Caveats:
1. The seams in the toes on these can really irritate your feet.
2. Soles are NOT thick enough to protect you from the occasional sharp gravel. It WILL hurt.
3. Also, the soles will not protect you on concrete. The pounding WILL hurt.
4. The only three places I found to wear these (for short periods) is: walking on sand, level lawn, and in the water.

I basically have relegated my FiveFingers to water shoes which I wear when kayaking or walking the surf. I really wanted to like these, I really did - FAIL.

I have a pair, and while I wouldn't run on pavement for long periods of time in them, I found them a lot more useful and congenial than Big Dave. I've walked a few miles in them several times on concrete sidewalks with nothing but that newfound delight in feeling the ground under your toes the article describes.

I also find them perfect for cardio exercise on various machines that weren't designed for barefoot use. My elliptical has this thick, deep waffle pattern cut on the footrests, and the small padding of the FiveFingers allows me to use it essentially barefoot. Similarly, I like using them when lifting free weights or doing body-weight exercises, I appreciate the grip, the slight sole protection and the ability to really dig your toes into the ground.

Specifically on Big Dave's caveats:
1. Never had an issue with the seams in the toes. Don't feel 'em, don't notice 'em. Getting 'em on is a bit of learned skill, but once on, that's it.
2. I agree that the soles will let larger gravel poke you hard enough to hurt, and while it's a step up from barefoot, some surfaces are not appropriate for them.
3. Again, wouldn't run on concrete in these, but never had a problem just walking or for a short sprint. As the article points out, my gait shifts and I don't land on the heel, which probably explains the lack of "pounding' in my case.
4. I've used them on irregular surfaces and even climbed rocks, wet and dry with these. Gravelly surfaces or anything with lots of sharp things ready to poke you are not recommended but I've found many surfaces to use these on.

I agree water is a particularly good application. In fact, use in wet environments will let these shoes shine. (groan)

In short, I'm delighted with mine and highly recommend them.

Contrary to Big Dave, I'm a fan of mine.

However, as the story reads, you do have to adjust your walking style. When you do, you find that you are both walking better - with less impact shock to your heels, knees, etc. - and the shoes are comfortable in a lot more conditions.

My thoughts:

- Great for water shoes, camping, etc.
- Not great for areas with loose soil or gravel as that gets into the shoe and is really irritating.
- They are fantastic for driving. I like driving in bare feet and this is the next best thing.
- I'd wear them more often - even to the mall or the office - if not for the unwanted attention they draw. I'm not in it for the attention and don't like having to "explain" them everywhere I go.
- They are fairly easy to clean, which is necessary because they can get ripe pretty quickly. I haven't tried them in the wash yet, but probably will soon.
- My nieces and nephews really want some, but they need to be pretty well fitted and therefore aren't great for growing teenagers.

My main warning for these shoes is to not go overboard and wear them for extended periods. I made the mistake of wearing them out for an afternoon while walking around in Boston, and boy was I footsore after a couple hours. Not to mention all the new blisters you'll get!

But if you break your feet into them, you will be able to walk pretty much everywhere you did before without issue. Yes, their thin, hyperflexible soles do not completely protect your feet from glass, rocks, etc, but for what they are, they do an admirable job. Just take your time and slowly increase your time in them.

Also, they tend to run large, and you really want a super tight fit with these, so I recommend that you go someplace you can try these on. I've heard of folks getting the five-fingers socks to wear with these, but they must have super skinny toes, mine are a pain to get on barefoot. I would avoid the "Classic" style and get one with the strap over your arch, they will (especially swimming) come off if you don't.

Can anyone here who has worn them comment on how others in public perceive these shoes? I enjoy barefooting out of doors however I wonder how these would be accepted in more urban areas?

@karsten. I saw someone wear them in the city, and they made him look like a gorilla. I've never had such a negative, visceral reaction to footwear before. fwiw.

Kevin,

I love my Vibrams. I use them at the gym for weightlifting - most folks' arches are so weak from over protective shoes. I am not saying you should wear these for everything - but you can wear them often.

