Barefooting Bulletin Board

I have never liked sandals or flip-flops, even in my shoddie days, so using them as emergency footwear when I need it is out. I found shoes that are almost as comfortable as bare feet, Vibram Fivefingers. They're very light, thin "shoes" with individual toes. They aren't cheap, but they are quality. If you plan to try them, I'd recommend ordering a size bigger than you usually wear, they seem to be cut a bit small.



I decided to go ahead and add the link for those who don't like to search. Vibram Fivefingers

They've expanded the line quite a bit since I bought mine. Lots of new colors and two new styles. Those "boots" look perfect for those who want to go barefoot but can't handle the cold in winter.

They are quite comfortable, at least for a while. I had thought it would be "weird" having your toes isolated like that, but the material is so thin you don't even notice. They also cover as little of the foot as possible, just enough to stay in place. The one problem I have with them is that there is no elasticity in the toes. The individual toes are very flexible, but they do not stretch at all. This becomes uncomfortable after a while if your toes are not proportioned exactly the same as the shoes. My second toe is a bit longer than "standard" apparently and it gets pretty heavily stressed by the tension of the shoe. If they would add some stretch to the toes to allow the shoes to conform better to different people's feet they would be perfect shoes. It's easy to adjust the tightness of the shoe, but if I loosen it to take the pressure off that one toe it becomes so loose it constantly feels like it's about to fall off.

Another plus is the rubber sole has very good traction.

They are tricky to learn to put on.

Sasquatch wrote: This becomes uncomfortable after a while if your toes are not proportioned exactly the same as the shoes. My second toe is a bit longer than "standard" apparently and it gets pretty heavily stressed by the tension of the shoe. If they would add some stretch to the toes to allow the shoes to conform better to different people's feet they would be perfect shoes. It's easy to adjust the tightness of the shoe, but if I loosen it to take the pressure off that one toe it becomes so loose it constantly feels like it's about to fall off.

Another plus is the rubber sole has very good traction.

They are tricky to learn to put on.

Vibram mentions that fiiting wih the longer 2nd toe may be a problem, depends how much longer it is. My 2nd toe is longer but not by much so it's not too much of a problem.

Have you noticed that the soles are siped? That is part of the good tracton.

Seems there should be an easy way to add some "give" to the toes to allow them to fit better. My 2[sup]nd[/sup] toe does not extend past my big toe, but it does apparently extend farther than the toe of whoever they used as the model. I'm absolutely certain each one of us has unique toe combinations that would make it impossible to create a standard fit.

Other than that, I have nothing but good things to say about these shoes. They pacify the podophobes, but still freak them out a bit since they are so different. The snug fit produces a more barefoot feel than sandals, and they breathe almost as if they weren't there.

I actually haven't been able to wear them much. I wore them a couple of twices while running and they do very well. The other I had to use them as emergency footwear when I got confronted about my lack of shoes at a home depot. I made sure the manager saw them later. I may get the ones with the straps if they ever make them in black.

I'm going to have to get a new pair, I misplaced mine somehow.

I wore mine pretty regularly for a while, every time my wife and I went out. Now I just slip on my steel-toes