FiveFingers Vibram Classic Review

Must Have Monday

Five Fingers Vibram Classic

By now you have likely seen these curious foot covers called Five Fingers made by Vibram. They certainly got my attention! I don't have any other shoes that look or function like these and that is one of my favorite rationalizations for getting new shoes. When I came across this pair lined with Smartwool (you know I love my SmartWoool socks) I could not deny my feet the opportunity to play in a pair of these unique shoes. I am often teased about the fact that I am rarely barefoot...yes, I have “princess and the pea feet”...but now I have been presented with a solution. Barefoot freedom with some protection. The Vibram outsoles are siped (as shown in picture) to offer awesome traction whether you are holding your favorite yoga pose or navigating footpaths of the Great Northwest.

Now, if you step on a large enough “pea” you are definitely going to feel it. Wearing these shoes makes me much more conscious of where I am stepping and how I am distributing my weight across my feet. Talk about a great way to get “more present” and increase your awareness of the ground around you. Our feet are built with amazing sensory receptors transferring information about our environment and terrain to our brains. Rather than obscuring information with thick soled shoes the Five Fingers allow our feet to to do their job as they were designed and this is concept that is gaining traction (Born To Run—read it!) . I admit they do feel great and I encourage you to try them. Beware that if you have primarily been wearing thick soled shoes you should consider a slow transition into these shoes to allow your feet to adjust and build up their strength. Five Fingers touts improved range of motion and stronger feet for your efforts.

Your local retailers are a great resource for best fit—so get your ten toes into a pair of Five Fingers at your favorite running shop, comfort store or outdoor store.

If you haven't seen these unique shoes around you can check them out at: rei.com, travelcountry.com and vibramfivefingers.com

Fitting Notes:

European Whole Sizing. This particular pair of WS102 Classic SmartWool (in Champagne) fits dramatically smaller than most other Five Finger models. This smaller fit is likely due to the fact that this shoe is lined with SmartWool which takes up quite a bit of space. While the elastic pull on the back of the heel may seem like a good idea; I find that it shoves my toes forward and rubs my heel. Thus, I feel there are better styles for an ideal fit (check out the Komodo Sport LS). Go up at least one whole size if you try to score a pair of these particular Five Fingers. When trying other styles fit to the larger foot and your longest toe otherwise aim for a close/snug fit. You may also consider fitting them with enough room to wear thin groovy toe socks...yummy! They are not offered in widths but are a bit stretchy to accommodate a wider foot and narrow feet should choose enclosed styles with laces or velcro across the instep. These are tough shoes to get on if you have a very high instep and/or thick feet. These shoes are not designed to be worn with orthotics.