The price on Amazon is about $50 over what you can pick them up for elsewhere (including Amazon too).

I have a pair of the classics. I like them a lot but there are a few caveats.

The little slits in the sole make them nice and flexible and grippy and let water run out of them, making them good for wearing in or around the water. On the other hand, the soles are not at all water resistant (obviously), which means that if you even walk on damp ground, your feet will be wet. This is fine in most natural environments, but I live in NYC. It means I can't imagine wearing these shoes into the subway because often the puddle you step in... um... isn't water. So I wear them when I leave the city, but I need something with a bit more of a water barrier for in town.

The other big issue with wearing them around is that people will stop you and ask about them. I quickly feel like a walking commercial for Vibrams and barefoot running/walking in general. Maybe that appeals to other people. I prefer to blend in and be left alone though.

I'm totally sold on the basic idea of barefoot walking and shoes like the Vibrams (and Vivo Barefoot shoes, which is what I now wear most of the time) and basically letting your foot flex and move naturally. My experience though is that having separate toe compartments doesn't actually make a difference in terms of comfort or movement and just makes them 1) look weird, 2) be hard to fit for anyone with slightly oddly shaped feet, longer than normal toes, etc, and 3) be harder to put on.

For walking around in the woods, on the beach, or otherwise out in nature, the Vibrams are my favorite shoes, but they really do not work in the city.

I've had a pair of the Sprint style (http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_Sprint_m.cfm) for a year now after reading this article (http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/). I've worn them hiking trails in the mountains, walking around town, running on a treadmill, as well as in the gym for squats and deadlifts.

You *have* to adjust your gait when wearing these shoes. The heel first strike that you're accustomed to in heeled shoes will only cause you pain wearing these. Running in these shoes is a whole other world. You will work your calf and quads like you wouldn't believe without any soreness in your heels and knees.

People have asked me when wearing them if it hurts to step on sharp rocks or twigs or things and the answer is yes. The solution I tell them is to watch where you're going. That's the thing with these shoes. You really feel the ground beneath your feet, and you pay more attention to where you place them. When I wore them trail hiking in the mountains I had 5 different couples (all European btw) who asked me about my shoes. They were familiar with them, but wanted to ask questions and seemed really positive. Mostly everyone else finds them interesting, but more of a curiosity.

I would definitely second the recommendation to try them on before buying a pair, but I can whole-heartedly recommend them.

got em! Love em! You do need to work up to wearing them for extended periods of time. I can do about 30 minutes on concrete after a couple of weeks. Grass, lawns, parks, etc you get that barefoot feeling without getting poked or cut by minor stuff.

they are great. but if the seems are bothering u you need just a size larger otherwiswe there shouldnt be a problem. i have a pair and will wear them on campus and it is awesome. the reactions are more intrigue than disgust. people get curious and wanna know. if people are judging u based off a pair of shoes than why waste ur time with what they say to beign with? but i have had no problem with them nor with the reactions to them. recommend to any outdoors type people or just wanting to make a statement

Could you not just varnish your feet?

These are the best shoes for running ever made. They are like varnishing your feet. I use the socks for long distances, and I find them generally to fit a little better with the socks, but fine without.

If your feet hurt when you run in these, you are running wrong. http://runningbarefoot.org/

Their biggest disadvantage is that they make you into an instant social outcast. I have had some positive reactions to them, but very few. They look really weird.

Interesting idea, but if you have mutant feet like mine they won't work. I ordered a pair through the local REI, and unfortunately they won't fit. My toes are not the typical length where the second toe is shorter than the big toe. My second toe extends beyond by big toe, and these simply will not fit.

Fair warning for monkey-footed people like myself.

I saw these previewed via Backpackinglight.com at the Outdoor Retailer's Show and haunted their Web site until the "buy" button went live. My order was something like #10, so I've been living with these shoes for years now.

