Comments on: The Vibram Fivefingers Shoe

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:35:21 +0000

I would like to buy the Vibram Sprints for my husband who loves running but now has knee problems. A lot of the comments I’ve read, from people on other websites, indicated that they are great for running UNLESS you have knee problems. In that case, they reasonsed, the Vibrams would not give the runner enough support. Do you think the Vibrams could be harmful to a runner with knee pain? Thanks!

By: Deanna Sweeney

Deanna Sweeney — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:01:09 +0000

I have been suffering with shin splints for about 4 months to the point where I could not walk. Nothing seems to work, I have tried every kind of sneaker, doctor gave me orthodics which I dont think work either. I have been forced to not run due to the shin splints for about 3 wks and they are still very painful.. And I do not have stress fracture either. Do these shoes work for shin splints?

By: jason heathrow

jason heathrow — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:21:35 +0000

Great information, I’m glad to see that the ksO’s work well on rough terrain as that is the reason why I decided to purchase one. The only question is, has anybody tried the nike frees and compared them when it comes to outdoor activities? I feel it could protect you a bit more. I found this review randomly about how the 2 compare.

http://barefootrunningshoes.org/2009/10/08/nike-free-versus-vibram-five-fingers-10-points/

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:11:47 +0000

My KSOs have been returned for warranty manufacturing issues… but… That doesn’t sore me on the experiences I had in those few glorious weeks. These “shoes” are excellent for fishing(slippery submerged rocks?-no prob) and I particularly like them for trail running, even with a heavy pack on extreme terrain. I know people seem to balk at their use on rocky stuff but I have done 16 mile round trippers in Yosemite with 4,000 ft elevation gains and then losses of the same on switchback heavy, full on granite boulder fields. No problems. One thing I don’t like is how grass and pinecones get stuck between the toes…. no biggy.

By: heesinjones

heesinjones — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:59:07 +0000

hey ERIC, you’re using the sprints but what about these:

http://barefootrunningshoes.org/vibram-fivefingers/men/kso-men/

I heard that they work pretty well even in more rocky running landscapes, what do you think?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:08:56 +0000

I’ve had my Five Fingers KSOs for about 6 weeks now (or as my wife calls them “my gorilla feet” and I’m on my way to becoming a full-fledged evangelist.

I have flat feet, and wore motion control shoes and an orthotic for years. I’ve been plagued with shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and (my favorite) a detached facia on my tibia which resulted in a tibial stress fracture. I’d rest for a while so that I could heal, but it seemed that every time I’d get to the point where I could run 15-20 miles a week, I’d get a new injury. I tried stretching, varying my training, new shoes, new orthotics, etc. but with the same results. I’d gotten tired of the injury cycle, so had switched over to cycling for the past couple of years with a short run thrown once or twice a week.

I saw a pair of these at a local outdoors store (Hudson Trail Outfitters) and after doing a lot of research I decided to give them a try. I’ve had a lot of success with them. Like other posters, I found that there was a learning curve in how to run with these shoes. On the downside, I got a nice crop of blisters the first time I went over 5 miles, and I’ve gained a new appreciation for my calves and the amount of muscle pain they can generate.

But… I can run again! I managed 25 miles last week with only minor aches and soreness. I’ve shortened my stride, and my times seem lower by about 30 seconds per mile as a result (although some of that is attributable to the fact that I’m able to train more without breaking down). And – I finally retired my running shoes a couple of weeks ago. The reason – they hurt too much when I ran

I’m getting ready to run in the Reach the Beach Relay race this Friday (I was a last-minute replacement) and my confidence is pretty high. My contribution should be about 18 miles. I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing this 2 or 3 months ago.

By the way; I also do a fair amount of hiking in the Shenandoahs, and while I might consider bringing these along for a fire trail there’s no way I would hike with them on a technical trail or use them for trail running over rocky ground. The vibram protects my feet well enough from gravel, pebbles, stones, and stubbed toes, but I can’t see them protecting me from the rough terrain on the Raven rocks hike for example.

Hope this helps some of you on the fence…

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:51:49 +0000

Hi Laura,

Hope you’re still enjoying the FiveFingers. I certainly have. Unfortunately they seemed to have a defect though and have started to fall apart! I wrote a review to explain here: http://www.christopherrcooper.com/blog/4/barefoot-running-in-the-vibram-fivefingers.html

By: Trav

Trav — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:10:50 +0000

Bought a pair of VFF KSOs about a week ago. Been running relatively short distances in them this past week (1-3mi). Got some Injinji socks for them since I was feeling a blister slowing forming on the bottom of my big toes. Socks solved the rubbing issue and I’ve had no other issues with them. Previously had plantar fasciitis after spending a good chunk of change on some “nicer” running shoes. No issues in the heel dept so far and from the way your foot strikes the ground in these I’d expect not to in the future.

By: Billie

Billie — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:52:43 +0000

Shar, I bought a pair of classics about two months ago and love them however I would not recommend them for activities requiring protective footwear, Mowing lawns or running after kids who may be dropping things. Where as these are the best shoes I have ever put on there are times when you need to put on shoes to protect your feet. All other times I wear the VFF.

By: Shar

Shar — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:23:21 +0000

How are these for non-athletic types? Moms ambling after kids as they ride their bikes, carrying infants around the house, playing in the backyard, mowing the lawn, etc? My achilles tendons have been threatening to do something bad to me for months, and I’m not sure how to prevent that from happening. Different (or no) shoes? Wearing my sneaks from the second I get up until the second I lie down seems to help a great deal. Thanks.