment" with different techniques. Most people should be able to settle in to a natural gait within a week or so if they take a short run everyday.

The fact of the matter is that if this weren't true then most people would end up breaking toes, and ankles within weeks without the cushion support. I read it somewhere and since it seemed rational I decided to put it to the test(It passed).

Only problem is they look fucking ridiculous and as such I've only worn them like 5 times in a year.

Yeah, Vibram would be insane if they weren't hard at work making a new design.:lol

 

[CrocMother]

As someone who isn't trying to make a fashion statement with my footwear, these are very intriguing.

 

[sprsk]

I know a guy who swears by these.