I practically live in these shoes. I wear them for some part of every day and everywhere unless other shoes are called for by freezing temperatures or dress level. Here's a capsule summary of my experience with them:

Surfaces/blisters/etc.: If you're not used to running around barefoot, you do have to train your feet to get used to them (their Web site and attached hang tags also advise this). Not only for blisters but your foot muscles will get sore at first because they are not used to have to do their actual job. I do still get the occasional blister, especially if I go a long way (> 3 miles or so) on concrete in the Classic style version. But I have also backpacked for many miles in the Surge (no longer available), which is a neoprene version that goes above the ankle. The KSO in its regular or neoprene version should work the same way. No problem whatsoever.

Fitting: The instructions they have on the Web site are good and you should follow them carefully. Don't just order a pair in the same size as your ordinary shoes. You need to get out the ruler and measure as they describe. Note, for example, that you'll get a different size recommendation depending on the particular style (each last is different). It is well to heed that. If at all possible, it's best to find a local outlet where you can try them on, but that can certainly be a challenge. The Web store is very agreeable to exchanges, however, as long as you don't wear them outside or something. If you get the right size, it shouldn't be a problem to get them on with a pair of the Injinji socks (at least it's not a problem for me). In the classic model, I do find the elastic band to be a bit too tight, so I just cut that off usually.

Wear/maintenance: There are avid runners who run marathons in these things. The soles are extremely durable. The toe seams, however, will wear out (at least mine have). In my case, I see small holes in the seams at the sides of the toes after maybe 18 months of near-daily wear. They can get really smelly. I use a good eucalyptus-based foot powder in them which helps a lot, but it's easy to just toss them in the wash once a week or so.

Public reaction: I've worn mine, as I say, practically everywhere within reason. In the US, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Italy. BTW, they make fantastic shoes for travel, since they weigh almost nothing and can roll up into the space of a pair of socks. A lot of people are simply oblivious and never notice. Certainly I catch some people stealing a glance or even staring. Every now and then, someone will come up and ask about them--and call others over to see as well.

I've probably had to explain them at least two hundred times (I usually say "oh, you've noticed my Hobbit shoes?" ...or, "They're Italian"--which is true). In all that time, with all those people, I have only encountered *one* person who had a problem with them. (Her husband had a pair and I think she was angry that the existence of another fan somehow validated him against her arguments or something.) EVERY other person has expressed the same things: 1) genuine friendly curiosity ("Are they comfortable! Where can I get some?"), 2) envy ("man I wish I could wear those at work"), or both.

My point is, don't let fear of what others may think get in your way if you think they could be useful to you. Why would you do that in any case?

vv
J.O.

Got a couple pair and love them, but if you're worried about fit get the neoprene ones for kayaking ( called Flow ). I've got a pair of the KSOs and a pair of the Flow style and have wide feet ( 4E ) and have issues with the big toes fitting correctly on the KSOs, so if you have wide feet go one size up from what they recommend to account for forefoot stretch, or, again, get the neoprene ones. My only issue with the neoprene ones is obviously they trap moisture and moisture means stink, it took a vinegar water wash to get the funk out of my mine and that was just a week of casual wear with a shoe dryer every night. The KSOs, as they're mesh let out a lot more moisture so less stink.

On that topic any good suggestions from those who wear kayaking boots or wetsuits regularly to get the funk out of neoprene and keep the body part from gathering a funk as well?

As for reaction, get ready to answer a lot of questions, most people around here are just curious about them and how comfortable they are. As everyone has said, they take a bit of getting used to, and yeah, you do have to watch where you walk, but once you get broken into them, you'll never want to go back to regular shoes again.

For those of you worried about the look, but still want the barefoot experience, try some tabi boots. Mine are the short version and full cloth, so they're not great on wet days, but beyond that, they're super thin (second pair of shoes on every vacation, take up no space in my luggage), the sole is really grippy (I love hiking in the mountains and jumping between rocks with no fear of traction loss), and they attract much less attention.

