Vibram Five Fingers shoes, and unforeseen complication...

[OccamsTazer]

I just walked the short loop trail behind the house with Man and dogs, about 2 miles round trip.

Survey says: awesome shoes!

I have terrible ankles (broken three times, numerous sprains), and with these I notice I do not have in the back of my mind "I'm going to fall and it's going to hurt". I notice that I actually use my toes a lot for balance.

My legs started feeling really strange about halfway in, not bad, just strange. I'm told that barefooting uses muscles that are typically pretty weak if you wear shoes a lot, and that I'll have to build them up.
I also had to get used to the idea of not avoiding pebbles, because I *felt* barefoot, and I expected them to be pointy and painful. Once I started ignoring random trail objects, it was fine

I cannot *wait* to go to some cliffs around here and compare them to my climbing shoes. I'm going to wear them for a couple weeks before I try any serious hiking, though.

And you frog-foot-haters can kiss my freely-wiggling toes

 

[redux]

OT I think your shoes are cool but I have a question- do they have arch support, or is it really like being barefoot?

 

[OccamsTazer]

Feels totally barefoot to me.

 

[redux]

So, they probably wouldn't be good for someone who needs arch support? Darn. They are snazzy, but walking barefoot causes me severe pain- I have plantar fasciitis.

 

[seismic wonder2]

I've had my "vibes" for a year or so.
Here's a tip : Ease into them!!! You can't just whip them on and go for a 10 mile run. (I made it about 200 yards before crawling home)
I called to raise heck and he just asked "Did you read the instructions?"
Instructions? they're shoes, why do I need instructions?

It takes time to build up those foot and calf muscles. probably about a month or so. then you'll be fine.

 

[horsejody]

My son has a pair. They look like rubber toe socks to me, but to each their own.

 

[KindNepenthe]

Oh my! I've had my Vibram KSOs now for a few months and I have to say, silly looking or not, they are the most comfortable shoes ever! I have to stand for 10 hours at work and they are the only shoes that I can bare to wear for that long. It took a few runs to get used to them and my legs were so sore from using different muscles but my injuries and shin splints have gone down dramatically. I can't even wear normal shoes for running anymore because they feel like running with bricks.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Well. I think I know what I'LL be purchasing....