Vibram Five Fingers shoes - long term review

[Buckshot]

‘What are they?’
‘What are you wearing?’
Are just two of the comments you get when wearing Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) shoes
The comments I received ranged from ‘You’ve got monkey feet’ to outright laughter to people taking pictures of my feet!

These are shoes but not as you know them. Each toe has it’s own pocket so can move independently allowing you to grip with your toes just like wearing no shoes
It’s completely the opposite to conventional thinking on outdoor footwear where bridges, toes, ankles and everything else are protected to the hilt. These shoes help to strengthen your feet so they don’t need protection. There are supposedly many health benefits to running and walking barefoot and these give you protection on the sole without loosing the freedom feeling.

Detail of the razor sipped sole to aid grip

I received mine, KSOs in brown, the day after ordering from www.primallifestyle.com , the UK distributor. I ordered a size down from my normal shoe size as recommended, they need to be very close fitting so as to act like a second skin.
From some of the reviews I’ve seen I expected to take some time adjusting my feet to walking in VFF. I felt completely at home in them right from the off, maybe because I wear moccasin slippers with no cushioning. Even the material between my toes wasn’t a problem.
I’m currently getting used to them at home and work before venturing out into the woods but my first impressions of this, very unusual footwear, are all good – so much so I’m thinking of buying another pair. Flows this time as they have neoprene uppers which will help in the colder weather.

I’m planning to do a long term review so will be coming back to these during the year.
Strange yes, but they really do work.

Mark

 

[CLEM]

Very interesting, no doubts expensive too.

 

[poddle]

The website is AWFUL

 

[bothyman]

The website is AWFUL

Yes, I found it hard work too.

Not sure what the website is about ??? plus it's slow.

I see they sell them on Ebay ???

 

[forestwalker]

I like the idea, I'm not sure if I like the implementation. How are they in colder weather? How will they stand up to sweaty feet? Quick drying?

 

[Graham_S]

bit expensive for me, I'd want to try a pair on before I blew nearly a hundred quid on them.

 

[rik_uk3]

More for rock climbing I would have thought?

 

[Peter_t]

i would like to try them or maybe make myself some moccasin as their function is basically the same. also allowing your toes to wiggle about keeps them warm in extremely cold temperatures so outperform conventional footwear.
my only problem with these five finger shoes or moccasins is that you have to have some nerve to wear them in public and if your my age put up with the inevitable abuse from chavs and the like



also surely they should be five TOE shoes?


pete

 

[poddle]

Looks like a perfect device for snapping toes off one by one.

I would say that the toes are extremely vulnerable. I have not seen a pair, so can't really make an accurate review, but I don't like the way the toes are isolated, also what protection is there from above to protect from falling stones etc?


It only takes 7 pounds of pressure to break a digit, so I think I might give these a miss.

 

[Peter_t]

Looks like a perfect device for snapping toes off one by one.

I would say that the toes are extremely vulnerable. I have not seen a pair, so can't really make an accurate review, but I don't like the way the toes are isolated, also what protection is there from above to protect from falling stones etc?


It only takes 7 pounds of pressure to break a digit, so I think I might give these a miss.

what about stone age man or many tribes today? many go everywhere bare foot! even in the jungle with those nasty spiky plants etc.

i think it woud be fine but posably take a while to get used to as when wearing shoes or boots we don't take a monents thought where we place our feet.


pete

 

[Buckshot]

what about stone age man or many tribes today? many go everywhere bare foot! even in the jungle with those nasty spiky plants etc.

i think it woud be fine but posably take a while to get used to as when wearing shoes or boots we don't take a monents thought where we place our feet.


pete

I agree
It's a different approach and a change to the normal mindset of protecting feet
Man has been wandering around on this design for a long time before shoes came along
I've recently come back from the Kalihari where the San live wandering around barefoot with the sort of spikes and seed pods that make UK rose thorns look like fluffy velcro or something. They had no problems because thier feet are used to it and they look where they're going!

The soles on the VFF are pretty sturdy.
They're designed for running so although you feel stones under your feet it doesn't hurt like it would with barefeet

Mark

 

[nuggets]

sorry but i find them rather pathetic and you would probably look pathetic walking around with them on !!! they reminded me of -a design called a hoof or hooves or some thing a few years back, not for me !!! sorry i,m out X

 

[poddle]

tribesmen's feet are hardened off, ours are not.

It makes a hell of a difference

 

[Peter_t]

tribesmen's feet are hardened off, ours are not.

It makes a hell of a difference

shouldn't make much difference when stubbing them

pete

 

[spiritwalker]

i weighed up getting a set last year they were in one of the mags... but like others the price is way too much and they will be useless in the winter..summer i wear sandals (trainer type) not so warm days boots, winter i wear a pair of goretex welly moonboots with sheepskin liners (snow boots and fishing) ive been trying to find a good pair of mocassins in the UK to no avail i want ones like ray mears got made for him inuit or sami i think but alas no avail the only others ive seen have tassels on them which looks girly

 

[johnboy]

We spend a lot of time barefoot here in NZ. It's a cultural thing. My kids spend most of the time barefoot it's actually had to get them to put shoes on most of the time..

As a result you're feet get pretty hardened quickly. They also are a real mess you pick up knocks and cuts and hard skin.. It's interesting the cultural difference between the UK and NZ in this regard..

A couple of years ago I was back in the UK and I jumped out of the car and went into either a Tesco's or Safeway barefoot something that is pretty commonplace here in NZ. Within 5 minutes of going into the store I had a 'security guard' telling me that I should be wearing shoes.... The whole episode summed up what the UK to me has become..

Generally I find being barefoot ok the probelem comes when walking on manmade surfaces generally gravel drives concrete etc...

The shoes look like fun but I'll take my Croc's....

 

[BOD]

Mark,

Thanks. You may have solved a problem I've been trying to solve. Lightweight 'shoes' for the camp that can be used in stream and jungle that also dry quickly.

I guess they dry quite quickly the mesh ones?

On a related topic, When I was in the bush last week we came across a boy, about 8-9 years walking without any clothes or shoes whatsoever. No bag or kit of any kind. This was similar terrain to Geratong in Borneo.

A great sight but made us feel silly with our jungle boots and rip stop gear etc.

No pictures as the photobucket sites would censor it anyway as porn.

 

[spiritwalker]

the main reason we dont walk around in bare feet in the uk is that fact that our streets are littered with glass junk and dog poo

 

[Buckshot]

the main reason we dont walk around in bare feet in the uk is that fact that our streets are littered with glass junk and dog poo

Partly, these shoes would solve that of course, but I think it's mainly a cultural thing
'It's just not cricket old boy'
We have a particular notion of civilisation and any challenge to that is ridiculed

Shame

Mark

 

[JohnC]

Thanks for the review, I was thinking about these last year, but couldnt decide. May well get a pair. I try to go barefoot in the warmer months, no injuries so far.