We LOVE our Vibram FiveFingers. They were the most expensive shoe both my husband and I ever purchased but they are so great! In the summer we wear them daily, a walk through the parking lot to the grocery store is a sensory banquet for the feet to feast on...er..well it's pretty awesome! We measured very carefully and followed the instructions on the Vibram website before ordering our shoe sizes so we have the perfect fits. After you wear them for a while it is almost like wearing nothing at all, going barefoot everywhere BUT with the protection of a sole to keep little sharp rocks etc from poking your feet.
This might sound strange but we actually walk more now that we own them, just because we are always walking different places to see "how it feels". Grass vs pavement vs dirt etc.
OH and bessssst thing ever, in stores when you crouch down on your toes to look at items on lower shelves my old style shoes always cut into my foot and cut my circulation off, but our FiveFingers are so thin and flexible I can crouch down and stare at a bottom shelf in the supermarket all day, if that's what blew my bubbles, and my feet feel fantastic.
LOVE THESE! Also we have worn them in the ocean and washed them in our washer several times and they still look great!

These are a great alternative to going barefoot. The do offer some protection and support. And you get some really unusual looks when you're wearing them! I tend to get a little ingrown toenail problem on my big toes and have noticed that these shoes exacerbate that problem if I don't keep my nails trimmed slightly shorter than I normally would. I just consider it part of my Summertime foot prep.

http://www.2dolphins.com/2007/05/fivefingers-x-2-people-20-happy-toes.html

I've never tried these, but it sounds like you can get a lot of the same experience with sole-less moccasins, along with the potential problems with gravel.

For running, you can also try it with sandals (I run in Chacos) or boat shoes. You have to start slow, 10 mins regardless of your aerobic condition. Work up from there -- stop when your feet hurt. It will induce the same kind of change in your foot strength and gait as the Vibrams (from the descriptions). Like the other commenter said, your calves are what will get a workout, but your feet will be much stronger too.

Has anyone tried these shoes with a puncture resistant insole? E.g. http://www.stepsafellc.com. Were if to buy a pair of FiveFingers I would be wearing them, much of the time, in an urban area with plenty of potentially infectious sharp debris strewn about. I understand that I would need to alter the insoles to fit the shoes' individual toes configuration.

The fit on these is such that those among us with anything less than perfectly average feet don't fit into them. Don't buy them online and expect them to fit; go to a store and see.

I wanted them. I have chubby toes and wide feet. I could not find a pair that would fit me. Forget about the wide-feet problem which may be dealt with by going for a larger size like someone else said, but with chubby toes, it is was impossible. jlb makes a good point.

My first encounter with these was seeing a fellow in our office wearing them. It's true; there's a social/cultural response in social situations when you can see someones unsandaled toes that classifies them as "barefoot", and thus showing disrespect.

But I'm unconventional enough that my curiosity overcame it, and I got the briefing, and then Googled the shoes. After the sticker shock hit, I had a nostalgia moment: I was an "Earth Shoes ("...our patented Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology® positions your toes 3.7° higher than your heels - helping to tone, firm, and strengthen your body....") adopter during the 1970's, and hearing the user experiences here with "Five Fingers" (why isn't it "five toes"? :-) ) sounds exactly like the speech I used to give while massaging my poor sore calves. :-)

You eventually got used to them, and grew to like them. (Or didn't, and went back to regular shoes) http://www.earthfootwear.com

Those were the cult shoes of the 1970's, thirty years later we have the cult shoes of the Millenium.

I've been interested in kevlar-soled shoes ever since I first read the review of VIVObarefoot on this site. I don't live in New York, the only place in the US that sells VIVObarefoot, so I haven't yet been able to try a pair, and hesitate to order them online since there can be sizing issues.

I tried ordering a pair of kevlar-soled Feelmax shoes from Finland, but they don't ship to the US for some reason. I was tracking a shoe in development, the Barefoot On Grass, but their website went down a few days ago, so I suspect that business model failed.

I've done extensive reading on Vibram FiveFingers, and almost bought a pair, but I just cannot get past the way they look. I wish an American company would create a kevlar-soled shoe I could wear without self-conciousness while still receiving the benefits of barefoot walking and running. Because one of my toes is a bit crooked, I suspect the FiveFingers wouldn't fit comfortably anyway.

