Vibram Five Fingers

Those look like they would be blast.  You're big on the barefoot running, right?

Theres a pretty big discussion on the posetech forums about them, and Dr.R was happy with them so Im tempted to buy a pair. Keep us posted on how you like them.

I love running barefoot, I am two minutes a mile faster barefoot than I am with shoes. The forest preserves I run at have gravel on the hills and the soles of my feet can't tolerate the pain. I can run on grass no problem but I want to incorporate more hills while barefoot. When I get them I'll let people know how they did. One guy at www.barefootrunning.org ran a marathon in them and loved them.

Definitely let us know how you like them - I'm very intrigued!

Holy crap that's wild looking.

You know, it looks interesting. I'm just curious how they get the toes to fit properly cuz I gotta tell you, finding a nice pair of gloves is a pain in the booty, I can imagine that these fall into the same category. What if one dude has short stubby tree-trunk toes and another has long slender monkey toes? I'm curious to see your review on this.

I just finished reading Born To Run and I'm about ready to try a pair of these things.  Which model did you go with?  AND how are they working out for you?

I was just looking online today to see if a store nearby sells them (rather buy local).

I've done 4 barefoot runs so far and each one feels better.

Well the sizing is pretty good but I actually decided to go down a size after wearing mine for about an hour. I am a road bike shoe 46, Asics 2310 size 13, and bought the VFF's in size 46 (after I measured with a ruler like they say on the website) but after adjusting them and wearing them I actually had about a full thumb thickness in the back and took them back for the size 45 which is perfect.

The toes leave plenty of room and actually seem to mold to your dimentions after a few wears. To me the firt time getting them on was a little bit of a pain but after they "remember" your feet they are easier to get on.

I'd love to try them as I love bare feet, but I have two webbed toes.

I haven't run in mine, as I am used to my big clunky shoes, but I LOVE wearing them for everything else. It is like being barefoot without having to worry about stepping on rocks.
The can get a little ripe, but they are also washable!

Anyone know how these work for people with flat feet?  My second toe on my left foot is also about a half cm longer than my big toe...any issues you think?

I'm almost done with the book and thinking the same thing.  Think I'll be visiting the local retailer this week.

I run at least 2 of my runs a week in water shoes but I really want a pair of these.  I have heard that it's important to try them on as the sizing is a guideline but not always dead accurate.  I've found a store that sells them - just a case of getting there... (1.5 hours away)

I'm also looking at replacing my Grid 6's with something much lighter so that I can continue my long runs as I can't run 'barefoot' more than 6k right now.

so what do you do in cold weather?  I figure your toes would freeze off.  Do you get toe socks?

so far my toes havent got cold running in vff's...  then again, i live in florida? 

also, had flat feet too....  i don't think they're that flat anymore though, i think these are raising my arches?  When i first started running i was told i hand flat fred flinstone feet...  now i seem to have an arch

Edited by Boom808 2009-12-06 6:20 PM

As someone previously mentioned, I read the book "Born to Run" also.  I started running with minimal shoes 2 months ago.  Not the fivefingers, but the cheapest water shoes I could find, some $19 speedos at the local swim shoppe.  My $100 running shoes have been shelved - probably for good - maybe I'll use them to cut the grass in or something. 

I love running with the minimal shoes.  I run mostly on trails and it feels much more natural.  Even on the asphalt I was surprised how quickly I adapted.  My calves and achilles still get sore after most runs but I have been slowly ramping up my mileage to where I was before I shelved my $100 Saucony's. 

I also bought me some $29 moccasins to wear during my work day to further build up my calves and achilles.  It seems to be working.  I guess the first thing I noticed (especially on the asphalt) was the absence of the "jolt" to your body with every heel strike in the running shoes.  I'm 45 and decided to thry this out to see if it would alleviate some ongoing knee pain I seem to have. That jury is still out on that but either way I doubt I'll go back to regular running shoes. 

My 16 year old son also started running in the water shoes and he has adapted very quickly and has shown great progress in his running posture and form.  (Oh the magic of "youth")

Now I am looking forward to Spring when Aldi, Walgreens and Target will start stocking the $6.99 water shoes once again.  It's almost impossible  - at least in southern Indiana - to find them in December.  To those thinking about trying it out - get some cheap shoes first - We don't need $80-$120 shoes to run barefoot.     

I've looked at a pair at a Local Sporting goods store. But they weren't the right size. They only had 45's, were a little big for me.

I've been running barefoot style for quite some time and my Asics Kayano 14's are giving my feet fits! They are rubbing on the outside of my mid foot. Only when my run times go over 1hr though, Up to 30 minutes and there fine. I'm gonna try some different socks. But next year I'm doing Oly's and HIM and I'm about ready to shelve them and go with 5 or 10k racing flats or Track shoes. I just don't get why they charge big $$ for basically cloth with a thin rubber sole.

I have about 200mi's on my Asics and the only time I heal strike is during warmup when I'm briskly walking

Vibrams were the another option I was looking at. Its funny I have about

Edited by Thrash1 2009-12-06 10:18 PM