I suppose eventually I manage to visit the TerraPlana retail store in New York and try on a pair of VIVObarefoot shoes. In the meantime, my congratulations to those who wear their FiveFingers proudly in public situations.

I.. kiiind of want to like these things... but they're just sort of stupid.;;; It's so easy to just go barefoot and NOT look like a douche who just spent $80 to pretend you're barefoot. I won't judge someone if I see them wearing these, but I'd feel kind of lame in them, plus I bet they'd be irritating (I could never do toe-socks) and sticky inside.
When I need to wear shoes, a pair of $20 Tevas work just fine.

I really like my KSOs (Keep the Stuff Out, mesh top ones) that's I've had for about 3 months. I'm a long-time martial artist, and also have a lifelong history of foot problems. I've found that working-out barefoot is best for me, and is what I am used to. I recently starting Crossfit training (great stuff) and I needed gym shoes. These are great for the Crossfit-style workouts--mixed functional strength exercises, etc, where one needs to *not* have excess padding on the foot, etc. So, for a martial artist who needs to wear "shoes" these are perfect.

All the caveats and complaints in the other reviews are valid, within reason. But think many of them miss the point.

Yes, many folks think they look really weird--they can just get over it as far as I'm concerned. I don't wear them to office meetings. I notice that kids just think they are neat, it's only adults with their learned prejudices that are bothered. (Besides, I sorta identify with a gorilla/monkey and don't mind looking like one walking around.)

Tabi boots are a great idea. I wish someone made quality ones that I could obtain--everything I've tried that direction have fitted poorly, had cheap soles, etc. If anyone has a good recommendation on where to find good tabi for sale, let me know. I actually think Five Fingers should work-out a Tabi boot version.

I was concerned for the fit on the Five Fingers, and ended-up ordering a size-up from what the online recommendations were (the recommended size wasn't available), and lucked-out with a good fit first time. I would have preferred to try them on, but there were no local dealers (in Seattle!) that I could find. Maybe best buying strategy is to order a couple different sizes and return the ones that don't fit. Better product distribution/representation would help the buying/fitting experience a lot. Also, they need half sizes (and maybe widths?)

The sole is thin (and not kevlar or anything) so you have to be careful not to step on glass, etc. This is not an issue in the gym, or home, and for running, etc., it forces one to be more "present" and pay attention to the trail. They are not going to protect against "contact" with nasty puddles, etc. and I wouldn't wear these as a general-purpose shoe. These are one step up from barefoot. Just like wearing work gloves when handling rough materials, etc. (I've thought about combining these with the much maligned Crocs to be a general-purpose shoe combination--wearing the Five Fingers inside the Crocs. I'd need a size-up on the Crocs though.)

I do run in them, unfortunately on concrete (around the gym for some workouts). Current research shoes that barefoot/minimalist shoe running is not harder on your body overall, and potentially builds better functional strength in the feet, etc. Ideally one would not run (or even walk) on concrete, but that applies regardless of one's shoes.

I might end-up getting some of the neoprene ones for colder weather wear. I intend to take-up more running, on a soft trail, and will be doing that in the Five Fingers.

-B.

Bummer. I've got webbed toes. I guess I wont be buying these any time soon.

I haven't worn any shoes other than these for about six months, and probably never will. I walk 2-10 miles most days. There is an adjustment perioud, but after a while your feet never hurt anymore.

For cold weather, pair them with NEOS overshoes.

Tynan

With size 13 4E extra-wide feet I am unfortunately unable to try these shoes, or Rollerblades, or even normal ice skates. Sigh.

Update: I tried on a pair of KSO's yesterday. Even with the clerk's help I couldn't get my little toe into it's toe-pocket. . I have "Mortons Toe" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortons_toe) and, further, the difference in length from the backmost part of my heal to the frontmost tip of my longest toe and difference in length from the backmost part of my heal to the frontmost tip of my shortest toe is longer than average. Ie. the average foot is shaped much more like Fred Flintstone's than are mine. No FiveFingers for me.

I have a pair of "Body Glove Low Top Split Toe Reef Boots" (http://tinyurl.com/cwtmkm) that have some similarity to the FiveFingers. I'll have to settle for them.

ive been meaning to get a pair of these ever since i saw this article, and finally got around to it a week ago. i LOVE them. i dont have ANY of the problems ive read above, however i think its important to note that i spent as much as 85 to 90% of my day barefoot before and have for... well, almost all my 37 years. the bottoms of my feet are tougher than most shoes, so the complaits about gravel and whatnot are no problem for me, as it wasnt a problem before either. same goes for soreness/blisters/etc... these shoes allow me to go all the places that i had to slip on sandals for before (the grocery store, restaurants, pretty much everywhere) allowing me to satisfy their "no shoes no service" requirement and at the same time allowing ME to maintain my comfortable barefoot posture and gait. in fact, just for grins, ive worn them nearly constantly since i got them last week, and havent had any problems other than my feet already softening up... so i wont be wearing them all the time, but for different reasons than mentioned above.

that, and id rather go as god intended, anyway :)

tl;dr version: fantastic shoes, if you dont have soft weak "civilized" feet. buy some now.

I ran in them a few months. I was getting ready for another marathon and had read about the benefits of bare foot running. I had plantar fasciitis before I got them. Using them worked my calf muscles a lot, which was good. It made me adjust my gait so I did not land on my heels, which was good. I could not continue running in them due to my previous injury. I stopped running completely to heal. I would say that wearing them changed the way I run for the better. Even with typical running shoes on I still run hitting mid sole first. I recommend them for anyone wanting benefits of barefoot but wanting some protection from sharp objects. I ran on the beach/surf in them, but sand abrasion made blisters. People always asked me about them, (in America at least--in the UK people just stared and whispered about them) which was fun too. I will run in them again as soon as ANOTHER injury heals!! (pulled hamstrings from soccer). I am getting too old. ;)

Got the KSO's a week ago. I am a former Nike Free wearer and liked the idea of a minimalist shoe. First run was 8 miles on trails. I did get a blister from the seam on the medial aspect of the front of the shoe. Gravel (esp. large sized gravel) was very uncomfortable, as were roots, acorns, sweet-gum balls. I did notice the longer I ran, the better I was able to adjust my gait. Did 6 miles on pavement the AM, no problems. I am doing about 30% of my mileage in these shoes. Still adjusting, but I like them so far. I do have a couple of questions:

1. Will it get less uncomfortable to run on gravel, etc., with time? Do I need to try to adjust my gait, try to avoid roots and stuff or will my feet just toughen up? It would be difficult to avoid all of the stuff on my running trails.

2. I am having some difficult running downhill on trails with these shoes. I naturally lean back on steep sections to slow down, which means I heel strike. I have found rocks, roots very uncomfortable to land on going downhill. Any suggestions?

Look,instead of spending a whole lot of money for these,just purchase a pair of the
beach shoes. The neoprene and nylon type.I purchased a pair at my local retail store for 10 dollars.
Added a pair of Scholls inserts and glued them in.It is just lie walking barefoot,but with protection.
If you buy the all black ones they look just like sandals or soft shoes. I have worn them out about town and nobody even noticed.

I'm the webmaster for a local outdoor sporting goods store in Santa Rosa, CA (SonomaOutfitters.com). Our customers *love* these shoes and keep saying great things about them. I'd get a pair myself but, like many of the other commenters my feet are kind of odd and my short stubby toes don't fit in the long narrow toe pockets. =(

You should definitely go into a store and try them on before you buy them, if I'd just ordered them online I'd have found out after spending all that money that I can't actually wear them instead of before and that would have sucked.

Oh! and big thanks to the person who mentioned Vivo Outdoors, I've been looking through their website and showed their shoes to my boss who may end up ordering some for our store as a result of your post! I'm hoping so because they look like a great thin-soled alternative for people like me whose toes don't fit in the vibrams. I'm going to wait on buying any though in hopes my store decides to carry them, I want to get some with my employee discount since they're kind of pricey otherwise!

love the five finger shoes...
wear them everywhere.

eat walk sleep sex